Looking for tent camping near Ludington? Find the best information on tent camping near Ludington, including sites, reviews, and tips for getting the most out of your camping experience. Each tent site offers quick access to one or more of Ludington, Michigan's most popular destinations.
$25 / night
Michigan Recreation Passport is required for vehicle entry into state parks and recreation areas, state boat launches, state forest campgrounds and state trail parking lots. The Michigan Recreation Passport does not cover local, county, municipal, or metropolitan parks or recreation areas. Learn more: https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-350-79134_79210---,00.html
$15 / night
Timber Creek Campground The campground is located near a small impoundment, however the impoundment is not a popular site for fishing. The busiest use is the North Country National Scenic Trail trailhead located in the campground. In the winter this site is plowed and provides access to the Ward Hills Snowmobile Trail. ORV use is prohibited in the campground.
$10 / night
Gleasons Landing is a very popular campground on the banks of the Pere Marquette River. With a selection of shaded and secluded spots, the campground is perfect for peaceful nature immersion. The Pere Marquette River was designated a National Scenic River in 1978, the first in Michigan, and it regularly attracts many canoeing, kayaking and fishing enthusiasts. The 66-mile stretch of river begins east of Baldwin and empties into Lake Michigan at Ludington.
A major draw to the campground is world-class fishing. The free flowing river maintains large populations of resident brown trout, steelhead and salmon. Gleason Landing marks the start of a zone for fly fishing and catch and release only. Reel fishing is available upstream. A boat ramp is located within the campground. Canoeing and kayaking is very popular on the river, and boat rentals are available in Baldwin. A permit is required to float the river from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. Trails along the river provide shore access for anglers and short, scenic nature walks for hikers.
The campground sits on a bluff overlooking the picturesque Pere Marquette River. It is surrounded by a mix of white pine and oak trees. The Huron-Manistee National Forests encompass a million acres throughout the northern portion of Michigan's Lower Peninsula. The forests provide recreation opportunities for visitors, habitat for fish and wildlife and resources for local industry.
A trailhead for the North Country National Scenic Trail is a short drive away. The trail extends from New York to North Dakota, spanning 4,600 miles.
$30 - $90 / night
This area not only has the Pere Marquette River running through it, but also contains a portion of the North Country National Scenic Trail and habitat for the federally endangered Karner blue butterfly.The Bowman Lake area is located in Lake and Sweetwater Townships in Lake County. A total of 1,145 acres of NFS lands and 368 acres of private lands are within the boundary of the Bowman Lake area.The terrain is characterized by rolling hills, glacial depressions and leatherleaf bogs. A 3-acre lake is located within the area. The area tends to be densely forested with a mix of hardwoods, red and white pine and aspen. Wildlife species that commonly inhabit this area include white-tailed deer, bobcat, coyote, red fox, raccoon, porcupine, squirrels, pileated woodpecker, ruffed grouse, wild turkey and various songbirds.Visitor recreation activities include camping, fishing, mushroom gathering, bird-watching, hunting, hiking and canoeing. Mountain biking and horseback riding are also common uses on the area trails. Although trails are not groomed in the winter, the area is popular for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.__The Bowman Lake Trailhead serves as a main entry point onto the North Country National Scenic Trail (NCT). A 3-mile segment of the NCT is located within this area and mountain biking is allowed on this section of trail. In addition, a small trailhead is located on NFS Road 6267, giving access to the Bowman Lake Campground Trail, which is approximately 7.5 miles of loop trail designed for nonmotorized recreation.This trail system can also be used by mountain bikers and horseback riders. Four improved campsites are located on Bowman Lake. Segments of the State of Michigan snowmobile trail system and Michigan Cycle Conservation Club Trail (MCCCT) system are located immediately south of the area.
Pere Marquette National Scenic River This campground is located in the middle of the 66-mile Scenic portion of the river. The camps are set back from the river in openings within a forested setting. As paddlers travel down the river they will see many meadows and locations to fish. Some campers will park at Upper Branch Bridge and walk to the campsites from there. This is a very popular fishing area. Brochure with Map: This brochure is set to print on 11 x 17 paper, landscape (wide) orientation. To print on 8 1/2 x 11 paper set the print area to "shrink to printable area", this will make the text on the page smaller. Flickr Photo Album
This site is canoe-in only and is very popular during fall and steelhead season. The banks of the river are steep on either side of this site.
Guide
Ludington offers sand dunes and several miles of beaches along Lake Michigan with many trails and forested areas. Most camp lots are large and sandy with electric and water hookups. There are also mini cabins for rent if you are not into tent camping. Very well maintained park considering how popular it is.
Guide
Campground was privately owned and seemed to have a mix of weekend campers and full timers living in trailers. The only good part about this campground was how close it was to Ludington and Lake Michigan. Small tent site with water and electric was $35 a night. Small bath house with one shower per male/female.
Guide
We tent camped and were able to park our car right at the site. There were few forested areas available, and it was also difficult to find a flatter piece of land. Felt pretty close to nearby neighbors, and the space was pretty open without any dividing trees to even set up hammocks. There is a nice trail walk through a residential area that empties you into downtown Ludington. However, I've camped in better places (Buttersville Campground) in Ludington, and since this place is pretty removed from the beach, I would say to seek out a better campground.
GuideWe camped here over Labor Day weekend 2020. Our site was big, there were multiple play areas for kids to play on. Bathhouse was clean and offered two showers plus there was an additional shower house. They offer kayaks and canoe rentals and have a boat dock right on the lake. Quiet hours start at 10pm and strict quiet house are at 11. I have to say that this was the quietest we have stayed.
About 20 minutes from Ludington State Park/ Lake Michigan. We would camp here again.
Guide
Went in 2017 with a large group of young people (18-22) and loved it. The campground seems to be geared towards families, but we didn’t feel out of place. Sites 65 and T1-5 were perfectly on the edge of the campground and secluded. Great location near downtown Ludington and the state park.
Additionally, Kibby has fantastic showers and restrooms. This is really nice when tent camping. 👌🏽
Bonus: We went in August and saw the greatest night sky I have ever seen for the Perseids meteor shower. Very low light pollution here!
Traveler
This campground had a beautiful white sand Lake Michigan beach with turquoise water and very few people swimming. They let you have fires on the beach as well, but they don’t sell firewood. The tent sites were all quite open, but under a nice canopy of shade. You can hear the lake but you can’t see it. The bathrooms were clean and the showers were 25 cents for 5 minutes.
The tent sites did not have electricity and had a soft dirt base that would have been trouble in rain. We didn’t get rain, we spent the majority of our time there at the beach and it’s a 90 minutes drive to Sleeping Bear Dunes which are spectacular.
ScoutCanoe in tent camping only. Nice spot to fish or take a cool dip.
Ranger
Campsite is located 2 miles from downtown Pentwater, adorable small town on the water. Mears state park is 2 miles from the campground as well, Lake Michigan beaches. The playground on the beach is perfect for younger kids. There is a pavilion that serves hot food and ice cream ( hot food ends at 5pm/ ice cream till sunset.) Our kids loved walking in town and heading to the beach.
With that said, there is plenty to do at the campground . Outdoor pool, AJs (putt- putt golf, arcade, playground, go-karts) extra fee for AJs but reasonable priced, basketball court, volleyball court, small baseball diamond, tennis table, general store, shower house by pool ( very clean), private bonfire pits ( most campsites).
Seasonal’s were very friendly and helpful with local things to do. RV camp, Tent camp, or tent cabin.
Dump station available, firewood for sale, ice for sale, general store has several camping items, 15 minutes away is meijer in ludington. 2 minutes away gas station 2 minutes to Lake Michigan beaches 2 minutes to Pentwater downtown shopping
ScoutLudington State Park is a state gem. From spacious camping spaces and super clean amenities to water activities and trails galore this place jas it all. For every age there are daily park activities the entire family can enjoy. Learn about Lake Michigan or how to identify poison ivy out on the trails. Ludington State Park is also a great place to enjoy the famous Lake Michigan Sand Dunes. Skylime trail showcases the very best of the park shoreline all the way back to town. Oh did I mention the lighthouse. Hike or bike there you can climb to the top and see for miles. Staying at the campground? There are three very different ones to choose from. Each with shower/bathroom facilities cleaned twice daily with lost of hot water. Don't have a camper you can tent camp at any spot or hike in to go rustic. Don't have any gear? They offer small cabins in each camp area for those who can't rough it too much. Oops we need toothpaste...don't worry the park store is in walking distance from all campsites for all your camping needs. From Bugspray and hotdogs to firewood and raingear they have you covered. Oh last but not least amazing sunsets every clear night. From water the land Ludington has it all. It's right in out home state and we love it.
Scout
We stayed here in June of 2020 and it was definitely my favorite campground, we will be returning in 2021. We tent camped and loved how our site was surrounded by trees. The owners were wonderful as well!
Guide
This campground is peaceful. Nice sites, even a place for rustic camping. Rustic camping you hike up the road, no cars are allowed to sites. Perfect!!!
Full hook ups, 3 50 amp sites. Others are 30 amp.
Tent camping has platforms, so your tent is off the ground.
Cabins are available for rent.
There is a playground, for the young ones. Rental of bikes, tubing, row boats and canoes are right at the campground. Beach access across street.
The campground is the older type, but the quiet, and professional care you get is awesome!!! This place is a must visit campground. Family feeling here. Vet friendly.
Bathroom house is cleaned perfectly every day. Always clean.
Day excursions, to see are, sand dunes, ludington, etc. then after the fun, come back to a peaceful evening, beside the fire. Each site has a fire ring.
Peaceful!!!
Just FYI. No drinking of alcohol is allowed. Perfect for my family, but just FYI.
Camp peacefully!!!
Traveler
I originally was a little bit wary of coming to this campground because I didn’t know if it would be great with our tent, but it was great! Our site was wooded for the most part and a decent size too, albeit on the smaller side. The tent sites and full-hookup camper sites are separate (but there were a couple campers and plenty of pop-ups in our area) and the tent sites are grassy/wooded and on the edge of the campground. All sites have electric and water. The campground itself is on a river/lake which was great for those who wanted to fish. There is an ice cream parlor, store, pool (so nice!), athletic field, activity/craft center, playground, and Gaga ball pit. This was great because everyone had something to do. From reading a book in a hammock to going down the water slide, no one was bored. I was a little disappointed that the hiking trail was not even a mile, but we took lots of walks around the campground. The silver lake sand dunes are nearby as well as a number of Lake Michigan beaches. The camp hosts were so friendly and the Christian environment was amazing! Very impressed with the cleanliness and modern facilities too (individual showers, brand new pool, etc.). Can’t wait to come back!
Guide
Nice quiet campground when I was there (week after labor day). $27 per tent site. Sites are nice and clean. Bathrooms were basic and clean enough. Short walk to a beautiful beach that you could walk on for miles. There is free, dispersed camping off of different roads around here.
Ranger
This is a very well kept up, clean, family campground. It has cabins, RV sites, and tent sites. It’s right by the Pere Marquette River for great fishing, and the campground has a really nice pool if you’re not into swimming in the lakes or river. Very modern, good for parties, events, etc.
Traveler
Tent camping only. Four family sites and two group sites. Hard to get a reservation on the weekends. Campground is at the end of a canoe/kayak company's trip. Can get loud during the day when the trips come in. Other than that.. very quiet. Vault toilet and pump water. Can buy firewood at Bowman's campground. Good amount of trees around to hang hammocks.
Traveler
Great little family run campground. Seasonal are on one side and non seasonal are located on the other side or down by the river. We have camped here several times as a family. They provide floatation devices and transport for river floats. If you like rustic tent camping they have amazing on the river sites for you, unfortunately no campers (rv or pull behind) are allowed down the hill.
Scout
Tent sites are right on the river, they have a boat launch with rentals for boats, kayaks, and even a little fishing charter type deal if you'd like. Manistee river is very nice to kayak and go fishing. Great atmosphere, relaxed, everyone seemed to be on the same page while camping there. I look forward to going back here for sure!!!
Traveler
Nice campground with well maintained restroom/shower facilities. The owners were really great hosts! Some tent sites have electric hookups, which is always a must for us. There is a paved trail that runs by the campground, and it's less than a 3 mile walk/bike ride to downtown Frankfort and the lakeshore, which has a ton of things to do.
GuideLudington State Park is comprised of 5,300 acres of scenic sand dunes, sandy beaches, the iconic Big Sable Point Lighthouse, wetlands, marshlands and forests. It is situated between Hamlin Lake and Lake Michigan with several miles of beautiful shoreline along both lakes. A one-mile stretch of the Big Sable River runs through the park and provides excellent opportunities for fishing, paddling and tubing. The park has more than 21 miles of marked hiking trails through dunes, forests and wetlands. For the more adventurous paddlers, the park’s 4-mile canoe trail through Hamlin Lake and its bordering marshlands, provides a challenging trip. A boat launch is available for access to the 5,000-acre Hamlin Lake.
The park is home to three modern campgrounds, including Pines, Cedar and Beechwood, with a combined total of 360 campsites and three mini cabins. The Cedar Campground includes eight tent-only sites that are located on a separate loop. These tent sites do not have electricity, but are within walking distance of the restrooms and showers.
The iconic Big Sable Point Lighthouse is open for tours May through October and is maintained by the non-profit Sable Points Lighthouse Keepers Association. In addition, volunteer lighthouse keepers come to stay for two weeks and help staff the visitor center and gift shop. A fee is required to climb to the top of the lighthouse.
Traveler
We went in March so the weather was cold but doable. 20 degrees at night but with electricity hookups we put a space heater in our tent. Campsites are nice no running water at that time of year & only primitive outhouses. Great beaches the sand was so soft & the dunes are perfect.
Traveler
Great site for first time campers or when you want to just get away quickly without having to take lots of equipment and supplies. Nice little camp store and pizza restaurant on site. Great playground, evening activities. Nice mix of electric hook up, R.V. and tent sites. Boat rentals, etc. Great place for a group of families to come camp together. Staff at the campground are friendly, knowledgeable and helpful.
Guide
We stayed at the Peterson bridge as part of a kayak trip down the pine river. The tent sites near the river have pit toilets and a water pump available. Up near the camper sites there are flushing toilets and bathrooms with sinks but no showers. During our stay a bear wandered through the camp.
I can’t speak into much about the RV campsite but they looked nice; they had concrete slabs to park on.
Guide
We booked three neighboring sites on the interior of the loop for some group tent camping. The sites were generous, clean, grassy, with moderate tree cover. Theres an awesome grass avenue that runs down the middle of the sites in the inner loop, marked off so there are no tents in the area, but it gives you great removal from the campers behind you, and allows for all manner of games (KanJam, cornhole, ladders, etc).
The bathrooms are kept beautifully, there are great pavilions to gather under when it rains (which it did for an entire day of our trip), and the beach is stunning (small, but stunning).
RangerThis campground has SO much to offer. There are rustic tent sites, tent sites with water/electric, water/electric for campers/RVs, and even a few cabins. There are plenty of activities for adults & children as well. There are two basketball courts (half courts), a volleyball court, shuffle board, mini golf, a pool, a train ride for kids, a private fishing pond, playgrounds, sand boxes, and various other planned activities. Our specific camp site, 26, was surrounded by pear trees. The campground is covered in pear and apple trees! There is a camp store and they sell sweet treats like Dip n Dots, and of course, camping necessities, Wood, and ice. If you download the campersAPP, you can even have things from the store or wood delivered to your site! It was incredible and convenient. The bathrooms are modern, updated, and so clean! There are two sets of bathrooms-one attached to the general store, which has 2 bathroom stalls and one small shower. The other bathroom further into the campground is larger, it has 4 bathroom stalls I believe, and 3 bigger sized showers. The location is great, too. There is a winery just up the road and a jam shop down the road a bit. Town isn’t far away, you can get to downtown or any of the beaches in just a short drive.
Traveler
I’ve never stayed here, but my family has a cottage nearby so I visit all the time. The campground’s sites are close together, with electric and sewage hookups. Lots of RVs and large campers. No tents or small trailers. Toilets and showers onsite as well as a market. The campground is in the heart of Montague and right next to Montague Foods Grocery. Because it’s so close to everything, it can get pretty loud especially from car traffic on the road. It is also very close to Lake Michigan and it’s located on White River across the street from White Lake. I take it that a lot of people stay here for the whole summer and it’s not a very popular vacation spot. Overall, it’s a nice place to park an RV for the summer, but it’s not really a getaway, especially if you are looking to tent camp.
Legend
A United Methodist Campground now open to the public instead of just for church camp, this is a nice location for families to enjoy some downtime, with access to Lake Michigan and plenty of activities available to pass the the time.
The sites vary in size but several can accommodate very large rigs. The whole place feels tucked away into the woods but you're only about a 10-minute drive from downtown Pentwater.
Short hike over the dunes (via stairway) takes you to Lake Michigan. (They have a great viewing platform for sunsets!)
Campground is getting regular updates each year, including a new 2-spot dump station (2 years ago), and new water and electric (50 amp) hookups at the sites continually being added.
They offer everything from RV and tent sites to platform tents and cabins. They have a great staff that cares about visitors enjoying their time there.
Cellular signals can vary greatly within the camp, but we found signals for Verizon and Google Fi (T-Mobile/Sprint) with decent service.
Guide
This will be our third year camping at Holiday Camping Resort. Just a few miles west of US 31. It’s a hilly white pine forest. With several cabins, many tent sites, group campsites and large staggered full hook-up campsite. Joanie (the owner) operates a very nice campground and usually has organized activities, but because of the pandemic she hasn't been able to do them in 2020 and who knows about 2021. This campground reminds me of our beautiful Michigan state parks, but with full hookups. There is a very nice swimming pool, playground and basketball half court for the kids and a small dog run. The campground is close to the small town of Stoney Lake (with a nice little city park on Stoney Lake) there you can swim or launch your kayak, The Hart - Montague bike trail, Country Dairy and Lewis Farms are a few miles away. It’s about a 35 minute drive to Silver Lake.
Ludington, Michigan, offers a fantastic selection of tent camping options for outdoor enthusiasts looking to immerse themselves in nature.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Ludington, MI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Ludington, MI is Jackpine Hike-In Campground — Ludington State Park with a 4.9-star rating from 7 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Ludington, MI?
TheDyrt.com has all 32 tent camping locations near Ludington, MI, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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