Best Tent Camping near Lupton, MI

The lake has an island in the middle and is great to explore by boat. Not sure how much there is to do without watercraft, as there’s just a really short trail. A friend snowmobile camps here in winter, that’d be beautiful to try. Nice basic primitive state park tent camping. Clean and simple. Shady.

We visited this campsite for a long weekend in October, looking for that autumn experience. Our site was right on the lake, and had a great view of the river and the trees changing. Our site was very large, especially for tent camping, and that seemed to be the trend. Others were camping with campers and tents, but there was pretty of room to spread out in the late fall.

Short backpacking walk to this no-reservations rustic campsite. You need a backcountry permit and there’s usually a small fee. Lovely forested secluded tent sites. There’s only one or two fire pits, but going there is a nice way to meet your neighbors (only 2 other groups when I was there in April). Sites aren’t too sandy and are pretty shady. Follow bear rules!!

The campsites are purely for tent camping and are around 20'x40'. We went with a group and fit four tents on one site with a picnic table and fire pit for less than $10 each. There is a large bath house with showers, a pavilion/picnic area, where they sometimes have a DJ at night. And there's a really nice open area and playground for the kids. The front store /check-in desk has some supplies for while you're there, and they also offer canoe/tubing/kayak trips with transport, directly from the grounds. We had a great time and plan on going back again.

Lovely rustic campground, with several sites fronting Lake Huron. We tent-camped in August and swam twice a day in that beautiful crystal clear water. Our site was not particularly private (a medium-sized RV came in part-way through the week and its generator ruined our serene quiet), but its location on the water was priceless. We enjoyed touring the area, and especially loved Presque Isle. Some gorgeous farmlands to drive around, too, and we serendipitously came across an amazing sunflower farm. We'd love to return to this campground.

They charge per person, so I paid $75 for my boyfriend and I to tent camp on the river for the 2 night minimum required. They are money grubbers who charge per person then put multiple parties on one site. Firewood available on site is soaking wet so had a lot of issues getting a fire started. Not much to do at the campground unless you want to pay an arm and a leg to rent one of their watercraft. Staff is incredibly rude and unhelpful. Everything they offer is an extra charge. Will not be returning here ever again.

the sites are sandy and surrounded by tall pines and ferns. some biting flies, especially near river (late june). multiple vault toilets and one water pump. sites are spacious enough for small campers and walk/boat-in tent sites are great and have their own vault toilets and pump (though they are less shaded and a little more open than the forest sites). there's a river trail to walk and parking for the walk/boat-to sites. there's an ORV trail nearby and the road can get noisy from that. otherwise quiet and cozy.

I have camped here a few times over the last decade. I have tent camped in the past and now with a travel trailer. The sites are large, and some humongous. The campground is quiet, and the lake is right behind the campground. A nice sandy shoreline and shallow water makes for a relaxing day. There needs to be some maintenance done at this campground, at least two water pumps are without handles, one was with out a handle three years ago as well, so the missing handles may be part of the campground management plan. There are a few vault toilets placed in various areas in pairs. Of each pair, one is closed, presumably to reduce costs associated with maintenance.

The fire rings in some sites are brand new, so it is obvious that maintenance is underway.

Overall this campground is still on a list of favorites that we return to once or twice a year.

If you are looking for decent modern campsite Harrisville offers that. There is a bike trail that goes into town. Friendly host that offer books. There is wood on site to purchase through a vending machine. Only takes exact amount. Sites are pretty close together which makes getting to know your neighbors from the get go. The bathroom was very nice. Extremely clean and well kept. Staff was there several times even this late in the season cleaning at 6:30 am. The view of the lake was lovely. I happened to have site 74 which has a great view of the lake. Though the traffic of bathroom goers is annoying. The bathroom offered such bright beam of light I never used any of my flashlights. Depends on how you feel about that. If you’re looking for nice weekend to sleep outside this is nice. If you’re looking to get away from it all and have peace and quite. This is not it. Even in September. Staff was super friendly. I originally booked 82 and it was extremely tiny for a tent site more suited for a RV. Be mindful when picking your site. Majority on the water side are tiny and are more suited for RV not a tent. I mean tiny!

Rifle River Recreation Area is located directly east of Houghton Lake within the AuSable State Forest, near the city of Lupton.

The RRRA offers several camping areas within its borders. We landed in the Ranch Rustic campsites along the Rifle River, site 153. For more detailed information see: http://www.michigandnr.com/parksandtrails/Details.aspx?type=SPRK&id=489

The outer rim campsites of Ranch Rustic are along the Rifle and shielded from the next site by conifer and brush, so there is a fair amount of visual privacy...but voices carry from site to site.

Having a site directly on the river offered quick access to water, for cooking or playing. We could put in up river and take out at our campsite, which was convenient. Modern bathrooms can be located in the park...but Ranch Rustic has pit latrines. Pump water is available too.

The kids tossed on their PFD's and floated the river from the bridge to our site. You could hear them having a great time...other than their run in with a territorial beaver.

One of the greatest beauties and draws of this area is the five lakes within the Recreation Area...Devoe Lake, Grebe Lake, Jewitt Lake, Grousehaven Lake and Lodge Lake. Each is unique, offering different sights and sounds. We were fortunate enough to see mink, beaver, muskrat, loons, eagle, osprey and three swan...so it was a treasure trove for us.

We could drag or carry our canoes/kayaks from lake to lake with the exception of Grebe Lake and Jewitt. So we simply tossed them on the van and went to our next destination.

There is a really nice observation tower and fishing pier on Grebe Lake. You can't keep the bluegills and sunfish off your hook. We enjoyed mystic fog on Grebe Lake one early morning which provided some great photo opportunities.

The water is super clean and crystal clear...and usually sand or rock bottom. Devoe Lake has a few islands that we explored. We spent all week in solitude until the weekend, when it swells to its limit....and when we usually say good-bye and move on.

Shoulder seasons would be incredible, especially with the color change.

A great campground about 20 min south of gaylord, on otsego lake, as with most michigan state parks they have nicely taken care of campsites and easy access to bathrooms, the beach from our site was a little bit of a hike but there was easy access to the lake via stairs, electrical is available and there was a good combination of rvs and tents so all are welcome, they offer actinities for kids on the weekends, and they usually have holiday happenings

Sand, pine trees, vault toilet, fire ring, gorgeous views, serenity, bear pole - my family adores this place. It is possibly the nicest camping we've done in Michigan. Water filter is a MUST unless you want to walk to the parking lot every time you need potable water. None of us ever got sick drinking the filtered lake water. Kayaking and canoeing in is easy. We have walked in, too. Having a wheeled cart is nice for bringing in large family-sized tents and other heavier items.

Location is excellent.  This is a well maintained park, fantastic beaches and nice trails.  I arrived on a Thursday and left Sunday.  The sites are on the small side without any barriers, which was fine midweek.  On the weekend, overcrowding was the norm.  This was my first experience at a Michigan state park, and I do not know if others have designated spaces based on the size of the RV or tent.  This would make a more pleasant experience for campers.  My guess is the park was designed long before people hauled around a 30 foot camper.  No park rangers facilitated parking that I could see, and clearly you should book your spot as early as possible.

Midweek 5 stars, Weekend 1

Needed a tent sight for 3 pup tents motorcycle camping. Nice quiet secluded campground in the woods. Nice clean baths and showers. $25 for tent $35 RVs pull threw.

Pprivate. Modern and Rustic, so tents don't need to be in a Zoo of RVs. Tons of trails, great kayaking and canoeing

This campground has sites for RV’s and tents. Vault toilets that are cleaned daily. Small lake with a beachfront. No motor boats allowed. We come every year!

We tented at this campground and enjoyed it so much! Loved being right by the water, and bathrooms were so clean. Would go back!

This is a family owned campground that is about half seasonal lots and half daily lots. The daily lots are large with room for a couple tents or even a travel trailer and tent. There are two bathroom buildings with showers, which were always clean. When we were there the campground was quiet and the owners were laid back and helpful.

There are ORV trails on the campground property, as well as a good sized playground. There are nearby lakes and drop-in points to the Au Sable River for kayaking and canoeing, and Hartwick Pines is down the road with hiking trails. Grayling and Gaylord are both within a convenient distance. I'd happily camp here again!

We absolutely love camping here weather it’s in a tent, hammock or RV we have always loved camping here.

Night sounds are so relaxing.

We typically do the sites closer to Mio sites 1-6

Plenty of trails and fishing.

No water No electric No sewer

Nice open area big enough to put our 8 person tent. Picnic table and power! The Lake Huron is a stones throw to the East. Great place, we will be back soon!!

Mostly shade but not dark like other sites. Large area so room for camper and tents. Fire ring located near back corner... away from your awning. Path behind site makes for short walk to the beach.

Loved camping on this lake. We hauled our canoe loaded with our tent and amenities on a dolly the half mile or so back to the camp sites. Some of the best catch and release artificial lure only fishing. Loved watching the loons on the lake.