99 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
W. J. Hayes State Park Campground welcomes pets at designated campsites across multiple loops near Wamplers Lake. Most outer sites along the campground perimeter offer decent shade and woods for dog walks, with a dedicated dog run area that provides off-leash exercise space. Waterloo Recreation Area's multiple campgrounds—including Sugarloaf Modern, Green Lake Rustic, and Portage Lake—all permit leashed pets at campsites and along hiking trails. The campgrounds at Pinckney Recreation Area, including Bruin Lake and Blind Lake, offer pet-friendly accommodations with varied amenities ranging from rustic sites to those with electric hookups. Ted Ranch Campground allows dogs and even permits dog pens for contained exercise, though some reviews note inconsistent pet owner supervision regarding barking. Sites at most campgrounds feature fire rings and picnic tables where pets can relax with their owners. Apple Creek Campground provides spacious sites with pet access to walking trails connected directly to the property.
Multiple hiking opportunities exist for dogs and owners throughout the Manchester area's recreation sites. Waterloo Recreation Area contains extensive trail systems where leashed pets can join hikers, with Green Lake Rustic offering year-round access. Pinckney Recreation Area's trails connect directly to campsites, providing convenient exercise routes without needing to drive elsewhere. The lakes throughout these campgrounds offer water access for pets, though swimming policies vary by location. Some sites like Ted Ranch lack formal bathroom facilities or showers, offering only portable toilets scattered throughout the grounds, which may impact longer stays with pets. The area around W.J. Hayes State Park features wide grass picnic areas where dogs are permitted, separate from the beach area. Several campgrounds like Indian Creek Camp and Ja Do Park operate seasonally, typically from April/May through mid-October, requiring advance planning for pet travel during shoulder seasons.
"Most sites around the outside are decently wooded. There’s a nice little mile nature trail through one of those loops. There’s a nice dog run that we took advantage of."
"It has access to Wamplers Lake and there are several other lakes near by. The area is quiet and clean."
from $35 - $160 / night
Check Availability"It is usually easy to get multiple sites next to each other with reservations.
There is a decent sandy beach here with a playground and volleyball net.""There is an outside vault toilet behind the cabin. Lots of trails connecting the cabin to the rest of the park. Cheap too! Only $68 per night."
from $35 - $160 / night
Check Availability"The lack of cover between sites gave everyone a nice view of the lake from our tents on our inland sites, which was beautiful."
"I stayed at #6 and had a beautiful view of the lake. There is muddy lake access on that site and I paddled from there in my kayak. There is an official boat launch nearby."
from $20 - $100 / night
Check Availability"Nice place to camp right on the lake. It's a 7 mile hike in(can also be accessed via boat), part of the Potowatomi loop trail(~18 miles) located in Waterloo-Pinckney recreation area."
"Camp ground is located along the Potawatomi Trail in Pinckney Recreation area. Bikers head the opposite direction from hikers. The route I followed was about 8 miles in to Blind Lake."
from $20 / night
Check Availability"We purchased our new rPod 193 late in the fall and have been dying to give it a test camp and Michigan Winter Weather gave us a great opportunity the week after Christmas (2021)."
"It is a bit of a walk to get to but is handicap accessible.
There are two bathrooms throughout the loop and one at the beach."
from $35 - $160 / night
Check Availability"I was right next to a cow field. The cows did not moo all night and there was no foul order. I needed no amenities so I can't vouch for that"
"not close to any stores if your forgot something
- gravel roads
Pros:
- family owned and operated
- small campground kid friendly
- free kid activities
- everyone was very nice"
from $38 - $60 / night
Check Availability"There is a new large playground structure and nice but short paved path for kids to bike or scooter around."
"On Crooked Lake, it has 25 sites, two of which are right on the water; #7 is full sun, larger, and 20 is sun/shade and tucked away in the back of the campground."
from $30 - $120 / night
Check Availability"campground though, MIS started a new music night this year at the M50 Creekside campground within the track and the music was so loud that we heard the bass and every lyric at Ted Ranch (which is a mile away from"
"This place is across the street from Michigan international speedway and sure beats fighting all the people/campers in the infield campgrounds!"
from $25 / night
Check Availability"Very friendly and family oriented the do activities right down the street from the lake and they make you feel like one big family :)"
"There is also nice walking/hiking trails connected right to the property. Our visit was for 2 days/3 nights. Over half the sites are seasonal, so despite a lot of RVs, we saw very few people."
"The group area is circular and surrounded by trees which helped to keep it cool. Each site had electric hook-up and some had water."
GuideA mostly seasonal campground that can be had to find. Super amenities with huge pool and large field with dog park, baseball field, bags, basketball and sand volleyball. Many trails to walk.
ScoutWe really enjoyed our stay. The hosts were very welcoming and helpful. Delivered our firewood right to our site. Lots of shade trees, beautiful well groomed trails for walking. Even a dog park, which our Golden Retriever really enjoyed.
GuideVery private sites. I was surprised at how well each site was hidden from the others. Restrooms can be a bit far from some sites. Nice little dog park by the beach too.
GuideNice park for full timers. Large spots to accommodate big rigs and kids. Full hook ups. Cell service great with Verizon hotspot (22u, 20d, 38ms and AT&T cell(27d, 20u, 27ms). Playgrounds everywhere for the kids. Giant dog park and ponds. Pool was closed. Just needs more grass. Our spot was really patchy and resulted in a lot of mud.
Great campground with polite and helpful staff. Don’t pass this one up.
GuideNice Park Nice park for full timers. Large spots to accommodate big rigs and kids. Full hook ups. Cell service great with Verizon hotspot(22u, 20d, 38ms and AT&T cell(27d, 20u, 27ms). Playgrounds everywhere for the kids. Giant dog park and ponds. Pool was closed. Just needs more grass. Our spot was really patchy and resulted in a lot of mud. Great campground with polite and helpful staff. Don’t pass this one up.
GuideWe have been here a few times. Really enjoy the secluded sites and the lake. It’s a small campground but it’s clean and quiet. Most sites don’t have water hookups but they do have electric. There isn’t much to do outside of the campground but there is a nice lake with canoe and kayak rentals. Very pet friendly and even has a dog beach.
RangerThey offer campsites full hookups pet friendly
They offer electric only no pets they offer campsites no pets.
They have a tent only section.
They have a beach, tennis courts, children's playground,rustic cabins, they have a recreation field Kids Activities arts and crafts!!! They have 16 resort cabins, this place is HUGH
Bathrooms were dated and we arrived Monday after Labor Day so I can't judge them. They had a FULL HOUSE on Labor Day per the front gate. I was very impressed there was no garbage at campsites and picked up very well.
GREAT biking trails you can catch on premise and bike over to Kensington and to the charming town of Milford
TravelerNice lakes for swimming and can take your pet as well! Big playground and nice bathrooms
ScoutThe camping area is nice. It is a little open for our like but there good activities you can do with the kids or pets.
The Manchester area offers multiple public land camping options within the forested terrain of southeastern Michigan. Located approximately 20 miles southwest of Ann Arbor, these campgrounds sit at elevations between 900-1,100 feet with most sites positioned among oak-hickory forests and glacial lake systems. Summer temperatures typically range from 55°F to 85°F, with higher humidity levels making waterfront sites popular.
Hiking at Waterloo Recreation Area: The 20,000-acre property contains extensive trail systems with varying difficulty levels. "There are many different trails to choose from. We hiked both east and west sides of the waterloo-pickney trail located off the Campground access road. I believe it was the west trail after Cassidy road we experienced some steep inclines," reports one visitor to Green Lake Rustic Campground.
Mountain biking on dedicated trails: The DTE mountain bike trail system connects to several campgrounds. A camper at Pinckney Recreation Area states, "We loved the trails for Mountain Bikes that are close to the Campsite! They are super fun!!"
Beach swimming: Many campgrounds offer lake access with designated swimming areas. "Nice flat campsites near the beach area. It has a very nice play area for the children and clean bathrooms. The boat launch was near our camp site which was nice not having to leave the campground," notes a visitor to Waterloo Portage Lake.
Fishing opportunities: Multiple lakes in the recreation areas offer fishing access. "Take the kids there and they love it. Nice little fishing pier and access to Round lake and Wamplers lake," reports one camper about W.J. Hayes State Park.
Spacious campsites: Many campgrounds in the Manchester area feature larger than average sites. A camper at Green Lake Rustic Campground mentioned, "We were on sites 5 and 3. Both sites seemed larger then most suburban house lots. Site 5 had a decent view of the lake."
Scenic lake views: Most campgrounds in the region feature water access. "I stayed at #6 and had a beautiful view of the lake. There is muddy lake access on that site and I paddled from there in my kayak," reports a visitor to Green Lake Rustic Campground.
Ranger-led activities: Several parks offer organized family events. At Waterloo Sugarloaf Modern, "The park workers walk around and tell you about the activities they have that day." Another camper noted, "We have been to this campground twice now. The property is very well maintained with a nice park and clean bathrooms."
Dog friendly atmosphere: Multiple dog friendly campgrounds near Manchester provide pet amenities. "We checked out half moon lake, wasn't really impressed, was told sugarloaf but its only for sugarloaf campers. We were then directed to Portage lake beach," shared a Green Lake visitor.
Variable site privacy: Campground layouts differ significantly across the region. At Hayes State Park Campground, "Most sites around the outside are decently wooded. There's a nice little mile nature trail through one of those loops."
Seasonal operations: Many smaller campgrounds operate limited schedules. "We stayed the weekend at greenlake rustic, the access road into the Campground is a nice 1/2 ish mile in," notes one camper.
Bathroom facilities vary greatly: From modern showers to rustic vault toilets, amenities differ substantially. "Green lakes vault toilets had nice motion sensor lights in them. The hand pump took a long time to get going," reports one camper.
Road noise at some sites: Highway proximity affects some campgrounds. "The freeway is on the other side of the lake, but it didn't bother us. At night it was like white noise," shares a Green Lake Rustic visitor.
Weekend activities: Many campgrounds offer scheduled events. At Ja Do Park Campground, "Lots of fun activities for the kids, hayrides, slip and slide, playground and a whole rustic area to explore while you search for leprechauns. Lots of fun for the kiddos and very friendly people."
Swimming options: Lakes vary in cleanliness and beach quality. "It has a nice beach but super busy on the weekend. Site was a little small for our 38foot - we had to go sideways which opened us up to other campers," warns a Waterloo visitor.
Playground availability: Several campgrounds feature play structures. A camper at Waterloo Sugarloaf Modern shared, "Spent 4 nights and 5 days camping with my husband and 2 kids. We had fun and the kids had a blast. They rode bikes around the loop and loved swimming and the playground."
Educational opportunities: Some parks offer nature programs. "We did the Harvest Festival," mentions one regular visitor to the Waterloo Recreation Area.
Site selection for larger rigs: Many campgrounds have size limitations. At W.J. Hayes State Park, "If your longer than 40ft be aware most sites will not work for you here, they do have some but the wood line, privacy and nature is great."
Hookup availability: Electrical and water access varies between campgrounds. "Our site was pavement but had some space to set the tent on the grass. I seen alot of sites with trees for shade," reports a Waterloo Portage Lake visitor.
Dump station access: Some campgrounds lack onsite dump stations. "Nice campground with lots of sites, after the weekend we had half the place to our selfs, nice big clean lake that also offers row boat rental," shares a Portage Lake visitor.
Seasonal site availability: Many campgrounds offer permanent options. "We have been coming here for years. We like to stay in the north campground because most of the sites are black topped," notes a regular at Waterloo Portage Lake.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Manchester, MI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Manchester, MI is W. J. Hayes State Park Campground with a 4.2-star rating from 11 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Manchester, MI?
TheDyrt.com has all 99 dog-friendly camping locations near Manchester, MI, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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