Best Tent Camping near Manistee, MI
Searching for a tent campsite near Manistee? Find the best tent camping sites near Manistee. You're sure to find the perfect tent campsite for your Michigan camping adventure.
Best Tent Sites Near Manistee, MI (35)
1. Jackpine Hike-In Campground — Ludington State Park
Ludington, Michigan7 Reviews•39 Photos•132 Saves- Pets
- Fires
- Reservable
- Tents
- Market
- Trash
$25 / night
2. Insta-Launch Campground & Marina
Manistee, Michigan3 Reviews•4 Photos•12 Saves- Pets
- Fires
- Electric Hookups
- Phone Service
- Reservable
- ADA Access
3. Leverentz Lake State Forest Campground
Baldwin, Michigan7 Reviews•15 Photos•70 SavesMichigan 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
- Pets
- Fires
- Phone Service
- ADA Access
- Tents
- Group
$15 / night
4. Healy Lake State Forest Campground
Copemish, Michigan3 Reviews•6 Photos•3 SavesThe campground is under township management
- Pets
- Fires
- Tents
- Trash
- Picnic Table
- Drinking Water
5. Crystal Forest Campground
Arcadia, Michigan1 Review•9 Saves- Pets
- Fires
- Electric Hookups
- Phone Service
- Reservable
- Tents
6. Whelan Lake Campground
Custer, Michigan2 Reviews•8 Photos•27 Saves- Pets
- Fires
- Phone Service
- Tents
- Tent Cabin
- Glamping
7. Timber Creek Campground
Baldwin, Michigan3 Reviews•2 Photos•17 SavesTimber 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.
- Fires
- ADA Access
- Tents
- Picnic Table
- Drinking Water
- Toilets
$10 / night
8. Manistee National Forest Sulak Campground
Baldwin, Michigan1 Review•1 Photo•22 Saves- Pets
- Fires
- Phone Service
- ADA Access
- Tents
- Picnic Table
9. Gleasons Landing
Baldwin, Michigan3 Reviews•14 Photos•62 SavesOverview
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.
Recreation
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.
Natural Features
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.
Nearby Attractions
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.
- Pets
- Phone Service
- Reservable
- Tents
- Group
- Trash
$90 / night
10. Bowman Lake Campground
Baldwin, Michigan2 Reviews•8 Photos•54 SavesThis 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.
- Tents
- Standard (Tent/RV)
- Alcohol
Recent Tent Reviews in Manistee
798 Reviews of 35 Manistee Campgrounds
Tammy C.
Scout
Manton Trails RV Park, Hotel & Campground
Hidden gem on the west side
This campground is centrally located to everything that’s going on, on the west side of the state. Whether it’s trail riding, Traverse City Cherry festival or hanging in the town of Manton. There is always something going on. Spacious, super clean bath house and on Saturday nights listen to live music right at your campsite!
Mario F.
Traveler
Manistee National Forest Marzinski Horse Trail Campground
Be simple
Was a quiet. Simple.. Just with nature...Site was clean, across street you can buy firewood ...Was a pleasant 2 night's....From site to the nearest store 15-20 min away..If needed...Had no issues...Be back Thanksgiving 2024..
Tom W.TravelerCondon Lakes West
Isolated and attractive to certain people
Access road is an unmarked two track that is not suitable for all vehicles. Campground is free and only six sites. Free and no registration attracts lowlifes who appear to have been there a significant amount of time or the whole season. If you have a leaky trailer that needs a tarp over the top, love having your pitbulls run wild, and firing up your generator, this may be the perfect spot for you. Not sure how the folks dragged the trailers into camp. Turned around and went elsewhere. Could have been a nice spot but...
- Tom W.Traveler
Walkup Lake Campground
Quaint and convenient
Conveniently located but proximity to the road makes it noisy. Locals drag racing on the nearby road subsided around midnight. Campsites were clean and spacious. I stayed at one of the two sites down the road by the boat launch. I stopped here after my first campground stop was full. This site will definitely get the job done but don't make this a featured stop.
Jeffrey P.
Guide
Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness
Busy but Beautiful
After a decent ruck in, you have some immediate camped spots and can travel further for even more. Summer time is busy so get there early for a spot. Have been multiple times with bigger groups and have always found a spot for tents and hammocks. Enjoy hikes down the best for a distance view of the dunes and enjoy fires with lake views at night.
- Julia A.Guide
Pines Campground — Ludington State Park
Ludington
Beach was big and beautiful but you had to drive to get to it unless you love walking with a bunch of beach stuff in a bathing suit. Hamlin lake is close by and is a good spot for fishing.
ViTraveler
Sandy Shores Campground
Nice Owners
Very cheap and exactly what we needed for a last minute campsite with a great view.
- FFern B.Guide
Lake Michigan Recreation Area
Fantastic
Great location away from everything. Spacious sites that are spread out. We stayed in the Oak Loop. Only 5 minute easy walk to beach. Quiet. Enough cell reception to send a text but that's it. Pit toilets only in Oak and Violet loops. Flush toilets in hemlock and orchid loop. No showers, but showers available at convenience store down the street during the summer.
- CC P.Traveler
Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness
I loved this place!
A small gem of a place. Park and pay to be in the National Forest...or disperse camping on Green Rd. We parked and hiked the mile and a half in to the Dunes. Take all your gear that you need if you don't want to trek back. Can not ride bike in or have anything with wheels on the trail. At the end of the Beautiful hike you come to the Dunes. Go to the right and you will see some spots to put a tent up(do not camp on Dunes or beach). To the right is easy walk and find. If you head to the left you will have to walk over some Dunes for a bit but this is where we went and found a perfect spot right where the forest and Dunes meet. Very short walk to the beach and it's AMAZING! We had it all to ourselves for hours. It's like looking at the ocean. Beautiful views, sunsets, night sky's. The water was warm and you could walk out a ways before it got deep. Great for swimming. It was perfect. One of my favorite spots away from the busy crowds. So worth the hike. Make sure you get wood and might have to hike it in. There is little to NO wood out there laying around. If you are willing to put the work in to hike out there then I promise it's worth it.
- Chris S.Traveler
Dune Town Camp Resort
Had a great time .
Peggy are host was awesome . It's really clean and a beautiful place and close to the Dunes .
- KKris D.Guide
Mears State Park Campground
First time staying
It’s a little cramped making it a bit overwhelming but the sites are nice and kept.
William A.Traveler
Green Road Dispersed - Manistee NF
Great place
Super close to manistee beach, came in on the weekend mid September, almost all the camp spots were taken. Forest was super eerie but beautiful.
- KKris D.Guide
Northern Exposure Campground & RV Park
Perfect River View
Camp staff very friendly and park is well maintained. Nice hiking trails nearby and a 20 minute drive to a whole lot of entertainment!
Michael N.Guide
Platte River Campground — Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
Beautiful area!
The camping area is amazing. My group camped in the non electric section. Each area was set back from the road. Flat gravel pad. Small paved driveway for your car. It was peaceful. And absolutely dark at night. Perfect for star gazing. The comfort station was a short walk away. Clean bathrooms, shower areas, and a small room to wash dishes. You cannot wash dishes at your site. You must take precautions against bears. So food had to be locked in cars. We didn’t encounter bears. At the entrance is a canoe/tube business. You can float down the river to Lake Michigan.
- LLindsey C.Guide
Tippy Dam State Recreation Area
Great nature - noisy neighbors
Our site was great, easily fit a 17 foot trailer and a tent. Trails down to the water were appreciated by our kids. Neighbors are pretty close all around but that didn't matter until our last night. Several new campers rolled in at 10pm and proceeded to throw an absolute rager of a party until 4am - on Labor Day weekend. So overall a great campground but I wish there had been enforcement of quiet time or some kind of consequence for such horrible camping manners.
Benjamin A.Traveler
Gleasons Landing
Beautiful riverside campground
Most sites have direct river access. All sites are walk-in, but not far from the parking area. There are two pit toilets for six sites and both were clean. They sites are large, but fairly open, not much between the sites.
- Benjamin A.Traveler
Elk Canoe Campground
Basic canoe camping
Elk is a great place to spend the night after a day of paddling or fishing. There are four sites with decent space between them. The pit toilet was decently clean and well away from the sites, so no smell. The only downside is that access is tricky. The landing is a steep bank with large rocks on the river bank.
Skip C.Traveler
Whispering Oaks Campground
Nice location
Small campsites, but nice bathrooms and showers, close to Baldwin
- Skip C.Traveler
Riverside Park Campground
Nice park
Went there to use dump station after camping at the local veterans retreat, nice facilities and staff. 15$ fee to use dump station
Jim P.ScoutVal Du Lakes Resort
What a great place.
I can't say enough about this place. They where so nice, polite and friendly. We had some R.V. Issues and they where there to help. The camp site was very nice. There bathroom and shower were so clean. We will stay there again.
H. S.Traveler
Bear Track Campground
Rustic seclusion.
No running water.
No electricity.No flush toilets.
No internet.
No phone signal.Pure heaven.
Rustic campsites. 50-100 yards from the river. Great water from the pump. Nice clean vault toilet. Very quiet at night. Peaceful and beautiful. We've gone ever year for the last 5 years. Going again next year.
Highly recommend a satellite-based GPS unit like Garmin or TomTom in your car. I was serious when I said no phone signal so Google Maps ain't gonna' get you there.
- JJoeScout
The Campground
Fantastic Campground!
The campground is a small, family friendly campground that has a lot of activities for both adults and kids. It is clean, has level sites and well maintained facilities.
J B.TravelerTippy Dam State Recreation Area
Great time
The campsites are spacious and feature trails that lead directly to the Tippy Dam Backwater. There’s also convenient access for launching a boat on either the Manistee River or the backwaters side of the dam
- LLon L.Scout
Northwestern Michigan Fairgrounds
close to travese city and interlockin
Quiet, large sites, like new bath house, 7th nite free, rate$35, good location for northwestern Michigan sites Water on all outside sites. interior sites share water hookups
Brandon C.Scout
Rvino - Timberline, LLC
Quiet Campground
Not a bad campground. Easy drive to Traverse City. Camp store is small and closes early, 7pm.
Jen L.ScoutManton Trails RV Park, Hotel & Campground
Great location for orv trail access
Great campground. Booked two nights and had to request a third it was so perfect. We went up because it advertised orv access right from campsite. It’s really handy to not have to trailer over to the trsilheads. Quiet, bug spaces, huge bathhouse. We will be going back!
- BBob W.Scout
Grass Lake State Forest Campground
Updated Info
Updating this information. We live 3 miles from this camp. All MI State Forest Campgrounds are nor $20/night.
There is not a RV dump or hookup of any kind in this campground. One could easily bring a 30 ft trailer but sites this size are limited.
This camp is on the Betsie River and the Grass Lake Flooding. There is a gravel/sand ramp to launch smaller fishing boats. Great area to kayak and float tube. 1000's of acres of State Forest surrounding this spot with miles of trails for atv, cars, trucks and horses. There are no horst facilities at this camp.
Guide to Manistee
Tent camping near Manistee, Michigan offers a unique blend of natural beauty and outdoor adventure, perfect for those looking to escape into the wilderness.
Tent campers appreciate these amenities
- The Jackpine Hike-In Campground features well-defined sites with picnic tables and fire pits, ensuring a comfortable camping experience.
- At the Insta-Launch Campground & Marina, campers can enjoy electric hookups and clean facilities, making it a convenient choice for families.
- The Healy Lake State Forest Campground offers a rustic experience with plenty of space and a good boat launch for water activities.
Tent campers like these nearby activities
- The scenic trails leading to the lighthouse from Jackpine Hike-In Campground provide a picturesque hike with stunning views of Lake Michigan.
- Fishing enthusiasts will appreciate the access to the river at the Insta-Launch Campground & Marina, where they can cast a line right from their campsite.
- The Whelan Lake Campground offers a peaceful setting for canoeing and exploring the surrounding nature, perfect for a relaxing day on the water.
Explore these specific local attractions
- The beautiful beaches of Lake Michigan are just a short hike from the Jackpine Hike-In Campground, making it easy to enjoy sunbathing and swimming.
- Nearby, the Healy Lake State Forest Campground provides access to a serene inland lake, ideal for kayaking and paddleboarding.
- The Crystal Forest Campground is located near various hiking trails, offering opportunities to explore the lush Michigan forests and spot local wildlife.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Manistee, MI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Manistee, 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 Manistee, MI?
TheDyrt.com has all 35 tent camping locations near Manistee, MI, with real photos and reviews from campers.