Top Tent Camping near Manistee, MI

Searching for a tent campsite near Manistee? With The Dyrt, it's easy to find Manistee campgrounds for you and your tent. Each tent site offers quick access to one or more of Manistee, Michigan's most popular destinations.

Best Tent Sites Near Manistee, MI (37)

Showing results 1-10 of 37 campgrounds

Recent Tent Reviews In Manistee

782 Reviews of 37 Manistee Campgrounds


  • Tammy C.
    Camper-submitted photo from Manton Trails RV Park, Hotel & Campground
    Oct. 29, 2024

    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!

  • Tom W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Condon Lakes West
    Oct. 20, 2024

    Condon 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.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Walkup Lake Campground
    Oct. 20, 2024

    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.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness
    Oct. 11, 2024

    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.
    Camper-submitted photo from Pines - Ludington State Park
    Oct. 10, 2024

    Pines - 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.

  • FThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Lake Michigan Recreation Area
    Sep. 28, 2024

    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.

  • CThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness
    Sep. 24, 2024

    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.

  • K
    Camper-submitted photo from Mears State Park
    Sep. 22, 2024

    Mears State Park

    First time staying

    It’s a little cramped making it a bit overwhelming but the sites are nice and kept.

  • Michael N.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Platte River Campground — Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
    Sep. 19, 2024

    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.

  • L
    Camper-submitted photo from Tippy Dam State Recreation Area
    Sep. 12, 2024

    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.
    Camper-submitted photo from Gleasons Landing
    Sep. 12, 2024

    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.
    Camper-submitted photo from Elk Canoe Campground
    Sep. 12, 2024

    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.

  • Jim P.
    Camper-submitted photo from Val Du Lakes Resort
    Aug. 25, 2024

    Val 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.
    Camper-submitted photo from Bear Track Campground
    Aug. 22, 2024

    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.

  • J
    Camper-submitted photo from The Campground
    Aug. 20, 2024

    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.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Tippy Dam State Recreation Area
    Aug. 17, 2024

    Tippy 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

  • L
    Camper-submitted photo from Northwestern Michigan Fairgrounds
    Jul. 29, 2024

    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

  • Jen L.
    Camper-submitted photo from Manton Trails RV Park, Hotel & Campground
    Jul. 26, 2024

    Manton 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!

  • B
    Camper-submitted photo from Grass Lake State Forest Campground
    Jul. 25, 2024

    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.

  • Nicole V.
    Camper-submitted photo from Lake Dubonnet State Forest Campground
    Jul. 14, 2024

    Lake Dubonnet State Forest Campground

    Nice but camp host needed

    Large campground composed or 5 loops. Many have a trail leading to the water. Hiking and biking paths within the campground along with a nice boat ramp. Trash on sites and dirty outhouses along with lots of generators and after hour noise was a downside.



Guide to Manistee

Camping near Manistee, Michigan, offers a mix of beautiful landscapes and fun activities for everyone. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or an adventure-filled getaway, this area has something for you.

What to do

  • Explore the Dunes: The nearby Silver Lake State Park Campground is perfect for those who love sand dunes. One visitor mentioned, "The location is awesome due to its proximity to the Silver Lake Off Road Vehicle Area, Lake Michigan, and the Little Sable Point Lighthouse."
  • Hiking Trails: Check out the trails at Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness. A reviewer said, "The dunes are a quick walk and well worth it. There is a trail from the campground right down to the beach."
  • Fishing and Boating: At Green Lake Rustic South — Interlochen State Park, you can enjoy fishing and boating. One camper noted, "Good pan and bass fishing. The local grocery store is close, as well as a dollar store, mini golf, ice cream, and restaurants."

What campers like

What you should know

  • Noise Levels: Some campgrounds can be noisy due to traffic or nearby roads. A visitor at Traverse City State Park Campground noted, "The park isn’t connected to the bay... it’s close to an airport and near a busy road, so it was a little noisy."
  • Site Privacy: Privacy can vary between campgrounds. A camper at D.H. Day Group Campground mentioned, "Most sites are not real great for privacy."
  • Limited Amenities: Some campgrounds may lack certain amenities. A visitor at Orchard Beach State Park Campground pointed out, "No beach access anymore at this campground."

Tips for camping with families

  • Choose Family-Friendly Campgrounds: Look for campgrounds with playgrounds and activities for kids. One camper at Silver Lake State Park Campground mentioned, "Great playground, right next to the beach."
  • Plan for Bathroom Breaks: Some campgrounds have bathrooms that are a bit of a walk. A visitor at Orchard Beach State Park Campground noted, "The bathroom is a pretty distant walk so prepare for that."
  • Pack Snacks and Drinks: Having snacks on hand can keep the kids happy. A camper at Traverse City State Park Campground mentioned, "If you’re looking for quiet, nature, and easy access to swimming then it’s not my #1 choice."

Tips from RVers

  • Check Site Sizes: Make sure your RV fits the site. A visitor at Silver Lake State Park Campground said, "Check your rig size against the site you are planning on reserving."
  • Be Prepared for Tight Spaces: Some campgrounds have closely packed sites. A camper at Indigo Bluffs RV Park noted, "We had a lovely, shaded, level, spacious site."
  • Bring Extra Supplies: Stock up on essentials before heading out. A visitor at Lake Michigan Recreation Area mentioned, "Bring enough supplies for your stay unless you don’t mind a 1/2 hour drive to get resupplied."

Camping near Manistee, Michigan, has its perks and quirks. With the right preparation, you can enjoy a memorable outdoor experience!

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 Ludington State Park: Jackpine Hike-In Campground 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 37 tent camping locations near Manistee, MI, with real photos and reviews from campers.