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Best Tent Camping near Mio, MI

513 Reviews

Multiple tent camping areas surround Mio, Michigan, including walk-in sites, canoe-accessible locations, and primitive backcountry options. Cathedral Pines Campground offers secluded tent camping with river access, while the Hoist/Reid Lake Areas provide backcountry tent sites along an 8-mile trail system. Parmalee Bridge State Forest Campground combines drive-in and walk-in tent camping options with riverside sites. Most locations are situated within Huron National Forest or state forest lands, providing access to the AuSable River and surrounding wilderness.

Many tent campgrounds in the Mio area feature basic amenities with varying levels of access. Wakeley Lake Campground requires a half-mile hike to reach the tent sites, making it more secluded than drive-in options. Vault toilets are available at some locations like Rainbow Bend and Parmalee Bridge, but many backcountry tent sites have no facilities. Potable water pumps exist at select campgrounds but may be seasonal or unreliable. According to one visitor, "The trail is easy enough and there are so many different spots to camp along the way. It is foot travel only and most sites are a decent hike to get to." Bear activity requires proper food storage, with several reviews mentioning the need to hang food and trash.

Tent camping experiences vary widely across the Mio region, with some sites offering riverside locations and others nestled in forested settings. The Reid Lake area provides multiple tent sites scattered throughout a 4-mile trail network, ideal for beginners or groups wanting separate campsites within hiking distance of each other. Sites nearest to parking areas fill quickly during summer weekends, while more remote tent locations typically remain available. White Pine Canoe Camp is accessible only by water, offering a unique tent camping experience for paddlers. A recent review noted that while "The water pump was out of commission and there was very limited access to dry wood," the site still provided a quality primitive camping experience. Fall camping offers reduced crowds and insects, making it an optimal season for tent campers seeking solitude.

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Best Tent Sites Near Mio, Michigan (44)

    1. Cathedral Pines Campground

    1 Review
    Mio, MI
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (989) 826-3252

    "Its very secluded, a long walk, and dirty, but I love it. I think my young son loves it more. Its first-come so get there early but you can pitch your tent in a number of spots."

    2. Parmalee Bridge State Forest Campground & Canoe Camp

    1 Review
    Luzerne, MI
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (989) 473-2258

    "There’s a party store about a quarter mile down the road that sells firewood if you have difficulty scavenging dead trees. 3 vault toilets. A dumpster. Functioning potable water pump."

    3. Luzerne Trail Camp

    1 Review
    Luzerne, MI
    7 miles
    Website

    4. Hoist/Reid Lake Areas

    3 Reviews
    Curran, MI
    15 miles

    "Went 3 years back for a mid day hike in the winter and it was gorgeous with snow and ice! The campsites are first come first serve and they are rustic. If you are a minimalist, this loop is for you!"

    "Not heavily trafficked, and most of the campsites have a pretty decent set up from past campers. Depending on your route, you can make this hike long or short."

    5. Rainbow Bend State Forest Campground & Canoe Camp

    2 Reviews
    Luzerne, MI
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (989) 275-4622

    "If you like to rough it, but be able to drive to your campground, this is your place. Get back to nature here with no running water or electric."

    6. White Pine Canoe SF Campground

    4 Reviews
    Luzerne, MI
    16 miles
    Website

    "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."

    "After a short mile or so hike over a mostly level sandy trail you'll reach to the campground. It's located in a part of the forest with lots of ridges."

    7. Wakeley Lake Campground — Huron Manistee National Forests

    2 Reviews
    Grayling, MI
    18 miles
    +1 (989) 826-3252

    $10 / night

    "One other camper nearby but completely out of earshot."

    "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."

    8. Spruce Rustic Campground — Rifle River Recreation Area

    3 Reviews
    Lupton, MI
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (989) 473-2258

    "The vault toilets do need some attention."

    "I wish I would have picked a different spot as I was right next to the bathroom but it was fine. Plenty of fire wood around the collect with access to trials and the river."

    9. White Pine Canoe Camp

    1 Review
    Luzerne, MI
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (989) 348-6371

    "The site had 2 vault toilets. The water pump was out of commission and there was very limited access to dry wood or dead trees, but fortunately we brought enough water and pre-made foods."

    10. Wakeley Lake Area

    1 Review
    Grayling, MI
    18 miles
    Website

    "By the lake... lots of trails for exploring. Good area for hunting upland game. Can’t wait to go again!"

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Mio, MI

8 Photos of 44 Mio Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Mio, MI

513 Reviews of 44 Mio Campgrounds

  • Cam N.
    Oct. 22, 2018

    Negwegon State Park Campground

    Great place to start your backpacking obsession

    If you're looking at getting into backpacking or unsure if backpacking is for you, Negwegon is a great place to start. First of all, each of the sites are only a mile or two away from the parking lot of the park. This gives newbies the chance to take a small hike in for that backcountry feel. Second, each site has a fire ring and picnic table... and a vault toilet. This means you get a few of the comforts of car camping but with beautiful views of Lake Huron and limited interaction with humans. Staying at Blue Bell, site #1, we were treated with Lake Huron just about 100 feet away from our campsite. We had the chance to check out site #3– for those that love sand, that is the spot for you.

    As for the camping site overall, #1 is a great start. It is about 75 feet off of the trail, but in the fall, foot traffic was very limited. The wind provided us with plenty of fallen limbs and brush to start a fire. If you pack a hatchet, options are expanded to larger fallen branches. There are a few spots on the site to pitch your tent– with it being windy, we setup tucked in a flat area surrounded by thick evergreen trees that provided wind protection. Lake Huron is very clear and we filtered about 10 cups of water to drink throughout our stay.

    Going in mid-fall, be prepared for that breeze blowing off of the lake, we came prepared for the cold, if you don't, you'll be miserable. Upsides of camping in the fall, limited to no bugs. We didn't have any issue with bugs and in fact, we saw no wildlife at all– even including a hike up past site #4.

  • Ari A.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 26, 2019

    Jones Lake State Forest Campground

    Peaceful spot, plenty of room

    Seems much larger than most state forest campgrounds in Michigan. There are 6 loops here with numerous sites on each loop. And yet, you don't feel crowded in and there's decent privacy in many of the sites. Jones Lake is peaceful and offers some great sunsets. Dirt road leading in is in decent shape and navigable by any size rig. Some of the sites may require some tight maneuvering for larger rigs but site size is good overall. Trees offer good shade cover at different times of the day depending on site location.

    Rustic campground, so no water or electric are available, but there are vault toilets, as well as trash and recycling receptacles.

    Each site has a picnic table and fire ring.

    We had a very pleasant stay.

    Deecnt cell coverage -- 2 bars LTE on Verizon, 2-3 bars LTE on Google Fi.

  • Emily V.
    Aug. 17, 2018

    Pickerel Lake (Otsego) State Forest Campground

    Great getaway and lots of space!

    Great state forest campground. $15 per night can’t be beat. Sites are great for tents and RVs but no electricity. Hand pump wells for drinking water and vault toilets that are well kept. About 40 spots. All with picnic table and fire ring. Some are closer to the lake than others but good trails to get to the lake. Lake is perfect for swimming.

  • Lexi G.
    Jul. 30, 2020

    4-Mile Trail Camp DNR

    Cheap horse camp

    It’s never busy here. I don’t have horses but I’ve seen people stay with horse trailers with their tie outs to the poles that are designed for it. There’s trails in the surrounding areas. Also water pump and vault toilets. Picnic tables and fire rings are provided as well.

  • Margaret W.
    Jul. 9, 2019

    Negwegon State Park Campground

    Negwegon State Park site 3, Pewabic

    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.

  • Kate K.
    Sep. 3, 2019

    Avery Lake State Forest Campground

    Little Rustic Campground

    This place was really nice and not very busy. It’s on a beautiful lake that is great for swimming and boating. It has a few walk in sites that have beach access. All sites include picnic table and fire pit. Shared rustic vault toilets available. There is a nice boat launch located within the campground as well.

  • Melissa M.
    Jul. 18, 2020

    Au Sable River Primitive Camping

    Peaceful • Rustic

    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

  • Lydia T.
    May. 13, 2024

    Jackson Lake State Forest Campground

    Rustic state forest campground

    Rustic campground on Jackson lake. Very close to clear lake state park down the road. Vault toilets and each site comes with picnic table and fire ring.

  • Kate K.
    Aug. 20, 2019

    Pickerel Lake (Otsego) State Forest Campground

    Nice sites but not too close to the lake

    Nice large state forest campground with plenty of space and sites. Each site includes a picnic table and fire ring. Shared rustic toilets and hand pump for water are also available. The sites are large but only a few are close to the lake and even those require taking a trail down to the water. The lake is beautiful and clear, perfect for a paddle or morning swim.

Guide to Mio

Tent camping near Mio, Michigan offers primitive backcountry experiences within the Huron-Manistee National Forests. The area sits at approximately 900 feet elevation with sandy soil terrain and seasonal temperature variations from winter lows near 10°F to summer highs around 80°F. Most tent sites operate from April through October, with some remote locations requiring permits during hunting seasons.

What to do

Fishing access points: Wakeley Lake Area provides catch-and-release fishing opportunities with artificial lure restrictions. One camper noted, "Some of the best catch and release artificial lure only fishing. Loved watching the loons on the lake."

River paddling routes: White Pine Canoe SF Campground serves as an ideal first-night stop on multi-day paddling trips. A reviewer explained, "1st night of 3 night river trip with second night at rainbow bend third and final stop at parmalee."

Winter exploration: The Reid Lake area transforms during winter months with fewer visitors and distinct wildlife tracking opportunities. A camper reported, "Went 3 years back for a mid day hike in the winter and it was gorgeous with snow and ice!"

What campers like

Secluded sites: Wakeley Lake Campground offers lakeside camping with privacy. A camper shared, "We only stayed one night but it was very nice, right by the water. One other camper nearby but completely out of earshot."

Canoe-friendly setup: Parmalee Bridge State Forest Campground features both canoe-specific and traditional camping areas. According to one visitor, "It had a canoe only and a traditional campground area. There's a party store about a quarter mile down the road that sells firewood if you have difficulty scavenging dead trees."

Drive-in primitive options: Rainbow Bend State Forest Campground combines accessibility with rustic amenities. A camper remarked, "If you like to rough it, but be able to drive to your campground, this is your place. Get back to nature here with no running water or electric."

What you should know

Equipment hauling strategies: Some sites require creative transportation methods. At Wakeley Lake, one camper reported, "We hauled our canoe loaded with our tent and amenities on a dolly the half mile or so back to the camp sites."

Water access concerns: Water availability varies significantly by location and season. At White Pine Canoe Camp, a visitor found "The water pump was out of commission and there was very limited access to dry wood or dead trees, but fortunately we brought enough water and pre-made foods."

Food storage requirements: Bear and coyote activity requires proper precautions. At Cathedral Pines, a camper warned, "The wildlife will get curious if you leave something out so hang your garbage-this is bear country. Neighboring campers brought coyotes last year because they didn't pack up their food."

Tips for camping with families

Riverside options: Rainbow Bend offers family-friendly sites along the AuSable River. A visitor commented, "Great, quiet, cozy place to take kids or anyone for that matter. Right on the river and clean, flat lots."

Shallow water access: Cathedral Pines Campground provides safe water play areas for children. According to one parent, "The vault toilet isn't terrible and the river is shallow by the steps so its great for the kids."

Loop trail camping: Hoist/Reid Lake Areas features multiple tent sites along an 8-mile loop suitable for beginning backpackers. A camper observed, "Depending on your route, you can make this hike long or short. It's perfect for an overnight or a weekend getaway."

Tips from RVers

Small trailer access: Spruce Rustic Campground accommodates modest-sized trailers despite its remote setting. One RVer confirmed, "I got my 20' trailer back there no problem."

Site spacing: RV campers appreciate separation between sites at Spruce Rustic Campground. A visitor noted, "Small, rustic, remote, clean and quiet. Large and level campsites that are well spaced."

Facility limitations: Bathroom facilities at rustic campgrounds require realistic expectations. A camper at Spruce Rustic mentioned, "The vault toilets do need some attention."

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Mio, MI?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Mio, MI is Cathedral Pines Campground with a 5-star rating from 1 review.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Mio, MI?

TheDyrt.com has all 44 tent camping locations near Mio, MI, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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