Top Tent Camping near Onekama, MI
Looking for the best tent campgrounds near Onekama? The Dyrt is an easy way to find tent camping spots near Onekama. From remote to easy-to-reach, these Onekama campsites are perfect for tent campers.
Best Tent Sites Near Onekama, MI (42)
1.
Insta-Launch Campground & Marina
Manistee, Michigan3 Reviews4 Photos12 Saves- Pets
- Fires
- Electric Hookups
- Phone Service
- Reservable
- ADA Access
2.
Jackpine Hike-In Campground — Ludington State Park
Ludington, Michigan7 Reviews39 Photos132 Saves- Pets
- Fires
- Reservable
- Tents
- Market
- Trash
$25 / night
3.
Healy Lake State Forest Campground
Copemish, Michigan3 Reviews6 Photos3 SavesThe campground is under township management
- Pets
- Fires
- Tents
- Trash
- Picnic Table
- Drinking Water
4.
Crystal Forest Campground
Arcadia, Michigan1 Review8 Saves- Pets
- Fires
- Electric Hookups
- Phone Service
- Reservable
- Tents
5.
Leverentz Lake State Forest Campground
Baldwin, Michigan7 Reviews15 Photos70 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
6.
Timber Creek Campground
Baldwin, Michigan3 Reviews2 Photos16 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
7.
White Pine Backcountry Camp — Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
Empire, Michigan1 Review12 Photos98 SavesThis camp has 6 sites and is located about 2 miles from the Trail's End Road trailhead on the Platte Plains hiking trail south of Empire just off of M-22 and is about 1/2 mile from the Lake Michigan shore where you can obtain fresh water. There is no well water at White Pine, so if you use water from Lake Michigan, it must be treated before drinking it.
- Tents
8.
Carrieville State Forest Campground
Luther, Michigan2 Reviews3 Photos22 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/buy-and-apply/rec-pp
- Pets
- Fires
- Phone Service
- ADA Access
- Tents
- Group
9.
South Manitou Island Group
Glen Arbor, Michigan8 Reviews47 Photos59 SavesOverview
South Manitou Group Campground is a tent-only backcountry facility on South Manitou Island in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore on Lake Michigan. Campers must take a 1.5-hour Manitou Island Transit Ferry trip or boat ride to reach it, and must backpack their gear into the campground from the dock. **Booking for individual sites on South Manitou Island are made on a first come/first served basis directly through Manitou Island Transit .**This facility is comprised of three reservable group sites at Bay Campground and three others at Weather Station Campground. Each site is open to groups of nine to 20 people only. Smaller parties must plan to occupy multiple first-come, first-served individual sites at Popple, Bay or Weather Station Campgrounds on the island. Bay is the closest campground to the dock (less than a mile/1.6 km) and a short walk from the beach. Weather Station overlooks Lake Michigan from the bluffs on the south side of the island; the hike from the ferry is about 1.3 miles (2 km). If group sites are full, your group may be able to split up into multiple individual campsites. Be sure to book reservations on the Manitou Island Transit website or call (231) 256-9061 for transportation to the island. Or contact Sleeping Bear Dunes for more information at (231) 326-4700 ext 5010.Summer temperatures range from the upper 70s to 90 degrees F (25__ to 32__ C) during the day, and from the 50s to 70 degrees F (10__ to 25__ C) at night. Winters are cold, with daytime highs from 20__ to 30__ F (-7__ to -1__ C) and lows in the 10s and 20s F (-12 to -7__ C). Snow is usually on the ground from late November through March.
Recreation
There is no shortage of activities on South Manitou Island. Visitors can hike around the 10-mile perimeter of the island via pebble beaches, take a tour of the South Manitou Island Lighthouse during summer months, view the 1960 shipwreck of the Francisco Morazanon or go on a motorized tour to learn the history of the island. Visitors can also hike day-long excursions to unique sand dune formations and old growth cedar forests. Both campgrounds have beach access where campers can beachcomb and swim; group sites are closer to the beach at Bay Campground than at Weather Station.
Facilities
There is no shortage of activities on South Manitou Island. Visitors can hike around the 10-mile perimeter of the island via pebble beaches, take a tour of the South Manitou Island Lighthouse during summer months, view the 1960 shipwreck of the Francisco Morazanon or go on a motorized tour to learn the history of the island. Visitors can also hike day-long excursions to unique sand dune formations and old growth cedar forests. Both campgrounds have beach access where campers can beachcomb and swim; group sites are closer to the beach at Bay Campground than at Weather Station.
Natural Features
South Manitou Island is part of an island chain in Lake Michigan that extends north to the Straits of Mackinac. The island consists of a ridge of tilted layers of limestone, buried under a blanket of glacial debris. It features unique sand dune formations, 10 miles of pebble beaches and a grove of old growth white cedars that date back over 500 years. The campgrounds lie on sandy soils among younger forests.
contact_info
For local information, please call (231) 326-4700 or call (877) 444-6777 for general information.
- Fires
- Phone Service
- Reservable
- Tents
- Group
- Trash
$30 / night
10.
Whelan Lake Campground
Custer, Michigan2 Reviews8 Photos25 Saves- Pets
- Fires
- Phone Service
- Tents
- Cabins
- Tent Cabin
Showing results 1-10 of 42 campgrounds
Recent Tent Reviews In Onekama
835 Reviews of 42 Onekama Campgrounds
Tippy Dam State Recreation Area
Great nature - noisy neighbors
Our site was great, easily fit a 17 foot trailer and a tent. Trails down to the water were appreciated by our kids. Neighbors are pretty close all around but that didn't matter until our last night. Several new campers rolled in at 10pm and proceeded to throw an absolute rager of a party until 4am - on Labor Day weekend. So overall a great campground but I wish there had been enforcement of quiet time or some kind of consequence for such horrible camping manners.
Gleasons Landing
Beautiful riverside campground
Most sites have direct river access. All sites are walk-in, but not far from the parking area. There are two pit toilets for six sites and both were clean. They sites are large, but fairly open, not much between the sites.
Elk Canoe Campground
Basic canoe camping
Elk is a great place to spend the night after a day of paddling or fishing. There are four sites with decent space between them. The pit toilet was decently clean and well away from the sites, so no smell. The only downside is that access is tricky. The landing is a steep bank with large rocks on the river bank.
Whispering Oaks Campground
Nice location
Small campsites, but nice bathrooms and showers, close to Baldwin
Riverside Park Campground
Nice park
Went there to use dump station after camping at the local veterans retreat, nice facilities and staff. 15$ fee to use dump station
South Manitou Island Group
Popple Campground
Stayed at site 3. It was a relatively easy hike until you hit a hilly spot towards the campground. Mid July was very buggy.
Site 3 has easy access to an overlook which we made use of for photos of a storm that rolled in over North Manitou Island, our original destination. There was one vault toilet at the opposite end of the campground.
Like at Weatherstation, it was easy enough to get down to the beach for swimming and refilling our Grayls but to get back up was a bit of a challenge that grew old after a few trips.
Our last night, we stayed at the Bay campground which was nice. Fire rings are available and getting to and from the water was much easier. I'd recommend the Bay for people who want a more leisurely experience and one of the other campgrounds if you want to get some miles and get more rustic.
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.
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.
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.
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
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
Sand Lakes Quiet Area Backcountry Campsites
Everything that it said it was
To many people and yelling kids but breath taking for sure
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.
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.
Lake Michigan Recreation Area
Nice off grid camping
Nice campsites with enough space between sites. Our site wasn’t level. Most sites are level and have large picnic tables and fire pits with fold away grills. Bring enough supplies for your stay unless you don’t mind a 1/2 hour drive to get resupplied in Ludington or Manistee. Mice and mosquitoes can be a nuisance in the campsite even if you’re careful about crumbs etc. We had a mouse going under our ground tarp under the tent
The Woodland Shores Resort
Private beach, best sunsets you’ll ever see
It was a nice campground. Nestled in nature, quiet, clean, WiFi only at the clubhouse. Private beach with a steep paved walkway accessible across the street. Absolutely the best sunsets over Lake Michigan! Friendly staff, Pool was clean, refreshing, and hot tub as well. Game room for the kids. Various outdoor games-usual horseshoes, shuffleboard, basketball, small playground. Many, many, many speed bumps throughout. Firewood was wet. Other campers we talked to said it’s always wet, that they don’t buy it there. Spent $70 for weekend rate, I think it was $60? For weekday? Just for electric, water, no WiFi, 4 days. With all the campgrounds MI has to offer, this was a very nice campground, and would recommend it, but we personally look forward to exploring other options.
Highbank Lake Campground
Meh, not for me, won't go back
The lake was pretty peaceful and has private residences. One of the private residences had construction noise (generator, nail gun, impact drill, saw). There was a relatively frequent roar of SxS and dirt bikes from a dirt road that went behind the campground.
The sites were each unique, some near the water and some more wooded. I stayed at #7 which was wooded and full of ticks. Despite plenty of bug spray and a Thermacell, I ended up with two ticks on me in the evening and one on the picnic table. Flies were pesky throughout the campground.
The price is considerably high given it's the same price as the paid sites in the Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness Area with its surrounding activities and scenery.
The American Land & Leisure who operate the Highbanks Lake campground could improve the footprints of the sites some to provide better delineation between natural areas and site boundaries which might eliminate ticks to an extent.
Mountain Valley Lodge & Campground
Great Campground, huge sites!
We just stayed here for 6 nights. Owners were welcoming and kind upon check in. The campground was very well maintained with a good amount of trees giving good shade outside.
Sites are large well maintained.
We stayed across the street from the bath house and the pool. Pool was chemically checked several times a day and it was so nice.Our kids loved the pool and the space to ride bikes.
Will definitely be booking here again.
Reasonable rates for the site and generous wood costs as well. They drive around almost nightly and will sell you wood right at your site if you're there. $10 for a wheel barrow full and they stack it for you!
Highly recommend this campground.
Empire Township Campground
Great for tent camping!
We have come to this campground every year since 2020 for a week with our travel trailer. We got lucky to find and opening at an electric site in their schedule and once you're in, you can reserve the same site on the same week the following year. We've had family members stay in tent sites nearby and they loved it.
Cedar Campground — Ludington State Park
Winter Camping in Cedar Cabin
Great cabin for winter camping. Electricity, heat, microwave, mini fridge. 2 sets of bunks, sleeps 5. Table with chairs. Wonderful hiking.
Green Lake Rustic South — Interlochen State Park
Nice boating
Green Lake Rustic- clean campground. Some sites are small, and you are on top of your "neighbors." Vault style toilets that get quite smelly. The boat ramp to Green Lake is well maintained. The parking lot is a bit small but doable. Good pan and bass fishing. The local grocery store is close, as well as a dollar store, mini golf, ice cream, and restaurants (if that's your thing).
Maple Grove Campground
Will return in the future
Ted and Jen have been doing improvements to maple grove camp ground, they have gotten new fire rings last year and got the road grated, this year there in the process of getting better internet out there which will be great for the whole camp ground and they leveled the camp sites out the best they could , the city of lake is always on top of mowing the field and play area, they always try to help their campers as much as they can. very quiet camp ground will always come back they are doing a better job then Ron and Deb ever did!
Sulak Campground
Beautiful location
The location is beautiful
Lake Billings RV Park & Campground
It was decent
They have a really nice area whether it’s fishing or swimming, playground or just plain camping, etc. the only negative thing is the tent camping spots DO NOT have PLUGS which was really irritating because tent camping you’re definitely gonna need an outlet.
Jackpine Hike-In Campground — Ludington State Park
Jack Pine Had Everything
Ludington State Park - Jack Pine camp had everything. A very pleasant drive into the state park - with many places to access the beach.
Check-in and parking for camping was easy and the price was reasonable. Easy hike to Jack Pine and it was easy to find my campsite.
Campsite has well designated corner marker boundaries with plenty of room to pitch a tent and several hammock options. Each site has a solid fire pit and picnic table. Plenty of tree cover for shade. Toilets are close and clean.
The hike to the lighthouse was easy and the lighthouse was picturesque. Great access to the beach and again toilets were close and clean.
Traverse City State Park Campground
Spots are small for travel trailers/RV’s.
Well, the spots are very small and you have to park sideways. Nothing can beat the price of staying in Traverse City. If you have your own camper, the showers are nice. You’re right downtown and there’s a catwalk over the beach.
Sand Lakes Quiet Area Backcountry Campsites
Awesome fishing and great camp sites
Me and my dad went camping here rode our motorcycles into the parking area and had a nice little hike to the camp ground! Very nice camp sites once we got set up we went down to fish and the lake is beautiful clear water and a lot of fish!!
Guide to Onekama
Camping near Onekama, 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 Sleeping Bear Dunes: This national lakeshore is a must-see. One camper mentioned, "The only thing I don't like are the pit toilets, but it's the tradeoff for no electricity or running water," highlighting the rustic charm of the area.
- Hiking Trails: There are plenty of trails to hike, especially around the Platte River Campground. A visitor noted, "There's also a trail that connects the campground to Lake Michigan, about a 1.2-mile hike which was a nice little hike even in the rain."
- Fishing and Boating: The Betsie River Campsite is popular for fishing. One review said, "This tiny little family-owned campground is one of our favorites... There are many places to put into the river."
What campers like:
- Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate the cleanliness of the restrooms and showers. A visitor at Cedar Campground said, "The bathrooms and showers are clean."
- Friendly Staff: Many campers mention the helpfulness of the staff. One reviewer at Northern Exposure Campground shared, "Staff was friendly. Campground was quiet and everyone who was around us was super nice and friendly."
- Scenic Views: Campers love the beautiful surroundings. A review for Lake Michigan Recreation Area noted, "The dunes were amazing! A short walk from the camping loops, the dunes open to the amazing shore of Lake Michigan."
What you should know:
- Site Privacy: Some campgrounds have sites that are close together. A camper at D.H. Day Group Campground mentioned, "Most sites do not have lateral privacy."
- No Beach Access at Some Campgrounds: The Orchard Beach State Park Campground has lost its beach access due to erosion. A visitor pointed out, "You must travel 4 miles away to Douglas Park to use a beach."
- Limited Amenities: Some campgrounds, like Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness, are more rustic. One camper noted, "There is no cell service or wifi, so plan ahead and let people know you won’t be reachable."
Tips for camping with families:
- Choose Campgrounds with Amenities: If you have kids, look for campgrounds with clean bathrooms and showers. A family at Indigo Bluffs RV Park said, "Nice campgrounds, clean restroom and showers."
- Plan Activities: Make sure to have a list of activities. One camper at Green Lake Rustic South mentioned, "The campground has a lot to offer... it does have campsites along the water."
- Bring Bug Spray: Bugs can be a nuisance, especially near water. A visitor at Platte River Campground noted, "Bugs: Not bad. However, biting flies near the sand."
Tips from RVers:
- Check Site Sizes: Make sure your RV fits the site. A reviewer at Cedar Campground mentioned, "Reservations were in Pine. Our site was under water."
- Look for Electric Hookups: If you need power, check for campgrounds with electric hookups. A camper at Northern Exposure Campground appreciated the "electric hookups and water."
- Be Prepared for Limited Services: Some campgrounds may not have full amenities. A visitor at Lake Michigan Recreation Area said, "Bring enough supplies for your stay unless you don’t mind a 1/2 hour drive to get resupplied."
Camping near Onekama, Michigan, is a great way to enjoy the outdoors, but it's good to know what to expect. Whether you're in an RV or tent, there's something for everyone in this beautiful area.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Onekama, MI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Onekama, MI is Insta-Launch Campground & Marina with a 4-star rating from 3 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Onekama, MI?
TheDyrt.com has all 42 tent camping locations near Onekama, MI, with real photos and reviews from campers.