85 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Bruin Lake Campground and Blind Lake Rustic Campground welcome pets throughout their grounds in the Pinckney Recreation Area. Both campgrounds maintain clean facilities with newly renovated bathrooms at Bruin Lake and basic vault toilets at the rustic Blind Lake location. Dogs must be leashed at all times, with owners responsible for waste cleanup and preventing excessive barking during quiet hours. Campsites accommodate various camping styles, including tent, RV, cabin, and glamping options at Bruin Lake, while Blind Lake primarily serves tent campers with its hike-in only access. Electric hookups are available at Bruin Lake sites, though no water hookups are offered at the campsites themselves. Clean water is accessible from central pumps and spigots throughout both campgrounds. Sites vary in size and terrain, from grassy and open areas to more wooded sites providing shade and privacy.
The Potawatomi trail system connects these pet-friendly campgrounds, offering excellent hiking with dogs on well-maintained paths with varied terrain. Mountain bikers frequently share these trails, so keeping dogs leashed is essential for safety. Brighton Recreation Area, located within 20 minutes of these campgrounds, provides additional pet-friendly hiking options. Blind Lake features prime waterfront camping at site B3, offering beautiful lake views and swimming opportunities for both campers and pets. The campground areas connect to a chain of lakes ideal for kayaking with dogs, with tie-up areas available near the lower lake edge sites at Bruin Lake. During summer months, the lakes maintain comfortable swimming temperatures, though the beach areas are grassy rather than sandy. Camping supplies and veterinary services are available in nearby towns, with Chelsea and Brighton both within a short drive.
"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 $27 - $46 / 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 $17 / night
Check Availability"Nice lakes for swimming and can take your pet as well! Big playground and nice bathrooms"
"Great family place with paved and dirt biking/hiking trails. Very nice beach with grass and sand. There are 2 areas of inflatables, one of them is for the little kids 48 in. and under."
from $17 - $90 / 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."
"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."
"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."
"Direct connections to the Waterloo Pinckney trail system. Near Hell, Michigan and Chelsea, Michigan. Large pool in season. Priced reasonably."
"Wow.. what a nice little getaway in Hell, Michigan area! Camp host, “Lightening” is a friendly and helpful guy who NEVER stopped working (except to chat with campers here and there)."
from $20 - $35 / night
Check Availability"Close by but up north feel."
"Picnic table pit ring outside toilets best site was 24 17$ dollars a night 3 parks Brighton recreational is for Rv and electric sites indoor plumbing hot showers Murry is only for weekend visits Appleton"
"This was our first camping experience in Michigan, so we weren’t exactly prepared. My rating takes this into consideration."
"This often overlooked campground is part of Brighton Recreation area in lower Michigan. Only 25 sites, with no electricity and vault toilets. Pump water available."
"Lovely area and beautiful lake"
"We stayed here during a softball tournament- we didn’t get to enjoy the lake or pool but both looked great! The staff was incredibly nice."
from $65 / night
Check Availability
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 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.
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.
TravelerGreat opportunities for winter sports. Pools, lakes, mini golf. Designed for young families. Pet friendly but has restrictions on the type of dog.
ScoutThis is a quiet, friendly and family campground. The staff is very willing to help any way they can. The sites are level and spacious.
A great place for the kids! With a beach, playground and paved roads is nice but the frosting in this cake is the petting zoo. Animals from bunnies, peacocks & cats to horses, goats and of course Milton the burro, get it? Milton Burro, LOL
The store has stuff for the kids at very reasonable prices and the ice cream shop across the street is a nice walk after dinner. There's a light there for safe crossing, too.
Try this place, you'll add this to your good memories.
No credit or debit cards. Cash and checks only.
RangerA fun little campground with a nice bunch of petting zoo type animals! The beach is clean and the lake is warm! Very nice layout with walking trail around the lake. The only complaint was not nearly enough trash cans around (like, none easy to find) and the bathrooms were nasty for our 2 day visit. Price per night for full hook up was $40 :-)
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
The Pinckney and Waterloo Recreation Areas form the backbone of camping options near Plainfield, Michigan, with over 40,000 acres of protected land featuring rolling hills, kettle lakes, and mixed hardwood forests. Summer temperatures average 75-85°F with occasional thunderstorms, while spring and fall camping offers cooler temperatures with more solitude. The terrain varies from flat meadows to forested hillsides with elevation changes of 100-300 feet throughout the region.
Mountain biking on Potawatomi Trail: The 17.5-mile trail system offers varied terrain for all skill levels, connecting several campgrounds. "We loved the trails for Mountain Bikes that are close to the Campsite! They are super fun!! 🚴🏼♀️🤙🏻" reports Maria G. about Bruin Lake Campground.
Kayaking through connected waterways: Many lakes in the area are interconnected, making multi-lake paddling trips possible. "The lake was amazing to swim at night..must to it" notes Teresa K. about Blind Lake Rustic Campground, which can be reached by kayaking approximately 2.5 miles from the Halfmoon boat launch.
Overnight backpacking: Connect multiple trails for extended hiking trips. "Great backpacking site an hour away from Detroit... great place to train and get your trail legs as well as test out new gear," explains Michael S. about his trip to Blind Lake, mentioning the complete 18-mile Potawatomi trail hike.
Waterfront camping access: Several sites offer direct lakefront access. "Nice lake to kayak in," notes DeEtta M. about Bishop Lake Campground, while another camper shares, "site B3, which is right on the lake" when describing the prime lakefront spot at Blind Lake.
Secluded rustic options: For campers seeking more solitude. "I liked that this campground had sites that were fairly secluded from each other," says Mike B. about Appleton Lake Campground, which offers tent-only rustic sites with more privacy.
Year-round availability: Some campgrounds remain open throughout winter. "The park is open all year, making the Blind Lake campground a popular stop for hikers in the winter," according to Mike B., while Green Lake Rustic remains accessible even during colder months.
Dog friendly campgrounds near Plainfield: Most campgrounds in the area welcome pets, but with specific guidelines. "The camp sites were very clean and the put toilets were clean. We really appreciated having a water pump near our campsite," reports Bryan T. about Blind Lake, which allows leashed dogs on trails and at campsites.
Varying shower facilities: Not all campgrounds offer the same amenities. "Bathroom facilities could use some updating," notes DeEtta M. about Bruin Lake, while Green Lake Rustic Campground camper Alaine S. describes, "We had access to 3 different vault toilets... Hand sanitizer pumps were installed and full."
Reservation requirements: Weekends fill quickly during peak season. "When I showed up I found site 13 open for only one night. In the morning I was told by the DNR that most weekends are booked solid," explains Rob about Green Lake Rustic, recommending advance reservations.
Bug activity considerations: "There are TONS of mosquitos," warns Rebecca M. about Murray Lake Rustic, while another camper suggests bringing bug screens, especially for sites near marshy areas.
Playground and beach access: Several campgrounds offer kid-friendly recreation areas. "Nice play area for the children and clean bathrooms," notes Debra B. about Sugarloaf Campground in the Waterloo Recreation Area, which features a sandy swim beach.
Camp event scheduling: Check for ranger-led activities. "The park workers walk around and tell you about the activities they have that day," shares Shelly about Portage Lake, which regularly schedules family-friendly weekend programs.
Jump Island water park: Seasonal floating obstacle course. "Such a cool place to enjoy with the kids, we had a blast at Jump Island!" enthuses Jillian E. about Bishop Lake's unique water attraction, which costs $15 for a 45-minute session (coupons available on their Facebook page).
Biking safety: Family cycling requires planning. "Bikers head the opposite direction from hikers," explains Pat W. about trails near Blind Lake, noting the importance of keeping children aware of trail directions and etiquette.
Electric hookup locations: Not all sites offer power options. "Nice flat campsites near the beach area," reports Debra B. about Sugarloaf, which features electrical hookups but no water connections directly at campsites.
Low-clearance considerations: Access roads vary by campground. "If it's rainy or muddy, you might want to think twice about entering the rustic camping area," warns Ryan F. about Murray Lake Rustic, noting that while 4WD vehicles had no problems, "a few little cars did slide around and have trouble on the hill."
Dump station availability: Several campgrounds offer sanitary services. "Nice campground with rustic, elec, water/elec (30 amp), and concrete pad sites," reports Jason F. about Hell Creek Ranch Campground, which provides full hookups with both electric and water at most sites.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Plainfield, MI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Plainfield, MI is Bruin Lake Campground — Pinckney Recreation Area with a 4.1-star rating from 19 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Plainfield, MI?
TheDyrt.com has all 85 dog-friendly camping locations near Plainfield, MI, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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