Pleasant Lake is an ideal place for camping adventures of all kinds. Camping, hiking, biking: however you want to spend your days near Pleasant Lake, you'll find great campgrounds with The Dyrt. Find the best campgrounds near Pleasant Lake, plus reviews and photos from other campers like you.
Pinckney Recreation Area is a paradise for backpackers, mountain bikers, anglers, and other recreation enthusiasts. Pinckney is known for its extensive trail system and chain of excellent fishing lakes. Over forty miles of multi-use trail with remote campsites afford a backcountry experience.
$27 - $46 / night
From the website: The Blind Lake Rustic Campground is located about halfway along the 17-mile Potawatomi Trail in Pinckney Recreation Area. It's a looped trail so hikers can enjoy miles and miles of scenery (without an out-and-back). There are 10 campsites outfitted with a vault toilet, hand-pump water access and fire rings. Only dead and downed timber are to be used for firewood. You must check in at the park office on the day of your reservation. Camping is only allowed for one-night stays.
$17 / night
Michigan 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
$17 - $90 / night
Michigan 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
Located just 20 minutes north of Lansing, Sleepy Hollow State Park is an idyllic getaway for anyone needing some time away from the city. The 2,600 acre park is situation on Price Road off US-27 making it easily accessible to people passing through. That being the case, the park still maintains its charm and accommodates campers and visitors every day without issue. The Little Maple river can be found winding in and out of the forested geography, with Lake Ovid situated right in the heart, thanks to the clever placement of a dam. Visitors come from all over to enjoy the scenic landscapes, birdwatching opportunities, and Winter Snowshoeing.
During the Spring, camp rangers host the weekly Sleepy Hollow State Park Nature program, which educates campers about local wildlife and the history of the surrounding regions. This is a great opportunity for families to spend some time together, especially after a long day of hiking and camping.
Surprisingly, it’s during the winter that this park is most frequently attended. In fact, Sleepy Hollow is most recognized for the miles of snowshoeing and cross country skiing trails that run through the land. The trails are well-traveled, however there’s no shortage of privacy to get out and find peace and quiet within the confines of a forest muted by snow.
Camping here is easily accessible. Michigan Residents can utilize their State Park Recreation Passport to get in for free. Otherwise, entrance rates are $11 for residents, and $16 for non-residents. If camping, full-service campsites start at $25/night, while walk-in rustic sites are only $17/night. Furthermore, if camping in a tent doesn’t sound like your thing there are onsite cabins available for rent at $68 per night. If you want electricity and a full-service cabin, Deluxe Cabins can be rented for $101 a night.
$25 - $101 / night
$20 - $35 / night
$38 - $48 / night
Michigan 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
Pinckney Recreation Area is a paradise for backpackers, mountain bikers, anglers, and other recreation enthusiasts. Pinckney is known for its extensive trail system and chain of excellent fishing lakes. Over forty miles of multi-use trail with remote campsites afford a backcountry experience.
$27 - $46 / night
From the website: The Blind Lake Rustic Campground is located about halfway along the 17-mile Potawatomi Trail in Pinckney Recreation Area. It's a looped trail so hikers can enjoy miles and miles of scenery (without an out-and-back). There are 10 campsites outfitted with a vault toilet, hand-pump water access and fire rings. Only dead and downed timber are to be used for firewood. You must check in at the park office on the day of your reservation. Camping is only allowed for one-night stays.
$17 / night
Michigan 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
$17 - $90 / night
Michigan 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
Guide
What an absolute gem of a state park. Almost every site is private, with a few exceptions. Nice trails, well built picnic tables, and huge fire pits. Overall a fantastic experience.
Scout
This campground used to be all about family and friends. Camping friends that became family. 40+ years camping there, generation after generation. So many wonderful people. But the new owner has changed that camping experience for a lot of people. Seasonals and reoccurring weekenders. In fact over the last 2 years he has lost over 40+ seasonal families. Many who have been there 10,20 even 30yrs. He has done some much needed improvements but for what he is trying to charge people it’s ridiculous. Believe all the bad reviews. And the good reviews, well he pays for those by offering discounts for good reviews or free Wibit passes. The so called lake that he advertises is a nasty little pond that I’m sure is swimming with ecoli . , the Wibit is small and priced outrageously at more than $35 on most days and is riddled with holes and barely filled with air in most days. Which also makes it dangerous. The store does not have much to offer and what they do have is priced ridiculous. There is one bathhouse and a couple nasty outhouses. The owner also lies so much and thinks everyone else are fools. He doesn’t live in MI so you won’t ever see him either. Spend your money somewhere else. For what he is charging it is not worth it.
Scout
We camped at Way Back campground llc in Michigan for three seasons, initially building strong friendships with the owners and their grandchildren. Our kids would eagerly await our weekly arrivals during the summers, often chatting and playing video games during the off-season. The campground initially offered family-friendly activities like hayrides and crafts.. these dwindled to events that included only our children and the owners' grandchildren, often overshadowed by drunken behavior unsuitable for kids. By the second season, that sense of community soured when the owners' friends/family began uninvited weekend parties on our campsite. Groups would show up, using our firewood and partying late into the night while our kids struggled to sleep, often leaving only after we became assertive and telling them to leave so we could go to bed. This disregard for our family's needs, compounded by other unsettling issues made it clearly evident that Way Back is not a family friendly campground. Our campsite being littered with debris from a previous burned, condemned camper on our lot, promises of cleanup that went unfulfilled for 3 seasons. Obscene drunken adult behaviors in front of children that went unaddressed, only created a growing sense of disappointment. We also faced safety concerns, such as homeless individuals using drugs and living in the campgrounds. Convicted sexual offenders and known drug addicts in the park. Hostile fighting and commotion usually provoked by and instigated by the owners. A lingering presence of inappropriate adults around children at the park. Despite our initial rapport and giving the owners multiple chances to make improvements, issues only escalated, leading us to strongly advise against this campground. (Photos from last day. The glass and Debris has been collected like that every weekend for the last 3 years)
Scout
If your longer than 40ft be aware most sites will not work for you here, they do have some but the wood line, privacy and nature is great. Lots of activities for the family by camp staff. Water sports and lots of trails
Guide
I only stayed one night. I am a tent camper and where I was, it was only me in a fenced in area. I was right next to a cow field. The cows did not moo all night and there was no foul order. I needed no amenities so I can't vouch for that
ScoutHas gotten increasingly expensive over the past few years with nothing added in for the increases. No longer allowed to bring in local firewood. Must purchase from them. Many lots have flooding and you’re expected to camp in it.
Also beware if you have plans to buy a wristband for the water bounce attraction that it is not for a day that they have contracted to have bus loads of kids coming in to also use it. Your kids will get knocked off and be afraid and you won’t get your $$ back.
They charge high for everything here. I’m actually surprised the showers are still free. But maybe next year they will charge for that too.
Traveler
The staff were so kind and helpful. I visited in my off-grid ready camper van, and staff helped us choose a site that had good views and felt private (SITE #22). It was a little slanted, but it didn't bother me. We could see the lake and had an outhouse right nearby.
Scout
We paid 500.00 for 5 days. At first our sights were so unleveled that we had to go In And request a site change. Looked to rent the bikes as pictured, NOPE they were toddle trikes.. very deceiving! First day kids were in the pool, looked a little dirty. 2nd day , 90 degree weather the
Pool was green! We spoke with staff and they said they were working on it. They were putting little bags of shock in.. REALLY! The pool ended up closing stating it was related to the weather!!! Rain 3 days prior! No refund offered, site dirty, grass not mowed, dirty unkept campers in the campground, no trash pick up! NEVER EVER AGAIN! Took a ride to other nearby sites… cost less, clean, offered more activities for kid.
Traveler
Love this campground for it's friendly people to it's great amenities. They have an indoor pool, sauna, putt putt, playground, lake Great for Winter camping as well.
Scout
Great out of the way campground. It was nice and quiet. Bathrooms were clean and well kept. The gentleman that checked us in moved things around so we could all be together not on different sites well away frome each other. Would definitely go there again.
Guide
Highly recommend Wilderness State Park Campground on the north western point of lower Michigan! It’s amazing to see the sunset and the sunrise from the same spot and the Mackinaw Bridge! there’s a small dog Beech because of the plover population, but it’s sufficient. trails are amazing. Make sure to have lots of bug spray. Recommend stain closer to the beach rather than the pines. The pines tend to have more mosquitoes in my opinion.
Traveler
We just got done with a 3 night stay at Sleepy Hallow. The campsite itself was great, nice a roomy while also being wooded. The bugs were pretty intense, but bug spray helped. They are working on the natural gas pipeline nearby, so there was lots of construction noise. Verizon service was basically non existent other than at the beach. The dog beach was small and full of algae.
ScoutWe stayed in a tent on site 32, this was a very nice campground, peaceful, with trails and ample shade. Campsites were decently sized, fire pits were big, $5 per bundle of dry wood, showers were private with hot water, and there were activities and a beach/playground for kids. Checkin/out was simple, and coffee/hot coco was provided by the campsite each morning. Will be returning to this campsite again. I suggest sites 93-96 for more private/shaded sites.
Guide
This was our 1st ever camping trip and it was a delight. Pull thru spot, super easy to get to, full hookup. Spots had plenty of room, some had grass others had concrete. Quiet, very chill RV park, small beach on a pond for fishing playground for kids and plenty of room for our small dog. Linda (owner) was amazing, very helpful and easy to use venmo for payment and for firewood use. Overall a great experience , would definitely visit again. Plenty to do around town, lakes everywhere just have to choose which one to go to.
Scout
Thank you to EVERYONE who takes time to REVIEW! ….WHEW!! This year seems every place is FULL or Closed for repairs or High polluted numbers. many are struggling finding someplace to go, and People do READ REVIEWS, and this “ OLD HAG”
Really needs a class in “ consumer relations “ I have been in retail for 30 plus years and THE CUSTOMER IS ALWAYS RIGHT, there is NO. “ what did you do to deserve to be treated THAT way? GOOD LUCK finding a NEW JOB when you don’t have one because THIS joint gets shut down do ton Bankruptcy….. hahahaha… you may think you’re smart NOW, but when you get served a dose of you’re OWN medicine out in the REAL WORLD.. well, I’d give anything to see that…
Making people’s lives miserable who just want to have a good time? How fucking miserable are YOU?
Guide
Camped here thru the 4th of July weekend. The staff kept noise and other stupidity tamped down. They say quiet time is all the time, and I love that.
Typical MI state park, sites are electric (30a and/or 50a) only.
No real beach, but there is a swimming area. Picked up Detroit TV stations easily, good for the rainy mornings we had.
With T-Mobile, Internet service was practically non-existent. Phone calls & texts worked. The camper across from us said it was the same for Verizon.
One section is mostly paved & ADA sites, the "upper" section is grassy and/or dirt. Both restroom/shower buildings were fine, I just wish they had posted times when they'll be closed for cleaning.
All in all, we'd have no problem returning here.
Scout
Use to love bringing the family to Haas, now that it is Sun Adventures they don't allow tents. It's really sad how many new parks want to cater to only the RVer's. Yes, we have a RV, but our young adult kids cannot afford a RV, so they tent it. Want be coming back anytime soon.
ScoutFirst off I can’t even give it a zero star!!! But was going here for 5 years and definitely will be the Last!! Seems office has new rules now you can’t roll your 12 by 15 carpet mats out NOMORE but a 3 by 5 mat!! Who wants that little shit if you have furbabies coming in and out of your camper? Just a lot more dirt on your inside space!!Abssolety NO SERVICE!! You gotta stand in one spot just to hold a conversation on you phone!! No WiFi to check your Home ring camera!! No WiFi even if you try and USE YOUR OWN HOT SPOT!! So not even a fire stick 😩Most off lady in the office very unprofessional!! Ask her for a discount and she got the nerve to say I DONT GOT TIME FIR THIS!!! Excuse me miss grouchy, costumers are always to be satisfied!!! You got time to take our $$$$ at least have a POSITIVE ADDITUDE !!!! This probably why your campground was so EMPTY This year but best luck to you in the future!!! NEVER AGAIN!!
Guide
I visited this campground last summer! It was a smaller campground, but very woodsy (just how I like it)! They have kayak/canoeing, a playground area for the kids, and good site sizes. The only thing that wasn’t pleasant was the beach area (too small and muddy), and the fact that my boyfriend’s mother had to pull off leeches various different times after being in the water!
ScoutI rarely write reviews good or bad on any business ever, but this one is a BEWARE situation and I feel that fellow campers/RVer’s need to be aware of the campground!!!!
It has been many years since we were last at this campground. I booked a sight online for a week, thankfully it was only a week! We arrived at the campground, setup our 5th wheel, attempted to set up the WiFi, only to find they have WiFi in the store but no WiFi was available for our site. I contacted the office, spoke with the owner, she said “I will send someone out there to check the “repeater” maybe something is wrong with it because we should have WiFi”, never sent anyone that we were aware of and never called me to confirm wether or not we had the WiFi working. I drove up to the store and this nice young man informed me that the further away from the store you will not get WiFi. I told him that I spoke with the owner yesterday and she said that she was sending someone out to check the repeater and we NEVER heard back from her. He proceeded to call the owner on his cell phone, of which I could hear her talking, he said bring your computer up to the store and login, then take it back to the campsite and you should be able to login”, so I went back to the campsite grabbed my ipad, then back to the store. I was able to login to the WiFi. Went back to our site, no WiFi. This is a problem for me, not having WiFi, not only for work purposes but also TV services. I called the store, same young man told me that you do not have WiFi, you will need to come up to the store for services. I said that was unexceptionable, we were told we would have WiFi, it is also advertised online and in your brochure. He said “I can’t help you, you do not have WiFi on your site”. I let it go until the next day.
The campground is NOT well kept. The grass/weeds was a foot long throughout the campground, it clearly had not been mowed in a few weeks. My husband took the dogs out on our site to go potty, he came back in only to find he had ticks on him and the dogs. Most likely because the grass hadn’t been mowed. After being lied to about the wifi and now the ticks, we decided that we would need to find another campground. We are 44’ long with an 8’ deck and being a Friday we knew we had some challenges ahead of us to find another campground, but we did, thank God!
I drove up to the office and informed them of our displeasure and that we are checking out. I said we will pay for the 2 nights we have stayed here but we would like to be refunded the balance of what we prepaid (almost $400.00 dollars), and a refund for $20.00, $10.00 for each gate key we were charged. The young man called the owner on his cell phone, she said she will not refund the money. I said to the young man that was unexceptable, and I want my money back. He said he can’t refund our money. I told him I will get my money back one way or another, and that I will warn everyone about the “real” situation of this campground, his response was “ok, have a good day”, and I left.
If you are interested in staying at this campground, I highly suggest you take a ride and go see it for yourself. They are very expensive, overpriced for the campground conditions and amenities , and services that are stated online and in the brochure are not accurate! If you want to save yourself the headache, disappointment and loss of your hard earned money, STAY AWAY FROM THIS CAMPGROUND!!!
Scout
Fishing but is catch and release. It is not posted any where in the rules or at the fishing spots. Nore was I told this be fore being warned about it. Cancled season and went to where I could catch and eat.
Guide
Well maintained and up kept with some neat features and trails.
Avoid the vending machines.
ScoutPer michigan laws;
STATE LAND RULE – GAME AREAS – EXCERPT(S) 926 On state game or wildlife areas it is unlawful to: • Camp between May 15 and September 10, except in areas specifically designated for camping.
I don’t see any camping spots specifically on the official map of this place.
Scout
The 6-foot leash rules are very clearly stated. There are many campers whose dogs remain the exception and don't abide by the rules. My leashed dod has been threatened by vicious larger unleashed dogs as I walk my dog more than once this month. So the camp host or ranger should , after warning the offending campers once, call the county animal control. This situation is way out of control.
Scout
A very quiet campground. The sites are spread out and only 2 vehicles per site are allowed. The East campground is more open and had 3 small cabins that can be rented. The West camping is more wooded and isolated. An extensive horse back riding trail system and MTB trails are easily accessible.
ScoutMy husband and I had a wonderful experience the website was well informed; pull in and pick your own site and the site manager will come by and collect your money for night stayed. In fact, we enjoyed it so much we called to ask for another night, without hesitation, and any disruption to our camping they came by later that evening, and collected for an additional night ( just as the website advised), Charlotte is a wonderful town with wonderful events. This fairground camp area very clean and well organized. Well done Eaton county, see you in May 2024. 💯
Ranger
This was a campground that we stayed at on our way to the northern part of the state. This for me, was a place that I would like to come back to for a longer stay. The camp sites were nice, there was a nice swimming area in crystal clear water and a beautiful bathhouse. It had a more modern layout that could accommodate many campers. My only complaint, and the reason that I'll have a hard time talking my wife into going back was the mosquitoes were pretty bad the evening that we were there. Other than that I liked it a lot.
Camping near Pleasant Lake, Michigan, offers a great mix of outdoor fun and relaxation. With several campgrounds nearby, you can find the perfect spot to enjoy nature, whether you're in a tent, RV, or cabin.
Camping near Pleasant Lake, Michigan, has something for everyone. Whether you're looking for a family-friendly spot or a quiet retreat, you'll find a campground that fits your needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Pleasant Lake, MI?
According to TheDyrt.com, Pleasant Lake, MI offers a wide range of camping options, with 111 campgrounds and RV parks near Pleasant Lake, MI and 1 free dispersed camping spot.
Which is the most popular campground near Pleasant Lake, MI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Pleasant Lake, MI is Bruin Lake Campground — Pinckney Recreation Area with a 4.1-star rating from 19 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Pleasant Lake, MI?
According to TheDyrt.com, there is 1 free dispersed camping spot near Pleasant Lake, MI.
What parks are near Pleasant Lake, MI?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 4 parks near Pleasant Lake, MI that allow camping, notably Indiana Dunes National Park and Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore.
