Camping options near Prudenville, Michigan include state parks and private campgrounds located within 25 miles of town. The area features the AuSable State Forest with its 80-foot elevation observation tower providing views of multiple lakes. Fall temperatures average 45-65°F during September and October, making it popular for shoulder season camping when visitor numbers decrease significantly from summer peaks.
What to do
Kayaking the Rifle River: Devoe Lake Rustic Campground offers excellent access to multiple waterways for paddling enthusiasts. The recreation area contains five lakes within its borders, each with unique characteristics. According to one camper, "The water is super clean and crystal clear...and usually sand or rock bottom. Devoe Lake has a few islands that we explored."
Archery practice: Grousehaven Campground maintains an archery range for visitors looking to practice their skills. The campground provides numerous recreational options beyond water activities. A visitor notes, "There's also lots of hiking trails and even an archery range."
Winter camping options: Unlike many seasonal facilities, several campgrounds remain open year-round. Beaver Trail Campground offers stocked fishing pond access even during colder months. The campground features 50 total sites with multiple accommodation options throughout all seasons.
Hiking among old-growth forests: Hartwick Pines State Park preserves significant stands of old-growth trees with educational programming about logging history. As one visitor describes, "It features old growth forest on the hiking trails, multiple ranger programs each week, hosts that give you coffee or hot chocolate in the morning, a beautiful visitor center and main trails, plus side trails that are less traveled so you rarely see anyone else!"
What campers like
Modern yurt camping: Prudenville, Michigan offers yurt accommodations at several locations including Higgins Lake-Roscommon KOA. The property provides a more secluded camping experience than other nearby options. A camper mentioned, "It is a smaller KOA surrounded by dense woods. Some trails and very close to Higgins Lake state parks."
Clean shower facilities: North Higgins Lake State Park maintains well-kept bathroom facilities with reliable hot water. Recent visitors appreciate the attention to cleanliness despite high usage. According to one review, "The park and bathrooms were always clean, showers were clean and had good water pressure."
Watercraft-only lakes: Several nearby recreation areas offer motor-free lakes ideal for paddle sports. One camper at Grousehaven Campground stated, "The lake is absolutely gorgeous and is paddle only, no motors of any kind. The water was warmish and crystal clear, my 2.5 y/o daughter loved playing at the beach and the shallow swimming area."
Spacious campsites: South Higgins Lake State Park provides generously sized camping areas even during busy periods. A satisfied visitor noted, "For being such a busy campground (since there is a boat launch) the sites are still quite large! We were able to fit 2 large tents, a small tent, 2 cars, 1 boat trailer and a sun shade for our gear with plenty of room to spare."
What you should know
Seasonal crowds: South Higgins Lake experiences significant visitor increases during peak seasons and holidays. A camper observed, "Water is very beautiful! Gets very very crowded though. They have a really nice Halloween weekends."
Cell service limitations: Reception can be spotty throughout the region, particularly in more remote campgrounds. A visitor to North Higgins Lake State Park noted, "Don't expect to make phone calls, the cell service (AT&T) was very spotty."
Water clarity variance: Lakes in the region have different clarity levels depending on location and time of year. Higgins Lake is particularly known for its visibility. One camper reported, "If you aren't familiar with this lake it is extremely clear (see video) and very large, there are 2 sandbar areas which are very popular providing 3-4 feet water to hangout in."
Reservation timing: Securing prime camping spots requires advance planning. A reviewer advised, "Getting a site here during the summer can be very difficult. You will want one of the sites closer to the lake. If you want one of these sites, you will need to be ready to book the site 6 months in advance."
Tips for camping with families
Halloween-themed weekends: Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park hosts special Halloween events with trick-or-treating throughout the campground. A family described, "I love going to the Halloween themed weekends with trick-or-treating at the campground. People decorate their sites, dress up, and hand out candy."
Shallow swimming areas: Multiple locations offer child-friendly swimming zones with gradually sloping entry. A parent shared about South Higgins Lake State Park, "The beach is clean and the water clear. The beach is great for kids to play in safely while the parents chill at the shore."
Kid-friendly entertainment: Several campgrounds provide organized activities specifically for younger visitors. A Jellystone Park visitor mentioned, "Great for kids. Tons of activities all day long. It's modern camping - showers, toilets, electricity, water, sewage, dump station. The jumping pillow is another great feature."
Proximity to playgrounds: Many camping areas include playground facilities near the campsites. As one Grousehaven visitor noted, "Extremely family friendly with a nice beach, park, and picnic area."
Tips from RVers
Site leveling challenges: Prepare for uneven terrain at certain campgrounds and bring adequate leveling equipment. A camper at Wilson State Park observed, "Many sites are rather large, like 97, but severely sloped, also like 97... Others are flat, small, and your camper is right near the road."
Full hookup availability: While not universal, some campgrounds offer complete utility connections. A Hartwick Pines camper noted, "Open all year, nice park, big rig friendly, has full hookups."
Sanitation station access: Plan for dump station lines during busy checkout periods. A South Higgins Lake camper advised, "Try to get a full hook up site if you can.....no line to dump on your way out!"
Water hookup positioning: At certain campgrounds, utility connections may be inconveniently located. One visitor to Higgins Lake-Roscommon KOA mentioned, "Our water hook up was on the opposite side of the site from the power and sewer hook up so we had to have a hose running across our site; glad we had an extra hose to use as an extension."
