Camping sites near Ray, Michigan offer a mix of wooded retreats and waterfront access within Oakland and St. Clair counties. The terrain features rolling hills and mixed hardwood forests, with elevations ranging from 600 to 950 feet above sea level. Many campgrounds in this area maintain extensive trail systems through woodland settings, with some offering year-round operations despite Michigan's seasonal weather patterns.
What to do
Archery and shooting sports: Algonac State Park Campground maintains dedicated ranges for both archery and firearms. "There is also the range for archery, and firearms. The park was kept clean," notes Sandy K. in her review of the facilities.
Mountain biking trails: Pontiac Lake Recreation Area features world-class mountain biking paths through wooded terrain. "Very nice sites. Wooded and up north feel. Great hiking and world class mountain bike trails. Nice big lake," explains Christie V. in her review of the Pontiac Lake Recreation Area.
Rock collecting: The shoreline at Lakeport State Park offers excellent opportunities for finding unique stones. "This beach is mostly rocks and I have to say that I have found the most Petoskey stones (State of Michigan Stone) and pudding stones (a conglomerate of rocks with jasper sticking onto the rock)," shares Stephanie C. about the Lakeport State Park Campground.
Freighter watching: Set up along the St. Clair River at Algonac State Park to observe large ships passing. "If you can get a River View site it is awesome. Freighters come by at all times of the day," explains Kelly B. in her review of Algonac State Park Campground.
What campers like
Privacy between sites: Many campgrounds in the area incorporate natural barriers between campsites. "The sites aren't super far away from each other but there are trees between sites so from most of the sites you can't really see your neighbors," notes Sarah P. about Pontiac Lake Recreation Area.
Well-maintained trail networks: Oakland County Addison Oaks receives praise for its extensive pathways. "The park has a beautiful 2.5 mile trail around the lake that makes this campground great. We brought our own kayaks but they do rent boats. We saw deer and rabbit," reports Karen C.
Clean facilities: Holly Recreation Area maintains high standards for bathrooms and common areas. "The bathrooms were clean. There were several playgrounds, bench swings, play fields and even a basketball court. The ADA sites had pavement surrounding the fire rings and space at the picnic tables for a wheel chair," explains Jennifer H. about her experience at Holly Recreation Area.
Seasonal activities: Many campgrounds organize special weekend events throughout the year. "We stayed at area A in a water/electric site. It was a Boo Fest weekend. Lots of socially distanced activities for the kids and a scavenger hunt (finding clues on signs in park to solve a mystery)," shares Tim & Nancy C. about their stay at Oakland County Addison Oaks.
What you should know
Cell service variability: Coverage can change significantly across the region. "WiFi is slow but stable. You probably won't be able to watch Netflix. AT&T service is terrible. Our friends have T-Mobile and it is very fast for them," notes Joe S. about his experience at Port Huron KOA.
Insect preparation: Several campgrounds report significant mosquito and tick populations, especially in wooded areas. "The biggest drawback is the enormous amounts of mosquitos and ticks in the sites. Every night we had to triple check each other and our pets for ticks. We found at least 1 a night on us," warns Kristina J. about Pontiac Lake Recreation Area.
Reservation timing: Popular camping sites near Ray fill quickly during peak season. "My suggestion is to book six months in advance because it is extremely hard to get into this campground on the weekends," advises Stephanie C. regarding Lakeport State Park Campground.
Roadway conditions: Some campgrounds have degraded interior roads that may impact vehicle access. "I was deeply concerned for the undercarriage of both my truck and camper. Again, they are charging the same state fees as some of the nicer campgrounds we've stayed at, but the roads were inexcusable for a campground," cautions Rodger M. about his experience at Algonac State Park.
Tips for camping with families
Activity-focused sites: KOA Campground Emmett offers numerous amenities for children. "My daughter and I had a great time here. We went during the week so it was not packed. Nice workers help with anything asked. Food from the snack shack was good," reports Gary E. about his visit to KOA Campground Emmett.
Quieter camping options: Consider which camping loop best suits your family's needs. "The northern section seems to be the louder section and the southern section seems to be the more laid back quiet section. The south section has more of a woodsy outdoor feel while the north section has more of an open space, smaller lots, crowded feel," explains Stephanie C. describing the layout at Lakeport State Park.
Beach conditions: Lake access varies significantly between campgrounds. "The beach is rocky so don't forget to pack some water shoes but the rocky beach comes with finding cool rocks to either paint or just collect! (We left with a whole cooler filled)," suggests Cole G. from his experience at Lakeport State Park.
Accessibility features: Some campgrounds have incorporated features for visitors with mobility challenges. "The ADA sites had pavement surrounding the fire rings and space at the picnic tables for a wheel chair," notes Jennifer H. about Holly Recreation Area.
Tips from RVers
Site selection strategy: Research specific site numbers for the best camping experience. "If you're in a camper I'd recommend sites 54,179,180. Those sites have a bit of a backyard to them and more space," suggests Alex H. about Port Huron KOA.
Electric hookup considerations: At some campgrounds, electrical boxes may be situated far from RV pads. "If you are hoping to hook up to electrical, bring extension cords; some hook ups are exceptionally far away from the designated RV parking pad," advises Mary H. from her stay at Pontiac Lake Recreation Area.
Dump station configuration: Plan ahead for departure day services. "The dump station is at the north campground and to get to it, you have to enter the north campground and drive all the way through it, come back out, and then go to the dump station! It is the weirdest set up ever," explains Stephanie C. about the arrangement at Lakeport State Park.
Pad materials: Different campgrounds feature various parking surface types. "Nice quick weekend retreat campground. Cement pads, water, and electric. Loop C is spacious with some trees," reports Ron E. about Addison Oaks County Park.
