Best Campgrounds near Rhodes, MI

The central Michigan landscape surrounding Rhodes offers a mix of established campgrounds and rustic sites within a 30-mile radius. Pinconning County Park provides year-round camping with direct access to Saginaw Bay, while the Rifle River Recreation Area features multiple camping zones with varying levels of amenities. Campgrounds in this region typically accommodate tents, RVs, and many offer cabin rentals for those seeking alternatives to traditional camping. State forest campgrounds like Black Creek provide more primitive experiences with basic amenities, while private operations like Outdoor Adventures Saginaw Bay Resort offer full-service options with extensive hookups and facilities.

Most campgrounds in the area operate seasonally from May through October, with only a few facilities maintaining year-round operations. Michigan's typical camping season aligns with weather patterns that bring warm summers and cold, snowy winters to the region. As one camper noted about nearby Rifle River, "The facilities are clean and kept up. All access to trails, lakes and the river are close and easy to get to." Reservations are strongly recommended during summer weekends and holidays when facilities reach capacity. Many state park campgrounds provide electric hookups at sites with water available at central locations. Cell service varies throughout the region but tends to be reliable near larger towns and established campgrounds.

Water access represents a significant draw for campers in the Rhodes area, with numerous sites offering proximity to lakes, rivers, and Saginaw Bay. Visitors frequently mention the quality of fishing, paddling opportunities, and wildlife viewing as highlights of their stays. According to a review of Pinconning County Park, it offers "great access to the Saginaw Bay for boaters/kayakers with a small beach." Weekday camping typically provides a quieter experience with better site availability compared to weekends. The region's mixed hardwood forests provide ample shade at most campgrounds, though site quality and privacy vary considerably between locations. Campgrounds near highways occasionally experience road noise, while those deeper in forested areas offer more seclusion.

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Best Camping Sites Near Rhodes, Michigan (141)

    1. Bay City State Park Campground

    22 Reviews
    Kawkawlin, MI
    21 miles
    Website
    +1 (989) 684-3020

    "It's a typical Michigan state campground, not much different. Nice bathrooms and big lots."

    "The near by nature preserve is a great place to take a hike or bike ride. There are a couple restaurants right outside the park entrance."

    2. Pinconning County Park

    7 Reviews
    Pinconning, MI
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (989) 879-5050

    "Nice campground with great access to the Saginaw Bay for boaters/kayakers/etc with a small beach. Some campsites are better than others, like most campgrounds but all have some perks."

    "Good place for quiet camping and a great walking trail back to the bay through the marsh."

    3. Rifle River Campground

    8 Reviews
    Alger, MI
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (989) 654-2556

    "There is a cluster of quiet sites, a track of sites tucked away in some pines, and then the modern sites. The campground itself is large and has a couple lakes to go fishing in."

    "Lots of hiking trails, bike trails. Lots of lakes, great beach areas!"

    4. River View Campground & Canoe Livery

    5 Reviews
    Alger, MI
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (989) 654-2447

    "It sits along the Rifle River next to Rifle River Campground and Whites Campground. 

    The campground is huge and offers so much!"

    5. Gladwin City Park & Campground

    4 Reviews
    Gladwin, MI
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (989) 426-8126

    "It attaches to the city’s river walk which makes walking into town safe and easy. Nice playground area."

    "This is a very nice city park, nice play area, tennis and basketball courts, trails, river with beach area, pavilions, two bath houses, lots of shaded sites with a couple right on river, there’s a local"

    7. Secord Lake Campground

    1 Review
    Gladwin, MI
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (989) 821-6891

    $20 - $35 / night

    8. Black Creek State Forest Campground

    4 Reviews
    Sanford, MI
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (989) 539-3021

    $15 / night

    "Put one portion of it on the clip at the spot number market, keep another portion then return the completed envelope and $20 cash or check per night plus $19 for Michigan recreation passport (if you don"

    "New Senior Center closeby. Easy to get attached to."

    10. Crystal Creek Campground

    1 Review
    Standish, MI
    16 miles
    Website

    "The camping is dispersed with walk in sites or drive in. There is a variety of pit toilets with trash pick up."

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Recent Reviews near Rhodes, MI

316 Reviews of 141 Rhodes Campgrounds


  • l
    Aug. 25, 2025

    Black Creek State Forest Campground

    Black Creek State Forest Campground

    Pull up, grab a registration envelope, look for a spot then part. Fill out the registration. Put one portion of it on the clip at the spot number market, keep another portion then return the completed envelope and $20 cash or check per night plus $19 for Michigan recreation passport (if you don’t already have one). They will mail you the passport, keep receipt for proof. Vault toilets available, some river spots, some secluded spots, clean. Saw DNR in the morning checking on everything.

  • Edward C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 17, 2025

    Tawas Point State Park Campground

    Terrific location

    This is a beautiful and picturesque park. The bathrooms are clean and well maintained.

    Sites are large in general with plenty of room for activities.

    The pet friendly beach is fantastic for dogs as the water is very shallow and let's them be active.

    The access roads on the loop are narrow, so you may need to take some care of if you have a large vehicle.

    There's also a kids playground and volleyball court.

  • Melissa H.
    Aug. 17, 2025

    Bay City State Park Campground

    Bustling, clean and friendly

    Easy friendly check-in. Firewood prices are cheaper than on roads in. Small and large bags of ice at a good price. Great for families. Clean facilities. They do spray for mosquitoes, so that wasn't too bad at all even in the heat of August. We stayed at 106, the description was on point, level and shaded. Campers were super friendly. We had no complaints about the campground itself but it would be nice if there was an RV lights out policy at night. It's really hard to sleep in a tent when your neighbors RV "porch" light is on literally all night shining in the tent while your neighbors are sound asleep in RV. We had to ask our neighbors politely to turn their outside LED light strips off the second night. They were great about it but, didn't seem to realize it would bother tent campers next to them.

  • Deb M.
    Aug. 16, 2025

    Bay City State Park Campground

    Crowded and inconvenient

    So, this campground looks nice at first, with lots of trees on the sites. However, once you really start looking at them, none have a camping pad, so it’s random parking on the grass. Lots of moving around to get your electric hooked up to the shared and oddly placed power poles. Make sure to come with an extension cord - one member of our party had their power halfway into their neighbor’s site through a bunch of bushes. The sites near the entrance are very crowded together and filled with large loud groups. (please don’t park any extra vehicles hanging out over the road…) And cleaning the bathrooms at 8:30 and 9:30 in the MORNING? Bummer for tenters. It’s ok for a quick stop, but wouldn’t want to stay here too long. I would expect better from a State Park.

  • Kristin Z.
    Aug. 10, 2025

    Paddle Brave Canoe Livery & Campground

    Clean, Friendly, and Perfect River Tubing Trip

    We stayed at PaddleBrave this past weekend and couldn’t be happier with our experience. We rented Cabin 1 and the campsite directly across from it, and from start to finish, everything was fantastic.

    The owner and staff were incredibly friendly, accommodating, and had excellent communication both during the reservation process and throughout our stay. The sites and camp bathrooms were the cleanest I’ve ever seen, and the staff went above and beyond to make sure we were comfortable.

    The gift shop was a nice bonus, offering fresh coffee for just $1 every morning and stocking plenty of essentials in case you forgot something at home. Downtown Roscommon is only about 6 minutes away, making it easy to pop into town.

    We also did the 4-hour tubing trip and rented tubes from Paddlebrave—it couldn’t have gone better. The river was beautiful and the whole experience was smooth and well-organized.

  • L
    Aug. 6, 2025

    Monument Campground

    Quiet spot in the pines

    18 spots available. Half are reservable and half are first come first serve. There are a few double lots. Pay at entrance in envelope. Camp host came around to check our ticket. Clean pit toilets and water spigots throughout. Close to Lumbermans monument visitor center. $15 for single site or $30 for double. Half price if you have a Golden Age/Access or Interagency Senior/Access Pass

  • tThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 20, 2025

    Pettit Park Campground

    City park

    Water and electric and a dump station. Near downtown Clare, nice park with pavilions, no reservations needed. Sites are within the city’s park so there’s local traffic.

  • CThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 3, 2025

    Monument Campground

    Nice place

    Stayed here one night. Nice paved road and paved sites. Large sites with easy access to water and vault toilets. $15 a night. Not many people and half the sites are first come first served (easy to get a site in the middle of the week). Some road noise so we picked a site further back away from the road. Would stay again


Guide to Rhodes

Camping near Rhodes, Michigan, offers a mix of beautiful nature and fun activities for everyone. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or an adventure-filled getaway, there are plenty of campgrounds to choose from.

What to do:

  • Explore the beach: Many campers enjoy the sandy shores at Bay City State Park Campground. One visitor mentioned, "Beach, trails and children's solace pad, just an easy walk across the road."
  • Hiking and trails: The Rifle River Campground has numerous trails for hiking and biking. A camper shared, "Lots to do if you're into exploring. Lots of hiking trails, bike trails."
  • Fishing and kayaking: At River View Campground & Canoe Livery, you can enjoy tubing and kayaking. One family noted, "Campground offers many amenities and with the river right on site there is so much to do."

What campers like:

  • Clean facilities: Campers appreciate the cleanliness at places like Ambrose Lake State Forest Campground. A visitor said, "The bathrooms and showers were about the same as a small state park. Bathrooms were cleaned three times a day."
  • Spacious sites: Many enjoy the large campsites at Devoe Lake Rustic Campground. One camper remarked, "Our site is huge. Lot of people on Friday and Saturday so extra caution when driving through the park."
  • Family-friendly atmosphere: Campgrounds like Countryside Campground & Cabins are great for families. A parent mentioned, "They love the pool and playground area."

What you should know:

  • Reservation requirements: Some campgrounds, like Devoe Lake Rustic Campground, require reservations. A camper noted, "Sites require a reservation either at the office or online."
  • Limited amenities: Campgrounds like Ambrose Lake State Forest Campground may not have showers or electric hookups. One visitor said, "No showers, privy is in decent shape."
  • Noise levels: Some campers have mentioned noise issues at places like Wilson State Park Campground. A reviewer stated, "Very very small cramped sites right on top of each other."

Tips for camping with families:

  • Check for kid-friendly activities: Look for campgrounds with playgrounds and activities, like Bay City State Park Campground. One camper highlighted, "Great newer playscape and splash pad for the kids."
  • Choose spacious sites: Opt for campgrounds with larger sites, such as Rifle River Campground. A visitor mentioned, "The site was easy to find, spacious, and had adequate distancing from other campers."
  • Plan for quiet hours: Be mindful of noise levels, especially during busy weekends. A camper at Wilson State Park Campground noted, "Everyone drove slow when we were there. No loud parties, either."

Tips from RVers:

  • Check site sizes: Make sure to verify the size of your site, especially at Ambrose Lake State Forest Campground. A reviewer advised, "Many sites are rather large, like 97, but severely sloped."
  • Bring extra cords: Some sites may require extension cords for electric hookups, as mentioned by a camper at Bay City State Park Campground. "Recommend to have extension cord for some sites, as plug in can be far."
  • Be prepared for wildlife: Campers at Devoe Lake Rustic Campground warned about raccoons. One camper said, "Make sure your food and trash is adequately covered/contained."

Camping near Rhodes, Michigan, has something for everyone, from families to solo adventurers. With a variety of campgrounds to choose from, you're sure to find the perfect spot for your next outdoor adventure!

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Rhodes, MI?

According to TheDyrt.com, Rhodes, MI offers a wide range of camping options, with 141 campgrounds and RV parks near Rhodes, MI and 2 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Rhodes, MI?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Rhodes, MI is Bay City State Park Campground with a 4.3-star rating from 22 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Rhodes, MI?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 2 free dispersed camping spots near Rhodes, MI.