Clay Township sits in the coastal flatlands along Michigan's eastern shore where the St. Clair River connects Lake St. Clair to Lake Huron. The region features wetland ecosystems and clay-based soil that can become saturated during spring rains. Summer temperatures average 75-85°F with humidity levels increasing significantly in July and August, creating challenging camping conditions for unprepared visitors.
What to do
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Pontiac Lake Recreation Area offers extensive hiking trails where campers regularly spot deer and other woodland creatures. Visitors should exercise caution as "there are tons of mosquitoes and ticks, so make sure you bring bug spray," according to one camper who visited Pontiac Lake Recreation Area.
Water activities: The Black River and Lake Huron provide multiple water recreation options within 30 minutes of Clay Township. At Lakeport State Park Campground, one camper noted, "They have tons of campsites available. Right off Lake Michigan with sandy beaches and clean clear water."
Unique attractions: The area features specialized recreational opportunities beyond standard camping activities. Holly Recreation Area includes "an archery section" and shooting ranges according to visitors. One camper at Algonac State Park mentioned, "Bike trail runs through the park. Gun range and archery range on site. A couple short hiking trails."
What campers like
Rock hunting: Lakeport State Park draws geology enthusiasts who search for distinctive stones along its shorelines. One visitor shared, "I have found the most beautiful Petoskey Stones at Lakeport. I have also found a large pudding stone."
Freighter watching: The St. Clair River shipping channel provides unusual entertainment for campers. A visitor to Algonac State Park Campground noted, "If you can get a River View site it is awesome. Freighters come by at all times of the day."
Privacy: Several campgrounds offer secluded sites despite the region's generally developed character. At Holly Recreation Area, a camper praised, "We stayed on site 118 in the trillium loop. Actually feels like camping with all the trees, not lined up in a farmer's field."
Recreational variety: The region balances natural landscapes with developed recreation facilities. One camper at Addison Oaks County Park stated, "Nice trails for hiking and biking. They have kids activities on the weekends, a lake for swimming, great playgrounds and everything is really clean."
What you should know
Reservation requirements: Campgrounds fill quickly during summer months. For Port Huron Township RV Park, a regular visitor advised, "If you want a peaceful camp trip, this is the place (if it's not during a holiday)." Some visitors book seasonal sites, with one noting, "For the 2020 season I plan on a 3 month lot rental."
Site selection factors: Location within campgrounds significantly impacts experience quality. At Algonac State Park, a camper recommended, "When booking I suggest looking at the site map and choosing a site well off the road, it's a busy throughway and the noise can be distracting, especially in summer months."
Utility connections: Power connections vary in reliability and placement. At Pontiac Lake Recreation Area, visitors caution, "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."
Road conditions: Campground access roads may present challenges. At Ridgewood Campground, visitors noted the "roads are stone not paved," while other facilities have deteriorating pavement that affects vehicle access.
Tips for camping with families
Swimming options: Beach quality and accessibility varies among sites near Clay, Michigan. A camper at Addison Oaks County Park explained, "The park offers nice holiday activities - we were last there for Halloween camping. Would be nice to have a swimming option - I understand beach was permanently closed a few yrs ago."
Activity planning: Weekends feature organized events at several campgrounds. Port Huron KOA offers "jumping pillow, tons of scheduled activities, equipment rentals, trails nearby. There is a movie theater, old one room schoolhouse, camp store, pools, number boats and putt putt."
Wildlife awareness: Children should be monitored due to wildlife encounters. At Holly Recreation Area, campers warn, "Make sure that all food and garbage is secure at night, the raccoons have no fear."
Transportation needs: Many recreation areas have significant distances between camping areas and attractions. At Pontiac Lake Recreation Area, a visitor noted, "Only drawback is the distance from the lake. The lake is not within walking distance, you would need to drive."
Tips from RVers
Parking limitations: Some campgrounds restrict vehicle placement after setup. At Ridgewood Campground, campers advise, "Make sure that if you car camp or SUV Camp, you let them know. They have a policy of making you park your car/SUV in the lot after setting up your tent."
Site spacing concerns: RV site quality varies significantly between campgrounds and within loops. At Port Huron KOA, visitors report, "Hundreds of unsupervised rug-rats swarming like locust over all the roads without looking where they were going. Crowded sites so close to one another it was hard to tell were one started and another ended."
RV-friendly recommendations: When seeking larger sites, experienced campers suggest specific locations. A visitor to Port Huron KOA recommended, "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."
