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Best Tent Camping near Saginaw, MI

329 Reviews

Tent camping options near Saginaw, Michigan include a range of established campgrounds with varying amenities and access types. Genesee Otter Lake Campground and Crystal Creek Christian Campground provide dedicated tent sites with drive-in access, while Deerfield Nature Park offers more secluded hike-in tent camping. Hilltop Campgrounds in Lapeer and Russell Canoe Livery & Campground in Omer provide additional tent camping locations within driving distance of Saginaw.

Tent campsites in the Saginaw region offer variable amenities depending on location and management. Most established tent campgrounds provide basic facilities like fire rings and picnic tables, though availability differs significantly between sites. Deerfield Nature Park features primitive tent camping with pit toilets and trash service but no drinking water on site. Crystal Creek Christian Campground maintains showers and toilets for tent campers, along with electric hookups for those wanting some conveniences while tent camping. Water access varies considerably between locations, with some offering no potable water sources. Campgrounds generally operate seasonally, with most closing between October and April due to Michigan's winter conditions.

Backcountry tent camping at Deerfield Nature Park provides a more immersive outdoor experience, requiring a one-mile hike to reach designated tent sites. The park's ten primitive tent sites offer seclusion and direct water access. One camper shared, "You can access by boat or it's a 1 mile hike, very peaceful, there are only 10 sites and pit toilets." For tent campers seeking more amenities, Genesee Otter Lake Campground operates from April to November with full facilities, though reviews suggest the lakefront sites are primarily occupied by seasonal campers. A recent review noted, "If you are looking to stay here, all of the decent waterfront sites have seasonal campers in them." Most tent campgrounds in the region allow fires and have trash collection, but tent campers should verify current rules before arrival as restrictions may change seasonally.

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Best Tent Sites Near Saginaw, Michigan (9)

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Tent Camping Reviews near Saginaw, MI

329 Reviews of 9 Saginaw Campgrounds

  • Neil T.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 31, 2021

    Seven Lakes State Park Campground

    Great waypoint when camping across the UP

    Vibe: Woodland getaway with no flash and really nice sites. 

    Cleanliness: Sites are above average. Vault toilets are…vault toilets. 

    Facilities: Nothing flashy. Wish there was a few additional water filling points and that the dumpsters were all located near the camp entrance/exit. But really nothing to complain about. 

    General spots: Large, very well treed, gravel, picnic table and fire ring. 

    Privacy: Can see neighbors through sites, but better privacy than most places. 

    Our site: 39. Could drive circles around inside it. Even has a tree in the middle of it with room to drive all the way around it(not with a trailer). Depending where you set up your rig, you may need an extra long extension cord. 

    Noise: Quiet. Occasionally hear wolves howling. Cell signal(Verizon): 1 bar. No internet loads. Text messages will send and receive. Sometimes immediately, sometimes hours later. Other: Wish we had a chance to explore the lakes. Sounds like the swimming and fishing is good. Saw several kids on bikes toting rods.

  • Christopher P.
    Sep. 5, 2021

    McGinnis Lake Modern Campground — Holly Recreation Area

    Quiet, well kept state park

    Just a quick overnight tent camp with my son. Tent sites are relatively well spaced out and clean. Fire rings and picnic tables at each site.

    Modern bathrooms and shower rooms are available.

    Many playgrounds, horseshoe pits, and a basketball court available.

    Firewood and ice available at the front gate.

    RV spaces are well spaced out and give a sense of privacy. Electrical hook ups.

    Cabins available for rent as well.

  • Kate K.
    Aug. 24, 2019

    Ortonville Equestrian Campground — Ortonville Recreation Area

    2 Great Lakes & A Horse Camp

    The campground here is actually a quite popular equestrian campground. There is a campground and a staging area. Rustic vault toilets, picnic tables, and fire rings. The campground itself isn’t really much to write home about (unless you have horses that is). The lakes and launches are however very nice and there are some great trail systems through the area.

  • Maggie M.
    Aug. 4, 2018

    Seven Lakes State Park Campground

    A beautiful park!

    Seven Lakes has a great hike that takes you all around the lake, as well as smaller loops. You can find challenging hikes or an easy path. The campsites are close ish together but the one we stayed in was set in the woods, so we really didn’t have a problem with it. Sunrise is stunning here. Do make sure you bring plenty of bug netting/spray/gear if you come in the summer, the bugs are brutal.

  • Tammy P.
    Oct. 18, 2020

    Crystal Creek Christian Campground

    Family oriented

    Quite the establishment! Almost 150 sites including rustic, full hook up, cabins and even just over a handful of park model units to reserve for your family to come stay and enjoy all the amenities they offer. Amenities including but not limited to horse shoes, swimming ( man dug pond) hiking, basketball, volleyball and etc. No alcohol allowed as this is a Christian campground but for all the amenities it is extremely affordable! $30 a night 30/50 amp full hook up ... don’t need 30+ amp but want sewer as well only $25 a night 15 amp full hook up or as low as $20 for 15 amp water n electric only! Want the full camping ambiance $15 a night for rustic tent camping! Great place to take the family even several times a season on a budget!

  • Jamie H.
    May. 12, 2019

    Holiday Shores RV Park

    Disclosure: This review is from a newbie RVer's perspective with a 32ft. Travel Trailer!

    Holiday Shores has a good website that gives great info, however there is no booking online so you have to call. Which was super easy! The lady on the phone was very nice and completely understanding of our total lack of experience. We planned to golf during our stay so she thoughtfully put us in lot 511 which is relatively close to the pro shop!

    This place is conveniently located off M13 in Durand. The roads are in good condition which made for smooth travel... this is Michigan! We arrived after the office was closed but our paperwork was waiting for us just as promised. The park itself has nice roads as well. Making for easy navigation and maneuvering. Our lot had a cement pad which required no leveling. The electrical, water and sewer connections were all easy to access and each lot had a picnic table and fire ring!

    Holiday Shores has several ponds both large and small, which might make for good fishing but we never gave it a try. There is a swim beach and it's available after Memorial Day! You will also find several nicely paved paths up to 3 miles long. These were walking only which was sort of disappointing because we brought our bikes, however they were very nice to walk or go for a run! The attached 9 hole golf course was well maintained and had some tricky holes. There were changes in elevation and multiple water hazards... we may have lost some balls. The only negative is they currently do not have their liquor license but the new owners are working on it. Overall it was a fun, mostly challenging round of golf that is worth checking out!

    Breaking camp and checkout were easy as pie! The bottom line we can't wait to go back it was great time, with better people. We made new friends the first night there that truly made our stay memorable. Thank you again for all the hospitality!!!

  • Nathan V.
    Sep. 9, 2018

    Sleepy Hollow State Park Campground

    Beautiful Park

    Rangers working the area are very friendly. Many options to choose from in terms of camping, from rustic, tent to fully functional cabin lodging. The park is very large, so it is always good to have a vehicle able to drive to the trails and beach. Campsites are decent sized, can fit probably 3 four person tents per site, which includes a concrete firepit and picnic table. In the north campsites there is a lot of tree covering, and there are a lot of walnut trees that were shedding a lot this time of the year. Bathrooms are well spaced between the campsites you, and have showers along with some vending machines outside of them. Spigots are scattered throughout and are very accessible. Be sure to bring at least 100 feet of extension chord if you want electricity, because the power ports are not as accessible from some areas. Overall very pleasant campground.

  • Jennifer H.
    Oct. 27, 2019

    McGinnis Lake Modern Campground — Holly Recreation Area

    Holly State Rec

    Pretty park with several well marked trails. We stayed in the Maple loop which had several semi-private sites screened from neighbors by trees. I think site #1 was one of the roomiest and prettiest. 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.

  • J
    Jul. 29, 2024

    Frankenmuth Jellystone Park

    Fun RV park and very close to downtown

    Our site was averaged out to $82.71 a night with the weekly rate discount.

    We were in Site# 306 (a deluxe plus RV site - be aware that some of these are back-ins and not clearly labeled on the site map - we had to change sites to a pull-thru). We had Full hook- up with a gravel pull-through.
    We travel towing a 14 foot trailer and were able to fit both in our pull through site along with my jeep.
    The site was easy to level.

    Our site was not shaded with zero trees. We weren’t able to sit outside because of the direct sun until after 8:30pm.
    This was a smaller lot with our neighbors fairly close.

    The deluxe plus lot comes without a concrete patio but with a picnic table and fire ring. They do sell firewood and will deliver to your site.

    There is free WiFi. They do not offer Cable TV but there are quite a few channel options.

    There is not a community outdoor kitchen or community fire pit.

    They do not provide garbage service at your site so you must walk to garbage dumpster.

    You are allowed to ride personal golf carts. They also allow you to rent pedal bikes. They do not provide golf cart rentals.

    They do have a heated indoor and heated outdoor Swimming pool and one hot tub.

    There is a Playground. They also offer Gaga ball, basketball sport court, and volleyball courts. There is a Game room for kids. They have a Putt putt course and Jumping pad.

    They have a great general store. There is a separate Activity Center for kids.
    There are tons of scheduled activities for kids like wagon rides, arts & crafts, scavenger hunts, obstacle courses, etc. Activities are scheduled all day from 9am to 8pm.

    There is a snack bar on site from 4pm-9:30pm where you can get hot dogs, brats, pretzels, nachos, ice cream, etc.

    The streets are mostly paved and good for riding bikes.

    This is an RV park with cabins to rent also. Tent camping is also allowed.

    They have two shower houses. The shower house has the typical stalls. There is a great area to hang clothes and store your toiletries in the shower stall. These are kept very clean.

    There is a laundry facility. It is a cash only facility, but they have a change machine in the arcade room. There are approximately 4washers and 4 dryers. It is approximately $2.75 to wash and $0.75 to dry a load.

    They do not have a fenced in dog park. There are areas to walk dogs though.

    Flies were an issue and bug spray was needed.

    There were no trails to hike off of the campground.

    Some fun things to do outside of the campground are Frankenmuth FunShips (chocolate & wine tasting), the Golden Ticket Trolley, the Bavarian Belle (popcorn & sodas) River Place Shops, wineries, and Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland store. This RV park is less than a mile to downtown/River Place Shops where there is tons of shopping.

Guide to Saginaw

Tent campsites near Saginaw, Michigan are predominantly situated in forested regions with elevations ranging from 580 to 750 feet above sea level. The area experiences distinct seasons, with summer temperatures averaging 70-85°F during peak camping months. Most Saginaw-area campgrounds open from April through October, closing during winter when temperatures frequently drop below freezing.

What to do

River adventures: Russell Canoe Livery & Campground offers direct river access for canoeing and kayaking with tent sites adjacent to the waterway. "Great place to pull off the river and camp. Everything you need for your river adventure. Rent or bring your own watercraft," notes camper H E.

Water recreation: Hilltop Campgrounds provides access to Lake Nepessing with beach access and water activities. The campground sits directly on what locals call a "sports lake" according to reviews, with tent sites available for weekend campers.

Disc golf and trails: Multiple tent campgrounds near Saginaw feature hiking trails and outdoor recreation facilities. Several parks maintain disc golf courses within walking distance of tent sites, with trail distances ranging from 0.5 to 3 miles. One reviewer mentioned seeing "a lot of colorful fungus" while hiking the natural trails.

What campers like

Winter options: Hilltop Campgrounds provides winter camping for those seeking off-season accommodations. "We are full timers here for the winter into spring. The campground here is simple but the people are so friendly it will be difficult to leave when our season here is over," reports Alicia A.

Affordable rates: Crystal Creek Christian Campground offers budget-friendly tent camping at $15 per night for rustic sites. According to Tammy P., "Great place to take the family even several times a season on a budget!"

Structured activities: Many tent campsites feature organized activities for campers. One campground offers "putt putt golf, arcade, Saturday night adult bingo weekly, and tons more," creating community engagement opportunities beyond typical camping experiences.

What you should know

Seasonal site limitations: Many lakefront sites at popular campgrounds are occupied by seasonal campers. One camper advised, "If you are looking to stay here, all of the decent waterfront sites have seasonal campers in them."

Access challenges: Deerfield Nature Park requires planning for tent site access. A camper advised, "I do recommend going by boat as the hike with gear will wear you out." The alternative one-mile hike to tent sites requires carrying all equipment.

Alcohol restrictions: Several tent campgrounds near Saginaw prohibit alcohol consumption on premises, particularly at religious-affiliated properties. Crystal Creek Christian Campground specifically notes "no alcohol allowed" in their rules, while maintaining family-friendly amenities.

Site verification: Multiple reviewers recommend calling ahead to confirm site amenities. One camper reported paying for a lakefront site that was actually "swamp front" with different features than advertised, so advance verification is essential.

Tips for camping with families

Activity options: Genesee Otter Lake Campground provides family-centered recreation with multiple organized activities. "Plenty of activities planned and structured through the grounds to keep the whole family entertained," shares Tammy P., noting specific options for various age groups.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Saginaw, MI?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Saginaw, MI is Amongst The Maples with a 0-star rating from 0 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Saginaw, MI?

TheDyrt.com has all 9 tent camping locations near Saginaw, MI, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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