Top Tent Camping near St. Charles, MI

Looking for an adventure where you can explore St. Charles and then fall asleep in your tent? The Dyrt helps you find campsites near St. Charles with tent camping. From remote to easy-to-reach, these St. Charles campsites are perfect for tent campers.

Best Tent Sites Near St. Charles, MI (11)

Showing results 1-10 of 11 campgrounds

Recent Tent Reviews In St. Charles

305 Reviews of 11 St. Charles Campgrounds


  • Christina M.
    Camper-submitted photo from Walnut Hills Family Campground
    Oct. 13, 2024

    Walnut Hills Family Campground

    I’d give 0 if I could

    This campground used to be all about family and friends.  Camping friends that became family.  40+ years camping there, generation after generation.  So many wonderful people.  But the new owner has changed that camping experience for a lot of people.  Seasonals and reoccurring weekenders.  In fact over the last 2 years he has lost over 40+ seasonal families.  Many who have been there 10,20 even 30yrs.  He has done some much needed improvements but for what he is trying to charge people it’s ridiculous.  Believe all the bad reviews.  And the good reviews, well he pays for those by offering discounts for good reviews or free Wibit passes. The so called lake that he advertises is a nasty little pond that I’m sure is swimming with ecoli .  , the Wibit is small and priced outrageously at more than $35 on most days and is riddled with holes and barely filled with air in most days. Which also makes it dangerous.  The store does not have much to offer and what they do have is priced ridiculous.  There is one bathhouse and a couple nasty outhouses.  The owner also lies so much and thinks everyone else are fools.  He doesn’t live in MI so you won’t ever see him either.  Spend your money somewhere else.  For what he is charging it is not worth it.

  • Chad H.
    Camper-submitted photo from Outdoor Adventures Saginaw Bay Resort
    Sep. 20, 2024

    Outdoor Adventures Saginaw Bay Resort

    Common Camp Ground we go to all the time

    Alright camp ground, it’s a members only. Few grouchy people that seem more miserable than into relaxing. It’s definitely an interesting atmosphere compared to other campgrounds. Staff are hit or miss, seems like the pleasant ones take layoff and move on. Small improvements are made year over year, which is nice.

  • Estella D.
    Camper-submitted photo from Auburn Hills-Holly KOA
    Sep. 15, 2024

    Auburn Hills-Holly KOA

    Such a disappointment

    We paid 500.00 for 5 days. At first our sights were so unleveled that we had to go In And request a site change. Looked to rent the bikes as pictured, NOPE they were toddle trikes.. very deceiving! First day kids were in the pool, looked a little dirty. 2nd day , 90 degree weather the

    Pool was green! We spoke with staff and they said they were working on it. They were putting little bags of shock in.. REALLY!  The pool ended up closing stating it was related to the weather!!! Rain 3 days prior! No refund offered, site dirty, grass not mowed, dirty unkept campers in the campground, no trash pick up! NEVER EVER AGAIN! Took a ride to other nearby sites… cost less, clean, offered more activities for kid.

  • J
    Camper-submitted photo from Holly Recreation Area
    Sep. 15, 2024

    Holly Recreation Area

    One of my favorite campsites!

    Been using this campground for at least 12 years. Bathrooms are always fairly clean and there is plenty of shade. Nice ponds to view as well.

  • K
    Camper-submitted photo from Krystal Lake Campground
    Sep. 8, 2024

    Krystal Lake Campground

    The campground blasts loud music

    The campground seemed nice into Sat. Night came.  They started Blasting loud music that drowned our or campfire conversation from 1000ft away.  We end our night early and still couldn't sleep,  because the music was so loud inside of our camper, a hard side camper.  We called the camp store and they said they couldn't do smoothing about it.  We won't be back.

  • D
    Camper-submitted photo from Holly Recreation Area
    Aug. 26, 2024

    Holly Recreation Area

    Nice but wouldn't recommend 93

    It's a very nice campground with lots of trees and the sites are spaced out nicely in the Trillium loop. I've wouldn't pick site 93 however as the pavement is sloped and the whole site is sloped quite steeple. Also, it shares an electrical box with 95 and my camper cord was about 30 ft short.

  • Jacqueline A.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Bay City State Park
    Aug. 23, 2024

    Bay City State Park

    Great Park on Lake Huron

    Beach, trails and children's solace pad, just an easy walk across the road. Newer bathhouse. Shady sandy campsite. Be sure and visit downtown Bay City, lots of great restaurants, a Riverwalk on both sides of the river, concerts in the park. Great atmosphere.

  • D G.
    Camper-submitted photo from Holly Recreation Area
    Aug. 12, 2024

    Holly Recreation Area

    Far Away But Close To Home

    A short trip from home, this was a great weekend getaway! The camp site was spacious but tucked back in a bit (we tent camped on an RV site). The campground was quiet as well.

    We did a 7 mile loop hike and then went to Battle Alley Brewing in Holly (10 min away).

    No grate on the firepit so be aware of that.

    Would definitely come back - it’s like being up north but you’re under an hour from home.

  • Gary G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Bay City State Park
    Aug. 8, 2024

    Bay City State Park

    Good park

    Most sites are good, though some have slopes to them. Choose carefully. Great newer playscape and splash pad (!) for the kids, across State Park Rd from the main campground. Nice newly opened visitor/nature center. Campground usually clean and patrolled. Showers/restrooms are good, cleaned twice a day. Friendly staff.

    Some of the best campground hosts are here.

    Groceries, restaurants & laundromats are a short drive away.

    TV reception was ok, and T-Mobile worked well enough.

  • N
    Camper-submitted photo from Holly Recreation Area
    Jul. 31, 2024

    Holly Recreation Area

    Love this place!

    I love to come here when I want a quick get away from home because it is only 30min away.

    The campsites are big,secluded, wooded, and clean. The people in the check in stand are nice, friendly, and helpful as well.

    I do wish there was more public bathrooms, it’s a long walk or a quick drive to the only flushable toilets in the campground.

    Raccoons run this place! Don’t leave any food or garbage out ever or you will be robbed by a gang of raccoons who are not afraid of people.

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Frankenmuth Jellystone Park
    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.

  • Rachel P.
    Camper-submitted photo from Sleepy Hollow State Park
    Jul. 15, 2024

    Sleepy Hollow State Park

    Decent

    We just got done with a 3 night stay at Sleepy Hallow. The campsite itself was great, nice a roomy while also being wooded. The bugs were pretty intense, but bug spray helped. They are working on the natural gas pipeline nearby, so there was lots of construction noise. Verizon service was basically non existent other than at the beach. The dog beach was small and full of algae.

  • Kimberly W.
    Camper-submitted photo from Hide Away Park Campground
    Jul. 14, 2024

    Hide Away Park Campground

    THANK YOU FOR REVIEWING

    Thank you to EVERYONE who takes time to REVIEW! ….WHEW!! This year seems every place is FULL or Closed for repairs or High polluted numbers. many are struggling finding someplace to go, and People do READ REVIEWS, and this “ OLD HAG”

    Really needs a class in “ consumer relations “ I have been in retail for 30 plus years and THE CUSTOMER IS ALWAYS RIGHT, there is NO. “ what did you do to deserve to be treated THAT way? GOOD LUCK finding a NEW JOB when you don’t have one because THIS joint gets shut down do ton Bankruptcy….. hahahaha… you may think you’re smart NOW, but when you get served a dose of you’re OWN medicine out in the REAL WORLD.. well, I’d  give anything to see that…

    Making people’s lives miserable who just want to have a good time? How fucking miserable are YOU?

  • C
    Camper-submitted photo from Hide Away Park Campground
    Jul. 8, 2024

    Hide Away Park Campground

    Never come here!!

    First off I can’t even give it a zero star!!! But was going here for 5 years and definitely will be the Last!! Seems office has new rules now you can’t roll your 12 by 15 carpet mats out NOMORE but a 3 by 5 mat!! Who wants that little shit if you have furbabies coming in and out of your camper? Just a lot more dirt on your inside space!!Abssolety NO SERVICE!! You gotta stand in one spot just to hold a conversation on you phone!! No WiFi to check your Home ring camera!! No WiFi even if you try and USE YOUR OWN HOT SPOT!! So not even a fire stick 😩Most off lady in the office very unprofessional!! Ask her for a discount and she got the nerve to say I DONT GOT TIME FIR THIS!!! Excuse me miss grouchy, costumers are always to be satisfied!!! You got time to take our $$$$ at least have a POSITIVE ADDITUDE !!!! This probably why your campground was so EMPTY This year but best luck to you in the future!!! NEVER AGAIN!!

  • Lake George L.
    Camper-submitted photo from Water Tower Travel Trailer Park
    Jun. 30, 2024

    Water Tower Travel Trailer Park

    Bang for your buck

    Sites are long but not wide. Level. Full hookups. Wifi you can stream on. LTE cell service. Clean showers. Walking path around pond, fishing dock. $28 site, No old beaters allowed. Old clean units welcome.

  • E
    Camper-submitted photo from Outdoor Adventures Lake Shore Resort
    Jun. 25, 2024

    Outdoor Adventures Lake Shore Resort

    Crowded

    5 dollars per day, or if you are staying with family take your card to camp store to get a card that will last the time you will be. They don't tell this at the gate.

    5mph speed limit. Kidds are out of control on bicycles and walking they will dart right in front of you no desiplane. 

    Can take a long time getting in and getting to your campsite GOOD LUCK.

  • RThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Groveland Oaks County Park
    Jun. 21, 2024

    Groveland Oaks County Park

    Tent camping at Groveland Oaks County Park

    This park and campgrounds are very manicured with tons of RV, trailer and tent sites. The lake has a small shallow swimming area and beach that gets very busy during the day but less traffic right before sunset. There are lots of family activities like mini golf, kids bike courses and playgrounds. It’s a very large open family camping area. The staff are very nice and very busy making sure the grounds are perfectly maintained. I camped in the area F on the outer perimeter just down way of the beach area. I had plenty of room for my tent, awning and to park my SUV. The was electrical and water (non potable) at the site. During the weekdays I only had a few neighbors further down in tents or travel trailers. On Thursday almost all sites filled up with travel trailers. A park employee told me they would be fully booked for the next two weeks. Very nice camping, quiet. Holly Oaks Offroad park is across the street and Holly Recreation area is adjacent. Lots of great towns nearby like Fenton.

  • Chef T.
    Camper-submitted photo from Auburn Hills-Holly KOA
    Jun. 15, 2024

    Auburn Hills-Holly KOA

    The Holly Campground in Holly, MI, Formerly KOA endorsed

    I rarely write reviews good or bad on any business ever, but this one is a BEWARE situation and I feel that fellow campers/RVer’s need to be aware of the campground!!!!

    It has been many years since we were last at this campground. I booked a sight online for a week, thankfully it was only a week! We arrived at the campground, setup our 5th wheel, attempted to set up the WiFi, only to find they have WiFi in the store but no WiFi was available for our site. I contacted the office, spoke with the owner, she said “I will send someone out there to check the “repeater” maybe something is wrong with it because we should have WiFi”, never sent anyone that we were aware of and never called me to confirm wether or not we had the WiFi working. I drove up to the store and this nice young man informed me that the further away from the store you will not get WiFi. I told him that I spoke with the owner yesterday and she said that she was sending someone out to check the repeater and we NEVER heard back from her. He proceeded to call the owner on his cell phone, of which I could hear her talking, he said bring your computer up to the store and login, then take it back to the campsite and you should be able to login”, so I went back to the campsite grabbed my ipad, then back to the store. I was able to login to the WiFi. Went back to our site, no WiFi. This is a problem for me, not having WiFi, not only for work purposes but also TV services. I called the store, same young man told me that you do not have WiFi, you will need to come up to the store for services. I said that was unexceptionable, we were told we would have WiFi, it is also advertised online and in your brochure. He said “I can’t help you, you do not have WiFi on your site”. I let it go until the next day. 

    The campground is NOT well kept. The grass/weeds was a foot long throughout the campground, it clearly had not been mowed in a few weeks. My husband took the dogs out on our site to go potty, he came back in only to find he had ticks on him and the dogs. Most likely because the grass hadn’t been mowed. After being lied to about the wifi and now the ticks, we decided that we would need to find another campground. We are 44’ long with an 8’ deck and being a Friday we knew we had some challenges ahead of us to find another campground, but we did, thank God!

    I drove up to the office and informed them of our displeasure and that we are checking out. I said we will pay for the 2 nights we have stayed here but we would like to be refunded the balance of what we prepaid (almost $400.00 dollars), and a refund for $20.00, $10.00 for each gate key we were charged. The young man called the owner on his cell phone, she said she will not refund the money. I said to the young man that was unexceptable, and I want my money back. He said he can’t refund our money. I told him I will get my money back one way or another, and that I will warn everyone about the “real” situation of this campground, his response was “ok, have a good day”, and I left. 

    If you are interested in staying at this campground, I highly suggest you take a ride and go see it for yourself. They are very expensive, overpriced for the campground conditions and amenities , and services that are stated online and in the brochure are not accurate! If you want to save yourself the headache, disappointment and loss of your hard earned money, STAY AWAY FROM THIS CAMPGROUND!!!

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Groveland Oaks County Park
    Jun. 13, 2024

    Groveland Oaks County Park

    Park is nice but open to the public…

    The spaces are nice and open. The playgrounds are new. There’s and arcade and beach. The downfall is that ots open to the public. This is our 4th year coming here and its now a common occurrence for stranger danger. If you’re an adult with no kids, you’ll have a great time!

  • H
    Camper-submitted photo from Covenant Hills Camp
    Jun. 5, 2024

    Covenant Hills Camp

    Group camping for Sukkot

    We had a large group of families with varying ages and abilities.  We used multiple different styles of cabins and a few RV sites, as well as various buildings for activities.  All in all, it was an incredible time and I highly recommend it.  Staff was helpful with activities such as archery but, seldom seen if not directly helping with things.  It was nice to feel like we had the run of the place but, still know that help was available if we needed it.  The location is pretty great, off the beaten path but, within 30 minutes of major stores and conveniences. 
    Laundry facilities would have been awesome since we were staying a full week but, there was a laundromat only about 15 minutes away. 
    The food selection was about what you'd expect in a public school cafeteria and resulted in health-minded guests needing to make their own meals in the cabins and meals were VERY rushed, only allowing 30 minutes for our large group to get their food, eat and be out of the building. 
    The grounds were well maintained for a rustic campground but, bathrooms and meeting buildings were adequately upgraded and offered pleasant amenities, such as a game room, large gym and decent air conditioning.  

    We had a great time here and look forward to returning one day!

  • D
    Camper-submitted photo from Pine Ridge RV Campground
    May. 20, 2024

    Pine Ridge RV Campground

    Great location to Frankenmouth

    We love this campground. It’s quiet and well maintained. The owners are friendly and willing to help. Wood bundles are available for purchase and they deliver to your site. No tents allowed but pop-up are welcome. The bathrooms are key for me and are very clean. There shower are private and are quarter operated. This is our go-to when in the area.

  • D P.
    Camper-submitted photo from Metamora-Hadley Recreation Area
    May. 13, 2024

    Metamora-Hadley Recreation Area

    OK for last minute trips.

    I have stayed here over 100 times in past thirty years. Front camp sites are better than back. Staff are friendly. The only rude person here is the camp store owner. Fishing is great, boat, kayaks, trails for everyone. If it rains everything is mud if your in the back camp section.

  • D P.
    Camper-submitted photo from Holly Recreation Area
    May. 13, 2024

    Holly Recreation Area

    Over 30 years of camping here.

    It's always great to spend time at Holly. The only downfall is the public bathroom. Camp sites are pretty big. Tent camping is also A bad place to hang out as nothing is level for tents.

  • T
    Camper-submitted photo from Bay County Fairgrounds
    May. 5, 2024

    Bay County Fairgrounds

    Great location and quiet

    We stayed here 2 years ago.  The office where payment is made is a few miles away from the actual campground.

    There is a dump station and water at the fairgrounds.  Along the left side near the dump / water station as you enter are huge grassy sites marked by electrical outlets at the rear of the sites. The rest of the fairgrounds are set up like  a traditional campground on a "loop" style.  It looks like almost all the sites will accommodate a 40 footer easily.

    There were 2 or 3 campers who appeared to be long term seasonal guests but it did not distract from our overall stay.

    We pull an Imagine 2500RL pulled by a Ford F-150 max trailer package.

    We stayed 4 nights and spent the days traveling around Bay City.

    Founds a great BBQ that had been shared by MI PLAYGROUND ---  Meaty's Roadhouse BBQ& Sausage Shack Bay City.
    We are planning our Summer 2024 travels and will; be stopping at the Bay County Fairgrounds again this summer.

  • Evamarie I.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Walnut Hills Family Campground
    Jan. 21, 2024

    Walnut Hills Family Campground

    Love love loved camping here!!!!!!!!!!!

    We was able to get a site last minute for the week prior and weekend of Labor Day. Also a river site, lots and lots for kids to enjoy they really loved the dance party on Saturday and Sunday night. The bounce thingy on the pond. We also brought our kayaks and spent a couple days on the river. Really enjoyed and will return



Guide to St. Charles

Camping near St. Charles, Michigan, offers a great mix of outdoor fun and relaxation. With several campgrounds in the area, you can find the perfect spot to enjoy nature, whether you're in a tent, RV, or cabin.

What to do:

  • Hiking and Trails: Explore the beautiful trails at Pinckney State Recreation Area. One reviewer mentioned, "The beach was a very nice place to spend the day," highlighting the scenic spots for hiking and enjoying the outdoors.
  • Fishing: If you love fishing, Bishop Lake Campground is a great choice. A visitor noted, "Great fishing spot," making it a perfect destination for anglers.
  • Disc Golf: For those who enjoy disc golf, Proud Lake Recreation Area hosts tournaments, as one camper shared, "Had a great time. Clean campground, and activities to do."

What campers like:

  • Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate the cleanliness of the campgrounds. At Bay City State Park Campground, a reviewer said, "Showers/restrooms are good, cleaned twice a day."
  • Spacious Sites: Many campgrounds offer roomy sites. A visitor at Holly Recreation Area mentioned, "The camp site was spacious but tucked back in a bit."
  • Friendly Staff: Campers often rave about the helpful staff. One camper at Sleepy Hollow State Park Campground noted, "The people in the check-in stand are nice, friendly, and helpful."

What you should know:

  • Limited Cell Service: Be prepared for spotty cell service in some areas. A camper at Pinckney State Recreation Area mentioned, "With T-Mobile, Internet service was practically non-existent."
  • Construction Noise: Some campgrounds may have nearby construction. A visitor at Sleepy Hollow State Park Campground reported, "There was lots of construction noise."
  • Water Access: Not all campgrounds have water access at the sites. A camper at Bruin Lake Campground noted, "No water or sewer at site but fill and dump available in park."

Tips for camping with families:

  • Activities for Kids: Look for campgrounds with family-friendly activities. At Groveland Oaks County Park, a reviewer said, "There are lots of family activities like mini golf, kids bike courses, and playgrounds."
  • Safety Precautions: Keep an eye on your belongings, especially in busy parks. One camper at Groveland Oaks County Park mentioned, "It's now a common occurrence for stranger danger."
  • Plan for Crowds: Some campgrounds fill up quickly, especially on weekends. A visitor at Holly Recreation Area noted, "The campsites are big, secluded, wooded, and clean."

Tips from RVers:

  • Check Site Levels: Make sure to choose a level site for your RV. A camper at Pontiac Lake Recreation Area mentioned, "Leveling would be more of the challenge."
  • Bring Extension Cords: Some sites may require long cords for electric hookups. A visitor at Bay City State Park Campground advised, "Recommend to have extension cord for some sites, as plug in can be far."
  • Explore Nearby Amenities: Look for campgrounds close to grocery stores and restaurants. A camper at Proud Lake Recreation Area appreciated the nearby stores, saying, "If you forgot something, there are stores nearby."

Whether you're looking for a quiet getaway or a fun family adventure, camping near St. Charles, MI, has something for everyone.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Which is the most popular tent campsite near St. Charles, MI?

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near St. Charles, MI is Genesee Otter Lake Campground with a 2.3-star rating from 3 reviews.

  • What is the best site to find tent camping near St. Charles, MI?

    TheDyrt.com has all 11 tent camping locations near St. Charles, MI, with real photos and reviews from campers.