Tent camping near St. Clair, Michigan ranges from primitive tent sites along the Black River to more developed tent campgrounds with amenities. P.L. Graham Park & Campground, formerly known as Chicagami Boy Scout Camp, offers rustic tent camping with 12 designated sites in a natural setting, while Port Huron KOA provides more developed tent sites with amenities.
Most tent sites at P.L. Graham Park are situated on flat ground with a mix of wooded and open areas facing the water. Basic amenities include fire pits surrounded by rocks, toilets, and drinking water from a hydrant. The campground operates on a first-come, first-served basis with a $15 nightly fee. Firewood is available for purchase from the on-site caretaker, and outside firewood is not permitted. Several campsites include picnic tables, though not all sites have them, so bringing a portable table is recommended for food preparation.
Walk-in tent sites at P.L. Graham Park provide riverside access for fishing and canoeing along the Black River, with several reviewers noting successful fishing experiences. The two wooded sites offer more seclusion than those in the open area. Cell service is limited, so campers should plan accordingly. The grounds include a small shelter with bunk beds in case of rain, a pavilion, and a playground for children. A visitor mentioned, "Our site was in the woods and just what we needed. Walker was very welcoming and super generous!"
"Got to watch out for kids buzzing around on banana bikes and golf carts cruising around. We stayed a couple times this summer."
"This is probably the best campground in Michigan. Lots of activities to do. Swimming pools, bicycles for rent, playgrounds, pizza, children's train, etc."
"You drive up the entrance of the park, and on your right there'll be a trailer with a sign that says parking. You will park your car there over night/during the day."
"Tent sites with water acces. Very nice caretaker!!"
from $15 / night
"This is another great scout ing campground with cabins, rustic camping, tent sites, lakes, horses to ride, this is one HUGE camp ground for scouts to enjoy and learn.."
from $20 - $30 / night
TravelerWe came at the end of the busy season so most of the water and bounce activities were closed. Not a lot of campers and have of spaced out, which kind of sucks since we are almost one of the farthest out. Place does have a lot of bees. They still have hourly/couple hour activities and they were fun! Staff was friendly as well. The golf carts are snazzy too!
TravelerWe had a great stay! Didn’t enjoy any of the activities but heard they were a blast. We enjoyed the texted alerts on activities. This was our second trip with our new rv, just chilled and enjoyed. It was a bit noisy at night, it’s to be expected with children and the generation we live in today. Overall a great experience! Hope to return soon to enjoy the activities.
TravelerGreat location, right on Lake Huron. They have beach access. It is pretty quiet. This is county park. The only thing we seen was negative was people speeding down the roads. Other than that it’s a great campground, very clean, staff was very friendly. We will definitely return.
TravelerI was pleasantly surprised by this state park. I prefer camping that is more secluded and the pictures on the DNR site appeared very close together.
The North loop of the campground was very noisy and crowded. However, the South loop had more of the rustic vibe I prefer. The sites were spacious and while there weren’t trees in between each site, there were trees lining between each row that backed up to each other.
The beach is a bit rocky so beach shoes are recommended. The rocks are well worth the seclusion on the south side of the beach.
I will definitely be back to this campground!
TravelerIts huge! It has everything a family could want!
GuideWe stayed one night as a layover while heading south. Overall, it was a good spot for a quick stop.
The positives: Easy to get in and out, level campsite, very friendly staff, and just a short walk to the beach.
Our biggest issue was the setup of the full-hookup sites. The electrical hookup was on the opposite side of the RV, and we weren’t really set up for a long electrical connection or a long sewer hose. We split the difference and had just enough to make it work.
The full-hookup sites are also pretty tight. Our neighbors were sitting a few feet from our sewer hookup at their campfire, which made things feel a little cramped.
The beach is close, which is a definite plus, but it’s fairly narrow and doesn’t offer a ton of room to spread out on a busy day.
Overall, I’d say this is a great spot for a weekend or an overnight stop, especially if you want easy beach access. I probably wouldn’t plan on getting too comfortable here for an extended stay.
TravelerVery nice people, Lake Huron is just a few steps away. Very clean bathrooms, Beautiful park, we ordered Jets pizza and they delivered it to our site, no wifi but thats okay with me
GuideAs usual, there's only electric at sites, but the pedestals seem fairly new, and tight. South loop is nicely wooded & has a newer, larger restroom/shower building, not much lake view. The north loop is a little less wooded, with the NW end having a little better lake views, but a pretty ancient restroom/shower facility.
Across the lake is the day use area with a beach and concession stand. (There's a small camp store in the north loop.)
ADA Only sites are asphalt paved. Some of the regular sites could be a challenge to get level on, but the rangers told me they have wood blocks for loan if you don't have enough.
Our first night & a half, we had some terrible neighbors two sites over. Constant profanities, yelling at & threatening their kids... real dirtbags. Rangers booted them from the park! Good to see them taking such positive action. I have not run into a single staff member here that wasn't pleasant.
This was our first time here. A test run, since it's only an hour from home (but feels farther). We'll be back for sure. (Especially with gas prices so high anymore.)
T-Mobile was only slow LTE at our site, but our Starlink worked perfectly at our site. Might be harder to get a clear shot in the more wooded areas of the park.
ScoutHusband and wife owners that are extremely rude Husband has the attitude of I own this here water wife is the mother of all Karen's. You usually pay to swim here but they ruined that and took that away cause they own that there water merica can't wait for the new owners!!!
Tent camping sites around St. Clair, Michigan extend beyond the Black River area into nearby regions with both established facilities and primitive options. The area sits at low elevations of 580-600 feet above sea level with a humid continental climate featuring warm summers and cold winters. Camping season typically runs April through October, with July and August bringing average temperatures of 70-85°F.
Fishing opportunities: Port Huron KOA campers report successful fishing nearby. "We came for Halloween camping every year! We love this campground. There is a ton to do for all ages. The kids keep busy all day long!" notes Wendy K.
Beach access: Camp Agawam offers swimming opportunities in a suburban setting. "This park is great! It has campsites, a playground, swimming, fishing, an outdoor amphitheater (with concerts!), pavilion rentals, and disc golf!" reports James P.
Canoeing and kayaking: P.L. Graham Park provides water access for paddling on the Black River. "Compact Camp with open sites. Nice place to bring a kayak & canoe. Worn in dock area but still accessible," says Valerie D.
Family-oriented activities: Crystal Creek Christian Campground offers numerous recreational options. "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," explains Tammy P.
Budget-friendly options: Tent camping near St. Clair includes affordable sites. "Great place to take the family even several times a season on a budget! Want the full camping ambiance $15 a night for rustic tent camping!" notes a review of Crystal Creek Campground.
Lake access: Hilltop Campgrounds provides sites near water. "The beach is right on the sports lake nepessing. Forget something while packing? No worries! They have you covered at their conscience store specific to their campgrounds!" shares Tammy P.
Reservation timing: Popular campgrounds fill quickly during summer months. For Port Huron KOA, one camper advises: "Reserve well in advance!"
Firewood regulations: Many campgrounds restrict outside firewood due to invasive species concerns. At P.L. Graham Park, "The Manager sold us a great bundle of wood for 10$!!! You can NOT bring your own wood in," explains Rebel A.
Seasonal considerations: Winter camping options exist for full-timers. "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 is over," notes Alicia A. about Hilltop Campgrounds.
Child-friendly activities: Port Huron KOA offers extensive options for children. "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," shares Melissa B.
Site selection for privacy: Choose sites carefully at busy campgrounds. "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.
Alternative play spaces: P.L. Graham Park offers kid-friendly amenities. "There is a pavilion and a small swing set for kids. I love the river and the caretaker 'walker' is very nice. You can fish and there is a lot of room for kids to run around," writes Braylynn G.
Full hookup availability: Hilltop Campgrounds offers complete services. "All sites are 50 amp full hook ups... For a full hook up campground this place is very economically friendly at only $40 a night!" notes Tammy P.
Site spacing considerations: Port Huron KOA can feel crowded. "Crowded sites so close to one another it was hard to tell were one started and another ended," cautions George H.
Connectivity issues: Cell service varies by location and carrier. "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," advises Joe S.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near St. Clair, MI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near St. Clair, MI is Port Huron KOA with a 4.2-star rating from 13 reviews.
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TheDyrt.com has all 6 tent camping locations near St. Clair, MI, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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