Whether you're a tent camper, an RVer, or just passing through, Sand Lake, MI has a lot to offer. There are tons of hikes and other fun activities to partake in, as well as sights to see and explore. You're sure to find the perfect spot for your Michigan camping adventure.
$20 - $50 / night
"There's some walking trails here, the lighthouse is a close walk/bike from anywhere in the park. Getting to town is a few minute drive, or a very long bike ride on the road."
"Always packed, very little cover, but surrounded by memorable beaches, walking trails, and not far from town (if you feel the need to be a tourist)."
$15 - $30 / night
"Hike to the nearby monument and attend one of their educational programs, visit the museum, take the steps down to the floating shanty, or visit the small store."
"This is a nice campground that butts up with the Lumberman’s Memorial park with a trail leading to the AuSable sand dune. Campsites are paved with fire pits and picnic tables."
$40 - $50 / night
"With a soothing creek whispering in the background of our campsite, we set our camper up for a two week adventure in this northwestern part of Michigan."
"It’s sits on the Au Gres River trail to the river with seating, picnic table and fire pit. The grounds are immaculate. Very peaceful setting."
"The large campground is crowded in summer months and you have to buy tokens to take a shower, but the views and access to the River are spectacular."
"Sites are reasonably priced around$25-30/night.
The park is very dog-friendly, which we appreciated.
Nice large, woodsy, level lots. Many are waterfront. "
$15 - $30 / night
"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)."
"Near a lot of recreation, including Lumbermans Monument, the paddlers memorial, and the lovely Ausable River. Minutes away from Oscoda and Lake Huron."
$15 / night
"This is one of my favorite campgrounds in Michigan. The sites are big, most are well shaded."
"We brought our own kayaks and spent the day at on loud lake which was about a 15 min drive away. There were plenty of vault toilets which were very clean and water stations."
"This here is one of my favorite campgrounds in Michigan. The facilities are clean and kept up. All access to trails, lakes and the river are close and easy to get to."
"Great location and our site had a nice shortcut through the woods that exited by the lake and bathrooms."
"You can walk to downtown and eat at several restaurants, go to the movies, walk to Walmart and get ice cream from 3 different locations."
"The lake is Lake Huron. US 23 divides this park from the city and there is a train track and active train on the opposite side but it only goes through once a day at about 10 o’clock at night."
$16 - $30 / night
"I had cabin #3, very beautiful on the lake. Wish they had a grate to cook some things, however I failed to bring my own. It made do with what I had."
"This is a great campground and very close to canoe rentals. They pick up trash right at your site! Also, buy the wood from the people driving around."
GuideWe were passing through and didn't have time to explore campground arriving around 7p & road tired.
Site # 3 was without metal fire ring as shown to have in reservation picture. In its place was a hole and pile of ash with a hardened ash plug as if it was dug out of ground and thrown near bushes, strange. We were only campers there but heard faint voices outdoors after turning in to sleep, kinda creepy.
Pictures taken just before leaving early morning. Heard there might be poison ivy around camp so only took basic photos but stayed clear of foliage around site.
TravelerThe site was truly rustic. About 1/4 mile to the next site. Nice clearing with multiple spots you could maneuver a small camper back into if you are a good enough driver. If not, there is a nice clearing by the road that also works. Had a fire ring with a flip over grill. Trails run back into woods to potential cat hole locations. For water, you can head up the road a few miles to the lumberman monument park, and they have a fauset by the parking lot. Also, about 1/8 mile down the road is an established path down to the Au Sable River to get water to extinguish your campfire but not for drinking (this stretch of the river is not safe to drink). During the day and sometimes at night you can hear a lot of road traffic and also jet engine noise from the local airport. Good openings for solar if you are using movable panels or can get your camper back far enough, but not so good in the default parking spot. Verizon = 3-4 bars 5G.
TravelerWe camped on the ausable river camping on alcona pond. The sites are very secluded from one another, no bathrooms, no water available, but its quiet, private, and had access right to the river. Lots of poison ivy in July, so be aware. Lots of campers across the river that you can see, but nothing overly noisy or distracting. Our site had room for 3 families with tents. Some walking paths, but we didn’t wander too far. Short drives to beautiful overlooks, or the dam for fishing. We wanted 006 site originally. its level with the river and right on a winding bend! Sites seem to reserve fast, so be ready!
GuideBeautiful, newly renovated park with a great beach and beach access.
Be advised that the sites closer to the beach are very sandy. Larger campers may get stuck, especially after a rainstorm.
GuideThis 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.
TravelerEasy 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.
RangerSo, 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.
TravelerVery nice campground. Great sandy beach. Nice bathrooms and showers. Has geodomes and mini cabins for rent.
TravelerWe 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.
Camping near Sand Lake, Michigan, offers a mix of beautiful scenery and outdoor fun. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or an adventure-filled getaway, there are plenty of campgrounds to choose from.
Camping near Sand Lake, Michigan, has something for everyone, from families to RV enthusiasts. Just remember to plan ahead and enjoy the great outdoors!
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are the campgrounds near Sand Lake, Michigan?
Several excellent campgrounds are located near Sand Lake, Michigan. Harrisville State Park Campground offers wooded sites along Lake Huron with a beautiful sandy beach and modern facilities. Rifle River Recreation Area provides access to multiple lakes and trails with clean, well-maintained facilities. Other nearby options include Ossineke State Forest Campground and Round Lake Campground near National City. Most campgrounds in this region feature typical amenities like fire rings, picnic tables, and access to water recreation, making the Sand Lake area a popular destination for campers seeking lakeside experiences in northern Michigan.
How close is Sand Lake to National City and Tawas, Michigan?
Sand Lake is approximately 15 miles northwest of National City and about 25 miles from Tawas, Michigan. Tawas Point State Park Campground is located in East Tawas and features electric hookups, walking trails, and a lighthouse that's accessible from anywhere in the park. Getting from Sand Lake to Tawas takes roughly 30 minutes by car. Oscoda-Tawas KOA provides another accommodation option in the area. The Sand Lake-National City-Tawas triangle creates a popular recreation corridor along Michigan's Lake Huron shoreline, with multiple camping options and water activities throughout the region.
What facilities are available at Sand Lake County Park?
Sand Lake County Park offers a range of camping facilities similar to other parks in the region. Typical amenities include designated campsites with fire rings and picnic tables, vault toilets or restroom facilities, and drinking water access. For comparable facilities nearby, Port Crescent State Park Campground features large campsites with fire pits and picnic tables, clean restrooms, and proximity to fishing, kayaking and beaches. Negwegon State Park Campground offers more rustic accommodations with vault toilets, fire rings, and bear poles for food storage. As with most Michigan parks, Sand Lake County Park likely maintains seasonal operations with reduced services during winter months.
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