Join the fun near South Boardman. With tons of outdoor activities and scenic camping, this is an excellent vacation spot for all kinds of travelers. South Boardman is filled with the activities, sights, and experiences to make everyone in your crew a happy camper. At The Dyrt, campers like you share their favorite spots, plus tips and photos. No matter where you're headed in South Boardman, you'll find the best spot for you and your camping crew.
"Located on busy US-31, but with pedestrian bridge over 4 lanes to beach. TART (Traverse Area Recreation Trail) access from campground. Easy biking to Traverse City or Acme."
"Bathrooms were clean, sites were average size for Michigan state parks. Close to the bike trail, though a little noisy from the nearby airport and roads."
$60 - $260 / night
"We stayed here in our little offroad teardrop camper which looked like David & Goliath when contrasted against the massive 5th wheels surrounding us."
"There is a pool, jump pad, miles and miles of mountain biking trails and hiking trails, a man made lake which has some inflatable water toys."
"We didn't know too much about Sands Lake when we arrived, so we just drove in a few minutes and found a beautiful lake with a prime campsite next to it."
"Amazing fishing and spacious campsites fire away from everybody."
$45 - $60 / night
"This park is situated up on a hill on beautiful Elk Lake. Elk Lake can easily access Torch River and into Torch Lake. It has a fantastic boat launch which we have used."
"The park itself is positioned on a hillside next to a lake. We had a site at the top of the hill which I recommend."
"It's fairly wide open, with trees around, but this was great as it made stargazing easy."
"I like the location; very secluded in the State Forest but only a half hour from downtown Traverse City. This facility meets the recreation need of a diverse cross section of Michigan residents."
$20 / night
"Every year I camp on the Green Lake side of Interlochen State Park, and this year was the first year I allowed a guest - my fiance."
"Not super close to Michigan cities, but can drive back and forth to Traverse City."
"One is reservable and drive-in with access to the lake. We decided to backpack about 3 miles in and camp in the rustic hike in sites."
"All the usual stuff, vault toilet, hand pump and a fire ring BUT, the lake is completely uninhibited and great for kayaking and fishing."
"1/2 hr outside Traverse City. Nice away from the busy areas.
The campground needs some attention which will be addressed by the new owners. Very dusty, loose sand uneven entrance.""Nice beautiful campground situated in a nice woods setting. Sprayed for bugs so the bugs were not much of a nuisance. The camp sites are a nice firm gravel and pretty level."
"I love going around September so quiet a few people there loads of trails to walk on and people are very respectful I keep going every year"
"it was cold and rainy so we passed on hiking. we decided instead to drive around and explore the traverse city area and some of the dog friendly parts of sleeping bear dunes national lakeshore. had a great"
"Right next to a canoe/kayak launch. Hand pump for water. Separate men and women outhouses. Road is a bit loud during the night but not too bad."
GuideLoved this campground! Really nice paved camping sites with fire pits and tables. Sites not too close to each other. Bathroom facilities were excellent and clean. Firewood is available to purchase in the campground.
TravelerPaved roads good for bike riding. Nice and level site. Well maintained grounds, with a fire pit and picnic table. State park, so no WiFi. AT&T is 1 bar. Restroom and showers are updated and clean.
TravelerVery beautiful small campground. Lots and lots of trails for hiking. Good fishing at the Manistee river and pond nearby
TravelerVery secluded and peaceful. Clean bathrooms and friendly staff.
TravelerWow, what a great, quiet, beautiful rustic campground this was at one point and could be again. Unfortunately, a band of Deliverance locals has taken over this camp as their personal fifedom and runs it their way. That's a more and more common issue you'll unfortunately read about at many other State Forest Campgrounds. So the ruling group often trades prime sites from person to person, so sites never really open to the public for several weeks in a row. The boys have also decided they like having electricity available 24x7. Really, multiple large frame generators run all day and then all night -- ALL NIGHT. If one of the gang is anywhere near your site, you'll listen to gas engines 24 hours a day. If you mention to the boys that the posted quiet hours are 10 PM to 8 AM, they just laugh, tell you how many years they've been coming to this campground and camping this way, and who are you to tell them what to do? You get the idea. After the first night, we called the DNR and the field supervisor and new enforcement agent were genuine, caring, professional, responsive, fabulous people. The locals, however, know exactly how to game the system. The enforcement officer showed at 4 to tell one of the cabal boys to shut off his generator at 10. He ran it all night again and yelled to us while doing so, That loud enough for you, want to call the DNR on me again? They all know no officer is coming back after 10 and he can't write any tickets without witnessing the violation. All you can do is call 911 and tell the Sheriff your emergency is the guy at the next camp site won't shut off his generator. Good luck with that. It's sad this happens more and more across the state. I grew up camping at pretty much every state forest camp in the lower and upper peninsulas. There was always a spirt of cooperation, mutual respect, concern for others and humility that has mostly disappeared. If you want to run your own generator 24x7, listen to loud country or rock music after dark and drain a couple cases of Old Style with the boys, knock yourself out.
ScoutGet ready, Gaylord! Alpen Bluffs is shaping up to be an incredible new resort destination in Otsego County, set to open its doors in May 2025. With a whopping 271 sites, including a fantastic mix of 30 cabins and 14 yurts, there's something for everyone. RV enthusiasts will appreciate the full hookups, convenient concrete pads, and versatile 30/50/20 electric outlets. But Alpen Bluffs isn't just for RVers– the whole family will be thrilled with the impressive list of amenities already planned, including pickleball, a dedicated bark park for furry friends, the exciting Inukshuk Shores aquatic playground, gem mining, and mini golf, with promises of even more to come! While we eagerly anticipate the late 2025 opening of The Bluff Club with its resort pool and unique container bar with a smoker, the initial offerings alone make Alpen Bluffs a must-watch and likely a must-visit for a fantastic family getaway in Northern Michigan.
RangerWe stayed here with friends for four days in July. The grounds are very well cared for. All the utilities were well placed. We stayed in sites 82 and 83 overlooking the pond. Our sides were gravel pull in with a small concrete patio and walkway on the passenger side. As a few others noted, there is no bath house or restrooms. We don’t mind as we never use the facilities at campgrounds. Wineries abound in the area but we chose to visit 4 lighthouses and Sleeping Bear Dunes. Buy some cherries when in season!
TravelerWe winter camped. Beautiful large spots. Gorgeous pines. Off a main road, quiet area.
ScoutThis campground is centrally located to everything that’s going on, on the west side of the state. Whether it’s trail riding, Traverse City Cherry festival or hanging in the town of Manton. There is always something going on. Spacious, super clean bath house and on Saturday nights listen to live music right at your campsite!
Camping near South Boardman, Michigan, offers a mix of beautiful landscapes and fun activities for everyone. Whether you’re into tent camping or RVing, there are plenty of options to enjoy the great outdoors.
Camping near South Boardman, Michigan, has something for everyone, from families to RV enthusiasts. Just remember to plan ahead and enjoy the beautiful surroundings!
Frequently Asked Questions
According to TheDyrt.com, South Boardman, MI offers a wide range of camping options, with 245 campgrounds and RV parks near South Boardman, MI and 6 free dispersed camping spots.
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near South Boardman, MI is Traverse City State Park Campground with a 3.9-star rating from 49 reviews.
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 6 free dispersed camping spots near South Boardman, MI.
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 6 parks near South Boardman, MI that allow camping, notably Bankhead National Forest and Chugach National Forest.
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