Glamping near South Branch, Michigan extends beyond traditional canvas structures. The area sits within the sprawling Manistee National Forest, part of Michigan's Lower Peninsula, with elevations ranging from 600 to 900 feet and a humid continental climate featuring warm summers and cold winters. Camping options include rustic forest sites, riverfront campgrounds, and family-friendly RV parks with varying amenities depending on location and season.
What to do
River access for fishing: Tippy Dam State Recreation Area provides direct access to premium fishing spots. "The campsites are spacious and feature trails that lead directly to the Tippy Dam Backwater. There's also convenient access for launching a boat on either the Manistee River or the backwaters side of the dam," notes a recent visitor.
Hiking trails: The Sand Lake area within Manistee National Forest has several established trails for day hiking. "Sand Lake is a quiet wooded campground. Most of the sites have a good amount of trees between them, but there is a loop with fewer trees that is ideal for a group/family camp trip," shares a camper.
Outdoor recreation: Twin Oaks RV Campground and Cabins provides good access to multiple activities. "Nice private campground with good access to ATV trails as well as good proximity to big M for mountain biking. Sites are nice and spaced out as well," reports one visitor who enjoyed the diverse recreation options.
What campers like
Private lake sites: Campers at Northern Exposure Campground & RV Park appreciate the waterfront options. "Great place to take a camper with family. The campground offers clean facilities, general store, rentals for the lake, and camp events like movie night. With sites right on the water remember to bring your kayak!" advises one reviewer.
Clean facilities: Consistent maintenance is frequently mentioned across several campgrounds. "This campground is a small gem close to Cadillac, MI. The owners are friendly and go out of their way to make you feel welcome. Showers were hot and bathrooms were clean. A well stocked thoughtful camp store had those last minute forgotten items," notes a visitor to Cadillac Woods Campground.
Wooded surroundings: Many glamping sites near South Branch offer nature immersion. "We tent camped and loved how our site was surrounded by trees. The owners were wonderful as well!" shares a camper who stayed at Twin Oaks, highlighting the natural setting that many visitors seek.
What you should know
Site selection matters: At many campgrounds, some sites are more suitable for certain camping styles than others. "While you can book online, I would call the office and talk to the owners because not all sites are easy to maneuver a camper into and may not be a good choice for your size camper," advises a visitor to Cadillac Woods Campground.
Seasonal considerations: Most glamping options in the South Branch area operate seasonally. "Sites 1 - 30 being well spaced with vegetation between most sites and quite spacious. Sites above 30 are on another loop and are much closer together with less privacy between sites," notes a camper about Sand Lake Campground.
Weather preparation: Michigan's variable climate means campers should come prepared. "Due to high waters the past few years there is no beach. This is still a family favorite and perfect if you want to go into Manistee," reports a visitor about Orchard Beach State Park, showing how conditions can change.
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly amenities: Manton Trails RV Park offers numerous activities for children. "Lots of things for the kids, basketball, volly ball, a beach area, pond with fishing... so much more. Very clean, very kind and helpful staff!" shares a satisfied family camper.
Evening activities: Look for campgrounds that organize structured activities. "Great park to take a camper with family. The campground offers clean facilities, general store, rentals for the lake, and camp events like movie night," notes a visitor to Northern Exposure Campground.
Spacious sites for families: When glamping with children in South Branch, site size matters. "This place was wonderful. The staff was all very nice, the grounds were clean, and our lot was huge. We asked to be away from the lake because of our young kids but the lake lots looked beautiful," reports a family who prioritized safety for young children.
Tips from RVers
Site orientation challenges: RV campers should be aware of potential parking issues. "The orientation of the paving for a lot of site is not correct for a travel trailer, i.e. the door to the trailer is not facing the fire pit and picnic table," advises an RVer about Sand Lake Campground.
Pull-through availability: Irons RV Park & Campground offers convenient access for larger rigs. "Great campground, larger sites, pull thru sites available. Low rates even on holidays," notes a camper who appreciated the ease of parking.
Full hookup options: For RVers seeking amenities, some parks offer complete services. "Great rates especially for full hookups. This was our first time at this park, we originally had a site next to the pool, but quickly realized our TT would not fit due to the trees. The front desk quickly changed our site and we were good to go," shares a visitor to Camp Cadillac, highlighting both the hookups and customer service.
