The Dyrt – find campgrounds for tents, RVs, cabins, glamping and more.
Open in App

Tent Camping near Traverse City, MI

41 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.

Search destinations
    Add dates

    Tent camping options near Traverse City, Michigan range from remote backcountry experiences to accessible established campgrounds, with several notable destinations for tent-focused camping. Sand Lakes Quiet Area offers backcountry tent camping with multiple sites situated along peaceful lakes, while Power Island County Park provides primitive tent campsites accessible only by boat, offering a unique island camping experience in Grand Traverse Bay.

    Most tent campsites in the region provide basic amenities but require campers to be self-sufficient. Sand Lakes Quiet Area features rustic campsites with fire rings but no designated tent pads, requiring visitors to navigate to sites via hiking trails from the parking area. One camper noted, "We found a beautiful lake with a prime campsite next to it and didn't see another soul during our entire time there." Power Island sites include picnic tables, fire rings, and pit toilets, though campers must bring or purify their own water. Several tent campgrounds restrict vehicle access, creating quieter experiences suited specifically for tent camping.

    The terrain throughout Traverse City's tent camping areas varies considerably, with many sites offering lake or river access ideal for swimming, kayaking, and fishing. Campers at Sand Lakes describe crystal-clear waters and secluded campsites beneath forest canopy, though mosquitoes can be prevalent in early summer. According to feedback on The Dyrt, "Awesome backcountry camping spot in a populated area" with "multiple lakes and great hiking." For a more adventurous experience, Manistee River Trail offers dispersed tent camping along hiking paths with riverside sites that are "very spread out so you get privacy at night." While many established tent campgrounds require reservations, backcountry areas like Sand Lakes Quiet Area operate on a first-come, first-served basis, with some requiring backcountry permits or fees depending on the managing authority.

    Best Tent Campgrounds near Traverse City (41)

    Filters    Tent onlyRVDispersedCabinGlampingPetsEquestrian

      1. Sand Lakes Quiet Area Backcountry Campsites

      4.6(10)12mi from Traverse CityTents

      "Amazing fishing and spacious campsites fire away from everybody."

      "Absolutely serene and secluded in the gorgeous northern Michigan wilderness. This is a park and walk camping spot. Also permits are apparently required as this is a state park."

      Check Availability

      2. Power Island County Park Primitive Campsites

      4.0(2)9mi from Traverse CityTents

      "This place is primitive, but worth it.. lots of beautiful trails. 5 campsites on Power (big island) and apperantly 5 on Basset (little island) We kayaked with all our gear!!"

      Check Availability

      3. Torch Grove Campground

      2.0(2)16mi from Traverse CityTents
      Check Availability

      4. Scheck's Place Trail Camp

      Be the first to review10mi from Traverse CityTents
      Check Availability

      5. Hopkins Creek State Forest Campground

      5.0(2)23mi from Traverse CityTents, Cabins, Glamping

      "Follow the winding road all the way until it ends. It is way back in but you'll be so impressed by the beauty and secluded serene area, that you won't want to leave."

      "Drive into this, you'll love it forever!"

      from $15 / night

      Check Availability

      6. Manistee River Trail Dispersed Camping

      4.7(7)29mi from Traverse CityTents

      "Although this is listed as "dispersed" camping, the camping on the Manistee River Trail side of this loop is mostly at designated sites. Most sites seemed to be able to accommodate large groups."

      "Did a 1 night backpacking trip on the MRT/NCT loop and we loved the spot we had. All spots are very spread out so you get privacy at night. Spots for a fire and very peaceful!"

      Check Availability

      7. South Manitou Island Group

      4.8(8)30mi from Traverse City6 sitesTents

      "Site 3 has easy access to an overlook which we made use of for photos of a storm that rolled in over North Manitou Island, our original destination."

      "The island does have drinking water but you have to hike from your sites ot get it our you can get water from Lake Michigan and make it drinkable."

      from $30 / night

      Check Availability

      8. White Pine Backcountry Camp — Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

      4.0(2)24mi from Traverse CityTents

      "Just 1.5 miles on a very easy sandy trail from the parking area at the Lake Michigan shore is this 6 site campground complete with a reasonably clean pit toilet and group cooking/campfire area with bear"

      Check Availability

      9. Camp Stonewood Ranch

      5.0(1)24mi from Traverse City3 sitesTents

      "We want to welcome this partner to our platform. Situated on 40 acres, your tipi site is in the center of it all."

      from $20 - $40 / night

      Check Availability

      10. Nature

      Be the first to review17mi from Traverse City21 sitesTents, Glamping

      from $50 - $180 / night

      Check Availability
    View all 41 campgrounds

    2026 Explorer Giveaway

    Review Campgrounds. Win Prizes.

    Enter to Win

    Traverse City Contest

    Enter to Win

    Drive Time

    Recent Tent Camping Photos near Traverse City, MI

    38 Photos of 41 Traverse City Campgrounds

    Tent Camping Reviews near Traverse City, MI

    923 Reviews of 41 Traverse City Campgrounds

    • Amanda L.
      Aug. 7, 2018

      D.H. Day Campground — Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

      Sleeping Bear Bliss

      Quiet campground with sites quite close to one another. This campground butts up to the heritage trail, which is 20 miles of hiking, biking, walking, or skiing fun. A short walk will get you to Lake Michigan and it’s sandy beach. Each site has a nice picnic table, a designated tent pad (if it’s a tent site) and a fire ring with a grill top. Firewood is available on site for $5/bundle, vault toilets are also available. No shower facilities. Lots and lots of poison ivy! Stay on the paths!! And tIcks! Stay in trails and out of tall grass or weeds. The tent pad is very compacted ground, definitely need a hammer or decent sized rock to pound in the tent stakes, and also definitely bring a sleeping pad or air mat. Tent sites are only $20/night, but you also need a National Park Pass, which is $20/1 week or $40/ 1 year, so be aware of that! Stayed at site 88, seemed to be a slightly more “roomy” site than others, as there were no neighbors behind us. PLUS thIs Is located very near to thw sleepIng bear dunes and natIonal lake shore!

    • Sarah N.The Dyrt PRO User
      May. 27, 2026

      Arbutus Lake State Forest Campground

      After Memorial Day Stay

      Campground is beautiful with access to the very clean lake and sandy beach, my pups loved going swimming. There is potable water via an old school hand pump and vault toilets and a dumpster. Sites have plenty of shade but Starlink is getting excellent reception anyways. Generators are permitted and it's about 20 min from Traverse City. There are signs that note you must register and pay online before setting up camp so this is technically not first come first serve. Excellent place to stay.

    • H
      Jul. 5, 2023

      Chain-O-Lakes Campground

      Very friendly

      Great campground, amazing camp store, and friendly staff. Most camp stores over price and this camp’s store prices are very fair. Can only have 1 tent and 1 car per site. Rooms: 5/5 | Service: 5/5 | Location: 5/5

      Nearby activities Super close to torch lake and lots of great small towns. Only an hour away from sleeping bear dunes and like 30 minutes from traverse city.

      Safety I felt very safe my entire trip

      Hotel highlights Quiet, Kid-friendly, Great value

    • Ash S.
      May. 15, 2022

      Leelanau State Park Campground

      Very peaceful lakeside campground

      No hookups, No problem! Very quiet campground on the Shores of Lake Michigan. Sites are large and private with large fire rings and picnic tables. Vault toilets only but they are kept very clean.

    • Amanda L.
      Aug. 9, 2018

      D.H. Day Campground — Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

      Perfect Proximity

      This campground is in this system ( the Dyrt) like 3 times under similar names, and I just want to be sure you all know how great it is! This is a first-come-first-served campground, so get there earlier in the day if you want a site, even on a weekday. There are rustic bathrooms, no flushing, no sink, nothing. No showers available here, either. However, it is so close to Glen Haven, Glen Arbor, Empire, and the Sleeping Bear Dunes. The location is truly fabulous. You are able to take a short walk down to Lake Michigan from your site. The sites are hard packed ground, dirt, rocks...so bring a mallet or hammer to pound in your tent stakes! I would also advise a sleeping pad or air mat for this same reason. The tent pads are nice and level though, which is awesome. It rained quite a bit over night when I stayed, so I’m thankful for the level ground. There is LOTS of poison ivy on location, so stay on the trails!!! Sites were only $20/night but you also need a National park pass which is $20/week or $40/year, so be mindful of that. This is also an “Active Black Bear Site,” so everything with a scent—clothes, candles, etc., must be stored in your vehicle. No, we did not see any bears while we were there. Everyone was very friendly, and the campground was so much more quiet than anticipated. It was very peaceful and serene. Firewood is available for purchase on site through a wood vending machine basically, so have $5 bills on hand. Stayed at site #88

    • Hilary S.
      Jul. 24, 2022

      Platte River Campground — Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

      Walk-in sites practically on top of each other

      Pros: Designated dish-washing sink, as well as shower/bathroom building for walk-in sites specifically. Short 0.8 mile hike from camp to Lake Michigan. Bear boxes are shared between only two adjacent campsites, and are large. 

      Cons: Walk-in sites have essentially no privacy and are much less secluded than other walk-in sites where I have stayed at other parks. I was at site A003, which abutted adjacent A-loop sites as well as B-loop sites. The other sites were visible, and folks at a neighboring site were playing music late into the night.

    • Gemma G.
      Apr. 24, 2019

      Scheck's Place State Forest Campground

      Schecks Place-TRAIL CAMP enjoy privacy, the river, horse trails

      There are 2 sections of Schecks Place. One is a campground with picnic tables and site numbers.

      The other is the trail camp. You drop your money in the box pick a spot of as much space as you want (there is hardly ever a lot of people).

      The last 2 times we went there was maybe one or two people with their horses or just passing thru.

      There are bathrooms and a well for water. No showers No electric.

      The river runs by and is awesome to go tubing down.

      There are trails that go through so if you are an equestrian this spot is perfect.

    • Ari A.The Dyrt PRO User
      May. 26, 2019

      Jones Lake State Forest Campground

      Peaceful spot, plenty of room

      Seems much larger than most state forest campgrounds in Michigan. There are 6 loops here with numerous sites on each loop. And yet, you don't feel crowded in and there's decent privacy in many of the sites. Jones Lake is peaceful and offers some great sunsets. Dirt road leading in is in decent shape and navigable by any size rig. Some of the sites may require some tight maneuvering for larger rigs but site size is good overall. Trees offer good shade cover at different times of the day depending on site location.

      Rustic campground, so no water or electric are available, but there are vault toilets, as well as trash and recycling receptacles.

      Each site has a picnic table and fire ring.

      We had a very pleasant stay.

      Deecnt cell coverage -- 2 bars LTE on Verizon, 2-3 bars LTE on Google Fi.

    Guide to Traverse City

    Traverse City, Michigan, offers a variety of tent camping options that immerse you in nature while providing access to stunning landscapes and outdoor activities.

    Tent campers should check out Sand Lakes Quiet Area Backcountry Campsites

    • This site allows for a truly backcountry experience with no permit required, making it easy to set up camp and enjoy the natural surroundings.
    • With features like fire pits and ample space for tents, the Sand Lakes Quiet Area is perfect for those looking to unwind in a serene environment.
    • The clear waters nearby provide excellent fishing opportunities, making it a favorite among anglers.

    Tent campers like these nearby activities

    Tips for tent camping near Traverse City

    • Be prepared for limited amenities at sites like White Pine Backcountry Campground, where you'll need to bring your own water and supplies.
    • If you prefer a more developed site, consider D.H. Day Group Campground, which offers picnic tables and fire rings for a comfortable camping experience.
    • Always check the accessibility of your chosen campground, as some, like Scheck's Place Trail Camp, may require a bit of hiking to reach.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Which is the most popular tent campsite near Traverse City, MI?

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Traverse City, MI is Sand Lakes Quiet Area Backcountry Campsites with a 4.6-star rating from 10 reviews.

    What is the best site to find tent camping near Traverse City, MI?

    TheDyrt.com has all 41 tent camping locations near Traverse City, MI, with real photos and reviews from campers.

    Keep Exploring

    3. View all Michigan cities for camping