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Sand Lake Campground — Manistee National Forest

CAMPER SUMMARY PRESENTED BYFord

Sand Lake Campground, near Manistee, Michigan, is a solid choice for those looking to unwind in a rustic setting. This campground features a clean beach and spacious campsites, making it a great spot for families and groups to enjoy some quality time together.

Visitors often rave about the well-kept facilities, including a modern bathhouse with showers. One camper noted, “The bathrooms and showers are usually cleaned daily, so despite dirty camping conditions, they remain pretty nice.” The quiet, wooded environment offers a peaceful retreat, with many sites providing a good amount of privacy thanks to the trees.

If you’re up for some adventure, you’re just a short drive from Lake Michigan, perfect for a day at the beach. Plus, the nearby town of Dublin has a general store known for its housemade jerky, which is a nice treat after a day of exploring. Whether you’re pitching a tent or parking your RV, Sand Lake Campground has the essentials for a memorable camping experience.

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Location

Sand Lake Campground — Manistee National Forest is located in Michigan

Detail location of campground

Directions

From Wellston, MI, take Seaman Road 3.9 miles south through Dublin. Just beyond the grocery store, turn right and stay on Seaman Road. Go 0.5 miles to Sand Lake Road (Forest Road 5728) and the campground sign. Turn right onto Sand Lake Road and go 0.6 miles to the campground.

Coordinates

44.1680556 N
85.9294444 W

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Connectivity

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    VerizonLTE
    Some Coverage
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    AT&TLTE
    Some Coverage

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Drive Time

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Connectivity

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    T-Mobile
    No Coverage
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    VerizonLTE
    Some Coverage
  • signal strength bars
    AT&TLTE
    Some Coverage

Access

  • Drive-In
    Park next to your site
  • Boat-In
    Sites accessible by watercraft.

Site Types

  • Tent Sites
  • RV Sites
  • Standard (Tent/RV)
  • Group
  • Tent Cabin

Features

For Campers

  • Trash
  • Firewood Available
  • Phone Service
  • Reservable
  • Drinking Water
  • Toilets
  • Alcohol
  • Pets

For Vehicles

  • Big Rig Friendly

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Reviews

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4.5

out of 5

6 Reviews

Reviewed Jul. 23, 2025

Enjoyable Stay

The campground is rustic with 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.  There are paved pads for each site although some are sloped.  Also, 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.  See photo.  

Site 30 is close to the restroom and showers (although we didn't use them).  Also, the trash gondolas.

There is little internet access with Verizon service.

You could buy wood and ice from the campground host.  

Our neighbor in site 29 had put his generator under the trailer and locked it with a steel cable.   It was visible from the road.   At some point during the day someone cut the cable and stole the generator.

Site30
Month of VisitJuly
  • Review photo of Sand Lake Campground — Manistee National Forest by Don B., July 23, 2025
  • Review photo of Sand Lake Campground — Manistee National Forest by Don B., July 23, 2025
Reviewed Aug. 22, 2023

Quiet well kept campground

A mix of reservable and first come first serve sites. A clean beach. Rustic, but with a modern bathhouse including showers. Only complaint was the pricing... $32 seems pricey for rustic.

Site10
Month of VisitAugust
  • Review photo of Sand Lake Campground — Manistee National Forest by Nicole , August 22, 2023
Reviewed Jul. 12, 2020

Perfect Getaway!

Sand Lake is a really nice, well kept campground. Beautiful area, nice beach on a clean lake, and spacious campsites. It’s only about a 30 minute trip to Lake Michigan if you wanted to spend a day on a beach there. The folks working there were super friendly and helpful!

  • Review photo of Sand Lake Campground — Manistee National Forest by Patrick K., July 12, 2020
  • Review photo of Sand Lake Campground — Manistee National Forest by Patrick K., July 12, 2020
Reviewed Sep. 21, 2016

Great family vacation spot

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. The lake is clean and quiet for the most part, although there are usually a couple of motorized boats out on weekends. The bathrooms and showers are usually cleaned daily, so despite dirty camping conditions, they remain pretty nice. Nearby Dublin has a nice general store with popular housemade jerky.

  • Review photo of Sand Lake Campground — Manistee National Forest by John W., September 21, 2016
  • Review photo of Sand Lake Campground — Manistee National Forest by John W., September 21, 2016
Reviewed Aug. 8, 2016

Loved it!

This is a great place for families. With a lake, trails, and lots of room, this makes for a great introduction to camping for little ones.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there photos available of Sand Lake Campground?

Yes, photos of Sand Lake Campground are available online through various camping websites and platforms. These images typically showcase the wooded campsites, the clean beach area, the lake itself, and the surrounding natural environment. Photos help potential campers visualize the campground's layout, the spacing between sites, and the overall atmosphere of this peaceful forest setting.

Is there a map of Sand Lake Campground and its facilities?

Maps of Sand Lake Campground are available through the U.S. Forest Service and various camping resources. These maps typically show the campground's two distinct loops - the first with sites 1-30 that are well-spaced with good vegetation barriers, and the second loop with sites numbered above 30 that are closer together. Maps indicate facilities such as the modern bathhouse with showers, beach area, and paved camping pads. For the most current and detailed map, check with the Manistee National Forest office or official Forest Service website.

What do reviews say about Sand Lake Campground?

Sand Lake Campground is highly regarded for its quiet wooded setting and spacious sites, particularly in the first loop (sites 1-30) which offer good privacy with vegetation between them. The second loop (sites above 30) has less privacy with sites closer together. Campers appreciate the clean lake with a nice beach area, well-maintained grounds, and modern bathhouse with showers despite being otherwise rustic. The campground offers a mix of reservable and first-come-first-serve sites, though some note the $32 fee seems high for rustic camping. It's considered excellent for families and group camping, with good access to trails and a peaceful atmosphere.

Where is Sand Lake Campground located in Michigan?

Sand Lake Campground is located in the Manistee National Forest near Irons, Michigan. It's situated between Sharon and Rainbow Jim's bridge in a scenic wooded area. The campground is approximately a 30-minute drive from Lake Michigan, making it a convenient base for those who want to explore both the inland lake and the Great Lakes shoreline during their camping trip.