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Sand Lake Campground — Manistee National Forest

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.

Description

National Forest

Huron-Manistee National Forests

Overview

Sand Lake Campground is situated on the scenic shores of Sand Lake and provides a selection of sites shaded by a mixed hardwood forest. Just beyond the trees is a well-loved, sandy swimming beach. The campground is located 15 minutes from the Pine National Scenic River and several other lakes. The popular campground sits within the Huron-Manistee National Forests, far enough from town to let its natural splendor shine, but close enough for convenient access to gas and groceries.

Recreation

Power boating, sailing, canoeing, hiking and swimming are some of the most common activities on the lake. Anglers delight in the waters well-stocked with bluegill, perch and smallmouth bass. A picnic area and boat ramp are available for use.

Natural Features

Sand Lake boasts about 50 acres of mostly shallow waters. The campground is nicely wooded; some sites are heavy shaded while others are much more open. Summertime temperatures are generally around 80 degrees. The Huron-Manistee National Forests encompass nearly a million acres of public protected land, including nearly 6,000 acres of wetlands that extend over the northern portion of Michigan's Lower Peninsula.

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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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Access

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

Stay Connected

  • WiFi
    Good
  • Verizon
    Unknown
  • AT&T
    Available
  • T-Mobile
    Good

Site Types

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

Features

For Campers

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

For Vehicles

  • Big Rig Friendly

Reviews

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4.5

out of 5

5 Reviews

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 Jul. 11, 2018

Beautiful overlook

Beautiful spot between Sharon and Rainbow Jim’s bridge.

Month of VisitJuly
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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

  • What is the max vehicle length at Sand Lake Campground — Manistee National Forest?

    Sand Lake Campground — Manistee National Forest allows vehicles up to 40 feet.

  • Does Sand Lake Campground — Manistee National Forest have wifi?

    No, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, Sand Lake Campground — Manistee National Forest does not have wifi.

  • Is there cell phone reception at Sand Lake Campground — Manistee National Forest?

    According to campers on TheDyrt.com, Verizon signal is unknown, AT&T is available, and T-Mobile is good.

  • How hard is it to get a campsite at Sand Lake Campground — Manistee National Forest?

    Some campers book as far as 6 months in advance, so on high-demand weekends it can be very difficult to get a campsite at Sand Lake Campground — Manistee National Forest. If you want to get a last-minute campsite at Sand Lake Campground — Manistee National Forest, try setting up a text message Alert atTheDyrt.com/alerts

  • Why is it so hard to get a campsite at Sand Lake Campground — Manistee National Forest?

    There are 44 campsites at Sand Lake Campground — Manistee National Forest and over 80 million Americans who camp! Try snagging a cancellation by setting up a text message Alert atTheDyrt.com/alerts