Private sites waterside camping in Michigan

With lakes and forests covering two-thirds of the state, Michigan is a camper's paradise.

99% (821 reviews)

United States
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Michigan

99% (821 reviews)

Popular camping styles for Michigan

2 top waterside campgrounds in Michigan

98%

(87)

Sweet 16 Campground

5 sites · RVs, Tents69 acres · MI

Welcome to Sweet 16 Campgrounds. We currently have 3 sites. Site #1 is the RV/Tent site (1 RV/camper max. with unlimited tents, 8 people max.). Site #2 is a Tent Site (Great site for Hammock Camping, unlimited tents, 8 people max.). Site #3 is our double/group RV/Tent (2 Camper/ RV max.) site (16 people max.) You will be camping in the semi-wooded area at the back of the property. It is a really nice area to camp. Each site has a firepit and picnic table. We have about 2 miles of hiking trails on the property. We are in a great location to hike, paddle, bike, and explore SW Michigan. Nighttime is great for stargazing. We are 13 miles from downtown St. Joseph and 13 miles from downtown South Haven. We are located 1 1/2 hours from Chicago. Don't feel like exploring, then hang out at the campsite for the day. We are close to the SW Michigan Makers’ Trail (Wineries, Breweries, Distilleries). We are located 4 miles from a small beach (Hagar Park/Beach) on Lake Michigan (15 miles from the big beaches at St. Joseph and South Haven). We are 5 miles from the boat ramp on Paw Paw Lake. We are located just 2 miles off I-196 at Exit 7 (Hagar Shore Road). We are also only 20 miles from Sister Lakes. Dogs are allowed. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask. About us: We have a 69 acre farm we bought back in 2019. We moved here from the Chicago area. (Tinley Park). We have 44 acres tillable and 16+ wooded acres. in back that we opened it up for camping. We have horses, dogs, cats, chickens, and rabbits.

99%

(67)

Tails and Trails Horse Farm

3 sites · Tents80 acres · Adrian, MI

Tails and Trails Farm is a gorgeous property that sits on 80 acres at the edge of the Irish Hills. We offer a place of healing and support for humans and animals through nature, music, and interaction. Many of our animals are rescues and we use them in a variety of therapies in an effort of healing for human an animal alike. We offer guided trail rides, horseback riding lessons, and pony rides. You can also tour the farm, meet the animals, and hear their stories. We look forward to meeting you!Learn more about this land:Come and enjoy our farm! Tails and Trails is a small family-owned horse farm in the Irish Hills of southeastern Michigan.Our campsite sits in the middle of 30 acres of private woods. There is a fire ring with room for seating and a separate area to place your tent directly adjacent. There is also another sitting area and plenty of options to hang hammocks. The site is about a 10 minute or .5 mile walk through a beautiful wooded trail from the parking area. We do offer our services to bring larger items to the site by utility vehicle upon request. We also offer scheduled horseback trail rides across our 82 acres, for people of all ages. (If you have small children please specify so we can discuss options.) Please send us a message if you are interested to inquire about availability or if there are any questions we can answer. In addition to the many full-size horses, we also have several miniature horses, miniature donkeys, chickens, 5 dogs, barn cats, and a pot-belly pig. All of which love attention from humans of all ages. We are a 420 friendly property as cannabis is legal in Michigan. There are 5 dispensaries in Adrian offering both Recreational and Medical cannabis products for sale. If you would like help or advice about the local market please just ask. This is a pack it in, pack it out campsite. The closest source of potable water is in the barn or about a ten-minute walk from the site. This is a perfect social distancing campsite however you are still only a 10-minute drive to the nearest grocery store and 20 minutes from some great swimming lakes, kayaking, and small-town allure in the Irish Hills area. Ann Arbor is also only a 45-minute drive and has a bounty to offer anyone. We are very familiar with the city and can offer advice or suggestions if you'd like. There is a kayak rental in Tecumseh which is about 15 minutes away where you can do an entire river loop and return to the same place thus requiring only one vehicle. There are also several close lakes where you can drop your own kayak in and explore. If you’d like some more amenities then Walter Hayes State Park or Lake Hudson State Park are both about a 20-minute drive. We have trails throughout the woods and along with our fields for exploring. We welcome guests to wander and enjoy the property while respecting nature and all the things that live here. The area is alive with animals and creatures of all types. Families of deer and turkey call the farm home and don’t be surprised to hear a coyote howl at night. With natural water sources and different types of topography, we are blessed to have a variety of wildlife at our farm.We keep to ourselves however are more than happy to accommodate reasonable requests and appreciate others getting to enjoy the beauty and serenity the country can offer.We welcome all humans of good character that show love to each other and the Earth.

Private sites waterside camping in Michigan guide

Overview

When it comes to natural attractions, Michigan holds all the aces. This landlocked state has more state parks and state forests than any other, miles of coastline, and more than 10,000 lakes—which means you’ll never be more than six miles from the water. Some of the best camping is found on the beaches and islands of the Great Lakes, so plan a summer getaway to swim, fish, and kayak, or a fall camping trip to admire Michigan’s spectacular foliage. Winter is best suited for RV camping, with snow blanketing much of the state from November through March.

Where to go

Upper Peninsula

The Upper Peninsula is Michigan’s wild toupée, with swathes of old-growth forests, sandy beaches, and inland lakes stretching along the southern shore of Lake Superior. This is the spot to escape the crowds, whether pitching your tent by the sand dunes in the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, parking your RV by a waterfall in Tahquamenon Falls State Park, or yurt camping in the Porcupine Mountains. For the ultimate camping experience, the Hiawatha National Forest has some 60 campsites to choose from.

Northern Lower Peninsula

Bordered by Lake Michigan to the West and Lake Huron to the east, the northern Lower Peninsula has the highest concentration of Michigan state parks. Miles of mountain biking, horseback riding, and hiking trails await in the Huron National Forest, where you can choose from modern campgrounds or backcountry camping. Along the coast, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is a must-see, Wilderness State Park is a dark sky reserve, and Ludington State Park Beach is a family favorite.

Southwest Michigan

Grand Rapids is the gateway to Michigan’s southwest, where the shore of Lake Michigan provides plenty of options for a summer camping trip. Lakefront cities such as South Haven, Benton Harbor, and Holland have sandy beaches, historic lighthouses, and seafront campgrounds. Forget tent camping in the wilderness—RV sites come equipped with full hookups, playgrounds, and watercraft rentals.

Southeast Michigan

Michigan's "Thumb" juts out along the west shore of Lake Huron, where Sleeper State Park and Port Crescent State Park are the big draws for campers. Below this, the west coast is ideal for a road trip, peppered with shipwreck dive sites, secluded beaches, and golf courses. South of Detroit and Lake St. Clair, Sterling State Park is the only state park on the shore of Lake Erie, with a mix of RV and tent sites by the beach.