Top Camping and RV Parks Near Bay City, MI: Explore Tent Sites and Nature Escapes
Bay City, along Lake Huron’s Saginaw Bay, has great lakeside camping options. Bay City State Park, within the city, offers waterfront camping with sandy beaches and hiking trails. Sleeper State Park, to the north, provides dune-side camping along Lake Huron. Port Crescent State Park, further north, has scenic camping with stunning lake views and access to dark sky stargazing. Huron-Manistee National Forest, to the west, features secluded camping with opportunities for fishing, hiking, and off-roading. Tawas Point State Park, further north, is a beautiful spot for beachside camping.

















Sleepy Hollow Campground is part of Sleepy Hollow State Park in Michigan (33 min north of East Lansing, MI) with an elevation of 805 feet. There are a total of 180 campsites. The campground is open all year. Sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 25 and 45 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Each site includes a picnic table and fire ring with grill. All sites have electric hookups. Prices start at $34.00 per night. Some amenities include drinking water, sewer hookup, playground, restroom, trash dumpster. Activities include biking, boating, fishing, horseback riding, hiking trails, floating sports.
Round Lake Campground is located in the Tawas Ranger District, Huron-Manistee National Forest (1 hr 15 min north of Bay City, MI) with an elevation of 796 feet. There are a total of 33 campsites. The campground is normally open from mid May to the end of September. Sites can accommodate RVs between 40 and 50 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Each site includes a picnic table and fire ring. Prices start at $14.00 per night. Some amenities include boat ramp, swimming. Activities include boating, fishing, hiking trails, floating sports.
Monument Campground is located in the Tawas Ranger District, Huron-Manistee National Forest (1 hr 22 min north of Bay City, MI) with an elevation of 825 feet. There are a total of 19 campsites. The campground is normally open from mid May to mid October. Sites can accommodate RVs and trailers up to 50 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Fees range from $15.00 to $30.00. Activities include boating, fishing, hiking trails, floating sports.
Rollways Campground is located in the Tawas Ranger District, Huron-Manistee National Forest (1 hr 13 min north of Bay City, MI) with an elevation of 864 feet. There are a total of 19 campsites. The campground is normally open from mid May to the end of September. Sites can accommodate RVs and trailers up to 55 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Prices start at $15.00 per night. Activities include boating, fishing, hiking trails, floating sports.
South Branch Trail Camp Group Site is located in the Tawas Ranger District, Huron-Manistee National Forest (1 hr 15 min north of Bay City, MI) with an elevation of 841 feet. The site is normally open from mid May to the end of October. Prices start at $40.00 per night. Activities include hiking trails.
Ausable River Campground is located in the Tawas Ranger District, Huron-Manistee National Forest (1 hr 21 min north of Bay City, MI) with an elevation of 825 feet. There are a total of 102 campsites including 53 tent-only sites. The campground is normally open from the beginning of January to the end of November. 49 sites can accommodate RVs between 18 and 40 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Fees range from $0.00 to $10.00. Some amenities include boat ramp. Activities include boating, fishing, floating sports.
Chimney Loop Campground is located in the Mio Ranger District, Huron-Manistee National Forest (1 hr 24 min north of Midland, MI) with an elevation of 1,152 feet. The site is normally open from mid April to the end of November. Prices start at $30.00 per night. Some amenities include swimming. Activities include boating, fishing, floating sports.
Hungerford Equestrian Group Campsite is located in the White Cloud Ranger District, Huron-Manistee National Forest (1 hr 18 min northeast of Muskegon, MI) with an elevation of 1,196 feet. The site is normally open from the beginning of May to the end of October. Prices start at $75.00 per night. Activities include biking, hiking trails.
Nichols Lake South Campground is located in the White Cloud Ranger District, Huron-Manistee National Forest (59 min northeast of Muskegon, MI) with an elevation of 899 feet. There are a total of 28 campsites. The campground is normally open from mid May to mid October. Sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 35 and 65 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Prices start at $22.00 per night. Some amenities include boat ramp, swimming, flush toilets. Activities include biking, boating, fishing, hiking trails, floating sports.
Gleasons Landing Campground is located in the Baldwin Ranger District, Huron-Manistee National Forest (1 hr 20 min northeast of Muskegon, MI) with an elevation of 797 feet. There are a total of 6 campsites which are all tent-only sites. The campground is normally open from the beginning of May to mid October. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Fees range from $22.00 to $80.00. Some amenities include boat ramp. Activities include boating, fishing, floating sports.
Peterson Bridge Campground is located in the Cadillac Ranger District, Huron-Manistee National Forest (55 min south of Traverse City, MI) with an elevation of 805 feet. There are a total of 31 campsites including 13 tent-only sites. The campground is normally open from the end of April to mid October. 18 sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 38 and 64 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Prices start at $25.00 per night. Some amenities include swimming, flush toilets.
Bowman Bridge Campground is located in the Baldwin Ranger District, Huron-Manistee National Forest (1 hr 17 min northeast of Muskegon, MI) with an elevation of 750 feet. There are a total of 17 campsites including 4 tent-only sites. The campground is normally open from the beginning of May to mid October. 13 sites can accommodate RVs and trailers up to 50 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Fees range from $22.00 to $80.00. Activities include fishing, floating sports.
Seaton Creek Campground is located in the Cadillac Ranger District, Huron-Manistee National Forest (51 min southwest of Traverse City, MI) with an elevation of 872 feet. There are a total of 19 campsites including 2 tent-only sites. The campground is normally open from the end of April to mid October. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Each site includes a picnic table and fire ring. Fees range from $22.00 to $52.00.
Sand Lake Campground is located in the Manistee Ranger District, Huron-Manistee National Forest (1 hr 4 min southwest of Traverse City, MI) with an elevation of 862 feet. There are a total of 44 campsites including 3 tent-only sites. The campground is normally open from mid May to the beginning of September. 41 sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 34 and 40 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Fees range from $29.00 to $74.00. Some amenities include shower, boat ramp, swimming, flush toilets. Activities include boating, fishing, hiking trails, floating sports.
Pines Point Campground is located in the White Cloud Ranger District, Huron-Manistee National Forest (44 min northeast of Muskegon, MI) with an elevation of 658 feet. There are a total of 5 campsites. The campground is normally open from mid May to mid October. Sites can accommodate RVs and trailers up to 80 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Fees range from $22.00 to $80.00. Some amenities include boat ramp, flush toilets. Activities include biking, boating, fishing, hiking trails, floating sports.
Lake Michigan At Manistee Campground is located in the Manistee Ranger District, Huron-Manistee National Forest (1 hr 41 min southwest of Traverse City, MI) with an elevation of 665 feet. There are a total of 53 campsites including 3 tent-only sites. The campground is normally open from mid May to mid October. 50 sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 28 and 54 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Fees range from $29.00 to $65.00. Some amenities include playground, swimming, amphitheater, flush toilets. Activities include biking, fishing, hiking trails.
Platte River Campground in Benzie County is located 47 min west of Traverse City, MI with an elevation of 603 feet. There are a total of 171 campsites including 29 tent-only sites. The campground is open all year. 141 sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 15 and 40 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Each site includes a picnic table and fire ring. 90 sites have electric hookups. Fees range from $22.00 to $50.00. Some amenities include shower, drinking water, dump station, restroom, amphitheater, flush toilets. Activities include hiking trails.
D.H. Day Campground in Leelanau County is located 44 min west of Traverse City, MI with an elevation of 588 feet. There are a total of 81 campsites including 19 tent-only sites. The campground is normally open from the end of April to the end of November. 62 sites can accommodate RVs between 15 and 87 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Each site includes a picnic table and fire ring. Prices start at $10.00 per night. Some amenities include drinking water, sewer hookup, swimming, restroom, amphitheater, firewood. Activities include biking, boating, fishing, hiking trails, floating sports.
D.H. Day Group Campground in Leelanau County is located 42 min west of Traverse City, MI with an elevation of 601 feet. There are a total of 4 campsites which are all tent-only sites. The campground is open all year. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Each site includes a picnic table and fire ring. Prices start at $40.00 per night.
South Manitou Group Campground in Leelanau County is located about 29 miles from Traverse City, MI with an elevation of 579 feet. There are a total of 6 campsites which are all tent-only sites. The campground is normally open from the end of May to mid September. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Prices start at $30.00 per night. Activities include hiking trails.
Elkhart Campground in Elkhart County is located just 9 min north of Elkhart, IN with an elevation of 777 feet. There are a total of 250 campsites. The campground is normally open from the beginning of April to mid November. There is no fee at this campground. Some amenities include drinking water, dump station, general store, 20 amp hookup, 30 amp hookup, 50 amp hookup, playground, swimming, restroom, flush toilets, pet area. Activities include sports.
Lake Michigan At St. Ignace Campground is located in the St. Ignace Ranger District, Hiawatha National Forest (2 hrs 25 min northeast of Traverse City, MI) with an elevation of 607 feet. There are a total of 33 campsites. The campground is normally open from mid May to the beginning of October. Sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 30 and 45 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Each site includes a picnic table and fire ring. Prices start at $22.00 per night. Some amenities include swimming. Activities include boating, fishing, hiking trails, floating sports.
Carp River Campground is located in the St. Ignace Ranger District, Hiawatha National Forest (2 hrs 23 min northeast of Traverse City, MI) with an elevation of 628 feet. There are a total of 20 campsites. The campground is normally open from mid May to the beginning of October. Sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 25 and 45 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Prices start at $20.00 per night. Activities include biking, fishing, hiking trails.
Brevoort Lake Campground is located in the St. Ignace Ranger District, Hiawatha National Forest (2 hrs 29 min northeast of Traverse City, MI) with an elevation of 631 feet. There are a total of 71 campsites. The campground is normally open from mid May to the beginning of October. 34 sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 25 and 45 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Fees range from $22.00 to $44.00. Some amenities include dump station, boat ramp, swimming, flush toilets. Activities include biking, boating, fishing, hiking trails, floating sports.
Geneva Campground is part of Geneva State Park Campground in Ohio (35 min northeast of Mentor, OH) with an elevation of 589 feet. There are a total of 117 campsites. The campground is open all year. Sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 40 and 130 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Each site includes a picnic table and fire ring with grill. 38 sites have full hookups (electric, water and sewer). 72 sites have electric hookups. Fees range from $23.00 to $45.00. Some amenities include shower, drinking water, dump station, laundry facility, playground, swimming, fish cleaning station, restroom, amphitheater, ramada, flush toilets. Activities include biking, boating, fishing, water skiing, floating sports.
Three Lakes Campground is located in the Sault Ste. Marie Ranger District, Hiawatha National Forest (2 hrs 47 min north of Traverse City, MI) with an elevation of 877 feet. There are a total of 10 campsites. The campground is normally open from mid May to the end of October. Sites can accommodate RVs and trailers up to 20 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Prices start at $16.00 per night. Some amenities include swimming. Activities include boating, fishing, hiking trails, floating sports.
Soldier Lake Campground is located in the Sault Ste. Marie Ranger District, Hiawatha National Forest (2 hrs 57 min northeast of Traverse City, MI) with an elevation of 896 feet. There are a total of 44 campsites. The campground is normally open from the end of May to the beginning of October. 43 sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 30 and 75 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Prices start at $20.00 per night. Some amenities include swimming. Activities include boating, fishing, hiking trails, floating sports.
Bear Lake Dispersed Campsite in Schoolcraft County is located 3 hrs 29 min northwest of Traverse City, MI with an elevation of 587 feet. The site is normally open from mid May to mid October. Prices start at $8.00 per night. Activities include fishing.
Bass Lake Dispersed Campsite in Schoolcraft County is located 3 hrs 29 min northwest of Traverse City, MI with an elevation of 587 feet. The site is normally open from mid May to mid October. Prices start at $8.00 per night. Activities include boating, fishing, floating sports.
Camp Cook Dispersed Campsite in Schoolcraft County is located 3 hrs 29 min northwest of Traverse City, MI with an elevation of 587 feet. The site is normally open from mid May to mid October. Prices start at $8.00 per night. Activities include fishing.