Lake Michigan Recreation Area
Its 99 sites are reservable through Recreation.gov, camping costs Single Site: $40 per night, and it is open from 05-09 to 10-15. Lake Michigan Recreation Area is a National Forest campground near Manistee, Michigan.
Reservable: Recreation.gov
1 / 2View from the top of a dune at Lake Michigan Recreation Area. Photo: usfs_Eastern_Region, Public domain
- National Forest
- Managed by
- None
- Hookups
Lake Michigan Recreation Area sits inside Huron-Manistee National Forest. Its dispersed-camping rule, ranger offices, and boundary are on publiclandsdb.com. It sits 0.5 miles outside the boundary of Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness; its permit and camping rules and boundary are on publiclandsdb.com.
Getting a site
- Managed by
- National Forest
- Reservations
- Recreation.gov Book a site
- Fee
- Single Site: $40 per night
Source: recreation.gov, accessed 2026-09-30
Sites and hookups
- Total sites
- 99
- Group sites
- 3
- Hookups
- None
- ✓ Toilets
- ✓ Potable water
- ✓ Fire rings
On site: Toilets, potable water, and fire rings.
Source: recreation.gov, accessed 2026-09-30
Rules
- Stay limit
- 16 days
- Campground host
- On site
Source: recreation.gov, accessed 2026-09-30
Access and cell service
- Elevation
- 620 ft
44.1181, -86.4228 in Mason. Open in OpenStreetMap. Map © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Season and winter services
Lake Michigan Recreation Area is open from 05-09 to 10-15 , at 620 ft.
Sources: epqs.nationalmap.gov, accessed 2026-10-01; recreation.gov, accessed 2026-09-30
Common questions
Do you need a reservation at Lake Michigan Recreation Area?
Sites at Lake Michigan Recreation Area are reserved through Recreation.gov (https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/233714).
How much does it cost to camp at Lake Michigan Recreation Area?
Camping at Lake Michigan Recreation Area costs Single Site: $40 per night.
How many campsites does Lake Michigan Recreation Area have?
Lake Michigan Recreation Area has 99 campsites, including 3 group sites.
Does Lake Michigan Recreation Area have RV hookups?
No. Lake Michigan Recreation Area has no hookups.
Is there drinking water at Lake Michigan Recreation Area?
Yes, Lake Michigan Recreation Area has potable water. It also has toilets.
When is Lake Michigan Recreation Area open?
Lake Michigan Recreation Area is open from 05-09 to 10-15.
How long can you stay at Lake Michigan Recreation Area?
The stay limit at Lake Michigan Recreation Area is 16 days.
Is there a campground host at Lake Michigan Recreation Area?
Yes, Lake Michigan Recreation Area has a campground host on site.
Who manages Lake Michigan Recreation Area?
Lake Michigan Recreation Area is managed by the U.S. Forest Service.
Around Lake Michigan Recreation Area
Lake Michigan at Manistee - Sites
- 53
- Season
- 05-09 to 10-12
- Fee
- Standard nonelectric: $40 per night
- Sites
- 19
- Season
- 04-01 to 11-30
- Fee
- Not on record
More campgrounds: camping near Manistee and campgrounds in Mason.
Sources
- apps.fs.usda.gov (all fields), accessed 2026-09-30
- epqs.nationalmap.gov (elevationFt), accessed 2026-10-01
- recreation.gov (fireRings, hookups, hostOnSite, stayLimit, reservationSystemName, reservationUrl, toilets, water, reservationSystem, sites, season.open, season.close), accessed 2026-09-30
Photo credits
- Photo 1: usfs_Eastern_Region, Public domain
- Photo 2: usfs_Eastern_Region, Public domain