
Weekend availability at Lake Michigan at Manistee
Live from Recreation.gov · checked Sep 19, 7:34 AM PT- Fri, Sep 25Limited10/51 sites
- Fri, Oct 2Open19/51 sites
- Fri, Oct 9Open35/51 sites
Friday + Saturday nights, sites bookable both nights. Counts come from a rotating sweep and can lag a cancellation by up to a day — alerts watch your exact dates within minutes.
How booked is Lake Michigan at Manistee?
as of September 20Sites are open right now — we found space out to Oct. That changes fast at a campground. We check Lake Michigan at Manistee around the clock, so the moment your dates fill up and a cancellation reopens them, you'll be first to know. Weekdays still have room — for now.
Weekends (Saturday night)
Weekdays (Wednesday night)
Availability checked directly against the reservation system, out to 3 months ahead.
Campsites & amenities
Site-level details from Recreation.gov's official catalog.
- Campsites
- 53
- Max rig length
- 54 ft
About this campground
Overview Lake Michigan Campground is perched on the shores of Lake Michigan, 15 miles south of Manistee. The area creates an incredible setting with a scenic overlook of the lake and a sandy swimming beach. This family campground provides an array of hiking and biking trails, plus swimming, fishing and kayaking.Recreation A hardwood forest gives way to a beautiful sandy beach at the shores of the lake with a playground for younger campers. Trout fishing in Lake Michigan is another big draw. Bird watchers delight in seeing unique species like the piping plover and prairie warbler. The Arrowhead Trail, a short loop trail created by Boy Scouts, forms a loop between the campground and the beach. A trailhead for the Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness Area is also within the recreation area.Facilities An amphitheater offers educational programs throughout the peak season. Other amenities include flush and vault toilets, beach access and an overlook deck. Campsites are equipped with picnic tables and pedestal grills. Group campsites can each accommodate a maximum of 50 guests.Natural Features The recreation area sits on the eastern banks of Lake Michigan along Porter Creek, due north of Hamlin Lake. As the second largest of the five Great Lakes, Lake Michigan provides stunning views and limitless options for water recreation. It covers a whopping 22,400 square miles and ranks as the fifth largest lake in the world. The Huron-Manistee National Forests encompass nearly a million acres of public protected land. Nearly 6,000 acres is wetlands that extend over the northern portion of Michigan's Lower Peninsula. Nearby Attractions The nearby Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness Area has abundant trails for hiking and backpacking. Contact Info For facility specific information, please call (801) 226-3564.
Getting there
From the north, take US-31 south 10 miles from its junction with M-55 in Manistee, then right on Forest Trail Road (FS 5629) for 8 miles to the site. From the south, take US-31 north 11.5 miles from its junction with US-10 at Scottville, then left onto Forest Trail Road (FS 5629) for 8 miles the site.
Activities
- SWIMMING SITE
- DAY USE AREA
- HIKING
- FISHING
- CAMPING
- BIKING
Nearby federal campgrounds
- Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness - Nurnberg TrailheadMichigan2 mi
- Udell TrailheadHuron-Manistee National Forests19 mi
- Sand Lake CampgroundHuron-Manistee National Forests25 mi
- Low Bridge Canoe LandingMichigan27 mi
- Bowman BridgeHuron-Manistee National Forests29 mi
- Bowman Lake AreaHuron-Manistee National Forests29 mi
Never miss an opening at Lake Michigan at Manistee
Popular Michigan campgrounds book out months ahead — but cancellations happen every day. We watch Lake Michigan at Manistee around the clock and alert you the moment a sold-out site reopens for your dates, so you don't have to keep refreshing Recreation.gov.
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Details from Recreation.gov's official RIDB catalog. Conditions change — confirm with the managing office or on Recreation.gov before you go. Not affiliated with Recreation.gov or any federal agency.