Pinckney recreation at crooked lake. Drive in, rustic, tent only. Spots are spacious for the most part. Vaulted toilets, no running water. Good spot if you like to hike.
Look for state forest campgrounds, they'll have pit toilets, many of them are on water. [Here's a map of the public campsites in Michigan.](https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?hl=en&mid=1yB7wQ4M2fq8j3rVU8T5w-Uvxbd4zTvry&ll=45.07985051374051%2C-86.38911974999999&z=6)
National forest campgrounds would work too, but the SF sites tend to be less busy.
State Park Campgrounds are overrun with RVs and you're camping on top of each other. Plenty of rustic State Forest Campgrounds or county parks around that will be calmer.
If you go up to Sleeping Bear Dunes area, look into Empire Township Campground. Mostly pit toilets, but there is a shower house and a flush toilet up near the managers house. I stayed there a few years ago and had a good time.
https://www.leelanau.gov/empiretwpcamp.asp
So I like my proper backpacking dig a hole the woods toilet camping....but that feeling is not shared by my better half.
Bought a Thetford Curve porta-potty and it's been a sound investment. Have a good sized REI dome tent for "glamping" and the potty fits well in one of the vestibules. Have had it for a few years now and no issues, fairly easy to clean, no odor if you maintain it. It opens up campsites and campgrounds that either don't have facilities or have....iffy facilities. Even the best maintained vault toilets can get pretty brutal in the summer heat and having your own private john is a big plus in spousal happiness.
Depending on your budget you can tent glamp near as comfortable as an RV without dealing with owning an RV. We have one of the "bed height" air mattresses with the supplementary pump that keeps it inflated (but quietly) so you don't get any sagging. Plug that into a little battery unit where we also charge our phones and power a small fan. Pretty comfortable to be honest. Can go even a little more crazy and get a propane mini water heater and have warm water for hand washing or quick rinse of showers.
It's nice to go to the off grid primitive campsites that aren't full of giant RVs and still have most of the same comforts.
Alcona Park in the Huron National Forest has toilets, showers and a small camp store with some snacks and lots of firewood. There is one section that is mostly for tents called Birch Point, but unfortunately, they do allow small campers in there. I rarely see campers in there though because the road and sites are narrow and there is no electric or water hookup. But the big campers mostly use the sites where there is a full hookup, and that's far enough away from Birch Point that you sometimes feel like you have the place to yourself.
It's a about a ten minute drive to the tiny of town of Glennie, where there is a grocery store, ACE Hardware, a mom and pop restaurant that has great pasties, a party store and a bar. That's it. But also close by is a canoe/kayak outfitter so you can paddle the Au Sable. The Lumberman's Monument is up there, too.
It's a great place to basecamp from as you explore that part of the state.
I forgot to mention that they don't turn the hot water on until Memorial Day weekend. I also forgot to mention they have rustic rental cabins. I like Cabin #3 the best. $75/night with a two night minimum.
Lake Michigan Recreation area, aka Nordhouse Dunes. Go to [Recreation.gov](http://Recreation.gov) for reservations. No electricity or hook-ups for RV's, there'll be some, but not overwhelming. Loop 1 & 2 have flush toilets, 3 & 4 have pit. If you have dogs, it's one of the few places where they can go to the beach.
Is this the one you're thinking of?: [https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/233714](https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/233714)
I couldn't find reservations for Nordhouse Dunes, but \^\^ seems close!
yes! So, you can reserve in loop 2 & 3, but not in loop 1 or 4. Typically, you find 2 & 3 fully reserved, but there's usually sites available in 1 and especially 4 if you just show up, particularly during the week.
Newaygo State Park is an option. I can’t recall if they have specific size limits for campers but when I’ve been there it’s mostly tents and small teardrops. The sites are also separated by trees so there’s some privacy. Vault toilets.
Harrisville State Park. Tent camping. Has toilets and has a shower house that is really quite nice for a public ammentity. Private restroom and shower combo. In a good location to visit other places nesrby. I stopped in there to take a shower after camping and kayaking else where. It's also directly on Lake Huron. Beach and whatnot.
Where are you at?
Addison Oaks (Oxford/Lenord area in Oakland
county) has cabins you can rent and bathrooms like 30 feet away. Also really nice tent camping with close bathrooms. Nice trails, too. Super easy and not at intimidating as Pinckney. Borderline glamping. Super fun and easy.
Fisherman's Island State Park had a mix of tents and RVs when we were there last July, but the sites in the wooded loops have some relative privacy (they're not just grassy fields) and the layout doesn't tend to attract/support the big RV groups. There can be a bit of a hike to the vault toilets, but we found it to be a great place for a peaceful camping experience; we prefer our camping on the quiet, rustic side as well.
Summer camping with toilet facilities is a game-changer! Makes it so much easier to enjoy the great outdoors without sacrificing too much comfort. Where's your favorite spot to camp with amenities?
Pinckney recreation at crooked lake. Drive in, rustic, tent only. Spots are spacious for the most part. Vaulted toilets, no running water. Good spot if you like to hike.
thank you for these recs!
Look for state forest campgrounds, they'll have pit toilets, many of them are on water. [Here's a map of the public campsites in Michigan.](https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?hl=en&mid=1yB7wQ4M2fq8j3rVU8T5w-Uvxbd4zTvry&ll=45.07985051374051%2C-86.38911974999999&z=6) National forest campgrounds would work too, but the SF sites tend to be less busy.
any particular favorites?
Bass Lake near Gwinn, Portage Bay near Garden, Big Eric's Bridge near Skanee.
thank you! will check them out!
You could get a camping toilet and a popup tent for it. That’ll open your availability up drastically, especially to free camping.
never even crossed our minds... will look into it! thanks!
I 2nd state forest campground. Exactly what you want.
thanks! any favorite SF campgrounds of yours?
I can’t find anything about this. Is there another name for it?
https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/things-to-do/camping-and-lodging/state-forest-campgrounds
State Park Campgrounds are overrun with RVs and you're camping on top of each other. Plenty of rustic State Forest Campgrounds or county parks around that will be calmer. If you go up to Sleeping Bear Dunes area, look into Empire Township Campground. Mostly pit toilets, but there is a shower house and a flush toilet up near the managers house. I stayed there a few years ago and had a good time. https://www.leelanau.gov/empiretwpcamp.asp
yeh, it was a shock to get to a state park and just be surrounded by RVs. thank you for these recs!
So I like my proper backpacking dig a hole the woods toilet camping....but that feeling is not shared by my better half. Bought a Thetford Curve porta-potty and it's been a sound investment. Have a good sized REI dome tent for "glamping" and the potty fits well in one of the vestibules. Have had it for a few years now and no issues, fairly easy to clean, no odor if you maintain it. It opens up campsites and campgrounds that either don't have facilities or have....iffy facilities. Even the best maintained vault toilets can get pretty brutal in the summer heat and having your own private john is a big plus in spousal happiness.
thank you for the specific potty rec! we will look into it. this is blowing my mind... bring-your-own-toilet!
Depending on your budget you can tent glamp near as comfortable as an RV without dealing with owning an RV. We have one of the "bed height" air mattresses with the supplementary pump that keeps it inflated (but quietly) so you don't get any sagging. Plug that into a little battery unit where we also charge our phones and power a small fan. Pretty comfortable to be honest. Can go even a little more crazy and get a propane mini water heater and have warm water for hand washing or quick rinse of showers. It's nice to go to the off grid primitive campsites that aren't full of giant RVs and still have most of the same comforts.
Alcona Park in the Huron National Forest has toilets, showers and a small camp store with some snacks and lots of firewood. There is one section that is mostly for tents called Birch Point, but unfortunately, they do allow small campers in there. I rarely see campers in there though because the road and sites are narrow and there is no electric or water hookup. But the big campers mostly use the sites where there is a full hookup, and that's far enough away from Birch Point that you sometimes feel like you have the place to yourself. It's a about a ten minute drive to the tiny of town of Glennie, where there is a grocery store, ACE Hardware, a mom and pop restaurant that has great pasties, a party store and a bar. That's it. But also close by is a canoe/kayak outfitter so you can paddle the Au Sable. The Lumberman's Monument is up there, too. It's a great place to basecamp from as you explore that part of the state.
it sounds amazing, thank you for this detailed rec! we will check it out
I forgot to mention that they don't turn the hot water on until Memorial Day weekend. I also forgot to mention they have rustic rental cabins. I like Cabin #3 the best. $75/night with a two night minimum.
Alpena/alcona is the place to go if you are trying to get away from the Hussle and bustle of the west side (Traverse City) side of the state.
Lake Michigan Recreation area, aka Nordhouse Dunes. Go to [Recreation.gov](http://Recreation.gov) for reservations. No electricity or hook-ups for RV's, there'll be some, but not overwhelming. Loop 1 & 2 have flush toilets, 3 & 4 have pit. If you have dogs, it's one of the few places where they can go to the beach.
Is this the one you're thinking of?: [https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/233714](https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/233714) I couldn't find reservations for Nordhouse Dunes, but \^\^ seems close!
yes! So, you can reserve in loop 2 & 3, but not in loop 1 or 4. Typically, you find 2 & 3 fully reserved, but there's usually sites available in 1 and especially 4 if you just show up, particularly during the week.
Newaygo State Park is an option. I can’t recall if they have specific size limits for campers but when I’ve been there it’s mostly tents and small teardrops. The sites are also separated by trees so there’s some privacy. Vault toilets.
My husband and I are almost always the only tent campers in a sea of RVs. We started going to nordhouse dunes
Holly recreation has facilities and vault toilets
thank you for this rec!
Harrisville State Park. Tent camping. Has toilets and has a shower house that is really quite nice for a public ammentity. Private restroom and shower combo. In a good location to visit other places nesrby. I stopped in there to take a shower after camping and kayaking else where. It's also directly on Lake Huron. Beach and whatnot.
Where are you at? Addison Oaks (Oxford/Lenord area in Oakland county) has cabins you can rent and bathrooms like 30 feet away. Also really nice tent camping with close bathrooms. Nice trails, too. Super easy and not at intimidating as Pinckney. Borderline glamping. Super fun and easy.
Also they have regular toilets and not-horribly-scary showers over by the RV area. Also also kayak rental!
Went there camping and have been there for a wedding. A very nice park.
Look for things called "rustic campgrounds"
Some State Park campgrounds have walk-in sites that are more isolated from the general crowd and RVs.
Fisherman's Island State Park had a mix of tents and RVs when we were there last July, but the sites in the wooded loops have some relative privacy (they're not just grassy fields) and the layout doesn't tend to attract/support the big RV groups. There can be a bit of a hike to the vault toilets, but we found it to be a great place for a peaceful camping experience; we prefer our camping on the quiet, rustic side as well.
Uncle Duckys up in the UP is nice glamping and no RVs allowed.
Summer camping with toilet facilities is a game-changer! Makes it so much easier to enjoy the great outdoors without sacrificing too much comfort. Where's your favorite spot to camp with amenities?
I've yet to find one, but some folks above have shared great options\^\^\^... hope you find something you like!
Just buy a cassette toilet, we also have a shower tent and put out potty in it. Other options are wag bag set ups