How much does camping cost at Brighton Murray Lake Campground?

Camping fees at Brighton Murray Lake Campground range from $17/night. Prices may vary by site type (standard, hookup, premium) and season. Book online to see exact pricing for your dates.

Is Brighton Murray Lake Campground first-come first-served or reservation?

Brighton Murray Lake Campground accepts online reservations. We recommend booking in advance, especially during peak season (typically summer weekends). Use campsite alerts to get notified when spots become available.

Can I see photos of campsites at Brighton Murray Lake Campground before I book?

Yes! Brighton Murray Lake Campground has 8 campsite photos on Outdoorithm, contributed by campers who've stayed there. Browse real photos of individual sites to see what to expect before you reserve. You can also add your own photos after your trip to help the next family plan theirs.

What is the best time to visit Brighton Murray Lake Campground?

Brighton Murray Lake Campground is open Open weekends only, Memorial Day through Labor Day (Friday through Sunday).. The best time to visit depends on your preferences—summer offers the warmest weather and most activities, while spring and fall provide fewer crowds and milder temperatures. Check current conditions before your trip.

Are there showers at Brighton Murray Lake Campground?

Brighton Murray Lake Campground does not have shower facilities. Plan accordingly—nearby alternatives may include day-use areas or towns.

Is there cell service at Brighton Murray Lake Campground?

Cell phone service at Brighton Murray Lake Campground is generally available. Cell service is available. Coverage may vary by carrier and exact location within the campground.

How many campsites does Brighton Murray Lake Campground have?

Brighton Murray Lake Campground has 25 campsites. Sites vary in size, privacy, and amenities. Check availability online to find the best site for your needs.

Are dogs allowed at Brighton Murray Lake Campground?

Yes, pets are allowed at Brighton Murray Lake Campground. Dogs must typically be kept on a leash (usually 6 feet or shorter) and under control at all times. Be sure to clean up after your pet and check for any breed or size restrictions.

What amenities are available at Brighton Murray Lake Campground?

Brighton Murray Lake Campground offers: Restrooms, Potable Water, Pets Allowed. See our detailed campground page for the full list of facilities and features.

What activities can I do at Brighton Murray Lake Campground?

Popular activities at Brighton Murray Lake Campground include Hiking, Fishing, Biking, Boating, Wildlife Viewing. The surrounding area offers plenty of outdoor recreation opportunities for all skill levels.

Brighton Murray Lake Campground

4.31

29 reviews

Summer Destination

Featured in:Hidden Gem Campgrounds Michigan

Real-Time Availability

Select a month, then check for open campsites

Quick Facts

909 ft

Price

$17/night

Booking

Reservable

Sites

25 campsites

Season

Open weekends only, ...

Cell

Has Service

Pets

Very Pet Friendly

RV Friendly

Book on Michigan Department of Natural Resources Set up a cancellation alert Official Website

Get Directions

Only 25 sites — this campground fills fast. Set up a free alert.

Real-Time Availability

Select a month, then check for open campsites

Quick Facts

909 ft

Price

$17/night

Booking

Reservable

Sites

25 campsites

Season

Open weekends only, ...

Cell

Has Service

Pets

Very Pet Friendly

RV Friendly

Book on Michigan Department of Natural Resources Set up a cancellation alert Official Website

Get Directions

Brighton Murray Lake Campground

$17.00 - $17.00 / night

Campsite Fees

Nightly fee $17 per site.

Standard Site Fee$0.00

Hookup Site Fee$0.00

Premium Site Fee$0.00

Hike and Bike Site Fee$0.00

Group Site Fee$0.00

Food Storage Locker Fee$0.00

Get Notified When Available

We'll monitor this campground and alert you the moment sites become available.

Free to start · paid plans add 2-min scans

256,000+ sites monitored · Email, SMS, or in-app notifications

Learn more about alerts →

Share this campground

Michigan

Provider

(800) 447-2757

Been here recently?

Campers like you keep our info accurate. Fix a detail in under 30 seconds.

Plan a trip to Brighton Murray Lake Campground

Compare with similar sites, watch availability, and build a packing list — Camp Sage handles all of it.

What Campers Say

4.31

Recommended

Based on 29 reviews

26 Google reviews

Most mentioned

quiethikinglakebeach

Some mention

mosquitoes

"Reviewers rate Murray Lake highly (mostly 4–5 stars) for its rustic, wooded character, large private sites, and proximity to trails and small-lake paddling. Many repeat visitors call it a favorite rustic campground in southern Michigan."

Read all reviews

Campground Map

Brighton Murray Lake Campground

42.5090, -83.8123

Nearby supplies

Brighton/Howell area (stores and services available

distances not specified)

Best Time to Camp at Brighton Murray Lake Campground

Summer weekends are the only option here. Daytime highs from Memorial Day through Labor Day typically reach the mid-70s to low 80s°F, with nights cooling into the mid-50s to mid-60s°F. The warm season puts boating, fishing, and trail use at their peak. Mosquitoes are common near the lake and marsh areas, especially at dawn and dusk. With only 25 sites, weekends book up early.

Best

Summer(Jun-Aug)

4.0 / 5

Open weekends Memorial Day–Labor Day; warm temps and trail/lake access make summer ideal.

Planning Tips

Operating Season: Open weekends only, Memorial Day through Labor Day (Friday through Sunday).

About Brighton Murray Lake Campground

Brighton Murray Lake Campground sits on 25 rustic sites in the oak-and-hardwood forest of Brighton Recreation Area, open weekends only from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Sites cost $17 per night and fill quickly. The campground has vault toilets and a hand pump for water, with trailhead access to hiking and mountain biking routes and paddling on small Murray Lake.

Murray Lake is a rustic, weekends-only campground (Memorial Day through Labor Day) with 25 wooded, private sites and basic facilities (vault toilets and hand pump).

Weather and SeasonsSummer weekends are the only option here. Daytime highs from Memorial Day through Labor Day typically reach the mid-70s to low 80s°F, with nights cooling into the mid-50s to mid-60s°F. The warm season puts boating, fishing, and trail use at their peak. Mosquitoes are common near the lake and marsh areas, especially at dawn and dusk. With only 25 sites, weekends book up early.

Natural Features and SceneryThe campground occupies rolling, wooded terrain at 909 feet elevation, with large sites surrounded by oak and dense understory that creates natural privacy screens. Murray Lake sits close enough for canoe and kayak launches. The surrounding recreation area holds a network of lakes, wetlands, and trails through hardwood forest. The thick canopy and hilly topography give the area a secluded feel despite its proximity to Brighton.

Scenic ViewsWooded, forested views with many sites surrounded by thick underbrush and trees; some sites are near Murray Lake and provide lake access rather than expansive lakefront views.

Best Campsites

Curated by campers, for campers

Reveal picks

Reserving a campsite

Need help booking Brighton Murray Lake Campground?

Reservation tips, booking windows, and free cancellation alerts.

When to Book

Find your booking window

Cancellation Alerts

Free alerts for this campground

Amenities available

Rustic campground with 25 sites in an oak forest. Facilities are basic: two vault toilets and a hand pump for potable water; no electricity or showers on-site. Firewood and ice are sold at the Bishop Lake modern campground office in the same recreation area.

Potable water

Vault toilets

RV details

Activities you can enjoy

Outdoor recreation focused on trails, quiet lake paddling/fishing, and wildlife viewing. The campground offers direct access to a multi-use trail network including mountain-bike-specific features nearby.

Hiking

Fishing

Biking

Boating

Wildlife viewing

Planning your trip?Check out our camping packing checklist

Policies & Safety

Hazards & AlertsMosquitoes in summer and generally wooded/insect hazards; reports of rough park roads and potholes leading into the recreation area; limited services in the rustic loop.

No Flush ToiletsFlush toilets are not available at this campground. Expect vault or pit toilets only.

No Electric HookupsElectric hookups are not available at this campground. RV campers should arrive with a full battery and plan for off-grid power (generator hours/quiet rules permitting).

No Water HookupsSite-level water hookups are not available. RV campers should fill freshwater tanks before arrival; check the No Potable Water note above if applicable for drinking water.

Weather at Brighton Murray Lake Campground

Trip Planning Tools

Set an AlertGet notified when sites open up Check WeatherHistorical weather data Gear for This TripMatched gear recommendations Packing ListCustomizable checklist

Reviews

From Booking Sources

4.3

29 reviews

Recommended

Brighton Murray Lake Campground is recommended, placing it in the top 40% of campgrounds based on reviews

Reviewers rate Murray Lake highly (mostly 4–5 stars) for its rustic, wooded character, large private sites, and proximity to trails and small-lake paddling. Many repeat visitors call it a favorite rustic campground in southern Michigan.

Review Summaries

Based on 29 reviews

What Campers Love

Large, well-spaced, highly private sites surrounded by trees; quiet and scenic; excellent access to hiking and mountain-biking trails; close enough to Bishop Lake for beach and campground office...

Based on 29 reviews

Pro Tips & Recommendations

Reserve early for weekend dates; bring bug spray and headlamps/flashlights; expect rustic conditions (no hookups or showers) and use the hand pump for water; firewood and ice can be purchased at...

Based on 29 reviews

Outdoorithm Community

Be the first to review this campground

Every adventure creates another. Share what you learned so the next camper feels a little more prepared heading out.

Nearby Campgrounds

Frequently Visited

Brighton Appleton Lake Rustic Campground

4.3

(111)

Brighton Appleton Lake Rustic Campground

Brighton Recreation Area

Brighton Appleton Lake Rustic Campground sits on 25 wooded sites in the Brighton Recreation Area, offering a back-to-nature tent experience at $17 per night. The campground draws campers who want quiet and seclusion: mature oaks, vault toilets, a hand pump for water, and direct access to Appleton Lake and the area's multi-use trail network. Don't expect showers or hookups.

$17.00 - $17.00 / night

Less Visited

Brightonthree Fires Youth Organizational Camp

4.0

(13)

Brightonthree Fires Youth Organizational Camp

Brighton Recreation Area

Three Fires Youth Organizational Camp offers six rustic group sites within Brighton Recreation Area, accommodating up to 150 campers total. The campground sits in a wooded oak–hickory forest at 912 feet elevation and is designed specifically for organized youth groups. Reservations are handled directly through the park office. Reviewers praise the wooded setting, hiking access, and teen-friendly activities, though weekend slots fill quickly in fall.

Brighton Equestrian Campground

Brighton Recreation Area

Brighton Equestrian Campground sits in a hardwood forest within Brighton Recreation Area, offering 17 primitive sites built for riders and their horses. The campground provides picket posts or corrals, fire rings, vault toilets, and manure pits, with direct access to the 21-mile Brighton Equestrian Trail. Nightly fees run $20.

$20.00 - $20.00 / night

Less Visited

0.0

(3)

Island Lake Group Use Sites Camp

Island Lake Recreation Area

Island Lake Recreation Area offers two primitive group sites in a mixed hardwood and pine forest, each accommodating up to 50 campers. Sites include fire rings, picnic tables, potable water, and vault toilets. Reserve by calling the park office.

Pinckney Blind Lake Hike-In Camp

Blind Lake Hike-in Camp sits on the shore of Blind Lake along the Potawatomi Trail, a 10-site primitive campground accessible only on foot or by paddle. Expect hand-pumped water, vault toilets, fire rings, and one-night-maximum stays. Reservations require same-day check-in at the Pinckney Recreation Area office.

$17.00 - $17.00 / night

Frequently Visited

4.4

(64)

Upper Manistee River State Forest Campground And Canoe Camp

Upper Manistee River State Forest Campground sits on the Upper Manistee River in Crawford County's north woods, offering 30 first-come, first-served sites beneath tall red pines. A central staircase descends the small bluff to the river, where paddlers launch and anglers wade for trout. Sites run $68 per night and include fire rings, picnic tables, vault toilets, and hand-pump potable water. No electricity, no showers, no reservations.

$68.00 - $68.00 / night

Highly Popular

4.5

(441)

Proud Lake-Pines Group Use Area Campground

Proud Lake-Pines Group Use Area sits within Proud Lake Recreation Area along the Huron River, a short drive from Milford and the western Detroit suburbs. The campground divides into two rustic group areas, Upper Pines and Lower Pines, both offering vault toilets, fire rings, and hand-pump water. Sites can be uneven, so bring leveling blocks if you're hauling a trailer.

Highland Recreation Area

Highland Group Camp accommodates up to 100 people on a single rustic site at 1,060 feet elevation in Highland State Recreation Area. The $12/night fee covers vault toilets, picnic tables, and a fire ring in a wooded setting. No electrical hookups or showers.

$12.00 - $12.00 / night

Campgrounds you may also like

Frequently Visited

4.3

(111)

Brighton Appleton Lake Rustic Campground

Brighton Recreation Area

$17.00 - $17.00 / night

Frequently Visited

4.5

(144)

Holly-Mcginnis Lake-Semi-Modern Campground

Campground entrance: 5300 McGinnis Road

Holly–McGinnis Lake campground sits in southeastern Michigan's state recreation area, offering 15 tent-only sites with semi-modern amenities. Large, wooded sites provide privacy, and the campground includes flush toilets, hot showers, and a dump station. Sites cost $20 per night and fill quickly on summer weekends.

$20.00 - $20.00 / night

Less Visited

0.0

(3)

Brighton Equestrian Campground

Brighton Recreation Area

$20.00 - $20.00 / night

Campgrounds

Brighton Recreation Area

Brighton Murray Lake Campground

From Michigan DNR

Official information for Brighton Murray Lake Campground from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

The Murray Lake rustic campground features 25 sites in an oak forest. There are two vault toilets and a hand pump for potable water. The campground has direct access to a trail open to mountain biking. The campground is open Memorial Day through Labor Day on weekends only (Friday through Sunday).