4.40116 reviewsPrice
Varies
Booking
Walk-in Only
Sites
23 campsites
Season
Year-round
Cell
Unknown
Pets
Check Policy
Price
Varies
Booking
Walk-in Only
Sites
23 campsites
Season
Year-round
Cell
Unknown
Pets
Check Policy
Big Knob State Forest Campground
46.0394, -85.5937
Tent campers and small-rig owners who want direct Lake Michigan beach access without a crowd. Lakeside sites have footpaths over the dunes, the Marsh Lake Pathway leaves right from camp, and reviewers call the vault toilets clean. Arrive by early afternoon in July or August to cl
RVs over 30 feet will struggle, sites run sloped and uneven, though site 22 is a pull-through option. No hookups, no showers, no dump station, and the nearest supplies are 13.5 miles back in Naubinway. Late May and early June bring serious mosquitoes, black flies, and ticks.
Camper Report Card
Rated higher than 78% of graded campgrounds
Graded on what 47 campers actually wrote - graded on 14 things that make or break a trip. A means campers loved it, not that it beat other campgrounds. No star ratings.
Strengths
Watch-outs
Grades are absolute - from what campers wrote, on a fixed scale. ± shows the 95% confidence range from the sample size.
See how Michigan grades overallOfficial information for Big Knob State Forest Campground from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
This rustic campground is located on the shore of Lake Michigan. Conveniently located off of US-2 West, you’ll travel down Big Knob Road for six miles before dead-ending at the campground. Sand dunes, beach access and hiking pathways offer excellent outdoor recreation opportunities. Some campsites have direct access to the beach via a narrow footpath. The Marsh Lake Pathway is accessible directly from the campground. The Pine Knob and Crow Lake Pathways are nearby and be accessed from Big Knob Road. There are 23 sites for tent, small trailer and large trailer use. Site #22 is a pull-through site. Camping is limited to a 15-day maximum stay. Amenities include vault toilets and potable water from a hand-pump well. The campground is located 13.5 miles southwest of Naubinway via US-2 West and Big Knob Road. Sites available on a first-come, first-serve basis. No reservations. View Campground closing and opening dates .
Availability, what to pack, similar spots — ask anything and get an instant answer.
Summer is the best window: daily highs in the mid-60s to upper-70s, nights in the 40s–50s. July and August bring swimmable (if still brisk) lake temps and the longest days for hiking and beach time. Trade-off: late spring and early summer see heavy mosquitoes, black flies, midges, and ticks. Bring serious repellent. Weekend crowds are moderate even in peak season because the campground is small and remote. Winter leaves Big Knob Road unplowed, limiting access to those on skis or snowshoes.
Summer is best: swimmable (if brisk) lake temps, long days for hiking and beach time per seasonal notes.
Rustic state forest campground with vault toilets, a hand-pump for potable water, picnic area, fire pits, and trash stations. No electricity, hookups, showers, or dump station; sites are first-come, first-served.
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