4.3394 reviewsPrice
Varies
Booking
Walk-in Only
Sites
49 campsites
Season
Year-round
Cell
Has Service
Pets
Check Policy
Price
Varies
Booking
Walk-in Only
Sites
49 campsites
Season
Year-round
Cell
Has Service
Pets
Check Policy
Van Etten Lake State Forest Campground
42.6328, -83.5562
Anglers and paddlers who just want a quiet lakeside site and don't need electric or showers. Sites 36–46 have direct footpath access to the water, the boat launch is on-site, and perch, walleye, and bass are all present, just follow current fish consumption guidance before you ea
Families counting on swimming as the main event should know PFAS contamination has triggered public health advisories and occasional surface foam on Van Etten Lake. Add vault toilets only, no showers, no hookups, and a first-come setup that fills fast on summer weekends, and the
Camper Report Card
Rated higher than 41% of graded campgrounds
Graded on what 36 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
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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 Van Etten Lake State Forest Campground from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
Tentrr brings new camping experience to Michigan state parks.
Tentrr, a venture-backed camping and outdoor startup, has installed fully equipped campsites in both Sleeper State Park (Huron County) and Highland Recreation Area (Oakland County).
Each site includes a spacious, safari-style, canvas-walled tent atop a raised platform located in rustic areas outside the park campground. The sites are outfitted with a queen-size memory foam mattress on a sturdy bed frame, a propane stove, Adirondack chairs, a fire pit, a grill and a picnic table with a storage cabinet. Access flush toilets are available nearby. There are no showers available.
The sites can sleep up to six (two occupants in the main safari-style tent and four occupants in a provided pop-up tent). Bedding isn't provided.
Reservations are now open (click on the lodging tab and then TentRR Safari Tent radio button). The sites start at $150 per night, and a portion of the sales goes back to the DNR.
Visit our overnight lodging page to see other new and long-standing options.
Availability, what to pack, similar spots — ask anything and get an instant answer.
Summer brings daytime highs in the mid-70s to mid-80s°F with cool nights in the 50s and 60s. The lake warms enough for swimming and boating, and fishing for bass, perch, and panfish picks up. Weekends see heavier use, especially holidays. Arrive early to secure a site. Spring and fall are quieter but cooler, with less predictable conditions for water activities.
Warm daytime temps, boating/fishing pick up; lake warms enough for boating though PFAS affects swimming.
Rustic, lakeside state forest campground with vault toilets and hand-pump potable water. Sites are first-come, first-served and there are no showers or utility hookups on site.
Researching this campground? Ask anything — other campers and our team will weigh in. No visit required.
Short heads-ups about the road in, gear quirks, timing, and more. You don't have to have been here to share what you know.
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