How much does camping cost at Waterloo Green Lake Campground?

Camping fees at Waterloo Green 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 Waterloo Green Lake Campground first-come first-served or reservation?

Waterloo Green 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 Waterloo Green Lake Campground before I book?

Yes! Waterloo Green Lake Campground has 1 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.

Are there showers at Waterloo Green Lake Campground?

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

How many campsites does Waterloo Green Lake Campground have?

Waterloo Green 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 Waterloo Green Lake Campground?

Yes, pets are allowed at Waterloo Green 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 Waterloo Green Lake Campground?

Waterloo Green 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 Waterloo Green Lake Campground?

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

Waterloo Green Lake Campground

4.17

145 reviews

Top 18% in MIWinter

Summer Destination

Real-Time Availability

Select a month, then check for open campsites

Quick Facts

1,001 ft

Price

$17/night

Booking

Reservable

Sites

25 campsites

Season

Year-round

Cell

Unknown

Pets

Very Pet Friendly

Book on Michigan DNR Official Website

Get Directions

Real-Time Availability

Select a month, then check for open campsites

Quick Facts

1,001 ft

Price

$17/night

Booking

Reservable

Sites

25 campsites

Season

Year-round

Cell

Unknown

Pets

Very Pet Friendly

Book on Michigan DNR Official Website

Get Directions

Waterloo Green Lake Campground

$17.00 - $17.00 / night

Campsite Fees

Nightly campsite fee.

No paid fee categories listed.

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Michigan

Provider

(734) 475-8307

I manage this campground

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Campground Map

Waterloo Green Lake Campground

42.3617, -84.0624

Nearby supplies

Nearby towns within short drive include Chelsea, Ann Arbor, Brighton and Jackson.

Weather at Waterloo Green Lake Campground

Best Time to Camp at Waterloo Green Lake Campground

Summer delivers the most obvious advantages here: warm days in the mid-70s to mid-80s°F, cool nights in the 50s and 60s for campfires, and reliable conditions for paddling and fishing. Reviewers mention good stargazing when skies cooperate. The campground also attracts winter campers willing to trade convenience for solitude. Mid-summer mosquitoes are common enough that multiple visitors specifically recommend bug spray.

Best

Summer(Jun-Aug)

4.0 / 5

Summer offers warm days, paddling, fishing and trail access; reviewers highlight summer use.

Planning Tips

About Waterloo Green Lake Campground

Waterloo Green Lake Campground sits on the edge of Green Lake in Michigan's Waterloo Recreation Area, offering 25 rustic sites with no electric hookups. Sites run $17 per night and can be reserved through MIDNRReservations.com. Several lakeside sites provide direct water access for paddling and fishing.

Rustic (primitive) campground with 25 sites; basic facilities (pit toilets, hand‑pump water) and no electrical or sewer hookups.

Weather and SeasonsSummer delivers the most obvious advantages here: warm days in the mid-70s to mid-80s°F, cool nights in the 50s and 60s for campfires, and reliable conditions for paddling and fishing. Reviewers mention good stargazing when skies cooperate. The campground also attracts winter campers willing to trade convenience for solitude. Mid-summer mosquitoes are common enough that multiple visitors specifically recommend bug spray.

Natural Features and SceneryThe campground occupies wooded terrain along Green Lake's shoreline, part of the rolling glacial landscape that defines this corner of southern Michigan. Mixed hardwoods shade most sites, with some offering direct lake views. The area sits at roughly 1,000 feet elevation amid wetlands and small lakes typical of Waterloo Recreation Area. Extensive trail access connects to the Waterloo-Pinckney Trail and Border-to-Border Trail. Reviewers describe the setting as quiet and scenic, though at least one visitor reported limited lake access despite the advertised shoreline proximity. Highway noise occasionally carries across the water.

Geological RegionSouthern Michigan glacial landscape: rolling hills, mixed hardwood forest, wetlands and small lakes (Waterloo Recreation Area).

Scenic ViewsSeveral lakeside campsites offer direct views of Green Lake and waterfront access; interior sites are more wooded and private.

Best Campsites

Curated by campers, for campers

Reveal picks

Reserving a campsite

Tents

Tents are allowed

RV vehicles

RV vehicles are not allowed

Primitive

Primitive camping is allowed

Reservable

Reservations are allowed

Reservation PlatformsMIDNRReservations.com

Total Campsites25 campsites

Best CampsitesLakeside sites in the low and mid-teens draw the most praise. Sites 12, 13, 16, 17, and 18 appear frequently in positive reviews for size and lake views. Site 20 gets mentioned for seclusion. Some walk-down waterfront sites offer closer lake access but require hauling gear from the parking area.

Need help booking Waterloo Green Lake Campground?

Reservation tips, booking windows, and free cancellation alerts.

When to Book

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Cancellation Alerts

Free alerts for this campground

Amenities available

Rustic campground: pit (vault) toilets and a hand‑pump for water. No electric hookups or showers; no sewer or water hookups listed.

Potable water

Vault toilets

I manage this campground

Activities you can enjoy

Trail‑focused campground with lake access—popular for hiking, biking, paddling and fishing; wildlife viewing and winter camping are noted by visitors.

Hiking

Fishing

Biking

Boating

Wildlife viewing

Planning your trip?Check out our camping packing checklist

Policies & Safety

Hazards & AlertsTypical backcountry/park hazards: mosquitoes (can be severe in mid‑summer), bold raccoons/chipmunks that access food/trash, occasional highway noise carrying across the lake, and some steep/eroded access lanes to lower lakeside sites.

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.

Trip Planning Tools

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

Questions & answers

Researching this campground? Ask anything — other campers and our team will weigh in. No visit required.

Tips from campers

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.

Reviews

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From Booking Sources

4.2

145 reviews

Satisfactory

Waterloo Green Lake Campground is satisfactory, placing it in the bottom 60% of campgrounds based on reviews

Most reviewers describe the campground as quiet, scenic, clean and rustic, with many private, spacious lakeside sites and good trail access; overall sentiment is positive with some negative outliers.

Review Summaries

Based on 145 reviews

What Campers Love

Quiet, wooded setting on Green Lake; several 'huge' lakeside sites with lake views and paddling access; close to extensive hiking and mountain‑biking trails; good for stargazing and winter camping.

Based on 145 reviews

Pro Tips & Recommendations

Choose lakeside sites for views and space; bring strong tent stakes or a mallet for hard/compacted ground; bring insect repellent for mid‑summer mosquitoes; store food securely to deter raccoons;...

Based on 145 reviews

Camper Quotes

'all of the sites on the water side are huge' ; 'Beautiful quiet rustic campground.' ; 'No showers. Have to drive to Sugarloaf Campground and pay $7 for a shower.'

Based on 145 reviews

Outdoorithm Community

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Go if

Paddlers, hikers, and mountain bikers who snag a lakeside site, several have direct water access and room to spread out, and the Waterloo-Pinckney and Border-to-Border trails are right there. Hard to beat at $17.

Skip if

Showers are a dealbreaker for you, nearest ones require a drive to Sugarloaf Campground. No electric, no flush toilets, hard compacted ground that eats tent stakes, and raccoons that will find your cooler if you're careless.

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Pinckney Blind Lake Hike-In Camp

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Waterloo-Group Use Area Camp

Waterloo-Group Use Area Camp sits within the Portage Lake Unit of Waterloo Recreation Area, a 20,000-acre glacial landscape in southeast Michigan. This primitive group field accommodates up to five sites and provides vault toilets. The campground offers direct access to Portage Lake and miles of trails for hiking, biking, and wildlife viewing.

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.

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Brightonthree Fires Youth Organizational Camp

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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.

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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.

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Brighton Murray Lake Campground

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Campgrounds

Waterloo Green Lake Campground

B-

Camper Report Card

How campers graded it

Rated higher than 10% of graded campgrounds

Graded on what 73 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

Grade A.Scenery
Grade A.Campsites
Grade B+.Things to do

Watch-outs

Grade D.Crowds & noise
Grade D.Bugs & weather
Grade D.Rules & policies

Every grade - tap to see what campers said

Grades are absolute - from what campers wrote, on a fixed scale. ± shows the 95% confidence range from the sample size.

See how Michigan grades overall

From Michigan DNR

Official information for Waterloo Green Lake Campground from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

This rustic campground is in close proximity to the DTE Energy Foundation Trail, Waterloo Pinckney Trail and the Border-to-Border Trail. There are pit toilets and a hand pump available for water.

The campground is fully reservable at MiDNRReservations.com. Advanced reservations are highly encouraged during the peak use season due to limited campsite availability.