The best pets off leash campgrounds near Dearborn, Michigan

Just outside Detroit near the great Lake Erie, Dearborn is a hidden gem featuring nature reserves like Island Lake Recreation Area and state parks such as Algonac State Park. Dearborn offers the conveniences of the city and the draw of pristine nature, allowing campers the best of both worlds. The abundance of rivers and lakes means waterfront camping and activities are popular, but sprawling forests allow for hiking and wildlife sightings, too. Explore massive tracts of dense maple forest, secluded canoe routes down Huron River, and finish each day relaxing by the fire at a private campground, RV site, or cabin rental.

99% (190)

Top-rated campgrounds

Just outside Detroit near the great Lake Erie, Dearborn is a hidden gem featuring nature reserves like Island Lake Recreation Area and state parks such as Algonac State Park. Dearborn offers the conveniences of the city and the draw of pristine nature, allowing campers the best of both worlds. The abundance of rivers and lakes means waterfront camping and activities are popular, but sprawling forests allow for hiking and wildlife sightings, too. Explore massive tracts of dense maple forest, secluded canoe routes down Huron River, and finish each day relaxing by the fire at a private campground, RV site, or cabin rental.

99% (190)

Top-rated campgrounds

1. Breathe in Silence & Serenity

99%

(50)

33mi from Dearborn · 10 sites · Tents, RVs · Ann Arbor, MI

Experience the tranquility of nature just minutes from downtown Ann Arbor. This prime location offers easy access to hiking trails and the Huron River, making it a perfect retreat for outdoor enthusiasts. The campsite is both herb and pet friendly, providing essential amenities like potable water and toilets. Enjoy year-round campfires in the provided pit or create your own, with cut wood available from the neighbor next door or forage your own from the woods on property. Relax and unwind as you watch breathtaking sunsets or feel the gentle breeze while taking in the expansive natural views. The property features a walking trail that circles the entire area, ideal for walking meditations. At night, be serenaded by the sounds of wood owls, foxes, coyotes, and pond frogs. During the day, spot hawks, eagles, sandhill cranes, blue herons, wild turkeys, ravens, pheasants, deer, and salamanders. You might also hear the soothing sounds of neighboring cattle farms. Additionally, you’re just minutes away from Raspberry U-Pick and other local organic farms, offering fresh, local produce to enhance your camping experience. Our property houses 3 Nigerian Dwarf goats in a pasture. They are very friendly and love hanging out and being pet. We also have 2 free range dogs on the property, Zeus and Rosie, both very friendly. We have a wood fired sauna that can be rented for an addiitonal fee of $50. Amananda Retreat Center also features a large community space for gathering,, breathwork, yoga, dance, meditation, sound healing, ceremony, etc. that can be rented upon request for additional fees. No same day bookings booked after 5pm. And please no late entry past 8pm in summer and 5pm in winter unless you've already checked in.

2. White Pine Farm HipCamping

98%

(125)

34mi from Dearborn · 6 sites · Tents, RVs · Ann Arbor, MI

LARGE GROUPS - We are hosting events! Graduation parties, small weddings, family reunions, you name it. You can rent the whole campground for a day a night, a weekend, or a whole week if that suits your need. Just send us a message and we can talk about it. We can also accommodate large groups at a single campsite or you can rent several of them. Our primary guideline is that if your event will be held while other campers are here, it cannot disturb them. So, consider renting the whole campground. IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please plan to arrive and set up camp between 3 and 9 PM. If you are planning to arrive after 9 PM, please send us a message letting us know. We decide on a case by case basis since we prefer not to have late arrivals. In any event we do not accept arrivals after 11 PM except in an emergency since many campers and your host may have already gone to bed. Overview: Our beautiful 10 acre farm and homestead is situated between Ann Arbor and Dexter not far from the Huron River. The 5 acre area where our campsites are located is wooded with mature oak, maple, walnut, elm, and white pine trees. We're isolated and surrounded by wild areas and natural farm land but just a 10 minute drive to restaurants, groceries, fuel, and other amenities. The Ann Arbor area is home to a huge array of world class events from the Ark music venue to National Champions Michigan home football games and a whole lot more. Downtown Ann Arbor or Dexter or Chelsea is only a 15 minute car drive. White Lotus Farms, which has a wonderful farm market on Saturdays from 9 - 2 and Wednesdays from 9 - 1, is a 10 minute walk down our dirt road. If you forget to bring something that you need, don't hesitate to ask! We've got a growing number of camping essentials for rent or sale for very reasonable prices that can make your stay even more enjoyable: from bug repellants to camp chairs, potable water in 2.5 - 5 gallon containers, and more. NEW IN 2025 we have installed a hose with potable water near the entrance to the campground for your convenience.

3. Beautiful Lake Shawood Sanctuary

98%

(43)

19mi from Dearborn · 1 site · Tent, RV · Novi, MI

We are closed for the season. Have a wonderful fall and winter season. Beautiful camping experience on our little slice of heaven. Lake Shawood is a beautiful, natural spring-fed, non-motorized lake that primarily borders the City of Novi's exquisite Lakeshore Park. Lakeshore Park has everything from playgrounds for very young children and older children, to picnic pavillions and a sandy beach, and miles of hiking, running, and biking trails. We fell in love with this property the second we walked behind the old cottage. I love nature and being outdoors, especially hiking and biking. We are still making improvements on the land with a small garden, which you are welcome to enjoy during your stay. Our big-picture vision is to renovate the old cottage and live in it. This property is about 1/3 of an acre and has 1 large old oak tree and garden beds with flowers, herbs, and vegetables. (You can help yourself to any of the fruits or vegetables that are ripe) We are on an old smaller home/cottage-style small residential street. Please keep in mind, that this is a spot for family and friend fun with the awareness of keeping it a sanctuary space for the neighbors as well. Enchanting Lakefront Camping Site Pitch your tent and bring your family and children to our exquisitely beautiful site. The property sits on Shawood Lake, a non-motorized private waterfront site. There’s plenty of room to park your car, pitch a tent, enjoy a campfire, and the beauty of all types of birds (swans, geese, ospreys, and the occasional bald eagle), and animal life. The sunsets in this area are breathtaking. Take a short 30-second walk and enjoy Pavilion Shore Park, a family-oriented park with a playground, swimming, fishing pier, and waterfront seating of Walled Lake. You’ll also find public restrooms which are open until 10 pm through the summer and a restaurant across the street. We also have a portable camping toilet with a nice pop-up tent for privacy. Lakeshore Park is a 5-minute walk, an 11-acre park with volleyball, swimming, bike, and hiking trails (more than 10 miles of mountain biking and multi-purpose trails), horseshoe pits, BBQs, picnic shelters, and play structures.

4. The Cranes Nest

93%

(14)

49mi from Dearborn · 24 sites · Tents · Grass Lake, MI

The Cranes Nest is located in the countryside of Grass Lake on our 25 acre homestead. This serene property is a great place for bird watching during the day and stargazing at night. The tent site’s sit on approximately 8 acres within the back 20 acres of the property, surrounded by fields, woodlands, and wetland. This variety of landscapes creates a special place for all types of wildlife, from turtles and frogs to deer and fox. We offer a variety of secluded sites as well as group sites. We are located 5-10 minutes from Portage Lake and Grass Lake. Due to limited access please plan on a short walk with your gear to the campsites from the parking location. A cart is available to help haul gear as well. There will be signs to guide you on this little journey. Pets are welcome, leashes are not required at your site, but please ensure your furry friends are leashed while exploring. We will be offering fresh organic eggs, firewood bundles, bug sprays, and misc items that you may have left behind. Cora also offers a variety of services including reiki and sound baths, send us a message if you are interested. Due to our busy and fluctuating schedule, we may not be home to greet you, but please feel free to say hello if we are!

Stories from the community

A

Aaron

October 2025

17 ft pop-up camper

With kids

Weekend Trip to White Pine Farm HipCamping

Pete and Olga were absolutely a delight both over text and in person. Very cool property/hipcamp. I recommend this to anyone looking for a unique experience.

Multiple walking paths through the forest

D

Dan

October 2025

Tent

With pets

Weekend Trip to White Pine Farm HipCamping

Nicely secluded but close to major roads and places to visit. If you love nature, it is a perfect campsite to spend your days and especially quiet evenings around the fire. Plan on going back our next time in the area.

Vaughn

October 2025

Tent

Group trip

Weekend Trip to White Pine Farm HipCamping

We had a great time and Pete was very accommodating. We had a surprise birthday party and had a beautiful site with space for everyone. Appreciated the ease of firewood available to purchase and extra chairs. The perfect place to relax and have a bonfire with friends.

Douglas

October 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to Breathe in Silence & Serenity

My friend and I had a good time at Dori's place. Her property, and the surrounding countryside is beautiful, and right outside of Ann Arbor. We met her and she explained where we could camp. We didn't have too long to talk but she seemed very sweet. I would definitely return.

Wendy

October 2025

22 ft campervan

With pets

2 nights at Breathe in Silence & Serenity

My husband and I parked our converted schoolie for 2 nights here. Our camping spot was wonderful- very private, beautiful, flat. We loved our time there. It was one of the best places we have camped on our 2 month trip. Unfortunately, we never met our host, Dori- next time…. (Though her communication was great.)

S

Seth

October 2025

Tent

1 night at White Pine Farm HipCamping

The site was in great shape, stayed in a hammock no problem. Outhouse was nice and clean. Spoke with Pete while coming and going only, nobody ever bothered me in the woods. 👍

M

Matthew

October 2025

Tent

With pets

Weekend Trip to Breathe in Silence & Serenity

It was our first hipcamp, and it was wonderful. We paid for an earlier arrival and set-up in the NW corner of the backyard area. It was very quiet, peaceful and we had our dog off leash for the majority of the time. We visited the surrounding nearby metroparks on both days to take advantage of hiking and the Huron River. We walked our dog off leash on the beautiful camp farm property. My wife and oldest daughter visited with the goats, duck, and chickens inside the fenced in pen. The baby goats were so fluffy and soft. It was probably the most diverse wildlife camp I've ever had as well. Coyotes in the very distant crying and howling, owls hoot hooing, deer, a donkey (not wildlife) hee hawing at a neighboring farm, roosters (not wildlife) doing their thing. Thank you for opening up your beautiful property. We will be returning.

K

Kimberly

October 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to Breathe in Silence & Serenity

Peaceful spot not too far from home! The treeline provides space for multiple groups to have shade on a hot day. This was a great spot to just get away for a bit.

K

Kayla

September 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to Breathe in Silence & Serenity

Our experience with Hipcamp was a little different than most, I’d imagine. This was our very first time using it, even though our group has been camping our whole lives. We were in Ann Arbor for a concert, and since all the hotels were booked, we decided to give Hipcamp a try and booked with Dori. At first, we thought we’d be tent camping, but plans changed and we ended up bringing an RV instead. Dori was incredibly quick to respond to any questions and very accommodating with our changes. Her directions were clear and easy to follow. The property itself was beautiful—set back off a semi-dirt road with a long driveway leading past her home, yard, barn, and a pasture where goats and chickens roam. We parked our RV near the woods behind the barn, which gave us a quiet and private spot even though there were other campers around. Getting to and from the concert was simple—we had no problem being picked up or dropped off by Uber. Overall, this was a wonderful first-time experience with Hipcamp, and we would absolutely return just to camp and enjoy Dori’s land again. We’re grateful this opened the door to more unique adventures ahead!

Suz

September 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to White Pine Farm HipCamping

We loved our space and found it to be a nice quiet area. Friendly host and plenty of firewood to buy. There are mosquitos of course so bring spray. Property has goats behind a fence which we stopped to say hi to. Will definitely return

L

Lynne

September 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to Breathe in Silence & Serenity

If you’re looking for a quiet get away, this is your place!! Lots of places to find wood and make yourself a nice fire. Everyone was very friendly, including the dogs!

victoria

September 2025

28 ft travel trailer

Group trip

1 night at Breathe in Silence & Serenity

Dog friendly happy space. Beautiful nature all around. Highly recommend. Excellent host

C

Cameron

September 2025

Tent

1 night at White Pine Farm HipCamping

Pete was extremely friendly and helpful from the beginning. I never even met him, but he was kind and thoughtful while getting us to our campsite. The actual site itself was lovely. Very relaxing and tucked away. We were the only people there (other campsites on the land were close by) so it was incredibly quiet and relaxing. I could see how a full group might make it a little less enticing, since the campsites really aren’t that far from one another. But again, that didn’t happen and Pete was even kind enough to offer us our pick of the sites, but we stayed with Cozy Corner 2. Overall, we had a lovely, quiet experience and have no reason not to recommend it. Thank you Pete and Olga!

victoria

September 2025

28 ft travel trailer

With pets

Weekend Trip to Breathe in Silence & Serenity

We loved every moment we spent at Dori’s land. So very beautiful and peaceful. We parked the two trailers in an open area at the top of a hill. We were lucky to witness a beautiful full moon and clear skies with plenty of stars.

A

Allison

September 2025

18 ft campervan

1 night at White Pine Farm HipCamping

Pete was super kind and pleasant. Campground was great!

Triniti

September 2025

Tent

With pets

Weekend Trip to White Pine Farm HipCamping

This place is great!!!! Next time I want to bring a group. But it you are looking for a little get away for a peaceful weekend, this is the place to go.

S

Sarah

September 2025

Tent

With pets

Weekend Trip to White Pine Farm HipCamping

We loved camping at Pete and Olga's! Cozy Corner 2 offered the privacy and peace we were looking for with a perfect space for our tent and two cars. We loved everything from the provided picnic table and fire ring to the sun rise through the trees and howling coyotes at night. Thank you for a awesome experience!

K

Kyler

September 2025

Tent

Group trip

Weekend Trip to White Pine Farm HipCamping

The campsites are always clean and easy to get to and they feel rural despite being a short drive from civilization.

A

Amanda

August 2025

Tent

With pets

Weekend Trip to White Pine Farm HipCamping

They were kind enough to let me reschedule when my friend became ill on our way there

B

Bruce

August 2025

20 ft pop-up camper

3 nights at Breathe in Silence & Serenity

Open space. We camped next to the woods, isolated, by ourselves, able to enjoy nature. Mosquitos were active but Thermacell took care of them. Very hospitable and close to the city.

Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field

The best pets off leash camping near Dearborn guide

Where to go

Algonac State Park

Northeast of Dearborn, where the St. Clair River feeds into St. Clair Lake, is Algonac State Park. This preserve spans more than 1,500 acres with large areas open for day use along the riverbank, plus hiking trails and a 1,200-acre dedicated natural area. The park is home to rare habitats for birds, plants, and butterflies that are considered endangered. Canoe on St. Clair River, hike through rare oak savannas, and wrap up the day at a nearby campground or cabin rental.

Metamora-Hadley Recreation Area

Metamora-Hadley Recreation Area, a large park surrounding picturesque Lake Minnawanna, is just north of Dearborn. Summertime is the most popular season, with many staying in the park’s campgrounds, canoeing and swimming in the lake, or hiking and cycling across the small trail network. The park also has its share of fun in winter, with many great routes for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. Outside the park, glamping spots and private lakeside campgrounds abound.

Island Lake Recreation Area

Island Lake Recreation Area to the west of Dearborn is home to several important biomes, including protected oak barren communities. These old, deciduous trees provide a stunning backdrop for hikers on the park’s four main hiking trails or canoers and kayakers paddling down the Huron River. Campers flock to Island Lake for swimming, fishing, mountain biking, hunting, and camping—this 4,000-acre park has something for everyone. Nearby RV parks include all the amenities campers want, from full hookups to washrooms and wifi.

When to go

Dearborn, Michigan is a popular destination year-round with seasonal adventures. Visit in summer for hiking, swimming, and paddling, when July highs average at 85.5°F. Though Michigan is a popular summer spot, the large number of public parks and reserves make it fairly easy to avoid large crowds. Winters in Dearborn can be quite cold (average January lows of 16.6°F), but snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing are enjoyable with proper cold-weather gear.