The best waterside 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.

97% (416)

Top-rated campgrounds

1. 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.

2. Maumee Bay State Park

100%

(6)

25 sites · Harbor View, Ohio

With fishing, golf, swimming, boating, and biking, there's fun for the whole family

Pets

Potable water

Toilets

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.

97% (416)

Top-rated campgrounds

1. 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.

2. Maumee Bay State Park

100%

(6)

25 sites · Harbor View, Ohio

With fishing, golf, swimming, boating, and biking, there's fun for the whole family

Pets

Potable water

Toilets

Public campgrounds near Dearborn

100%

(6)

Maumee Bay Campground

45mi from Dearborn · 25 sites · Tents, RVs · in Maumee Bay State Park

Stories from the community

I

Ian

August 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to White Pine Farm HipCamping

Pete was extremely helpful, accommodating, and responsive— and his dog Geddeon (I think that’s how it’s spelled) treated me as if I had known him for years. This place is perfect for a quick getaway that’s only a stone’s throw from the hustle and bustle of daily life. Highly recommend staying here. There are several campsites to choose from depending on what you’re looking for and each has its own quirks.

Nearby parks

Explore the area’s public lands.

100%

(6)

Maumee Bay State Park

Harbor View, Ohio

Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field

The best waterside 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.