The best river, stream, or creek campgrounds near Imlay City, Michigan

Riverside camping near Imlay City means you’ll wake up to the rush of water and trails underfoot. With over 320 river-access sites, you’ve got options—some as low as $30 a night, with the average around $52. Pitch your tent or park your camper at Thousand S.’s Land (41 reviews), soak up the quiet corners at Bright's Grove Bayou (25 reviews), or try WaterFront Saginaw Bay - All Year (14 reviews) for year-round access. Most spots welcome pets, let you build a campfire, and provide basic toilets. Hike riverside trails, watch for deer at dawn, or break out the snowshoes when winter hits. Local campers know: the water draws wildlife, and the river turns every site into front-row wilderness.

92% (127)

Top-rated campgrounds

Riverside camping near Imlay City means you’ll wake up to the rush of water and trails underfoot. With over 320 river-access sites, you’ve got options—some as low as $30 a night, with the average around $52. Pitch your tent or park your camper at Thousand S.’s Land (41 reviews), soak up the quiet corners at Bright's Grove Bayou (25 reviews), or try WaterFront Saginaw Bay - All Year (14 reviews) for year-round access. Most spots welcome pets, let you build a campfire, and provide basic toilets. Hike riverside trails, watch for deer at dawn, or break out the snowshoes when winter hits. Local campers know: the water draws wildlife, and the river turns every site into front-row wilderness.

92% (127)

Top-rated campgrounds

1. Thousand S.’s Land

94%

(77)

10mi from Imlay City · 21 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging · Lapeer, MI

Welcome to Thousand Suns – an 84-acre sanctuary nestled in the heart of nature, lovingly cultivated to support healing, reflection, and connection. This isn’t your typical campground. Here, the land is vibrantly alive and holds space for both traditional and non-traditional ceremonies, as well as moments of quiet solitude or joyful gathering. Wander scenic forest trails, swim in spring-fed waters, or sit beside the flowing river — all part of a landscape that invites you to slow down, breathe deeply, and return to yourself. Whether you’re here to rest, explore, or reconnect, Thousand Suns offers a grounded, heart-centered experience. Throughout the month, we host community events and offer private sessions in yoga, bodywork, breathwork, and other holistic practices designed to nourish the body and spirit. Fresh eggs are available from our chickens and turkeys, and you’ll likely spot our friendly goats during your stay. Guests are welcome to use the community kitchen — a shared space where you can store your food and prepare meals with ease. Thousand Suns is the perfect retreat for solo travelers, families, and spiritual seekers alike. Whether you’re gathering with loved ones or journeying inward, our land provides a supportive and sacred backdrop. Please note: a train passes by the front of the property several times a day. While some find it grounding and nostalgic, others may wish to bring earplugs if they’re sensitive to sound. Bring your fishing pole, your swim trunks, and an open heart. We can’t wait to welcome you.

2. WaterFront Saginaw Bay - All Year

100%

(16)

50mi from Imlay City · 1 site · RV · Fairgrove, MI

Waterfront on Quanicassee River at the mouth of Saginaw Bay. It has a lighted deck to fish from or enjoy sunsets right in front of the RV site. Great location, 5 min from Hwy 25 (East of Bay CIty {20 minutes}, Frankenmuth just 35 minutes. High Speed WiFi, Water & 50 amp Power; Sewer dump. No playground equipment but one of the best RV sites in Michigan (that I have found). The Quanicassee River is one of the cleanest rivers in our area. Lots of boats go out and in by the dock. DNR boat ramp near. There are resident eagles, ducks, geese, swans, pelicans (rare) and lots of fish.

3. Masters Rustic Retreat and Farm

14mi from Imlay City · 1 site · Lodging · Memphis, MI

Welcome to Masters Rustic Retreat. We have a unique cabin on a site overlooking the Belle River, Glamp under the stars. *** There is no running water, however we have 5 gallon jugs provided to clean dishes, wash your hands etc.* Unplug on this secluded hideaway, If you love to be in nature but don't like the hassle of camping this is the place for you! We have trails to walk though, a fire pit, and hammock you can enjoy.

4. Algonac State Park

296 sites · Algonac, Michigan

Algonac State Park: A Gateway to Natural Splendor and Outdoor Fun.

Pets

Electrical Hookup

Toilets

5. The Wind Down Depot

100%

(4)

40mi from Imlay City · 1 site · RV · Carsonville, MI

The wind down depot is an old train station cut in half and moved to the middle of the woods. We have lots of walking trails. Animals of all sorts can be seen all day. The flower garden is always loud with buzzing. The slab of concrete is ready for parking. Power available 20, 30 and 50 amp. Hose spigot too off the house. It’s secluded and private. Offers nature and views from the site to the pond and creek. Town is 5 miles away. The property is completely wooded.

6. Morgan's Place

92%

(13)

30mi from Imlay City · 3 sites · Tents, RVs · Millington, MI

Morgan's Place is a nonprofit campground serving people who have been injured in traumatic accidents to full recovery. We also offer Hipcamp stays and Airbnb rentals so our visitors who are in recovery do not have to pay out of pocket during their stay if they cannot. We located on 37 beautiful acres outside of Millington, Michigan and only 15 minutes from Frankenmuth and Birch Run. We have hiking trails, little goats, chickens, fishing, kayak rental and/or drop off/pick up at Cass River, and offer yoga classes, karaoke on certain nights, and blacksmithing demonstrations! There is a 4 person camper on site to rent if needed or we offer water/electric and tent sites too just ask.

7. Walnut Hills Family Campground and RV Park

49mi from Imlay City · 107 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging · Durand, MI

Discover the unique charm of Walnut Hills Family Campground, where our short drive time, diverse activities, and efficient no-wait check-in process allow you to maximize your fun and minimize your time on the road. Spanning 45 acres and featuring 203 spacious grassy sites, our campground is beautifully situated along the Shiawassee River, making it an ideal destination for outdoor enthusiasts. At Walnut Hills, we pride ourselves on creating unforgettable experiences for families and friends. Our extensive amenities and engaging activities are designed to foster lasting memories. One of the highlights of our campground is the exhilarating Wibit Water Park. This exciting aquatic attraction features a variety of inflatable obstacles, slides, and platforms, ensuring endless entertainment for guests of all ages. Whether you’re ready to tackle the floating challenges or simply relax in the sun, the Wibit Water Park adds a splash of adventure to your camping experience. Join us at Walnut Hills Family Campground, where outdoor adventures and aquatic thrills come together to create the perfect getaway. Explore the natural beauty surrounding our park, enjoy nearby swimming holes, and take advantage of local restaurants and shops. Your unforgettable camping experience awaits!

8. The waŋblí tipi

100%

(2)

15mi from Imlay City · 1 site · Lodging · Lapeer, MI

We have a fully furnished 18 foot tipi on a 3 acre mostly wooded land. Plus a 2 and half acre pond. there are many activities to do including swimming, fishing (catch and release only), kayaking, paddle board. Hiking trails and a few games around the property. We have a outdoor bathroom. There is electrical outlet 100 feet away outdoor electrical option. Detroit is 1 hour 20 minutes away. Port Huron 1 hour away. Frankenmuth is 45 minutes away. 10 minutes away from a wide variety of restaurants and shopping.

Camper favorites near Imlay City

Top-rated campgrounds reviewed by the Hipcamp community.

The Wind Down Depot

100%

(4)

40mi from Imlay City · 1 site · RV · Carsonville, MI

The wind down depot is an old train station cut in half and moved to the middle of the woods. We have lots of walking trails. Animals of all sorts can be seen all day. The flower garden is always loud with buzzing. The slab of concrete is ready for parking. Power available 20, 30 and 50 amp. Hose spigot too off the house. It’s secluded and private. Offers nature and views from the site to the pond and creek. Town is 5 miles away. The property is completely wooded.

Morgan's Place

92%

(13)

30mi from Imlay City · 3 sites · Tents, RVs · Millington, MI

Morgan's Place is a nonprofit campground serving people who have been injured in traumatic accidents to full recovery. We also offer Hipcamp stays and Airbnb rentals so our visitors who are in recovery do not have to pay out of pocket during their stay if they cannot. We located on 37 beautiful acres outside of Millington, Michigan and only 15 minutes from Frankenmuth and Birch Run. We have hiking trails, little goats, chickens, fishing, kayak rental and/or drop off/pick up at Cass River, and offer yoga classes, karaoke on certain nights, and blacksmithing demonstrations! There is a 4 person camper on site to rent if needed or we offer water/electric and tent sites too just ask.

Walnut Hills Family Campground and RV Park

49mi from Imlay City · 107 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging · Durand, MI

Discover the unique charm of Walnut Hills Family Campground, where our short drive time, diverse activities, and efficient no-wait check-in process allow you to maximize your fun and minimize your time on the road. Spanning 45 acres and featuring 203 spacious grassy sites, our campground is beautifully situated along the Shiawassee River, making it an ideal destination for outdoor enthusiasts. At Walnut Hills, we pride ourselves on creating unforgettable experiences for families and friends. Our extensive amenities and engaging activities are designed to foster lasting memories. One of the highlights of our campground is the exhilarating Wibit Water Park. This exciting aquatic attraction features a variety of inflatable obstacles, slides, and platforms, ensuring endless entertainment for guests of all ages. Whether you’re ready to tackle the floating challenges or simply relax in the sun, the Wibit Water Park adds a splash of adventure to your camping experience. Join us at Walnut Hills Family Campground, where outdoor adventures and aquatic thrills come together to create the perfect getaway. Explore the natural beauty surrounding our park, enjoy nearby swimming holes, and take advantage of local restaurants and shops. Your unforgettable camping experience awaits!

The waŋblí tipi

100%

(2)

15mi from Imlay City · 1 site · Lodging · Lapeer, MI

We have a fully furnished 18 foot tipi on a 3 acre mostly wooded land. Plus a 2 and half acre pond. there are many activities to do including swimming, fishing (catch and release only), kayaking, paddle board. Hiking trails and a few games around the property. We have a outdoor bathroom. There is electrical outlet 100 feet away outdoor electrical option. Detroit is 1 hour 20 minutes away. Port Huron 1 hour away. Frankenmuth is 45 minutes away. 10 minutes away from a wide variety of restaurants and shopping.

Public campgrounds near Imlay City

Algonac Campground

38mi from Imlay City · 296 sites · Tents, RVs · in Algonac State Park

Stories from the community

N

Nate

September 2025

Tent

With kids

Weekend Trip to Thousand S.’s Land

Beautiful property. Camp site was well maintained. Would definitely come again. Thanks!

P

Paige

September 2025

Tent

With pets

Weekend Trip to Thousand S.’s Land

Campsite was very secluded and easy to find. Would come back again for the amazing views.

J

September 2025

Tent

With kids

1 night at Thousand S.’s Land

This was my first Hipcamp experience. Our host was great. They were very responsive and helpful and very accommodating when we got there. They filled tiki torches, delivered firewood, and we had some laughs before we started to set up camp. The site was clean and the property is beautiful. We pet the goat, and the turkey laughed at us. There are outdoor showers (heated) a short walk up the trail. There is a cool trail that loops around the property. The train, as mentioned by others, did wake me up a couple times. I'll definitely be back at this site but I'm a light sleeper and will just bring my loops/ear plugs. Sleeping in may also be tough considering the rooster. I usually sleep in on weekends but we were excited to wake up and get the fire going again. There are portable toilets which are way better than up against a tree. The location is great coming from metro area - Oxford Grill is a nice stop on the way in or out and Bald Mountain recreation area/shooting range. Surprisingly low amount of mosquitoes/bugs while we were there.

C

Chris

August 2025

30 ft Class C

Group trip

Weekend Trip to Morgan's Place

Quiet lovely tranquil surrounded by woodland, hosts were very welcoming and checked to see if we needed anything, would definitely come back again.

G

Grant

August 2025

Tent

With pets

2 nights at Thousand S.’s Land

Had a fantastic couple of nights at Thousand Suns with some friends and our kids. Was our daughter’s first camping experience and it was the best location for us! Between the amenities provided and activities on site we had a blast. Jordan (who greeted us and replenished our firewood) was super friendly and accommodating. Definitely recommend booking a camping trip here and look forward to returning.

N

Nadiya

August 2025

Tent

With kids

Weekend Trip to Thousand S.’s Land

Beautiful peaceful place, my kid loved the pond and kayaking, they also have space to practice and meditate, showers, common kitchen building that is still WIP but has the essentials

Sheila

August 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to Thousand S.’s Land

Good directions, good campsite, nice showers, the host was helpful and answered messages

G

Geri

July 2025

32 ft Class A

With pets

2 nights at WaterFront Saginaw Bay - All Year

Perfect spot for a relaxing getaway. The river is beautiful to watch, lots of wildlife and fantastic sunsets right in front of you. You are able to fish right from your site. The hosts were very helpful and friendly. This will be our annual fishing spot.

Ronnie

July 2025

Tent

With kids

Weekend Trip to Thousand S.’s Land

Already did a review it was ok. Great rustic site.

R

Ronnie

July 2025

Tent

With kids

Weekend Trip to Thousand S.’s Land

Very rustic. Great hosts. No crowds. The train tracks are really close by so that noise is a bit of a damper. We had a great time swimming and exploring.

D

David

July 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to Thousand S.’s Land

Nice wooded property with secluded spread out camping spots available.

T

Theodore

July 2025

22 ft travel trailer

3 nights at Morgan's Place

We highly recommend this place to everyone. Such a beautiful property filled with an abundance of wildlife. We had such a relaxing, and good time, over the 4th of July weekend. Our host was so accommodating and kind. Thank you so much for sharing your slice of heaven with us. You are the best!!

V

Veronica

July 2025

Weekend Trip to The waŋblí tipi

We had such a good weekend in the tipi! Kadyah is a fantastic host - very responsive and kind. Check in was simple and quick. The campsite is woody, toilet clean and convenient. There are many amenities in the tipi, we had everything we needed. Kadyah even made sure we had plenty of bug repellant options so we could enjoy the outdoor space. We used the SUP and kayak for a little paddle out on the water and that was very nice. This is a great camping option!

S

Sean

June 2025

Tent

With pets

Weekend Trip to Thousand S.’s Land

The campsite was beautiful and very easy to access. The pond is also great, and we had the best time going swimming. You can definitely hear the trains from the woods sites, so keep that in mind if you’re looking to rent. Would definitely return.

C

Chloe

June 2025

Tent

2 nights at Thousand S.’s Land

My group and I really enjoyed this campsite! We loved that is was very hippie vibes and it’s super cool that they hold ceremonies here. There’s lots of land to explore and we had the place mostly to ourselves. And there’s a cute little lake! The only reason we wouldn’t come back is because there is a train right next to the campsite that went through multiple times during the night. Which of course was very loud. Everything else was awesome though!

Y

Yuanna

June 2025

Tent

Group trip

Weekend Trip to Thousand S.’s Land

We loved our stay. We were searching for seclusion and found it. The location was also close to everything including Walmart so when we needed something it was only a 6 minute drive away. Looking forward to staying there again.

R

Rachel

May 2025

Tent

With kids

Weekend Trip to Thousand S.’s Land

Camped with the fam and had a great time. Secluded and we were not bothered by anyone. Kids and dog were able to explore the surrounding woods. Beautiful area for sure. Does have a train that goes by, but we were used to the noise of that after the first day. 10 out of 10 would recommend for family or individuals looking for a calm, quiet, breath of fresh air. Thanks Thousand suns!

K

Kellie

May 2025

20 ft travel trailer

With pets

2 nights at The Wind Down Depot

This was our first experience with Hipcamp and The Wind Down Depot didn’t disappoint. The property is beautiful with majestic woods, ponds and amazing trails throughout. Chris and his family are very accommodating and hospitable hosts. Chris offered assistance with our rig and invited us to his patio for a campfire with lots of laughes. Thanks again Chris. We’ll be back!

N

Noel

May 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to Thousand S.’s Land

Great spot. As advertised. Would recommend. Had a wonderful time and the owners were kind and polite and attentive.

K

Karen

April 2025

28 ft Class C

With pets

1 night at Morgan's Place

Morgan’s Place was the perfect spot for us to spend a night, and explore Frankenmuth. The property is well kept, the porta john was pristine, and Carey (and family) were attentive hosts! 5 stars!!