The best camping near Torch Lake

Discover the most magical spots to pitch your tent or park your rig on your next Torch Lake adventure.

Discover the natural splendor of Torch Lake Nature Preserve.

Popular ways to camp

Community favorites near Torch Lake

Top-rated campgrounds near Torch Lake

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Backyard Burdickville

24 sites · RVs, Tents13 acres · Empire, MI

Nurturing the adventurous spirit through, Community, Local Food, and Live Music in Northern Michigan, Backyard Burdickville is a special place just outside of Empire, MI offering camping, Live Music, The Lively Farm, and NeighborFood Market. Visitors can explore the beauty of the Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore by day and our starry landscape by night. Our 40x50 rustic campsites offer a picnic table, and about half are equipped with Fire Pits w/ Screens. Potable water hydrants and clean, regularly serviced porta-johns are available. Sites can accommodate small campers and camper vans but are not equipped for large RVs or motorhomes. If you are looking to park your larger camper vehicle or trailer, and need electricity, let us know as we do have a few larger sites with access to standard power outlets and can accommodate a larger camper. We do not have septic hook-ups, but can help you arrange a clean out from our portajohn servicer. However, out of respect for fellow campers, we do not allow generators in our campground. We aim to be family friendly! We want you to have fun, but please respect your neighbors. Quite Hours: 10pm-7am, 11-8am on Saturdays. If you need anything while you're here, we make every effort to be available onsite in the camp office (the small camper behind the wood) daily 12-4pm, and by phone, the number will be listed at our office onsite. Please send us a message if you have any questions or need anything during your stay! Address: 3805 W Empire HWY, Empire MI, 49630

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Million $ Sunset Camp

8 sites · RVs, Tents8 acres · Harbor Springs, MI

Pitch your tent and listen to the waves of Sturgeon Bay on Lake Michigan. Fantastic Sunsets. Located half way between Harbor Springs and Mackinaw City. Walking distance to famous Legs Inn in Cross Village, MI. The property currently includes 8 campsites with a board walk on the east portion of the Lake side portion of the property to access the Lake MI Beach.

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Camp Moonshadow

6 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents5 acres · Honor, MI

Our property was originally the only homestead on this road. WE offer 4 Walk in Tent sites and a RV site for small campers up 20 ft.- 20 Amp service Only!!! WE also have a 59 Vintage Shasta that rents nightly up to 3 nites The big barn was built over 100 years ago and is still standing. The farm house was built in 1907. It has been remodeled with a second story added. Pine trees were planted to prevent erosion in the 1960's. The national park began buying land near us in the 1970's and the boundary line to the park is a half-mile from Moonshadow Camp. The area is surrounded by state forests and many hiking and biking trails. Our valley is known for incredible stargazing. Amenities include full access to the Camp kitchen and dining area. You will also have access to a Portable restroom and hand washing station which is located by our BIG BARN. Hot Showers, no problem, you can enjoy a secluded private shower in our shower house which has indoor and outdoor showers. Nearby is Lake Michigan and Esch Rd beach. Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lake shore is nearby and The National Park is famous for attractions , trails, and hiking. Electricity and water is included at the RV site, and the Shasta Camper along with the Showerhouse and Camp Kitchen

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Camp David

14 sites · RVs, Tents8 acres · Traverse City, MI

We built our home 30 years ago on 8 acres of hay field. Everything you see on our property was put here by us!! We have had dogs, a couple of horses, cats of course and chickens too. The horses, dogs and chickens are gone but we still have cats...and we have a pond off our deck with about 50 goldfish and a couple dozen frogs!! Our kids are all grown and we are left wondering what is next. For the past 12 years or so we have had at least one or two camp outs a year on our property with just friends. Then we started thinking "why not invite others?" We know how difficult it can be to get camping reservations in the area....then I bumped into a Hipcamp Host who told me about this.... so here we are! We are animal and nature lovers and our gardens are here for you to enjoy. We'd love to give you a tour and tell you all about every plant if you are interested. Or we will ignore you and let you do your own thing in our 'backyard'! We offer rustic boondocks camping or set up nearer to our buildings and we can supply you with power....110, 30 and 50 available for a small extra charge Welcome to Traverse City and welcome to Camp David!! I have a Facebook page with lots of fun and interesting things to do and see as well as great restaurant recommendations for Traverse City and beyond, on my travel page...Towhead Travels....on Facebook. Please look me up! ******NEW IN 2023****** We have an outhouse on site!! Firewood (oak) is available to purchase when you get here. (all campsites will be provided with a fire ring no charge) https://m.facebook.com/100057592452231/

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Jackson Station Leelanau

4 sites · Tents32 acres · Maple City, MI

Our sites accomodate 2 adults and their minors, with 1-2 vehicles at your site's access point. If you're traveling more than 2 adults please book more than one camp site. Enjoy a peaceful outdoor experience in beautiful Leelanau County via Agritourism at Jackson Station on the Leelanau Peninsula! Our property has 4 private sites situated among a dense pine forest on our small-scale farm. We're located conveniently between the two popular vacation destinations of Glen Arbor and Leland, MI - both a short scenic drive in either direction. The Leelanau Peninsula is littered with recreational opportunities including hiking, biking, beaches, boating, fishing, dining, shopping and wine tasting, and of course the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore! Our farm produces pastured, all natural meat, including pork, beef, chicken and goat. Find the hens roaming around and see the pigs, cows and goats hanging out in the fenced-in areas. A variety of cuts of meat from our freezers are available for sale or get a tour of the farmstead ~ Just ask! You may simply enjoy the scene at your leisure. SITE DETAILS: Each camp site has a bed of woodchips, gravel surrounding a bonfire ring, a clothesline and neatly stacked firewood for sale. Our sites may accomodate 2 adults and their minors. We recommend that larger groups or multiple adults book more than one site next to each other (sites 1 and 2 or 2 and 3 are good for this). Quiet hours are enforced between 10pm-7am. This is our home and farm, not a campground, please think of staying here in that way. A short walk from camp, down the farm road to the north end of the livestock fence, you'll find access to a water pump for delicious drinking water straight from our well, so that you may fill containers of water or utilize for rinsing. Our land borders the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. You'll be just a few miles from access to beautiful Lake Michigan beaches. Relax in the sand, hunt for rocks, hike a trail, kayak or paddle-board and watch an epic sunset. We are just down the road from the uninhabited School Lake, known for its fishing from non-motorized boats or a quiet place to paddle. Additionally, just 2 Miles away you can access the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail, a non-motorized 27 mile groomed trail that follows the scenic M-22 from our location all the way to Empire, MI. This trail is open year round to walk, run, bicycle, snowshoe or cross-country ski. 2.8 miles in the other direction from our camp, you'll find a Mountain Bikers paradise at Palmer Woods Forest Preserve, with various hiking trails and a 6 mile mountain bike trail.

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Griff's

6 sites · RVs, Tents40 acres · Rapid City, MI

Dispersed campsites on Griffs back 40 and Griff's River Lot are great locations for vacationing on Torch Lake, about 1 mile form the lake.

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Llama Meadows Eco Farm BaseCamp

9 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents16 acres · Benzonia, MI

Llama Meadows Farm is a sixteen acre organic fruit and vegetable farm. Located in Beautiful Benzie Country, in Northwestern Lower Michigan. We are one mile south of Crystal Lake and six miles east of Lake Michigan. Our-house is super insulated and passive solar. We had llamas for their wool and manure. We retired from raising llamas, we had 12 they got old and moved on. We have around 50 fruit trees. The fruit we grow includes apples, pears, figs and paw paws. We also grow grapes, and kiwis, we also put in filberts, walnuts and pecans. We have a beautiful labyrinth peace garden. Please check Extras for Pet fees, Campfire Wood and Electric.

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Winding River Campground

70 sites · RVs, Tents11 acres · Benzonia, MI

Majestic River Centric Campground is nestled on 11 acres of land overlooking the Betsie River. We are right off of US-31 before downtown Beulah. We are known as a fishing destination and many locals have said our 1900ft of frontage on the Betsie has the best fishing holes of any stretch from Homestead Dam to Grace Road. We have over 100+ camping sites with approx. 75 sites available for daily, weekly, and monthly rentals with a variety of stay options that meet your needs including RV rentals, tenting and car camping sites, river sites, highland sites close to the pool and camper amenities, glamping options, two cabin rentals, and one frame rental. Weekly and monthly activities include live music, food trucks, fishing lessons, tap takeovers, electric bikes, kayak rentals, hay rides, farm animals, crocket/horseshoe/bags tournaments and much more. Make your next Northern Michigan Visit HERE at Winding River Campground! For seasonal rates please call our main office and our staff can provide you with information. Open Dates: March 16 to October 31

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Hidden Meadow

5 sites · RVs, Tents5 acres · Alanson, MI

Get ready for a peaceful camping experience in this one-of-a-kind setting! For all styles of camping units as well as rustic tent camping. We live in farming country, with only a few houses on our road. We know most of our neighbors as friends or relatives. Our camping area only has three sites so it’s cozy and private. We have about 5 acres land for use around the campsite and lots of wooded trails nearby. We are about 2 miles from Burt Lake, and about 10 miles from other waterways, rivers and streams, and Lake Michigan. we are also 4 miles from biking and ORV trails.

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Gypsy Hill

5 sites · RVs, Tents10 acres · Honor, MI

Gypsy Hill is a secluded 10 acres of field and forest with five private campsites. Perfect for simple tent camping or parking an RV ready to boonedock. Gypsy Hill is just outside the village of Honor, MI which boasts a great grocery store and many other conveniences. Your hostess Margaret has lived and explored the area that was named “The most beautiful place in America” by Good Morning America, for 23 years . Margaret would love to share hints and tips for the best places for hiking,paddling,swimming, biking, driving, eating, and playing. Gypsy Hill’s five campsites are close to Lake Michigan, many inland lakes and rivers, and numerous trails and parks. All campsites have a picnic table and a fire ring with your first campfire on the house! Additional wood is available onsite for sale. Also available for loan are kayaks and a canoe. Seasonal wood fired sauna . Looking forward to meeting all of you happy campers! Cheers!

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House of Bear

5 sites · RVs, Tents97 acres · Grawn, MI

The House of Bear is located on a spectacular 97-acre, fourth generation working Tree farm in Northern Michigan’s Grand Traverse County. Stunning Northern Michigan wildlife with creeks and an old natural beaver pond, what a wonderful place to relax, and soak in the surroundings. Step out of the hectic stress of the everyday and take a moment at one of the many areas to soak up what you have disconnected from. Feel the wind across your skin, the Earth beneath your feet and the Sun shining down. Hear the birds singing, the trees swaying in the wind and what animal was that? See the deer frolicking, birds flying, trees growing and how nature all comes together. Smell the Earth, the Pine from the trees and the wild flowers. Take some time and wonder, lose yourself in Nature and get refreshed. Natural Rustic Camping, wake up to a beautiful sunrise, listen to the birds singing away, with the chance of seeing any of Northern Michigan’s awesome wildlife. Sunsets are spectacular with so many different colors, and on a Clear night look up at the stars without the lights of a big city.

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Timberline Campground

109 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents10 acres · Benzonia, MI

On the cusp of Crystal Lake, where the Betsie River flows, your Timberline Campground awaits in the place where the heart of the camper glows. The go-to base camp for the expert angler and avid boater, we’re famous for trout and salmon fishing. First-time campers and seasoned explorers drop in as part of a longer Michigan expedition or stay all season. We’re a large campground and spacious, with about every conceivable configuration of RV site you can imagine. The accommodations are ample, and we’re very strategic in locating the conveniences, close and easy to get to, whether you’re driving your home, pulling it or pitching it. Our RV sites have water, electric and sewer with pull-throughs, back-ins, and buddy back-ins with 30/50-amp electric service options. We have primitive sites for tenting and a rentable cabin for those who don’t want to rough it. Whatever your camping style, you’ll have easy access to all the good stuff. Our emphasis is on providing all the recreation you could want while you’re at the campgrounds. In fact, plenty of our guests spend their vacations in our heated pools, jamming on the basketball court and hiking around the nearby Michigan beauty. With lots of storage available for boats and RVs, Timberline is the perfect home base for the whole season.

The best camping near Torch Lake guide

Overview

About

A hidden gem in the Great Lakes region, Torch Lake is a great alternative to the bustling vacation spots visited by most tourists. Commonly known as the "Caribbean of the North", Torch Lake's crystal clear blue waters are surrounded by cozy campsites and miles of easily accessible hiking trails. Torch Lake's clear waters have been a local secret for ages and with little urban development in the surrounding area, the lake is easily accessible from some of the world-class camping locations in the lakeside hills.

When to go

The best times to visit Torch Lake are during the spring and fall when the trails are less crowded and the natural beauty is at its peak. Summer offers warm weather for hiking, but be prepared for more visitors. Winter snowshoeing is magical, though some may find the cold challenging.

Know before you go

Preserve hours are from dawn until dusk, perfect for day trips amid the beauty of nature.
Dog walking is permitted, but keep your furry friends on a leash to protect the local wildlife.
Remember, no camping, fires, or hunting is allowed, preserving the tranquility of the preserve.
For those interested in flora and fauna, join the iNaturalist community to share your observations.
Accessibility may vary, so check the preserve map and contact the conservancy for the latest information.