Kneff Lake Campground
Kneff Lake Campground is a popular camping area on the far west side of the Mio Ranger District near Grayling. The campground has 27 sites and an onsite host during the season. Kneff Lake is a 20-acre shared private, state, and federal ownership. Kneff Lake day use area provides accessible beach access for all who wish to boat, fish, swim, or enjoy beach play.
More like this: reservable in Michigan · big rigs in Michigan
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 26 |
| Tent-only | 1 |
Site guide
26 sites in 2 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Loop | Type | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | People / vehicles | Fires |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lower | Standard | Back-in | 55 | Gravel | 8 / 2 | Yes |
| 2 | Lower | Standard | Back-in | 75 | Gravel | 8 / 2 | Yes |
| 3 | Lower | Standard | Back-in | 70 | Gravel | 8 / 2 | Yes |
| 4 | Lower | Standard | Back-in | 60 | Gravel | 8 / 2 | Yes |
| 5 | Lower | Standard | Back-in | 80 | Gravel | 8 / 2 | Yes |
| 6 | Lower | Standard | Back-in | 60 | Gravel | 8 / 2 | Yes |
| 8 | Lower | Standard | Back-in | 70 | Gravel | 8 / 2 | Yes |
| 9 | Lower | Tent only | Back-in | 45 | Gravel | 8 / 2 | Yes |
| 10 | Lower | Standard | Back-in | 60 | Gravel | 8 / 2 | Yes |
| 11 | Lower | Standard | Back-in | 50 | Gravel | 8 / 2 | Yes |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 02:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | None |
| Max vehicle length | 80 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
The campground provides hand pump wells for drinking water, several vault toilets, and trash collection services. The embedded day use area also provides visitors with picnic tables and grills. Campsites at Kneff Lake have picnic tables, campfire rings, and lantern posts. Sites 1-18 have crushed stone parking pads and sites 19-27 have asphalt parking pads.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Closed for the season. Forest Service sites close for the season; check the official page for the reopening date. |
| Season | May 1 to September 30 |
| Forest | Huron-Manistee National Forests |
| Fees | Recreation Enhancement Act Fee - Day Use - Day: $5.00. Week: $15.00. Camping (per night)- Single site: $15.00 |
| Rules | Forest-wide Closures - Camping Camping in Developed Recreation Areas Camping in a developed campground for a period longer than 14 consecutive days unless posted otherwise. Entering or being in a developed recreation site or portion thereof when posted CLOSED. Entering or remaining in a campground between 10 PM and 6 AM when posted - except for properly registered campers. |
Weather by month
Getting there
From Grayling. - Travel east on M-72 for 6.5 miles. - Turn right and travel south on Stephan Bridge Rd. for 1 mile. - Turn left and travel east on FR 4003 and drive about 1 mile.
| Nearest town | Mio, Michigan |
| Coordinates | 44.6392° N, 84.5794° W · Directions ↗ |
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 12.4 mi |
| RV sales & service | Camping World ↗ | 24.2 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Legacy Water Sports ↗ | 38.1 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Kneff Lake
Trails nearby
- 2.9 miWakeley Lake West Loop2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, snowshoe and 1 more
- 3.4 miWakeley Lake North Loop ↗5.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, snowshoe and 1 more
- 3.4 miWakeley Lake Main Loop ↗7.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, snowshoe and 1 more
- 3.4 miWakeley Lake East Loop1.6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, snowshoe and 1 more
- 3.6 miWakeley Lake Center Connector0.7 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, snowshoe and 1 more
Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.
Public land it sits in
This campground sits inside Huron-Manistee National Forest.
- inHuron-Manistee National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 2,028,484 acres
- 13.7 miKirtlands Warbler Wildlife Management Area ↗National Wildlife Refuge · Fish and Wildlife Service · 6,621 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
On the National Register nearby
- M-27–Au Sable River BridgeStructure · Grayling · 6.7 mi
- Edward E. Hartwick Memorial BuildingBuilding · Grayling Township · 7.9 mi
- Douglas HouseBuilding · Lovells Township · 12.2 mi
Natural features
Kneff Lake Campground is centered around the 20-acre Kneff Lake. The forests in and around the campground are largely oak and pine. This small portion of federal land is surrounded by state and private lands.
Recreation
- Water Activities: Kneff Lake day use area beach is accessible to all by way of an access ramp. The swim area has bouys marking the permiter. Non-motorized boats such as canoes, kayaks, and rafts are welcome to be carried in for use on Kneff Lake.
- Fishing: Kneff lake is It is a designated trout lake and is stocked with rainbow trout in the spring. Anglers can also hope to catch perch by boating, fishing from shore, and wading. The maximum water depth is 40 ft.
Guidebooks for Michigan
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Kneff Lake Campground?
Sites at Kneff Lake Campground are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Kneff Lake Campground?
Recreation Enhancement Act Fee - Day Use - Day: $5.00. Week: $15.00. Camping (per night)- Single site: $15.00
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Kneff Lake Campground?
Check-in 02:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is Kneff Lake Campground open right now?
Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026. Season May 1 to September 30.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Kneff Lake Campground have?
27 sites, including 26 standard sites without power and 1 tent-only site.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Kneff Lake Campground?
Recreation.gov lists no practical vehicle capacity limit for the largest site here, which usually means pull-through or open parking. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.
Source: Will my RV fit
Can I have a campfire at Kneff Lake Campground?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. Forest-wide Closures - Camping Camping in Developed Recreation Areas Camping in a developed campground for a period longer than 14 consecutive days unless posted otherwise.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is there cell service at Kneff Lake Campground?
FCC coverage maps show Verizon 4G LTE and AT&T 4G LTE at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
What is there to do at Kneff Lake Campground?
Water Activities: Kneff Lake day use area beach is accessible to all by way of an access ramp. The swim area has bouys marking the permiter. Non-motorized boats such as canoes, kayaks, and rafts are welcome to be carried in for use on Kneff Lake. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Kneff Lake Campground?
Mio, Michigan.
Source: Getting there
What if Kneff Lake Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Wakeley Lake Campground (3.5 mi), Meadows ORV Campground (14.4 mi), and Chimney Loop Campground (21.6 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby