U.S. Forest Service · Huron-Manistee National Forests · Michigan

Sand Lake Campground

Sand Lake Campground is situated on the scenic shores of Sand Lake and provides a selection of sites shaded by a mixed hardwood forest. Just beyond the trees is a well-loved, sandy swimming beach. The campground is located 15 minutes from the Pine National Scenic River and several other lakes. The popular campground sits within the Huron-Manistee National Forests, far enough from town to let its natural splendor shine, but close enough for convenient access to gas and groceries.

More like this: reservable in Michigan · big rigs in Michigan · pets allowed in Michigan · group sites in Michigan

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Sand Lake CampgroundCampsite 12nd Bath HouseBath house
Photos courtesy of USDA BWC · Recreation.gov

Site mix

Standard, no hookups40
Tent-only2
Group tent areas1
RV, no hookups1
Most sites here open on Recreation.gov six months ahead, at 10 a.m. Eastern. Sold out is not final: cancellations come back into the pool, most of them two to three days out. How to catch one

Site guide

Will my RV fit

The longest site here provides 40 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.

Have the trailer VIN? It carries the trailer length.

44 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

SiteTypeEntryFits, ftSurfaceShadePeople / vehiclesAccessible
01StandardBack-in40PavedFull8 / 2
02StandardBack-in40PavedFull8 / 2
03StandardBack-in40PavedFull8 / 2
04StandardBack-in40PavedFull8 / 2
05StandardBack-in40PavedFull8 / 2
06StandardBack-in40PavedFull8 / 2
07StandardBack-in40PavedFull8 / 2
08StandardBack-in40PavedFull8 / 2
09StandardBack-in40PavedFull8 / 2
10StandardBack-in40PavedFull8 / 2

Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 1:00 PM.

Amenities & rules

HookupsNone
Max vehicle length40 ft
EquipmentRVs & trailers, Tents
PetsAllowed
AccessibilitySites 31, 34, 35, 36 and 7 more are listed accessible

The campground provides conveniences like coin showers, flush toilets and drinking water faucets. Visitors often rave about the nice, private bathrooms with vanities.

Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.

Season & status

StatusClosed for the season. Forest Service sites close for the season; check the official page for the reopening date.
SeasonMay 14 to September 5
ForestHuron-Manistee National Forests
FeesCamping (per night): Single Site: $40.00. Double Site: $80.00. Group Site: $105.00. Day Use (per person) Per Day: $7.00. Extra Vehicle: $10.00. Season Pass: Per vehicle: $90.00. Lake Homeowners only: $30.00
RulesAs a visitor to the National Forest, you are asked to follow certain rules designed to protect the Forest, natural resources and to provide for public safety of visitors. These rules are available to you on-line or at any office of the Huron-Manistee National Forests. Please take time to read and understand them. General Topic orders apply across the Forests.

Huron-Manistee National Forests recreation page ↗

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Sand Lake Campground20°30°40°50°60°70°January: 2.90 inches of precipitation, 38.1 inches of snowFebruary: 1.99 inches of precipitation, 24.2 inches of snowMarch: 2.27 inches of precipitation, 10.8 inches of snowApril: 3.72 inches of precipitation, 3.9 inches of snowMay: 3.62 inches of precipitation, 0.1 inches of snowJune: 3.50 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJuly: 3.31 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowAugust: 2.76 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowSeptember: 3.56 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowOctober: 4.20 inches of precipitation, 0.2 inches of snowNovember: 3.57 inches of precipitation, 10.5 inches of snowDecember: 2.65 inches of precipitation, 31.8 inches of snowJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 20.0°F averageFebruary: 21.6°F averageMarch: 29.9°F averageApril: 41.8°F averageMay: 53.9°F averageJune: 63.7°F averageJuly: 67.4°F averageAugust: 66.1°F averageSeptember: 58.8°F averageOctober: 46.5°F averageNovember: 35.0°F averageDecember: 25.4°F average0 in10 in20 in30 in40 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Wellston 1N, 4 miles from the campground at 773 feet, station USC00208774 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 38 inches a year. The dotted line is average snowfall, about 120 inches a year on the same inches scale. The shaded span is the published season, May 14 to September 5.

Getting there

From Wellston, MI, take Seaman Road 3.9 miles south through Dublin. Just beyond the grocery store, turn right and stay on Seaman Road. Go 0.5 miles to Sand Lake Road (Forest Road 5728) and the campground sign. Turn right onto Sand Lake Road and go 0.6 miles to the campground.

Coordinates44.1681° N, 85.9294° W · Directions ↗

Fire nearby

  • Prescribed
    Ser 439 South Rx

    47 mi from the campground · 43 acres

Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.

Supplies & services

Dump stationDump station ↗5 mi
Outdoor gearOutdoor gear ↗31.8 mi
RV sales & serviceNature & Me R.V. ↗38.3 mi

Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.

Explore

Video

Sand Lake Campground Superior National Forest 07

Worth a stop

  • 3.2 mi
    Ward Hills-Irons Smt Dnr36
    1.3 mi trail · snowmobile, snowshoe, ski
  • 3.9 mi
    Udell Hills Smt Dnr 614 Cutoff
    0.1 mi trail · snowmobile, snowshoe, ski
  • 4.2 mi
    Ward Hills-Irons Smt Dnr345
    1.3 mi trail · snowmobile, snowshoe, ski

Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.

On the National Register nearby

On Register Atlas →

Natural features

Sand Lake boasts about 50 acres of mostly shallow waters. The campground is nicely wooded; some sites are heavy shaded while others are much more open. Summertime temperatures are generally around 80 degrees. The Huron-Manistee National Forests encompass nearly a million acres of public protected land, including nearly 6,000 acres of wetlands that extend over the northern portion of Michigan's Lower Peninsula.

Recreation

Power boating, sailing, canoeing, hiking and swimming are some of the most common activities on the lake. Anglers delight in the waters well-stocked with bluegill, perch and smallmouth bass. A picnic area and boat ramp are available for use.

Guidebooks for Michigan

We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.

  • Best Tent Camping: Michigan
    Matt Forster, 2015
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Camping Michigan
    Kevin Revolinski, 2013
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Rail-trails Michigan & Wisconsin
    Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, 2017
    Find at Bookshop.org

Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.

Reference

Questions people ask

Do I need a reservation at Sand Lake Campground?

Sites at Sand 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 Sand Lake Campground?

Camping (per night): Single Site: $40.00. Double Site: $80.00. Group Site: $105.00.

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Sand Lake Campground?

Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 1:00 PM.

Source: Recreation.gov

Is Sand Lake Campground open right now?

Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026. Season May 14 to September 5.

Source: Forest Service status

How many sites does Sand Lake Campground have?

44 sites, including 40 standard sites without power, 2 tent-only sites, 1 group tent area, and 1 RV site without hookups.

Source: Recreation.gov

Will my RV fit at Sand Lake Campground?

The longest site here provides 40 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.

Source: Will my RV fit

Are there showers or a dump station at Sand Lake Campground?

The campground provides conveniences like coin showers, flush toilets and drinking water faucets.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are pets allowed at Sand Lake Campground?

Yes, pets are allowed at Sand Lake Campground. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are there accessible sites at Sand Lake Campground?

Sites 31, 34, 35, and 36 are listed accessible on Recreation.gov, 11 sites in all. What that covers (a paved pad, an accessible table, a nearby accessible restroom) is on each site's booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

What is there to do at Sand Lake Campground?

Power boating, sailing, canoeing, hiking and swimming are some of the most common activities on the lake. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What if Sand Lake Campground is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Pine Lake Campground (4.4 mi, first-come), Bear Track Campground (5.2 mi, first-come), and Peterson Bridge (7.1 mi).

Source: Campgrounds nearby