U.S. Forest Service · Huron-Manistee National Forests · Baldwin, MI

Gleasons Landing

Gleasons Landing is a very popular campground on the banks of the Pere Marquette River. With a selection of shaded and secluded spots, the campground is perfect for peaceful nature immersion. The Pere Marquette River was designated a National Scenic River in 1978, the first in Michigan, and it regularly attracts many canoeing, kayaking and fishing enthusiasts. The 66-mile stretch of river begins east of Baldwin and empties into Lake Michigan at Ludington.

More like this: reservable in Michigan · tent only in Michigan · pets allowed in Michigan · group sites in Michigan

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Gleason's Landing signGLEASONS LANDING AGLEASONS LANDING BGLEASONS LANDING C
Photos courtesy of USDA BWC · Recreation.gov

Site mix

Tent-only4
Group tent areas2
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

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

SiteTypeSurfaceShadePeople / vehicles
001Tent onlyGravelFull8 / 2
002Tent onlyGravelFull8 / 2
003Tent onlyGravelFull8 / 2
004Tent onlyGravelFull8 / 2
GS1Group tentGravelPartial20 / 5
GS2Group tentGravelFull20 / 5

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

EquipmentTents
PetsAllowed

The walk-in campsites promise lovely views of the river. Family sites are each equipped with a picnic table, lantern post and campfire ring. Two group sites can accommodate up to 20 people each. Drinking water is provided but no hookups are available.

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 3 to October 10
ForestHuron-Manistee National Forests
BookingReservations must be made 4 days ahead of arrival and can be made up to 6 months in advance for standard sites and 12 months in advance for group…
FeesCamping (per night) Single sites: $30.00. Day Use (per vehicle): Per day: $7.00. Extra vehicle: $10.00
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 Gleasons Landing20°30°40°50°60°70°January: 2.26 inches of precipitation, 25.3 inches of snowFebruary: 1.63 inches of precipitation, 14.0 inches of snowMarch: 1.98 inches of precipitation, 7.0 inches of snowApril: 3.85 inches of precipitation, 1.3 inches of snowMay: 3.63 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJune: 3.54 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJuly: 3.01 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowAugust: 3.06 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowSeptember: 3.15 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowOctober: 4.26 inches of precipitation, 0.2 inches of snowNovember: 2.91 inches of precipitation, 4.3 inches of snowDecember: 2.63 inches of precipitation, 22.5 inches of snowJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 22.5°F averageFebruary: 23.5°F averageMarch: 32.2°F averageApril: 43.9°F averageMay: 55.3°F averageJune: 65.1°F averageJuly: 68.7°F averageAugust: 67.6°F averageSeptember: 60.5°F averageOctober: 48.2°F averageNovember: 37.4°F averageDecember: 28.0°F average0 in10 in20 in30 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Hesperia 4 WNW, 21 miles from the campground at 780 feet, station USC00203769 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 36 inches a year. The dotted line is average snowfall, about 75 inches a year on the same inches scale. The shaded span is the published season, May 3 to October 10.

Getting there

From Baldwin, take 7th street west 5 blocks to Cherry Street, then south 1.5 blocks to 52nd Street (Carr Road), go west 2 miles to Jenks Road and turn left. Drive 0.4 miles and turn right on Shortcut Road and drive 0.7 miles. Turn right at T junction onto 60th Street and take the first left at S Brooks Road. Follow the road to the campground.

Nearest townBaldwin, Michigan
Coordinates43.8711° N, 85.9203° W · Directions ↗

Fire nearby

  • Prescribed
    Ser 439 South Rx

    28 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 ↗18.5 mi
RV sales & serviceSilver Lake RV Rental ↗31.1 mi
Outdoor gearOutdoor gear ↗31.7 mi

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

Explore

Trailheads within three miles

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

Natural features

The campground sits on a bluff overlooking the picturesque Pere Marquette River. It is surrounded by a mix of white pine and oak trees. The Huron-Manistee National Forests encompass a million acres throughout the northern portion of Michigan's Lower Peninsula. The forests provide recreation opportunities for visitors, habitat for fish and wildlife and resources for local industry.

Recreation

A major draw to the campground is world-class fishing. The free flowing river maintains large populations of resident brown trout, steelhead and salmon. Gleason Landing marks the start of a zone for fly fishing and catch and release only. Reel fishing is available upstream. A boat ramp is located within the campground. Canoeing and kayaking is very popular on the river, and boat rentals are available in Baldwin. A permit is required to float the river from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. Trails along the river provide shore access for anglers and short, scenic nature walks for hikers.

Nearby

A trailhead for the North Country National Scenic Trail is a short drive away. The trail extends from New York to North Dakota, spanning 4,600 miles.

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 Gleasons Landing?

Sites at Gleasons Landing are reservable on Recreation.gov. Reservations must be made 4 days ahead of arrival and can be made up to 6 months in advance for standard sites and 12 months in advance for group… Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

How much does it cost to camp at Gleasons Landing?

Camping (per night) Single sites: $30.00. Day Use (per vehicle): Per day: $7.00. Extra vehicle: $10.00

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Gleasons Landing?

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

Source: Recreation.gov

Is Gleasons Landing open right now?

Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026. Season May 3 to October 10.

Source: Forest Service status

How many sites does Gleasons Landing have?

6 sites, including 4 tent-only sites and 2 group tent areas.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I bring an RV to Gleasons Landing?

Gleasons Landing is listed for tents only.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are pets allowed at Gleasons Landing?

Yes, pets are allowed at Gleasons Landing. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

What is there to do at Gleasons Landing?

A major draw to the campground is world-class fishing. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What is the nearest town to Gleasons Landing?

Baldwin, Michigan. A trailhead for the North Country National Scenic Trail is a short drive away.

Source: Getting there

What if Gleasons Landing is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Bowman Bridge (1.6 mi), Claybanks Campground (1.9 mi, first-come), and Bowman Lake Campground (2.7 mi, first-come).

Source: Campgrounds nearby