Free camping near Cadillac, MI
Within 25 straight-line miles of Cadillac, MI there are 25 camps: 9 free, 15 fee, 1 unpriced. The closest is Hemlock Recreation Area, 3.7 miles west of town. The closest one our audit calls free is Dispersed camp — Wexford County, MI, 17 miles out.
Who manages them: 12 on Michigan DNR; 10 on the Forest Service; 3 on an agency our record does not name.
| Camp | Miles | Cost | Water | Nearest town | Season today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hemlock Recreation Area | 3.7 | Fee | — | 2.7 mi to Wedgewood | — |
| Long Lake (Wexford) State Forest Campground | 6.6 | Fee | — | 3.8 mi to Haring | — |
| Long Lake (Missaukee) State Forest Campground | 12 | Fee | — | 2.7 mi to Jennings | — |
| Goose Lake State Forest Campground | 12 | Fee | — | 2.5 mi to Lake | — |
| Lincoln Bridge State Forest Campground | 15 | Fee | — | 6.5 mi to Luther | — |
| Silver Creek State Forest Campground | 15 | Fee | — | 5.4 mi to Luther | — |
| Sunrise Lake State Forest Campground | 16 | Fee | — | 6.0 mi to Le Roy | — |
| Old US- 131 State Forest Campground | 17 | Fee | — | 5.6 mi to Manton | — |
| Hopkins Creek State Forest Campground | 17 | Fee | — | 6.3 mi to Manton | — |
| Hopkins Creek Equestrian State Forest Campground and Trail Camp | 17 | Fee | — | 6.5 mi to Manton | — |
| Dispersed camp — Wexford County, MI | 17 | Free | Anderson Creek (stream) | 3.7 mi to Sherman | — |
| Baxter Bridge State Forest Campground | 18 | Fee | — | 6.6 mi to Kingsley | — |
| Peterson Bridge Campground | 18 | Fee | — | 4.8 mi to Caberfae | — |
| Seaton Creek Recreation Area | 20 | Fee | — | 5.6 mi to Mesick | — |
| Carrieville State Forest Campground | 21 | Fee | — | 2.1 mi to Luther | — |
| Red Bridge Access | 21 | Free | — | 6.8 mi to Wellston | — |
| Dispersed camp — Manistee County, MI | 21 | Free | Manistee River (river) | 2.4 mi to Marilla | — |
| Dispersed camp #2 — Manistee County, MI | 21 | Free | Eddington Creek (stream) | 2.4 mi to Marilla | — |
| Spring Lake State Forest Campground | 22 | Fee | — | 1.1 mi to Fife Lake | — |
| Government Landing Site 21 | 22 | Free | Manistee River (river) | 5.1 mi to Garletts Corner | — |
| Government Landing Sites | 23 | Free | Manistee River (river) | 5.0 mi to Wellston | — |
| Government Landing | 23 | Free | Manistee River (river) | 4.7 mi to Wellston | — |
| Government Landing | 23 | Free | Manistee River (river) | 4.7 mi to Wellston | — |
| Government Landing | 23 | Free | Manistee River (river) | 4.6 mi to Wellston | — |
| Old Grade Campground | 24 | Unpriced | Little Manistee River (river) | 2.1 mi to Peacock | — |
Every distance on this page is a straight line from Cadillac, MI, not a driving distance — a camp four miles out across a canyon can be an hour of road. Cost is the audited three-state verdict on each camp's own record: free, fee, or unpriced where we could not confirm a price. A blank column is a gap in the record, not a statement that the thing is absent. Camps come from state and federal agency records, not from a visit, except the ones marked. Seasons, permits and fire rules change: confirm with the managing office before you go. Found a fee where we show free? Tell us on the contact page.