Free camping near Custer, MI
Within 25 straight-line miles of Custer, MI there are 29 camps: 9 free, 10 fee, 10 unpriced. The closest is Whelan Lake Area Primitive Campground, 4.2 miles south-east of town. The closest one our audit calls free is Whelan Lake Backcountry Campsites, 4.6 miles out.
Who manages them: 27 on the Forest Service; 2 on Michigan DNR.
| Camp | Miles | Cost | Water | Nearest town | Season today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whelan Lake Area Primitive Campground | 4.2 | Unpriced | Whelan Lake (water) | 3.7 mi to Walhalla | — |
| Whelan Lake Backcountry Campsites | 4.6 | Free | Whelan Lake (water) | 3.7 mi to Walhalla | — |
| Logmark Rest Stop | 7.0 | Free | — | 7.0 mi to Custer | — |
| Log Mark Rest Stop Canoe and Fishing Landing | 7.3 | Free | Dollar Lake (water) | 1.8 mi to Branch | — |
| Elk Canoe Campground | 9.6 | Unpriced | Pere Marquette River (river) | 1.3 mi to Branch | — |
| Sulak Campground | 10 | Free | — | — | — |
| Timber Creek Campground | 11 | Fee | — | 8.0 mi to Baldwin | — |
| Bowman Lake Backcountry Campsites | 13 | Free | Bowman Lake (water) | 3.6 mi to Carr | — |
| Bowman Lake Campground | 13 | Unpriced | Bowman Lake (water) | 3.7 mi to Carr | — |
| Bowman Bridge Campground | 14 | Unpriced | Pere Marquette River (river) | 4.7 mi to Baldwin | — |
| Bowman Bridge Campground | 15 | Fee | — | 4.1 mi to Baldwin | — |
| USFS dispersed camp — Mason County, MI | 15 | Free | Cooper Creek (stream) | 6.6 mi to Hamlin Lake | — |
| Lake Michigan Recreation Area | 15 | Fee | — | 9.2 mi to Oak Hill | — |
| Gleason'S Landing Campground | 16 | Fee | — | 3.8 mi to Baldwin | — |
| Bear Track Campground | 16 | Unpriced | Little Manistee River (river) | 5.4 mi to Dublin | — |
| Claybanks Campground | 18 | Unpriced | Pere Marquette River (river) | 2.1 mi to Marlborough | — |
| Marzinski Horse Campground | 19 | Free | Claybank Creek (stream) | 3.4 mi to Udell | — |
| Old Grade Campground | 20 | Unpriced | Little Manistee River (river) | 2.1 mi to Peacock | — |
| Bray Creek State Forest Campground | 20 | Fee | — | 1.9 mi to Baldwin | — |
| Pine Lake Recreation Area | 20 | Unpriced | Pine Lake (water) | 3.0 mi to Wellston | — |
| Leverentz Lake State Forest Campground | 20 | Fee | — | 1.8 mi to Baldwin | — |
| Sand Lake Recreation Area | 20 | Fee | — | 4.1 mi to Wellston | — |
| Sawkaw Lake Campsites | 21 | Free | — | 9.6 mi to Baldwin | — |
| Highbanks Campground | 21 | Fee | — | 8.9 mi to Baldwin | — |
| Condon Lakes West | 21 | Free | Condon Lake (water) | 2.1 mi to Bitely | — |
| Walkup Lake Campground | 22 | Unpriced | Walkup Lake (water) | 2.3 mi to Walgamor Corners | — |
| Nichols Lake Campground | 22 | Fee | — | 11 mi to Walkerville | — |
| Blacksmith Bayou Access | 23 | Fee | — | 3.3 mi to Brethren | — |
| Blacksmith Bayou Campground | 23 | Unpriced | Blacksmith Bayou (water) | 3.1 mi to Brethren | — |
Every distance on this page is a straight line from Custer, 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.