Free camping near Nessen, MI
Within 25 straight-line miles of Nessen, MI there are 31 camps: 11 free, 18 fee, 2 unpriced. The closest is Grass Lake State Forest Campground, 5.1 miles north of town. The closest one our audit calls free is Dispersed camp — Manistee County, MI, 11 miles out.
Who manages them: 14 on Michigan DNR; 14 on the Forest Service; 3 on an agency our record does not name.
| Camp | Miles | Cost | Water | Nearest town | Season today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grass Lake State Forest Campground | 5.1 | Fee | — | 3.1 mi to Bendon | — |
| Healy Lake State Forest Campground | 8.4 | Fee | — | 4.6 mi to Copemish | — |
| Platte River State Forest Campground | 10 | Fee | — | 2.5 mi to Honor | — |
| Veterans Memorial State Forest Campground | 10 | Fee | — | 3.7 mi to Honor | — |
| Dispersed camp — Manistee County, MI | 11 | Free | Manistee River (river) | 2.4 mi to Marilla | — |
| Dispersed camp #2 — Manistee County, MI | 11 | Free | Eddington Creek (stream) | 2.4 mi to Marilla | — |
| Seaton Creek Recreation Area | 12 | Fee | — | 5.6 mi to Mesick | — |
| Lake Dubonnet State Forest Campground | 12 | Fee | — | 2.7 mi to Hardwood Acres | — |
| Lake Dubonnet Trail Camp | 12 | Fee | — | 2.4 mi to Hardwood Acres | — |
| Dispersed camp — Wexford County, MI | 13 | Free | Anderson Creek (stream) | 3.7 mi to Sherman | — |
| Lake Ann State Forest Campground | 13 | Fee | — | 0.5 mi to Maple Grove | — |
| Red Bridge Access | 16 | Free | — | 6.8 mi to Wellston | — |
| Baxter Bridge State Forest Campground | 17 | Fee | — | 6.6 mi to Kingsley | — |
| Government Landing Site 21 | 17 | Free | Manistee River (river) | 5.1 mi to Garletts Corner | — |
| Government Landing Sites | 17 | Free | Manistee River (river) | 5.0 mi to Wellston | — |
| Government Landing | 18 | Free | Manistee River (river) | 4.7 mi to Wellston | — |
| Sawdust Hole River Access | 18 | Free | Manistee River (river) | 3.6 mi to Wellston | — |
| Government Landing | 18 | Free | Manistee River (river) | 4.7 mi to Wellston | — |
| Government Landing | 18 | Free | Manistee River (river) | 4.6 mi to Wellston | — |
| Garey Lake Trail Camp | 18 | Fee | — | 5.9 mi to Lake Ann | — |
| Garey Lake State Forest Campground | 18 | Fee | — | 5.7 mi to Lake Ann | — |
| Blacksmith Bayou Campground | 20 | Unpriced | Blacksmith Bayou (water) | 3.1 mi to Brethren | — |
| Blacksmith Bayou Access | 20 | Fee | — | 3.3 mi to Brethren | — |
| Arbutus Lake State Forest Campground | 20 | Fee | — | 6.2 mi to Kingsley | — |
| Peterson Bridge Campground | 22 | Fee | — | 4.8 mi to Caberfae | — |
| Scheck's Place State Forest Campground | 22 | Fee | — | 5.5 mi to Kingsley | — |
| Old US- 131 State Forest Campground | 22 | Fee | — | 5.6 mi to Manton | — |
| Scheck's Place Trail Camp | 23 | Fee | — | 5.8 mi to Kingsley | — |
| Pine Lake Recreation Area | 23 | Unpriced | Pine Lake (water) | 3.0 mi to Wellston | — |
| Sand Lake Recreation Area | 25 | Fee | — | 4.1 mi to Wellston | — |
| Marzinski Horse Campground | 25 | Free | Claybank Creek (stream) | 3.4 mi to Udell | — |
Every distance on this page is a straight line from Nessen, 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.