Free camping near Rose, MI
Within 25 straight-line miles of Rose, MI there are 32 camps: 9 free, 16 fee, 7 unpriced. The closest is Island Lake Recreation Area, 6.3 miles north of town. The closest one our audit calls free is Luzerne Trail Camp, 14 miles out. Today's season read covers 2 of them: 2 open, 0 closed, 0 worth a call.
Who manages them: 25 on the Forest Service; 7 on Michigan DNR.
| Camp | Miles | Cost | Water | Nearest town | Season today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Island Lake Recreation Area | 6.3 | Fee | — | 6.3 mi to Rose | — |
| Ambrose Lake State Forest Campground | 7.0 | Fee | — | 7.0 mi to Rose | — |
| Wagner Lake Recreation Area | 9.3 | Fee | — | 7.5 mi to Mio | — |
| Mack Lake Orv Campground | 11 | Fee | — | 7.0 mi to Mio | — |
| Meadows Orv Campground | 14 | Fee | — | 11 mi to Mio | — |
| Luzerne Trail Camp | 14 | Free | — | 2.2 mi to Luzerne | — |
| River Dune Backcounty Group Campsite | 16 | Free | Loud Creek (stream) | 1.7 mi to Mio | — |
| River Dune Campground | 16 | Unpriced | Au Sable River (stream) | 1.6 mi to Mio | — |
| Au Sable Loop Campground | 16 | Unpriced | Au Sable River (stream) | 1.4 mi to Mio | — |
| Meadow Springs Campground | 16 | Unpriced | Cauchy Creek (stream) | 2.7 mi to Mio | — |
| South Branch Trail Campground | 16 | Unpriced | South Branch River (stream) | 2.2 mi to The Jackpines | — |
| Meadow Springs Backcountry Campsites | 16 | Free | — | 3.4 mi to Mio | — |
| Mckinley Horse Trail Campground | 17 | Free | Au Sable River (river) | 1.8 mi to McKinley | — |
| Mio Pond State Forest Campground and Group Camp | 17 | Fee | — | — | Open |
| Cathedral Pines Backcountry Group Campsite | 17 | Free | Glennie Creek (stream) | 3.2 mi to McKinley | — |
| Cathedral Pines Campground | 17 | Unpriced | Glennie Creek (stream) | 3.4 mi to McKinley | — |
| Rollways Recreation Area Campground | 17 | Fee | — | 11 mi to Sand Lake | — |
| Buttercup Backcountry Campsites | 18 | Free | Ninemile Creek (stream) | 1.1 mi to McKinley | — |
| Buttercup Campground | 18 | Unpriced | Ninemile Creek (stream) | 1.2 mi to McKinley | — |
| Bear Island Primitive Campsite | 18 | Free | Au Sable River (river) | 2.4 mi to McKinley | — |
| Bear Island Backcountry Campsites | 18 | Free | — | 13 mi to Mio | — |
| Gabions Campground | 19 | Fee | — | 15 mi to Mio | — |
| Parmalee Bridge State Forest Campground and Canoe Camp | 20 | Fee | — | 7.3 mi to Mio | Open |
| Horseshoe Lake Campground | 21 | Unpriced | Horseshoe Lake (water) | 2.6 mi to Cheviers | — |
| Canoe Harbor State Forest Campground and Canoe Camp | 22 | Fee | — | 10 mi to Roscommon | — |
| Hoist Lakes Backcountry Campsites | 23 | Free | Hoist Lakes (water) | 5.2 mi to Curran | — |
| Rainbow Bend State Forest Campground and Canoe Camp | 23 | Fee | — | 13 mi to Mio | — |
| Round Lake Recreation Area Campground | 23 | Fee | — | 0.8 mi to Sand Lake | — |
| Muskrat Lake State Forest Campground | 24 | Fee | — | 7.8 mi to Mio | — |
| White Pine Canoe Camp | 24 | Fee | — | 12 mi to Grayling | — |
| Au Sable River Backcountry Campsites | 24 | Fee | — | 7.6 mi to Sand Lake | — |
| Monument Campground | 24 | Fee | — | 7.6 mi to Sand Lake | — |
Every distance on this page is a straight line from Rose, 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.