Free camping near Traverse, MI

20 camps: 1 free, 19 fee

Within 25 straight-line miles of Traverse, MI there are 20 camps: 1 free, 19 fee. The closest is Arbutus Lake State Forest Campground, 6.6 miles south-east of town. The closest one our audit calls free is Dispersed camp — Wexford County, MI, 21 miles out.

Who manages them: 19 on Michigan DNR; 1 on an agency our record does not name.

All 20, closest first.
Camp	Miles	Cost	Water	Nearest town	Season today
Arbutus Lake State Forest Campground	6.6	Fee	—	6.2 mi to Kingsley	—
Scheck's Place State Forest Campground	10	Fee	—	5.5 mi to Kingsley	—
Scheck's Place Trail Camp	10	Fee	—	5.8 mi to Kingsley	—
Lake Dubonnet Trail Camp	11	Fee	—	2.4 mi to Hardwood Acres	—
Lake Dubonnet State Forest Campground	11	Fee	—	2.7 mi to Hardwood Acres	—
Forks State Forest Campground	11	Fee	—	6.2 mi to South Boardman	—
Lake Ann State Forest Campground	13	Fee	—	0.5 mi to Maple Grove	—
Guernsey Lake State Forest Campground	14	Fee	—	5.8 mi to South Boardman	—
Grass Lake State Forest Campground	16	Fee	—	3.1 mi to Bendon	—
Garey Lake State Forest Campground	17	Fee	—	5.7 mi to Lake Ann	—
Garey Lake Trail Camp	17	Fee	—	5.9 mi to Lake Ann	—
Spring Lake State Forest Campground	18	Fee	—	1.1 mi to Fife Lake	—
Veterans Memorial State Forest Campground	18	Fee	—	3.7 mi to Honor	—
Baxter Bridge State Forest Campground	18	Fee	—	6.6 mi to Kingsley	—
Platte River State Forest Campground	20	Fee	—	2.5 mi to Honor	—
Rapid River Trail Camp	20	Fee	—	1.6 mi to Kalkaska	—
Old US- 131 State Forest Campground	20	Fee	—	5.6 mi to Manton	—
Dispersed camp — Wexford County, MI	21	Free	Anderson Creek (stream)	3.7 mi to Sherman	—
Hopkins Creek State Forest Campground	23	Fee	—	6.3 mi to Manton	—
Hopkins Creek Equestrian State Forest Campground and Trail Camp	24	Fee	—	6.5 mi to Manton	—

Every distance on this page is a straight line from Traverse, 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.