State Forest · Michigan
Arbutus Lake State Forest Campground
State Forest · Michigan, United States
- Sites
- 24
- Hookups
- 24 no hookups
- Season
- Year-round
- Cost
- $20 per night; a Recreation Passport is required on the vehicle
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Showers
- No
- Boat launch
- Yes
- Elevation
- 958 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 4
- Cell coverage
- T-Mobile weak · AT&T weak · Verizon good (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Phone
- 231-922-5270
About
Just 20 minutes from downtown Traverse City and among a hilly hardwood forest of beech and maple, this rustic campground sits along the northwest shore of Arbutus Lake #4. There are 24 sites (12 are small-to-medium sites for trailer use and 11 are tent-only sites with stair access).
The lake is a string of five small lakes, connected and identified by a number. There is an accessible boat launch. Anglers can expect to catch a variety of fish, including black crappie, bluegill, largemouth bass, Northern pike, rock bass, small mouth bass, sunfish and yellow perch.
The campground is located 10.6 miles southeast of Traverse City via US-31 and Three Mile Road.
24 rustic campsites, $20 a night. Open all year; the road may not be plowed in winter. First come, first served; register at the campground kiosk on the day you arrive. Vault toilets and a hand-pump well for drinking water; no electricity or hookups. One camping unit and six people per site, 15 nights at most. Managed from Traverse City State Park (231-922-5270).
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 26° | 14° | -12° | 44° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 27° | 13° | -6° | 47° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 37° | 23° | 6° | 66° | 11 of 11 |
| April | 51° | 34° | 12° | 80° | 9 of 11 |
| May | 65° | 43° | 28° | 81° | 2 of 11 |
| June | 72° | 53° | 42° | 90° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 79° | 62° | 52° | 90° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 77° | 61° | 53° | 87° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 73° | 56° | 44° | 85° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 55° | 44° | 33° | 72° | 0 of 10 |
| November | 41° | 32° | 12° | 61° | 9 of 10 |
| December | 32° | 24° | 6° | 59° | 10 of 10 |
Mid-month figures from 2016–2026 of daily weather at this spot (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, CC BY 4.0), in °F. Typical is the median; coldest and hottest are the extremes seen.
Nearby campgrounds
- Schecks Place State Forest Campground · State Forest · 4 mi · 30 sites
- Schecks Place Trail Group Campground · State Forest · 4 mi
- Traverse City – Central Loop · Michigan State Parks · 5 mi
- Forks State Forest Campground · State Forest · 6 mi · 9 sites
- Guernsey Lake State Forest Campground · State Forest · 10 mi · 35 sites
All public campgrounds in Michigan · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-09-17. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.