State Forest · Michigan
Houghton Lake State Forest Campground
State Forest · Michigan, United States · in Houghton Lake State Forest
- Sites
- 50
- Hookups
- 50 no hookups
- Cost
- $25 per night; a Recreation Passport is required on the vehicle
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Elevation
- 1,165 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 2
- Cell coverage
- T-Mobile weak · AT&T good · Verizon good (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Phone
- 989-821-6125
About
This semi-modern campground, located on the northern shore of Houghton Lake, offers excellent fishing opportunities. Houghton Lake is Michigan's largest inland lake totaling more than 20,000 acres in size. Amenities include a modern restroom building (no showers). The sites are suitable for tent and small trailer use.
The campground is located 8 miles north of Houghton Lake via West Houghton Lake Drive and Old US Highway 27.
50 semi-modern campsites, $25 a night. Closed November to April. 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 North Higgins Lake State Park (989-821-6125).
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 26° | 12° | -11° | 40° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 26° | 13° | -9° | 47° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 38° | 23° | 7° | 64° | 11 of 11 |
| April | 53° | 34° | 14° | 80° | 8 of 11 |
| May | 67° | 45° | 27° | 81° | 2 of 11 |
| June | 73° | 54° | 43° | 91° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 79° | 62° | 54° | 95° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 77° | 60° | 52° | 87° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 73° | 55° | 42° | 84° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 54° | 42° | 29° | 73° | 2 of 10 |
| November | 39° | 30° | 14° | 58° | 10 of 10 |
| December | 32° | 23° | 3° | 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
- South Higgins Lake – East Campground · Michigan State Parks · 5 mi
- Reedsburg Dam State Forest Campground · State Forest · 5 mi · 47 sites
- North Higgins Lake – East Campground · Michigan State Parks · 8 mi
- North Higgins Lake – West Campground · Michigan State Parks · 8 mi
- 4 Mile Trail Camp · State Forest · 16 mi
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.