Old Grade Campground
Located on the Little Manistee River, this campground is completely surrounded by National Forest System land. There is a short interpretive hiking trail with foot bridges from the campground through a hemlock and birch forest. The campground is loctated near wetlands and many fields, making it an excellent area to view wildlife. Canoeing is not recommended on this portion of the river as it is very shallow, however, this area is popular with angerls seeking trout. Map: This brochure is set to print on 8.5x11 paper, landscape (wide) orientation.
More like this: first-come in Michigan · tent only in Michigan
Amenities & rules
| Equipment | Tents |
| Fees | Camping (per night): Single Site: $30.00. Day Use (per person) Per Day: $7.00. Extra Vehicle: $10.00 |
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Closed for the season. Forest Service sites close for the season; check the official page for the reopening date. |
| Season | April 29 to September 6 |
| Forest | Huron-Manistee National Forests |
| Fees | Camping (per night): Single Site: $30.00. Day Use (per person) Per Day: $7.00. Extra Vehicle: $10.00 |
| Rules | As a visitor to the National Forest, you are asked to follow certain rules designed to protect the Forest, natural resources and to provide for public safety of visitors. These rules are available to you on-line or at any office of the Huron-Manistee National Forests. Please take time to read and understand them. General Topic orders apply across the Forests. |
Weather by month
Getting there
| Coordinates | 44.0608° N, 85.8516° W · Directions ↗ |
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 12.2 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Outdoor gear ↗ | 33.6 mi |
| RV sales & service | Silver Lake RV Rental ↗ | 41.3 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Trails nearby
- under 0.1 miOld Grade1.4 mi trail · hiking, bike
- 1.2 miWard Smt Busn Spur Dnr35 ↗5.7 mi trail · snowmobile, snowshoe, ski
- 1.9 miWard Hills-Irons Smt Dnr3621.1 mi trail · snowmobile, snowshoe, ski
- 2 miWard Hills Smt Cutacross Dnr362 mi trail · snowmobile, snowshoe, ski
- 2.1 miWard Area Smt Dnr3401.1 mi trail · snowmobile, snowshoe, ski
- 2.6 miMcCct- Bwc ↗82.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 1 more
Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.
Other campgrounds nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Idlewild Historic DistrictHistoric district · Idlewild · 12.2 mi
- John and Katharine Tunkun Podjun FarmHistoric district · Ellsworth · 12.7 mi
- Marlborough Historic DistrictHistoric district · Marlborough · 13.8 mi
Guidebooks for Michigan
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Reference
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to camp at Old Grade Campground?
Camping (per night): Single Site: $30.00. Day Use (per person) Per Day: $7.00. Extra Vehicle: $10.00
Source: Forest Service
Is Old Grade Campground open right now?
Closed for the season as of Oct 26, 2026. Season April 29 to September 6.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Old Grade Campground have?
20 sites.
Source: Forest Service
Can I bring an RV to Old Grade Campground?
Old Grade Campground is listed for tents only.
Source: Forest Service
What if Old Grade Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Sand Lake Campground (8.4 mi), Peterson Bridge (10.3 mi), and Timber Creek Campground (10.6 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby