4
Pull-thru
USFSHuron-Manistee National Forests · Michigan
Ausable River Camping
Overview AuSable River Dispersed Camping is a unique series of 102 individually designated single-family campsites on a 55-mile stretch of the lovely AuSable River.
Sites102101 reservable
Elev.948ft
Comf.May-Oct6 months
Max rig40 ft4 pull-thru
Electricnonesites
From Traverse City2h02real road time
The honest read
Synthesized from
RIDB · Open-Meteo
OSM · OSRM
Updated 2026-05-27
RIDB · Open-Meteo
OSM · OSRM
Updated 2026-05-27
At 948 ft, Ausable River Camping has a 6-month comfortable window (May-Oct). Winter nights average around 14°F, so the shoulder seasons turn cold fast. 102 sites total: 101 reservable and 1 first-come, first-served. Of the sites, 4 pull-through, and the longest takes a 40-ft rig. Within about 4 miles: 1 named hiking route, 1 peak, lake or river access.
The campground at a glance
01 · CHARACTER
Reads strongest on reservability and shade. Softest on roomy sites.
Six axes, each scored relative to every other federal campground in the region: quiet (miles to a major road), cool (elevation), roomy (average site spacing), shade, RV-fit (longest rig), and how reservable it is. All six come from data, nothing hand-tuned.
When to go
02 · CLIMATE
avg highavg lowfrost-freedriest · Nov
May-Oct
Comfortable window: nights stay above 35°F, days below 90°F.
75%
Of summer weekend-days are dry.
May 6
Last spring frost; first fall frost Oct 25.
60°F
Average July low.
Getting there
03 · ACCESS
01
Traverse City
87 mi
2h02
02
Grand Rapids
187 mi
3h35
03
Detroit
192 mi
3h43
04
Marquette
276 mi
5h35
By drive time
Routed road time (OSRM). Nearest major highway 1.5 mi away.
Picking your site
04 · 102 SITES
Color byShow only
102 mapped sites · dot color = seclusion · click a dot for details. Basemap © OpenStreetMap.
0
Walk-in
0
50-amp
0
Accessible
0
Prime
102
Sites
★ The standout
Site 097C
Foote Pond · shaded.
To neighbor
6140 ft
Type
Standard
What's within four miles
05 · TRAILS · PEAKS · WATER
Trails & Peaks
Named hiking routes
1
Trail segments
95
Peaks
1
Viewpoints
1
Water & Access
Lake / river access
yes
To nearest major road
1.5 mi
Method
We synthesize public data layers: RIDB and Recreation.gov facility and site records, Open-Meteo climate normals, OpenStreetMap roads, trails, and water, OSRM drive times, and USGS elevation. We take no bookings, no ads, and no paid placements. Independence is the entire point.