0
Pull-thru
USFSHuron-Manistee National Forests · Michigan
Bowman Bridge
Overview Bowman Bridge Campground is perfect for true nature immersion.
Sites1711 reservable
Elev.784ft
Comf.Apr-Oct7 months
Max rig50 ft
Electricnonesites
From Traverse City1h41real 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 784 ft, Bowman Bridge has a 7-month comfortable window (Apr-Oct). Winter nights average around 18°F, so the shoulder seasons turn cold fast. 17 sites total: 11 reservable and 6 first-come, first-served. Within about 4 miles: 1 named hiking route, lake or river access.
The campground at a glance
01 · CHARACTER
Reads strongest on shade and reservability. 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 · Jan
Apr-Oct
Comfortable window: nights stay above 35°F, days below 90°F.
80%
Of summer weekend-days are dry.
May 4
Last spring frost; first fall frost Oct 29.
62°F
Average July low.
Getting there
03 · ACCESS
01
Traverse City
72 mi
1h41
02
Grand Rapids
90 mi
1h49
03
Detroit
224 mi
4h23
04
Marquette
356 mi
7h03
By drive time
Routed road time (OSRM). Nearest major highway 3.9 mi away.
Picking your site
04 · 17 SITES
Color byShow only
17 mapped sites · dot color = seclusion · click a dot for details. Basemap © OpenStreetMap.
0
Walk-in
0
50-amp
0
Accessible
0
Prime
17
Sites
★ The standout
Site 10/11
BOWMAN BRIDGE · shaded.
To neighbor
175 ft
Max rig
50 ft
Type
Standard
What's within four miles
05 · TRAILS · PEAKS · WATER
Trails & Peaks
Named hiking routes
1
Trail segments
28
Water & Access
Lake / river access
yes
To nearest major road
3.9 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.