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Ausable River Camping
FSU.S. Forest Service — OSCODA · Michigan · Huron-Manistee National Forests
| Agency | FSU.S. Forest Service |
|---|---|
| Area | Huron-Manistee National Forests |
| Location | OSCODA · Michigan · Huron-Manistee National Forests · 44.65111, -84.09944 · Map |
| Sites | 101 public sites counted from the federal listing — 46 standard nonelectric; 40 boat in; 15 walk to |
| Getting a site | Reservable — the federal listing marks this campground as taking reservations. Some sites or seasons may still be first-come; the listing’s own words are below. |
| Hookups | Electric at 0 of 101 sites Water hookups at 0 of 101 sites Sewer hookups at 0 of 101 sites Full hookups (all three at one site) at 0 of 101 sites Counted site by site from affirmative reports in the federal record. A site with no report is not counted either way. |
| Max RV length | Longest reported site fits 40 ft Sites that fit at least — 25 ft: 22 sites · 30 ft: 8 sites · 35 ft: 1 sites · 40 ft: 1 sites |
| Months open | Not in federal data — the federal listing does not publish a season for this campground. Check the official description below or Recreation.gov. |
| Fees | Not reported — the federal listing carries no fee description for this campground. |
| Check-in / out | In 12:00 PM · Out 12:00 PM (most common in the listing) |
| Pets | Allowed at 102 sites, as reported |
| Accessibility | N |
| Amenities, as reported | Vault toilets |
| Phone | 989-362-8961 |
Check availability & book on Recreation.gov →
This site takes no reservations and shows no live availability. Source: Recreation.gov (RIDB export pulled November 5, 2026); this listing was last updated in the federal record on 2026-06-27.
From the official listing
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. All campsites are within Alcona and Iosco Counties in Michigan.
These rustic sites are divided into sections near Alcona Pond, the AuSable Semi-Primitive Non-Motorized Area, Loud Pond, Five Channels Pond, Cooke Pond, Foote Pond and Lower Ausable. Each are ideal for family camping, with opportunities for fly fishing, swimming, canoeing and bird watching. Recreation Both river and lake fishing are available for perch, bass and pike walleye. One recommended spot is the Whirlpool Angler access point. All sites are also near the River Road National Scenic Byway, which offers wonderful views of the river valley.
The campground has boat-in camping, and canoe rentals are available in Glennie, Hale, Mio and Oscoda. Facilities All sites are primitive with no drinking water, toilets or trash removal. Campers are expected to bring plenty of water, portable toilets and garbage bags. Parking aprons are dirt or gravel. Natural Features Campsites sit on bluffs that range from five to 300 feet above the waterline of the lower AuSable River. Depending on the site, access to the river may be difficult due to steep or eroding slopes.
The AuSable River meanders across 138 miles of Michigan and flows into the great lake, Lake Huron.
Directions, from the listing
Designated campsites are spread along 55 miles of river shoreline between the AuSable River Access at 4001 Bridge (7 miles northwest of Glennie, MI) to near the Whirlpool AuSable River Access (4 miles west of Oscoda, MI).
For more information on specific campsites, click here .
Nearest federal campgrounds
0 mi straight-line · Mio MichiganFSU.S. Forest ServiceMack Lake ORV Campground
5 mi straight-line · Mio MichiganFSU.S. Forest ServiceWagner Lake (MI)
7 mi straight-line · Mio MichiganFSU.S. Forest ServiceChimney Loop Campground
7 mi straight-line · Mio MichiganFSU.S. Forest ServiceIsland lake (MI)
10 mi straight-line · Mio Michigan
Trip Card — Ausable River Camping
OSCODA · Michigan · Huron-Manistee National Forests
| Agency | FS · U.S. Forest Service |
|---|---|
| Location | OSCODA · Michigan · Huron-Manistee National Forests |
| Fees | Not reported in the federal data |
| Getting a site | Reservable |
| Hookups | None reported |
| Max RV | Up to 40 ft |
| Months open | Not in federal data |
| Sites | 101 sites |
Book: recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/234130 · Source: Recreation.gov, pulled November 5, 2026. Facility details come from federal recreation data and may be out of date — this site takes no reservations and shows no live availability; confirm details and book through Recreation.gov or the managing agency.