Ausable River Camping
Huron-Manistee National Forests — lakeside, fishing
Location: OSCODA, MI, MI
Price: From $10 per night
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (484 reviews)
Season: May through October
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.
Cell coverage (FCC estimate): strong signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas. Best carrier: Verizon. Verizon 4G: 100%. AT&T 4G: 100%. T-Mobile 4G: 100%.
Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Drinking Water, Fishing
Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/ausable-river-camping to be notified when sites open up.
102 rustic campsites spread across 55 miles of AuSable River shoreline offer excellent opportunities for fly fishing and canoeing in a dispersed camping setting. This federal campground is ideal for family camping with direct river access.
Wildlife alert: Kirtland's Warbler observed in the area—a rare and protected species. Also expect North American Porcupines and Common Raccoons; secure food and trash accordingly.
Insider tips for Ausable River Camping: Book early—this is a popular federal campground with 102 sites across 55 miles of river Bring a self-contained RV; there are no hookups available at most sites Campsites are divided into seven sections (Alcona Pond, Semi-Primitive Non-Motorized Area, Loud Pond, Five Channels Pond, Cooke Pond, Foote Pond, Lower AuSable)—research which section matches your activity goals
Skip Ausable River Camping if: You need RV hookups—no hookups are available. You're planning to visit outside May-October—campground is closed seasonally.
Best time to visit Ausable River Camping: May-October — Campground operates seasonally during this period only, as stated in verified data.
Nearby campgrounds: Au Sable Loop Campground (Mio, MI), Mack Lake Orv Campground (Mio, MI), Wagner Lake (Mi) (Mio, MI), Chimney Loop Campground (Mio, MI).
Cell Phone Coverage at Ausable River Camping
Cell signal at Ausable River Camping (OSCODA, MI): strong overall signal based on FCC broadband data. Best carrier: Verizon.
- Verizon 4G LTE: 100% coverage · Verizon 5G: 100%
- AT&T 4G LTE: 100% coverage · AT&T 5G: 100%
- T-Mobile 4G LTE: 100% coverage
Coverage data source: FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC). Actual signal may vary due to terrain, tree cover, and distance from towers. Camper reports are more reliable than coverage maps in remote areas.
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.
Verified facts
RIDB / Recreation.gov official databaseAmenities
RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verifiedStraight talk
CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reportsKnown issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.
Insider tips & when to go
CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entryBook early
this is a popular federal campground with 102 sites across 55 miles of river
Bring a self-contained RV; there are no hookups available at most sites
Campsites are divided into seven sections (Alcona Pond, Semi-Primitive Non-Motorized Area, Loud Pond, Five Channels Pond, Cooke Pond, Foote Pond, Lower AuSable)
research which section matches your activity goals
Campground operates seasonally during this period only, as stated in verified data
Things to do nearby
RIDB /activities /recareas + intelConditions today
LiveCell signal
FCC BDC · quarterly datasetFCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal. Best carrier: Verizon.
Wildlife nearby
iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 kmLocation
Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Getting there →
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 .
Campground entrance
Google Maps APICommunity
#community · posts, photos & Q&A · AI-moderated (Claude Vision)Pro tips
- Book on recreation.gov exactly 6 months ahead at 10am ET — Huron-Manistee National Forests fills fast in peak season.
- Check current road conditions at Huron-Manistee National Forests before arrival — seasonal closures common.
Frequently asked questions
RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakableHow much does Ausable River Camping cost per night?+
What season is Ausable River Camping open?+
Does Ausable River Camping have hookups?+
What is the maximum RV length at Ausable River Camping?+
How do I make reservations at Ausable River Camping?+
What is the cell service like at Ausable River Camping?+
What season is Ausable River Camping open, and what are check-in times?+
●Data sources on this page
CamperWatch never fabricates data. Where data is unavailable, it is not shown.
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