Nichols Lake South Campground

Huron-Manistee National Forests — lakeside, fishing, hiking

Location: Manistee, MI, MI

Price: From $30 per night

Rating: 4.1 out of 5 (45 reviews)

Season: May through October

Located on the south side of Nichols Lake, the campground and surrounding area offer excellent opportunities for fishing, swimming, picnicking, hiking, camping, or just relaxing.For facility specific information, please call (801) 226-3564.Nichols Lake has 29 family sites on paved spurs. Drinking water, flush toilets, and showers are provided. Each site has a fire pit and picnic table.

Cell coverage (FCC estimate): weak signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas. Best carrier: Verizon. Verizon 4G: 100%. AT&T 4G: 0%. T-Mobile 4G: 0%.

Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Flush Toilets, Drinking Water, Showers, Fishing, Boat Launch

Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/nichols-lake-south-campground to be notified when sites open up.

Nichols Lake South offers excellent fishing and boating opportunities with a paved boat launch, clean facilities including flush toilets and showers, and large well-separated sites with lake views. Google reviewers consistently praise the clean restrooms, maintained grounds, and peaceful forest setting.

Wildlife alert: North American Porcupine, Red-headed Woodpecker, Blue-winged Warbler, Broad-winged Hawk, Common Merganser, Eastern Box Turtle, and Wood Turtle documented in the area.

Insider tips for Nichols Lake South Campground: Book early — this is a popular federal campground Paved roads and site pads are maintained and suitable for long boarding or wheeled recreation Small private beach area available on-site for swimming

Skip Nichols Lake South Campground if: You need RV hookups — no hookups available at most sites; only suitable for self-contained RVs. You plan to camp outside May through October — seasonal operations only. You rely on GPS — Google Maps may not direct you correctly; watch for directional signage.

Best time to visit Nichols Lake South Campground: Early June — Michigan's Free Fishing Day in early June is hosted at this location with Kids Fishing Day Events. May through October — Official operating season.

Nearby campgrounds: Gleasons Landing (BALDWIN, MI), Bowman Bridge (Branch, MI), Hungerford Equestrian Group Campsite (Big Rapids, MI), Pines Point Campground (Mi) (HESPERIA, MI).