Laurel Lake Campground provides picturesque campsites and a boat landing on a major chain of lakes, all beneath a stand of towering pines. It fills to capacity on some holiday weekends, but typical weekends you'll find an open site without needing to reserve ahead.
The campground has a notable recent history. It would likely not be open today but for the wisdom of elected officials in the Town of Three Lakes. In 2015, the town stepped in to save this campground from being shuttered when the national forest published plans to close it and a dozen or so other campgrounds due to budget cuts. Most other campgrounds closed that year remain closed six years later. Laurel Lake Campground endures as a success story of collaboration benefiting visitors and the local economy alike.
On a chilly mid-August Friday night the campground had four campsites vacant; Saturday night just two sites went unoccupied. The property appears to have a healthy level of use. Onsite hosts were polite and helpful, facilities were clean. Fees are reasonable at $15/night for 2021.
The campground lacks a beach or swimmable lake frontage of any sort. A number of swimming spots can be found within a short drive or modest bike ride. Sevenmile and Franklin Lakes are good options. There's also a beach in downtown Three Lakes.
Though I'd typically choose a campground with swimmable shoreline, the scenery and solitude at Laurel make for a great experience regardless.