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Ah… Lake Views! 13 Lakeside Campgrounds in Michigan’s UP

| Updated Jun 9, 2024

Longing for lakeviews? Here’s a list of lakeside campgrounds in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula worth visiting…

From the Great Lakes to small inland lakes, Michigan's Upper Peninsula has many wonderful lakeside campgrounds.

We’ve made a list of such campgrounds, from small to big, free to affordable, and rustic to modern. There’s something for everyone to explore all of Northern Michigan’s beauty, including some hidden gems!

Several of these campgrounds are included in our 7 Day Adventure Guide to Michigan’s UP. As one of our favorite camping destinations, it’s a tried-and-true itinerary for RVers wishing to explore the Great Lake State!

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This map was made with Wanderlog, for making itineraries on iOS and Android

Enjoy this interactive map. Just click on a number and explore more about each one below.

13 Lakeside Campgrounds in Upper Peninsula Michigan

We’ve tried to include a varied list for different RV sizes, camping styles (rustic or modern), and destinations. If you have a favorite lakeside campground in Michigan that’s not on the list, please share it in the comments at the end! 

1. Munising Tourist Park

photo of munising tourist park campground in the UP
Our spot at the Munising Tourist Park Campground in the UP

Munising Tourist Park is a modern, pet-friendly campground with free wifi just 3 miles west of Munising. It’s located in the heart of Michigan’s UP on the shores of Lake Superior.

It has a beautiful shoreline as well as mountain hiking, and is close to many tours, including pictured rocks boat rides and shipwreck tours.

It is a large campground with 100 sites but is also a popular campground that may require reservations well in advance.

2. Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

Ah... Lake Views! 13 Lakeside Campgrounds in Michigan’s UP 1

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore has three rustic drive-in campgrounds: Little Beaver Lake (8 sites), Twelvemile Beach (36 sites), and Hurricane River (21 sites). All campgrounds require a reservation.

The Twelvemile Beach Campground has lake views, as it’s located on a high sandy plateau above Twelvemile Beach on Lake Superior. Three sets of stairs lead to the beach.

3. Union Bay Campground

Porcupine Mountains

Union Bay Campground is located on Lake Superior in the Porcupine Mountains. You can hear waves crashing on the rocky shoreline of Union Bay.

Some sites are located on the shore, and a sandy beach is within walking distance. It’s a modern campground with electric, a modern toilet building, boat launch, camp store, and more.

And make sure you read The Best Things to Do in the Porcupine Mountains.

4. Portage Bay State Forest Campground

Portage Bay is a rustic campground that doesn’t have modern amenities, but it does have beautiful views of Lake Michigan. It has 23 sites for small RVs, vault toilets, and hand-pumped water.

Sites are available first-come first-serve with no reservations accepted. It is only open certain times of the year, so be sure to check their opening and closing dates.

5. Indian Lake State Park

There are two campgrounds at Indian Lake State Park, one on the south shore and one on the west shore. The south shore is a modern campground right on the lake with electric hookups, flush toilets, and showers. 

The west shore campground has electricity, vault toilets, and drinking water (no showers or flush toilets) and sites are around a quarter mile from the lake.

6. Hog Island Point State Forest Campground

This Hog Island campground is located 7 mi east of Naubinway via US-2. It’s about an hour from Indian Lake State Park. This is a rustic campground, so you’re boondocking. There are about 50 sites, vault toilets, and potable water from a well.

There’s a small picnic area on the east end of the Hog Island peninsula. It’s mostly rock free and has a sandy bottom for swimming. The rest of the peninsula is rocky. You can walk around it and down the shoreline to the west for miles. Hand pump.


Mike and Jennifer's Official Summer T-Shirts for you to explore

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NEW shirts for Men and Women who love the RV Lifestyle. Lighter fabric and colors for everyone!

The Upper Peninsula in Fall

Michigan's Upper Peninsula is beautiful all year round. But in the fall, it is outrageously gorgeous! We caught the colors at their peak this year.

Come on along as we explore different spots for RV camping and showcase some of the local natural attractions.

Like what you see in these videos? We'd appreciate it if you would Subscribe to our YouTube Channel (easy to do right here) and consider “ringing the bell icon” to be notified of any new video from us. 🙂 Thanks!

7. Big Knob State Forest Campground

About an hour from Indian Lake State Park, is a boondocking spot to check out right on the coast. The Big Knob State Forest Campground is six miles south of US-2.

The first time we came here we were stunned at the beauty of the place and just played there for a couple of hours. Not a soul was there and we had our pick of 23 sites. Several sites backed up to a sandy trail leading to Lake Michigan and one of the longest stretches of wild and undeveloped shoreline we have ever seen on that Great Lake.

8. Twin Lakes State Park

Twin Lakes State Park is located in Michigan’s Copper Country. It’s a 175-acre modern campground located on the southwest shore of Lake Roland. 

The campground has direct access to a number of trails, including the Bill Nicholls Trail. In addition to boating, swimming, and fishing, the park is also ORV-friendly (off-road vehicle friendly). It offers and large network of ORV trails in the vicinity.

9. Lakeshore Park Campground

Ah... Lake Views! 13 Lakeside Campgrounds in Michigan’s UP 3
St. Ignace viewing the bridge.

Lakeshore Park Campground is in St. Ignace, situated along the Mackinac Straits.

It’s a full-service, family-owned RV Park offering 20-30-50 amp electrical service with water and sewer to all RV sites. They are big rig friendly!

Lakeshore Park is a small quiet park, but it’s close to all major attractions and only minutes from downtown St. Ignace. It has beautiful lake views and lake access.

10. Pomeroy Lake Campground

Ottawa National Forest  lakeside
Ottawa National Forest lakeside

Pomeroy Lake Campground is a small, secluded campground with 17 RV sites spaced with natural vegetation for screening. It’s located in the southern half of the Ottawa National Forest with numerous lakefront sites and an adjacent boat launch. 

It’s a rustic campground with only hand-pump water but does have new vault toilets. Each campsite has a table and a fire ring. Campsites are free in the off-season and only a small fee in peak season.

11. Golden Lake Campground

Similarly rugged as Pomeroy, Golden Lake Campground is a small rustic campground with 22 campsites. It has two vault toilets (including 1 accessible), hand-pump water, and a boat ramp.

A windstorm in 2022 took out a lot of the campground’s trees, and there is still lots of downed vegetation. However, the silver lining is every campsite now has a lake view, and sites are free of charge until more vegetation is cleared.

12. Soo Locks Campground

photo of us watching freighters from our campsite at the Soo Locks Campground
That's Jen and me and the dog watching the big lake freighters from our campsite at the Soo Locks Campground in the Michigan UP

Soo Locks Campground is not lakeside. However, we decided to include it on this list because of its neat river-side location on the beautiful St. Mary’s River. 

We love watching the freighters go by here! You can see us and our dog Bo doing just that in a picture featured on the Sault St. Marie website!

The campground offers 100 sites with water and electric. Amenities include a dump station, restrooms, a store, and a game and recreation room. 

You should also check out Sherman Park rustic campground on St. Mary’s River.

13. Sunset Bay RV Resort & Campground

Located directly on the shores of Lake Superior, Sunset Bay RV Resort is one of the oldest continuously operating campgrounds in Michigan's UP. Reviewers describe this private campground as a gem, and a place that deserves more than 5 stars. And we agree!

Sunset Bay has modern facilities, including clean bath houses, laundry, ice, firewood, a dump station, and 30 amp electric and water at all 35 RV sites. But, most importantly, they have incredible views of the most incredible lake in the country!

Explore a hidden gem – Michigan's Upper Peninsula

Ah... Lake Views! 13 Lakeside Campgrounds in Michigan’s UP 4

This ebook is a seven-stop guided exploration of the Michigan UP. We provide a suggested route and itinerary, links to multiple campgrounds and boondocking spots, and the best spots to see along the way. Don’t plan your trip to the Upper Peninsula without it!


You can see ALL our eBooks here, or use the following Quick Links to go straight to what you need!

●    Adirondacks ●    Arizona ●    Colorado  ● Coastal Maine ●    Florida’s Atlantic Coast ●    Florida’s Gulf Coast ●    Florida Keys ●    Great Lakes Shoreline ●    Natchez Trace ●    Southern Utah ●    Upper PeninsulaLower Peninsula ●    Yellowstone ●    Bourbon Trail ●    Yosemite

And MANY of these are BUNDLED together: 

Northeast Bundle
Coastal Maine, Adirondacks

Ultimate Michigan and Great Lakes Bundle – 3 ebooks –
Upper Peninsula, Lower Peninsula, and the Great Lakes Tour

Michigan Bundle
Upper Peninsula, Lower Peninsula

The Great Lakes Adventure Guide Bundle
The Great Lake Shoreline Tour & JUST the Upper Peninsula Guide

Florida Adventure Guide Bundle
Gulf Coast, Atlantic Coast, Keys 

Southwest Adventure Guide Bundle
Arizona, Colorado, Southern Utah) 

Ultimate 7-Day RV Adventure Guide Bundle
Collection 1- our first 10 ebooks (does NOT contain Great Lakes Shoreline, Natchez Trace, The Bourbon Trail, and Yosemite)

We also have a nice collection of ebooks that will help you navigate the RV Lifestyle. 

Like these:

RV Buying SecretsThe Beginner's Guide to Boondocking  – The Ultimate Guide to Cheap or FREE RV Camping SitesBoondocking and Free RV Camping EBOOK BundleWinter CampingNewbie Guide

And ONE PRINT book 🙂 and yes, before you ask, we have plans for MANY more print books.

The Complete Guide to Boondocking – PRINT VERSION
This is the same as the ebook titled The Beginner's Guide to Boondocking but in print.

And while you are exploring all our ebooks – check out the hoodies, T-shirts, Stickers, and mugs in our MERCH Store! You can get to it directly by just going here – SHOP!

Official RV Lifestyle Merch

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Celebrate this camping season with these designs from RV Lifestyle!

Mike Wendland

Published on 2024-06-09

Mike Wendland is a multiple Emmy-award-winning Journalist, Podcaster, YouTuber, and Blogger, who has traveled with his wife, Jennifer, all over North America in an RV, sharing adventures and reviewing RV, Camping, Outdoor, Travel and Tech Gear for the past 12 years. They are leading industry experts in RV living and have written 18 travel books.

6 Responses to “Ah… Lake Views! 13 Lakeside Campgrounds in Michigan’s UP”

June 12, 2024at11:33 am, Susan Mattice said:

I’m really glad you missed some of our favorites! They are already hard enough to get into😃

Reply

June 10, 2024at9:09 am, Rhian Webb said:

We intend to visit Michigan next year. Is September a good month to see the Fall colors?

Reply

July 03, 2023at11:10 am, Jon Hancotte said:

Otsego Lake, while lovely, is not in the UP!🤔😀

Reply

July 03, 2023at5:29 pm, Team RV Lifestyle said:

You are correct! Not sure how that got into that story – thank you!

Reply

June 22, 2023at10:44 pm, Glen Tully said:

Hello,

Are the adventure ebooks, mac book, ipad or iphone compatable?

Thanks,

Reply

June 23, 2023at10:19 am, Team RV Lifestyle said:

Hi Glen – All our travel ebooks are in PDF format so you can read them on your desktop computer, your laptop, your tablets, and your phone- Hope that helps, Team RV Lifestyle

Reply

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