Michigan UP Campgrounds

Texas Roadrunner
I noticed from a previous thread that your DH is an avid golfer. He should be in golfers heaven here in Michigan. (Not so much in the UP though) We have 1047 courses here in the state. The summer climate and abundance of moisture helps to make them some of the best courses in the country. Within 50 miles of Traverse City there are 33 courses. Grand Traverse Resort and Tree Tops in Gaylord have championship courses that are top rated. If he gets to golfing, you may not make it to the UP.

Texas Roadrunner,

Google: state parks in the U.P.

Lots of listings.

Under the google page is DNR - State Forest Campgrounds

About half or more of these are in the U.P.

Some pics and more info at: www.superiortrails.com/up-camping.html

Additional info at: www.exploringthenorth.com/camp/grounds.html

Then there's the national parks and national forests, city and county parks CG's, and tons of privately owned CG's.

If you are going to be in the U.P. or the L.P. of Michigan for over 3 days of using the state parks for daily or the CG's, Buy the annual entry pass and you'll save lots. Camping rates vary at Michigan State Parks depending on their location and the U.P. is the cheapest at approx: no hookups $16 to 30 or 50 amp and very modern bathhouses at generally $23- $26. Last years rate as we camp up there at least 12 days a year and up to about 25 days. L.P. rates are a few dollars more and are usually quite busy to full all the time especially on the Lake Michigan side of the state where we live. Hundreds of thousands of southern states campers and RV'ers all summer and also enough excellent CG's to handle them in Michigan. Thousands of CG's in the state! We haven't been to some of the state parks not mentioned in the U.P. for a few years now so I can't vouch for their present rates. What CG or area depends on what floats your boat of desire. Lots of choices and for all ages and desires.

We have state park favorites up there also. Lower CG at Tahquamenon Falls+++, River mouth CG at Tahquamenon SP south of Paradise++, MI, Muskallonge SP on Lake Superior north of Tahquamenon Falls++, Indian Lake SP CG near Manistique++, Fayette SP down on the peninsula west of Manistique++, Union Bay CG at Porcupine Mts SP++, Fort Wilkins SP at Copper Harbor++, Straits SP at St Ignace++, a couple CG's at Cederville and Hessel area eastern side of the U.P.++ So many nice places and so little time!

Because we live on the shore of Lake Michigan and have for over 70 years with it's gorgeous sunsets constantly and live in a true vacation dreamland, it's not as important to us to camp right on the Great Lakes shore like someone who lives inland or visiting but we still enjoy doing it occasionally during the shoulder season. If we take a CG spot then there's one less for a another visitor so we refrain during the summer season but not in the fall when kids are back in school and the fantastic brilliant irridescent fall colors surround you.

You'll swear when looking at and over one of the Great Lakes that's it the ocean however, it's fresh deep potable clean water without any salt or anything that will bite or sting you. It's the direct drinking water for 50+ million people. Lake Superior is 1333 ft deep and Lake Michigan is 923 ft deep. You'll also see lots of thousand foot+ ships same size as the huge cruiseships.

Enjoy your visit as you'll be back many times like most of the other visitor are.

Wow, thanks to all of you for your help, and hats off to Travelnutz, sooooo much great information. I did try to do a search but guess I was using the wrong wording as I didn't turn up anything. Thank you for all the great effort!

Susan

OK, I had posted this before and here it is again. These are only the CG's directly on 3 of the Great Lakes shoreline and only in the U.P. of Michigan. On Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, and Lake Huron. There are at least 5 times this many inland and/or on inland lakes as Michigan has over 11,000 inland lakes within the state and over 3,200 miles of Great Lakes Shoreline alone. The OP didn't come back on and give his preferences so he'll have to decide which of these may be to his liking. What one person feels is a good or great CG another may feel very differently.

To name a few in each area on the Lake Superior shoreline:

Starting at Sault Ste Marie (The Soo) Is Anne Osborn CG.

A half mile west is The Soo Locks CG.

About 20 mile farther west is Brimley State Park.

Maybe 5 miles west of Brimley is Bay Mills CG.

Up M-123 six miles south of Paradise, MI is The Tahquamenon Falls State Park Rivermouth CG.

North of Newberry, MI is Muskallonge State Park.

West of Muskallonge is Woodland Park CG at Grand Marais, MI

Going west on H-58 is a pretty rustic type CG on Lake Superior

At Munising, MI is Munising City Tourist CG

North on M-28 around the corner is the City Lakeshore CG park.

Half mile west on M-28 is Wandering Wheels Campground.

Next is Bay Furnace (think it's still rustic).

East of US-41 on M-28 is Gitche Gumee Campground.

Baraga State Park at Baraga.

Fort Wilkins State Park at Copper Harbor, MI.

McLain State Park near Houghton, MI.

2 CG's at Ontonagon, MI (can't remember their names but have camped at them).

The 2 Union Bay CG's at The Porcupine Mtns State Park.

Presque Isle CG at The Porcupine Mtns State Park.

Little Girls Point CG, County Rd 505, north of Ironwood, MI

Partial list of those on the Lake Superior side shore. Many more on the Lake Michigan side of the U.P and then there's Several CG's on the Lake Huron side of the Eastern U.P. Near Hessel/Cedarville (The Les Cheneaux Islands area) more commonly known as the "Snows". On the way to Detour Village is a CG on Lake Huron. Also, a nice CG on Drummond Island and a couple near the town of Drummond. The ferry runs all year from Detour and takes MH's and vehicles with big trailers to the island. We've done it several times now.


I gave a partial list on this thread of the CG's on the U.P. Lake Superior Shoreline and now the list of many of the CG's on the U.P. Lake Michigan side shoreline starting at the Wisconsin/Michigan border and going east. The next post will be the CG's on the L.P. West Michigan shoreline on Lake Michigan waters. As usual, there are many many more CG's just within 5 miles of the Great Lakes shoreline within the state of Michigan.

These are on the south side of the U.P. on the Lake Michigan Shoreline. Green Bay is part of Lake Michigan.

Kleinke CG on M-35 (Lakeshore Dr) north of Menominee, MI.

J W Wells State Park on M-35 between Menominee and Escanaba.

O B Fuller County park on M-35.

Gladstone Bay CG in Gladstone, MI.

Vagabond Resort & CG near Gladstone.

Nahma south of US-2 near Nahma.

Fayfette SP - Garden Peninsula - M-183 - very neat place to explore.

CG at Thompson, MI - Co Rd 435 - near Manistique, MI.

Gould City Township Park - south of US-2.

CG near Epoufette - south of US-2 - samll but quaint.

Lakeshore Park CG - west of Saint Ignace, MI. Has a big CG on the other side on US-2.

Straits State Park - upper and lower on right side along the Big Mac Bridge in Saint Ignace, MI. Lake Michigan and Lake Huron basically join eachother under the bridge.

Going east at Saint Ignace it's Lake Huron and the following::

Castle Rock Mackinac Trail CG - north side of Saint Ignace.

Brulee Point CG - South of M-134 close to Hessel, MI.

Cedarville RV CG in Cedarville, MI.

Loons Point CG - just east of Cedarville.

Barefoots Resort & CG - on Hill Island - small but has a nice beach, boat docks, and a launching ramp for the customers use. Even more fun if you have a boat or rent on there. Great Fishing too!

Detour State Park - M134 Detour, MI.

Karen's Cabins & CG at Raber, MI - north of Detour in a very quiet area.

Straits State Park - upper and lower on right side along the Big Mac Bridge in Saint Ignace, MI. Lake Michigan and Lake Huron basically join eachother under the bridge.

Going east at Saint Ignace it's Lake Huron and the following CG's:

Castle Rock Mackinac Trail CG - north side of Saint Ignace.

Brulee Point CG - South of M-134 close to Hessel, MI.

Cedarville RV CG in Cedarville, MI.

Loons Point CG - just east of Cedarville.

Barefoot's Resort & CG - on Hill Island - small but has a nice beach, boat docks, and a launching ramp for the customers use. Even more fun if you have a boat or rent on there. Great Fishing too!

Detour State Park - M134 Detour, MI.

Karen's Cabins & CG at Raber, MI - north of Detour in a very quiet area.

The State Forest campgrounds along the south shore of Lake Superior are great. Can be tight in some with some rigs.

They've already mentioned all my favorites except one: McLain State Park north of Houghton. You can't go wrong with the suggestions given so far.

We love Brimley, Muskallonge State Parks. If you don't mind a drive, Copper Harbor is beautiful (Ft. Wilkins). River Mouth Campground at the Falls is also a favorite. There are also beautiful state forest campgrounds such as Hogs Island (right on Lake Michigan). Wilderness State Park, Aloha, and N. Higgins as well as Hartwick Pines are also beautiful below the bridge. The farther north you go, the easier it will be to make reservations at this point for this summer. If you have any specific questions or a specific area of the U.P. you'd like more info. on, please ask!

We're into rustic campgrounds. We found this National Forest campground last fall when we were in the UP and loved it. Ended up spending 4 days there.

Pete's Lake NF Campground

Michigamme Shores campground is excellent. Little River Casino also has an outstanding RV Park. GREAT SITES/.

Porcupine Mountains State Park - Seeing the Lake of the Clouds at 6:00 a.m. not to be missed, some real good hiking also, not far to Keweenaw Pennisula and Copper Harbor, Lots of water falls, and the ski jump.

Tahquamenon Falls State Park - Good Hiking, Whitefish Pointe museum, not far to the Soo Locks and Mackinac Island, don't miss Gustafason's "jerky" place in Brevort

Indian Lake State Park - got to go to Fayette, also to Munising to see Pictured Rocks Natl Park, very good hiking in Pictured Rocks NP also.