Where to camp on Michigan rivers ?

garmp1 wrote:
travelnutz: what a supper list. We plan, well are trying, to drive from St. Louis to the UP and camp along the way to and fro in July. Realize this is probably the most crowded time to try this, but you gotta take what you can. Any quick thoughts on which parks to avoid because of crowds? Another concern is we do require electric (medical reasons), but camp out of a B, so size is not a problem. Lake front would be nice, but not required.

thanks

As long as you stay away from the Lake Michigan shoreline you'll probably be OK. It will be very difficult if not impossible to just show up without a reservation and get a site along the Lake Michigan coast; and if you do get one, it will definitely be crowded. Any other areas of Michigan you should be fine except around the July 4th weekend. Any campground around the July 4th weekend will likely need a reservation or you may be out of luck. If you plan ahead and get reservations now, you can probably still get some splendid camping sites all over Michigan.

travelnutz: what a supper list. We plan, well are trying, to drive from St. Louis to the UP and camp along the way to and fro in July. Realize this is probably the most crowded time to try this, but you gotta take what you can. Any quick thoughts on which parks to avoid because of crowds? Another concern is we do require electric (medical reasons), but camp out of a B, so size is not a problem. Lake front would be nice, but not required.

thanks

travelnutz wrote:
Twice as many + as these just a couple miles inland in the U.P. and gobs of State Forest and National forest CG's with most being on water's edges.

Holy smokes, Travelnutz!!Thanks!!

OK... so maybe I,m being a chicken $*%#. I'll take your advice and just go camping, like I used to.

I was beginning to think that from now on I was destined to stay in resorty type places with my RV. Not that there's anything wrong with that...LOL. The one thing I can't bring my self to do is hang party lights from my awning...but I was looking at them at Wallmart.. my how things change!

Thanks again, I feel better.

No substitute for just slamming the trunk so to speak and hitting the asphalt. Get out there and check out the parks in an area that interests you.

If you drive down a dead end, you'll have to back up till you hit a cross street, back into that street just like it was a camp site, and then pull out going the other way.

Twice as many + as these just a couple miles inland in the U.P. and gobs of State Forest and National forest CG's with most being on water's edges.

U.P. North Shoreline CG's

To name a few in each area on the 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.

5 miles west of Brimley is Bay Mills CG and also the big casino 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



South side of the U.P. shoreline CGs list:

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.

brebar,

Here are the lists I made again. However the lists haven't been updated in over 3 years now so there may be more or some changes. Sorry it took a while to find them again as I have 6 puters I use here at home and had to do some searching.



CG's on Lake Michigan waters on the west side of the Stateof Michigan starting at the Big Mac Bridge (The Straits) Mackinaw City and going south to the Indiana border:

Wildernss State Park west of Mackinaw City. 2 CG's.

Petoskey State Park - between Petoskey and Harbor Springs, MI.

Magnus Park - small - behind the hospital complex on the lake.

Fishermans Island State Park - just south of Charlevoix, MI.

Barnes County Park - in eastport, MI - nice place.

Traverse City State Park - large - in Traverse City.

Leelanau State Park - north of northport on the point.

D H Day - was the first Michigan State park getting close to a hundred years ago now. Today, it's part of the Sleeping Bear National Park.

Platte River CG - in the Sleeping Bear NP - can walk or drive to the best beaches - not that far. Excellent CG and area.

Sunset Valley Resort - small - on M-22 north of Arcadia, MI.

Orchard beach State Park - north side of Manistee, MI.

Douglas Park CG - in Manistee.

Lake Michigan Reacreation Area & CG - Between Manistee & Ludington, MI.

Ludington State Park - north of Ludington - end of M-115 going north off US -10.

Buttersville Park & CG - south of Ludington on the peninsula.

Whispering Surf CG - north of Pentwater, MI on business US-31.

Charles Mears State Park in Pentwater.

Timber Ridge CG - between Pentwater & Silver Lake.

3 more at Silver Lake behind the sandune.

Claybanks Township park CG - north of Montague, MI.

Meinert Park CG - north of Montague.

Pioneer County Park CG - north of North Muskegon, MI.

Muskegon State Park - couple miles south of muskegon SP - also has the Channel Unit CG.

P J Hoffmaster State Park - between Muskegon and Grand Haven, MI - huge park.

Grand Haven State Park - in Grand Haven - superb sunsets and so much to do - Michigan's most popular State Park.

Christian Conference CG - 2 miles south of Grand Haven.

Holland State Park - north side of Holland - 2 units

Lake Park Trailer Resort - between Saugatuck & South Haven, MI.

Singing SandsRV Park - north side of South Haven.

Van Buren State Park - south of South Haven.

Weko Beach CG - Bridgeman, MI

Warren Dunes State Park - Bridgeman.

A lot more CG's on water within 5 miles of the Lake Michigan Shoreline also. Even more that are not directly on water.
The total list is very very lengthy.

Next post will be those in the U.P. on the shoreline.

Since you live in Michigan your library may have books about camping in Michigan as well as books about hiking and fishing. Check them out.

Your best bet might be the state forest campgrounds. Scout out Canoe Harbor, Parmalee Bridge and Rainbow Bend CGs to see if you're comfortable driving your rig in there and if the water looks promising.

Farther upstream near where you were, in a pinch you might be able to stay at Shupac Lake (1/2 mile from the river) and still fish familiar holes.

I'm quite certain you could fit in at Alcona Park located on the Alcona Dam Pond, and drive a short distance to access more suitable river sections. Alcona Park is quite large and has developed sites on the east side of the pond as well as rustic sites on the west side. If nothing else, this might be a great place from which to do your scouting run.

There are a couple of SF CGs on the upper Manistee, too. Not that far from where you'll be looking.

2gypsies wrote:
Whether it's a state forest campground, national forest, county or private park, all you have to do is call and see about the site sizes and access road.

For national forest here is the site we used a lot for our 40' motorhome:

Dow's National Forest Reference

Thanks for the link, very helpful!