Best Campgrounds in Northern Michigan and western UP

[Sean1980-JAY]

Looking for nice kid friendly camping in northern Michigan and the UP. We are planning a trip this July. We have most of our trip booked. What are other attractions in the UP besides Pictured Rocks,Tahquamenon Falls, Soo locks? Any other must things to do?

 

[redenbacher]

If you're going to the falls, Oswald's Bear Ranch is nearby (Newberry). The state park camgrounds are nice and so is the city park in Gladstone.

 

[sundancer330]

We have stayed at Straits State Park in St Ignace, its a good launch point for Mackinaw island, Soo Locks, Tahquamenon Falls. For Pictured Rocks which is in the middle of know where Munising Tourist Park Campground, its run by the city and has some full hookup sites. The best way to see Pictured Rocks is rent a boat in town and spend the day on Lake Superior if its calm, there is 45 miles of the most beautiful shoreline to investigate, many secluded beaches, waterfalls, etc., or take the tour boat which is a few hour journey. Marquette to the west is home to one the worlds largest wooden domed stadium known to locals as the yooper dome, free to enter and the kids can run around on the football field, shoot some hoops, or kick a soccer ball around. Here is a list of the top ten places to visit in the UP, there are many more depends on how much ground you want to cover in the time you have.

https://www.theodysseyonline.com/10-amazing-places-to-visit-in-the-upper-peninsula

 

[Grumpy]

Mackinaw Mill Creek is a real nice private park. All types of sites, rustic to full hook up. Great views of bridge at night when lit.

 

[Michigan-Traverler]

There is so much to see in the UP. The previous posters have given many of the suggestions I thought of. A couple others would be Fayette State Park and you can get brochures along the way about many water falls. There are a lot of beautiful water falls in the UP if you are up to taking some short hikes, many around Munising. In the northern LP last year we stayed at Burt Lake SP which is very good and took a day and rented a pontoon boat and explored both Burt Lake and Mullett Lake. Burt Lake in by Indian River off 75.

 

[Sean1980-JAY]

Thank you everyone for your responses. It’s all great info. We’ve stayed a few times at Mackinaw Mill Creek it’s a great campground. This year is the first we are staying in the UP. Thanks again for all your comments

 

[DavidJay]

If you are going in July, you are probably too late for popular state parks like Tahquamenon (you might get into the Rivermouth campground). Get on the website right away!

For northern and western U.P., we based at Twin Lakes State Park. We drove over to the Porkies and up to Copper Harbor on day trips.

 

[Bob806]

A little late to this thread, but definitely look into Union Bay CG in the Porkies. Another great stop we discovered was Jack Pine Lodge and CG...basically right in the middle of Munising and Manistique.

 

[Ohiofinlander]

Great Bear Dunes National Park area. West of Traverse City.

 

[Sean1980-JAY]

We leave next Friday for Manistique,MI staying at the city campground with full hookup for a great price!! Then we are headed back down out of the UP to Harrisville for a few days! I can’t wait get out of these 100 degree days in southern Indiana!!

 

[Sean1980-JAY]

We had another great trip to Michigan last week. Manistique city campground is awesome. Everything was clean and everyone was very friendly. We spent 2 days in and around Pictured Rocks national
Lake shore. We had reservations at Harrisville State Park on Wednesday it’s a large state park campground. When we booked site 6 months out it said the site was 25 ft x 50ft. No way in **** was it 25 ft wide. We ended up canceling that and going 20 mins south to Oscoda,Mi at a KOA. It was our first experience with a KOA we had a great time. Had so many amenities for the kids plus you’ve gotta love full hookup on vacation!! The owner was there everyday and was very welcoming. We told him about our trouble at the State Park he ended up knocking $15 a night off our bill. Will definitely visit them again

 

[jasoncw-JAY]

Indian Lake State Park, which is also near Manistique, is very nice. As for northern lower peninsula, I’ve mostly been to state parks. Nice ones are Hoeft near Rogers City, Orchard Beach near Manistee and Ludington. I’m sure there are others, but there are a ton I haven’t visited yet.