Camping in Northern Michigan

Camping in northern Michigan is a great way to experience a fun-filled vacation. There are national, state and privately-owned and operated campgrounds in Michigan. What a wonderful way to enjoy family time; travel in a beautiful state, site-see, hike, and glimpse many natural wonders all at an affordable price!

Michigan has 3,200 miles of fresh water shoreline, the longest in the United States! There are 98 state parks, five national parks, plus privately-owned campgrounds and RV parks.

Camping is not allowed on Mackinac Island, however you will find a few campgrounds nearby on the mainland.

Our favorite campground near Mackinac Island is Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping which is just two miles south of Mackinaw City, Michigan on US-23. They offer 600 camp sites, RV sites, cabins and cottages with bathrooms and small kitchens. Marcia’s cousin stayed in a lakefront cabin with her husband and two sons and they had a fabulous time. The camp has one-mile of Lake Huron shoreline which the boys loved to explore. Amenities abound at Mill Creek including a heated pool, basketball court, 18-hole golf course and a camp store with an arcade. There is something for everyone!

Camping is a great way to enjoy a pet friendly vacation. Spoil your dog with pet supplies from PetCareRx and spend less with us.

St. Ignace is home to the Straits State Park. It is a great choice if you want a first-rate view of the Mackinac Bridge and all the boat traffic. The views are breathtaking at night when the bridge is illuminated. This park has 255 camp sites.

3 National Parks offer camping in northern Michigan

• Isle Royale National Park is located on Lake Superior. It is the only island national park in the United States; and, like Mackinac Island, there are no cars! It is a remote and unspoiled pristine wilderness that really challenges day and overnight hikers. You must take a boat or a seaplane to get to Isle Royale. Make reservations as early as possible for this park is extremely popular.
• Sleeping Bear Dunes is located 25 miles west of Traverse City, Michigan on the Lake Michigan shoreline. There are many camping areas, some lakeshore sites and many additional campgrounds in the area. The dunes are beautiful and great fun to play on; they are guaranteed to bring out the child in everyone who visits.
• Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in Michigan’s upper peninsula has magnificent limestone cliffs that rise out of Lake Superior, the largest of the Great Lakes. The views along this shoreline are spectacular. There are drive-in campgrounds as well as backcountry camping.

State Park camping reservations can be made one year in advance for cabins and six months in advance for campsites. You may call 1-800-447-2757 for same day reservations.






Insider Tip: Camping in northern Michigan is an increasingly popular way to enjoy vacation time. Make reservations well in advance to secure the camp site of your choice. And don’t forget the marshmallows for the campfire!

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