Experience the Beauty of Michigan Camping
From its stunning Great Lakes coastlines to its vast forests and wilderness areas, Michigan offers diverse landscapes perfect for camping adventures. Pitch your tent at a rustic campground surrounded by tall pines, kayak along remote rivers, or post up your RV at a lakefront park—the camping options in Michigan let you choose your ideal escape.
One of the most popular places to camp in Michigan is Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Located along Lake Michigan in the northwestern Lower Peninsula, Sleeping Bear features towering sand dunes, long stretches of beach, and dense forests. Backcountry campsites situated throughout the dunes and woods allow you to really immerse yourself in the natural setting. Take in views of Glen Lake from an inland campground or listen to the waves crash along Lake Michigan at one of the lakeshore campsites.
For an island camping getaway, reserve a campsite on Beaver Island. The island sits in northern Lake Michigan and offers opportunities for hiking, swimming, kayaking, and taking in panoramic sunsets over the water. Pack your gear and take the ferry over to set up camp along one of Beaver Island’s sandy beaches.
The Porcupine Mountains are another Michigan gem for campers, spanning 60,000 acres across the Upper Peninsula next to Lake Superior. They hold backcountry campsites as well as drive-up sites at Union Bay and Presque Isle for easier access. Sign up for a guided kayak tour along the shoreline or set out hiking to waterfalls that feed into the towering summit cliffs.
From bike-in sites along the Pere Marquette Rail Trail to group camps at the Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness, options for memorable camping excursions abound in Michigan. Whether you prefer to pitch a tent or park an RV, want to relax by a lake or explore dense forests, Michigan’s state and national parks provide the perfect campgrounds to meet your needs.
Bart Humes, our editor, is a seasoned camping and survival enthusiast from Colorado. With expert knowledge in orienteering, fire-starting, and wilderness first aid, Bart’s passion and skills make him a master of the great outdoors.
