Nestled on six miles of immaculate Lake Michigan shoreline, Fisherman’s Island State Park is a 2,600+ acre camping haven, located just outside downtown Charlevoix, MI. Thanks to low lake levels the island from the park’s namesake no longer exists. Over the course of 25 years, water fluctuations lead to the natural formation of a tombolo which now connects the island to mainland Michigan. 

The park itself consists of 80 homey campsites, 15 of which are nestled right on the dunes dotting the shoreline. Luckily, the campsites have lots of amenities. Many offer private, secluding camping right on the shore of Lake Michigan. Additionally, fires are allowed here, with firewood available as well. Furthermore, pets are permitted if on leash. Even better, full hookups are available for RVers. There are also showers, bathrooms, WiFi, public trash, and more. 

As a result of its wet geography, this region is known for its lush wildflower population. Vibrant flocks of Cardinal Flower, Beach Pea, Broadleaf Arrowhead, and many more varieties can be found all over the park’s rolling dunes and under the aspen and birch trees found scattered throughout. 

Even though there aren't specified recreation areas here, you really don’t need them. That’s because the campsites themselves are extremely well maintained, private, and perfect for anyone looking for a short trip away from urban life. Rustic camping is $16/night, and there is a 15 day consecutive night limit. That being said, MI residents can save money by purchasing a recreation passport during license plate renewal, which grants access to all MI state parks for free. Campsite reservations can be made 24/7 up to 6 months in advance on the Michigan State Park Website.

Fisherman's Island State Park Campground

Top three things that are best about this state camp ground are as listed:

1. Camp sites are huge. Plenty of room for multiple tents. Also all have trees for shade or a hammock. 

2. Camp sites are NOT on top of each other. Usually you only get this in the backcountry. I was very impressed for rustic camping I had privacy and plenty of room. 

3. The beach was fantastic. Lovely shoreline. Lots of cool beach rocks. The day use area is also very accessible. 

The only major con is that it is next door to a cement facility. So yes you will sorta see if from the beach and you will see it when you drive up to go into the park. Other than that you won’t really know it’s there. 
I will say if you like airplanes the beaver island is nearby and A LOT of planes do fly by. So if you’re looking for library quite... this isn’t it but it pretty dang close. 

The vaulted bathrooms were fine. There was water accessible as well. A great place and I would totally come back! 

Beautiful camp sites!

A slice of heaven awaits you at this state park. With your own beach front on beautiful Lake Michigan, it's hard to look around and not be in awe of what surrounds you.  The only thing unlikeable is the cement factory, accompanied with its sounds, polluting the shoreline to the right. I will return for fall camping, far away from the factory. 

Fisherman's island state park

If you want water, then this is the park for you. Fisherman’s Island SP has six miles (8 km) of the Lake Michigan shoreline with fifteen sites right along the water. The campground is divided into two loops, the North and South with 80 sites total. All sites are $13 per night. If you are lucky enough to score one of the dozen or so sites right on the water, you will be treated to easy beach access and beautiful sunsets over Lake Michigan.  Understand that this is a rustic campground with small sites, no electric, scattered water spigots, and pit toilets. There is a day use area, hiking/biking trails, and a picnic area which is about it. Most people come here for a relaxing get away and to be on the water.

All sites have fire pits and picnic tables. (Firewood is sold in the park on an honor system and is available anytime. The price when we visited was $10/large plastic tote full or $4/bundle which we found very reasonable compared to other locations. Michigan DNR asks that you not bring firewood into the campground due to concerns of environmental pests that can be transported.)  Some of the sites say they will fit a 40’ RV but be careful as roads are narrow and there are low-hanging tree limbs.

One of the most popular activities in the park is searching for Petoskey stones known for their beautiful honey-comb like pattern. These are actually not stones but pieces of coral that existed in warmer waters that covered the land hundreds of millions of years ago. The parks’ six miles of shoreline are a perfect location to search for these treasures. 

The park is located just south of the town of Charlevoix. This is a charming coastal town with a beautiful harbor set on Lake Charlevoix with a picturesque lighthouse. We were there in late June and attended the annual arts and crafts fair which was great but the library’s book sale was a real winner. The summer farmers market is on Thursdays and every Tuesday evening there is live music at the waterfront amphitheater.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OiyVeYPVpfE

Great water access

This park is absoutely one of my favorites! I have been here often and always camp at the sites facing the water. However, the back camping is also nice. You have to reserve your spot early in the year for summer camping near the water but sometimes luck out with one or two days open. The only downside to this park is there is a HUGE cement plant at the entrace. It is loud and a complete eyesore. Why they would ever allow that, I have no idea. If you camp in the back of the park or at 76+, you do not see or hear or see this factory.

Lakeside camping! 

One of my families favorite campgrounds, we go every year the weekend after school is out for the summer. 

Perfect

Sites are spacious, clean and right on the beach. It's lovely to star gaze at night and wake up to lapping water in the morning. The major downside that they do not broadcast is that there is a massive power plant up the beach that is quite the eye sore.

Beachfront sites if you can ignore the eyesore

This campground is amazing! If you want to stay on the water (Lake Michigan), which is highly recommended, be sure to book early. The sights go fast! There is an awesome spot just before you pull in to the park that is great for rock hunting and hanging on the beach. When you first arrive you stop at the main office to get your car passes and check in. Driving to your site you’ll follow Lake Michigan and it’s beautiful. Lots of places to stop to get out and take it all in. Our campsite had stairs down to the water and was perfect for us because of our little kids. We could block them off and didn’t have an issue with them going down to the water without us. A lot of the water sights are right on the beach and would love to try those out once my kids are older. At the end of the park there is a place to park with different hiking trails and a creek. We love to hike along the creek for a bit and then hike through the sand dunes. My kids loved running up and down the sand dunes. We finished off our hike walking along the shore looking for petoskey stones. Which we found a lot of. Their are lots of different hiking trails throughout the park as well and a lot of people where kayaking. If you want to check out Charlevoix, which is also highly recommended, it’s only a 10 min drive to get there. They fight to keep the town small so if you need something like a can opener the only place is k-mart for inexpensive things. That also is very close by. This campground is highly recommended by me and my family.

Amazing views!!

This is our favorite campground in Michigan. We don’t usually like camping at state parks because they get so crowded, but this one is different. There are several sites right on Lake Michigan. Many sites provide a great deal of privacy, and you get our own stretch of beachfront. It’s a perfect spot to find Petosky stones, or just enjoy the lake. Even if you’re not lucky enough to get a spot in the water, there is access to the lake in a few locations throughout the campground. The location is great- right outside of the cute town of Charelvoix, and not far from Petosky and Traverse City. Reserve your site early- all the good spots on the lake get booked right away.

Our favorite campground!

Minimal Accommodations, port-a-jon. Close to Charlevoix. $17/night. Walk-in sites. Lakeshore sites. HUGE sites. Most sites can easily fit a few tents. Firework for sale by independent supplier near office. Kayak to the island. Pretty quiet and peaceful. Large campground. Less people on the South end. Very tame wildlife. 

Lakeshore & LARGE Sites Available 

There are plenty of sites all along the shore of Lake Michigan! it gave the illusion of our own private beach and even though we had a camper at the site next to ours it was still very private because of all the trees in between. Waking up to the sound of crashing waves was so relaxing. It even thunderstormed while we were there and it’s still one of my favorite camping trips ever! Plus nice hiking trails as well! 

Beautiful

Many sites right on the shoreline, and some of the best rock hunting on the beach.

Great Lake Michigan Campground

This is a relatively low key park compared to most state parks in Michigan. It is tucked away down an industrial road where unfortunately a power plant of some kind is located, but when you are in the park and on the shores of Lake Michigan, you easily forget about the eyesore you passed to get there. 
We enjoyed walking the shore and looking for petoskey stones. Found a crab and crawfish while we were looking. 
The campground was spacious and shaded. Many of the sites were full but it felt mostly private. When we arrived at our site, the previous campers had left us a care package of kindling, newspaper and wood chips to get a fire started, as well as a few logs. We met a woman who was by herself and camping for her very first time. She asked us to teach her how to start a campfire because the YouTube videos she had watched on how to do it weren’t working for her. I hope you keep camping, Molly! 
The vault toilets were a little run down but clean. Firewood is for sale on the honor system. The wildlife is beyond tame. I know that feeding wildlife is frowned upon, but we had a chipmunk that was relentless. He was bound and determined to eat every Michigan cherry we had, which was a lot. I would return here to camp at any time. 

Low key gem

Fishermans is a rustic campground right on Lake Michigan and is very close to Charlevoix and all the town has to offer. Their rustic waterfront sites look gorgeous! If I had gotten one of those, this would be a 5 star review. As it was, the sites off the water are ok. We had a gravel pull through site, which made it hard to find a spot to pitch the tent. If I could get a waterfront site, I’d be back in a heartbeat!

Great Waterfront Sites

Huge selection of sites between 2 different campgrounds, from a huge RV to tents or hammocks, there are power and non-electric sites for fair prices. We made a last minute reservation, so didn't have a site next to the lake, but the walk from our spot (south campground, site 46) to the beach was easy enough. Once we got to the lake we found Petoskey stones and fossils like crazy! It's unbelievable how many there were. The sand was nice and the campground overall was clean and quiet. Rangers were very nice and test the water pumps every day. Beautiful views. Lots of deadfall for firewood for those who chose to gather. Sites are within viewing distance but not completely on top of each other. Would definitely stay again and spend more time on the hiking trails and looking for stones and fossils! 

Well maintained, loaded with fossils 

Amazing rustic park, DNR was called on us at 9pm for being too loud even thought it was before quiet hours. So if you’re going you can’t be too rowdy. Views are worth it though

Amazing rustic

We were luck enough to snag the last waterfront site one weekend in August 2019 and oh my goodness what a wonderful experience. This is a relatively small camp ground where the sites are not right on top of one another and there is enough tree/brush growth that you have a decent amount of privacy. The lake shore sites are right on lake Michigan and you basically have your own private lake access. It is a more rocky area of shore but great for looking for Petoskey stones. Each site has a fire ring, there is a water pump up front as well as vault toilets throughout. We didn't explore the trails too much but we did drive back to the main sandy beach area and that was also lovely. Dogs are allowed on the beach and there was a little peninsula you could walk out to when the tide wasn't too high. We were planning to go back this year but our plans were cancelled because of COVID19. I am really hoping we can make it up there again this season although you need to book early if you want a beach site. I am hoping the South end of the park with the large beach didn't get totally washed out by the rising lake levels.

Private rustic sites

If you are wanting to camp right on the lake, this is your place. Our site 33 wasn't even the best one. Several sites sit right on the beach. Sites are semi private depending on how loud your neighbors are. We have t mobile and had cell service at our site.  There is a cement factory to the right but it couldnt ruin our stay. Pit toilets are spaced out, there is wood for sale for $10 a tub and water is only available toward the front, but the site!!!
Lake Michigan is unfortunately above its highest levels and this has resulted in a great deal of erosion. This means the Channel Campground is closed except to foot or bike traffic so if you are willing to hike or bike 2 miles each way, you have access to an empty beach.
We loved our stay and will definitely get back here. 

Blown away

Just to the south of the quaint tourist town of Charlevoix, Michigan lies the quiet and stunning lakeside campground of Fisherman’s Island State Park. Unlike many modern state parks this one harkens back to my childhood summers of camping next to the big lake, without any electricity, or indoor plumbing. If you’re looking for simple and beautiful, this is your spot. 

  

There are two main loops for campsites and also a dozen or so lakeside spots, some back-in and some pull-through. Expect these to be reserved on busy summer weekends, because they are the reason to camp here for sure. The southern loop and lakeside sites were closed because of a washout along the shore road, so capacity within the park is running lower than usual, and who knows when repairs will be made. The road is still accessible on foot or on bike, so the fact that it’s closed makes for an amazing hike or ride, take advantage while you can. 

  

The bathrooms are the typical stinky Michigan pit toilets, and the fresh water from the well pump leaves something to be desired but the sunsets and the swimming opportunities more than make that up– 200 times! The only distraction in the view department is the nearby cement plant along the shore,½ mile away, lending a distinctive industrial feel to the northern vista. 

  

Charlevoix offers pretty much anything you might need and is less than 10 miles away, be sure to check out the world’s largest Cherry Pie pan on the way. Fudge, ice cream, and a chance to see the local“Mushroom Houses” brings people from Memorial Day through Halloween, so know that there’s likely to be a crowd and plan accordingly.

Rustic & Lovely

Fall camped here. First time and it lived up to all the good reviews!  Absolutely beautiful fall colors throughout the campground! Got a pull through Lake MI-front site (34). Got to hear waves day and night. Hiked to closed south campground and beach. Colors even more spectacular there!  Once south campground gets opened, most of those sites are in woods and not waterfront but very large. Each site with picnic table and fire pit. Bring your own grate as those aren’t provided. Potable water from hand pump and was unable (water bandit didn’t fit) to fill camper water tank which was my only complaint. Pit toilets clean. The summary of this campground is incorrect-there are not showers nor electricity. It is a rustic campground. Will definitely put this campground on my favorites list!!

Wonderful rustic campground

Not overly-loaded with campers. Long paved roads for kiddos with bikes, but still really woodsy. We got a site right on Lake Michigan and it was amazing. Rocky beach access, wave sounds lulling me to sleep, view of the lake sunset from my fire.

Gorgeous sites on the water

Amazing site right on the lake. A short walk to the car was worth it for the privacy of the site

Amazing

Really enjoyed Fisherman’s Island on the shores of Lake Michigan! We were in site 2 and it was very spacious and flat, with a fire pit and picnic table. Mature trees surrounded the whole site, which really gave it a woodsy feel. Site 2 was directly across from a water station and just a few hundred feet from the pit toilet, which was well kept. 

A quick (less than 3 min walk) to the beach, which can be accessed by two short paths (one you have to jump down over some roots, so stay on the one to the left). Really nice beach for most of the shoreline and then becomes rockier as you go one way. Beautiful sunsets. The water was cold, but swimmable temperature-wise (not for too long). Lots of rock throwing into the lake, which my 5-year old loves to do (slow-mo video in the pictures). 

Quick drive to Charlevoix. Very easy to access the state park and they sell firewood in the park (actually right next to Site 2).

Great Campground! 

We went there tenting as two couples and there was more than enough room for our tents and dogs. With plenty of hiking trails and only a small walk to the beach, we had plenty to do. The vault toilets were not the most well kept, but that was the only downfall to an amazing camping trip right on the lake. 

Amazing trip

Campsites are well maintained and clean. Nice large campfire raised rings. Ranger station has helpful staff. 

Trails to beach are easy with endless beautiful water and sand. 

Beautiful location

Loved our stay here. The South campground was quiet and serene, only a short drive along Lake Michigan from the park entrance, past the north campground. Beach/lake access was a short walk from our campsite just across the dirt road, down a sandy path through the woods. Although the campground was fully booked during our weekend stay, I wouldn’t have noticed. No noise issues like others have mentioned. The site was clean and spacious with a ‘backyard’ of surrounding tall trees. The water was amazing all weekend — we swam multiple times a day. I had a hard time leaving. Maybe next time I’ll try for a waterfront site, but absolutely not necessary to enjoy this place. 

Peaceful & rustic 

Enjoyed our brief stay here. Camped at one of the 15 beach sites. There’s an additional large beach at the end of the road which is a great place to swim and bring the dog. 
Camp sites along the beach are spacious, plenty of room to move around and jump in the lake or go rock hunting. Primitive campground without water, electric or dump station. 
Sunsets were great. Mosquitos almost non-existent at our site on the water. Hiking trail through the park. Easy biking through the campground. Nice area to paddle board or swim. 

Nice Sunsets, a Few Petosky Stones

We were fortunate enough to snag one of the drive through beach sites. It wasn’t very level but we were able to make it work. Found a good amount of petosky stones. It was secluded, except for a few people walking the beach to look for rocks. I didn’t expect the cement factory right down the shoreline so feel like it took away from the scenery but I don’t remember it being that loud from where we were. 