Indian Lake State Park West Campground, near Manistique, Michigan, is a peaceful spot that caters to those looking for a quiet escape in nature. With a rustic vibe, it offers a mix of tent and RV sites, making it a solid choice for campers who appreciate simplicity.

The campground features clean pit toilets and picnic tables, perfect for enjoying meals outdoors. Visitors have noted the absence of showers and flush toilets, but if you need a shower, you can head over to the south campground for a small fee. Many campers have praised the tranquility of the area, with one saying, “It was so peaceful and we slept well,” which is a common sentiment among those who prefer a more laid-back camping experience.

Just a short drive away, you can explore Kitch-Iti-Kipi, Michigan's largest spring, which is a must-see. After a day of adventure, you can unwind by the campfire, as fires are allowed, though you'll need to bring your own firewood. The surrounding scenery is beautiful, with plenty of trees and open spaces to enjoy.

While some sites are not directly on the water, the nearby picnic area offers a lovely spot to relax by the lake. If you're looking for a campground that’s less crowded and more about enjoying nature, this is definitely worth considering.

Indian Lake State Park West Campground — Indian Lake State Park

Manistique is the perfect place for adventurous campers and RVers. Enjoy the scenic camping, fun activities, and sights and sounds of Manistique. You're sure to find the perfect spot for your Michigan camping adventure.

Manistique

The Best Camping Near Manistique, Michigan

We were headed home and looking for a quiet place... we didn't know where we were going and tried for a spot in the south campground.  They were booked.  Thankfully. 
We took the trip to the west campground and it was perfect! 70+ sites in mid summer and most were empty.  It's a rustic campground so there aren't any amenities, but it was perfect for us. 

Loved it!

Nice park but the only thing we saw about swimmers itch was on a billion board outside the bathroom AFTER we had already been swimming

Pretty park watch out for swimmers itch

“Rustic” with electricity. Vault toilets no campsites on the water, a little disappointed. But far less people than the other state campground on the other side of the lake. There is a picnic area on the water but says not a designated swimming area. 

Quiet and “rustic”

After camping at the south shore for a night (way to many people for me personally) I went to the West campground. It's very quiet this week. The camp host is a super nice guy and very knowledgeable about the U P park system. I would definitely recommend this campground for those seeking quiet

Perfect for quiet

Attracted interesting families... Nice bathrooms. Big sites.

Interesting place

We drove up to Manistique on a Friday night; I was originally worried that we wouldn't be able to find a first-come-first-served site on a Friday, so I was mentally prepared to find another place to stay.   We arrived at 5:30 (if you're from WI, don't forget about the time zone difference!) and there were only three other campers in the three western loops.  I felt so relieved!

We stayed at site 72, which was nice and flat and a quick walk to the water and bathrooms.  Our site was so peaceful and we slept well.  I still can't get over how few people were there on a Friday in summer!

  

There are no flush toilets or showers at this campground, but if you needed a shower, you could go to the main park on the south shore.

We bought our firewood from a house south of the campground entrance on H455.  It was an amazing price ($5) per square of firewood, and they offered kindling bundles for a dollar.

  

The west campground is close to Kitch-Iti-Kipi.  After having dinner at Clyde's in Manistique (great burgers!) we visited the Big Spring.  It was almost dusk and the park was still relatively busy.  I'm glad we went at that time of day; I can imagine how crowded it must get during mid-day.  The spring was awesome, and riding the raft out and back was fun.

  

I would highly recommend the West campsite.  It was so peaceful.  Close to Kitch-Iti-Kipi, a short drive into Manistique, and just a little over an hour drive to Pictured Rocks.

Peaceful Campsite Near Manistique

We first checked out the ‘South CG’ and although it was on the lake, it was waaay too crowded for us. So we moved on to the west shore CG and it was def more our style. Quiet and rustic. From our site #9 we could hear some road traffic but we had a whole loop to ourselves. Pit toilets were very clean. No electricity. Campground not on the lake but the picnic area is. And if you want a shower you can take one at the south campground for $5. 

Photos of Indian Lake State Park West Campground — Indian Lake State Park

Real photos from real campers