Michigan Recreation Passport is required for vehicle entry into state parks and recreation areas, state boat launches, state forest campgrounds and state trail parking lots. The Michigan Recreation Passport does not cover local, county, municipal, or metropolitan parks or recreation areas. Learn more: https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/buy-and-apply/rec-pp

J.W. Wells State Park Campground

This was our first experience at this park in the southern section of the western part of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.  Many of the sites are just feet from Lake Michigan.  We listened to the waves all night long.  The park is very well maintained and clean.  We checked in on Labor Day just as the majority of campers were leaving.  The individual sites are grassy with many trees throughout the campground.  The restrooms/showers were spotless and constantly maintained.  While this was our first stop, it won't be our last.  Being that close to the lake is wonderful.

Clean, Scenic sites

We got our new Marmot Tungston 4P tent so I took the wife and kids on a quick weekend trip to J.W. Wells State Park campground in Michigan's Upper Peninsula to test it out. I found J.W. Wells by searching for waterfront camping along Lake Michigan. There are plenty of state and national parks along Lake Michigan but not many where you can pitch your tent right along the waters edge like J.W. Wells. It also happened to be the only site within 4 hours drive of Northbrook, IL (N. Suburb of Chicago) with such close proximity to the waters edge that I could find.

The site itself is tucked right along the Green Bay coastline about 1 hour drive north of Green Bay, Wisconsin. There is a main campground for tent and RV but we chose to stay at 1 of 3 rustic tent sites a little north of the main campground. The campground was well maintained with picnic tables for each site, firepit, and a nice well groomed plot of grass for us to pitch our tent and setup camp. The main campground has showers and a playground right in the middle.

The view from our site was majestic, especially watching the sun rise over the horizon of Lake Michigan. The sunrise was the pinnacle moment of this trip. And that's really the only reason why I gave it 3 stars. The campground itself and the views are incredible, it's just that there isn't much to do around these parts. There are a couple short trails for hiking or ATV's and the Cedar River about a mile north of the site which I assume has some fishing and boating, but that was about it. The only other activity we found was to drive 30 mins north to check the small harbor town of Escanaba. Really not much to see or do there either.

I probably wouldn't recommend this campground for families or persons looking for lots of activities or places to see and visit while camping. It's great for a simple quick getaway with a great view to just sit around camp and relax.


Michigan Upper Pensinsula/Lake Michigan Waterfront Camping

If you like a party type atmosphere, this is the place.  Super busy with lots of activity and tons of people.  There is no privacy - it's more of a tailgate party that you sleep at.  The playground was nice and clean, the grounds were well kept, the showers were pretty clean too.  I only give it three stars because it's like camping in a parking lot.  And to me, that's not really camping. 

Tailgate camping 

Fantastic.. group cabins available.. great for big family outings. But great facilities and camping sites. You can fish Lake Michigan or swim off the beach or hike the park.

One of my favorites

We always make a point to stay at least one night here when passing through the UP. We stay at site 40 but all the spots along there are in the water. There is a tree line though and a small drop.

It is a quiet campground and everyone is very friendly there. Great playground for the kids the only problem is it is far away from really anything and the gas station near by charges and arm and a leg for food.

Camping right in the water 

This is the last Michigan State Park Campground as you are heading south and entering WI.

Beautiful views of the Lake looking east and south to Washington Island and Door County Peninsula. Nice stream and playground for kids to play in and on. Mostly grassy campsites so things get a little wet after heavy rains. Most sites have electricity and water.

Campground on Lake MI

We love it here! Stayed right on the water, tent style, quiet, big nice bathrooms, and easy check in

Great location, beautiful scenery, electric sites for camping and peaceful 

This is a great campground not just because this was the first campground park I worked on but because after 40 years it is still great.   Most of the sites are beautiful grass sites, when we were there it was rainy so some of the sites where a lake.  So if you didn't get a bayside site you could have a lake side site.  Great place to tent cam.  They have a nice beach but no life guard.  They have a a lot of items for kids and families, such as the beach, basket ball court, hiking trails and great playgrounds. If you are a walker they have some great trails.  Just up for a day the picnic area is super.  

The bathrooms are clean and well kept up.  

The employees are very friendly and helpful.

  

I love that you can look up at night and see all the great stars.

  

We went to Menominee to see the launching of a Navy Ship from Marinette Marine and that is something you don't see everyday.

  

Enjoyed the craft fair for all the campers the weekend we were also there.  

  

Such a great camprgound.

Such a great Campground

We stayed at rustic site 151, about a mile from the main campground.   This site has easy lake views and multiple lake access points.

Camping area was clean and large.   Has space for two large 6 person tents easily. 

Surrounded by trees with a path to the lake.  It is very quiet and peaceful.

Great isolated tent spot 

We got a great spot with some amazing views and the lake breeze kept most the bugs at bay. Clean (and free) showers available for campers and a nice playground for the kids... rocky beach by the campsite but a long walk/short drive to the sandy beach... kids had a blast. Some sites don’t handle the rain well, but they don’t oversell in case people need a different spot. Lots of space, lots of fun...

Beautiful views... great breeze off the Lake

Simply because of the location, you are basically forced to relax and slow down and take it easy. There are some hiking and biking trails, and the water is OK for kayaking, but it is not near anything, so we had to make do with what we had. The park is a very nice state park with typical sites, nice bathrooms and showers. The beach at the south end of the park is very nice as well and we spent a lot of time there. The big bonus to being here was the amazing star gazing at night with very clear views and little transient light to spoil the night time wonder.

Laid Back Forced to Relax

Had the best time staying in a very large and warm cabin

Amazing trails and lakeshore

Beautiful park with lots of options to camp lakeside. Many sites are very close together, so if privacy is important… choose wisely. Wonderful camp hosts had hot cocoa and coffee to share… great for a cool morning. We happened to visit during the Halloween celebration weekend… so it was overrun with kids. Not a deal breaker at all… but I think we may have chosen a different park had we known. Neighbors next to us really enjoyed themselves… maybe a bit too much! All said… we would camp there again… but only if we can get a lakeside site. 

Camping on the lake! 

Great views of Lake Michigan!  Beautiful sandy beach just a short walk away! Really nice playground for the kids.  Overall, one of our favorite places to connected camp!