SUMMER SALE 50% off The Dyrt PRO — just $2.49/moGet now
SALE: PRO just $2.49/mo

Lake Superior State Forest Campground

SUMMARY PRESENTED BYT-Mobile

At least 11 miles of corrugated dirt road separate Lake Superior State Forest Campground from the nearest paved route, and that approach sets the tone for everything that follows. The campground sits directly on the Lake Superior shoreline in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, managed by the MIDNR Forest Resources Division and priced at $10 to $20 per night. Sites run on a first-come, first-served basis, though reservations are available. RVs are welcome up to 20 feet, but the rough county road makes the drive slow going with anything larger. Blind Sucker #1 State Forest Campground and Blind Sucker #2 State Forest Campground are both within a mile if this campground fills up.

The 18 sites are close together and mostly dirt, with each one positioned just steps from the shoreline. Fire rings and picnic tables are standard at every site. The vault toilets have drawn consistent complaints from reviewers, so managing expectations there is worthwhile. A hand pump provides drinking water, and trash service is available on site. Grand Marais is the nearest resupply point for gas, firewood, or food, roughly 11 miles west via that same dirt road.

The lake itself is the main draw. The beach is rocky, with driftwood scattered along the shoreline from past high water levels. Swimming is possible but cold year-round. "Sunsets are incredible at the beach, water is very cold but its worth a dip," notes Alejandro G. The campground also sits along the North Country Trail, and the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is accessible within a reasonable drive. Reviewers have reported black bears, deer, and porcupines in the area, so standard food storage practices apply.

Crowds are a real factor, especially on summer weekends and holidays. The campground fills early on Saturdays, and multiple reviewers describe cars circling for open spots in the afternoon. Biting flies are common in July, though a steady lake breeze can keep them manageable. Muskallonge Lake State Park Campground lies about six miles east and offers an alternative if this site is full. Arriving by Friday morning or targeting a shoulder-season visit in September gives the best odds of securing a site without the weekend competition.

Reservation Info

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/0,4570,7-350-79134_79210---,00.html

Check AvailabilitySuggest an Edit

RV Road Trip Guides

Map & DirectionsLake Superior State Forest Campground is located in Michigan near Grand Marais

Detail location of campground
Public Campground

Directions

From town: Go 17 mi W on Hwy 123, then N on CR 500 & CR 437.

Coordinates

46.67691914 N
85.75603654 W

Open in Google Maps

Connectivity

Presented byT-MobileT-Mobile is introducing T-Satellite to extend coverage in the outdoorsLearn More
  • signal strength bars
    T-Mobile
    No Coverage
  • signal strength bars
    Verizon
    No Coverage
    Verified by 10 users
    Last on 7/28/26
  • signal strength bars
    AT&T
    No Coverage

Connectivity

Presented byT-MobileT-Mobile is introducing T-Satellite to extend coverage in the outdoorsLearn More
  • signal strength bars
    T-Mobile
    No Coverage
  • signal strength bars
    Verizon
    No Coverage
    Verified by 10 users
    Last on 7/28/26
  • signal strength bars
    AT&T
    No Coverage

Access

  • Drive-In
    Park next to your site
  • Walk-In
    Park in a lot, walk to your site.
  • Boat-In
    Sites accessible by watercraft.

Site Types

  • Tent Sites
  • Standard (Tent/RV)

Features

For Campers

  • Trash
  • Picnic Table
  • Reservable
  • Drinking Water
  • Toilets
  • Alcohol
  • Pets
  • Fires

Drive Time


2026 Explorer Giveaway

Review Campgrounds. Win Prizes.

Enter to Win

Reviews13 Camper Reviews - Lake Superior State Forest Campground

Add Review

5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Star

77%
23%
0%
0%
0%

5.0

out of 5

13 Reviews

Campers regularly cited this rustic campground's prime Lake Superior location with direct beach access and beautiful scenery. Many mentioned the remote setting requires navigating dirt roads. Vault toilets received consistent complaints despite the otherwise positive experience.

SUMMARY PRESENTED BYT-Mobile
Reviewed Jun. 13, 2025

Peaceful

Great location. Almost all sites on water. Verizon doesn't get data but at least one bar to send SMS messages. Please remember tagging sites is prohibited you must occupy the site. You can't just leave a chair. Mosquitoes weren't horrible but thankfully a cool June means no black flies yet.

Site9
Month of VisitJune
Reviewed Sep. 2, 2022

Best spot around UP

This place is always packed but we were lucky enough to find a free spot on a Saturday afternoon. Grand Marais is very close if you need gas, firewood or an awesome burger from the best burger in Grand Marie (can’t miss these).

All spots in this campground are on the side of Lake Superior which is a short walk away. All campgrounds have a fire pit and a picnic table. Restrooms are available if you’re brave enough as well as refuse site for trash and a water pump.

Campsites are very close together.

Bugs, speally flies are a pain in the behind but this is always expected. I think a cooler weather camping would be preferrable.

Sunsets are incredible at the beach, water is very cold but its worth a dip. Lots of beautiful rocks. If you’re into rocks, bring a blacklight you may be lucky enough to find yooperlites.

Just a heads up, the slower you go on those county dirt roads the more you’ll feel the rattles, so speed up and volume up.

Site14
Month of VisitAugust
  • Review photo of Lake Superior State Forest Campground by Alejandro G., September 2, 2022
  • Sunset at Lake Superior
    Play button icon
  • Review photo of Lake Superior State Forest Campground by Alejandro G., September 2, 2022
  • (13) View All
Reviewed Jul. 14, 2021

Shake it up!

So getting here will rattle the teeth outta your head — dirt county road. The campground is small but well-spaced so you have privacy. On the sandy shores of Lake Superior, this is a tucked away gem but it was so early in our site-seeing day, we didn’t want to get anchored to a place so far back from the direction we were heading!

Month of VisitJuly
Reviewed Mar. 3, 2021

Amazing Spot Right on Lake Superior

Rustic campground far away from it all. At least 11 miles of corrugated dirt road to get to the campground from either way. Very slow going with a camper. All sites are first come first served so get there early if you want a spot. We got lucky and grabbed one of the last sites available and we noticed multiple cars driving through later in the day looking for open spots. We had no issues with flies even though it was mid July and had a nice breeze off the lake the whole time we were there. Each site has direct access to the beach and it’s absolutely beautiful.

  • Review photo of Lake Superior State Forest Campground by Brook W., March 3, 2021
  • Review photo of Lake Superior State Forest Campground by Brook W., March 3, 2021
  • Review photo of Lake Superior State Forest Campground by Brook W., March 3, 2021
  • (11) View All
Reviewed Aug. 30, 2020

Love the Rustic

My family have been going to this campground for the last 4 years. Every year it seems like Lake Superior gets more beautiful, and the Rustic campground does not change, which is a good thing.

  • Review photo of Lake Superior State Forest Campground by Sarah E., August 30, 2020
  • Review photo of Lake Superior State Forest Campground by Sarah E., August 30, 2020
  • Review photo of Lake Superior State Forest Campground by Sarah E., August 30, 2020
  • (7) View All
Reviewed Jul. 8, 2020

Great spot!

Well, I couldn’t decide on three or four stars but I am going to go towards four just because I’m nice like that. ;) We got a great campsite (13...we think 15 is the best after looking around) and loved that it was just a few steps away from the gorgeous Lake Superior! We could hear the waves when we were settling in to our tent to sleep every night. The sites are mostly dirt so, be mindful of how dirty you can get. The flies were terrible the first few days we were there but then the wind shifted and then those little pests were few and far between. The absolute worst thing about this campground were the vault toilets. Now, we are no strangers to vault toilets so when I tell you they were the absolute WORST ever...I mean it with every fiber of my being. Fair warning. All in all...great time and very beautiful.

  • Review photo of Lake Superior State Forest Campground by Kelly G., July 8, 2020
  • Review photo of Lake Superior State Forest Campground by Kelly G., July 8, 2020
  • Review photo of Lake Superior State Forest Campground by Kelly G., July 8, 2020
  • (8) View All
Reviewed Jun. 27, 2020

Awesome campground off the dirt road

18 first come, first serve sites with almost all having beach access (Attached picture of registration sign has map). We loved this as a stop for Pictured Rocks/Tahquamenon Falls, but we had no idea it was off a dirt road. It’s a few miles on the dirt road to get to, and the vault toilets weren’t the best but the beach was beautiful and there were plenty of people enjoying the campground. Check in I believe was 3pm, but again it’s self registration. One final note is that there were 2 sites that were open to the one next to it, so it is capable of small group camping, but if you want dispersed sites, this campground isn’t it. We also stayed here because all of the Pictured Rocks/Tahquamenon campgrounds were opening the week after we stayed, so this was an awesome low cost open campground that doesn’t require reservation.

  • Review photo of Lake Superior State Forest Campground by Ysabelle Y., June 27, 2020
  • Review photo of Lake Superior State Forest Campground by Ysabelle Y., June 27, 2020
Reviewed May. 11, 2020

Stumbled Upon Gem

My party stumbled upon this campsite over Memorial Day Weekend while exploring the UP. We were so happy to have found it, and to our surprise there were many open spots despite it being a holiday weekend. We stayed after hiking around Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. I later mentioned this place to a friend and she said her family has been trying to keep this campground a secret for years, maybe I shouldn't be reviewing it lol.

It is close enough to Grand Marais for any amenities you might need, and less than an hour from the mouth of the Two Hearted by way of dirt road. Great excuse to kick the truck into 4x4!

The camp sites, though in the forest, are steps away from Lake Superior. When leaving in the morning we stumbled upon a black bear sow and her two cubs in the middle of the road. Pure Michigan goodness! One of my favorite camping experiences in all of Michigan. :)

  • Review photo of Lake Superior State Forest Campground by Madison D., May 11, 2020
  • Review photo of Lake Superior State Forest Campground by Madison D., May 11, 2020
  • Review photo of Lake Superior State Forest Campground by Madison D., May 11, 2020
  • (4) View All
Reviewed Sep. 11, 2019

MAGNIFICENTLY BEAUTIFUL

This campground is right on the shores of the mighty Lake Superior. It is very basic and quite removed from society. You are at least 25 miles in each direction from a small town. This site is for true nature lovers. Swimming, Fishing, Nature, and Wildlife is in abundance. You will not find a better place for sunrises and sunsets. Also, on clear nights, Star Gazing is Fantastic. I have never seen so many stars at one time as I did along Lake Superior. There is a small row of trees that protect the campground from the offshore winds. There are rivers nearby that always have great fishing results and the forests are pack full of Blueberries. Bear, Deer, Porcupine, Raccoons and other wildlife are easy to come across.

Month of VisitAugust
  • Review photo of Lake Superior State Forest Campground by MICHAEL C., September 11, 2019
  • Review photo of Lake Superior State Forest Campground by MICHAEL C., September 11, 2019
Reviewed Sep. 3, 2018

Amazing beach on Lake Superior

To date this is my favorite rustic campground I've been to in Michigan. Being in the UP and on Lake Superior makes this place one of a kind.

The beach is rocky and has lots of driftwood from the high lake levels a few years ago. The ice took down a lot of the trees on the shoreline.

Swimming is always cold in Lake Superior but getting in was refreshing.

Picnic tables and fire rings are on each site. Vault toilets are available as well. We found all the firewood we needed right in the campground.

  • Review photo of Lake Superior State Forest Campground by Mike B., September 3, 2018
  • Review photo of Lake Superior State Forest Campground by Mike B., September 3, 2018
  • Review photo of Lake Superior State Forest Campground by Mike B., September 3, 2018
  • (24) View All
Reviewed Jul. 10, 2018

Favorite place to camp in the U.P.

Right on Lake Superior and the North Country Trail! Also, it is just moments from Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore and Grand Marais. Our pup loved running on the beach.

  • Review photo of Lake Superior State Forest Campground by Halie C., July 10, 2018
  • Play button icon
  • Review photo of Lake Superior State Forest Campground by Halie C., July 10, 2018
  • (9) View All
Reviewed Mar. 15, 2017

Perfect!

It was quite, clean, and on the lake, what more could you ask for?

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to camp at Lake Superior State Forest Campground?

Lake Superior State Forest Campground operates on a first-come, first-served basis with standard Michigan State Forest Campground fees. Exact pricing isn't specified in available information, but typical Michigan State Forest Campgrounds charge modest nightly rates. Be prepared to self-register and pay upon arrival. For current fee information, check with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources before your trip.

What amenities and facilities are available at Lake Superior State Forest Campground?

Lake Superior State Forest Campground is a rustic camping destination with minimal amenities. The campground features 18 first-come, first-served sites, vault toilets, and direct access to Lake Superior. There are no electrical hookups, showers, or running water. Most sites are positioned along the shoreline, offering natural beauty rather than modern conveniences. This remote campground is ideal for campers seeking a primitive, nature-focused experience away from crowds and development.

Is there beach access at Lake Superior State Forest Campground?

Yes, Lake Superior State Forest Campground offers excellent beach access with nearly all sites positioned along Lake Superior's shoreline. The beach is natural and rocky with abundant driftwood, particularly from past high water years when ice damaged shoreline trees. It's perfect for swimming during summer months, walking, and enjoying the waves of Lake Superior. Dogs are welcome to enjoy the beach as well. The proximity to the water is one of the campground's most appealing features.

What do reviews say about Lake Superior State Forest Campground?

Lake Superior State Forest Campground is highly regarded for its scenic beauty, quiet atmosphere, and direct access to Lake Superior. Campers appreciate the rustic, natural setting and well-spaced sites that provide privacy. The location receives praise for its proximity to attractions like Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore and Grand Marais. Most visitors note the remote location requires traveling on rough dirt roads that can be challenging with campers. Cell service is limited (Verizon has minimal coverage for text messages). Overall, it's described as a hidden gem for nature lovers seeking an authentic wilderness experience away from crowds.

Where can I find maps of Lake Superior State Forest Campground?

Maps of Lake Superior State Forest Campground are available at the campground's registration sign, which includes a site layout showing all 18 campsites and their proximity to Lake Superior. For more detailed maps of the surrounding area, check the Michigan Department of Natural Resources website. The campground is located near the North Country Trail, so hikers may want to obtain trail maps as well. Remember that the campground is approximately 11 miles down corrugated dirt roads, so having good navigation resources before arrival is recommended.