Map showing campground location near Escanaba, Michigan

Camper submitted image from Pioneer Trail Park & Campground

Pioneer Trail Park & Campground

SUMMARY PRESENTED BY

Pioneer Trail Park spans 74 acres along the Escanaba River in Gladstone, Michigan, managed by Delta County as a county-regional park with a full suite of amenities. The campground's 96 sites divide into two distinct sections: an RV-oriented front section with water and electric hookups (20/30/50 amp available, accommodating rigs up to 50 feet), and a rustic tent area further back. Sites are a mix of pull-throughs and back-ins on grass, and leveling can be a challenge on some of the uneven pads. Large pines provide shade across much of the property, though this is not a densely wooded campground overall.

Noise is worth factoring into site selection. The park sits close to US-2, which brings some road traffic, and an active rail line runs along one edge of the property. The tent area in the back sits closest to the tracks. Greg D. notes that "no train horns were heard during the late hours though," which may reassure light sleepers. Multiple reviewers describe restrooms and showers as consistently clean, if dated in their fixtures.

The river itself is accessible mainly at the boat launch, with a significant drop from the campground to the water's edge. Bank fishing is available, and river sites exist, though reviewers note those sites are harder to navigate and not well laid out. Beyond the water, the park features a 27-hole disc golf course, a large playground, a covered picnic pavilion, and a camp store selling firewood, ice, and snacks. Laundry facilities are also on-site. Anglers and families looking for campgrounds near Pioneer Trail Park will find this one of the more amenity-complete options in the area.

Reservations are accepted and recommended for summer weekends, when the park fills more quickly. Midweek stays tend to be considerably less crowded.

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Map & DirectionsPioneer Trail Park & Campground is located in Michigan near Escanaba

Public Campground

Coordinates

45.7961481 N
87.07565755 W

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Connectivity

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Access

Drive-In
Park next to your site

Site Types

Tent Sites
RV Sites
Standard (Tent/RV)
Group
Tent Cabin

Features

For Campers

Market
Trash
Picnic Table
Firewood Available
Phone Service
Reservable
WiFi
Showers
Drinking Water
Electric Hookups
Toilets
Alcohol
Pets
Fires

For Vehicles

Sanitary Dump
Water Hookups
Pull-Through Sites
50 Amp Hookups
Big Rig Friendly

Contact

General Info

Drive Time

1 hr 50 min from Green Bay, WI
2 hrs 10 min from Appleton, WI
3 hrs 1 min from Wausau, WI
4 hrs 20 min from Traverse City, MI

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Reviews10 Camper Reviews - Pioneer Trail Park & Campground

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5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Star

3.5

out of 5

10 Reviews

Campers regularly cited spacious sites, clean facilities, and excellent family amenities including playground and disc golf. Train noise and generator issues were commonly reported as significant concerns for light sleepers.

SUMMARY PRESENTED BY

Robert T.

Guide

Reviewed Aug. 6, 2025

Tranquil

Very nice, spacious and quiet with full amenities. Very handy to US2 but little road noise

Site24

Month of VisitAugust

Greg S.

Legend

Reviewed Jun. 15, 2025

4.4 stars

The people in the office were very nice and chill, always a good start when the people checking you in put off a warm vibe. We booked a river site but changed to a basic water and electric and saved 5 bucks for a better site. The sites on the river are not well laid out and it's hard to tell where to set up. None of the sites here are very private, but they are all very clean and larger with nice tall pines and big fire pits. The playground is awesome and there is a large grassy ballfield for playing. The river itself is a bit underwhelming, kind of marshy and not clear. There's a large dropoff from the campground to the river so it's only really accessible at the boat ramp, which is fine if you expect that going in. There is laundry and reasonably priced firewood. Overall a solid campground.

Site26

Month of VisitJune

Greg D.

Ranger

Reviewed Aug. 28, 2024

Clean and decent spacing

Restrooms and showers are clean and nicely maintained. There’s a good amount of trees and shade for those hot summer days. There are trails and some fishing areas as well. Traffic noise isn’t too annoying except for the occasional loud mufflers and train horns. No train horns were heard during the late hours though. Overall it’s a decent place to stay

Site17

Month of VisitAugust

Dana K.

Traveler

Reviewed Aug. 2, 2024

Nice , well maintained , quiet

We parked in a river spot , and it was such a wonderful location, bathrooms right across a field, nice big playground, room for our motorhome, jeep, and hybrid van to charge ! Access to fishing right at our site and disc golf across from our camper !

SiteR6

Month of VisitJuly

Forrest G.

Scout

Reviewed Jul. 24, 2023

Tent campers beware

I really liked the camp ground. I didn’t like the rv’s in the tent/rustic campsites running their generator’s all night long.

Siterustic #1

Month of VisitJuly

Meredith J.

Guide

Reviewed Oct. 2, 2021

Heavy equipment running in town

Nice campsites but there was heavy equipment running constantly in town nearby. So noisy. Looked like a family was living there. Very messy.

Site35

Month of VisitSeptember

alexis

Scout

Reviewed Jul. 2, 2021

Great visit!

It was a great except water pump died and they didn’t give any solution or partial refund

Site50

Month of VisitJuly

Art S.

Legend

Reviewed Jun. 30, 2021

Close to town with some background noise

The campground is close to town and larger than expected. It’s divided into two sections. The first one is set up for RVs. The one further back is rustic. Separating them is a wonderful playground and a large picnic shelter.

The rustic area was spread out. Large trees provide shade but there isn’t much privacy between sites. There were only a few campers in this section so distance gave separation.

Continue past the campsites and you find a simple picnic area at the boat launch. We ate lunch over here. By the entrance (and up a hill) is a frisbee golf course.

Month of VisitJune

(12) View All

Debbie P.

Scout

Reviewed Aug. 17, 2020

Nice camp ground

Very clean and quiet. Right now because of Covid the only sites you can get are water and electric and the cost is $28 a night.

Nancy W.

Legend

Reviewed Sep. 18, 2017

Nice County Park

When we pulled into this campground we couldn’t believe how empty it was. Compared to all the other campgrounds we had been to in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and seeing as it was still the busy summer camping season we were shocked. We were wondering what was “wrong” but nothing really surfaced. It could just have been that we were there during the week and the weekend rush hadn’t come yet.

There are 96 campsites that sit on 74 acres so there was plenty of room for us to walk our dog and not feel like we were going in circles. Campsites are the usual mix of pull thrus and back-ins, rustic tent and water/electric. None of the sites have sewer but some have 20/30/50 amp electric with water and others are rustic tent sites. The electric and water sites long enough for any size RV but leveling may be difficult in some of the sites (which are grass). Picnic tables and fire pits accompany every sites. Some sites have their fire pits located at the back of the sites which makes for a big line of fire pits which was kind of weird. There are some large pine trees that provide some shade but this is not a wooded campground by any means.

For a county-run park there are plenty of amenities including WiFi which was slow and depends on where you are located in the park. The showers and flush toilets were clean but a little on the old side. A store sells ice, firewood, soda, snacks and ice cream. There is a really nice picnic pavilion that would be great if you had a lot of people in your group. It is covered with a “kitchen” area and lots of picnic tables. Since the park is on the Escanaba River there is a boat launch (albeit not really suitable for large boats with deep draft) and you can fish from the bank. Disco golf fans will love the 27-hole course that winds through the woods and property. For the kids, a playground area is large with lots of things for them to climb and play on.

The park is located off HWY 2 so access is easy but there is a bit of road noise. Plus, when we visited there was road construction going on that produced traffic backups and more noise. But the real problem is the train tracks that runs alongside the campground and seemed busy 24/7. It is not so bad in the front of the park but back where the tent section is must be pretty bad if you are in a tent.

Month of VisitAugust

(18) View All

Frequently Asked Questions

What do reviews say about Pioneer Trail Park & Campground?

Pioneer Trail Park & Campground is generally regarded as clean, quiet, and spacious with full amenities. The staff receives praise for being friendly and accommodating. Campers appreciate the well-maintained restrooms and showers. Many visitors enjoy the riverfront sites, though some note these can be challenging to navigate. The campground's playground earns positive mentions, and the shade from large trees is valued during hot summer days. Some visitors mention occasional noise from nearby traffic or equipment. Overall, the park balances natural beauty with convenient access to town.

Where is Pioneer Trail Park & Campground located in Escanaba, Michigan?

Pioneer Trail Park & Campground is located close to the town of Escanaba in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. The campground is situated along a river, providing waterfront sites for campers. It's conveniently positioned near US-2, making it easily accessible for travelers, though the proximity to town means you might occasionally hear some urban sounds. The campground's location combines natural surroundings with the convenience of being near essential services in Escanaba.

What amenities are available at Pioneer Trail Park & Campground?

Pioneer Trail Park & Campground offers water and electric hookups at their RV sites. The facility features clean, well-maintained restrooms and shower buildings. Campers can enjoy a large playground area and a spacious picnic shelter between the RV and rustic camping sections. The campground provides river access with fishing opportunities directly from some sites. There's also a disc golf course nearby. The rustic camping area offers more shade from large trees. While some amenities may vary seasonally, the campground maintains essential facilities for a comfortable outdoor experience.

What activities and attractions are near Pioneer Trail Park in Escanaba?

At Pioneer Trail Park & Campground, visitors can enjoy fishing directly from riverfront sites, hiking on nearby trails, and playing disc golf at an adjacent course. The campground features a large playground perfect for families with children. Within a short drive, campers can access all the conveniences of Escanaba for shopping, dining, and services. The park's location in Michigan's Upper Peninsula makes it an excellent base for exploring regional attractions. Though some traffic and occasional train noise can be heard, the park remains a relaxing destination with recreational opportunities for all ages.

How can I find a map of Pioneer Trail Park & Campground?

For a map of Pioneer Trail Park & Campground, check with the campground office staff upon arrival, as they typically provide site maps to new guests. The campground is divided into two distinct sections: a developed area for RVs with water and electric hookups, and a rustic section further back. Contact the campground directly before your trip to request map information, or visit the Delta County parks department website which may offer downloadable maps of the facility.

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