Big Bay is the perfect place for adventurous campers and RVers. There are tons of hikes and other fun activities to partake in. Experience some of the most stunning views that Michigan camping has to offer. You're sure to find the perfect campground for your Big Bay camping trip.
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
$20 - $34 / night
$20 - $40 / night
$40 - $50 / night
Fort Wilkins Historic State Park, located in the northern tip of the Keweenaw Peninsula, features a modern campground, trails, a historical fort with a living history program, two 1860s lighthouses on Lake Superior and much more.
Visitors will enjoy a quarter-mile of rocky Lake Superior shoreline, Lake Fanny Hooe and a quarter-mile of sandy beach on Lake Manganese.
The park features a restored 1844 army military outpost, including 19 buildings, with a living history program provided by the Michigan History Center. Visitors can experience a look back at life on the northern frontier during the mid-1800s and a time when soldiers were stationed in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. 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
$30 / night
The Forestville Campground is located just north of the chalet at the Noquemanon Trail Network's Forestville Trailhead. There are 15 rustic sites tucked closely around a narrow circular drive with firepits and picnic tables at all sites. Sites are best for tents, van style campers, or very small pop up trailers. Sites may not have level ground and due to the narrow road it is very challenging to park rvs or larger camping trailers. All sites are located within close proximity while perimeter sites provide a bit of separation. Vault toilets are located in front of the pole building and water is available on the west side of the chalet. There are no electrical hookups or shower facilities on site. Campground fees start at $25/night. Your camping fees help maintain the non-profit facility and trails. Campground is generally open May- October.
A few things to know: All sites must be booked and paid for online through campground reservation site. When you arrive, you will fill out a Site Card available at the entrance kiosk with your reservation info and then post at your reserved campsite. Sites are numbered 1-15. Locate sites by following road in to the right of the campground kiosk. There are 15 numbered sites to the rear of pole building. Limit of 2 units per site (2 tents or 1 tent, 1 van, etc.) and 6 persons per site. Maximum continuous stay is 7 days. Please consider 1 tent per site to allow extra distancing. Fires are limited to metal fire rings only, please do not move metal rings or construct rock rings. Firewood can be purchased for$7/bundle on honor system but there is no guarantee of availability (We recommend picking up a bundle of wood in town if you are planning to have a fire). Place firewood payment in mailbox at wood shed. Fully extinguish all fires upon departure. Quiet hours are 10pm-8am. Check out by 1pm. Dogs must be kept on leash (it's Michigan Law) and please clean-up with“Dog Spot” bags available on site. Potable water is available at spigot on west side of pole building. All trails are non-motorized. If you are here to enjoy the trails, please support the trails with a suggested $10/day donation or annual membership. An attendant stops in daily to check on campground and there is now a volunteer Campground Host that will be living on site that is available to assist at random hours. For Campground Info: 906-235-6861. Please make sure you have reviewed all information provided here before calling. For Emergencies: 9-1-1
$25 / night
The Country Village RV Park offers 105 R.V. sites and four cabins. Most sites will provide full service, while others will have basic or no utilities. Pull/thru sites are also available. The cabins contain sleeping accommodations for four (linens not provided), table & chairs and electricity. The park also includes a large Pavilion, swimming pool, wading pool, spa and children’s play area. The park is within walking distance of restaurants, shops, a movie theater and a bowling and billiard center.
$35 - $51 / night
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
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
$20 - $34 / night
$20 - $40 / night
$40 - $50 / night
Fort Wilkins Historic State Park, located in the northern tip of the Keweenaw Peninsula, features a modern campground, trails, a historical fort with a living history program, two 1860s lighthouses on Lake Superior and much more.
Visitors will enjoy a quarter-mile of rocky Lake Superior shoreline, Lake Fanny Hooe and a quarter-mile of sandy beach on Lake Manganese.
The park features a restored 1844 army military outpost, including 19 buildings, with a living history program provided by the Michigan History Center. Visitors can experience a look back at life on the northern frontier during the mid-1800s and a time when soldiers were stationed in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. 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
$30 / night
The Forestville Campground is located just north of the chalet at the Noquemanon Trail Network's Forestville Trailhead. There are 15 rustic sites tucked closely around a narrow circular drive with firepits and picnic tables at all sites. Sites are best for tents, van style campers, or very small pop up trailers. Sites may not have level ground and due to the narrow road it is very challenging to park rvs or larger camping trailers. All sites are located within close proximity while perimeter sites provide a bit of separation. Vault toilets are located in front of the pole building and water is available on the west side of the chalet. There are no electrical hookups or shower facilities on site. Campground fees start at $25/night. Your camping fees help maintain the non-profit facility and trails. Campground is generally open May- October.
A few things to know: All sites must be booked and paid for online through campground reservation site. When you arrive, you will fill out a Site Card available at the entrance kiosk with your reservation info and then post at your reserved campsite. Sites are numbered 1-15. Locate sites by following road in to the right of the campground kiosk. There are 15 numbered sites to the rear of pole building. Limit of 2 units per site (2 tents or 1 tent, 1 van, etc.) and 6 persons per site. Maximum continuous stay is 7 days. Please consider 1 tent per site to allow extra distancing. Fires are limited to metal fire rings only, please do not move metal rings or construct rock rings. Firewood can be purchased for$7/bundle on honor system but there is no guarantee of availability (We recommend picking up a bundle of wood in town if you are planning to have a fire). Place firewood payment in mailbox at wood shed. Fully extinguish all fires upon departure. Quiet hours are 10pm-8am. Check out by 1pm. Dogs must be kept on leash (it's Michigan Law) and please clean-up with“Dog Spot” bags available on site. Potable water is available at spigot on west side of pole building. All trails are non-motorized. If you are here to enjoy the trails, please support the trails with a suggested $10/day donation or annual membership. An attendant stops in daily to check on campground and there is now a volunteer Campground Host that will be living on site that is available to assist at random hours. For Campground Info: 906-235-6861. Please make sure you have reviewed all information provided here before calling. For Emergencies: 9-1-1
$25 / night
Traveler
The Michigan Recreation Passport Solar does not cover local, county, municipal, or metropolitan parks or recreation areas.
Traveler
Whether you’re here for a quick stop or a longer stay, Solar Country Village RV Park offers a comfortable base for your Upper Peninsula adventures.
Traveler
Many campers have enjoyed the swimming beach and the nearby boat launch, making it easy to get out on the water. Solar As one happy camper noted,“The beach area for swimming in Lake Independence is nice with a pavilion, volleyball, and ping pong nearby.”
Traveler
For those looking to explore, Solar Superior Times is conveniently located near Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, offering stunning views and hiking opportunities.
Traveler
Hancock campground has LOTS of RV sites as well as some really nicely hidden/shaded tent spots. You can walk down to the beach as well as some hiking trails nearby down the road. Also, it’s about a 33 minute walk to some restaurants and shops in town. Clean, heated restrooms. As of October 2024 when im writing this, their dryer is out of order, so laundry unavailable. Campground attendant is very nice as well
Scout
Nice smaller CG. Not a lot of privacy between sites, lots of mature trees throughout the park. Nice clean shower houses.
Scout
Van Riper State park has very unlevel sites with no water and 30 amp service. Unacceptable with today’s campers. Time to update Michigan
TravelerCame to town for Blues Fest. Basically, just slept there. Grounds were well maintained as was the restrooms and showers. Met the staff every morning finishing their daily cleaning. Showers had plenty of hot water. Has a family rest room and shower with changing table and handicap accessible shower in addition to men and women restroom/showers. Had lots of shady campsites. Sites have electric but no water hook-ups, picnic table and firepit. Has WIFI, and I had no problem using my Verizon service.
Park has a day beach on a small adjacent lake. Campground bit more populated than campgrounds where I normally stay, but quiet. Also has access to numerous biking opportunities. Well suited for family camping. Didn't encounter any insect problems.
I was there Labor Day weekend. My site cost $40. per night which was a bit more than I'm used to spending but I was surprised to even get reservation so close to a holiday weekend.
Check-in is at 3:00, You can check-in early for an additional $10. fee, Checkout is at noon.
TravelerWe are not a big state park fan as, in Michigan, there are very close sites and tons of noise. This one was relatively quiet. The site were the standard Michigan close but the campgeound was t full and there many options to choose from. The lake is real nice and the beach area is clean, spacious and it has a general store that has firewood for sale. We first reserved a rustic site, then changed to an electrical hook up site after arriving. The ranger was very accomodating.
Traveler
This reservation only campground was well kept and close to amenities in Gwinn like their city park and diners. The full hookup sites were well marked but not a lot of shade and septic hook up was far back. There is a dump site on premise so we utilized that. Tent sites are well shaded and secluded from each other. Tenants were amazing and hiking trails were beautiful. The weather was too cold to swim but the beach area would be nice with warmer weather.
Traveler
We come up every year for the meteor shower, and every stay is a great one. New shower rooms, and huge dog park are awesome!
Scout
Very pleasant and new developed campground. We found this place out of sheer luck while looking for a campsite on the forest road. Great spot if you’re looking for something near to, but away from Marquette.
GuideI’m a very simple camper used to having space and quiet…this was not the best time to pass through for an overnight. I arrived and the campground was so loud with people and kids shouting. There is zero privacy (they pack you in) so be sure to get a spot along the edge where you’ll at least have trees. I was very surprised and grateful how respectful everyone was of the quiet hrs…other than snoring and some traffic it was quiet. On a positive, the pit toilet was really clean and spacious. And the ranger at check in was so nice.
Scout
Quiet rustic campground located on the RAMBA Mountain Bike Trail System
Traveler
Several spots in this rustic stop. The spot was amazing. Got to see a beautiful sunset and sunrise fun to watch bikers cross from the river and even saw a sea plane land on the beach.
Scout
Beware! I booked this campground over a year ago. I had to change plans due to family matter which prevented us from visiting this campground. I spoke with Jeff in October and he said not an issue and would refund my money. After multiple phone calls, he still hasnt refunded my money. He is now refusing to take my calls. Jeff is a liar, cheat and dishonest owner that shouldnt be trusted. If he turns this problem around I will update. We visited Gitche Gumee RV Park, no overnight stay. UPDATE: Jeff still refuses to talk to me. He is the worst Campground owner I have come across in my 3 1/2 yrs of full timing.
Scout
I can hear my neighbors talking at their campsite from mine. We are packed in here like sardines.
Beautiful area, though. Caught a rainbow just as we were setting up camp. And they had wood and ice.
GuideLooks Like this, Campground has been remodeling for years. A lot of kids won’t need a lot of work. Do you only reason we stayed was for a shower But the shower design was small and water everywhere
Guide
DO NOT BRING A STANDARD CAR DOWN HERE! Road was incredibly rough and no cell service. That being said, risking my lifted 4WD SUV was well worth it. I may have forgotten to get a permit. Oops. There’s a large turnaround at the end of the road with spectacular views. I turned left at the outhouse and found a similar spot. Flies and mosquitos were abundant but didn’t kill my vibe. Make sure to check the weather before you go. If it had rained overnight, I probably wouldn’t have been able to make it out.
GuideGreat spot on superior
ScoutCity run operation. Close to downtown Hancock. A few sites right along the canal. Variety of site configurations - from remote tent pads to open areas that permit families to set up camp units close together. Limited sites that have sewer, water, and/or electric.
ScoutOlder well established state park. Has high usage in summer. Being older, many lots in modern area are close together. Decent restroom/shower building. Poor wifi reception.
Legend
Really nice state park and campground. Sites are $30/night, and they all include 30 and 20 amp power. Dump station and water fill is available at the west campground entrance. You also need to pay a $11 daily state park fee, unless you have the $39 annual pass. The fee gets you into the state park area, and the fort was worth exploring, it's really nicely set up.
There are two separate campgrounds, east and west. We drove through the east one first and immediately hated it. Sites are open, no division between them, kids running around everywhere, big groups of people, just overall chaos. So we went to the west side and liked it much better. More tree coverage (which was fine because there’s power and we didn’t need the sun for our solar panels), sites had way more division between them (though far from completely private). There were still lots of kids and big families on this side but it was overall so much more quiet and pleasant.
If you’re in an rv and levelness is important to you, then I’d really try and not make reservations, but pick a site when you arrive. Some sites were completely level, some were fixable with levelers, and a few were straight up on a hill. Though the campground has lots of trees and narrow roads, we saw some huge class As and 5th wheels rolling through- there are a bunch of massive pull through sites here that made it easy for them I’m sure.
No cell service in this entire area but there’s free wifi at the bathrooms, which weakly reached our site that was several spots away from the bathroom. Nice free hot showers that run like normal (no button to push every 10 seconds). Trash bins but no recycling (Michigan is surprisingly bad at offering recycling!). Host set up is very nice, with a ton of brochures and info and free coffee every morning!
Legend
We ended up at this campground sort of on accident- it’s way out of the way and the road there isn’t the most pleasant (it’s mostly paved but in very poor shape). There was absolutely nobody there, other than day use visitors to the creek.
Lots of bugs attacking us as we walked around.
No trash service here- pack out your trash please.
This is a state campground, but it feels like a standard USFS campground. It’s a self pay situation, no host or rangers nearby. Being that it’s a state campground, you pay the $20 camp fee, and then another $11 per day state park fee (unless you have the $39 annual pass). The state park fee feels like a money grab in situations like this. I can see if there’s an actual state park with other activities and facilities that are connected to the campground, but this is literally just a campground, with no amenities other than a vault toilet. Hmph. $31/night is way, way too much for what you get here.
Zero cell service in this entire area. The road got worse driving east across the bridge past this campground, so if you are like us and wanted to take the scenic route along the coast to Marquette, I’d recommend not doing that unless you have a beefy vehicle and don’t mind all the bumps.
TravelerYou have to drive like 30 minutes down an old logging road that has atvs and dirt bikes running around. I wouldn’t suggest doing it in a car as some spots got really rough. Any standard suv or truck will make it just take your time. The views are incredible and there’s about 10 spots you can camp. There was some strong winds when I was there.
GuideVery nice place, well set up. It was super hot so the bathroom floors were sweating and wet But over all clean.
If you don’t have water it’s a bit of a pain but onboard tanks or jugs are doable.
Scout
A beautiful place. Very valuable for tourism and a great destination.
Camping near Big Bay, Michigan, offers a mix of beautiful scenery and outdoor activities. Whether you’re looking for a quiet retreat or a family-friendly spot, there are several campgrounds to choose from.
Camping near Big Bay, Michigan, offers a variety of experiences for everyone. Whether you’re looking for a peaceful getaway or a fun family adventure, there’s something for you in this beautiful area.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Big Bay, MI?
According to TheDyrt.com, Big Bay, MI offers a wide range of camping options, with 49 campgrounds and RV parks near Big Bay, MI and 3 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Big Bay, MI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Big Bay, MI is Van Riper State Park Campground with a 4.3-star rating from 27 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Big Bay, MI?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 3 free dispersed camping spots near Big Bay, MI.
What parks are near Big Bay, MI?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 10 parks near Big Bay, MI that allow camping, notably Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore and Pictured Rocks National Park.
