Best Glamping near Big Bay, MI

Recent Glamping Reviews near Big Bay, Michigan

78 Reviews of 12 Big Bay Campgrounds

• V

  Vicki J.

  Scout

  

  Jul. 23, 2019

  Perkins Park & Campground

  We like it there!

  It’s a County Park in Big Bay on beautiful Lake Independence. They have full hook up sites to primitive sites. You can walk/ride bikes to a convenience store, gas station, laundry, and restaurant. Golf driving range behind the convenience store, bucket of balls $5 and you don’t have to pick them up.
  Marquette is a 30 minute drive.

• 

  Lydia T.

  Legend

  

  Aug. 14, 2020

  Trails End Campground

  Unfinished but awesome

  This will be an awesome campground once it's finished. Sweet cabins and yurts.

• 

  Jeff P.

  Guide

  

  Oct. 9, 2020

  Craig Lake State Park Campground

  Camping in the Wild at its best!

  This is my absolute favorite place to camp, hike, kayak, fish, and just get away from it all. If you want seclusion, you can find it here with many remote campsites that are only accessible through the water or overland by hiking the trails in the park.

  The park has 2 rustic cabins and 2 yurts for rent that are a fantastic getaway and a great place to take your spouse.

  The wildlife include loons, eagles, bears, moose, deer and others. The lake has fantastic fishing for smallmouth, northern pike, crappie, walleye, and the occasional musky.

  I CAN’T WAIT TO GO BACK!

• 

  Shari G.

  Legend

  

  Oct. 24, 2020

  Trails End Campground

  A Campground Made BY Outdoor People FOR Outdoor People!!

  This campground was developed by people who love and use the outdoors, for people who love and use the outdoors! Inexpensive, clean, pretty and with campsites set spaciously apart this new campground feels like it’s been a part of the landscape for years. With nearby opportunities for mountain biking, downhill and cross-country skiing, road cycling, hiking and paddling on the big lake– or nearby smaller lakes, this campground is perfectly situated along the shores of Lake Superior to take full advantage of the best the “Copper Country” has to offer. 

  The sites have the usual fire ring and picnic table, with some overlooking the pond centerpiece of the property. The pit-toilets are clean, well ventilated, modern (automated hand sanitizer, it's the little things!) and also beautifully constructed. The campground also offers several adorable yurts and bunkhouse cabins for rent, which can sleep 6 comfortably and heated by woodstove fires. You know they have done it right by the bike hanging hooks perfectly placed on the side of the cabin. They know their clientele. 

  The quaint village of Copper Harbor,½ mile away, offers restaurants, bars, gas and a small grocery store as well as the ferry depot to Isle Royale National Park. With numerous historic sites within an hour’s drive, this makes the perfect getaway destination for history buffs as well. The Keweenaw National Historic Park has sites located up and down the peninsula. Right off Brockway Mountain Drive, the area is great for those interested in more motorized recreation as well. The view from the top, an easy 5 mile drive, is not to be missed.

• 

  Oli

  Traveler

  

  Oct. 18, 2024

  Craig Lake State Park Campground

  Good

  The Michigan Recreation Passport Solar does not cover local, county, municipal, or metropolitan parks or recreation areas.

• 

  Ashley W.

  Guide

  

  Oct. 29, 2018

  Michigamme Shores Campground

  Great place to visit

  My family and I took a 3 week vacation to visit Michigan. We stayed at a few different campgrounds, and did lots of hiking. We really like Michigamme Shores Campground (the name was really cool we thought!). The campground was really nice. We were able to get a spot by the little beach area they have- next to the Michigamme Lake. Being by the lake in the summertime was really nice! They have a cool trampoline type thing in the water that kids loved playing on. It was definitely busy, so the people in our group didn't get to jump off it. The beach area was clean, which we really appreciated. There are garbage cans and dumpsters within the park which helps with clean up. Lots of picnic tables, which we used during the times when we ate. The campground also has a playground area and beach volleyball. The campsites have hookups which is also really nice. The only downside to this campground was that because the lake and beach area is right there, it was pretty busy. Especially since it was in the summer- lots of partying/boating and people just being overly loud. Other than that, it was a great stay. Great hikes nearby, which we did every morning (3 different hikes). The views were amazing!

• 

  Shari G.

  Legend

  

  Nov. 1, 2020

  Big Lake State Forest Campground

  Winter comes early to the UP

  The Michigan State Forest Campgrounds continue to delight us. For $15 a night you can experience camping like I did as a child – simple, unelectrified, and in beautiful outdoor locations. Lots of space in between most sites gives you a good deal of privacy.  In mid-October, we woke up to full on winter one morning, so be prepared for anything in the shoulder season.  Also, the entrance to this campground is not for low clearance vehicles...it is full of HUGE flooded potholes (small ponds really).  Not recommended for 2 wheel drive, low clearance vehicles.

  Getting to Big Lake leads you through some marvelous pine meadows and wetlands with browsing deer and pheasants. The North Country Trail (long distance backpacking trail) winds through this part of the UP, and the Big Lake campground would make a perfect starting or ending place for a section hike. Within 10 miles back on the highway is a large gas station/convenience store and café where you could get a hot meal or stock up on a few essentials. 

  Opportunities for hiking, biking, paddling or fishing abound in this area, so plan to bring your gear with you. There is a small craft launch right in the campground to access the lake, which as it turns out isn’t very big when you compare it to nearby Lake Superior. I imagine that this might be a popular deer hunting campground during rifle season. Bathrooms are simple pit-toilets, and water is accessible year-round with the hand operated well pump.

• 

  Ari A.

  Legend

  

  Mar. 12, 2021

  Van Riper State Park Campground

  Great state park for families

  Van Riper State Park is a must-visit if you’re traveling through Michigan's Upper Peninsula.  It’s popular year-round, although camping is only open between May and October. Stop for the day to hike the trails and go for a swim, or stay a week and enjoy the sunsets and serenity.

  The state park covers both sides of the highway with the campground and day-use area on the south side and a huge section of trails and wildlife viewing areas on the north.

  There are 147 sites in the modern campground, including some sites with 50-amp electric service, and there are another 40 sites in the rustic campground. Plus, there are two mini cabins in the modern campground if you don’t own a tent or RV. All of the campsites have a fire ring and picnic table.

  One thing we noticed is that the sites at Van Riper are very large– so much bigger than many sites we’ve seen at other state parks. This means there is plenty of space for your trailer, truck, bikes, screen tent, kids’ toys, etc. without feeling like you’re infringing on your neighbor.

  Another plus for the state park is the laundry facilities. Two washers and dryers are located in the restroom building near the beach.

  Van Riper State Park is extremely family-friendly, with activities for everyone. There are approximately 5 miles of hiking trails on the north side of the state park. One trail provides a very nice overlook of Lake Michigamme and the surrounding area. Other trails run along the Peshekee River or through the woods and may even provide the chance to see the moose that live in the area. The trails are not difficult, but there is some elevation to get to the lookout. If you don’t want to hike the whole 5-plus miles from the campground and back, you can drive and park at the group campground and go from there.

  A sandy beach awaits both kids and adults on Lake Michigamme. The lake is popular as it is much warmer than most of the lakes in the Upper Peninsula. A large, fairly new playscape is also located near the beach, as well as a swing set. One of the most unique activities is a bike pump track. This is the only state park that we saw that had one. It was very popular with the kids and is conveniently located between the campground and the day-use area. The lake is popular for fishing and if you have a boat you can use the launch in the back of the park. It also is a good location for kayaking.

• T

  Tim L.

  Scout

  

  Aug. 28, 2022

  Perkins Park & Campground

  Great for Tents

  Good campground for tenting. Our no electric tent site was right on the water which was great for a quick cool off in the hot weather. Bathrooms were clean. Full hook up sites looked to be pretty uneven so be sure to bring options to help with leveling.

• 

  Katie M.

  Guide

  

  Aug. 14, 2021

  Perkins Park & Campground

  Family friendly and crowded

  Overall, this is a good option for coming near Marquette, especially if you have a trailer, a family, or are looking to post up for a bit.

  Pros: The campsite has a lot of amenities that are easily accessible. Each site has a table, a fire pit, potable water nearby and most have electric hookup. The beach area for swimming in Lake Independence is nice with a pavilion, volleyball, and ping pong nearby. You can launch your boat or fish from the dock. The views are beautiful.

  Cons: It's a crowded location that doesn't offer a lot of privacy. At 2am we were woken up by a boat coming back in from the water blasting it's music while the whole crew was loud and obnoxious.

• 

  S G.

  Traveler

  

  Aug. 25, 2021

  Perkins Park & Campground

  A nice beach park, great views.

  We stayed in our tents at this site. The sites are reasonably sized and well described on the county website, even details about how level each site is. There seem to be sites available for all sizes. Showers are great ($.25 for 6 minutes) and bathrooms are really clean. Great park for kids, boating (kayaking, etc). Laundry facility is outside the camp (private) but worth noting.

  Close to Lake Superior, just off of the Circle Tour. Marquette is within 30 min.

  Views of Lake Independence from nearly each site and beautiful sunrises.

• 

  Neil T.

  Legend

  

  Aug. 31, 2021

  Perkins Park & Campground

  Fun lake exploring!

  Vibe: Mix of retirees and families. 

  Cleanliness: Above average. 

  Facilities: Average. 

  General spots: Varies from right up next to each other to odd shaped spaces that have extra room and trees. 

  Our site: 40. One of the odd shaped spaces that had extra buffer room and big trees for shade. It was at an intersection at the camp and traffic was pretty steady during the day. 

  Noise: Mostly quiet. Kids played well after dark in a parking lot across from us, but quiet hours didn’t start until 11 and they were never a problem. 

  Cell signal(Verizon): Full bars. I streamed a movie (Anatomy of a Murder...see below). 

  Other: You can swim at Independence Lake right at the camp. If you want to swim in Lake Superior, Squaw Beach is about 10 minutes away. Ate the Lumberjack Tavern and found out about“Anatomy of a Murder” and that it took place at the tavern. Turns out the couple involved had a trailer at the campground.

• K

  Kyle P.

  Guide

  

  Apr. 17, 2019

  Perkins Park & Campground

  Nice place

  Tent camped here one night, nice quiet place

• 

  Rebecca B.

  Scout

  

  Aug. 3, 2018

  Perkins Park & Campground

  Fishing Family Fun

  Quite a few full hook up sites or camp with just electric. Lots of shade, a nice swimming beach, and great fishing.

• 

  Paige H.

  Guide

  

  Jun. 18, 2019

  Perkins Park & Campground

  Nice!

  This campground was really nice! I’ve tent camped here and camped in a hammock. Both were so fun!

• 

  Amie L.

  Guide

  

  Sep. 8, 2016

  Perkins Park & Campground

  Nice area but the campground was VERY noisy

  As an avid hiker, I love this area. However, this campground has a lot to offer. First, it's close to the Lumberjack Tavern. Around 1:30 a.m. or so, the people from the bar came back to the campground...and continued to drink, very, very loudly. When they finally settled down, I got an hour or two of good sleep before the kids woke up and started riding their bikes and yelling.

  The campsites are pretty close together and have no privacy. I was grateful that I was only staying one night.

• 

  Oli

  Traveler

  

  Oct. 18, 2024

  Perkins Park & Campground

  Good

  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.”

• S

  Sam ..

  Guide

  

  Jul. 22, 2021

  Perkins Park & Campground

  Perkins Park

  Perkins Park is a county-owned park situated on beautiful Lake Independence. The lake and beach are gorgeous. There is a boat launch near the beach and there’s ample room to park to watercraft there. The beach is easily walkable from any campsite, and there are nice walking trails around the park.

  Visitors to the park must pay $2 per vehicle per day to enter the park, and this is payable at the entrance.

  There is no store on site, but Cram’s General Store is right across 550 from the park. They do sell and deliver firewood at the park entrance.

  The sites on the north side of the park were all fairly small. We travel with a 34’ trailer and managed to squeeze in to site number 5. If you have a large trailer, you’d be much happier on the south side.

  There is a great mix of site types in this park. A lot of the sites are very small, on hills, or in tricky places, so be sure to carefully read site descriptions when reserving. They crammed too many sites in on the north side of the park. Sites number 1 and 24 flank the bathroom building (which I mention in the next paragraph) and people will be walking through your site to get to it.

  There is a small bathroom building on the north end of the park which left a lot to be desired. The doors and walls were covered in mayflies and there were a lot of insects inside of the bathroom building. The toilets didn’t work very well and it wasn’t the cleanest. The large bathroom/shower building in the center of the park was the nicest. The beach bathroom/shower building was outdated but otherwise okay. One thing not well-advertised was that showers cost 25¢ per 6 minutes, so make sure to bring change; we did not note a change machine anywhere.

  We managed to squeeze in to site 5, which was very narrow. We travel with a 34’ trailer. The site backs up to woods and a walking trail. There were tons of tree roots and a large tree in the site.

  Pros: Beautiful lake and swimming

  Full hookup sites

  Great mix of site types

  Walkable to amenities

  Playground at the beach

  Cons: Cell service is poor to so-so

  Some of the sites are narrow, unleveled, or just plain small

  Coin operated showers

  Most sites have little to no privacy

  Fill station is in a very weird place and you have to make a tight U-turn to use it.

• 

  Shari G.

  Legend

  

  Oct. 21, 2020

  Perkins Park & Campground

  Wasn't Expecting Much, but Blown Away!

  On the shores of Independence Lake, just south of Lake Superior, sits this gorgeous, sparkling clean county park with a well-managed campground. Wasn’t expecting much, so was blown away by the facilities for the low price. Lots of site options: non-electric, with electric only, with full hookups, walk-in or boat-in sites on the water, as well as a couple cabins. Sites are nicely spaced apart, but not much privacy between them. We chose the site right by the boat launch, which definitely has the most privacy when it’s not boating season. Lots of deciduous trees, making the fall truly glorious! 

  The campground was about 10% full upon arrival, and everybody left before we did, so we had the place to ourselves. Did we mention how much we love fall camping?!? Bathrooms and showers are clean and well maintained and spread out throughout the campground. 

  Tons of hiking, mountain biking, and water sports of all kinds around. Nice boat launch facility, as well as special place to launch canoes/kayaks. A large picnic pavilion with stone fireplace sits right at the waterfront. This is a reservation only type of place (with a $3 nominal fee), but the website allows you to book for the same day, and there is decent cell service at the campground. Win win! 

  Stock up in Marquette before heading out here as there is only a small gas station convenience store across the road from the campground, as well as a small café and laundromat.

• 

  Steve S.

  Scout

  

  Aug. 11, 2021

  Michigamme Shores Campground

  Nice campground.. things for kids to do

  Nice campground on the lake, with a big beach… They have a water toy park . I would come back.. good wifi

• S

  Steve

  Scout

  

  Aug. 25, 2021

  Michigamme Shores Campground

  Great spot,

  Beautiful lake, great swimming area, secure, full hook ups. Very helpful we came in late night- they left reservation info in the mail box for us. They have wrist band identification system and they do enforce it. There were several Large floating climbing structures in the swim area. Kids were having a blast. Great sandy beach with resort style lounge chairs. Large grassy area adjacent to the beach. Kayak and paddle boat rentals right on site. This place is pretty cool. Nice low key place -great for families.

• K

  Kyle P.

  Guide

  

  Apr. 17, 2019

  Michigamme Shores Campground

  Nice park

  A clean park with decent sized lots. Plenty of family activities.

• R

  Randall J.

  Ranger

  

  Jun. 30, 2019

  Michigamme Shores Campground

  Quick and convenient

  Not much for privacy but it’s right off the highway with full hook-up available and a great roadside bbq joint on site.

• J

  Jason S.

  Scout

  

  Jul. 20, 2021

  Michigamme Shores Campground

  Upper peninsula

  Very quiet and clean . Very relaxing

• 

  Rick G.

  Legend

  

  Aug. 14, 2023

  Van Riper State Park Campground

  Nice Park - Wrong Time

  Heading across the upper UP from upper Wisconsin and needed a one night stay to dump tanks, etc. The location was great and the park nice enough. Just happened to be there during the last ‘get the camping in with the kids before school starts’ time of the year. Dump station was fine and suited our needs. Verizon signal good as well. Easy in and out with our 28’ pull behind.

• 

  Art S.

  Legend

  

  Jul. 20, 2016

  Van Riper State Park Campground

  Van Riper State Park

  I arrived at Van Riper State Park by bicycle. The small towns I passed through did not have places to stop for food so I am looking forward to the beach's concession stand. I took a site in the rustic cmapground and found out that it does not include showers. There is another part of the campground that is for modern campers. I set up camp and spent a little time at the beach while I ate a small pizza. It was nice to have a beach area for summer swimmers. I had my own view of the lake from the campsite. This state park was a pleasant place to stay at.

• S

  Stephanie W.

  Guide

  

  Aug. 4, 2024

  Van Riper State Park Campground

  Serenaded by snoring

  I’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.