Best Tent Camping near Cheboygan, MI

Recent Tent Reviews near Cheboygan, MI

681 Reviews of 16 Cheboygan Campgrounds

• 

  Stacia R.

  Ranger

  

  Apr. 26, 2019

  Straits State Park Campground

  Unique View from camp

  We camped here two nights in July. The campground is very easy to find and is an incredible location if you want to ferry over to Mackinac Island. It is convenient to groceries, restaurants and other amenities if interested. The park appears well maintained with three separate camping areas. We tent camp, and had one of the best sites in the park (in my opinion). Site 1A is in the lower East section of the campground. The site is only a tent site & it is HUGE! It was much more private than the other sites, located on the shore of Lake Huron & has a fantastic view of the Mackinac Bridge. There is a small beach area within the park, a one mile trail to a viewing platform of the bridge, and a playground. The bathrooms were clean. Our campsite had a standard picnic table and fire ring. Campsites were moderately priced, but a Michigan Recreation Pass is also required, as in all MI state parks, so it gets a little more pricey. If I was returning to the area, I would camp here again.

• 

  Ashleigh M.

  Guide

  

  Jun. 6, 2018

  Wilderness State Park Camping

  Beautiful Tent Sites

  I stayed at one of the new tent sites over Labor Day and this quickly became one of my favorite Michigan parks! The tent sites are large and very private and right on the water. Don’t be freaked out that they are called hike in sites because the walk wasn’t any longer than from any other site to the car. The best thing for me is that these sites are so removed from the rest of the park that it didn’t even feel like a holiday weekend. It was very calm and quiet and I recommend the tent sites to anyone who enjoys unplugging in camp!

• 

  Tammy G.

  Guide

  

  Jul. 8, 2018

  Wilderness State Park Camping

  options from tent to cabin group cabin option too

  love this campground. when tent camping prepare for windscreen when cooking. beautiful sunsets amazing night skys

• 

  Misty F.

  Traveler

  

  Jul. 11, 2021

  Tiki RV Park & Campground

  Peaceful and clean

  Great staff. Clean facilities. Quiet tent site.

• 

  Ryan C.

  Scout

  

  Oct. 27, 2020

  Wilderness State Park Camping

  Great space!

  Wilderness was great, not what you are looking for if you are tent camping more of an RV park. Beautiful views though

• 

  Melissa M.

  Ranger

  

  Jul. 30, 2020

  Wilderness State Park Camping

  Heaven on earth

  This is our favorite rustic campground, Surrounded by woods and on the water edge.

  Tent camping - rustic waterfront, fire pit

  RV camping - electric/ water, fire pit

  Open your door and you are on the water!

• 

  Suzanne A.

  Scout

  

  Feb. 25, 2023

  Wilderness State Park Camping

  Wonderful Wilderness!

  Tent camped in site 441 right on the lake. Wide open spots (mostly campers in this loop but was fine for 2 tents), fairly close together but the views, the beach/water, the nearby activities entirely make up for that. Nice, clean bathrooms. Surprisingly no issues with bugs at all in early June!

• 

  Christopher P.

  Guide

  

  Sep. 5, 2021

  Stoney Creek Trail Camp

  Nice little metro park gem

  Nice little metro park for tent camping. Most sites are dispersed. You can pull your car up to the site for unpacking.

  Modern bathrooms and a snack shop on site.

  Park offers kayak, canoe, and row boat rentals. Also paddle boards.

  Disc golf and regular golf available.

  Nice sandy beaches.

• E

  Elaine G.

  Traveler

  

  May. 23, 2019

  Wilderness State Park Camping

  A family favorite

  I tent camped here with my parents, and came back often with my own children. Far enough from Mackinaw City for peace and quiet, near enough to visit all the attractions during the day. Tall trees and a beautiful beach. It,s a great vacation destination. One of the best state park campgrounds in a state full of beauties.

• 

  Sara S.

  Legend

  

  Jul. 25, 2016

  Straits State Park Campground

  beautiful views across the water

  Wooded tent camping spots on the water :) Decent water to wade or swim in. The best part though… the view! Beautiful view overlooking the water and the bridge. Such a spectacular site to wake up to and go to sleep admiring beyond the campfire. There are a couple trails to check out and this park is near to many attractions and restaurants (within minutes). Definitely a place to visit again!

• A

  Austin

  Traveler

  

  May. 27, 2023

  Wilderness State Park Camping

  Nice view of Lake Michigan

  Great campground only about 15 minutes from mackinaw city. Vault toilets but they are kept clean. Front desk was very nice and helpful. The tent site we stayed at had a good view of the lake and passing ships. Just a short 30 second walk from our site to the beach. Other sites are fairly close by but there is pretty good tree coverage for privacy from other campers.

• 

  Erica K.

  Traveler

  

  Aug. 20, 2018

  Straits State Park Campground

  Clean and great sites on water

  This campground is one of the cleaner state parks that I have stayed at in Michigan. there are beautiful sites near the lake, although I remember staying here as a kid when the beach access was better. Now there is a lot of beach grass (probably due to the park trying to preserve the grasses/beach) and the beach isn’t as nice as it once was when I was young. This is a very family friendly park. Prime times are during the car show in St. Ignace. a great place to stay if you plan on checking out the island for a day or so. Good prices for sites. I highly recommend tent camping so you can hear the waves at night.

• 

  Rachel G.

  Guide

  

  Jul. 23, 2020

  Black Lake State Forest Upper ORV Campground

  Beautiful rustic campground

  The campground itself was gorgeous, well maintained and spacious. (Tent) Camping there was the worst experience I’ve ever had. I pick rustic campgrounds for a reason. This one was full of RVs & 5th wheels all running on generators. There is no peace here. If you’re looking for quiet- it’s quieter at home than this place. Trying to sleep with an entire campground humming to the sounds of motors running all night was impossible. Ppl leaving their generators running even when they weren’t there. I would love to revisit this campground, but I won’t.

• 

  Tori K.

  Legend

  

  Nov. 4, 2024

  Straits State Park Campground

  Bridge views

  amazing views of the straits of Mackinac and the mighty Mac bridge! Absolutely loved camping here despite the nearly hurricane like wind and rain experienced overnight that ended up soaking all of my bedding. Bathroom and shower facility was nice and clean.

  But seriously, the best thing this campground has to offer are the amazing views of the bridge from many of the campsites. I had a waterfront tent site with the best view and it was so inexpensive.

• 

  Kathleen T.

  Traveler

  

  Jul. 3, 2018

  Straits State Park Campground

  Camping with a view

  I have camped here many times over the years, it is tucked away right near the Mackinaw Bridge. There are tent sites right on the water and you can watch the lights come on at night. There is wood to buy and the camp hosts are always keeping you updated on the weather and have plenty of ideas of things to do. The St. Ignas Trolly comes through and picks people up to go to the ferry there as well.

• 

  Bucky W.

  Guide

  

  Jun. 24, 2021

  Tee Pee Campground

  Nice location, tight spots

  This is a great location to camp if you are looking for proximity to Mackinac Island. The staff is very friendly and accommodating. They have electric and water but no sewer. There is a dump on the way out. The spots are very tight to navigate into and took some extra work for my fifth wheel. Tent camping or smaller campers would enjoy this site. The town nearby is cool, includes a nice bakery and a great RV/hardware store. Wifi is hit and miss. You can walk up to the water to get a nice view of the bridge.

• 

  Sarah C.

  Guide

  

  Jun. 26, 2018

  Burt Lake State Park Campground

  Decent for upper MI

  Took our family of four for a long weekend of tent camping. We had scoped it out before, so we had a general idea what spot we wanted, and reserved it online. The spot (304) was nice and big, and we had plenty of room. The park just seems more suited to RVs instead of tents, as do most parks up here. The facilities were nice - super clean bathrooms, great beach for the kids, even a dog beach. (Dogs are supposed to remain on leash on the beach.) There wasn’t really much of a playground for the kids, so they rode their bikes a lot. It was better than some we have stayed at, but not the spot if you’re looking for a little more rustic/private. You will certainly have neighbors.

• 

  Derek N.

  Guide

  

  Jul. 10, 2022

  Tee Pee Campground

  Something for everyone

  The sites are decently sized and come equipped with a fire pit. The showers had decent shower heads and lots of pressure. There are some swings dow by the lake for adults and kids. Everything is nearby (not really walkable) and the shuttle for Mackinac Island ferries will come pick you up. They do not have full hookups, but we got by fine for a week since we have a composting toilet.

  There is a small play scape feature by the lake. Plenty of folks tent camping as well as RVs. The campground has been here for quite a while and has mature trees. A small game room at the office features a pool table, air hockey, and a modern pinball machine.

• K

  Katie B.

  Scout

  

  Aug. 4, 2019

  Maple Bay State Forest Campground

  Mediocre

  This campground has tiny campsites that are very uneven. We camp in a tent so that was not ideal. There are about 8 lake side sites which are right across the road from the lake. Those were the best sites for size and view. The lake is really large so it is great for boating. The boat launch is right in the campground and it has two launches so it makes for quick access. You can anchor your boat in the water if you choose. If you have a boat you can access the Indian River which takes you to Mullett lake. Also you can take the crooked river to crooked lake but you have to pay a $10 fee for the locks. The water has leeches which was a pain with my 2 year old. She got one every time she went in the water. The campground does not have a host and dnr only came in the morning to check tags. The week we were here we had fireworks and a lot of noisy campers well past midnight.

• 

  Sydney H.

  Guide

  

  Apr. 24, 2021

  Straits State Park Campground

  Camping with Views of Mackinaw Bridge

  This campground is beautiful any time of year I have camped there many times before. There are great private tent sites as well as larger sites for groups. The facilities were modern and very clean! There are water and electric hook ups for campers and RVs. Short hike to the beach with the best views of the bridge! There are many campgrounds within the state park so getting a spot is relatively easy any time of the year. The UP is known for is breathtaking fall colors so I highly recommend aiming for peak color week to have the best experience. Make sure to dress for variable weather, it can get cold in the UP even in the middle of summer, and it can start snowing in early October so be prepared for anything!

• 

  Ari A.

  Legend

  

  Sep. 15, 2020

  Straits State Park Campground

  Great views, good cellular service

  This is one of our favorite state parks for just hanging out. We prefer the Lower West campground due to proximity to the water and views of the Mackinac Bridge.

  This place can get very busy and the sites are quite varied in terms of size, shape and how unlevel they are. Some sites offer a lot of privacy but others are more open. The sites right along the water are spectacular, but note they do not have electricity.

  If you have a van or truck camper, note that even the tent sites have electricity available, so consider those if the RV sites are full.

  The Lower West campground isn't the quietest campground but the views and atmosphere make up for it.

  Also note there is good cell service for Verizon and Google Fi (2 to 3 bars LTE with decent data speeds).

• 

  Emily M.

  Ranger

  

  Jul. 7, 2021

  Petoskey State Park Campground

  Typical State Park

  We had a nice tent site that the guy at the front help us pick out. The beach was nice and the sunset was very pretty. Squirrels took over our site in the morning, but not too buggy. The bathrooms were fine, but were constantly getting sandy and gross.

  There were a number of hiking trails that take you into the woods and up the dunes. Some are more difficult than others, but nothing miserable. The campground also has a path that connects to the bike trail. If you catch the trail, you can bike on paved path all the way to Charlevoix. That was a nice ride and I recommend doing that.

  The beach was beautiful and very wide. The water was calm and welcoming. There are lots of beautiful rocks along the shore (know any rules before you take them: it is illegal to take more 25Ibs of rocks from a Michigan State Park).

  The campground is on the edge of town. There are lots of restaurants and even a grocery store nearby. Much of it is in biking and even walking distance. 

  It was a nice stay, but nothing about it blew me away.

• 

  Cynthia K.

  Legend

  

  Aug. 15, 2023

  Tee Pee Campground

  Great views of the Bridge & Straits

   We stayed for one Monday night on our way to the Porkies. 

  This is an established campground. The sites are tight, most have no bushes/trees. We were lucky on our right side to have some privacy. The perimeter sites back into a chain link fence that has a view of the woods. This is on both sides of the campground. 

  The bathrooms/showers were clean. The showers had 2 large lips to step over. My mobility challenged husband had some trouble. 

  The best sites are 26,27,28,76&77. These sites are right by the beach & have great views. 27 looked like it didn't have electricity & might be a tent site. Strangely, 26 & 27 were empty the night we were there. 

  The beach is small & you can swim there. There's no pool. There's several swings & benches to sit & look at the water. There's a game room by the store.

  I did like this campground. It reminded me of what camping must have been like in the 50s/60s. A retro feel to it.

• 

  Maria L.

  Guide

  

  May. 31, 2018

  Hoeft State Park Campground

  A fantastic campground!

  I don’t know about the camper facilities, as we’ve only ever tent camped here. But I do know they have potable water and septic dumps for trailers and motor homes. It’s a very popular place in the summer, as it sets along the sandy beaches of Lake Huron. There’s a gorgeous old stone pavilion for larger parties or reunions, and plenty of camper spaces. It can get crowded and busy, but there are many trees and the sites are spaced far apart. There are special rustic sites away from the trailer and motor home sites. There is a little basketball court/floor hockey pad for kids, and a small playground, but not much else to do at the campground. However, for those who like hiking, there’s a beautiful little trail system and a bike path that stretches to miles from the harbor of Rogers City to the 40 Mile Point lighthouse a few miles north on US 23. There are restaurants, grocery stores, and gas stations in Rogers City, but the real draw is Lake Huron. It’s such a gorgeous stretch of shoreline with plenty of sandy beach and easy swimming access for hot summer days. If you come during the festival, be sure to get there a few days early!

• 

  Shari G.

  Legend

  

  Oct. 14, 2020

  Wilderness State Park Camping

  Sandy beaches, sunsets, and sunrises!

  This very popular state park is a real winner due to its gorgeous remote location, sandy beaches, and crystal clear waters along the shores of Lake Michigan-- located just southwest of the iconic Mackinac Bridge. The sunrises and sunsets alone are worth the price of admission!  And, we lucked out to be camping during a meteor shower, one of the best we’ve ever seen. We laid out on the beach and watch the night sky for hours. 

  All of the sites have electric hookups and are rather packed together, so there is literally no privacy between them if it’s a busy time of the season. The sites along the lakeshore are the best, and have direct beach access, but you need to be the early bird and make a reservation the morning that they open up. The campground hosts do a great job of keeping this park very clean. 

  Because of all the cool things to do and see at this park, we honestly didn’t sit around much during the day. We hiked, biked, swam, snorkeled, and paddled our hearts out. We made it out to the most remote islands that are part of the park and even found Petoskey stones along the shores. Some of the finest Lake Michigan paddling we've done! 

  We can’t comment on the bathrooms and there were simply too many people at this campground for us to feel comfortable using them during a pandemic, so we set up our own portable shower and toilet tent and it worked just fine. We would highly recommend this option to others who don’t have a bathroom in their camper or are tent camping. 

  The closest “real” grocery store is in Mackinaw City, about 30 minutes away. But, Mackinaw City is a total tourist trap, so I’d avoid going there unless that is your thing. There is a small general store for snacks, ice cream, ice, and adult beverages about 4 miles outside of the park.

• 

  Alexandra D.

  Scout

  

  Jul. 9, 2024

  DeTour - Lake Superior State Forest

  Beach and Stars

  As others have said, if you like a campground off the beaten path, this is it. We live in the UP and use this campground frequently for day and overnight use.

  Most visitors will likely head east on m-134 stop in Cedarville to grab provisions, gas and a snack there are a couple cute stores a bakery and ice cream in town. 

  The road to the campsites once you turn off m-134 is gravel/dirt and a bit windy, we usually tent camp so I am unsure how it feels to drive a trailer down it. Being so far off the road makes it a very quiet campground. 

  Bring cash or check and fill out your self-serve registration and pay for the site and if needed your Recreation Passport which is required. 

  Outer loop sites will keep you in the trees, sites closer to the water have trails that lead to the beach but access to the beach is reasonable for all sites at this campground. Plenty of sandy area to lay out and the water is clear and shallow. 

  Vault toilets, dumpster and hand pump water along with fire rings and picnic tables are the extent of the amenities at this campground, but if you come prepared it is more than enough. 

  On clear nights make sure to make your way our to the beach for some of the best stargazing!!

• 

  Rachel

  Guide

  

  Aug. 10, 2020

  DeTour - Lake Superior State Forest

  Private, spacious, with amazing beach. Just beware the sumac

  Drive-in first-come first-serve camping through the Department of Natural Resources, this was my favorite place in Michigan's upper peninsula so far to tent camp. It offers a variety of twenty or so spacious sites for different camping needs - groups, RVs, or private. Multiple paths through the woods reveal sandy beaches and crystal clear water on Lake Huron.

  We showed up to near max capacity on a Thursday night  and were lucky to grab site 14. Plenty of dead trees were to be found in the surrounding woods for firewood. However, while our camp site was clear and covered in pine needles, the edge and woods were packed with poison sumac - which we were warned about on the information board. Standing water was to be found in the woods around each site, which made for pretty thick mosquitoes throughout the day and evening. With a good campfire and bug spray, I felt able to deal with them.

  The sandy beach was beautiful and so peaceful! Small rocks in the shallow water make it slightly uncomfortable wading in, but once you get past the small grouping of rocks, it's very sandy lake bottom to swim and play on. You can hear the lake waves hit shore from your camp site in the morning and it's a wonderfully relaxing sound to wake up to.

  Multiple vault toilets were well stocked with toilet paper. A large dumpster is available for trash. A pump is available for water, although I did not test the quality of it and used my own bottled water. 

  In the town of DeTour Village, a 10 minute drive from camp, you can find ice, bottled water, a grocery and a couple of restaurants.

  I loved my time here and would absolutely return.