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Gitche Gumee RV Park & Campground's shaded, wooded campsites provide a pet-friendly base for exploring Lake Superior's shoreline. Located on State Highway M28 E near Marquette, this established campground welcomes pets at all accommodation types including tent sites, RV spots with full hookups, and cabin rentals. Leashed pets are permitted throughout the grounds, though owners should keep dogs on standard leads when outside their camping area. Several campgrounds near Deerton maintain similar pet policies, including Superior Times and Rippling Rivers RV Resort, both offering tent and RV sites where dogs are welcome. The campgrounds themselves are a bit quirky with lots of character, but the owners care about their guests and maintain clean facilities. Bathrooms and showers are available at most locations, though water quality varies significantly with some campers noting particularly hard water that can stain equipment despite multiple filters.
Trails surrounding Au Train Lake Campground provide excellent opportunities for dog walking, with forest pathways offering shade during summer months. Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, accessible from several nearby campgrounds, features pet-friendly sections where leashed dogs can accompany hikers on designated trails. During peak summer season, mosquitoes remain active 24/7 around many campsites, making bug spray essential for both humans and pets. Beach access across from Gitche Gumee allows dogs to cool off in Lake Superior, though owners should check current water conditions before letting pets swim. Seasonal opening dates vary among properties, with most campgrounds operating from mid-May through September or October. Winter camping options for pet owners are limited, as most facilities close during the snow season. Veterinary services are available in Marquette, approximately 20-30 minutes from most campgrounds in the Deerton area.
"If you can’t get into the campgrounds in Pictured Rocks this site is a good alternative due to its proximity (three miles) the downtown and the entrance to the park. "
"AMAZING views of Lake Superior just steps away from the camp site. Spots don't stay empty for long. The RV park stays full"
from $29 - $45 / night
Check Availability"It's a small campground, but very near the lake, and the coolest part is the old blast furnace (hence the name of the camp on the bay) on display."
"Wonderful wooded sites and ours had a path to Lake Superior. Can be a little tight for big rigs. Best sites are reservable, rest are first come first served. No electric or water at the sites."
from $26 / night
Check Availability"Tucked away in a silent wooded area. Paved roads all the way in. 15 minutes from Munising. Was a perfect hideaway for us driving from SW michigan over memorial day weekend."
"Small, remote campground, located on a nice size inland lake in Hiawatha National Forest. Close to Au Train, Munising and Pictured Rock National Lakeshore."
from $26 / night
Check Availability"You can walk across the street to the beach along Lake Superior and are drive distance to Black Rock and Pictured Rock. They even have a brewery in the campground."
"Nice, clean, quiet right on the lake. Full hookups, level sites and lots of room for large gatherings at the party pit. A short drive to Marquette."
"We opted for the rustic campground which still allowed access to the bathroom and showers, but was secluded from the cabin and RV area. The lake access was great! Warm water and good fishing."
"Outhouse and showers were clean Electric hook up
Filled water at dump station We stayed in site 10 it was quiet and away from the core of the noise
Friendly staff Seasonals were a little wild and"
from $20 - $200 / night
Check Availability"Stayed on our drive from Mackinac to see the pictured rocks lake shore. The campground is surrounded by 18 miles of trails. No camp store, but a convenience store is a quarter mile away."
"This campground is in Marquette, near Northern Michigan University. But once you're camped there, you won't feel like you're in one of the largest cities in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. "
from $20 - $40 / night
Check Availability"Rippling River is a really nice campground, very close to downtown Marquette and right in/on a huge mountain bike park."
"Nice new place, located next to bike trails, orv trails, and the ski hill. Good location."
from $40 - $50 / night
Check Availability"Otter Lake Campground is nestled within the Hiawatha National Forest and a close driving distance to Munising, Michigan."
"Was about 5 minutes outside Munising. Great place to stay if your planning on visiting pictured rocks. It’s right on the lake too with boat rentals if you just want to hang around your campsite."
from $20 - $38 / night
Check Availability"Pets allowed on leash. Trash receptacles convenient to each area of the campground. Bath house with coin laundry machines."
"Very close to tourist locations."
from $40 - $45 / night
Check Availability"Near Au Train Falls. On 8 mile Forest Lake, with access. $15/night. Walk-in and lake sites. Beautiful, quiet spot with many regulars. Great for respectful campers. Great Dark Sky View!"
"Clean campground with access to the reservoir."
TravelerThis is a great lakeside campsite just outside of Manistique. There is a main bathroom area with showers. Good shallow water to swim (and watch the beautiful sunset) but a little difficult to fish. Staff is friendly. They even do weekly events such as "Traveling Trivia" for kids. Pet friendly too!
GuideOne of my favorite places to rustic camp! Sites are first come first serve, planning arrival for certain days and times is required so you can land a site. Hiking is the best part of pictured rocks, bring the right shoes and lots of big spray so you can enjoy Mother Nature’s beauty. No pets are allowed which is a bummer but understandable. I’ve seen bear while driving through the park both times I’ve camped in pictured rocks, so they’re definitely around!
ScoutLittle Bay De Noc, Lake Michigan access with a pier. Only a few campsites, but includes group fire pit, playground and proximity to Pictured Rocks, 1 hour. Lots of hiking and great motorized non-motorized off-road trails.
LegendThis park is located about 15 minutes from the town of Marquette and is a great alternative if you can’t get a site in the Marquette Tourist Park (which is closer to town and very popular in the summer). It is located off US-41 which is a major Upper Peninsula thoroughfare but set back about ½ miles so you don’t get road noise but it is still convenient. The campground is located behind (and within walking distance of) a shopping area that has a meat market, grocery, gas station, movie theater, bowling alley, a few restaurants and a brewery (which has good, inexpensive beer and food). It is also located next to an RV dealer/service center/camp store which is convenient if you need anything. Nearby are some interesting museums including the National Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame and the Michigan Iron Museum. You are only about 20 minutes from the town of Marquette which is worth a visit.
The park and facilities are well-maintained. The restrooms were super clean as was the pool and all the grounds. The people in the office were super nice in helping us pick a site and with information about the area. The park has over 105 RV sites with varying services and some being held by seasonal people. There are lots of amenities (which we did not use) including swimming pool, hot tub, playground, basketball courts, and more. The pool was super crowded and noisy so if you don’t want to hear kids screaming, stay away from sites close to the pool. The park does not take online reservations so you must call them directly.
We were assigned site #104 but could tell our motorhome was not going to get level in the site so we had to straddle the site and park partly in the adjacent grassy area. Luckily, the ground was dry to we didn’t make any deep ruts. Our site did have a nice shade tree on the patio which was welcomed because of the hot weather. The WiFi never worked at our site. We were able to get a clear view of the sky for our satellite television.
GuideWe stayed at Van Riper State Park three times during June and July. The park is always clean and well-maintained. The bathrooms and showers and generally always nicely maintained as well, and there are plenty of both. The bathrooms do tend to run out of soap and toilet paper at busy times. Dogs are not allowed on the beach but also cannot be left unattended in your site. The rules are heavily enforced in this park. Park staff will ask you to move vehicles if you have more than two, and you will be asked to turn music completely off upon quiet hours. This is not the place to go if you want to party.
Sites 15 and 17, as well as several other sites along that side of that loop, now have a wooden fence at the back of them, so they are not as large as they appear in the photos online.
We have stayed in sites 14, 90 and 93. We travel with a 34’ trailer.
Site 14 is narrow but manageable. It is well-shaded by large pine trees on the site. Site is entirely dirt. There are trees to hang hammocks or clotheslines in.
Site 90 is on a corner by the propane tanks. It is a large site. It does have some roots and low spots. It is partial grass. It has nice shade and is adjacent to the bathrooms. There are trees to hang hammocks or clotheslines.
Site 93 is a large site that backs up to a small grass/tree buffer. It is across the road from the bathrooms. It has nice shade. There is a place to hang a clothesline but not hammocks.
Pros: Clean, well-maintained park
Quiet
Lots of playground equipment
Bike/scooter pump track
Excellent beach area
Lots of green space
Hiking trails
Wood and ice available for purchase at the entrance
Laundry is available; one washer and two dryers
Very kid and pet friendly
Cons: Park website has out of date information, specifically that there is no longer a store on the beach, nor are there kayaks/SUPs to rent
The Water Warrior Island is no longer in the lake
There are very few sites with buffers between
It is sort of far to the beach and laundry from the modern campsites
No non-reservable sites available
GuideOur dd was excited that she could see the McDonald’s golden arches from our site! The campground is clean & well maintained. It was easy for us to park our 35 ft trailer because the sites are large & level, but also because there weren’t any trees along the campground roads. Our kids loved that there is a pool, hot tub & bouncy pillow! This is our 2nd time staying & both were because of its convenience to ‘civilization’ not to get away from it. This time we took the opportunity to enjoy the afternoon shopping in Marquette before heading to the eastern UP the next day for a week’s stay there. It is located in town, near a Camping World & just behind some restaurants, shops, a brewpub & a hotel, but the other sides of the campground are surrounded by trees/forest because it is the UP. A great campground if you want to explore the area’s history or natural beauty, shop in Marquette or if you are checking out Northern Michigan University’s campus (about 20 minutes away). Most sites are full hookup, they also have rustic cabins & a dog play area. I’m sure we will stay here again, as it’s a short trip for us, the kids love the amenities & I’d like to explore the area for more than our usual day trips.
GuideOpen, level gravel sites and some concrete pads scattered throughout this pretty new campground. A few baby trees in the open meadow are trying to get started, but other than those there is no shade. We stayed in a full hook up 50 amp site, and experienced no power issues despite 2 days of freakishly high winds and scorching heat in the 90s. This is an immaculately clean and well run campground. Wi fi is ok for email and phone scrolling social media. The only reason we didn't give 5 stars is due to construction in the campground with dump trucks and beep beep beep of machinery backing up every day. Once they are finished and the shade trees grow this will be a premier campground in a beautiful area. Pets allowed on leash. Trash receptacles convenient to each area of the campground. Bath house with coin laundry machines.
RangerStayed on our drive from Mackinac to see the pictured rocks lake shore. The campground is surrounded by 18 miles of trails. No camp store, but a convenience store is a quarter mile away. Northern Michigan university is at the door step as well. Lake superior is 1 mile away. We biked there and fished at the campground beach. Lots of Brook trout there.
TravelerWe reserved our site online. Having never been before we didnt really know what to expect. It was nothing less than perfect. Tucked away in a silent wooded area. Paved roads all the way in. 15 minutes from Munising. Was a perfect hideaway for us driving from SW michigan over memorial day weekend. Birdwatching trails for days and 4x4 trails surround.
Forest Lake State Forest Campground offers primitive camping in Michigan's Upper Peninsula with sites nestled along an 8-mile reservoir. Located approximately 20 miles south of Munising, this area features thick hardwood forests at elevations around 800-900 feet above sea level. Winter temperatures often drop below 0°F, while summer days typically range from 65-80°F with cooler nights, creating ideal conditions for summer camping near Deerton.
Lake exploration: Forest Lake State Forest Campground offers immediate water access for fishing and wildlife observation. "Enjoyed listening to the loons, sandhill cranes and osprey! Clean campground with access to the reservoir," shares Keenan in a recent review. The campground features several waterfront sites with a boat launch for accessing the lake.
Mountain biking: Rippling Rivers RV Resort connects directly to local trail systems. "If you love mountain biking or hiking you stay here. Period. You are right on the trails," explains Rory L. The resort provides immediate access to Marquette Mountain trails where riders can enjoy terrain varying from beginner to advanced difficulty levels.
Waterfall exploration: The Au Train Falls are accessible within a short drive from several campgrounds in the area. "We kayaked Au Train River and stood in the Au Train falls. The bird watch site at camp was amazing as well," notes Chelsea & Wes J. about their stay at Au Train Lake Campground. Multiple waterfalls can be accessed with short hikes through the surrounding forests.
Lake Superior access: The beach across from Gitche Gumee RV Park offers direct lake access. "Definitely a unique spot. The staff was really kind. They have some cool amenities like billiards and house crafted beer. The spots were spacious in the woods and had a good feel. Can't beat the location either, given it's right across from Lake Superior beach access," writes Brandon D.
Fishing opportunities: Many campgrounds in the area provide access to productive fishing waters. "8 mile Forest Lake, with access. $15/night. Walk-in and lake sites. Beautiful, quiet spot with many regulars," notes Jen W. from Forest Lake State Forest Campground. Both lake and river fishing are available throughout the region.
Dark sky viewing: The remote location offers exceptional stargazing opportunities. "Great Dark Sky View!" mentions Jen W. about Forest Lake State Forest Campground. The minimal light pollution in this region creates ideal conditions for night sky observation, with the Milky Way clearly visible on clear nights during summer months.
Limited cell service: Many campgrounds in the area have minimal or no cell coverage. "No cell service, but there is plenty to do to stay busy!" reports Nikki & Mike about Otter Lake Campground & Lodge. Plan accordingly by downloading maps and information before arrival.
Water quality considerations: Some campgrounds in the region have mineral-rich water that can affect equipment. "The campground has very hard water, to the point our shower is stained pretty bad even though we had multiple filters and a water softener," notes Noah P. about their extended stay at Gitche Gumee RV Park.
Reservation recommendations: Popular campgrounds fill quickly during peak season (June-August). "We reserved our site online. Having never been before we didnt really know what to expect. It was nothing less than perfect," shares Aaron Y. about Au Train Lake Campground. Make reservations 3-6 months in advance for summer weekends.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Deerton, MI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Deerton, MI is Munising Tourist Park Campground with a 4.2-star rating from 49 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Deerton, MI?
TheDyrt.com has all 113 dog-friendly camping locations near Deerton, MI, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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