Seasonal camping near Deerton, Michigan offers options from rustic tent sites to full RV hookups. The region receives significant Lake Superior snowfall in winter, with most campgrounds operating between April and October. Sites in the area range from shaded forest sites to open gravel pads within 15-30 minutes of Marquette's amenities.
What to do
Lake Superior beach access: At Bay Furnace Campground, visitors can enjoy a small beach area right on Lake Superior. "There were waterfront sites, vaulted toilets, fire rings with grill tops. For those with RVs there was a dump station as well," notes Lisa R. The campground also features historic bay furnace ruins within walking distance.
Mountain biking trails: Rippling Rivers RV Resort provides immediate trail access for outdoor enthusiasts. "If you love mountain biking or hiking you stay here. Period. You are right on the trails," says Rory L. The resort sits adjacent to a network of maintained trails, with a "grom trail" that runs next to the top campsites.
Explore local history: The area offers several historical attractions within short driving distances. At Bay Furnace Campground, "We love the history of the campground with the bay furnace within the limits. Where they used to smelt iron in a 150 year old furnace is fascinating," shares Corey O. The National Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame and Michigan Iron Museum are also accessible from nearby campgrounds.
What campers like
Clean facilities: Many RV parks near Deerton maintain excellent bathroom facilities. At Country Village RV Park, visitors appreciate the maintenance: "The bathroom and showers are super clean. Plenty of hot water," reports Pete D., who found the campground "professionally done" with well-maintained sites requiring no additional leveling.
Lake views: Superior shoreline views rank highly among camper preferences. "Sites 9-11 watching sunset from your own tent just can't be beat!" shares Beth H. about Bay Furnace Campground. Another camper at Gitche Gumee notes, "Our site was nice and a short walk to Lake Superior."
Recreation amenities: Several parks offer on-site recreation facilities beyond camping. At Rippling Rivers RV Resort, visitors enjoy "pool/hot tub, putt putt, excellent bar, camp store," according to Craig C. Country Village RV Park also features "a nice pool, however, not much privacy," according to Kyle P.
What you should know
Limited shade at newer parks: Many recently developed RV parks near Deerton lack mature trees. At Picture Rocks RV Park, "It's a newer park but well maintained. The sites are well layout, with a good amount a space between sites," notes Sam C., though they add "It will take sometime for them to grow to provide very much shade."
Seasonal operations: Most campgrounds in the area operate between April/May and October/November. At Indian Lake RV Resort, visitors should note changing availability: "For 2021 - monthly or seasonal reservations only," according to Jennifer B.
Variable cell service: Connectivity varies significantly between campgrounds. "Cell service is pretty good (Verizon)" at Picture Rocks RV Park according to Tee D., while other parks may have limited coverage. At Rippling Rivers Resort, one camper mentioned Wi-Fi access issues that disappeared during their stay.
Winter accessibility: The Deerton area receives significant snowfall, limiting winter camping options. One exception is Ojibwa Casino Baraga RV Park, which operates year-round with "Huge parking lot off the highway, so no road noise," according to Thomas V.
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly amenities: Look for campgrounds with specific family features. Country Village RV Park offers "a pool, hot tub & bouncy pillow!" according to Jessica P., who adds, "Our kids loved that there is a pool, hot tub & bouncy pillow!"
Beach exploration: Lake Superior beaches provide natural play areas. "The beach with plenty of neat rocks and glass is a good way to spend a day," Beth H. notes about Bay Furnace Campground. Some campgrounds like Rippling Rivers have river access as well.
Look for shade options: When camping with children in summer, seek shaded sites. "Our tent location was entirely shaded and made it feel as though we were camping in a forest," reports Amie L. about Rippling Rivers, though they noted tent sites were small and not level.
Plan for insects: Bug activity can impact family outdoor time. "There were a lot of bugs while we were there, so it was hard to stay outdoors for a long period of time during certain times of the day," Sam C. shares about Picture Rocks RV Park, suggesting families bring screen tents for comfortable outdoor seating.
Tips from RVers
Site conditions vary: RV sites range from basic to premium across the Deerton area. For full-service sites, Whitefish Hill RV Park provides "long 80-90 foot level pull thru's with full hookup sites and free wifi," according to Patricia V.
Check hookup quality: Evaluate utility connections before setting up. Indian Lake RV Resort has sites where "The water, sewer, drain pipe, and electric hook ups are all in very good condition," according to Mike S.
Consider seasonal options: For longer stays, look into monthly or seasonal site rentals. "For 2021 - monthly or seasonal reservations only" at Indian Lake RV Resort indicates some parks prioritize extended-stay campers during peak season.
Leveling requirements: Many sites require minimal adjustment. At Country Village RV Park, "The site was what looked like a mixture of gravel and recycled asphalt and was mostly level," according to Sam C., who found some sites needed additional leveling work.
Free overnight options: Budget-conscious RVers can utilize casino parking. Kewadin Casino offers basic electric sites for $20 per night with unexpected perks: "You get a free $5 casino credit per night per person staying. That was an unexpected bonus!" shares Victoria K.
