Best Campgrounds near Eckerman, MI

Eckerman, Michigan serves as a gateway to several notable campgrounds in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, with Tahquamenon Falls State Park offering both modern and rustic camping experiences. The area features a mix of established campgrounds and dispersed sites across state and federal lands, including Hiawatha National Forest. Campground options range from primitive tent sites to full-service RV hookups, with several locations like Rivermouth Modern Campground and Lower Falls Campground providing cabin accommodations. Many sites sit along Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, or smaller inland lakes, creating diverse camping environments within a 30-mile radius.

Road conditions vary significantly throughout the region, with some campgrounds accessible via paved roads while others require travel on gravel or dirt forest roads. Most campgrounds in the area operate seasonally, typically from May through October, though some like Lower Falls Campground remain open year-round. Winter camping requires additional preparation due to heavy snowfall and limited services. Cell service can be spotty throughout the region, particularly at more remote forest sites. Permits are required for all state park camping, with the Michigan Recreation Passport needed for vehicle entry. "This campground is exactly as it's named; right on Lake Michigan. While it is directly off of US-2 and road traffic is noticeable and slightly distracting while sleeping, it's a perfect spot to set up camp for a day or two," noted one visitor about Lake Michigan at St. Ignace.

Waterfront camping represents a significant draw for the region, with sites along Lake Superior and Lake Michigan receiving consistently high ratings. Bay View Campground in Hiawatha National Forest earns particular praise for its Lake Superior shoreline. "Gorgeous Lake Superior shore experience! Fall asleep to the sound of waves," wrote one camper. Many campgrounds feature a mix of wooded and lakefront sites, with the latter typically filling first. Tahquamenon Falls State Park provides access to the region's signature waterfalls while offering modern amenities like showers and electric hookups. Primitive forest campgrounds tend to be less crowded but offer fewer facilities, typically limited to vault toilets and hand-pumped water. Wildlife viewing opportunities abound throughout the area, with several reviewers mentioning bear sightings near campgrounds.

Best Camping Sites Near Eckerman, Michigan (98)

    1. Rivermouth Modern Campground — Tahquamenon Falls State Park

    50 Reviews
    Paradise, MI
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (906) 492-3415

    $20 - $23 / night

    "This has and will remain my favorite campground in Michigan."

    "Located just outside of the town of Paradise on the Upper Peninsula of Michigan."

    2. Lower Falls Campground — Tahquamenon Falls State Park

    57 Reviews
    Paradise, MI
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (906) 492-3415

    $28 - $32 / night

    "Showers and a modern toilet are available in the modern portion of the campground which is a short walk through a playground and separating trees."

    "A must if you live in Michigan. Portage camp is a walk from the lower falls. Brand new and clean bathrooms. Sewage dump is a mile at hemlock camp. Get water there before you go to your site."

    3. Bay View (Hiawatha National Forest, MI)

    18 Reviews
    Brimley, MI
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (906) 203-9872

    $21 - $24 / night

    "Gorgeous Lake Superior shore experience! Fall asleep to the sound of waves. 

    Address of property:  19456 West Lakeshore Drive, Brimley, Michigan 49715

    There are no services nearby."

    "Best campground in Michigan. Sites aren’t too close together yet there are bathrooms in a reasonable walking distance from each site."

    4. Soldier Lake

    7 Reviews
    Eckerman, MI
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (906) 203-9872

    $24 / night

    "It was really quiet and the lake was beautiful. However in the morning someone was shooting birds or squirrels and bullets literally flew over our heads. But it honestly was worth it."

    "It has bee 8 years since i have been there, small lake with warm water coming up from bottom. Sandy beach, real primative. did have outside toilet, no power and no hook ups."

    5. Three Lakes

    4 Reviews
    Eckerman, MI
    4 miles
    Website
    +1 (906) 643-7900

    $16 / night

    "Amazing lakes with extra large campsites. This was another favorite during our trip through the Upper Peninsula of Michigan."

    "Wooded campground, lots of water to walk along and other trails nearby. Campsites are among three lovely lakes, which makes a pretty amazing atmosphere. Lots of wildlife and birds."

    6. Trout Lake Campground

    7 Reviews
    Eckerman, MI
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (906) 569-3299

    "This campground has lake access, sites on the lake, a playground, bathrooms, and is tucked away from everything yet still close to stores and restaurants"

    "Beautiful lake, good fishing"

    7. Brimley State Park Campground

    23 Reviews
    Brimley, MI
    23 miles
    Website
    +1 (906) 248-3422

    "The park offers a nice sandy beach, but we mainly used it as a ‘home base’ for checking out other upper Michigan attractions."

    "Some sites have trees in odd places, so positioning your camper can be a slight challenge, but the lake is right here and I love this park!"

    8. USFS 3536 Dispersed Site

    4 Reviews
    Eckerman, MI
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (906) 643-7900

    "Access to this FS Road is easy from M-28. We went to the coordinates, but found only one designated camping area, which already had a couple of campers there."

    "We found a good spot to tuck into for the night, while staying out of the way of all the trucks parked everywhere. Very quiet and serene."

    9. Hog Island Point State Forest Campground

    17 Reviews
    Naubinway, MI
    23 miles
    Website
    +1 (906) 635-5281

    $15 / night

    "Our site was just steps from Lake Michigan. Others were tucked in the woods. The out house was clean and we’ll stocked. There was a pump for water but no electricity."

    "the spots on Lake Michigan are the best, if you are in the wooded sites it can be buggy, can have secluded spots with paths right out to the lake"

    10. Monocle Lake

    11 Reviews
    Brimley, MI
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (906) 203-9872

    $24 / night

    "This campground is a hidden gem, close to the small town of Brimley, Michigan where you can purchase forgotten items, visit the library, or visit local tourist attractions."

    "It was quiet, sites are far from each other, and it was only a short drive from where we wanted to go."

Show More
Showing results 1-10 of 98 campgrounds

2025 Detourist Giveaway

Presented byToyota Trucks

Review Campgrounds. Win Prizes.

Enter to Win


Recent Reviews near Eckerman, MI

759 Reviews of 98 Eckerman Campgrounds


  • Joe C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 2, 2025

    Brimley State Park Campground

    Beautiful State Park

    Very few campers at this time of year. Be careful when selecting your site as there are many different sizes and some pull through sites as well. Water is throughout the park, but the only threaded faucets are at the dump station where you can fill up when you pull in. Very nice park and we would come back again.

  • Dan H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 2, 2025

    Big Knob State Forest Campground

    Nice away from it all

    Great, site 5 does not have a picnic table. Sites are large, varied, some not too level, $20, envelope system.

  • J
    Sep. 28, 2025

    Tee Pee Campground

    Fine for the area

    It’s a basic public campground in a busy town. Not much privacy and plenty of drunk RV’ers but I found a nice spot and had a good night. I found a nice long trail to hike that started in town.

  • Lindsey R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 27, 2025

    Seney Township Campground

    Nice little Spot

    After a sleepless night previously we needed a quiet spot. This filled the bill! Just 2 miles off the East West Rt 28 in middle of UP it was convenient and quiet. Even had 20 Amp or a less crowded park like site also available. Vault toilets too. Needed a bit of cleaning. But a great quiet ( though the electric side of park mostly filled) place to park for night.

  • RThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 27, 2025

    Carp River Boat Launch

    Free place to park, no trash, no water, no gray dump.

    This place has a lot of people driving through it, but it's a nice place to park. The beach smells like fish, but overall it's pretty nice.

  • Robert M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 24, 2025

    Mouth of Two Hearted River State Forest Campground

    The Campground is 5-star but getting there is another matter.

    Two-Hearted is a 5-star, rustic campground, with easy access to the water including a boat launch; for hikers, there is also access to the "North Country Trail". The sites have ample space with a firepit and picnic table. The privies were clean and well-kept as is the whole campground, and potable water is available. There is a scenic foot bridge over river. It is a short walk from any campsite to the river, or Lake Superior at the river’s mouth with fantastic sunsets from the beach. 

    There was a friendly host when we were there. He was heading out one morning and offered to shuttle us and our kayaks to point where we had a nice paddle back to the campground. I had to slip a twenty into the console of his pick-up as he refused any in-hand donation for his gesture.

     ANOTHER MATTER.

    Unless you enjoy extreme vibration, the journey to the campground is quite a trial, as are all dirt roads in the area. You may want to acquire an athletic mouth guard, because the deep ripple of the washboard road surface creates a teeth-chattering ride. I don’t know if that depends on the time of the year. My, “I survived the road to Crisp Point” decal was well earned, and I should have received the same in regard to the 2-Hearted River.  I had to replace 4 self-threading bolts that vibrated out of my kayak trailer, luckily, they weren't securing anything structural. You should also keep an eye out for sand traps. It took the removal of my kayak trailer, some foot scraping and brush beneath my rear wheels for me to get me out of one.

    When traveling in this area I strongly recommend a good map that shows and identifies each county road. Do not rely on Google maps as it can send you in the wrong direction, that’s how I ended up way out at Crisp Point. (Although the lighthouse was nice.) Google is also good at directing you down, what I would describe as trails that don't deserve their road names, more suitable for off-road vehicles, preferably dirt bikes. 

    The landscape in this is area is kind of spooky, a ghost forest, thanks to a wildfire a few years back. 

    This was one of the early adventures with my 18’ Class-B camper van.

  • Evgeniy D.
    Sep. 23, 2025

    Wilderness State Park Camping

    Clean, rustic, beautiful

    The staff member at check-in was very pleasant even though it was past her shift time. Stayed at walk-in site 113. It was clean and had sufficient privacy especially with site 114 being vacant. Vault toilet was clean and not far.

  • KThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 11, 2025

    Lake Superior North Shore

    Mosquito Hatchery

    Pros: just steps from the shores of Lake Michigan. Near whitefish point. 4-5 sites.

    Cons: about 2-3 miles down road of mosquito hatchery so you will get swarmed - only my late season (early sept) tour of UP, this was the only place I ran into heavy mosquitos and it was unbearable. Sites are closer than the pin shows and the furthest 2-3 are in deep sand/can’t be driven to on most vehicles.

  • KThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 11, 2025

    East Branch of Fox River State Forest Campground

    Spacious

    Found on way to another campsite. Large sites with plenty of flat ground for tenting. Think there were 19 primitive sites in total. There’s a water pump but no electrical. Each site has a picnic table and a fire pit. Does technically require a Michigan recreation passport ($40 out of state annual, $11 out of state daily, or $12 in state annual) and a $20 campsite fee but did not appear to be enforced late in the season when I was there.


Guide to Eckerman

Camping near Eckerman, Michigan, offers a mix of beautiful scenery and outdoor activities. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or an adventure-filled getaway, there are plenty of campgrounds to choose from.

What to do

  • Explore Waterfalls: Visit the stunning Lower Falls Campground — Tahquamenon Falls State Park to see breathtaking waterfalls. One camper mentioned, "Words cannot really explain the beauty all around," highlighting the park's natural charm.
  • Hiking Trails: The trails connecting the lower and upper falls are perfect for hiking. A visitor noted, "Convenient trails connect Lower and upper falls, 4 miles," making it easy to enjoy the scenery.
  • Kayaking: Rent a kayak at the Lower Falls Campground and paddle up the river. One reviewer shared, "We spent two days there, one kayaking around the lower falls," emphasizing the fun water activities available.

What campers like

  • Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate the well-maintained restrooms and showers. A review stated, "The bathrooms were large and clean," which is a big plus for many.
  • Spacious Sites: Many campgrounds, like Brimley State Park Campground, offer large sites. One camper mentioned, "Great campground, large sites right on the lake," making it ideal for families and groups.
  • Quiet Atmosphere: Campers often enjoy the peaceful environment. A visitor at Muskallonge Lake State Park Campground said, "Very clean, spacious state park," highlighting the tranquility of the area.

What you should know

  • Site Proximity: Some campgrounds have sites that are close together. A camper at Lower Falls Campground noted, "The sites are fairly small and close together," which might not suit everyone.
  • Limited Amenities: Not all campgrounds have full amenities. For instance, Mouth of Two Hearted River State Forest Campground has no electric hookups or showers, as one reviewer pointed out, "No electricity, but a beautiful beach for swimming."
  • Reservations Recommended: Popular spots can fill up quickly. A camper advised, "If I were to camp there in the future, I would be sure to make my reservations much further in advance," especially for busy weekends.

Tips for camping with families

  • Choose Spacious Sites: Look for campgrounds with larger sites, like Brevoort Lake Campground, where one camper said, "Great camp ground, large sites right on the lake."
  • Plan Activities: Make sure to have a list of activities. A family at Muskallonge Lake State Park Campground enjoyed swimming and hiking, stating, "The lake is good for swimming."
  • Pack Snacks: Keep snacks handy for the kids. One camper mentioned, "The campground was full of guests but quiet," which is perfect for family bonding time around the campfire.

Tips from RVers

  • Check Site Length: Ensure your RV fits the site. A reviewer at Tiki RV Park & Campground noted, "The site was barely long enough for my 39' 5th wheel."
  • Look for Full Hookups: Choose campgrounds with full hookups for convenience. A camper at Brimley State Park Campground appreciated the electric hookups, saying, "All the sites have electricity in the Modern campground."
  • Be Prepared for Weather: Bring tarps or mats for wet ground. One visitor at Tiki RV Park & Campground mentioned, "We ended up sleeping in the car because the ground was so wet due to rain."

Camping near Eckerman, Michigan, has something for everyone, from families to RV enthusiasts. Enjoy the great outdoors and make some unforgettable memories!

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best camping spots in Eckerman, MI?

The Eckerman area offers excellent camping options with lakefront views. Hog Island Point State Forest Campground provides clean, well-spaced sites just steps from Lake Michigan with primitive facilities including outhouses and a water pump. For another spectacular waterfront experience, Bay View in the Hiawatha National Forest sits on Lake Superior's shore where you can fall asleep to the sound of waves. The campground features numerous beachfront sites and is considered by some to be among the best in Michigan. Both locations offer primitive camping experiences with stunning natural beauty and enough privacy to enjoy the Upper Peninsula wilderness.

When is the best time of year to visit Eckerman, MI for camping?

The prime camping season in Eckerman runs from late May through September, with July and August offering the warmest temperatures for swimming and water activities. Lake Michigan At St. Ignace is particularly beautiful during summer when you can enjoy stunning sunsets and moonrises over the lake. For those seeking fewer crowds, Wilderness State Park Camping is ideal in early June or September when the secluded sites surrounded by trees provide a peaceful experience while still offering pleasant temperatures. Fall brings spectacular foliage, cooler temperatures, and fewer insects, making it perfect for hikers and photographers, though nights can get quite chilly.

What outdoor activities are available near Eckerman, MI?

The Eckerman area is a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts with diverse activities. Water sports dominate the scene at Little Brevort Lake North State Forest Campground, which offers excellent kayaking and a non-motorized boat launch with scenic lake views. Hiking opportunities abound near Lake Superior State Forest Campground, with trails that connect to the popular Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Fishing, swimming, beachcombing, wildlife watching, and photography are also popular activities throughout the region. The area's numerous lakes and forests provide endless opportunities for exploration, making it an ideal destination for nature lovers.