Andre I.
Traveler
TravelerCarp River Campground
Price high
Stayed at many NF sites much better facilities for the cost. Hosts are , Awesome and bar-non the best there is.
Camping near Eckerman, MI
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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. Camping near Eckerman spans from primitive tent sites and dispersed forest sites to full-service RV hookups and cabin accommodations, with options across state and federal lands including Hiawatha National Forest. 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 Campgrounds near Eckerman (101)
1. Rivermouth Modern Campground — Tahquamenon Falls State Park
"This has and will remain my favorite campground in Michigan."
"Located just outside of the town of Paradise on the Upper Peninsula of Michigan."
from $20 - $23 / night
Check Availability2. Lower Falls Campground — Tahquamenon Falls State Park
"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."
"Portage is the most popular campground, due most likely to the closeness to the lower falls. We arrived on a Sunday in September and it was almost, if not entirely, full."
from $28 - $32 / night
Check Availability3. Bay View (Hiawatha National Forest, MI)
"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."
from $21 - $24 / night
Check Availability4. Soldier Lake
"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."
from $24 / night
Check Availability5. Three Lakes
"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."
"Some sites have nice lake views. Paddling and hiking were great. Our 2 night stay turned into 10 nights."
from $16 / night
Check Availability6. Rivermouth Pines Campground — Tahquamenon Falls State Park
"This has the same entrance as the Modern campground but is a road to the left that follows the river bank. It is rustic campground and no generators are allowed."
"We have stayed here many times, but on the rustic side (same entrance as modern). Beautiful campground, clean, with incredible views."
7. Trout Lake Campground
"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"
8. Brimley State Park Campground
"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!"
9. USFS 3536 Dispersed Site
"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."
10. Hog Island Point State Forest Campground
"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"
from $15 / night
Check Availability
Drive Time
- 2 hrs 43 min from Traverse City, MI
- 3 hrs 9 min from Midland, MI
- 3 hrs 11 min from Bay City, MI
- 3 hrs 51 min from Green Bay, WI
Recent Camping Photos near Eckerman, MI
235 Photos of 101 Eckerman Campgrounds
Bansi D.
Soldier Lake
Shari G.
Rivermouth Modern Campground — Tahquamenon Falls State Park
Jeff P.
Bay View (Hiawatha National Forest, MI)
Nona A.
Lower Falls Campground — Tahquamenon Falls State Park
mike K.
Garnet Lake State Forest Campground
Jeff T.
Monocle Lake
Sean N.
Bay Mills Casino RV Campground
Yetiman
Newberry Campground
Gerard E.
Kritter's Northcountry Campground
Samantha B.
Brimley State Park Campground
Gerard E.
Andrus Lake State Forest Campground
Dawn K.
Hog Island Point State Forest Campground
Recent Reviews near Eckerman, MI
770 Reviews of 101 Eckerman Campgrounds
Tiffany V.
GuideCarp River Campground
Great Option Nea St. Ignace
About 15 minutes to St Ignace. Quiet and clean. COLD at the end of May! (26 Degrees! ) Friendly camp host. We were the only people there. Paved road until campground, then easily access gravel. $24 cash or check only. Hidden gem by the river.
Gerard E.
RangerMouth of Two Hearted River State Forest Campground
May of 26
5-21-26, Mouth of the Two Hearted Campground.
sunny, 50 degrees, breezy. Site 8, small and mostly level, close to neighboring sites as I stayed one night testing out my truck camper.
The drive in is easy, could be dusty, muddy and washboarded all on the same day. The County has done a great job this week as the road was smooth and dusty. Take 500 off of 123 to 414 (Pike Lake Rd) to 423 (2 Hearted) right to the bluff overlooking the campground.
Campground is mostly full, tents to 5th wheel campers. There were four sites on Loop 2 open when I arrived at 2:30 and they filled by 5 pm on a Thursday.
Cellular T-Mobile 1 bar 5G to 3 bars LTE
No Electric or water hookup, fresh water at the hand pump.
$20 for MI Passport Holders.
The sunsets are amazing, you can hike part of the NCT, rock hound on the beach, relax and many people bring their SxS.
Buy your firewood before arrival.
- Gerard E.Ranger
Pike Lake (Paradise) - State Forest
May of 2026
Friday May 22, 2026
Pike lake state forest campground was sunny And 60, the campground is nestled in a little community right on the lake with large pine trees, good sun/shade options. Two pit toilets, clean and with sanitizer.
I’m sure the sites fill quickly in the summer. No electricity or water hookup but a pump is located at the entrance.
1bar LTE with T-Mobile and most of the sites are not level so if you have a camper bring enough leveling blocks. A nice gravel/concrete boat launch area.
Firs Come First Serve on the reservation at $20 for passport holders.
Firewood was for sale at the entrance, but i would buy before arriving.
Shawn S.
Legendtaquamoen falls state park
What a Forrest
The mosquitoes were horrible in July! Weather was great though with very comfortable temps in the heat of summer. Spots on the top of the hill are older and smaller. The better part of the campground is on the lower part of the park. It was newer and would better for large rigs. Hiking was amazing here and the falls are super. The restaurant was good.
- Gerard E.Ranger
Clark lake campsite
Spring
Off of the Clark lake Loop, semi level site with toilet privy. Access to water at Clark Lake. Very rustic
- Gerard E.Ranger
Andrus Lake State Forest Campground
Andrus in May
5-20-26, Andrus Lake State Campground Sunny, breezy, 42 degrees. Site 25, large level site, good fire ring right on the lake and plenty of space between either side, close to the privy. The privy is a pit toilet but very clean. There is potable water here, but no electricity no water hook up. Cellular was 3 bars 5G using T-Mobile, better service at the site vs in Paradise.
7 miles from Vermillion, great for history and rock hounding.
Part of the campground is flooded from melting snow and heavy rains. $20 per night for passport holders, but your firewood before you get to Paradise, 1/2 the price. $5-10ish.
Terriel H.
ScoutTee Pee Campground
Camping
Me and the family camped at Tee Pee Campground last year during the weekend of the bridge walk. The camp ground and facilities were clean and the staff very friendly. I would definitely cajmp there agian.
- Gerard E.Ranger
Kritter's Northcountry Campground
Fall ‘25
Site 26 20amp only Sept 7-15, 2025. Wi-Fi faded on and off, maintenance was out to fix. T-Mobile 1 bar LTE Amazing store and staff. Showers were older but nice. Mostly shade. Bugs, minor mosquitoes Aurora was out, did some yooperlite searching on Lake Superior.
Guide to Eckerman
Winter camping near Eckerman presents unique challenges due to snowfall exceeding 200 inches annually in parts of the Upper Peninsula. Several campgrounds remain accessible year-round despite the harsh conditions, with some offering walk-in tent sites when roads aren't plowed. Seasonal timing significantly impacts site availability and amenities across camping spots near Eckerman, Michigan.
What to do
Snowshoeing trails: The area around Lower Falls Campground offers extensive winter recreation opportunities. "Snowmobiled, snowshoed, hiked, cross countries, oh and nice waterfalls," notes Michael T. about winter activities directly from the campground.
Fishing: Multiple inland lakes provide good fishing opportunities near camping areas. At Monocle Lake, "the lake was great for swimming, the fishing was awesome. Clean outhouses, and pump water was cold and clean," according to Yvonne T., who visited the campground.
Lake Superior stone hunting: Lake Superior beaches near camping areas feature interesting rocks and minerals. Sharon H. found that Bay View Campground offered "gorgeous Lake Superior" access where families can enjoy "some free games/beach items available" for activities like collecting stones along the shore.
What campers like
Secluded lake access: Soldier Lake Campground provides intimate lake settings away from crowds. Pat H. notes, "Our campsite was located approximately 10 yards from the water, which made it easy to launch our kayak. Water is easily available from most sites, along with pit toilets which were very clean."
Quiet wooded settings: Many campers appreciate the privacy at smaller forest service campgrounds. Regarding Three Lakes Campground, Laura M. observed that "Sites are green and well spaced apart, lots of trees, nice amount of privacy though one of the sites (I think #9) was just all out in the open - so this might be a good one if you need sun for solar."
Beach proximity: Campsites with direct beach access receive consistent praise. At Bay View Campground, Kevin found "easy beach access and clean amenities, thanks to great camp hosts who have two firewood/game cabinet stations in the campground, this little spot is wonderful to visit."
What you should know
Variable road conditions: Access to many campgrounds requires preparation, especially in shoulder seasons. At Three Lakes, Amber A. found "Tons to explore in this area. Wooded campground, lots of water to walk along and other trails nearby. Campsites are among three lovely lakes, which makes a pretty amazing atmosphere."
Limited cell service: Connectivity varies dramatically between campgrounds. Thomas V. reported about Three Lakes Campground: "T-Mobile cell was 2 bars with booster and intermittent without. Loved this place. Quiet, beautiful, spacious and private."
Reservations vs. first-come sites: Know which campgrounds require planning ahead. At Tahquamenon Falls, Beth B. shared they "took a chance and did not reserve a site and was able to stay a night," but notes the campground was "busy on weekend" with only "minimal ATT cell service."
Tips for camping with families
Beach play areas: Brimley State Park offers family-friendly beach access. EmmaLee H. describes it as a "nice quiet park, cute cabins, nice spots throughout the park. Short walk to a clean beach. Ranger programs for kids, nice playground."
Spacious tent sites: Families need room to spread out equipment. At Monocle Lake Campground, Gail N. stayed "in site 24, which was big, backed up against the woods, away from everyone else, and next to the bathrooms. The camp hosts were also nice!"
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Many campgrounds offer chances to spot wildlife. At Soldier Lake, Pat H. observed "deer, grouse, and the camp host told us that they had signs of bears in the area," making it perfect for nature education.
Tips from RVers
Limited hookups: Even modern campgrounds have hookup restrictions. At Tahquamenon Falls State Park, Tom notes "no water hook ups" despite being a state park campground with nice sites and adds "there is a water fill station on the way into the campground."
Size constraints: Many campgrounds have tight access for larger rigs. Kris W. warns that at Monocle Lake Campground, "most bigger Campers and RVs can't stay here. There are many trees too close to roadways for turning corners, and many branches are hanging low overhead."
Dump station locations: Plan for waste management before arrival. At Bay View Campground, Steve H. cautions "no dump station but one nearby at casino in Bay Mills" and reminds campers about water limitations with "hand pump for water so if you have a camper, fill up elsewhere."
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best camping spots in Eckerman, MI?
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?
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?
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.
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