Best Glamping near Escanaba, MI

The customer service at this campground is impeccable. Bathrooms are always amazingly clean. Small camp store has all the basics. Playground for kids. Campsite was very clean. Tent sites have lots of mosquitoes, so be prepared. Cabins and yurts also available to rent. Couldn't have asked for a better experience.

We got our new Marmot Tungston 4P tent so I took the wife and kids on a quick weekend trip to J.W. Wells State Park campground in Michigan's Upper Peninsula to test it out. I found J.W. Wells by searching for waterfront camping along Lake Michigan. There are plenty of state and national parks along Lake Michigan but not many where you can pitch your tent right along the waters edge like J.W. Wells. It also happened to be the only site within 4 hours drive of Northbrook, IL (N. Suburb of Chicago) with such close proximity to the waters edge that I could find.

The site itself is tucked right along the Green Bay coastline about 1 hour drive north of Green Bay, Wisconsin. There is a main campground for tent and RV but we chose to stay at 1 of 3 rustic tent sites a little north of the main campground. The campground was well maintained with picnic tables for each site, firepit, and a nice well groomed plot of grass for us to pitch our tent and setup camp. The main campground has showers and a playground right in the middle.

The view from our site was majestic, especially watching the sun rise over the horizon of Lake Michigan. The sunrise was the pinnacle moment of this trip. And that's really the only reason why I gave it 3 stars. The campground itself and the views are incredible, it's just that there isn't much to do around these parts. There are a couple short trails for hiking or ATV's and the Cedar River about a mile north of the site which I assume has some fishing and boating, but that was about it. The only other activity we found was to drive 30 mins north to check the small harbor town of Escanaba. Really not much to see or do there either.

I probably wouldn't recommend this campground for families or persons looking for lots of activities or places to see and visit while camping. It's great for a simple quick getaway with a great view to just sit around camp and relax.

When we pulled into this campground we couldn’t believe how empty it was. Compared to all the other campgrounds we had been to in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and seeing as it was still the busy summer camping season we were shocked. We were wondering what was “wrong” but nothing really surfaced. It could just have been that we were there during the week and the weekend rush hadn’t come yet. 

There are 96 campsites that sit on 74 acres so there was plenty of room for us to walk our dog and not feel like we were going in circles. Campsites are the usual mix of pull thrus and back-ins, rustic tent and water/electric. None of the sites have sewer but some have 20/30/50 amp electric with water and others are rustic tent sites. The electric and water sites long enough for any size RV but leveling may be difficult in some of the sites (which are grass). Picnic tables and fire pits accompany every sites. Some sites have their fire pits located at the back of the sites which makes for a big line of fire pits which was kind of weird. There are some large pine trees that provide some shade but this is not a wooded campground by any means. 

For a county-run park there are plenty of amenities including WiFi which was slow and depends on where you are located in the park.  The showers and flush toilets were clean but a little on the old side. A store sells ice, firewood, soda, snacks and ice cream. There is a really nice picnic pavilion that would be great if you had a lot of people in your group. It is covered with a “kitchen” area and lots of picnic tables. Since the park is on the Escanaba River there is a boat launch (albeit not really suitable for large boats with deep draft) and you can fish from the bank. Disco golf fans will love the 27-hole course that winds through the woods and property. For the kids, a playground area is large with lots of things for them to climb and play on. 

The park is located off HWY 2 so access is easy but there is a bit of road noise. Plus, when we visited there was road construction going on that produced traffic backups and more noise. But the real problem is the train tracks that runs alongside the campground and seemed busy 24/7. It is not so bad in the front of the park but back where the tent section is must be pretty bad if you are in a tent.

This was our first experience at this park in the southern section of the western part of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.  Many of the sites are just feet from Lake Michigan.  We listened to the waves all night long.  The park is very well maintained and clean.  We checked in on Labor Day just as the majority of campers were leaving.  The individual sites are grassy with many trees throughout the campground.  The restrooms/showers were spotless and constantly maintained.  While this was our first stop, it won't be our last.  Being that close to the lake is wonderful.

Nice state park campground with grassy, but tight sites. Located right on Lake Michigan. Very nice beach. Showers were okay, but always seemed a little dirty

Great views of Lake Michigan! Beautiful sandy beach just a short walk away! Really nice playground for the kids. Overall, one of our favorite places to connected camp!

Fantastic.. group cabins available.. great for big family outings. But great facilities and camping sites. You can fish Lake Michigan or swim off the beach or hike the park.

One line of sites is right in the water. Like all the Michigan SP we’ve been to, getting a big rig set on the site takes a bit of skill. Should have wonderful sunrises.

Campground Review: Indian Lake State Park, South Shore, has become my favorite State Park in Michigan! This was my first visit, and I'm in love. Great location, well maintained. 5 minutes from Kitchitikipi, or the Big Springs, 5 minutes from Lake Michigan. Lovely lakeside spacious sites.

Gear Review: La Siesta Travel Hammock- very cool, compact hammock! My first ever hammock/hammock experience, and it was a huge success! Easy up, easy down, the rigging was easy and simple to figure out. Tips and hints about where to locate your hammock, hammock angling, etc. would be appreciated in the instructions. Overal a great product though.

This is the last Michigan State Park Campground as you are heading south and entering WI.

Beautiful views of the Lake looking east and south to Washington Island and Door County Peninsula. Nice stream and playground for kids to play in and on. Mostly grassy campsites so things get a little wet after heavy rains. Most sites have electricity and water.

Waterfront sites here are hard to get but reserving early is totally worth it. Beautiful state park with great hiking and biking trails. Right on Lake Michigan with nice sized sites and a beach, concession stand, kayak and paddle board rentals, tennis courts, nature center and so much more!

Large campground on shore of either Lake Michigan or Bay of Green Bay in Door County, this is a very popular area with many activities.   Must have State Park Pass plus camping fees. 

Excellent beach area, private wooded campsites. Hike bike all around, golfing near by as well as scenic drives. 

Egg Harbour, ferry to Washington Island, Door County cherries, fishing, rentals of most varieties.

No. No, they can’t. This place lives up to every glowing review. It’s quiet, every site is wooded and offers privacy. Throw a dart at the map and you’ll get a great site. It’s clean, well kept, spotless bathroom and shower facilities, lovely little camp store manned by friendly people. And hallelujah, a playground to get my kids out of my hair, positioned in front of their office/store so it feels safe, too. Walking distance to Lake Michigan, the Mink River, and Grandma’s Swedish Bakery, in the heart of northern Door County. We will absolutely be back.

One of my favorite places to camp! It's a beautiful campground, with great hiking trails and fantastic views of the clear waters of Lake Michigan. Because of how amazing this place is, it does fill up and it can very busy on the weekends, especially in the warmer months, like July and August. Depending on the time of the year, it's best to make a campsite reservation in advance by at least a couple of months for this place. But they do offer walk up campsites. When I went in late May/early June, it was a little cooler of weather so not as many campers! I enjoy camping in south nicolet bay campground; it has easy and close access to the swimming beach and camp store. My favorite campsite is 868 for its views, and then 856 for its privacy. The campsites are close to one another, but there tends to be lots of shrubbery and trees in between the campsites, so you don't see your neighbors too much.

When visiting, I would recommend trying to bring your bicycle to Peninsula State Park! It's a large park and has an wonderful bike trail called Sunset Trail, which travels throughout the state park and brings you right along the shores of Lake Michigan. Also, try to hike Eagle Trail! Even though its difficult, it has some beautiful views of the lake and bluffs. There is lots to do at Peninsula State Park, along with some beautiful scenery and has become one of my favorite places to camp since I was a child.

This park is one of my absolute favorites!! We camped here often with my grandparents when I was a child & several years later I still love ever second at Peninsula State Park. Last summer I got engaged along the trails of the park, right on the lake, so it will always hold a special place in my heart :)

The park is located in the town of Fish Creek, which can get busy with tourists, but is still fun to shop through the local stores. The trails & the views at Peninsula are breath-taking. The sunsets over Lake Michigan are remarkable!! Highly recommended!

Very clean and quiet. Right now because of Covid the only sites you can get are water and electric and the cost is $28 a night.

I really liked the camp ground. I didn’t like the rv’s in the tent/rustic campsites running their generator’s all night long.