Delta County's Upper Peninsula offers year-round pet friendly camping near Escanaba, Michigan, with mixed forest and lakeshore environments. The area averages 35 inches of rain annually and maintains warmer summer temperatures than surrounding regions due to the moderating effects of Lake Michigan. Most campgrounds in the region sit at elevations between 580-700 feet above sea level, creating minimal hiking difficulty but excellent shoreline access.
What to do
Lighthouse exploration: The Peninsula Point Lighthouse area, located at the southern end of the Stonington Peninsula, offers more than just camping. Visitors can explore the lighthouse grounds with walking paths and pit toilets. One camper reported, "Stayed for 6 nights and loved all of it... Caught northern lights, Milky Way, and glorious sights every day" at Peninsula Point Lighthouse Access Road - Dispersed.
Disc golf: Pioneer Trail Park features a 27-hole disc golf course that winds through woods and property. A visitor at Pioneer Trail Park noted, "Access to fishing right at our site and disc golf across from our camper!"
Historical tours: Fayette Historic State Park offers self-guided tours of a restored ghost town. As one camper at Fayette State Park Campground explained, "The historic ghost town was a great way to spend a couple hours" with "many buildings open during the day with displays of what life was like when the town was occupied."
Beach activities: Little Bay De Noc provides swimming and fishing access with sandy beaches. A visitor reported, "Short walk to sandy beach. (Less than 25-30Yds). Deer in camp when we arrived." The campground offers direct access to Lake Michigan for various water activities.
What campers like
Natural night skies: The area's limited light pollution creates ideal stargazing conditions. At Peninsula Point Lighthouse Access Road, a camper noted the incredible visibility of astronomical events: "Caught northern lights, Milky Way, and glorious sights every day."
Beach access: The sandy shorelines are consistently mentioned in reviews. At O. B. Fuller Campground, visitors appreciate that "all sites are within a short walking distance of the beach and some are right on the beach," with one camper noting their site "had a good mix of beach and woods."
Clean facilities: Multiple campgrounds maintain high standards for bathrooms and showers. A visitor at Gladstone Bay Campground praised "very clean bathrooms and showers are free!" while another camper mentioned this park "has some of the cleanest bathrooms and showers that we have seen all summer long."
Site spacing: Many campgrounds offer well-spaced sites. At Little Bay De Noc, campers enjoy "fair to decent spacing between most all sites. Some are VERY private!" One reviewer noted, "The sites are huge," and another said sites feature "good amount of space and trees between them."
What you should know
Limited dispersed camping: Peninsula Point Lighthouse Access Road has only two official dispersed camping sites. A camper clarified, "There are only 2 dispersed campsites available here, and both are on the left side of the road (heading towards the lighthouse)."
Generator usage: Some campgrounds have issues with generator noise in tent areas. At Pioneer Trail Park, one camper reported, "I didn't like the RVs in the tent/rustic campsites running their generators all night long."
Occasional industrial odors: At Gladstone Bay Campground, several reviewers mentioned unusual smells. One noted a "constant smell of exhaust from an unknown source," while another reported a "very strong gas smell" that fortunately "was only for the first night."
Water levels: Seasonal changes can affect shoreline access. A reviewer at J.W. Wells State Park mentioned "some sites are low, so water flows to the site on rainy days," indicating visitors should check conditions before booking.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Several campgrounds feature dedicated children's areas. O.B. Fuller Campground has "a small playground for the kids" near the beach, making it convenient for families to switch between activities.
Beach swimming: J.W. Wells State Park Campground provides "a trail leading to the picnic shelter and sandy swimming beach" with "really nice recreational activities (basketball, tetherball, horse shoes)" that create multiple options for families with children of different ages.
Wildlife viewing: Multiple campgrounds offer opportunities to see local animals. One camper at Little Bay De Noc reported, "We saw a porcupine hanging out in a tree and eating leaves, deer and a turkey," providing educational wildlife viewing for children.
Seasonal events: Some parks host scheduled activities during peak times. A visitor mentioned that J.W. Wells State Park has "events for kids to keep them entertained, especially on holiday weekends."
Tips from RVers
Dump station availability: Not all campgrounds offer this essential service. A camper at Little Bay De Noc noted, "For RVers, no dump station, no water fill, no electric, but the sites are huge."
Site leveling challenges: Several campgrounds have variable site conditions. At Island Resort & Casino, visitors enjoy "all level black top parking pads with a side lawn and picnic table," while at other campgrounds, "leveling may be difficult in some of the sites."
Hookup options: Electrical service varies between locations. A visitor at Gladstone Bay Campground reported having "an electric spot with a 50, 30, 110 electrical hook up," indicating versatility for different RV requirements.
Seasonal pricing: Many campgrounds offer extended stay rates. One camper noted Gladstone Bay has "weekly and monthly rates too," which can provide significant savings for longer visits during the prime May-October camping season.
