Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Escanaba, MI
Pioneer Trail Park & Campground and Gladstone Bay Campground accommodate pets at all their campsites, with both offering full hookup RV sites, tent camping areas, and some cabin options. Both campgrounds maintain clean facilities with free showers, making them popular bases for travelers with dogs exploring Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Pioneer Trail Park features spacious sites under tall pines with large fire pits, while Gladstone Bay provides direct water access with a 1,500-foot sandy beach where dogs can cool off. Sites at Pioneer Trail Park are generally larger with nice separation between campers, though some reviewers note the occasional issue with generators running overnight in tent camping areas. The campground layouts vary significantly in privacy levels between the two parks.
Hiawatha National Forest's Peninsula Point Lighthouse Access Road offers limited dispersed camping opportunities for those seeking a more primitive experience with pets. Only two official dispersed sites exist along this road, both located on the left side when heading toward the lighthouse. These sites provide stunning Lake Superior views and sunset vistas, with one camper noting the incredible Milky Way visibility and Northern Lights displays during their six-night stay. The nearby lighthouse area includes pit toilets and walking paths. J.W. Wells State Park Campground and Fayette State Park Campground also welcome pets, offering more developed camping options with electric hookups, drinking water, and shower facilities for those preferring established campgrounds while traveling with dogs. Most campgrounds in the region enforce standard leash policies and request proper waste disposal.
