127 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Garden, Michigan features several campground options along the shores of Lake Michigan in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Portage Bay State Forest Campground provides primitive camping with sandy shoreline access and is located down a 7-mile dirt road for a secluded experience. Fayette State Park Campground combines camping with historic attractions, featuring the Fayette Historic Townsite within walking distance of the campsites. The area supports various accommodation types including tent sites, RV spaces with full hookups, and cabin rentals, primarily concentrated around Garden Bay and nearby lakes.
Access to campgrounds varies by season, with many sites operating from May through October or November. BayRidge RV Park and Fayette State Park offer full hookup services for RVs while forest campgrounds provide more rustic experiences with vault toilets and hand-pump water. "This campground is amazing. Secluded sites & a beautiful beach just behind each site. After Labor Day we were one of only 3 camping here," noted one visitor about Portage Bay. Cell service is limited throughout the region, particularly at remote sites like Portage Bay where campers report zero to one bar of service. The roads to some campgrounds become narrow and unpaved, requiring careful navigation especially for larger vehicles.
Waterfront camping receives consistently high ratings from visitors to the Garden area. Lake Michigan access is a major draw, with many sites offering direct paths to beaches or shorelines. According to reviews, the Portage Bay campground provides "a beautiful setting near lake, fell asleep to waves on nearby shore." Campsites at Fayette State Park offer both history and natural beauty, with one visitor noting, "The historic site is awesome and the beach is beautiful. Great sunsets. Night skies were gorgeous." Privacy levels vary significantly between campgrounds, with Portage Bay offering more seclusion while others like Fayette have sites described as "very close to neighbors." Most campgrounds in the region provide basic amenities such as fire rings, picnic tables, and access to toilets, with the more developed sites adding electric hookups and modern shower facilities.
"Portage Bay State Forest Campground sits on a little peninsula just outside the Shingleton State Forest Area south of HWY 2 in the Michigan Upper Peninsula."
"Nice small quiet camp ground on lake Michigan. Bring your own TP"
from $15 / night
Check Availability"Isolated, quiet park on Lake Michigan. Nicely spaced and shaded sites. Some level, many not so great. Big fire rings. Picnic tables. Electric hookups only."
"Site 53 and 54. 53 is nearly at the top of the horseshoe and has trail access to Lake MI. Site 54 starts a series of smaller, back in slot type sites."
"General: 41-site campground on a peninsula in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. All sites are FHU, and no tents are allowed. The campground is open May-October. "
"Beautiful views of lake Michigan. There is a restaurant there, but unfortunately it wasn't open. We were looking forward to trying it out. The campground also has spots to dock your boat."
from $50 - $65 / night
Check Availability"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."
"This is a great lakeside campsite just outside of Manistique. There is a main bathroom area with showers. Good shallow water to swim (and watch the beautiful sunset) but a little difficult to fish."
from $27 - $60 / night
Check Availability"On Lake Michigan. Large, private cement pad sites. Spotlessly clean. Full hookups. Bath and laundry facilities are some of the nicest I have ever seen. Staff is friendly and welcoming."
"It is perfectly located on Lake Michigan and easy access from highway 2. There is laundry, shower, and bathrooms for your convenience. Plus nice fire pits at each site and a playground."
from $36 - $85 / night
Check Availability"Great open sky site, next to the water. High winds, but local beach trail and historic town a short walk away with additional trails."
"Sites do appear to be close to each other and might be tight during the summer."
from $30 - $196 / night
Check Availability"This is a cool little retro campground with full hookup sites and lake access. It's close to a bunch of the UP attractions and the rates are very reasonable."
"Every site is close to the lake. We were there for 8 days and would stay there again. Didn’t use the bathrooms or the showers but they looked clean when I checked them out."
from $24 - $50 / night
Check Availability"Just yards from Lake Michigan. This is beech access nice shade, fire rings picnic tables. We were here a week in our 36 ft moterhome and tow Plenty of room 30A electric and water."
"Woodstar campground is right on the shore of Lake Michigan. It is a kid-friendly place with a long sandy beach and a large sandbar in the lake makes it a good shallow place to play in the water."
"We stayed at site 72, which was nice and flat and a quick walk to the water and bathrooms. Our site was so peaceful and we slept well. "
"We first checked out the ‘South CG’ and although it was on the lake, it was waaay too crowded for us. So we moved on to the west shore CG and it was def more our style. Quiet and rustic."
from $27 / night
Check Availability"There are over 20 sites, about half of which are located lake side (not directly on the lake, but there are little paths that lead you there and you can somewhat see the water from these sites.)"
"P.S. it is really close to Kitch-Iti-Kipi! Go see these phenomenon; it is special. This campground has everything you need and is a good central location if you want to set it as your base."
from $26 - $80 / night
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TravelerThis spot is beautiful for someone with a 4x4. Unfortunately my rear wheel drive tundra did not make it very far. That said, I walked the remaining 100 feet to the site, right on Lake Superior. There are local walkers, I encountered about 5 - 8 teams walking the beaches.
GuideDecent RV Site...lot adjacent to casino...economically priced..30/50 amp hook up. We stopped late in the evening needing a secure, safe site for a night....cross country RV travelers. Highly recommend...couldn't be easier or more convenient considering our routing and needs(mosquitos enjoyed our visit...so we didn't spend much time outside....but did venture in the casino for a visit)
GuideThere were no open sites when we got here on a Thursday afternoon so we had to stay in an overgrown site. It was very shaded from the trees so it was not great for our solar capabilities. Loved that there was a cute trail nearby though. No cell service for us with Verizon, only way to get it was to go 10 miles by the main turn in road. There’s no big towns nearby so you had to travel quite a ways for groceries etc. Campsites a bit close to one another for my taste but everyone was respectful so it was peaceful and lovely otherwise! Mosquitos were around definitely.
ScoutI saw on a different app that they had overnight parking with free electric hookup, no fee was mentioned. I called at 7:45pm and spoke with a guy in security and asked “Is it enough space to set up a tent there?” and he said “Yeah, you can put it on the pavement in a parking spot, we had a group of bikers here that did that not too long ago.” Verbatim. I asked if he happened to know if there were spaces available and he said yeah theres..1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 empty spaces right now. I said alright, great, thank you, have a good night. He said youre welcome, you too. I arrived at 8pm, set up my tent, which is a small 2 person tent, just me and my dog. I moved my jeep to a regular parking spot in the middle of the lot. Then i went inside to use the restroom and asked about buying some used playing cards, spent $20 in slots and came back out to sit in my jeep until about midnight when I went to my tent and got settled into bed. Then a guy comes out at 12:35am and says “Hey, we don’t allow tents here.” I explained that I had explicitly asked someone in security if it was ok to set up a tent and he said yes. The guy went back in and asked the manager about it, came back out with a second security employee and said we dont allow tents. I asked who was working security around 7:45 and they said theres 3 security employees and neither of them two took a phone call from someone asking about a tent. I asked ok then who is the 3rd person? They said we can’t give that information but you’re welcome to come in and talk to the manager. Did you pay for this spot? I said the guy I spoke with on the phone never told me I needed to pay but I can do that. He said well we don’t allow tents, this is RV only and they come in at all times of the night so if you want to come talk to the manager, you can. I said ok I’ll be packed up in ten minutes. So I went in at 12:50, they close at 1AM. As i walked in i heard the announcement saying the casino closes in 10 minutes, please print your tickets and make your way to the cashier to cash out. I asked the security guy “can you get your manager, please?”he said we close in 10 minutes but I’ll get her for you. I said “I know.” I simply wanted to tell her that she should make sure all her employees are on the same page and to avoid this problem in the future, she should inform the employee that gave me incorrect information of what the rules are. The security gaurd went over to the door where the managers office is, whispered back and forth for a few seconds, closes the door and says she busy, we’re locking the doors now, you need to leave. I said you just told me less than 10 minutes ago that i could speak with her. He said yeah that was when we were open, now we’re closed and you need to leave. I said you just told me you guys close in 10 minutes..? And what did that announcement just say? He hesitated because he knew it said they were closing in 10 minutes but he said its to let ppl know that they need to bring their tickets to the cashier. And i said so they have 10 minutes to do that… he said per the manager, we are locking the doors now and you need to leave. I said i just don’t understand why you said i could speak with her, you said you’re open for another 10 minutes but now 30 seconds later you’re closed? The manager then gets on the walkie talkie and asked if he’s good and he responded shes not leaving, can you get tribal on the phone? She gave a really enthusiastic “I’M ON IT!” And the guy tells me theyve got tribal on the way so i need to leave. His voice was shaky and he seemed like a ball of nerves. Im a single female in my late 20s. There was no reason for him to be so worked up. I never raised my voice, I didn’t cuss, I didnt even give the impression that I was upset. When he told me I couldn’t be there I politely explained that I specifically called and asked security about it and then when he came back outside i said ok ill be packed up in 10 minutes, I didn’t argue or give them any trouble about it. So i just kind of laughed and shook my head and left. The fact that they waited until 25 minutes until closing, well past midnight, to come tell me to leave, the fact that my tent had been there for 4 hours at that point, the fact that there were 5 other open spaces, the fact that I was told I could speak to the manager and then she was unwilling to do so, and the fact that I’m still in the parking lot because Im not about to find another place to camp at 1am and its now past 3am and not a single other RV has pulled in, all has left me with a very bad taste in my mouth. I just think they handled the situation very poorly, in my opinion. I understand that the spaces are meant for RVs, though the information on the other app did not mention that but I called ahead to confirm it was ok. They could have made an exception, made 20 more dollars than i already put in their machines, explain that it was a one time thing because of the miscommunication, or at the very least the manager could have spoken to me face to face. I’m also wondering, if RVs come in at all hours of the night as the secuirty gaurd says, how are they paying the 20$ to be there for the night if the casino is closed? I guess if you need a place for an RV that bad and all the campgrounds around are full like they are tonight, Its a last resort but I think you should give your money to anywhere else than to such an unprofessional business. If you’re in an RV, just go to any other parking lot to sleep. The management here is not good people.
TravelerOf the 50 available sites all looked private and all are dry sites. I arrived on a Sunday afternoon and had no problem finding an available site.
TravelerSuper easy to get to. 1.7 miles of a well maintained gravel road and the last .5 is more dirt but still well maintained.
RangerA yurt style tent, cabin, and camping spots within walking of Indian Lake access. Off the main road so quiet is a plus and not far from amenities in towns near by!
ScoutVery convenient to pictured rocks excursions. 2 miles. $45 water, electric, showers. Toilets (good).close sites, open to the lake, clean. Would recommend this spot again
GuideBay Furnace was divided into two loops with approximately 50 campsites. Some of the sites were more private but most were in plain view of the other sites. It was a fairly clean campground. The lakefront view from the furnace park was nice and the proximity to Munising was great. The area has an extensive amount of activities including the must see Pictured Rock Cruise.
Camping sites near Garden, Michigan generally offer access from May through November, though availability varies by location. The region sits at approximately 600 feet above sea level on Michigan's Garden Peninsula, jutting into Lake Michigan with predominantly sandy soil and mixed hardwood forests. Most campgrounds experience moderate temperature swings between daytime highs around 75°F in summer and cooler nights in the 50s.
Paddle Lake Michigan's shoreline: Portage Bay State Forest Campground provides excellent access for paddlesports enthusiasts. "Great spot for any paddling sports in the warmer months," notes one visitor, who has "camped here many times" and plans to return. The protected cove with shallow water makes it ideal for kayakers of various skill levels.
Explore historic ruins: Fayette State Park Campground offers a unique combination of camping and historical exploration. "When you camp here you can visit the townsite at night. I'm a photographer and i love the challenge of taking night pictures! I love the history here," shares one camper. The ghost town buildings remain accessible during evening hours, creating unusual photography opportunities.
Fish the local waters: Camp Seven Lake Campground offers productive fishing in a less crowded setting. "Great swimming and fishing lake! Sites are big and some even have electric," reports one visitor. The lake supports multiple species, and fishing from shore is possible from many campsites or from the dedicated beach area.
Privacy between sites: Many campers appreciate the seclusion at Portage Bay State Forest Campground, noting "Plenty of room between most campsites." Another visitor emphasized, "Secluded dense wooded area along the shoreline of Lake Michigan, which most sites have a trail leading to." This forest campground sits at the end of a 7-mile dirt road, contributing to its quiet atmosphere.
Swimming opportunities: Indian Lake State Park South Campground receives high marks for its swimming conditions. "The beach was very nice with shallow, warm water. That was the highlight of this Campground," reports a visitor. Another camper noted, "There are three bath houses and a pavilion. The water is so nice!"
Disconnecting from technology: Limited connectivity creates opportunities to truly unplug. One honeymoon camper at Portage Bay noted, "If you are someone who needs a break from social media, I highly recommend. Pros: Quiet near the shoreline. Clean campsites. Nice campers. Con (ish): there is zero cell service or plugs (that we noticed) so pre download your music/entire entertainment and have battery backups."
Road conditions: Access to several Garden area campgrounds requires careful navigation. For Portage Bay, "7 miles down a road that quickly shrinks to a one lane dirt and gravel road you will find a beautiful campground stretching out along the lakeshore. It's where the road ends so just keep going until you find it."
Limited cell service: Prepare for minimal connectivity throughout the Garden Peninsula. Indian Lake West Campground visitors report "Internet & cell connectivity was nonexistent with Star Link & TMobile." At Portage Bay, expect "0-1 cellular bars for ATT at #23, 1-2 bars at #1."
Campground amenities vary significantly: Facilities range from rustic to modern. At Camp Seven Lake, "There are no showers or running water. Camp hosts were very nice, helpful, & welcoming." Meanwhile, Manistique Lakeshore Campground offers "full hookups to rustic tent sites. Each site has a huge permanent firepit. RV lots are large and private."
Beach access for children: Manistique Lakeshore Campground receives strong recommendations for families: "This was such a surprise and such a great experience. Very clean campground, clean showers, great playground, beautiful beach and view of a lighthouse. Memorable experience for the whole family."
Explore Kitch-iti-kipi Springs: Located near several campgrounds, this natural attraction appeals to children. From Indian Lake West Campground, "The west campground is close to Kitch-Iti-Kipi. After having dinner at Clyde's in Manistique (great burgers!) we visited the Big Spring. It was almost dusk and the park was still relatively busy. The spring was awesome, and riding the raft out and back was fun."
Consider campground spacing: Site proximity varies greatly between Garden area campgrounds. At Fayette State Park, some visitors note that "the campsites are very close together and do not allow for any privacy." For more space, Camp Seven Lake offers "sites are nice and large. There was nice trees for the hammock. Quiet campsite."
Site leveling requirements: BayRidge RV Park requires preparation for uneven sites. "Have plenty of levelling equipment available!! Some are very level, some are not level at all. We were in spot 32 and 4" laterally and 19" longitudinally out of level to start with - at my max hitch jack limit and still 3" nose low."
Seasonal considerations: Most RV parks near Garden operate seasonally. Indian Lake RV Resort receives positive reviews but warns potential visitors: "For 2021 -monthly or seasonal reservations only." Many RV accommodations throughout the region close between November and May.
Maneuverability concerns: Larger RVs face challenges at some Garden area campgrounds. At Portage Bay, "Several brought pop up campers but larger RVs might have a tough time." Sites along the Garden Peninsula often have tight access roads with limited turning radius for longer rigs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Garden, MI?
According to TheDyrt.com, Garden, MI offers a wide range of camping options, with 127 campgrounds and RV parks near Garden, MI and 16 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Garden, MI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Garden, MI is Portage Bay State Forest Campground with a 4.8-star rating from 12 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Garden, MI?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 16 free dispersed camping spots near Garden, MI.
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