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.
$15 / night
"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"
"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."
"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."
$30 - $45 / night
"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."
$36 - $85 / night
"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."
$25 - $29 / night
"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."
$24 - $50 / night
"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."
"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."
$26 - $80 / night
"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."
TravelerFirst time doing this at a free campsite. Huge site easy access right off small road. 5-6 cars drove down to see lighthouse and back and a few walkers as well. Will be back.
LegendPortage 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. This campground is not hard to find but it is a drive away from the main road. As you head further into the forest and closer to the campground the road narrows. There is still room to drive your RV to the campground but be cautious as some traffic can be coming from the opposite direction so pay attention and be courteous to other drivers.
As you enter the campground you will enter from the South entering on the West end of the looping around to the East shore where the 23 available campsites sit. All sites sit on the shore but some are closer to the shore than others and access to Lake Michigan is more accessible on some sites compared to others. Some sit directly on the lake and some have hills blocking the view, but you can set your tent up on the hill for a spectacular view. Having the hill on your site does help cut down on the cool breeze that can come off the lake. You can tent or RV on these sites and the sites are rather large offering you a variety of camp set up!
Pit toilets are the only toilets available. There are a couple walking trails, nothing difficult or long but they offer beautiful scenery and gorgeous walks in the woods and to the lake.
This is a rustic campground and available by walk-in or drive-in only. People that camp here like to keep things quiet! I am not saying that it is not kid friendly but lacking amenities and being a good distance from any town you might want to reconsider if you have young ones. There are some small towns on the peninsula to pick up some necessities but the nearest town of any size is almost an hour away in Manistique.
LegendIf you are looking for some great views and relatively easy hiking and an adventure then look no further than Grand Island! Grand Island sits in Lake Superior North of the city of Munising and near-by Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, in fact while hiking the island you will have plenty views of Pictured Rocks! You will start your experience at the Grand Island Ferry Service where you will purchase you ticket and book your time to cross over to the island. I planned ahead and got there a day early and checked in with the staff to make sure times and tickets were available for my preferred departure. The ferry service offers a building that offers gifts and souvenirs available as well as maps of the island and some hiking needs like mosquito nets and bug spray if needed. I would recommend if you're interested in souvenirs or gifts to purchase after your trip back from the island. Parking was free overnight at the ferry station.
Once you depart for the Island it is maybe a 10 minute ride to the Island. After getting off the boat you are given clear instructions on how to get back to the mainland when you are ready.
While camping you can book reservations for campsites (or cabins) at www.recreation.gov but it is not necessary as you can camp anywhere on the Island as long as you are 100 ft from cliff edges, roads, other campsites, inland lakes and creeks and trails. I would recommend booking a reservation as those sites offer bear poles to hang your food from the many bears on the island. I did not see any bears on my visit but a couple people on the ferry ride back to mainland did see some.
The hike is relatively easy with a few steep climbs. I was told to hike counter clockwise but I wish I would have hiked clockwise instead as it seems there would have been less inclines as well as better on coming views instead of looking back to get views on the west side of the island. I was able to hike halfway around the island in a matter of about 3.5 hours and camp out at just around mile 11 where I had water access from Lake Superior to fill up the next morning to complete the entire trip around the island for my hike back to dock. I had to gather and chop my own wood for fire at night but some campgrounds do offer stocked wood for fires, check the Grand Island website to find which ones.
ScoutCamped during a snowstorm at the end of Decembers. Lots of tree cover to protect from winds and plenty of firewood. Well worth it
ScoutAwesome
ScoutFine little sites with electric and a picnic table. Nice stop for an overnight. Casino is nice and clean-friendly staff. 2025 rates $20 for 20 amp and $30 for 50 amp
TravelerNo water or showers but great location with electric. Back up to Lake Michigan and wake up with the sunrise.
ScoutLong nice road with a few pull offs once you are close to the end there is one official site with a table and fire circle. Is first come first serve but if you keep driving down there are two different boat launches with room to park/camp. We stayed in our car just in case. NOTE! the camp site is closed for updates until the end of October apparently. No service with mint
ScoutSolid spot. About 10min from Munising.
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 126 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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