Upper Peninsula camping near Garden, Michigan offers waterfront sites surrounded by dense forests at elevations ranging from 580 to 650 feet above sea level. The camping season typically runs from May through October, with July and August bringing average temperatures in the mid-70s. Local RV parks and dispersed camping options provide access to both Lake Michigan and numerous inland lakes across the region.
What to do
Lighthouse exploration: 4 miles from Garden. Peninsula Point Lighthouse Access Road offers dispersed camping with water views. "The area is gorgeous, it's surrounded by Lake Superior, and there is a really neat old lighthouse with pit toilets at the end of the road," notes a camper. "I would have rated 5 stars if there were more sites available, but if you manage to snag one of the permitted ones, lucky you!"
Monarch butterfly migration viewing: seasonal. Peninsula Point Lighthouse Access Road is known for its monarch butterfly migration. "Would love to be there for the monarch migration," shares one reviewer. Another camper confirms, "Caught northern lights, Milky Way, and glorious sights every day."
Casino entertainment: 15 minutes from Garden. Island Resort and Casino RV Park provides camping with casino access. "The casino is smoke-free. It states that the tables are open from 10am to 2am. Not all tables are available though," explains a camper. "The slot machine options are abundant."
What campers like
Clean facilities: consistently mentioned. Indian Lake RV Resort and Campground receives praise for cleanliness. "Cleanest campsite bathroom I've been in. Our site looked right over Indian Lake," writes one reviewer. Another camper adds, "Didn't use the bathrooms or the showers but they looked clean when I checked them out."
Waterfront views: premium sites available. Several rv parks near Garden, Michigan offer water views. "Site 50 has beautiful view," notes a camper at Pictured Rocks RV Park. At BayRidge RV Park, "Most appeared to be level or at least have a level spot, although Sites 22, 23, and 30 might be a bit challenging. IMO, our site (28) was one of the nicest with an unobstructed view of Garden Bay."
Spacious sites: varying by campground. Pictured Rocks RV Park and Campground offers well-designed spaces. "This is a very wide open center, or back in to Wooded sites. All site are very large and spacious," reports a camper. Another adds, "The sites are well layout, with a good amount a space between sites."
What you should know
Limited cell service: varies by provider. Cell coverage is inconsistent throughout Garden, Michigan RV parks. At BayRidge RV Park, a camper reports, "There was zero cell service on Verizon and although free WiFi was offered, it was weak and we often had to reconnect."
Site leveling challenges: bring equipment. Many campsites require leveling tools. One camper at Pictured Rocks RV Park notes, "Site 4 is gravel and very up hill. But we were able to make our Solitude work off autolevel."
Seasonal restrictions: confirm dates. Kewadin Casino Manistique operates from April 15 to October 15, while other campgrounds have different seasons. "It's $15/night to stay in one of these sites. If you don't need any hookups you can stay anywhere in the center of the lot without even going in to register," explains a reviewer.
Limited dispersed camping: specific locations only. Peninsula Point Lighthouse Road has restricted camping options. "There are only 2 dispersed campsites available here, and both are on the left side of the road (heading towards the lighthouse.) But she did say that you are allowed to stay up to 14 days at either of those sites," shares a camper.
Tips for camping with families
Consider campground layout: some have limited shade. BayRidge RV Park offers varying amounts of tree cover. "Lots of shade and big trees. Big rig friendly with a view in the distance of the water," reports one camper. Another notes, "There are many trees throughout the campground, so some sites are in full shade. There are also many apple trees."
Bathroom access: proximity varies by site. At BayRidge RV Park, "Our site was located near the top of the loop, so it was a bit of a hike to the bath/shower house, but not unreasonable. Upon check-in, we were given a key so make sure you don't forget it when you make the trek!"
Kid-friendly activities: limited at some parks. Pictured Rocks RV Park has minimal dedicated children's areas. "Definitely appealed to an older clientele, as there were no playgrounds, trails, etc, but the kids stumbled upon a sand dune just off the main stretch of campsites."
Natural features: explore specific locations. At CAMP Door County, families find diverse options. "Wow, centrally located to EVERYTHING! Sites were spacious and well maintained with plenty of trees. They had live music the weekend that we stayed and the energy was awesome."
Tips from RVers
Hookup specifics: confirm before booking. Whitefish Hill RV Park in Rapid River offers "Full service long level pull thru's quiet and friendly with full hookups." Other Garden, Michigan RV parks have varying configurations. At Indian Lake RV Resort, "Every site is close to the lake. We were there for 8 days and would stay there again."
Big rig accessibility: pull-through availability. Several rv parks around Garden accommodate large motorhomes. "It is convient with long 80-90 foot level pull thru's with full hookup sites and free wifi," reports a camper at Whitefish Hill RV Park.
Weather preparedness: local conditions. Upper Peninsula parks experience variable weather. One camper at Pictured Rocks RV Park reported "2 days of freakishly high winds and scorching heat in the 90s" but had "no power issues" at their full hookup 50-amp site.
Site privacy: varies by location. BayRidge RV Park offers "a varying amount of site size and privacy between sites." Another camper adds, "Very quiet mid-week stay" and "the campground was only about a third full and very quiet when we were there mid-week just before Labor Day."
