Campgrounds surrounding Gladstone, Michigan range from developed sites with full hookups to primitive camping areas along Lake Michigan. The Gladstone Bay Campground sits directly on the water with electric sites and full hookup options for RVs, while Peninsula Point Lighthouse Access Road offers free dispersed camping for tent campers. Other options include Pioneer Trail Park and Campground along the Escanaba River and Little Bay De Noc Campground with its large wooded sites and beach access.
Most campgrounds in the area operate seasonally from May through mid-October, with several closing by October 15th. Cell service varies significantly by location, with better coverage near town and limited connectivity at more remote sites. A recent review noted, "Cell signal fluctuated a lot, but we had 2 bars at our site and could even do some streaming." Winter conditions make many forest roads impassable, and waterfront sites are particularly susceptible to strong winds off Lake Michigan. Most established campgrounds offer reservations, though sites like Peninsula Point Lighthouse operate on a first-come basis with limited facilities.
Waterfront access represents a key feature across multiple campgrounds in the area, with many campers highlighting the views and beach amenities. "Right on the water. Very beautiful!" wrote one visitor about Gladstone Bay Campground. Sites along Little Bay De Noc offer sandy beaches with swimming areas and some waterfront campsites. The area provides good fishing opportunities, particularly for walleye, panfish and bass. Several reviews mention the clean facilities at Gladstone Bay, including free showers, though tent sites there are described as "just lined up in a field." More secluded camping can be found at the forested sites of Little Bay De Noc, where campers report large, private sites with wildlife sightings including deer, turkey and even porcupine.
$26 - $80 / night
"Little Bay De Noc, Lake Michigan access with a pier. Only a few campsites, but includes group fire pit, playground and proximity to Pictured Rocks, 1 hour."
"Vibe: Woodlands getaway setback deep in nature with access to Lake Michigan beach. Cleanliness: Above average. "
"This county-operated park sits on a pretty part of Bay de Noc in Gladstone Bay just north of the larger town of Escanaba in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. "
"The sites in this section of the campground are very spread out and many have a view of the lake. The full hookup sites are a little more packed together."
"Compared to all the other campgrounds we had been to in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and seeing as it was still the busy summer camping season we were shocked. "
"We parked in a river spot , and it was such a wonderful location, bathrooms right across a field, nice big playground, room for our motorhome, jeep, and hybrid van to charge !"
"Not really walking distance for most, but manageable in any form. Caught northern lights, Milky Way, and glorious sights every day."
"But there was two established campsites that are near the entrance of the light house. Both open and with pits. We stayed in the second one. It was very nice to have open space."
$10 - $35 / night
"It is convient with long 80-90 foot level pull thru's with full hookup sites and free wifi. close to great fishing, plenty of historic and nature sites"
"There’s lake access from the campground with a $5 fee, not sure if that’s just for putting in boats though. "
"Even though this campground is a decent distance from the main road, the way out is paved. This was unexpected but there are plenty of unpacked side roads to explore."
"The loop is also directly connected to a cheeky little waterfall trail. Nice and out of the way"
"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."
$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"
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.
TravelerGorgeous views of Lake Michigan with electric sites. The campground is well maintained with a playground, bathrooms and a dump station.
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
Dispersed and established camping options surround Gladstone, Michigan with proximity to Lake Michigan and the Escanaba River. Situated on Little Bay de Noc in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, campsites near Gladstone range from free backcountry spots to developed campgrounds with full facilities. Camping season runs primarily May through October, with most sites closing by October 15 due to harsh Upper Peninsula winter conditions.
Visit Peninsula Point Lighthouse: At the end of Peninsula Point Lighthouse Access Road, campers can explore the historic lighthouse area while staying at nearby dispersed camping sites. "Great sunset area, pretty drive there. Lighthouse to explore. Would love to be there for the monarch migration," notes one camper.
Fishing opportunities: Fish for walleye, panfish and northern pike at Portage Bay State Forest Campground. "Great beach great swimming awesome fishing. Outthouse toilets no electric 5 miles in no noise," writes a regular visitor. The shallow bay waters warm up enough for swimming by late June.
Disc golf: Play a round at the 27-hole course at Pioneer Trail Park. "By the entrance (and up a hill) is a frisbee golf course," mentions a reviewer. Another camper adds, "Access to fishing right at our site and disc golf across from our camper!"
Large, secluded sites: Little Bay De Noc Campground offers spacious camping areas. "I couldn't believe how deep it went back," one camper writes about site #23. Another mentions, "Large drive ins for those with multiple vehicles or campers! Ours was seriously massive."
Waterfront access: Many campers value the direct lake access at Portage Bay. "Every site has a short trail to the sandy shoreline of Lake Michigan. The cove is several miles across and shallow. In late June the water was swim-ably warm," reports one visitor who rated the experience "10 out of 10."
Affordable options: Free dispersed camping can be found along Peninsula Point Lighthouse Access Road, though options are limited. "There are only 2 dispersed campsites available here, and both are on the left side of the road (heading towards the lighthouse)," cautions a camper. For established sites, Pioneer Trail Park & Campground offers reasonable rates and amenities.
Cell service variability: Connectivity depends heavily on location. At Little Bay De Noc, one camper reports, "Cell signal fluctuated a lot, but happy to have 2 bars at our site. Even did some streaming." At Portage Bay, expect "0-1 cellular bars for ATT at #23, 1-2 bars at #1."
Limited facilities at remote sites: Most dispersed camping areas lack amenities. At Fayette State Park Campground, facilities are better but still basic. "No real amenities such as firewood for purchase, that we saw," notes a Little Bay De Noc camper.
Environmental factors: Some campgrounds report unusual conditions. At Gladstone Bay Campground, multiple reviewers mention a persistent smell: "Vaguely smelt of exhaust but nice otherwise. Has showers and nice facilities." Another camper confirms, "We noted several comments regarding the smell of gas/propane, and yes we could smell the same."
Playground access: Pioneer Trail Park features "a wonderful playground and a large picnic shelter" according to one visitor. The campground has "a large grassy ballfield for playing" making it suitable for active families.
Beach activities: Little Bay De Noc offers good swimming areas. "Nice beach and swimming area! Decently clean and bathrooms easily accessible," writes a camper. Another mentions the "gorgeous views at the beach" particularly from the Twin Springs loop sites.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Children may enjoy the animal sightings at Haymeadow Creek NF Campground. "There's actually seven sites, but they're all pretty premium, spacewise and just general atmosphere," writes one visitor. The campground connects to a waterfall trail that kids will enjoy exploring.
Site selection: At Gladstone Bay, "The sites in this section of the campground are very spread out and many have a view of the lake. The full hookup sites are a little more packed together."
Road conditions: For remote camping, prepare for narrow access roads. About Portage Bay, a camper warns, "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." Another notes the sites are suitable for smaller RVs: "Several brought pop up campers but larger RVs might have a tough time."
Hookup availability: For those needing full service, one visitor to Whitefish Hill RV Park appreciates the "full service long level pull thru's quiet and friendly with full hookups... convenient with long 80-90 foot level pull thru's with full hookup sites and free wifi."
Frequently Asked Questions
What campgrounds are available in Gladstone, Michigan?
Gladstone offers several excellent camping options. Gladstone Bay Campground is centrally located right on Little Bay de Noc with a mix of seasonal and transient sites. It provides beautiful waterfront views and easy access to town amenities. Little Bay De Noc offers a more limited number of campsites but includes group fire pits, a playground, and is close to popular attractions like Pictured Rocks (about an hour away). Other nearby options include Pioneer Trail Park and Campground, which provides well-maintained facilities just outside of Gladstone, and Peninsula Point Lighthouse Access Road for more rustic, dispersed camping opportunities.
What amenities do Gladstone campgrounds offer?
Campgrounds around Gladstone provide a range of amenities to enhance your camping experience. Indian Lake State Park South Campground offers some of the best facilities in the region with modern restrooms, showers, and beautiful lakefront access. Kleinke Park Campground features coin-operated showers, playground equipment, and direct access to Lake Michigan. Many area campgrounds provide fire rings, picnic tables, water access, and toilet facilities. The waterfront campgrounds typically offer swimming areas, fishing opportunities, and boat launches. Some sites have electrical hookups, while others maintain a more rustic appeal. Most campgrounds are also located near hiking and biking trails, providing easy access to outdoor recreation.
Are there RV-friendly campgrounds in Gladstone?
Yes, Gladstone has several RV-friendly camping options. Pioneer Trail Park and Campground accommodates RVs with spacious sites, water hookups, and is big-rig friendly. This well-maintained facility offers convenient access to the Gladstone area. Whitefish Hill RV Park near Rapid River (just minutes from Gladstone) is specifically designed for RV camping with full hookups and amenities catering to larger vehicles. Gladstone Bay Campground also accommodates RVs, with numerous occupied sites noted by visitors. Most RV-friendly campgrounds in the area offer electrical hookups, water access, and dump stations, making them suitable for short or extended stays.
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