147 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
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.
"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."
"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. "
from $26 - $80 / night
Check Availability"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."
"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"
"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"
from $10 - $35 / night
Check Availability"There’s lake access from the campground with a $5 fee, not sure if that’s just for putting in boats though. "
"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."
"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
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ScoutGreat spot, easy to get to. Could only find two pull off spots which are both relatively small, and only one has a fire pit in good condition so you’d need to build back up the other a bit. Very convenient spot that met all my needs
GuideThis campground is located directly on Lake Superior and operated by the city of Munising. It has 100 RV sites and 22 tent sites. About 1/4 of the RV sites provide water, sewer, and 50/30/20 electrical hookups. The rest of the RV sites provide shared water spigots (with both line pressure and with pressure reducers) and shared 30/20 electrical pedestals. Depending on the site, the water or electrical hookups may require an extension cord or another hose length to reach your RV. The campground is quite open, only the tent sites have any privacy. Do to lack of obstructions, I saw several starlink antennas on rigs..... The campground offers decent wifi and two very nice bath houses with flush toilets and showers. It also offers a dump station on site with tank flush and potable water fill stations. A beautiful sandy beach fronts the campground. One negative is that Michigan Hwy 28 runs past the campground and it has plenty of traffic at all hours.
We visited with plans to take a Pictured Rocks boat tour, but 3 days of gale force winds scrubbed those plans. The boat tours were canceled.
ScoutPerfect spot to pull off and camp for the night or weekend! Big pull in area where we stayed for the night, there was one other person but we stopped once we noticed the fresh tracks and didn’t go any further back. Perfect overnight spot.
RangerThe first thing we noticed driving in is that the wash house closes today 10/14 at 4 PM for the season, which isn’t an issue for us. Open sites, walkways to a rocky beach, but also trail to a sandy beach. Our site is not level.
GuideWe stayed here on our last night, this beach was amazing! The site is set back really nice, the latrine is not very private and can be seen from both sites near. Other than that it has a bear pole and box and was very spacious, would stay again!
GuideMy boyfriend and I spent 3 nights on the island in the beginning of October, this was our favorite site! There is a fully enclosed toilet near by, a day use area where you can drop trash and your right on the beach. It was windy but it's a beach site. However the cell service was spotty for me.
GuideParking off a paved rd, not rough. 1/4 mile walk to the most awesome site on the water. Perfect for boat or canoes.
GuidePaved roads coming in. Huge sites and a lot of trees between em. Took #1 has scenic bench’s on Lake right across the drive with sunset view. 13 miles to Munising
LegendThis is a lovely campground for families. Easy access to the lake for fishing and kayaking. The water side sites are great! Clean facilities and hot showers. Our next door site neighbors had 12 kids between their 2 sites. You can imagine we did not have a peaceful experience here. Neither the parents nor Camp host gave 2 hoots about quiet hours. The kids were screaming and running through our campsite well after 11 pm each night. Which leads me to my only 2 issues with this campground. There are few cut-throughs to access the bathrooms, so at any moment a stranger could be found unapologetically walking right thru your site. Issue two… I urge you to stead clear of booking site 810. The dishwashing/water station is located inside this site. Not near the road like the rest of them but, inside the site. We spent our evening with either screaming children using it as “safe” zone for freeze-tag, or the entire loop washing their dishes. Not fun….
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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