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Gladstone Bay Campground welcomes pets at its waterfront sites, offering dog owners clean facilities while camping along Little Bay de Noc. Both tent campers and RV enthusiasts can bring their furry companions to sites with various hookup options, including full-service and electric-only spots. Several campgrounds in the area maintain pet-friendly policies, including Pioneer Trail Park & Campground and Vagabond Resort and Campground, where dogs are permitted throughout the property. Pets must be leashed in all public areas, and many sites feature grassy pads that provide comfortable spaces for dogs. The waterfront location gives dogs access to Lake Michigan for swimming and cooling off during summer months. Clean bathrooms and shower facilities make extended stays with pets more comfortable. Some campers note occasional industrial odors affecting certain sites, which may be a consideration for sensitive pets.
Hiking trails along the water at Pioneer Trail Park provide excellent exercise opportunities for dogs, with connecting paths winding through wooded areas and along the shoreline. Peninsula Point Lighthouse Access Road offers free dispersed camping where pets are allowed, providing a more rustic alternative with picnic tables and vault toilets. Nearby Haymeadow Creek NF Campground features spacious pet-friendly sites with good separation between campers, creating a more private experience for those camping with dogs. Wildlife sightings are common throughout the area campgrounds, including deer, turkey, and even porcupines in trees, so keeping pets leashed is essential for their safety. Several campers report minimal bug issues when camping with pets during breezy days, though bringing insect repellent is recommended during summer months. The beach areas provide sandy access points where dogs can wade in shallow water.
"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."
"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. "
"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."
"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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TravelerYou could drive by and miss this little gem. Beautifully kept up county park with clean shower house. Pet friendly, they even have a hitching post for your pet while visiting the bathrooms. On site hosts.
All sites are within a short walking distance of the beach and some are right on the beach. Site L1 had a good mix of beach and woods. Near the beach is a small playground for the kids.
TravelerThis 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. Staff is friendly. They even do weekly events such as "Traveling Trivia" for kids. Pet friendly too!
LegendRanger Review: Roanline Clothes at Gladstone Bay Campground, MI
Campground Review
We really came to like the Gladstone Bay Campground during the time we were there. The first impression is that it is a mix of seasonal campers mixed with transients and there is a crazy mix of campsites scattered in all different directions. 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 best feature for us was the nice view of the water and direct access but there are lots of other things we liked about this campground too. For example, there is a nice walking path that wanders along the water down to the marina and county park (that has free outdoor concerts during the summer). The path goes through the campground but is located along the water so you don’t feel like everybody is walking through the campground. We used the path every day to walk our dog who loved the water access to cool off and swim. Another feature we liked was the 1,500-foot sandy beach. Here is a great place to set up a chair and read with a pleasant view, take a swim, or launch a kayak. This park has some of the cleanest bathrooms and showers (in separate rooms) that we have seen all summer long. They are modern, clean and well-stocked so a big “thanks” goes out to the people who maintain them and do such a great job.
The main roads are paved while the ones leading to the waterfront sites are gravel. Some campsites are gravel while others are grass. Patios are grassy and really nice because the grass was thick and not sandy so you didn’t feel like your camper was always dirty. There was a heavy downpour during our stay and some big puddles of water in low spots. All sites have a picnic table (which was in good condition) and a fire pit which was clean when we got there.
Our site (#20) was pretty close to our neighbors but some are really well spaced – especially the water/electric only or no hook-up sites. As mentioned earlier, we really like the campground and for $30 for a 50 amp full hook-up site (with WiFi) that is a good price. We did not really spend any time in Gladstone (except to go to the grocery which is a couple of miles away) but we did go to Escanaba a couple of days. In Escanaba we visited the lighthouse and historical museum which was interesting ($3 entrance fee) and ate at the highly-touted Swedish Pantry where we had the most delicious Swedish pancakes with lingonberries. We also stopped at Dobber’s Pasties to get some frozen pasties for the road. There is an ice cream truck that comes through the park for those of you with a sweet tooth.
One thing we noticed is that some campsites have lots of people staying on them. On Labor Day weekend two campers came in with lots of people who stayed up until well past 2 a.m. having a fire and good time. We were two sites down in our RV with pretty good noise insolation and still heard them. It’s great that people want to enjoy the holiday weekend but some rude campers ruin it for others.
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Product Review
As a Ranger for The Dyrt, I occasionally get products to test and evaluate. At Gladstone Bay Campground I tested clothes from Roanline. This company’s philosophy is to provide quality outdoor clothes and gear from up and coming companies with a commitment to giving back to the environment. Super cool!
I had a hard time picking out what to order because so many of their items appealed to me. Finally, I settled on two shirts featured by the company United by Blue (who pledges to remove one pound of trash from waterways for every item sold. Hooray for them). The first one is the Knowle Plaid long-sleeved shirt. This item was a good choice since the morning temperatures were dipping into the high 30’s. The first thing I noticed was how soft this shirt was. It has a nice outdoorsy look with the plaid pattern but has a feminine fit. The shirt was not too bulky so you could wear it under a sweater on days that you need to layer. After a couple of washings it stayed true to size, color and that great soft feel.
The other item I received was Pine Bear Tee. I was looking for a tee that was more stylish than just a typical unisex shirt and this one delivered. This shirt has a nice fit with a v-neck and is super soft. It is lightweight enough to be worn hiking on warm days. The stitching and material in this shirt makes it high quality and it has definitely stood up to the wear and tear I put my clothes through.
Will definitely be ordering from this company again. Their quality products are at a good price point (and they offer many sale items and discounts) and the company has a great mission and philosophy.
For a video review of these Roanline products click here.
ScoutMy family and I have been coming here for years!!!!! The campground is big and beautiful! Every campsite has a picnic table and fire pit; the Yurts and cabins have chairs. The Yurts, cabins, and bathrooms are clean! The staff is friendly! It is pet friendly. It is located near the water and has many trails to hike! Love this place, especially in October with the leaves changing and the festivals around town!!!!!
RangerWe were in Site# 14. We had electric/water with a paved pull-through. We travel towing a 14 foot trailer and were able to fit both in our pull through site along with my jeep.
The site was easy to level but the wheels of our motor home were off of the ground.
Check-in is at the hotel. The RV park is not visible from the hotel (it’s back in the woods). There is a phone at the shower house that can be used to request a free shuttle to the casino.
Our site was not shaded with limited trees. This was a smaller lot with our neighbors fairly close.
The lot comes with a picnic table and fire ring.
There was not any WiFi (we used our Starlink). They do not offer Cable TV.
There is not a community outdoor kitchen or community fire pit.
They do not provide garbage service at your site so you must walk to garbage dumpster.
They do have an indoor Swimming pool at the hotel with a sauna and steam shower.
There is not a Playground. There are not any additional play areas like Bocce ball, shuffleboard, basketball sport court, horseshoe, or volleyball courts.
They have a general store in the parking lot of the casino where you can also get gas.
There are restaurants on site in the hotel as well as a spa. The closest big town with stores is Escanaba (about 20 minutes away).
This is solely an RV park. They do not have any cabins to rent or any tent areas.
They have one shower house. The shower house has individual showers (toilets & sinks are on opposite side of shower house).
The laundry facility is located at the BP gas station (located in the parking lot of the casino/hotel). It is a cash only facility, but they have a change machine. It is approximately $2 to wash and $2 to dry a load.
They do not have a fenced in dog park. There are areas to walk dogs.
Bugs did not seem to be an issue.
Some fun things to do outside of the campground are to visit the Sandy Point Lighthouse or Ludington Park in Escanaba.
The casino is smoke-free. It states that the tables are open from 10am to 2am. Not all tables are available though (for instance, roulette wasn’t always available and if they did open up the one roulette table, it wasn’t until 6 or 7pm). The slot machine options are abundant.
RangerGreat place to set up a tent, or in our case, a pop-up camper for the night. It's hard to beat waking up next to serene Lake Michigan waves but it was definitely worth it. The park boasts a few nice amenities and has plenty of space for both the kids and the dogs to play in and explore. One minor downside is the proximity to the highway. Makes for a nice trip if you live nearby!
LegendConvenient to Sister Bay in Door County, Wisconsin. Off of WI Hwy 57. Large open field. 27 pull-through RV sites are equipped to handle the biggest RV’s by providing 34′ x 75′ sites. 33 back-in RV sites. 10 walk in tent sites. Pets welcome - $5/day pet fee. New restrooms & showers. No cell service, but very good free WiFi service. Clean campsites, well maintained. No privacy between sites. Gravel driveways. Picnic table. Fire ring. Convenience store & gas station on site - Dovetail Trading Company & Citgo gas station. Registration in store. Accepts reservations. Campground was still open on Oct 23, 2021, even though it's season ended on Oct 18. This is a good campground for RVs. I camped here when I couldn't find another campground that had available sites. I thought it was overpriced for camping in my camper van with no hookups needed, but it was okay in a pinch.
LegendNorth and South Nicolet Bay campgrounds is where the action is. It felt like spring break out at the beach and boat ramp (no pets allowed on beach).
North Nicolet has no power sites, all are no hookups. There is a dump station and water fill near Tennison Bay campground.
Campground is very close to the beach, and you definitely hear the shrieking children from the beach, especially if you get a site close to the beach like we did, so heads up.
There’s a host on site, flush toilets, and showers. Recycling and garbage here as well as a playground.
GuideThis is probably the nicest, most well run campground we have ever stayed at. The staff is friendly and welcoming, they are pet friendly, and their sites are spacious and private - unlike so many other campgrounds we visit.
While staying here, you’re a short walk to a great bakery and restaurant. Additionally, you can bring your gear and hike the trails just 5 minutes away at the state park.
Rates are very reasonable and the bathrooms are the best we’ve seen at any campground.
This place can’t get much better...
Pet friendly camping near Gladstone, Michigan includes a range of options from rustic sites to full-hookup accommodations. Situated along Little Bay de Noc on Lake Michigan's northern shore at an elevation of approximately 600 feet, the area experiences moderate summer temperatures averaging 75-80°F with cool evenings. Winter camping isn't common as temperatures can drop below freezing from November through March, with significant snowfall affecting accessibility.
Explore lighthouse history: At Peninsula Point Lighthouse Access Road - Dispersed, campers can visit a historic lighthouse at the peninsula's end. "Great sunset area, pretty drive there. Lighthouse to explore. Would love to be there for the monarch migration," notes one visitor who enjoyed the natural and historical attractions.
Fishing opportunities: The waterways near Gladstone offer excellent angling options. A camper at Little Bay De Noc reports, "Good walleye, panfish, and bass fishing spot. Peninsula Point Lighthouse is a great little area attraction to check out."
Disc golf: Disc golf enthusiasts can play at courses near the campgrounds. A guest at Pioneer Trail Park & Campground mentioned, "Access to fishing right at our site and disc golf across from our camper!"
Private, spacious sites: Campers appreciate the natural separation between sites at some locations. At Haymeadow Creek NF Campground, a reviewer noted, "There's actually seven sites, but they're all pretty premium, spacewise and just general atmosphere. Each has its own fire ring and a picnic table."
Wildlife viewing: The area offers frequent wildlife sightings for nature enthusiasts. One visitor to Little Bay De Noc Campground shared, "We saw a porcupine hanging out in a tree and eating leaves, deer and a turkey."
Free camping options: Budget-conscious campers can find no-cost options. A visitor to Peninsula Point Lighthouse Access Road shared, "We camped one night at the first dispersed site and had a great view of the lake from the site. The sunset was incredible."
Industrial odors: Some campgrounds experience occasional industrial smells. At Gladstone Bay Campground, campers reported, "First off we noted several comments regarding the smell of gas/propane, and yes we could smell the same," which may affect sensitive visitors or pets.
Cell service variation: Connectivity varies widely across campgrounds. A visitor at Haymeadow Creek noted, "Easy to get to. No service for TMobile or Verizon, but still a great secluded spot."
Road access challenges: Some campgrounds require navigation on rough roads. At Portage Bay State Forest Campground, a camper described, "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."
Playground access: Families with children benefit from play areas at certain campgrounds. A reviewer described Pioneer Trail Park, saying, "Back by the highway is a little store in case you need an ice cream... The campsites are among tall trees."
Beach activities: Sandy shorelines provide safe recreation for children. A Portage Bay visitor shared, "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."
Educational opportunities: Fayette State Park Campground offers historical learning experiences. "The historic site is awesome and the beach is beautiful. Great sunsets. Night skies were gorgeous," noted a family that enjoyed both educational and recreational aspects.
Site leveling challenges: RV campers should prepare for uneven terrain at some locations. At Fayette State Park, one RVer noted, "Isolated, quiet park on Lake Michigan. Nicely spaced and shaded sites. Some level, many not so great."
Generator considerations: Noise concerns exist at campgrounds without electric hookups. At Little Bay De Noc, a camper warned, "Nice spacious sites and relatively quiet. It's mostly geared towards R.V. Campers though. You can tent camp if you want. But be warned of the R.V. Campers and generators."
Seasonal considerations: Late-season visitors should check on water availability. At Portage Bay, an RVer mentioned, "Had the place mostly to myself since it was late in the season. Only negative was water pump wasn't working or turned off for season."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Gladstone, MI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Gladstone, MI is Gladstone Bay Campground with a 4.2-star rating from 10 reviews.
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TheDyrt.com has all 126 dog-friendly camping locations near Gladstone, MI, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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