Camping near Grand Marais, Michigan centers around the eastern portion of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore with campgrounds situated on both inland lakes and Lake Superior shoreline. Winter temperatures typically drop to single digits, while summer averages range from 65-75°F with higher humidity levels. The region's campgrounds often fill quickly during summer months with limited first-come, first-served options available.
What to do
Lighthouse exploration: Walk the 1.5-mile trail from Hurricane River Campground to Au Sable Lighthouse, with opportunities to view shipwreck remains along the shore. "A short walk to Au Sable Lighthouse (1.5 miles). We took our chairs and a light snack to the beach to enjoy the sunset," notes a visitor.
Rock hunting: Search Lake Superior beaches for distinctive stones including agates and Yooperlite. According to a camper at Muskallonge Lake State Park: "The Lake Superior shoreline is a great place to hunt for all types of rocks from agates, granite, basalt, and even Petoskey Stones. At the campground host station is a board that describes the different rock types."
Kayaking: Launch from Ross Lake or Lake Superior access points for paddling. "It's a relatively steep for bringing kayaks or canoes down and up again. Best to use the nearby boat launch," advises one Ross Lake State Forest camper, while another mentions the beach near Woodland Park is "fabulous" with "the cutest hut and swing at the end of the trail."
What campers like
Quieter alternatives: When Pictured Rocks sites fill up, state forest campgrounds offer less crowded options. A visitor to Lake Superior State Forest Campground shared: "My party stumbled upon this campsite over Memorial Day Weekend while exploring the UP. We were so happy to have found it, and to our surprise there were many open spots despite it being a holiday weekend."
Lakeside proximity: Many campgrounds offer direct water access. At Blind Sucker #1 State Forest Campground, "The concrete boat launch was super easy to get our kayaks in and out and would be suitable for a small boat too," while sites at Woodland Park have "stairs leading to Agate beach and beautiful sunset views over the lake."
Wildlife viewing: Multiple campgrounds report bear, deer and loon sightings. "When leaving in the morning we stumbled upon a black bear sow and her two cubs in the middle of the road. Pure Michigan goodness!" reports a Lake Superior State Forest camper, while another camper enjoyed "listening to the haunting loon songs over the lake at night" at Ross Lake.
What you should know
First-come availability: Many non-reservable campgrounds fill early, especially during peak season. A Woodland Park Campground visitor advises: "No reservations are taken so arrive early to walk to campground a discover which sites are leaving that day. Kind of a hassle because it's a campground at the end of the middle of nowhere and with no guarantees of a stay."
Road conditions: Accessing remote campgrounds often requires traveling unpaved roads. "At least 11 miles of corrugated dirt road to get to the campground from either way. Very slow going with a camper," notes a Lake Superior State Forest Campground visitor, while another camper mentions "The road between Grand Marais and Muskallonge is not paved."
Insect management: Black flies and mosquitoes can be intense during certain periods. One camper at Pictured Rocks RV Park noted "There were a lot of bugs while we were there, so it was hard to stay outdoors for a long period of time during certain times of the day. But this is the Mid-west and it is just part of this region."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Several campgrounds offer play areas for children. At Woodland Park Campground, "There 2 playgrounds for the kids, small town is within walking distance," while Muskallonge Lake State Park features "a small day-use area with a few picnic tables, grills, and some old playground equipment."
Budget-friendly options: Casino parking lots provide affordable overnight stays with basic amenities. A reviewer at Kewadin Casino Christmas reports: "Sites have electric but no water. Some road noise but that's to be expected. Gas station right next door. Casino closed at 1am. It is actually $20 a night, not $15. You get a free $5 casino credit per night per person staying."
Sand dune exploration: Some campgrounds have hidden sand areas kids enjoy. At Pictured Rocks RV Park, "the kids stumbled upon a sand dune just off the main stretch of campsites. Not sure if they were supposed to be there, but a little playing in the dirt can't hurt, right?!"
Tips from RVers
Site selection strategy: For RVers seeking shade or larger sites, research specific loops. At Pictured Rocks RV Park and Campground, "This is a very wide open center, or back in to Wooded sites. All site are very large and spacious," while at Muskallonge Lake, "sites vary immensely in size throughout but include both paved, gravel, and grass sites...choose if you want a woodsier feel (sites 131-159), a more open area (sites 1-80), or a little in between (81-130)."
Wi-Fi access points: Several rv parks Grand Marais, Michigan have designated internet zones. At Muskallonge Lake State Park, "No Verizon data service just about one bar to send text however Wi-Fi is near the office and in the day use and is quite fast," while another campground notes "Wi fi is ok for email and phone scrolling social media."
Tank services: Mobile services available at some locations without sewer hookups. At Woodland Park, "There is water and electric only. But, there is a pump truck you can contract with to pump your tanks as needed," making longer stays possible at this popular Lake Superior camping area.
