158 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Gulliver, Michigan serves as a gateway to diverse camping experiences along Lake Michigan's northern shoreline. Merwin Creek State Forest Campground, located directly in Gulliver, provides year-round primitive camping with boat-in access and basic amenities like drinking water and vault toilets. Within a 30-minute drive, campers can access more developed options such as Manistique Lakeshore Campground with full hookups and modern facilities, or Indian Lake State Park with its family-friendly amenities. The camping landscape ranges from rustic state forest sites to RV resorts with cement pads, creating options for wilderness seekers and comfort campers alike.
Seasonal considerations significantly impact camping in the Upper Peninsula region. Most campgrounds operate from May through October, though some state forest sites remain open year-round. Road access varies considerably, with paved routes to larger facilities and rougher forest roads leading to more remote locations. Cell service fluctuates throughout the area, with stronger signals near Manistique and spotty coverage in forested areas. As one camper noted about nearby Milakokia Lake State Forest Campground, "Our campsite was on the lake side and it was perfect. Plenty of shade and shelter. Access to the lake is great. Mosquitos are thick so bring your bug spray." Insect protection is essential, particularly during spring and early summer months.
Lakefront sites consistently receive the highest ratings from visitors to the region. Many campgrounds feature direct access to Lake Michigan or smaller inland lakes, with waterfront sites typically filling first. A visitor to Manistique Lakeshore Campground reported, "Large, private cement pad sites. Spotlessly clean. Full hookups. Bath and laundry facilities are some of the nicest I have ever seen." Highway noise can be noticeable at some locations, particularly those along US-2, though lakeside sites often provide better sound buffering. Wildlife sightings are common, with campers reporting deer, turkey, and even porcupine encounters. The area serves as a convenient base for exploring attractions like Kitch-Iti-Kipi (Big Springs) and Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, both within reasonable driving distance.
"On Lake Michigan. Large, private cement pad sites. Spotlessly clean. Full hookups. Bath and laundry facilities are some of the nicest I have ever seen. Staff is friendly and welcoming."
"It is perfectly located on Lake Michigan and easy access from highway 2. There is laundry, shower, and bathrooms for your convenience. Plus nice fire pits at each site and a playground."
from $36 - $85 / night
Check Availability"Campground Review: Indian Lake State Park, South Shore, has become my favorite State Park in Michigan! This was my first visit, and I'm in love."
"This 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."
"This campground is 15 minutes away from Manistique but feels quite remote. Campsites are in a couple loops. The first one seems set up for multiple family or friend campers."
from $15 / night
Check Availability"Close to the cute town of St Ignace, so this would make a good place to stay when exploring the area. No charm or pleasantness about this place, and the power sites are just really close together."
"Our campsite was on the lake side and it was perfect. Plenty of shade and shelter. Access to the lake is great. We walked out in knee deep water and played frisbee and watched the sunset."
"Lovely inland lakeside sites. This is a large all sports lake and the campground has a boat launch. Some sites where uneven and hilly and may be a challenge for a large RV."
from $13 / night
Check Availability"Rustic campground along the shores of Lake Michigan. 23 sites. Hand pump for water available. Beautiful spot on Lake Michigan with no signs of life for miles down the beach. Pets are welcome."
"Sites are a little small, and are moderately close to other sites. heavily wooded makes it feel cozy. Some sites have "private" trails to the beach, approximately 50-75yrds away."
"We stayed at site 72, which was nice and flat and a quick walk to the water and bathrooms. Our site was so peaceful and we slept well. "
"We first checked out the ‘South CG’ and although it was on the lake, it was waaay too crowded for us. So we moved on to the west shore CG and it was def more our style. Quiet and rustic."
"This is a cool little retro campground with full hookup sites and lake access. It's close to a bunch of the UP attractions and the rates are very reasonable."
"Every site is close to the lake. We were there for 8 days and would stay there again. Didn’t use the bathrooms or the showers but they looked clean when I checked them out."
from $24 - $50 / night
Check Availability"Despite being close to the road, Northland Outfitters is a quiet, peaceful little campground. With aonly 14 camping sites and 4 cabins, it is small. "
"Social distancing had some sinks and urinals turned off. Seemed super clean. 4-6 tent only spots are in pretty good shade. All sites had at least water and electricity."
"I have absolutely nothing but positive things to say. I am more one to frequent rustic and secluded campgrounds."
"This campground is very close to trailhead. Well maintained, decent wifi. Don't expect any Verizon cell coverage here. Sites are nice and large, staff is friendly and the bar has good food"
from $33 - $55 / night
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GuideHad a campsite facing Lake Superior. Water, shore power, wi-fi, cable tv. Restrooms and showers were super clean. A well run operation. 10 minutes from Picture Rock Natl Lakeshore. Walking distance to town. Coffee shop, restaurants and gas and liquor all close by. Fishing all over the place.
Great value. Great people.
RangerOnly 2 sites, and they need to be reserved, according to the ass who told me. Both occupied by people with pets, which I don't mind but is supposedly not allowed. 2 stars for the view.
RangerWent all the way to the back and got a lakeside spot down the other side of the hill from the main site. Nice and tucked away. Thought the skeeters were insane, but this time of year, it's to be expected.
GuideWonderful managers for this small Campground with only about 12 spaces. Sparkling clean restroom and shower. Water and electric at each site but no dump station in this Campground. For $25, I don't know what else you could ask for.
ScoutLots of space tent camping rv and trailer camping water and electric at most sites sewer is available
GuideThe best campsites are in the back! Ok gravel road - Honda Fit did fine. Vault Toilets a bit creepy - but CLEAN! Private and beautiful. $13 cash or check only.
LegendThe sunsets were spectacular on the beach with a campfire and a drink. The city park was a good size with hook ups and primative. Some spots were a bit close together. Great biking city. There are restaurant close by to walk to. I loved the coffee shop across the street. Good sandy beach down the road for some cold swimming. Good rock beach at the campground to hunt for Yuper Lights.
ScoutLaundry, water, electric, beautiful beach and lots.of excellent rules to keep things civilized!
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.
Camping areas near Gulliver, Michigan range from secluded forest campgrounds to lakeside facilities with modern amenities. Located in the Upper Peninsula at approximately 730 feet elevation, the region features mixed hardwood forests alongside Lake Michigan shoreline. Winter temperatures regularly drop below freezing, with summer averages in the mid-70s F and high humidity during July and August.
Kayaking on Manistique River: Launch directly from Northland Outfitters for paddling adventures. "We canoed and our son kayaked the Manistique River. Shuttled up and paddled back to campground. About 3 1/2 hour trip. It was serene on the river," reports Janet V. The outfitter provides shuttle service for trips using personal watercraft.
Explore Kitch-iti-kipi Springs: Located within 10 minutes of Indian Lake State Park West Campground, this natural spring offers remarkable clarity. "It is not far from Kitch-Iti-Kipi, a clear spring that you can see to the bottom of. We did not get to go, but heard it is an incredible place," notes Emily M. The spring features a self-operated observation raft.
Beach access at Big Knob: Follow trails from campsite to secluded Lake Michigan shoreline. "There are hiking trails that have some beautiful scenery (bring bug spray) and a beach front that is just amazing. Depending on the water level there is plenty of beach and great for a day in the water," explains Donna F. Sites 3-7 have direct path access to the beach, with minimal development.
Spacious lakeside sites: Indian Lake State Park South Campground offers large campsites with direct lake access. "The sites were very large! There are three bath houses and a pavilion. The water is so nice! We used the boat launch and had no issues at all," shares Stephanie C. Sites include electrical hookups and fire rings.
Clean facilities: Modern bathrooms consistently receive positive reviews. "Manistique Lakeshore Campground is a beautiful Campground with sites a few feet or a few yards from Lake Michigan. Fantastic south facing views," notes Dennis A. Bathroom facilities are particularly praised for their maintenance level.
Quiet camping options: Less-crowded alternatives exist for those seeking solitude. "After camping at the south shore for a night (way to many people for me personally) I went to the West campground. It's very quiet this week," reports Becky S. Many forest campgrounds receive minimal use even during peak season.
Bug protection essential: Black flies, mosquitoes and other insects are prevalent. At Big Knob State Forest Campground, "There are 23 sites all within close walking distance to the water, bug spray is a must." Donna F. adds, "We have camped here for 7 years and look forward to coming back each year." Insects are most problematic in early summer.
Road conditions vary: Access to more remote sites requires preparation. "It takes about 20 minutes from the main road to the campground, and the road is gravel with some pot holes," notes Angelica S. about Big Knob. Some campgrounds require lengthy drives on unpaved roads.
Water considerations: Quality varies by location. "I do not recommend drinking the water from this campground as it was yellow in color. Still, it was a cheap place to stay the night. For only $15/night, it is more than sufficient," advises Emily M. regarding Milakokia Lake.
Shallow swimming areas: Indian Lake RV Resort and Campground provides safe water access. "Really nice employees. Cleanest campsite bathroom I've been in. Our site looked right over Indian Lake," reports Kelly C. The shallow waters warm quickly in summer months.
Playground access: Some campgrounds feature dedicated children's areas. At Northland Outfitters, visitors note "Swingset and covered sandbox for kids. Volleyball net." Activities for various age groups help keep children entertained.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Morning and evening offer best viewing times. "Perfect place for tent camping but it can also accommodated small to medium RV/campers. This place is great for relaxation and getting in touch with nature," recommends Donna F. Common sightings include deer, turkey, and waterfowl.
Site selection for larger rigs: Jack Pine Lodge and Campground accommodates larger vehicles. "Jack's Pine Lodge was an amazing neat little campground. They only have about two or three dozen sites but all are full hook ups and the location is amazing too," shares Simone N. Some campgrounds trim trees to create space for larger RVs.
Full hookup availability: Modern facilities are concentrated in specific locations. "Most sites have water/sewage and 30 or 50amp service," notes Erika P. Dump stations are limited throughout the region, making full-hookup sites valuable for extended stays.
Seasonal flooding awareness: Weather patterns affect site conditions. "The water has been high this summer as we have witnessed several other campgrounds with flooding. This one was not immune as they had several with sitting water but most were just fine. I would maybe call in advance for sure recommendations," advises Marc W.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I find camping in Gulliver, Michigan?
Gulliver offers several camping options within a short drive. Little Bay De Noc provides Lake Michigan access with a pier, playground, and group fire pit. Though it has just a few sites, it's a great basecamp for exploring the area. Another excellent option is Merwin Creek State Forest Campground near Gulliver, offering a more rustic experience with basic amenities like water and toilets. For additional options, the nearby towns of Manistique and St. Ignace offer several campgrounds along Lake Michigan, all within a reasonable drive from Gulliver.
What outdoor activities can I enjoy while camping in Gulliver, Michigan?
The Gulliver area offers abundant outdoor recreation opportunities. Water activities dominate, with Indian Lake State Park South Campground providing access to both Indian Lake and being just minutes from Lake Michigan. Kayaking, swimming, and fishing are popular in these waters. Brevoort Lake Campground offers excellent lakeside sites for water enthusiasts. The region also features extensive hiking trails and both motorized and non-motorized off-road trails. Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is about an hour away, making for a perfect day trip. For a unique natural attraction, Kitchitikipi (Big Springs) is just a short drive and offers fascinating views of the crystal-clear spring.
What amenities are available at campgrounds in Gulliver, MI?
Campgrounds near Gulliver offer varying levels of amenities. Manistique Lakeshore Campground provides full hookups, spotlessly clean facilities, cement pad sites, and modern bath and laundry facilities. For a more rustic experience, Hog Island Point State Forest Campground offers clean outhouses, water pumps, and well-spaced primitive sites with no electricity. Most state forest campgrounds in the area provide basic amenities including pit toilets and hand pumps for water. If you need more extensive facilities, consider the campgrounds in nearby towns that offer modern restrooms, showers, and electrical hookups.
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