3 campgrounds with availability next weekend
Campgrounds near Gwinn, Michigan range from developed facilities to rustic forest sites, with several options located within a 20-mile radius of town. Farquar-Metsa Tourist Park provides full hookup sites for RVs and secluded tent camping areas within Gwinn city limits, while Bass Lake State Forest Campground offers more primitive camping about 10 miles west of town. The region includes both state forest campgrounds with minimal amenities and private RV parks with more extensive facilities. Several locations feature waterfront access, including Anderson Lake West State Forest Campground and Little Lake State Forest Campground, both offering year-round accessibility for tent and RV camping.
Road conditions and amenities vary significantly between campgrounds in the Gwinn area, with state forest sites typically providing vault toilets and hand pumps for water. Most developed campgrounds operate seasonally from May through October, though several state forest sites remain open year-round with reduced services during winter months. Cell service can be spotty at more remote locations, particularly at Bass Lake and Anderson Lake campgrounds. Reservations are required at Farquar-Metsa Tourist Park, while state forest campgrounds generally operate on a first-come, first-served basis. A camper noted that "Bass Lake is a rustic campground situated on Bass Lake with 22 sites, nearly all of which have buffers between them. Six of the sites are right on the lake and have their own private lake access."
Waterfront camping receives consistently positive reviews, with lakeside sites at Bass Lake and Little Lake being particularly popular. Many campgrounds in the area provide access to hiking trails, fishing opportunities, and swimming areas. The proximity to Marquette (about 18 miles north) allows campers to access additional services while enjoying the more secluded camping experience near Gwinn. Visitors appreciate the well-maintained facilities at Farquar-Metsa Tourist Park, which one reviewer described as "a small park with mostly RVs and a few camping spots" that offers "full hook-ups, bathrooms with showers, basketball court, fishing, Escanaba River, and hiking trails all right at the park." State forest campgrounds provide a more rustic experience with fewer amenities but greater privacy and natural surroundings, making the Gwinn area suitable for various camping preferences.
"Rippling River is a really nice campground, very close to downtown Marquette and right in/on a huge mountain bike park."
"Nice new place, located next to bike trails, orv trails, and the ski hill. Good location."
from $40 - $50 / night
"It’s on the back side of the city of Gwinn, which is a smaller more run down little town, 18 miles from Marquette. But this little campground is well kempt!"
"We enjoyed our stay at Tourist Park in Gwinn. I loved that it was a small park with mostly RVs and a few camping spots."
"Landed here after trying unsuccessfully to camp along Lake Superior (everything full). It’s a sweet little campground: quiet, dark and removed from the crowds."
"We live nearby, and it’s the best place to just get away for a night or two. Would recommend to anyone."
"Stayed on our drive from Mackinac to see the pictured rocks lake shore. The campground is surrounded by 18 miles of trails. No camp store, but a convenience store is a quarter mile away."
"This campground is in Marquette, near Northern Michigan University. But once you're camped there, you won't feel like you're in one of the largest cities in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. "
from $35 - $55 / night
"A family tradition for us, the lake is wonderful. A few lake side sites are usually taken quickly. All are rustic. Water pump, bathrooms available. Haul out your trash. Nice boat launch and a beach."
from $15 / night
"Loads of hiking trails and an interpretive nature trail created years ago by an Eagle Scout. Has a pump for water. No power. Has bathrooms and a boat launch. 👍"
"You can walk across the street to the beach along Lake Superior and are drive distance to Black Rock and Pictured Rock. They even have a brewery in the campground."
"Nice, clean, quiet right on the lake. Full hookups, level sites and lots of room for large gatherings at the party pit. A short drive to Marquette."
"Great spot if you’re looking for something near to, but away from Marquette."
"Rustic sites only, this is the trail head to a network of snowshoeing, biking, and hiking trails. There are 19 sites, three of which line the field the other 16 are tucked in the woods."
from $25 / night
"It is located off US-41 which is a major Upper Peninsula thoroughfare but set back about ½ miles so you don’t get road noise but it is still convenient. "
"This is our 2nd time staying & both were because of its convenience to ‘civilization’ not to get away from it."
from $35 - $51 / night
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.
GuideThis is probably the CG I was least excited about. The site seemed overcrowded with not much separation between sites. Just a big open park, next to a lake crammed with people. The staff were friendly when I called to reserve a site and were bang on when I requested one with WiFi. Because there were no tent camping sites I got one with electrical hook ups and at least recovered some of that cost plugging in my EV. But the adjoining site had a ginormous tent and a boisterous group and CD were less than five feet from my electric box.
I didn’t use them but the sower area was spacious and the bathrooms weren’t dirty.
By far the least fav CG I’ve stayed at on this trip and would look elsewhere next time but truth be told I’ve stayed at some great places. Stayed 10/2.
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!
GuideStayed a night here while hiking the island, you do have to walk to the beach to get water but its close. There is only a bear pole not a box but it was fine. The latrine was fine but the privacy screen is a little too short.
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
Camping spots near Gwinn, Michigan span from rustic forest hideaways to waterfront sites within 20 miles of town. The region sits at approximately 1,200 feet above sea level in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, with summer temperatures averaging 75°F during peak camping season. Winter camping is available at several locations, though with significantly reduced amenities and challenging access during heavy snowfall periods.
Hiking trails access: At Forestville Campground, campers can access multiple trail systems directly from their sites. "This is the trail head to a network of snowshoeing, biking, and hiking trails," notes reviewer Emilee S. The campground connects to the North Country Trail with sites that "backed up to the NCT," according to Molly M.
Mountain biking: The area offers excellent terrain for cycling enthusiasts. "If you love mountain biking or hiking you stay here. Period. You are right on the trails," writes Rory L. about Rippling Rivers RV Resort. The trails range from beginner-friendly routes to technical single-track for experienced riders.
Fishing opportunities: Anderson Lake and surrounding waterways provide productive fishing spots. "Great fishing on Escanaba river," mentions Randall J. when describing Farquar-Metsa Tourist Park. Several lakes within 10 miles of Gwinn hold trout, bass, and pan fish species accessible from campground shorelines.
Secluded tent sites: Campers appreciate the privacy at certain locations. "Tent sites are well shaded and secluded from each other," writes Jenni C. about Farquar-Metsa Tourist Park. The separation between sites allows for a more peaceful experience without noise from neighboring campers.
Water recreation: The natural swimming areas receive positive reviews at several campgrounds. "Beautiful natural swimming area in the rear of the property and we picked blueberries and raspberries right here on premise," notes Vincent S., highlighting the dual appeal of swimming and foraging.
Night sky viewing: The region's minimal light pollution provides stellar stargazing opportunities. At Marquette Tourist Park Campground, campers can hike up Marquette Mountain at night for spectacular views. "We walked up at night (bring flashlights!!!) and the view was breathtaking! We overlooked all of Marquette and the stars were incredible!!" reports Shelly B.
Reservation requirements: Policies vary significantly between campgrounds. "This campground is by reservation only. No 'walk-in's' if you will," explains Emilee S. regarding Forestville Campground. First-come, first-served campgrounds like Anderson Lake West State Forest Campground fill quickly on summer weekends.
Campground maintenance: State forest campgrounds receive minimal DNR attention. "The vault toilets were awful, and the only care they seemed to receive is a toilet paper restock," according to Sam's review of Bass Lake. Some campers report downed trees and primitive conditions at more remote sites.
Trash disposal: Some campgrounds lack on-site trash collection. "There are no dumpsters at this campground. Trash must be hauled to the DNR Field Office in Gwinn, which is 15-20 minutes/10 miles or so away," explains a reviewer about the Bass Lake facilities.
Swimming areas: For families with children, Little Lake State Forest Campground offers water access, though with some caveats. "The lake is ok. Large campsites," notes Randall J., suggesting the swimming might not be ideal but space for family activities is adequate.
Playground amenities: Several campgrounds feature recreational facilities for children. "They have a bouncy pillow!" exclaims Jessica P. about Country Village RV Park. "Playground which they are expanding. Large sites as it is a big rig park," adds Linda P.
Noise considerations: Some campgrounds experience significant weekend activity. "This campground is a bit rowdy," warns Randall J. about Little Lake State Forest Campground. At Forestville, a reviewer noted it "was super crowded when we got there... All sites are practically on top of each other with little privacy."
Site layout challenges: RVers should research sites carefully before arrival. "We were assigned site #104 but could tell our motorhome was not going to get level in the site so we had to straddle the site and park partly in the adjacent grassy area," shares Nancy W. about Country Village RV Park.
Hookup positions: At several campgrounds, hookup placement requires planning. "The full hookup sites were well marked but not a lot of shade and septic hook up was far back," notes Jenni C. regarding Farquar-Metsa Tourist Park, suggesting longer hoses might be necessary.
Size restrictions: Not all campgrounds accommodate larger rigs. "No types of hookups for anything, and large RVs will not be able to access these sites! Only a one lane path with tight turns," cautions Joshua L. about Forestville Campground. For larger RVs, stick to designated RV parks rather than state forest campgrounds.
Frequently Asked Questions
What amenities does Farquar-Metsa Tourist Park offer for campers?
Farquar-Metsa Tourist Park offers a comprehensive set of amenities for campers. The campground provides full hookup sites for RVs with electricity, water, and septic connections (though some campers note the septic hookup is positioned far back on sites). Facilities include clean bathrooms with showers, a dump station on the premises, and clearly marked camping sites. Recreation options include a basketball court, hiking trails, and picnic tables. The park features a mix of sites with shaded tent areas and more open RV spots. This reservation-only campground is well-maintained and conveniently located near Gwinn's city park, restaurants, and other local amenities.
What campgrounds are available in Gwinn, Michigan?
Gwinn offers several camping options for outdoor enthusiasts. Farquar-Metsa Tourist Park is a well-maintained campground in town with full hookups and reservation requirements. For a more rustic experience, Anderson Lake West - Gwinn State Forest provides basic facilities with a small beach area and is located just a short drive from conveniences. Little Lake State Forest Campground is another option in the area with drive-in access and basic amenities. All three provide different camping experiences within close proximity to the town of Gwinn.
What is the best time of year for camping in Gwinn, Michigan?
The best time for camping in Gwinn is typically late spring through early fall (May through September). Summer months offer warm days perfect for exploring nearby attractions like Little Bay De Noc, which provides Lake Michigan access and is within an hour's drive of Pictured Rocks. Early fall brings spectacular foliage and fewer crowds, making it ideal for hikers and photographers. The region experiences harsh winters with significant snowfall, making winter camping challenging without proper equipment. For the most pleasant camping experience with moderate temperatures and minimal insects, aim for June or September when you can enjoy outdoor activities without extreme weather conditions.
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