Looking for the best campgrounds near Gwinn, MI? There are tons of hikes and other fun activities to partake in. Experience some of the most stunning views that Michigan camping has to offer. You're sure to find the perfect campground for your Gwinn camping trip.
$40 - $50 / night
"Lovely campground in a good location. I stayed in the top area with electric only hook ups. This area is pretty secluded. The full hook up area is pretty busy with several activities."
"Full hook up, luxury cabins, rustic cabins, electric sites, walk in tent sites. Location is perfect. Only wish would be that they add more bathrooms/shower rooms."
"Don’t judge a book by its cover. The campgrounds are a bit “quirky”…lots of art and signs etc. BUT the owner and his family were really sweet and cared about the guests."
"Everywhere else was booked so I wasn’t hopeful. The owner answered the phone, even gave me a little background about the place- and was happy to take my booking."
$35 - $51 / night
"Located just off the highway but out of earshot of the major noise, this campground is awesome!
The sites are well maintained and we required no additional leveling."
"This park is located about 15 minutes from the town of Marquette and is a great alternative if you can’t get a site in the Marquette Tourist Park (which is closer to town and very popular in the summer"
$20 - $34 / night
"We found this campground located along U.S. Hwy 41 about 40 minutes west of Marquette MI. The Park sits on the west shores of Lake Michigamme. "
"We stayed at Van Riper State Park three times during June and July. The park is always clean and well-maintained."
$20 - $200 / night
"Very nice private campground that offers rustic, electric, and cabins. We stayed in a 30 amp electric site. The 30 amp sites are a bit tight but backed up to the woods, so privacy wasn't an issue."
"We opted for the rustic campground which still allowed access to the bathroom and showers, but was secluded from the cabin and RV area. The lake access was great! Warm water and good fishing."
"I have been to the Silver Lake State Park campground several times. I absolutely love it and go back as often as possible."
"The campground is on the water and only a few minutes away from the dunes! The rates are reasonable. The trees provide great shade, but also attract mosquitos."
"Beautiful lake, great swimming area, secure, full hook ups. Very helpful we came in late night- they left reservation info in the mail box for us."
"My family and I took a 3 week vacation to visit Michigan. We stayed at a few different campgrounds, and did lots of hiking."
"On the shores of Independence Lake, just south of Lake Superior, sits this gorgeous, sparkling clean county park with a well-managed campground."
"General spots: Varies from right up next to each other to odd shaped spaces that have extra room and trees.
Our site: 40."
$40 - $45 / night
"Picnic tables and site rings. Check in at noon, check out at noon. Just make sure to leave by noon or they charge you $100."
"We stayed in a full hook up 50 amp site, and experienced no power issues despite 2 days of freakishly high winds and scorching heat in the 90s. This is an immaculately clean and well run campground."
"This location kept me coming back. The KOA now offers may different activities for kids too."
"Super close to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore! This KOA is pretty nice. Has a dog run, facilities including showers/bathrooms/laundry, along with a general store!"
ScoutWonderful view of the lake beautiful log cabin very comfy sleeps 10 6 single beds with 2 queen beds wood stove was awesome
GuidePrivate cabin on Mckeever lake. Loved this spot! Cabin with two bunk beds, a woodburning stove, table and seating. Water pump available as well as a woodshed and outhouse. Key code entry is provided when booked.
The cabin is a short 1000 foot walk from the parking in warmer months but in the winter can only be accessed from ski trail parking and is about a mile walk or ski in.
Located just uphill from the lake and along ski trails this spot was good for all seasons. About a half hour drive from Munising.
GuideGreat cabin. I would highly encourage anyone who likes the outdoors to go there. I'm reluctant to post a good review because I don't want everyone booking up all the dates, but like any other government program, if you don't show a need they won't give funding to build more cabins like this.
The cabin is great for a family. We brought our kids and they loved it. Having no electricity was great and no running water added to the "camping" experience. The outhouse was only about 25 yards from the cabin and there was a wood shed in back too so you don't have to worry about that, which is nice. We had the lake to ourselves and couldn't see or hear any other people. Why you'd chose a campground instead of a place like this is beyond me. The water was about 75 yards from the cabin with the fire pit that way as well. The lake had some muck the first few feet but was sandy after that.
Inside the cabin were two tables and eight chairs. There was a small counter top as well. The wood stove was free standing so be careful about burns if you use it. The storage room was also nice to double as a changing room. There was plenty of space in the bunk room, enough beds for 8. The cabin is usually pretty dark, even in the middle of the day so make sure you bring lights and lanterns. There are hooks hanging from the ceiling in 4 or 5 spots throughout the cabin for light.
The bugs weren't bad but the horseflies and mosquitoes could make a showing. You're not far from Munising and we took trips up that way. The Camel Riders restaurant is only 2 minutes down the road and is decent, but small. They have a couple televisions for the kids. The prices are what you'd expect from a resort restaurant and the food does take a while, but it's pretty good.
If you're coming from the south I would recommend stopping at Van Cleve Park in Gladstone on your way up. The beach is really nice and they have a big playground. Worth the stop.
RangerAlong our travels in Michigan's Upper Peninsula from the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore west to the Porcupine Mountains, we stayed at Van Riper State Park campground. We found this campground located along U.S. Hwy 41 about 40 minutes west of Marquette MI. The Park sits on the west shores of Lake Michigamme. Van Riper State park has both a Modern and Rustic campgrounds along, with hiking, biking and ATV trails. There is a fine sandy beach, and playground. At the beach there is a concession stand. The park offers areas for boating, kayaking, and jet skiing, and fishing. To book or check into either campground you must stop at the park office. A Resident Recreational Passport is required or a charge of $11 will apply for each vehicle without one. The park office also has firewood, ice and even ice cream for sale. I recommend to get your firewood from another local area, the bundles are $5 but are very small bundles like 3 or 4 pieces. They also offer kayak rentals the price on those was decent. $10 for a 2 hour kayak rental.
We stayed in the Modern campground. There are 147 sites and 2 Mini Cabins. Sites are equipped for tents, trailers and RV’s up to 50’. There are free wifi by the restrooms, flush toilets, showers, drinking water, sanitation station, electric hookups at each site along with a fire pit and picnic table. The daily price of sites is $22 - $24 and $49 for a Mini Cabin. We stayed in site 92 that is located right next to the restroom/showers. Which was great having young children with us who seem to need to visit the restroom numerous times. This site is more for a trailer or a RV being the ground is hard and full of rocks. We all used air mattresses so that wasn’t much of an issue. We did take the time to remove any sharp rocks from where our tent was being placed to make sure no holes were made in the tent or mattresses. Sites are very open and non private. There is a host site that has information on activities around the park and neighboring areas. They also offer activities for children to do.
A short distance from the modern campground is the rustic campground. There are 40 sites and a Camper's Cabin available. This campground offers vault toilets, and drinking water. I did find out that for $2 per person for a day you can have access to the showers at the modern campground. The daily price of these sites is $13, and $86 for the Camper’s Cabin. These sites are equipped for tents, trailers and RV’s up to 30’. There is no electric hook ups.
During your visit to the park there are lot’s of scenic, historic, and recreational sites to visit. A few miles from the park is the location of where Iron ore was first found in the Lake Superior region. There is a Iron Industry Museum. Lake Michigamme offers lot’s of activities for those visiting. If you are really looking for a awesome adventure not too far from camp, you can drive an ½ hour west on Hwy 41 to the “Grand Canyon” of Michigan, this gorge and waterfalls are located along the Sturgeon River. There is access to the North Country Trail here as well. The Canyon Waterfall and Gorge are just breathtaking. It is a 10 minute hike along the river from the parking area to the Canyon falls and gorge. You can hike further in if you wish and discover the rapids area along the river. We did not venture this far having small children with us. Can’t wait to return on a adult trip to hike further along the river.
I give this Campground a 5 star review, it is a great place to take the family on vacation.
ScoutThe campground is right off the highway heading west into Munising. There are picnic tables and a fire pit at each site as well as a trash can. There is a short walk to the restroom facilities that do include a shower. There is a pavilion, a playground and a heated pool on site. The campground also has a gift shop with a few camping related items. There are also a few cabins at the campground for rent.
GuideWe stayed at Van Riper State Park three times during June and July. The park is always clean and well-maintained. The bathrooms and showers and generally always nicely maintained as well, and there are plenty of both. The bathrooms do tend to run out of soap and toilet paper at busy times. Dogs are not allowed on the beach but also cannot be left unattended in your site. The rules are heavily enforced in this park. Park staff will ask you to move vehicles if you have more than two, and you will be asked to turn music completely off upon quiet hours. This is not the place to go if you want to party.
Sites 15 and 17, as well as several other sites along that side of that loop, now have a wooden fence at the back of them, so they are not as large as they appear in the photos online.
We have stayed in sites 14, 90 and 93. We travel with a 34’ trailer.
Site 14 is narrow but manageable. It is well-shaded by large pine trees on the site. Site is entirely dirt. There are trees to hang hammocks or clotheslines in.
Site 90 is on a corner by the propane tanks. It is a large site. It does have some roots and low spots. It is partial grass. It has nice shade and is adjacent to the bathrooms. There are trees to hang hammocks or clotheslines.
Site 93 is a large site that backs up to a small grass/tree buffer. It is across the road from the bathrooms. It has nice shade. There is a place to hang a clothesline but not hammocks.
Pros: Clean, well-maintained park
Quiet
Lots of playground equipment
Bike/scooter pump track
Excellent beach area
Lots of green space
Hiking trails
Wood and ice available for purchase at the entrance
Laundry is available; one washer and two dryers
Very kid and pet friendly
Cons: Park website has out of date information, specifically that there is no longer a store on the beach, nor are there kayaks/SUPs to rent
The Water Warrior Island is no longer in the lake
There are very few sites with buffers between
It is sort of far to the beach and laundry from the modern campsites
No non-reservable sites available
GuideThis was an awesome rustic cabin. We went to Tom's Lake Cabin a couple weeks prior to this and had a really good experience. I was able to book this one just a few weeks out.
It's not on Google Maps so I had to plug the coordinates from Recreation.gov into the Maps program, then the route came up. I took this trip with my wife and 4 kids who were 1, 4, 8, and 9. I read there was a 1000 foot walk in and was fine with that but the trail was not as conducive for the wheeled wagon and bags, but they worked. It took several trips because we brought a ton of stuff for activities. I would recommend packing as much as you can in packs you can carry. There were a few bugs along the way so make sure you bring enough bug spray.
When we got to the cabin, there were very few bugs and the cabin was nice and clean. The twin beds were just fine and there was enough room on the deck to keep supplies so you didn't have to crowd up the cabin. The cabin is at the top of a hill which offered a great view and discouraged the little ones from wandering. The pit toilet was clean without a bunch of bugs roaming around. There was plenty of wood in the shed. The Park Service advised that the wood should be used for just the stove inside the cabin. The fire ring and a picnic table is located right next to the cabin which made it convenient for fires. The water pump is located about 50 yards down hill toward the lake so make sure you bring something to carry water.
The lake was nice and there was a very small sandy area near the shore. It got a little mucky as we ventured out. It was far enough from the cabin that I didn't have to worry as much about little kids drowning, which is good. Once you get out into the lake a little bit, the water is about 15-20 feet deep.
Make sure you set aside some time to check out the trails around the cabin. They go in a loop and make for a fun hike.
I would go back there again and I recommend this trip for anyone who is willing to put in a moderate amount of effort to get to the cabin. Once you're there the solitude is so much better than a crowded campground.
Oh, and there's no cell service. Also, if you're coming from the south, don't forget to stop at Van Cleve Park in Gladstone. Totally worth it.
RangerNice campground right on Lake Michigamme, variety of sites (tents, cabins, electric hook-ups), big clean beach, showers. AT&T was okay, ended up using it for internet over Starlink, which was spotty due to trees. Son had a good time skateboarding and using the playground. We've stayed twice now and likely will again. I did notice the AED was missing from the beach house/laundry area....otherwise it seems accessible.
LegendVan Riper State Park is a must-visit if you’re traveling through Michigan's Upper Peninsula. It’s popular year-round, although camping is only open between May and October. Stop for the day to hike the trails and go for a swim, or stay a week and enjoy the sunsets and serenity.
The state park covers both sides of the highway with the campground and day-use area on the south side and a huge section of trails and wildlife viewing areas on the north.
There are 147 sites in the modern campground, including some sites with 50-amp electric service, and there are another 40 sites in the rustic campground. Plus, there are two mini cabins in the modern campground if you don’t own a tent or RV. All of the campsites have a fire ring and picnic table.
One thing we noticed is that the sites at Van Riper are very large– so much bigger than many sites we’ve seen at other state parks. This means there is plenty of space for your trailer, truck, bikes, screen tent, kids’ toys, etc. without feeling like you’re infringing on your neighbor.
Another plus for the state park is the laundry facilities. Two washers and dryers are located in the restroom building near the beach.
Van Riper State Park is extremely family-friendly, with activities for everyone. There are approximately 5 miles of hiking trails on the north side of the state park. One trail provides a very nice overlook of Lake Michigamme and the surrounding area. Other trails run along the Peshekee River or through the woods and may even provide the chance to see the moose that live in the area. The trails are not difficult, but there is some elevation to get to the lookout. If you don’t want to hike the whole 5-plus miles from the campground and back, you can drive and park at the group campground and go from there.
A sandy beach awaits both kids and adults on Lake Michigamme. The lake is popular as it is much warmer than most of the lakes in the Upper Peninsula. A large, fairly new playscape is also located near the beach, as well as a swing set. One of the most unique activities is a bike pump track. This is the only state park that we saw that had one. It was very popular with the kids and is conveniently located between the campground and the day-use area. The lake is popular for fishing and if you have a boat you can use the launch in the back of the park. It also is a good location for kayaking.
Experience the charm of cabin camping near Gwinn, Michigan, where nature meets comfort in a variety of scenic settings.
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