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.
"Easy access from town and close to post office, library, stores 1 mile away, hiking trails, trout stream, golf course 6 miles, swimming in river, 15 other lakes in a 10 mile radius."
"This reservation only campground was well kept and close to amenities in Gwinn like their city park and diners."
"The fire pits were really nice, too! Make sure to bring bug spray!"
"The lake is very nice,clear water. The biggest complaint I have is it is noisy. There is a significant amount of rd noise and sometimes trains go by blasting the horn at the intersection."
$20 - $34 / night
"Nice campground right on Lake Michigamme, variety of sites (tents, cabins, electric hook-ups), big clean beach, showers."
"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."
$29 - $45 / night
"City run campground on lake superior. Beautiful views, sandy shore. Most sites have water and electricity, some have sewer hookup. Some walk in sites on the shoreline. We camped on site 5."
"This is a busy campground right on Munising Bay on Lake Superior."
$20 - $200 / night
"Outhouse and showers were clean
Electric hook up
Filled water at dump station We stayed in site 10 it was quiet and away from the core of the noise
Friendly staff Seasonals were a little wild and"
"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."
"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."
"General spots: Varies from right up next to each other to odd shaped spaces that have extra room and trees.
Our site: 40."
"On the shores of Independence Lake, just south of Lake Superior, sits this gorgeous, sparkling clean county park with a well-managed campground."
"The staff at the office gave a helpful map that showed where the local waterfalls are at. There are a lot in the area! The campgrounds aren't anything special and the bathrooms are the nicest."
"This location kept me coming back. The KOA now offers may different activities for kids too."
"Campsites are the usual mix of pull thrus and back-ins, rustic tent and water/electric. None of the sites have sewer but some have 20/30/50 amp electric with water and others are rustic tent sites. "
"We booked a river site but changed to a basic water and electric and saved 5 bucks for a better site. The sites on the river are not well laid out and it's hard to tell where to set up."
"No service for TMobile or Verizon, but still a great secluded spot."
"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."
GuideWe were looking for a campsite that we could drive up to, but we ended up going with a walk up campsite, thanks to the camp host. It couldn't have been more perfect. We got the closest site, which is not a long walk. It was totally private, with a little private entrance to the lake. Very peaceful. Not far from Munising.
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.
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
LegendThe staff at the office gave a helpful map that showed where the local waterfalls are at. There are a lot in the area! The campgrounds aren't anything special and the bathrooms are the nicest. I stayed in a kozy kabin for a night because my camping gear was wet from a storm the night before. Fire pits are provided and wood is for sale on site in the office as well as other necessities. Close to pictured rocks national lakeshore. Definitely go there!
LegendWhen we pulled into this campground we couldn’t believe how empty it was. 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 were wondering what was “wrong” but nothing really surfaced. It could just have been that we were there during the week and the weekend rush hadn’t come yet.
There are 96 campsites that sit on 74 acres so there was plenty of room for us to walk our dog and not feel like we were going in circles. Campsites are the usual mix of pull thrus and back-ins, rustic tent and water/electric. None of the sites have sewer but some have 20/30/50 amp electric with water and others are rustic tent sites. The electric and water sites long enough for any size RV but leveling may be difficult in some of the sites (which are grass). Picnic tables and fire pits accompany every sites. Some sites have their fire pits located at the back of the sites which makes for a big line of fire pits which was kind of weird. There are some large pine trees that provide some shade but this is not a wooded campground by any means.
For a county-run park there are plenty of amenities including WiFi which was slow and depends on where you are located in the park. The showers and flush toilets were clean but a little on the old side. A store sells ice, firewood, soda, snacks and ice cream. There is a really nice picnic pavilion that would be great if you had a lot of people in your group. It is covered with a “kitchen” area and lots of picnic tables. Since the park is on the Escanaba River there is a boat launch (albeit not really suitable for large boats with deep draft) and you can fish from the bank. Disco golf fans will love the 27-hole course that winds through the woods and property. For the kids, a playground area is large with lots of things for them to climb and play on.
The park is located off HWY 2 so access is easy but there is a bit of road noise. Plus, when we visited there was road construction going on that produced traffic backups and more noise. But the real problem is the train tracks that runs alongside the campground and seemed busy 24/7. It is not so bad in the front of the park but back where the tent section is must be pretty bad if you are in a tent.
ScoutThis is a fabulous campground! There are over 20 sites, about half of which are located lake side (not directly on the lake, but there are little paths that lead you there and you can somewhat see the water from these sites.) There is a boat launch on one end of campground and the amazing beach on the other. The water is clear and warm (perfect lake for swimming) and there is both sand and grassy areas on the fairly large beach. The beach also offers picnic tables and benches. The only negative aspect I can see about this campground is that the sites are right on top of each other, so if you have a loud group or a generator next to you, it is noisy. But most campgrounds have sites set real close together, so you will find this pretty much everywhere. Def camp here! About an hours drive from a Pictured Rocks National Park. There are no showers or running water. Camp hosts were very nice, helpful, & welcoming.
GuideOverall, this is a good option for coming near Marquette, especially if you have a trailer, a family, or are looking to post up for a bit.
Pros: The campsite has a lot of amenities that are easily accessible. Each site has a table, a fire pit, potable water nearby and most have electric hookup. The beach area for swimming in Lake Independence is nice with a pavilion, volleyball, and ping pong nearby. You can launch your boat or fish from the dock. The views are beautiful.
Cons: It's a crowded location that doesn't offer a lot of privacy. At 2am we were woken up by a boat coming back in from the water blasting it's music while the whole crew was loud and obnoxious.
GuideThis is a well run,clean campground in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. It was easy to access and right off the main road, no four wheel drive necessary.
The campsites are large and there are a few sites near the lake (We recommend 113).There is a great playground, the summer of 2018 it hosted an inflatable water park which was a riot!
The water system is getting redone which will remove the orange color in the showers (which would otherwise be very nice). The water was not drinkable due to high arsenic but a large container of potable water was available. That is the only thing keeping this campground from being a 5.
The lake was a great temperature and very swimmable. Quiet hours are all the time so it was very peaceful and enjoyable. Ask the rangers for a listing of moose sightings outside of the campground.
Would definitely recommend for visitors in the U.P.
LegendVibe: Mix of retirees and families.
Cleanliness: Above average.
Facilities: Average.
General spots: Varies from right up next to each other to odd shaped spaces that have extra room and trees.
Our site: 40. One of the odd shaped spaces that had extra buffer room and big trees for shade. It was at an intersection at the camp and traffic was pretty steady during the day.
Noise: Mostly quiet. Kids played well after dark in a parking lot across from us, but quiet hours didn’t start until 11 and they were never a problem.
Cell signal(Verizon): Full bars. I streamed a movie (Anatomy of a Murder...see below).
Other: You can swim at Independence Lake right at the camp. If you want to swim in Lake Superior, Squaw Beach is about 10 minutes away. Ate the Lumberjack Tavern and found out about“Anatomy of a Murder” and that it took place at the tavern. Turns out the couple involved had a trailer at the campground.
Frequently Asked Questions
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According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Gwinn, MI is Farquar-Metsa Tourist Park with a 4-star rating from 7 reviews.
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