Whether you're an RVer or tent camper, Hiawatha National Forest, MI is a great place to post up for the weekend—or longer. Discover secluded campsites where you can reconnect with nature. Or maybe you like to bring your family and friends along. Either way, there are Hiawatha National Forest campgrounds just for you. Get the dirt on all the best camping near Hiawatha National Forest. Browse campgrounds by amenities, site types, and more.
"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. "
"When I called the owner was very nice and told me he had availability for kayaking and camping."
$30 / night
"Jack Pine is a small campground in the Hiawatha National Forest. It's a big attraction for Quads and dirt bikes during the summer and I'm told snowmobiles, during the winter."
"I have absolutely nothing but positive things to say. I am more one to frequent rustic and secluded campgrounds."
"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."
"The tent site itself was all we needed with a picnic table, fire pit, and electric. The bathrooms were clean and the showers were free (and even had warm water).
The beach house was stunning."
$30 - $45 / night
"Nice place,don’t have to drive to far off beaten path,Haley at check in was very nice and was real informative about anything in the area,will be back"
$25 - $35 / night
"Beautiful beach with all the privacy in the world. The best part about camping here was the Beach!"
"This rustic national lakeshore campground is tucked in the trees along the south shore of Lake Superior."
$28 - $129 / night
"Small beach area on the lake, playground, and boats available to rent. We’ve stayed in the water/electric sites and they are all very nice, but a bit of a walk from the bath house."
"An awesome campground tucked away in the U.P. Big rig access(46’ 5th wheel). Nice concrete pads, full hook up and cable. The staff is great and helpful. Secluded and quiet."
"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!"
"Was slightly passed the pin marker on the same unlaced road - only about 1/4-1/2 off the highway."
"Just off M-28, down the right side road a bit you will see campfire remnants and a spot where people tend to park on the left."
$20 / night
"The picnic tables are extra large and new. The fire rings have gravel around and again, new.
This is quality in a rustic setting."
"There are 8 campsites, 1 cabin and a pair of vault toilets, so I’m reluctant to let anyone else know about Joeida Campground...just keep it quiet, ok?"
$45 / night
"Wonderful view of the lake beautiful log cabin very comfy sleeps 10 6 single beds with 2 queen beds wood stove was awesome"
"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"
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.
GuideWe arrived on a Friday evening. We had a pull through site and a cabin booked. The pull-through sites are SMALL! (Cabins were basic.) If you happen to have a neighbor, you share campfire and picnic table space. Luckily enough, this place doesn’t seem like it’s ever THAT busy. There wasn’t much for the kids to do. They are all 11 and older and the playground was less than appealing to them. The pool was just recently opened and was SUPER warm. they also had a little game room and store. The first night we were there, a cabin-renter up the hill and his wife were arguing loudly and seem to be regulars at this place. While it provided entertainment in the otherwise quiet and boring campground- it was a little off putting when he started driving his truck through the pull through site next to us frequently like a mad-man. We eventually put stuff in the site to prevent this. The one staff member was friendly. We did venture out to see the falls, it was busy but worth the trip.
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.
GuideThis place is a gem. 50 minutes from Munising, makes the perfect camping spot for a pictures rocks trip.
Beautiful beach with all the privacy in the world. The best part about camping here was the Beach!
Another really nice amenity was the lantern posts next to the picnic table and the grill grate attached to the fire pit. Can’t recommend this place enough.
Some tips: DO NOT take 721 trail off Adams trail. Apple maps told us to take this route. It’s really only meant for atv’s and specialized off road vehicles. It would have saved 3 minutes off our total drive time. The local tow truck told us he comes here 3 times a week while he towed us out. And there’s no signal. It was pretty scary.
No running water in restroom, so pack some Clorox wipes.
Bugs are pretty bad on the non-lake side so try to get a site near the water.
LegendThis park is a KOA property and just did not work for us. It is a typical KOA meaning it is packed with campsites, kids screaming at the pool, and where you get a “nothing special” overpriced campsite. The campground has rental cabins, tent sites, and sites perfectly suitable for RVs of any size. Some of the roads are a little narrow and there are some low hanging branches but nothing to prevent large RVs from staying here. A number of sites have full hookups with cable, some have electric and water, and some have no hook-ups. Tent sites set off to one side of the park which is not very close to the bathroom or you can pitch a tent on RV sites.
As for amenities, they are typical of a standard private park being heated swimming pool, horseshoe pits, playground, laundry and camp store. They advertise 440 aces with hiking trails but I never found hiking trails. There is one section on the east side that has old roads you can walk but I would not call it a trail.
Let me explain some of the things we didn’t like about this park. The bathroom situation was bad. They just did not have large enough facilities for volume of people in the park using the facilities. Even though they cleaned it daily, it got wrecked in no time because of the sheer number of users and discourteous campers. The laundry room was nice and clean but only had three washers and three dryers so you either had to wait or wash at odd times. The roads, as well as your site and patio, were dust and sand which made for a constant mess. Our site (#15) was not level and we just gave up after a while. I’m not sure if they limit the number of campers on an individual site (or police it) because the two spots across from us were always loaded with people. There is a dump station but only one RV can dump at a time and it is located near the entrance/exit which caused some traffic issues at peak use times.
The location of this park is good – you are only three miles from downtown Munising and Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Just south of the park is the Hiawatha National Forest which is nearly 900,000 acres of beautiful woods, rivers, and lakes with plenty of recreational opportunities. Pictured Rocks Pizza made one of the best Pizzas we have ever had. A narrated boat tour to see the Pictures Rocks coastline is definitely worth the price.
Overall, we did not have a good camping experience and would not return. Alternative campgrounds are thirteen miles south in the Hiawatha National Forest or at the Munising Tourist Park three miles east of town on Lake Superior.
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.
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.
LegendThis rustic national lakeshore campground is tucked in the trees along the south shore of Lake Superior. Next to the campground, there is literally a 12-mile long beach of beautiful white sand along the crystal clear waters of this great lake.
Each campsite is equipped with a picnic table and fire ring with water spigots scattered throughout the campground. There is no electricity available and only pit toilets (which are clean, but rather stinky). Sites are smallish, a bit close together, and can accommodate tents and only small RV’s. RV’s over 25 feet will only fit in a few of the sites near the entrance to the campground.
We visited this campground in third week of September and hit the fall color spot on! The surrounding area provides great opportunities for water sports of all kinds, cycling, hiking, and dune climbing. Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore Visitor’s Center is about 35 miles west of this campground in the town of Munising where you will find grocery stores, gasoline, a laundromat, and restaurants.
Cabin camping near Hiawatha National Forest, Michigan, offers a perfect blend of nature and comfort, making it an ideal getaway for outdoor enthusiasts and families alike.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular cabin campsite near Hiawatha National Forest?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular cabin campground near Hiawatha National Forest is Northland Outfitters with a 4.8-star rating from 6 reviews.
What is the best site to find cabin camping near Hiawatha National Forest?
TheDyrt.com has all 23 cabin camping locations near Hiawatha National Forest, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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