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.
$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."
"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."
"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."
$22 - $70 / night
"We 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."
"Well set up campground with about 25 sites on a loop with maybe 30 sites for $22/night."
"Nice campground that is a good Basecamp fit central upper peninsula of Michigan. Some sites have electricity but there is no dump station. $20 a nite$ 18 if you are a senior."
"Electric and rustic sites. Water is central from an artesian well. Vault toilets and no showers. For the price, I’d stay again"
$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."
"If you can’t get into the campgrounds in Pictured Rocks this site is a good alternative due to its proximity (three miles) the downtown and the entrance to the park. "
$15 / night
"Great little campground in the middle of nowhere. 15 minute drive off the beaten path keeps the crowds away. Couple spots right on the water. Vault toilets were fairly clean and stocked."
"unable to find a site at Pictured Rocks we were directed to this state forest campground. it was our first stay at a SF campground in Michigan and since we have sought them out and stayed in many. gorgeous"
$25 - $35 / night
"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."
"You'd expect a site close to cars/roads to be clean as it's easy for people to pack trash out to a car, but there was a fair amount of garbage left in fire rings at this campground (we burned what we could"
$24 - $80 / night
"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.)"
"I loved the fire pit. I cook over the open fire and the size and type of ring was great. It had good ventilation which allows the fire to breath."
$28 - $129 / night
"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."
"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."
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.
TravelerCity 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. Pros:
GuideThe U.P. has so much to offer if you're into the great outdoors. 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. Being that in the summer, it doesn't get dark until 10 pm, you can spend all day and most of the evening riding the trails. This year, the gnats were just about unbearable, but no fault of the campground (welcome to the UP). Camp Hosts Fred and Nancy, were extremely nice and helpful. The bar/restaurant on site, is a plus if you're wanting a quick bite or cocktail. They do have decent wifi throughout the campground, which is good because there was no Verizon signal. The cabins had Satellite, but they were in an open field, the campsites are in the pines, which may cause poor reception. They sell firewood for $5 a bundle. There's a small camp store, with a few necessities & ice. Bathrooms were clean, and showers were enclosed with a locking door. I would definitely stay here again, but I will bring my netted gazebo, to keep the gnats and flies at bay.
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.
GuideThere is a backcountry campground not 1/2-mile from the 12-Mile Beach car/RV campground. "Backcountry" is deceptive, as there is a road/parking area about 1/4 mile west of the site.
You'd expect a site close to cars/roads to be clean as it's easy for people to pack trash out to a car, but there was a fair amount of garbage left in fire rings at this campground (we burned what we could and packed the rest out). The plus side was that someone had left a handful of split logs behind, negating the need to gather anything beyond kindling.
Proximity to the drive-in sites provided ready access to potable, running water and flush toilets, although there is a pit toilet at this campground.
Lake Superior is readily accessible from both these sites and the drive-in campground.
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!
LegendThe main attraction in Munising is Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. If you can’t get into the campgrounds in Pictured Rocks this site is a good alternative due to its proximity (three miles) the downtown and the entrance to the park. The campground is located right on Lake Superior so some of the sites have great water views and you have access to the lake for swimming and boating. Waterfront sites are great but when we were there it was really windy as the north winds were blowing hard off the lake.
This is one of those parks that really fills up in the summer, so book early (which you can do online). The park has 127 sites that are a mix of tent, water/electric, and water/electric/sewer and it seems like sites are placed haphazardly and are close to your neighbor. In some ways, the quality of your stay depends on your site. When we were there it had rained the day prior and some sites were really wet and muddy making it hard to go from your car to camper. The park is on M-28 so it is easy to get in and out of but means that sites along the road are noisy as this is a heavily traveled road.
There is a little store in office that sells wood for $7 but we found it cheaper down the street. They advertise free WiFi but we were never able to get a good connection so we gave up and used our Verizon hotspot (which worked well).
Our intention was to put our kayaks in the lake and paddle around Pictured Rocks NL but upon learning how dangerous that can be in our recreational kayaks we opted for a sunset boat cruise instead. This was a good option and we loved the narrated 2 ½ - hour cruise. Unfortunately, it was completely overcast and the cliffs were not as colorful as they would be if the sun had been out. There are lots of waterfalls in the area and since there had been lots of rain prior to our visit they were pretty spectacular. Definitely plan on spending time hiking in Pictured Rocks NL but beware there are lots of restrictions on where dogs can go (basically just developed areas like parking lots and campgrounds). The nearby Hiawatha National Forest is a great place for hiking and paddling. Another paddling option is the Au Train Canoe Trail which is close to the campground and has a public boat launch.
RangerWe stayed at one of the twelve mile backcountry spots and it might be one of my favorite back country spots in Pictured Rocks. The hike in is fairly easy and flat the entire way. We also happened to be the only ones camping at this site and it was great to get away from the more busy sites further down the lakeshore. The beach is just steps away from the site which is slightly above the beach (maybe 50 ft) situated within beautiful clusters of birch trees. The climb to the beach and back is not terribly difficult, we were able to make dinner by the water and run back and forth from our camp to grab misc. cooking items without the climb taking a huge toll on our energy levels. It's also the perfect spot for star gazing and relaxing on an empty beach. I have stayed in the back country at Pictured Rocks 5 times, staying at a different site each night and this place stands out. We also passed by the drive up campsites and they seemed like some of cooler drive up spaces we've come across with each site tucked into the trees and nicely secluded.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Hiawatha National Forest?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Hiawatha National Forest is Jack Pine Lodge and Campground with a 4.8-star rating from 9 reviews.
What is the best site to find glamping camping near Hiawatha National Forest?
TheDyrt.com has all 22 glamping camping locations near Hiawatha National Forest, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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