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Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Isle Royale National Park

74 Reviews

Sunset Bay RV Resort and Campground accommodates pets throughout its beachfront property on Lake Superior's shoreline near Isle Royale National Park. Campers with dogs have access to tent sites directly on the beach, RV sites with full hookups including 50-amp service, and pet-friendly cabin and glamping options. The campground features well-maintained facilities including modern restrooms, showers, and a dump station for RV travelers. Grand Portage Lodge & Casino also permits pets at its campground, offering electric hookups and picnic tables at each site. Both locations allow fires with fire rings provided, though Grand Portage's sites lack privacy with minimal shade trees and vegetation between camping spots.

Gravel and sand roads throughout Sunset Bay lead to waterfront campsites where dogs can enjoy Lake Superior's shoreline during sunset walks. The campground's remote location requires travel down a long dirt road, providing a quiet environment away from highway noise that many pets find less stressful. Both campgrounds serve as convenient bases for accessing Isle Royale National Park, though pets are not permitted on the national park itself. Grand Portage's location three miles from the ferry terminal makes it particularly convenient for travelers needing pre-ferry accommodations. The Lake Superior shore offers excellent rock hunting opportunities for visitors with pets, while multiple small waterfalls in the surrounding area provide additional outdoor exploration options where leashed dogs are welcome.

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Best Dog-Friendly Sites Near Isle Royale National Park (2)

    1. Grand Portgage Lodge & Casino

    9 Reviews
    Grand Portage, MN
    42 miles
    Website
    +1 (218) 475-2476

    "Not very private no trees or shade but I guess it’s not really needed when you’re on Lake Superior. It’s mid June and the high is 60. You get to enjoy all the amenities of the lodge and casino."

    "We have a great view of the harbor and the lake. The sites are really spaced out. The grounds are not manicured (the grass under our picnic table is knee high)."

    2. Sunset Bay RV Resort and Campground

    10 Reviews
    Mohawk, MI
    49 miles
    Website
    +1 (906) 337-2494

    $25 - $50 / night

    "However, when we drove past the roadside sign, my husband said he wanted to check it out. And we're so glad we did!"

    "We really liked this campground mostly for its location and beautiful beach on Lake Superior."

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Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Isle Royale National Park

74 Reviews of 2 Isle Royale National Park Campgrounds

  • Matt S.
    Aug. 31, 2018

    South Lake Desor Campground — Isle Royale National Park

    What's that noise? The sound of a trillion mosquitos!!!

    South Lake Desour was my least favorite campsite on Isle Royale National Park. It felt suffocating with the afternoon heat and the bugs were insane. About 8:00 p.m. you had to dive into your tents to survive the mosquitos. The noise sounded like a jet engine out side the tent. Anyone without a bug net would be miserable.

    Even at 7:00 a.m. in the morning when we were trying to pack up, we were bitten like crazy. Lesson learned: spray your clothes with permethrin before you go backpacking in Isle Royale. BUT it is Isle Royale national Park so it still gets three stars.

  • Matt S.
    Sep. 22, 2017

    Grand Portgage Lodge & Casino

    Grand Portage is the last stop in MN to Isle Royale NP

    Grand Portage Lodge and Casino is not what I imagine as a place to pitch a tent, but right next to the marina is an RV park and a bunch of spots for tents. I'm not a gambler so this is not normally a destination for me, but it is the best place to camp to make it to the Ferry by 6:30 a.m. the next morning to be transported to a paradise in Isle Royale National Park.

    The nice thing about the campground is that you sit on a hill and look out at lake superior. There is a large gas station next to the marina where you can make phone calls at a pay phone (There is no cell service) and get some last minute treats before you head out on the boat.

    This is the place to stay if you are going to Isle Royale National Park from Minnesota.

  • Matt S.
    Aug. 31, 2018

    Washington Creek Campground — Isle Royale National Park

    The $12 Frozen Pizza is well worth it at Washington Creek

    Washington Creek was an awesome place to end our trip. The campsites were right next to a cove and were awesome! The fox trying to steal our shoes in the middle of the night was annoying, but overall, a great experience.

    The frozen pizza was awesome. You have the choice of sausage or cheese. We each ordered our own. The General Store has just the amenities that you want at the end of your journey. Especially a shower!!!

    Isle Royale National Park is amazing and I can't wait to go back!!!

  • Matt S.
    Aug. 31, 2018

    Hatchet Lake Campground — Isle Royale National Park

    RANGER REVIEW: Mountain House Chili Mac with Beef at Hatchet Lake

    This was one of the interior lakes on Isle Royale National Park. It is very pretty, and the water is a perfect temperature for swimming, but the mosquitos are thick in the interior of the island, especially at the interior lakes. All of the campsites at Hatchet Lake are comparable. I don't think there was a bad campsite.

    RANGER REVIEW: One of the benefits of being a contributor on theDyrt is you are given the opportunity to test different gear. I had the Mountain House Chili Mac with Beef. It is freeze dried and very light for backpacking. The best part, it tastes great!!! I give the Mountain House Chili Mac with Beef 5/5 stars.

  • Matt S.
    Aug. 31, 2018

    McCargoe Cove Campground — Isle Royale National Park

    Our First stop on the Island

    A small group of family and friends left the luxuries of home to backpack thirty miles in Isle Royale National Park. It was an amazing experience and I look forward to taking the rest of my children here as they grow up.

    The first leg of our journey was a boat ride from Grand Portage, Minnesota to McCargoe Cove. We did not do much backpacking the first day. We did hike around the area and set up camp to take it easy our first night. We elected to stay in our own tents, but those who wanted more amenities could take advantage of several small shelters built in each camp.

    Other than Windigo and Rock Harbor, there are no amenities other than some shelters and latrines.

    McCargoe Cove is set in a cove right off Lake superior, so this spot is especially popular with the fishermen since there is a nice dock and ease of access for their boats. This was a nice place to stay but it wasn't my favorite.

    I tried some new food at McCargoe Cove that I highly recommend: NOKA - Mango/Coconut was fantastic.

  • Amy G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 27, 2024

    McCargoe Cove Campground — Isle Royale National Park

    Lots of shelters and sites and this one has a group fire ring!

    This is a lovely campground on Isle Royale - none of them are terrible (let's face it - you are on a gorgeous island that's basically untouched!), but this one is a little larger than some with more shelters than others.

    Shelters - they are first come first served.  If the campground is uber full, the policy and expectation is that you consider sharing with others, especially if you are a party of one or two.   Not a bad policy and courteous, for sure. But this didn't happen when we were here. Each shelter is four sided with the front side "screened in" for bugs. This is lovely in buggy weather! There are also boards all over the inside (parallel to the floor around the walls) that are great for hanging and airing out wet items. Each one had a picnic table and trees and was a very short walk to water and a toilet.

    Tent pads - there are separate tent areas that are away from shelters, for the most part. Nothing is "close" here so there is quite a bit of room.

    Group - there are three group areas. If using group areas on a normal basis, you must have a group reservation and groups of more than 6 require this in advance. Three group areas all near to each other but with nice green buffers in between and a toilet to share between them.

    Toilets - not fancy but offer privacy.  Small wooden shelters with a metal toilet and a pit. **NOTE:  they do not provide TP - you must take your own**  They don't smell like roses (what pit toilet does?) but they allow privacy and no need to dig a cat hole. Bonus win win.

    This is one of only a handful of camps on the island that has a fire pit! It's a shared fire (not one for each site) with picnic tables nearby and a lovely view of the water. Only collect downed wood (no bigger than your wrist) to burn. 

    As others have mentioned - there is a very nice dock here since a boat comes a few times a week with passengers. This is a "stop" for drop offs from the mainland (you must book this boat in advance to get here). So it's a great place to chill in the breeze, do a bit of yoga stretching, dry your socks, enjoy an evening coffee or fall over after hiking - lol. 

    ***Be aware - there are leeches in the lake. We attempted to splash off a bit and noticed them.***

    Oh yes - the camp fox. He/she is a regular here. We saw the fox many times. Not afraid of people, will steal your stuff (including shoes) so be careful, tie your drying shoes to the picnic table, and do not feed the wildlife. But it it a beautiful specimen of an animal!

  • A
    Sep. 24, 2016

    Three Mile Campground — Isle Royale National Park

    Quiet place to camp

    The Three Mile campground is three miles from Rock Harbor, and a great place to stay if you're looking for a short day after getting off the ferry. The privy and shelters are just a ways up trails off the main path, creating a little isolation and extra quiet from foot traffic passing through. We saw a fox and a moose while staying here! The trail that connects on either side of the campground is made up of huge rock slabs that are just feet away from Lake Superior, and there's old mining grounds just West of the Three Mile campground that are fun to walk around, just be aware of bees!

  • Amy G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 29, 2023

    Feldtmann Lake Campground — Isle Royale National Park

    Right by the lake - super easy access to water

    After a long first day of hiking it was a wonderful surprise to have water just paces from the campsite. Not up or down a hill, just a handful of steps from the tent.  Great for weary feet!

    The campsite sits just off the trail - literally. But this loop of the island isn't hiked a lot, so it's very quiet with little traffic (at least in May when we went). The site we had was #2 and it was perfect for a tent (very flat pad) had some hammock trees, had a stone to set your cook stove on out of the wind (thank you for whoever put it there!), a bench that faced the water for watching the sun or just enjoying your coffee.  An outhouse (three sided with a full front door for privacy) was just about 20 yards away - again on flat ground. **note - bring your own TP**

    There isn't anything about this site that we didn't like. It was flat, it was close to water, it was near the outhouse but not too close and even in the early spring, there was plenty of space between sites for privacy, even without foliage on the bushes yet. The proximity to water made it easy to grab a bag to filter or use it to gently wash up without soap (a good cold foot soak was great!)

    Love everything about this location.

  • Amy G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 11, 2019

    Grand Portgage Lodge & Casino

    Nothing wrong, but nothing fancy

    Most sites have a view of the water, but this campground has a very specific purpose to this area, and it's not for long term camping. I mean, you can, but there isn't much glamour here.

    The good part... They have electric, the bathroom is close, you can take a shower and even do laundry! In the summer, my husband says it's fun to people watch here (he's stayed before), but this time of year, it's quieter. The slips and dock are right in front as well as the camp office. The casino is an easy walk, and since you are so close to the border, you can exchange your money as well (Canadian to USD and vice versa).

    We didn't know in advance, but paying for the campground allows you free use of the pool inside the casino!

    Now, the ugly party.. The price. It was about $45 for an electric site. I think tents were about $20. While it did come with the amenities mentioned above, there is no privacy at any of the sites. The back row sits against the trees, but that's as good as it gets.

    Bottom line, it's a good stopping spot near the border where you can plug in and swim, but not great if you want privacy or upscale.

    I'd stay here again, but probably opt for a tent site to save some money if I could make do off the grid.

Guide to Isle Royale National Park

Discovering pet-friendly camping options near Isle Royale National Park in Michigan opens up a world of adventure for you and your furry friends. With beautiful landscapes and welcoming amenities, these campgrounds ensure a memorable experience for both you and your pets.

Dog owners appreciate spacious sites and scenic views

Pet owners like convenient access to outdoor activities

Tips for camping with dogs near Isle Royale National Park

  • Ensure your pet stays comfortable at Sunset Bay RV Resort and Campground, where the friendly hosts and clean facilities create a welcoming environment for both you and your furry companion.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Isle Royale National Park?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Isle Royale National Park is Grand Portgage Lodge & Casino with a 3.3-star rating from 9 reviews.

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