Best Campgrounds near Kinross, MI

The eastern Upper Peninsula surrounding Kinross, Michigan features diverse camping options within the Hiawatha National Forest and along the shores of Lake Superior and Lake Huron. Bay View Campground in Hiawatha National Forest receives consistently high ratings for its lakefront sites, with campers noting the "gorgeous Lake Superior shore experience" where visitors can "fall asleep to the sound of waves." Nearby Brimley State Park offers year-round camping with modern amenities including electric hookups and showers, while Monocle Lake and Soldier Lake campgrounds provide more rustic experiences from May through September. The region's camping landscape extends from Sault Ste. Marie to St. Ignace, with options ranging from primitive forest sites to full-service RV parks.

Most campgrounds in the area operate seasonally, with peak availability from May through October. Michigan's recreation passport ($11 for non-residents) is required for entry to state parks and some forest campgrounds. Campers frequently mention the need for insect protection, particularly during summer months. As one visitor noted, "bring plenty of mosquito and fly products" for comfortable evening experiences. Weather conditions can change rapidly near the Great Lakes, with high winds affecting lakefront sites. Cell service varies significantly throughout the region, with forest campgrounds typically offering limited connectivity. Many campgrounds feature sandy roads that can challenge larger RVs, prompting experienced campers to "scout on foot first" before attempting to navigate to sites.

Waterfront access represents a defining feature of camping in this region, with sites directly on Lake Superior commanding the highest demand. According to frequent visitors, "the spots on Lake Michigan are the best" while "sites fronting the sand beach" provide the most memorable experiences. The dense pine-maple-spruce forests surrounding many campgrounds create natural privacy barriers between sites. Wildlife viewing opportunities abound, with bird watching particularly popular in early morning hours. During off-season periods (October through April), services become limited at many locations, with water systems winterized and shower facilities closed. Winter camping options exist but require additional preparation for potentially harsh conditions. The region's proximity to Mackinac Island, Tahquamenon Falls, and the International Bridge to Canada makes it an ideal base for exploring Upper Peninsula attractions.

Best Camping Sites Near Kinross, Michigan (78)

    1. Brimley State Park Campground

    24 Reviews
    Brimley, MI
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (906) 248-3422

    "The park offers a nice sandy beach, but we mainly used it as a ‘home base’ for checking out other upper Michigan attractions."

    "Some sites have trees in odd places, so positioning your camper can be a slight challenge, but the lake is right here and I love this park!"

    2. Bay View (Hiawatha National Forest, MI)

    18 Reviews
    Brimley, MI
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (906) 203-9872

    $21 - $24 / night

    "Gorgeous Lake Superior shore experience! Fall asleep to the sound of waves.  Address of property:  19456 West Lakeshore Drive, Brimley, Michigan 49715

    There are no services nearby."

    "Best campground in Michigan. Sites aren’t too close together yet there are bathrooms in a reasonable walking distance from each site."

    3. Bay Mills Casino RV Campground

    9 Reviews
    Brimley, MI
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (888) 422-9645

    "Close to food and fuel. Easy pull through sites. Check in is currently across the street at the hotel. Masks are required in the hotel/casino. Good sites. Decent park."

    "Close to the water and even closer to the casino. We used this as a base for seeing sites, mainly the locks. A bit wet while we were there but not to bad. The staff at the casino is nice and helpful."

    4. Monocle Lake

    11 Reviews
    Brimley, MI
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (906) 203-9872

    $24 / night

    "This campground is a hidden gem, close to the small town of Brimley, Michigan where you can purchase forgotten items, visit the library, or visit local tourist attractions."

    "It was quiet, sites are far from each other, and it was only a short drive from where we wanted to go."

    5. Straits State Park Campground

    75 Reviews
    St. Ignace, MI
    31 miles
    Website
    +1 (906) 643-8620

    $22 - $42 / night

    "We reserved site 83A for our family of 5. we were in close proximity to the newly constructed bathhouse complete with dish washing stations. it was a full campground on the Friday night that we were there"

    "The Straits State Park in Michigan's Upper Penninsula sits on the North end of the Mackinaw Bridge in St. Ignace."

    6. Search Bay Dispersed

    14 Reviews
    Cedarville, MI
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (906) 428-5800

    "Absolutely stunning location! This dispersed campsite offers breathtaking views right on the shoreline. The serenity of the water and the peaceful surroundings make for an unforgettable experience."

    "Great spot on the lake. A lot of people are set up. Otherwise great location"

    7. Clear Lake Campground

    1 Review
    Kinross, MI
    4 miles
    Website
    +1 (906) 635-0201

    8. Aune-Osborn Campground

    9 Reviews
    Sault Ste. Marie, MI
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (906) 632-3268

    "Marie (called the “Soo”) to check out the famous Soo Locks and watch massive Great Lakes freighters pass through them on their way from Lake Superior to Lake Michigan."

    "But the family found it was so much more enjoyable to be able to just step outside the camper and see the boat's go by every chance. Sites on the river are very nice with a great view."

    9. Rivermouth Modern Campground — Tahquamenon Falls State Park

    50 Reviews
    Paradise, MI
    32 miles
    Website
    +1 (906) 492-3415

    $20 - $23 / night

    "This has and will remain my favorite campground in Michigan."

    "Located just outside of the town of Paradise on the Upper Peninsula of Michigan."

    10. Reddmann's Sleepy Hollow

    10 Reviews
    Moran, MI
    20 miles

    "Got here the weekend it was closing for the season and aside from the beginning of duck season and the firing of lots of shotguns on my next to last morning here, it was a really peaceful place."

    "Barbara is amazing as is her 50 some spots on private camping land on the lake! Electric hookups, water well, and honestly my favorite camping site so far! HIGHLY RECOMMEND!"

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Recent Reviews near Kinross, MI

683 Reviews of 78 Kinross Campgrounds


  • Meghan B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 23, 2025

    Hog Island Point State Forest Campground

    Hog Island Point State Forest Campground

    Nice big campground with a couple loop right on the lake. Woodsy and decent space between sites. Just us and one other van on a weekday in October. Road noise not an issue during our stay. Great AT&T cell service. $20/night camping fee plus recreation fee if you don't already have it.

  • Therese S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 6, 2025

    Castle Rock Ponds

    Good Dispersed Camping Spot

    Nice bare bones dispersed camping spot. Decent gravel road leading to it, and easy to navigate to the different spots along the pond (we were in a 26’ Winnebago View). A few other campers out there, a couple looked like some more permanent fixtures of the camping area. Good fishing in pond, caught a trout. We stayed for two nights and both days/nights there were people doing target shooting in the area so there was some pretty loud gunshots, if that’s a deal breaker for you, I wouldn’t recommend this spot.

  • Marc D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 6, 2025

    Brimley State Park Campground

    Beautiful campground

    Right on the shore of Lake superior. Lakefront was just a few steps from our campsite. Sunset. Friendly. Clean facilities.

  • Joe C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 2, 2025

    Brimley State Park Campground

    Beautiful State Park

    Very few campers at this time of year. Be careful when selecting your site as there are many different sizes and some pull through sites as well. Water is throughout the park, but the only threaded faucets are at the dump station where you can fill up when you pull in. Very nice park and we would come back again.

  • J
    Sep. 28, 2025

    Tee Pee Campground

    Fine for the area

    It’s a basic public campground in a busy town. Not much privacy and plenty of drunk RV’ers but I found a nice spot and had a good night. I found a nice long trail to hike that started in town.

  • Byron S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 27, 2025

    Waterways Campground

    Very nice campground

    Check in was great and the host was very friendly and helped me with all my questions. The site is very well maintained and the bathrooms were super clean. Close to great biking trails and other amenities in Cheboygan. The wireless and cell coverage was great. I enjoyed the peace and quiet and would recommend this RV park.

  • RThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 27, 2025

    Carp River Boat Launch

    Free place to park, no trash, no water, no gray dump.

    This place has a lot of people driving through it, but it's a nice place to park. The beach smells like fish, but overall it's pretty nice.

  • Evgeniy D.
    Sep. 23, 2025

    Wilderness State Park Camping

    Clean, rustic, beautiful

    The staff member at check-in was very pleasant even though it was past her shift time. Stayed at walk-in site 113. It was clean and had sufficient privacy especially with site 114 being vacant. Vault toilet was clean and not far.

  • KThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 11, 2025

    Lake Superior North Shore

    Mosquito Hatchery

    Pros: just steps from the shores of Lake Michigan. Near whitefish point. 4-5 sites.

    Cons: about 2-3 miles down road of mosquito hatchery so you will get swarmed - only my late season (early sept) tour of UP, this was the only place I ran into heavy mosquitos and it was unbearable. Sites are closer than the pin shows and the furthest 2-3 are in deep sand/can’t be driven to on most vehicles.


Guide to Kinross

The camping spots near Kinross, Michigan range from shoreline sites with freighter views to inland lake campgrounds with swimming beaches. Within Hiawatha National Forest, many rustic sites feature hand-pumped water and limited cell service. Winter temperatures often drop below freezing from November through March, with summer highs averaging in the 70s.

What to do

Watch freighters: At Aune-Osborn Campground, campers can observe massive ships navigating the St. Mary's River just downstream of the Soo Locks. "There isn't a lot to do in the park but watch the freighters but that's why we wanted to go. Minutes to town and the locks, tours and more," notes one visitor.

Explore waterfalls: Rivermouth Modern Campground provides access to Tahquamenon Falls with convenient trail connections. "The trails are paved so it's an easy walk," reports a camper. Rivermouth is "about a 20-30 minute drive to the main Tahquamenon Falls State Park."

Paddle inland lakes: Monocle Lake offers protected waters for kayaking and canoeing away from Lake Superior's sometimes rough conditions. A visitor noted the lake is "good for kayaking and paddling" with "clean beach and good water for bathing/swimming."

View the Mackinac Bridge: From Straits State Park, hikers can access multiple viewpoints of the iconic bridge. "There is an easy trail through the park that takes you to two overlooks," explains a camper who visited in 2025.

What campers like

Beach access: Bay View Campground offers prime Lake Superior shoreline with sandy beaches. "Enjoyed this clean campground with beach access at gorgeous Lake Superior. Camp host was very friendly and helpful. Firewood was available at campsite," mentions one reviewer who visited in 2022.

Privacy between sites: At Monocle Lake Campground, "sites are far from each other" and many are "backed up against the woods, away from everyone else," according to visitors. One camper specifically recommended "site 24, which was big, backed up against the woods, away from everyone else."

Clean facilities: Brimley State Park maintains well-kept bathrooms and showers. A reviewer described them as "nice and clean" and noted the park is "very close to a lot of cool things to go sightseeing."

Fishing opportunities: Search Bay offers shoreline fishing spots with multiple established sites along the water. "Tons of sites here and most are easily accessible with just about any car," reports a 2025 visitor.

What you should know

Seasonal variations: Most campgrounds close between October and May. "Be careful when selecting your site as there are many different sizes and some pull through sites as well. Water is throughout the park, but the only threaded faucets are at the dump station where you can fill up when you pull in," advises a Brimley State Park visitor.

Insect preparation: Mosquitoes can be intense, particularly in forested areas. A Search Bay camper plainly stated it was "mosquito heaven," adding "if you go there it's mostly cedar and the swarms of skeeters are pretty bad."

Cell service reliability: Service varies significantly by location. At Monocle Lake, visitors report "pretty good AT&T service (3 bars) for the UP," while other forest campgrounds have minimal connectivity.

Water sources: Many rustic campgrounds have limited water access. At Reddmann's Sleepy Hollow, campers explain there is "no water at site but pit toilets and a well to fill receptacles."

Tips for camping with families

Kid-friendly amenities: Straits State Park offers structured activities for children. "Ranger programs for kids, nice playground," notes a visitor who ranked it as a favorite camping spot.

Easy swimming options: Brimley State Park provides safe swimming conditions for children. "The swimming is some of the best with a nice sandy bottom and no rocks," according to visitors.

Community resources: Bay Mills Casino RV Campground offers full hookups and amenities when weather turns poor. A visitor mentioned "clean, full or partial hook-ups and the price for $20 (partial hook-up) is a value." Another noted the campground has "free cable TV and wifi antennas every couple hundred feet."

Wildlife viewing: Many campgrounds around Kinross provide opportunities to spot local wildlife. "It's pet friendly and [has] freighter watching," notes an Aune-Osborn visitor.

Tips from RVers

Site accessibility: Most forest service campgrounds have tight access roads. At Monocle Lake, visitors caution "most bigger Campers and RVs can't stay here. There are many trees too close to roadways for turning corners, and many branches are hanging low overhead."

Hookup placement: At Aune-Osborn Campground, RV campers should be prepared for oddly placed utilities. "Some of the hook-ups at sites are crazy. Our water was nearly 50 feet away and some are on the wrong side."

Road conditions: Bay Mills RV Park offers level sites suitable for larger rigs. A visitor with a 46' fifth wheel reported the campground "fit our 46' fifth wheel with ease."

Seasonal sites: Casino campgrounds tend to remain open longer than state or forest service options. One Bay Mills visitor noted camping there in October when many other sites had closed for the season.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I find camping sites in Kinross, Scotland?

Kinross offers several camping options near the picturesque Loch Leven area. Straits State Park Campground provides well-maintained sites with beautiful views and newly constructed facilities, including convenient dish washing stations. Another excellent option is Drummond Island Township Park Campground, a hidden gem that many visitors discover and plan to return to repeatedly. For those seeking camping in Kinross, it's recommended to book in advance during peak summer season to secure your preferred location.

What facilities are available at Kinross camping grounds?

Camping grounds in the Kinross area offer varying levels of facilities. Hog Island Point State Forest Campground provides clean sites with well-spaced pitches, clean outhouses, and water pumps, though no electricity is available. For more amenities, Cheboygan State Park Campground offers modern facilities while maintaining a natural setting with excellent hiking trails and Lake Huron access. Most Kinross area campgrounds feature fire pits, picnic tables, and toilet facilities, with some offering water access points. Always check specific campground listings for the most current facility information.

Is wild camping allowed near Loch Leven in Kinross?

Wild camping options exist near water bodies in the Kinross region, though with specific regulations. At Lake Michigan At St. Ignace, campers can enjoy lakeside sites with direct beach access, offering a semi-wild camping experience with basic amenities. For a more remote experience, DeTour - Lake Superior State Forest provides isolated camping opportunities with minimal facilities. Remember that true wild camping requires following Leave No Trace principles and obtaining any necessary permits. Always check local regulations, as rules regarding dispersed camping vary by location and season.