The Upper Peninsula's Michigamme area sits at approximately 1,600 feet above sea level, creating a northern woodland ecosystem with short summers and significant winter snowfall. Camping near Michigamme offers access to the region's numerous inland lakes and forest trails. Temperatures from June through August typically range from 50-75°F with cooler evenings requiring extra layers.
What to do
Lake activities at Van Riper State Park: Located on Lake Michigamme's shores, the park offers swimming, fishing, and boating opportunities. "If you love mountain biking or hiking you stay here. Period. You are right on the trails," notes one visitor at nearby Rippling Rivers RV Resort. The park's beach area provides supervised swimming during summer months.
Mountain biking trails: The Marquette area contains extensive trail networks accessible from several campgrounds. "Our kids loved that there is a pool, hot tub & bouncy pillow! This is our 2nd time staying & both were because of its convenience to 'civilization' not to get away from it," mentions a camper at Country Village RV Park about nearby amenities.
Keweenaw exploration: Drive north to explore historic mining towns. A visitor at Chocolay River RV & Campgrounds notes, "The water, sewer, drain pipe, and electric hook ups are all in very good condition. Additionally, there is no longer any exposed dirt like you see in some of the pictures on this particular camping app."
What campers like
Lake views: Campsites near Lake Michigamme provide scenic water access. At Beaufort Lake State Forest Campground, "The outhouses are new and the sites are right on Beaufort Lake. There is a boat launch and small beach area. We did some kayaking and saw multiple Bald Eagles - they would fly over the sites from the lake to the beaver pond across the street."
Wildlife encounters: The region's forests support diverse animal species. According to a camper at Beaufort Lake, "Local ducks were very welcoming and came right up to us. There was a beautiful sunset one night we stayed."
Clean facilities: Many campgrounds maintain their amenities well. At Gitche Gumee RV Park, "Definitely a unique spot. The staff was really kind. They have some cool amenities like billiards and house crafted beer. The spots were spacious in the woods and had a good feel."
What you should know
Reservation requirements: Booking policies vary significantly between rv sites near Michigamme, Michigan. At Houghton RV Park, "The park is small with just 25 sites so book early if you are coming during the summer and they do have seasonal stays with good rates. We called with just a couple weeks notice but scored a site because someone cancelled."
Terrain conditions: Many Upper Peninsula campgrounds have minimal site improvements. "Just Don't Do It! One Star is too many- Zero Stars was not an option! We made a reservation with a Passport America discount $22.50 a night and when we arrived, they raised the rate to $35," reports one disgruntled camper about Chocolay River RV.
Connectivity limitations: Cell service varies throughout the region. One camper at Country Village RV Park noted, "The WiFi never worked at our site. We were able to get a clear view of the sky for our satellite television."
Tips for camping with families
Beach options: Lake swimming provides free recreation. "We did some kayaking and saw multiple Bald Eagles - they would fly over the sites from the lake to the beaver pond across the street," notes a visitor at Beaufort Lake State Forest Campground, highlighting activities beyond swimming.
Playground access: Some campgrounds offer dedicated play areas. A visitor to Country Village RV Park reports, "Awesome park. Playground which they are expanding. Large sites as it is a big rig park. Very clean bathrooms. They are adding a large game area and they have a swimming pool and hot tub."
Short hikes: The region offers trails suitable for younger hikers. "The best part was the 3/4 mile ish trail that goes up to the Marquette Mountain. We walked up at night (bring flashlights!!!) and the view was breathtaking! We overlooked all of Marquette and the stars were incredible!!" shares a camper from Rippling Rivers Resort.
Tips from RVers
Site leveling: Be prepared for uneven terrain at some campgrounds. A visitor to Rippling Rivers notes, "We camped here while visiting the upper peninsula. We loved Marquette and this campground made a great home base. The upper loop had spacious sites and clean bathrooms but no sewer hook ups. The lower full hook up loop looked a little cramped."
Water quality: Water systems vary among rv campgrounds near Michigamme. "We stayed for a month, twice the owner tried to tell us we owed more money. The campground has very hard water, to the point our shower is stained pretty bad even though we had multiple filters and a water softener," reports a camper at Gitche Gumee RV Park.
Seasonal openings: Most campgrounds close by mid-October due to weather. According to a visitor at Chocolay River, "Bare bones campground nice new showers and bathrooms gravel pads I'll pull through. $35 a night close to Marquette golf course in a casino."
