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Best Tent Camping near Munising, MI

713 Reviews

Tent campsites around Munising, Michigan cluster in several key areas, with backcountry tent camping options on Grand Island National Recreation Area and within Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. The region offers designated tent-only sites with varying levels of accessibility and amenities, from primitive backcountry locations to more established campgrounds like South Gemini Lake State Forest Campground, which provides basic facilities for tent campers about 15 miles from town.

Most tent camping areas near Munising require campers to bring their own water or filtering equipment, as drinking water is scarce at primitive sites. Bear-proof food storage is essential at backcountry tent camping locations, with many sites on Grand Island providing bear poles or storage lockers. The terrain typically consists of forested areas with limited grading, and while some sites offer fire rings, restrictions may apply during dry periods. Pit toilets are available at many established campgrounds but absent at more remote tent sites. Seasonal access varies, with some areas inaccessible during winter months and early spring due to road conditions and ferry service limitations.

Sites on Grand Island offer exceptional seclusion for tent camping with beach access points along Lake Superior. A visitor commented, "Duck Lake Campsites provide beautiful sunset opportunities and on a clear night you can see plenty of stars." The island's tent camping areas feature unique amenities like provided firewood at certain locations, though amenities differ between sites. Mosquitoes and biting flies can be problematic during summer months, particularly at lower elevations and near standing water. Backcountry tent sites within Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore require permits and offer varying degrees of privacy, though popular areas like Chapel Beach can become crowded during peak season. For those seeking more solitude, dispersed tent camping on National Forest land provides alternatives, though recent reviews indicate some previously available areas now prohibit overnight stays.

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Best Tent Sites Near Munising, Michigan (44)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Munising, MI

41 Photos of 44 Munising Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Munising, MI

713 Reviews of 44 Munising Campgrounds

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

    Bay Furnace Campground

    Small and quiet without frills

    It just so happened we were there on the very last night they were open for the season. And yet they still had over half the sure booked! It's a small campground, but very near the lake, and the coolest part is the old blast furnace (hence the name of the camp on the bay) on display. Mother Nature took it over, but you can feel the history!

    A few spaces are actually on the water front with beach access, but one is taken by the camp host, the other two are reservable.... And they were reserved. But there were others, all within an easy walk of the sand. Ours was tucked in the woods, others more exposed, all with fire pits and grills and picnic tables. Even a hanging post of some sort. Drinking water was also a perk.

    There is no electric and there are no showers, but vault toilets are centrally located. There is an adjacent park with more tables and grills. Even though there were a lot of RVs, we heard no generators the night we were there.

    This is a forest service campground in the Hiawatha Forest. Sites are $20 each as of 2019.

  • Nona A.
    Aug. 1, 2017

    Hurricane River Campground — Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

    Great Campground in a Awesome Location

    Hurricane River Campground is a rustic campground located along the Pictured Rocks National Lake Shore. The campground is accessible from Au Sable Point Trial Rd, or by Hiking along the North Country Trail. Campsites here are first come first serve. This campground has a Upper and a Lower sections of campsites. The lower section has 11 sites and is close to the shores of Lake Superior. The Upper section has 10 campsites. Some Sites will fit trailers but some are tent only. There are a couple sites for handicap visitors. Handicap sites become available each day to the rest of the public after 6 p.m. if not occupied, they do ask that you leave the next day at your earliest convinces rather than the 12 p.m. normal check out time, so if a Handicap person does come looking for a site the next day early it is available for them to use. This Campground is Rustic and offers vault toilets, drinking water, and trash/recycling bins. And I did see 1 bear box for food storage. Each site has a fire pit, picnic table, and a lantern pole. Each site was separated from the next site by trees, so your sites were so what private.

    Each section of the campground has a Kiosk that has a drop box for payment of your site, and information on weather and actives that are in the area, along with the campground rules. There are lot's of things do keep you busy around this campground. You are located along the Pictured Rocks NLS. You can take a 1.5 mile hike along the shores of Lake Superior to the Au Sable Light House stopping to see old ship wreck remains. There are lot's of hiking trails around including the North Country Trail that begins in New York and ends in North Dakota. You could also just spend the day hanging out on the beach, and checking out the small waterfalls along the Hurricane River. The beach and river mouth is located a short walk from the Lower section of the campground, if you are staying at the Upper it is a 0.2 mile hike through the woods to the beach.

    If you are planning on staying at this campground I would recommend that you arrive early to get a site especially in the summer months. Be aware of other close campgrounds as back up in case the campground is full. Little Beaver Lake Campground and Twelvemile Beach Campground are a couple that are close by.

  • S
    Aug. 21, 2021

    Hemlock Campsite on Grand Island

    Stunning waterfront nearby, few people, easy hike in

    • Crystal clear lake superior is accessible by stairs near this campsite. Beautiful rocks to explore. When we went, the stairs were damaged and not open, though we were able to use them anyway. 
    • Potable well water is available along the hike in to the site, about .5 miles from the Hemlock campsite. We didn't expect this, and could have left our water filtration set up at home. 
    • Free firewood is provided right near the entrance to the campsite. We had no idea about this, and it was a great surprise. 
    • Fire ring and benches were at the site.
    • There was a bear box and pit toilet provided for this site, too.
    • The hike in is flat with some nice views of Lake Superior along the way. 
    • We didn't have too many problems with flies or mosquitos this year. It's been a very dry year, though.
  • H. K.
    Jun. 26, 2022

    Twelvemile Beach Campground — Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

    Unbelievably Beautiful

    I loved this campground. I wish we were on the lake side for the spectacular views, but it's not a long walk over to watch the sunset or enjoy your morning cup of coffee.

    Our site had a pole for a lantern, picnic table, fire ring and tent pad. The water spigot was a few sites over as was the vault toilet. The vault toilet was clean and didn't smell. There were many garbage cans.

    Our site was large and private. We had neighbors on either side of us but didn't hear them or see them from our site.

    The flies were extremely bad or first day but not our other two days. Bring lots of DEET for you and permethrin or something for your dog just in case!

    Overall great experience and can't wait to come back!

  • GoWhereYouAreDraw N.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 30, 2021

    Shelter Ridge Campsite On Grand Island

    Great kayaking destination

    When camping here, bring your kayak inland off the beach. The strong winds here should not be trusted. You can access the campground by North Light Creek beach. It's about 10 miles from William's Landing. Primitive latrine, food storage pole, and fire ring. Benches are at the campsite as well. Grand Island is a beautiful place to explore!

  • Janet R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Mar. 30, 2025

    Munising Tourist Park Campground

    Pluses and minuses

    This campground is close to Munising therefore convenient for visiting Pictured Rocks and other tourist draws in the area. In the busy summer season it may be difficult to get a last minute spot with an RV, but as I was tent camping and pleased to take a walk in site I had no problem getting a same day reservation even in August. The tent sites are all walkin, with a tent parking area and then various distances to hike in along a path to the different tent camp sites. The campsites themselves are gorgeous, with tall trees and right on the shore, and privacy in between. Also, they provide several wagons in the adjacent parking area so you can easily tote your gear into your site. All of that would make for a 5 star rating, maybe 4 due to road noise from the nearby highway. However, I am only giving this experience a 3 because of one really important drawback: there needs to be at least an outhouse provided adjacent to the tent area. As it is, if nature calls you first have to hike down the path through the tenting area to the tent parking lot, then hike through the campground to the bath house which is a good distance away. Apparently this is too far for some people so they decided to just poop by a bush by the tent site trail and left it right there. Worst yet, the spot I saw like this had be left there for probably a few days, which shows a need for maintanence to patrol the tenting area more often and clean up such messes as they are health hazards as well as nauseatingly ugly. I wish this hadnt happened as otherwise it would be a pretty decent place to tent camp!

  • Lee D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jan. 12, 2025

    Hurricane River Campground — Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

    Small campground with private wooded sites on Lake Superior

    General: Very small (12-site) rustic campground on Lake Superior (Pictured Rocks National Seashore); although none of the sites have a direct view or access to the lake, it is just a short walk down some steps to a small but rocky beach. Reservations are required. Same-day reservations are accepted (but the campground was full when we were there). 

    Site Quality: All sites are wooded and spaced a very decent amount of space apart, providing ample privacy. Each site has a tent platform and fire ring with grill grate. No hookups or any type. 

    Bath: Two vault toilets only. Clean but no hand sanitizer so make sure you bring that and a flashlight at night! 

    Activities: A short walk to Au Sable Lighthouse (1.5 miles). We took our chairs and a light snack to the beach to enjoy the sunset. 

    We appreciated the privacy that foliage provided between sites and generally like small campgrounds compared to large ones. This was only an overnight stay for us. We did not check out the Upper Unit of the campground, about two miles from the Lower so don’t know how many sites are there or what they are like.

  • Bryce J.
    Jul. 29, 2019

    Twelvemile Beach Campground — Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

    Gorgeous, off the grid.

    This 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.

  • S
    Jul. 1, 2022

    Au Train Lake Campground

    Beautiful campground

    Stayed here for 2 nights while we explored Munising and Pictured Rocks, what a wonderful rustic campground (our favorite kind)!  Half of the sites were reservable, the other half first come.  Big, level campsites with a fire ring, picnic table, and hook.  Campsites well separated, lots of privacy.  Vault toilets are available, by far the cleanest vault toilets I have ever encountered!!  Potable water available.   MOSQUITOES were the only downside to this place (not the camp's fault), so pack hoodies and long pants!!  They laughed at bug repellant.  It was like the zombie apocalypse, but mosquitoes.  Easy access to Superior, Munising, and Pictured Rocks.   We will absolutely stay here again, with high-quality citronella candles, of course.

Guide to Munising

Tent camping near Munising, Michigan offers a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the stunning natural beauty of the area, with diverse landscapes and serene lakeside settings.

Tips for tent camping near Munising

  • For a secluded experience, consider the Canoe Lake State Forest Campground, which features rustic sites and a peaceful lake view, perfect for those looking to escape the crowds.
  • Be prepared for mosquitoes at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore Backcountry Sites, where the lush surroundings can attract these pesky insects, especially in warmer months.
  • If you're seeking a more remote experience, Gull Point Campsite on Grand Island provides a secluded spot with breathtaking views, but remember to hike in your water supply as potable sources are a distance away.

Local attractions for outdoor enthusiasts

  • The Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is a must-visit, offering stunning views and hiking trails that lead to picturesque cliffs and beaches.
  • Explore the beautiful Channel Marker Campsite On Grand Island, which is accessible by boat and features nearby beaches for swimming and relaxing after a day of hiking.
  • Don't miss the chance to visit Chapel Beach Backcountry Campsites, where you can enjoy a scenic hike to the beach and take in the breathtaking views of Lake Superior.

Tent campers like these nearby activities

  • Kayaking and canoeing are popular at Hemlock Campsite on Grand Island, where you can paddle along the stunning shoreline and explore hidden coves.
  • Fishing enthusiasts will appreciate the opportunities at South Gemini Lake State Forest Campground, where you can cast a line in a serene setting surrounded by dense forest.
  • Hiking trails abound near Indian River Campground, providing access to beautiful landscapes and the chance to spot local wildlife while enjoying the great outdoors.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Munising, MI?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Munising, MI is Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore Backcountry Sites — Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore with a 4.8-star rating from 21 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Munising, MI?

TheDyrt.com has all 44 tent camping locations near Munising, MI, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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