Camping sites near Negaunee, Michigan range from rustic tent locations to developed RV parks within a 30-mile radius. Located in Marquette County at an elevation of 1,371 feet, Negaunee sits in a heavily forested region with over 20 inches of annual snowfall and a short summer season from June through early September. Road access to wilderness camping locations often requires high-clearance vehicles, with many remote sites featuring vault toilets rather than shower facilities.
What to do
Mountain biking access: Rippling Rivers RV Resort offers direct trail connectivity for biking enthusiasts. "If you love mountain biking or hiking you stay here. Period. You are right on the trails. If you have little ones the grom trail rims next to the top camp site," notes Rory L. The campground connects to Marquette's extensive trail network.
Fishing opportunities: Bass, pike, and trout fishing spots within 15 minutes of camping areas attract anglers throughout summer. At Perkins Park & Campground, visitors can launch boats or fish from the dock. "You can launch your boat or fish from the dock. The views are beautiful," explains Katie M.
Swimming and water recreation: Most developed campgrounds offer swimming beaches with designated swimming areas. "This is a very quiet and remote area. The beach is very nice and the water in Wilderness Lake is clean," mentions Greg S. about Perkins Park. Several locations rent kayaks and paddleboards by the hour for $10-15.
Winter activities: While most campgrounds close by mid-October, the region offers winter camping for experienced cold-weather campers. "We camped here in a van in December and we're able to access the pit toilets. They were very clean. We had the whole place to ourselves," reports Jenny K. about Forestville Campground.
What campers like
Secluded camping spots: Forestville Campground offers wooded tent sites with privacy. "Forestville was pretty great. There are 20 sites and all are first come first serve. Close to Marquette but feels secluded at the head of some great mountain biking trails and backcountry rock climbing or bouldering," says Molly M.
On-site amenities: Beyond just camping, some locations feature additional recreation. "Fantastic. Large spots. Full hookups. Amazing hiking and mountain biking and easy access to all Marquette has to offer. Cool river access. Pool is good enough, nice hot tub, putt putt, excellent bar, camp store," Craig C. says about Rippling Rivers RV Resort.
Water access: Campgrounds near water bodies provide popular recreation opportunities. At Farquar-Metsa Tourist Park, campers appreciate the river setting. "We love Tourist Park, and will definitely be coming back! Quiet and relaxing, tucked in the woods with a nice hiking trail, picnic tables, swimming area, full hookups or rustic sites," reports Emilee S.
Town proximity: Several campgrounds offer both nature settings and town convenience. "Located just off the highway but out of earshot of the major noise, this campground is awesome! Tons of hiking, mountain biking, and water sports of all kinds around," Pete D. notes about Country Village RV Park, which sits within walking distance of shops and restaurants.
What you should know
Reservation requirements: Many campgrounds require advance booking during peak season. "The only down side is that they are by reservation only. No 'walk-in's' if you will," notes Emilee S. about Farquar-Metsa Tourist Park. First-come sites like Forestville fill quickly on weekends.
Bathroom facilities: Bathroom quality varies significantly between campgrounds. "The bathroom and shower facilities seem older but also appeared to be clean and functioned well. There weren't very many showers, so if you need to use one you may need to wait for it," Ari A. explains about Marquette Tourist Park Campground.
Water quality issues: Some campgrounds have water restrictions or poor water quality. "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 Noah P. about Gitche Gumee RV Park.
Campsite selection: Not all sites within campgrounds are created equal. "Sites are small for larger vehicles. Fire pits and picnic tables at all sites," notes mitch C. about Forestville Campground. At Marquette Tourist Park, "The FHU sites are mostly very close together with some trees but otherwise not much privacy/separation."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Several campgrounds offer play structures for children. At Van Riper State Park Campground, "My kids made some of their best memories ever camping here. Lots of families, positive environment. Clean campground and park, helpful staff. Swam and paddled on Lake Michigamme for hours. Huge beach with volleyball net. Large bathhouse with private shower rooms. Huge playground," reports Jenny G.
Swimming safety: Most beaches lack lifeguards outside peak summer weekends. "There is a beach with what looked like a swimming area; although we understood there was a lifeguard on duty, we did not see one," notes Lee D. about Marquette Tourist Park.
Special activities: Some campgrounds organize family-friendly events. "Stayed at Van Riper a few years ago. Had my son's 6th birthday party here. We were able to grill our food at our camp site then brought it over closer to the beach where we set up in the grassy area," Ashley L. recalls.
Site selection for families: Request sites away from common noise sources. "At 2am we were woken up by a boat coming back in from the water blasting it's music while the whole crew was loud and obnoxious," Katie M. warns about Perkins Park & Campground.
Tips from RVers
Hookup considerations: Many sites have unusual hookup placements. "The hook-ups are not laid out conveniently on some sites which requires extra hoses and electric cords," notes one camper about Marquette Tourist Park. Another mentioned, "The sites were well maintained and we required no additional leveling. Electric at our site -39- was error free. Water pressure is excellent," about Country Village RV Park.
Site leveling: Site terrain varies considerably even within campgrounds. "We were assigned site #104 but could tell our motorhome was not going to get level in the site so we had to straddle the site and park partly in the adjacent grassy area," Nancy W. explains about Country Village RV Park.
Internet connectivity: Cell service and WiFi quality fluctuate throughout the region. "There is WiFi in the campground but does not pick up well in all areas of the park – it just depends where you are but works well at the office," reports a visitor to one local campground.
Specialized RV campgrounds: Some locations cater specifically to RVers. "Sites are large and level," notes one camper about Marquette area campgrounds. "The full hookup sites were nice and long and well spaced, but they were dirt so could be muddy in the rain," Greg S. explains about Perkins Park & Campground.
