Newberry, Michigan sits in Michigan's Upper Peninsula at around 800 feet elevation, with dense pine forests surrounding the small town. Camping options range from developed RV campgrounds to more rustic state park sites, with most facilities operating between May and mid-October. Weather can change rapidly in this area, particularly in fall when overnight temperatures often drop below 40°F.
What to do
Hike to waterfalls: Tahquamenon Falls State Park offers trails of varying difficulty levels connecting the Upper and Lower Falls. "There is a nice hike to the Upper falls 4 miles away. Unfortunately our campsite backed up to one that was full of noisy, ill-behaved children and a very loud dog," notes one visitor at Lower Falls Campground.
Rock hunting: Lake Superior shorelines provide excellent opportunities for agate and other rock hunting. "The Lake Superior shoreline is a great place to hunt for all types of rocks from agates, granite, basalt, and even Petoskey Stones. At the campground host station is a board that describes the different rock types and what they look like," explains a camper who visited Muskallonge Lake State Park.
Beach access: Several campgrounds provide direct access to Lake Superior beaches. At Woodland Park Campground, "The stairs and walkway to the beach were fabulous and they had the cutest hut and swing at the end of the trail," according to one visitor.
ATV/ORV trails: Some parks allow direct ORV access to nearby trail systems. "If you have an ORV/ATV, Muskallonge Lake State Park is one of the few state parks where you can ride your ORV straight from the state park to the many nearby designated ORV trails."
What campers like
Water proximity: Many campgrounds feature waterfront or water-view sites. At Woodland Park Campground, "We could literally hear Lake Superior all night, it was so peaceful and relaxing. Really enjoyed this campground...loved being able to just walk down to the beach and have a fire."
Clean facilities: Campground cleanliness receives frequent positive mentions in reviews. "Clean open campground that is quiet. Some road noise from local traffic. Close to food and fuel. Easy pull through sites," writes one camper about Bay Mills Casino RV Campground.
Convenient locations: Many campgrounds provide easy access to small towns and services. One camper notes that Woodland Park is "on the shore of Lake Superior, yet a short walk to town for food, ice, groceries etc. No sewer hook ups but they have good WiFi and cable tv. Clean hot showers, but you do need quarters."
Spacious sites: Several RV parks offer larger-than-average sites. "The newer side of the park has large spaces with plenty of room to stretch. No crazy rules here. Laundry machines are only 1.25 a load and the dryer actually dries," reports a visitor to Bay Mills Casino RV Campground.
What you should know
Limited reservations: Several campgrounds operate on first-come, first-served basis. One camper explains the process at Woodland Park Campground: "No reservations are taken so arrive early to walk the campground and discover which sites are leaving that day. Kind of a hassle because it's a campground at the end of the middle of nowhere and with no guarantees of a stay."
Variable hookups: RV sites near Newberry, Michigan often have electric-only connections rather than full hookups. "We reserved 50 amp full hook up. We arrived to find a tight sloping site with only 30 amp service for our 34 ft motorhome," reports a visitor to Tiki RV Park.
Limited cell service: Connectivity varies widely between campgrounds. "We did not get cell or internet service with our Verizon phone and don't even think about getting over the air antenna television channels – not happening," notes one camper at Muskallonge Lake State Park.
Seasonal bugs: Black flies can be particularly problematic in early summer. "We avoid June and July because of black flies," advises a regular visitor to Muskallonge Lake State Park.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Several campgrounds offer play areas for children. At Newberry Campground, "They have a playground, playroom and a pool. None of this was open during our visit but I imagine in the summer it is all going strong and the kids have a blast."
Swimming options: Most lakefront campgrounds have designated swimming areas. "A designated swimming beach is available near the campground, as well as a small day-use area with a few picnic tables, grills, and some old playground equipment," notes a visitor to Muskallonge Lake State Park.
Budget-friendly alternatives: Casino campgrounds sometimes offer lower rates. "It's $15/night to stay in one of these sites. If you don't need any hookups you can stay anywhere in the center of the lot without even going in to register," explains a visitor to Kewadin Casino Manistique.
Site selection strategy: Some campground loops offer more privacy than others. At Muskallonge Lake State Park, a camper advises: "The sites vary immensely in size throughout but include both paved, gravel, and grass sites in essentially all the loops. This much variety allows you to choose if you want a woodsier feel (sites 131-159), a more open area (sites 1-80), or a little in between (81-130)."
Tips from RVers
Campground layouts: RV site arrangements vary significantly between campgrounds. At Indian Lake RV Resort, "Campground is older and I understand it was purchased a year ago. Some of the spaces are a little tight but manageable."
Hookup variations: Electric service differs between campgrounds and sometimes doesn't match advertised specifications. At Kewadin Casino Manistique, "20 amp hookups on the grass, 30 on the pavement. $20 and $25. Park and pay at the gift shop. $5 back with receipt if you get a rewards card. Electric hookups only."
Site leveling: Many RV sites in the area require leveling blocks. "Site 16 somewhat unlevel but blocks worked. Nice wooded area," reports a camper at Tiki RV Park & Campground.
Larger rig accommodations: Several parks can accommodate bigger RVs. "Good sites. Decent park. Fit our 46' fifth wheel with ease," notes a visitor to Bay Mills Casino RV Campground.
