Best Glamping near Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

City run campground on lake superior. Beautiful views, sandy shore. Most sites have water and electricity, some have sewer hookup. Some walk in sites on the shoreline. We camped on site 5. Pros:

1. Huge, wide open site, no trees.
2. lakefront site, great view.
3. great spot to base camp, near Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Grand Island National Recreation Area, and the Hiawatha National Forest.
   Cons:
4. water and electric are far apart,meaning I had to run 55' of electric cord and 75' of water hose in opposite directions to hook up.
5. no buffer for strong winds off lake superior
6. highway is very close to the campground, noise is constant
7. some sites are low and flood after rains

If you’re one who likes the thrill of winding backroads and wants to be away from all the noise and commotion of the city this is your spot. I took my friends on a loop through the UP this past June and they made me plan another one because they loved it so much. Bodi Lake Campground is off of a dirt road that is about 35 minutes from Tahquamenon State forest, 30 min from crisp point lighthouse (you can climb to the top and had a beautiful view), and about 2 hours from Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. This campground is my favorite so far because it’s right on the lake which you are able to kayak, or canoe on, has beautiful sunrises/sunsets, and is very remote. This campground also includes fire pits, toilets, and is very spacious. You are close enough to your “neighbors” but still have privacy. There are no water hookups, showers, or anything larger than tents. This campsite is a drive up, FIRST COME FIRST SERVE because it is free. No reservations are taken. This campsite is run by an older couple during the summer months. They gave us a couple of brochures and are happy to answer any questions you have! They are the reason we found the lighthouse! Overall this is a GREAT place to stay and I recommend it to anyone and everyone!

The staff at the office gave a helpful map that showed where the local waterfalls are at. There are a lot in the area! The campgrounds aren't anything special and the bathrooms are the nicest. I stayed in a kozy kabin for a night because my camping gear was wet from a storm the night before. Fire pits are provided and wood is for sale on site in the office as well as other necessities. Close to pictured rocks national lakeshore. Definitely go there!

Twelve Mile Beach was the perfect campsite to set-up our launching point for all of our adventures in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. There were not a lot of spots and they are on a first come first serve basis so get there early! Especially if you want a spot right on the beach. We were along the second row of sites that were set back a little from the beach but still very close. The sites right along the beach can get very windy at night on Lake Superior and can cause some damage to tents. Bathrooms and water are easily accessible and you can expect great sunsets on clear nights. The campsite is pretty remote and the only noise you should hear are fellow campers, although ours while we were there were very considerate and we didn't really hear anything except the birds. Pictured Rocks isn't a well know area, but it should be the options for outdoor activities is large during the summer months and it is a beautiful place to visit.

This rustic national lakeshore campground is tucked in the trees along the south shore of Lake Superior. Next to the campground, there is literally a 12-mile long beach of beautiful white sand along the crystal clear waters of this great lake.

Each campsite is equipped with a picnic table and fire ring with water spigots scattered throughout the campground. There is no electricity available and only pit toilets (which are clean, but rather stinky). Sites are smallish, a bit close together, and can accommodate tents and only small RV’s. RV’s over 25 feet will only fit in a few of the sites near the entrance to the campground.

We visited this campground in third week of September and hit the fall color spot on! The surrounding area provides great opportunities for water sports of all kinds, cycling, hiking, and dune climbing. Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore Visitor’s Center is about 35 miles west of this campground in the town of Munising where you will find grocery stores, gasoline, a laundromat, and restaurants.

Twelvemile Beach sits along a foredune of Lake Superior in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, an intensely remote stretch of shoreline with Grand Marais to the east and the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore to the west.

As you pull in, you find the entrance road winds through a white birch forest. I've been to Twelvemile in the spring, summer and autumn and find the forest enchanting with every season. The road takes an abrupt left turn and runs parallel to the Lake, unseen until now. This begins the loop that is Twelvemile Beach Campground.

There are pros and cons to both lakeside sites ($16/night) and the wooded sites ($14/night) across the road. Bugs, wind, and the freshwater gales ol' Gitche Gumee likes to toss up should all be taken into account when choosing a site, but it's safe to say that a lakeside site is always preferred in my book. They run along the dune ridge with sweeping views of Lake Superior and the constant breeze helps keeps bugs at bay (usually).

Sites are generous in size and quite private, especially if you visit in spring and autumn. Access to the beach is plentiful and the North Country Trail actually cuts straight through the campground. Poison ivy has never been an issue for me here. Sites are first come, first served.

If you're visiting during the summer season, get there early and catch sites in the morning as people leave. It sounds extreme but it's well worth the effort (you'll thank me when you're swinging in your hammock as the poor souls who arrive in the afternoon drive through, again and again, hoping for an opening.) I can't recommend Twelvemile Beach enough. Getting there is a journey, but the destination will become one of your favorite places on earth.

Upon arrival we thought this might be a cramped campground, but that was not the case. Despite being in a spot right at the intersection of the only two roads through the site, we found this to be a relaxed and tranquil site. The name suggests otherwise, but the amount of RVs, at least the weekend we were there, was far lower than the amount of tent campers (a rarity for those of us who prefer to actually camp). Ever site has stunning views of the water, though the low ground level did allow some minor flooding on our site after a squall ripped through. On that note, make sure your tent is staked VERY firmly, we lost one of our tents to a storm that rolled through off of Superior while we were out hiking!

The staff is very friendly and accommodating, the bathrooms were clean, and the site and beach were pristine. The beach is a HUGE draw for this site, running just off the main road and close to town we were shocked at how remote and untouched it felt. We had stunning sunset views every night, even when a creepy mist rolled through the site (see pictures).

There is super easy access to Marquette's dining and hiking - we were able to get out and hike Hogsback. Even easier access to hiking in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, which was the point of our trip.

I can also highly recommend not only the Pictured Rocks boat tours, but the shipwreck tours. Because of the cold water most wrecks are very well preserved.

All in all this campsite has tons to offer, not only in the site itself but in location. (One lost star simply because our fire pit was flooded out so easily)

The main attraction in Munising is Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. If you can’t get into the campgrounds in Pictured Rocks this site is a good alternative due to its proximity (three miles) the downtown and the entrance to the park. The campground is located right on Lake Superior so some of the sites have great water views and you have access to the lake for swimming and boating. Waterfront sites are great but when we were there it was really windy as the north winds were blowing hard off the lake.

This is one of those parks that really fills up in the summer, so book early (which you can do online). The park has 127 sites that are a mix of tent, water/electric, and water/electric/sewer and it seems like sites are placed haphazardly and are close to your neighbor. In some ways, the quality of your stay depends on your site. When we were there it had rained the day prior and some sites were really wet and muddy making it hard to go from your car to camper. The park is on M-28 so it is easy to get in and out of but means that sites along the road are noisy as this is a heavily traveled road. 

There is a little store in office that sells wood for $7 but we found it cheaper down the street. They advertise free WiFi but we were never able to get a good connection so we gave up and used our Verizon hotspot (which worked well).

Our intention was to put our kayaks in the lake and paddle around Pictured Rocks NL but upon learning how dangerous that can be in our recreational kayaks we opted for a sunset boat cruise instead. This was a good option and we loved the narrated 2 ½ - hour cruise. Unfortunately, it was completely overcast and the cliffs were not as colorful as they would be if the sun had been out. There are lots of waterfalls in the area and since there had been lots of rain prior to our visit they were pretty spectacular. Definitely plan on spending time hiking in Pictured Rocks NL but beware there are lots of restrictions on where dogs can go (basically just developed areas like parking lots and campgrounds). The nearby Hiawatha National Forest is a great place for hiking and paddling. Another paddling option is the Au Train Canoe Trail which is close to the campground and has a public boat launch.

Campground Review: Indian Lake State Park, South Shore, has become my favorite State Park in Michigan! This was my first visit, and I'm in love. Great location, well maintained. 5 minutes from Kitchitikipi, or the Big Springs, 5 minutes from Lake Michigan. Lovely lakeside spacious sites.

Gear Review: La Siesta Travel Hammock- very cool, compact hammock! My first ever hammock/hammock experience, and it was a huge success! Easy up, easy down, the rigging was easy and simple to figure out. Tips and hints about where to locate your hammock, hammock angling, etc. would be appreciated in the instructions. Overal a great product though.

unable to find a site at Pictured Rocks we were directed to this state forest campground. it was our first stay at a SF campground in Michigan and since we have sought them out and stayed in many. gorgeous lake surrounded by dense forest. sites are secluded, some are on the lake. perfect place if you’re looking to get away from it all. we were there in September after labor day only one other site was occupied.

Super popular first come, first served campground. We checked out all the sites online (there are even pictures of each site!) and had planned which ones were favorites. Sites are all near the beach or amongst the dunes. Sites were large and some shaded but not super secluded, but the views and ambiance made it a favorite camping trip. The drawback, as in many Upper Michigan campgrounds and parks, were black (biting) flies :( So try to plan your trip before they are too bad!

Set up your tent on the sands of Lake Superior and take in the view. That makes this the most amazing campground in Michigan. Period. The views are magnificent. We were able to cook dinner over the fire while watching some of the finest sunsets in Pictured Rocks. The vault toilets are surprisingly clean and there is drinking water available. There are also bear proof bins available for hikers who might not have a vehicle.

The downside is the secret about this place has gotten out and the 36 sites pretty much stay filled all year round. It's a first come, first serve campground.

This is one of my favorite campsites in Michigan. We happen to stumble upon it after endlessly searching for a spot at Pictured Rocks. There is a beautiful sand bottomed lake for swimming on many sites are right on the lake. The lake also connects to several other small lakes in the area. You can kayak or canoe to each lake during the day. The sites are large and from what I remember they have vault toilets. No showers. Each site has a fire pit and picnic table and some firendly chipmunks.

We stayed here on the very last night they were open this season. The staff was very friendly and they actually had campsites that were more private then almost all the Michigan state parks we have stayed at. It was a bit pricey for camping $40 for a pop up truck camper with only electric and water. 

They have hot showers that were clean and looked taken care of. 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. My one complaint was it is pretty close to the road and during a heavy tourist season it could probably be pretty loud.

Joleda: In the Pictured Rocks NP buffer zone. I rate primarily based on desire for at least a moderate wilderness type experience w at least some camp site privacy. Cleanliness and care of campground are also taken into consideration. (Scale 1- bad, 5-Very good (70 yr olds in 17’ trailer) Overall Rating: 5 - the best privately owned campground layout I have ever seen. For the narrow 1 mile, one lane entry road with few turnouts, I suspect this is tent only or van camping. Check their website.
Price 2023: $25 per night Usage during visit: Full on Labor Day weekend . Site Privacy: EXCELLENT. One site that I saw, I’d downgrade to good! Enjoy. Site Spacing: EXCELLENT Site surface: Not surfaced. Reservations: Yes Campground Noise: Ideally quiet.
Road Noise: 1 mile from the highway.
Through Traffic in campground: No reason for through traffic here. Electric Hookup: No Sewer Hookup: No Dump Station: I did not see one. Potable Water Available: New hand pump. Bathroom: New and very clean pit toilet. Showers: No Pull Throughs: A couple Cell Service (AT&T): Nope. Setting: In a forest with thick understory offering GREAT privacy for each site. Weather: Nice and Sunny on the second day of September. Bugs: I have experienced moderate mosquitoes in the after following a dip in temperatures. With increase in temp, they are becoming a bit more numerous. Solar: No Host: I did not see one. Rig size: Keep it under 25’ Id say. Check their website Sites: Most everyone is superb.

This is our favorite campground! We love exploring the beach and hiking down the trails right from the campground. We enjoy the ranger programs that are offered, and the camp hosts are so friendly!!