Best Tent Camping near Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

Right on Lake Superior and the North Country Trail! Also, it is just moments from Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore and Grand Marais. Our pup loved running on the beach.

Blind Sucker campground made our August of 2017 camping trip enjoyable and unforgettable. Our rustic camp site was located right on the North Country Trail which was ideal for morning hiking and adventuring. Also, there is access to Blind Sucker flooding where you fish and kayak. This campground was approximately a 35 min drive from Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore and only 25 min from Grand Marais (an awesome little town right on Lake Superior).

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!

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!

I noticed some real negative comments about this place, and at this time I think this is a pretty decent place to stay. There are no trees for shade, but this is Marquette Michigan, where it’s unusual to get into the 80s during the summertime. The tent sites are down close to the river in or not even visible from the main RV area. If you want to tent camp here, I think those sites would be excellent because they provide a good amount of privacy. I found the lady in the office who registered me to be very pleasant, and I did not notice a bunch of “junk”around the office building.  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. The grass has grown in just fine.  I would definitely stay here again. 

Amazing location on Lake Superior in the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Short hike to lighthouse

8 sites near the east end of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. We were less than 100 yards from the lake. We walked the kayaks easily to the lake. Fantastic hikes throughout the park. We will be back!

Nice campground with big trees, pull through sites, close to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore and friendly staff. If you like to hike or mountain bike or want to spend time at the beach (summer only!), this is a great area.

Busy weekend in the area, but this little gem had some openings.   My wife and I grabbed a site next to the water.  We were camping in a tent, but their would have been plenty of room for a sizeable RV.   Decent shore fishing near the campground.  Short hike or drive to Lake Superior beaches.   Easy drive to Grand Marias if you needed something.  No hesitation to stay here again.

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!

My party stumbled upon this campsite over Memorial Day Weekend while exploring the UP. We were so happy to have found it, and to our surprise there were many open spots despite it being a holiday weekend. We stayed after hiking around Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. I later mentioned this place to a friend and she said her family has been trying to keep this campground a secret for years, maybe I shouldn't be reviewing it lol.

It is close enough to Grand Marais for any amenities you might need, and less than an hour from the mouth of the Two Hearted by way of dirt road. Great excuse to kick the truck into 4x4!

The camp sites, though in the forest, are steps away from Lake Superior. When leaving in the morning we stumbled upon a black bear sow and her two cubs in the middle of the road. Pure Michigan goodness! One of my favorite camping experiences in all of Michigan. :)

Small, remote campground, located on a nice size inland lake in Hiawatha National Forest. Close to Au Train, Munising and Pictured Rock National Lakeshore. Great "primitive" campsites with lot's of room, and shade. For those who want showers this is not the place. This campground has vault toilets, and water pump at the entrance. Otherwise almost rustic experience. There is a boat launch. Not sure about rentals, but you can definitely bring your own boat or a kayak, to experience the lake. Few nearby hiking and biking trails. Drive up to Pictured Rock Lakeshore for some amazing trails and Lake Superior beaches. Hiawatha National Forest offers tons of trials and lakes, spend the day wondering through the woods and discovering hidden lakes. I consider Upper Peninsula in Michigan the hidden gem of the Midwest. You have to go and experience it at least once in your lifetime, especially if you live within 500 mile radius...

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.

Incredible & breathtaking. The Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is a camping experience that should not be missed. The North Country Trail runs the shoreline for about 40 miles through the length of the park, adjacent to Lake Superior. Backcountry camping is available at 14 small campgrounds spaces about 2-5 miles apart throughout the trail. Forests, dunes, beaches, and 50-200 foot cliffs are just a few of the great views that can be experienced along the trail. The campsites feature bear boxes or hangers, shared fire pits, and backcountry toilets. You must register for these sites before occupying one and reservations cannot be modified. You must stay at the campground you registered at, so make sure you calculate your mileage correctly. Shuttles are available for pick up and drop off at several different points of the park.

Grand Island Channel Marker Campsite is a ferry ride or paddle away from Munising, Mi. A small touristy town with several interesting tour options for the island and Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.

The campsite is off the beaten trail literally, this is at a definite high traffic area for the island as the ferry dock is nearby. There is about a 15 foot walk in to the site from the trail which gives you a little seclusion. The day we were there a marathon was going on, bikers and foot traffic was also passing by. Large enough area for a few tents , pit toilets and MOSQUITOES!!! They were horrible! We applied copious amounts of deet bug spray but these little buggers did not care. Swarms followed us and when they dispersed....well when there were less then 20 trying to suck you dry , the horse flies would start their attack flight patterns.

I would suggest planning your adventure for a time of year when cold keeps the bug population down. Otherwise it was an excellent time between the beaches ( COLD water) and the town ( good food, try the pasties ) plus several other options nearby for hiking, biking and sea kayaking ( I brought my kayak but was advised that there is a difference in types and apparel ) First trip to Lake Superior has left me wanting more!

Sitting about 30-40 feet above a small lake are about 10 small-medium first come, first served campsites. All sites are primitive, with a picnic table and fire ring. No electricity, but we run on solar so are always set with what we need. 

Sites are close-ish together which is perfect for camping with friends, but doesn’t allow for much privacy. Gorgeous deciduous trees made the fall season extra special. Pit toilets are kept clean and well stocked. 

We found this campground after realizing that it was Columbus Day weekend and all the reservable sites along Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore were full. This, and a few other state forest campgrounds, had plenty of space. It’s maybe a 20 minute drive back up to Lake Superior, and about the same to Munising where you’ll find groceries, gas, and supplies. 

While it’s an easy walk down to Ross Lake, it’s relatively steep for bringing kayaks or canoes down and up again. Best to use the nearby boat launch. We found the walk along the forest road delightful, but it’s just that, not really a hike.