Looking for the best Rogers City tent camping? You can find tent campsites by type, including drive-in, walk-in, and even hike-in for a backpacking adventure. Each spot offers quick access to one or more of Rogers City, Michigan's most popular destinations.
Michigan Recreation Passport is required for vehicle entry into state parks and recreation areas, state boat launches, state forest campgrounds and state trail parking lots. The Michigan Recreation Passport does not cover local, county, municipal, or metropolitan parks or recreation areas. Learn more: https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/buy-and-apply/rec-pp
This rustic campground is located on Ess Lake and offers opportunities for paddling and fishing. There are 27 sites for tent and small trailer use. Camping is limited to a 15-day maximum stay. Amenities include vault toilets and potable water from a hand-pump well. The campground is located 16 miles northeast of Atlanta via M-33 and County Road 624. Sites available on a first-come, first-serve basis. No reservations.
$20 / night
Michigan Recreation Passport is required for vehicle entry into state parks and recreation areas, state boat launches, state forest campgrounds and state trail parking lots. The Michigan Recreation Passport does not cover local, county, municipal, or metropolitan parks or recreation areas. Learn more: https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-350-79134_79210---,00.html
$15 / night
Michigan Recreation Passport is required for vehicle entry into state parks and recreation areas, state boat launches, state forest campgrounds and state trail parking lots. The Michigan Recreation Passport does not cover local, county, municipal, or metropolitan parks or recreation areas. Learn more: https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/buy-and-apply/rec-pp
Michigan Recreation Passport is required for vehicle entry into state parks and recreation areas, state boat launches, state forest campgrounds and state trail parking lots. The Michigan Recreation Passport does not cover local, county, municipal, or metropolitan parks or recreation areas. Learn more: https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/buy-and-apply/rec-pp
Michigan Recreation Passport is required for vehicle entry into state parks and recreation areas, state boat launches, state forest campgrounds and state trail parking lots. The Michigan Recreation Passport does not cover local, county, municipal, or metropolitan parks or recreation areas. Learn more: https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/buy-and-apply/rec-pp
Michigan Recreation Passport is required for vehicle entry into state parks and recreation areas, state boat launches, state forest campgrounds and state trail parking lots. The Michigan Recreation Passport does not cover local, county, municipal, or metropolitan parks or recreation areas. Learn more: https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-350-79134_79210---,00.html
Guide
I don’t know about the camper facilities, as we’ve only ever tent camped here. But I do know they have potable water and septic dumps for trailers and motor homes. It’s a very popular place in the summer, as it sets along the sandy beaches of Lake Huron. There’s a gorgeous old stone pavilion for larger parties or reunions, and plenty of camper spaces. It can get crowded and busy, but there are many trees and the sites are spaced far apart. There are special rustic sites away from the trailer and motor home sites. There is a little basketball court/floor hockey pad for kids, and a small playground, but not much else to do at the campground. However, for those who like hiking, there’s a beautiful little trail system and a bike path that stretches to miles from the harbor of Rogers City to the 40 Mile Point lighthouse a few miles north on US 23. There are restaurants, grocery stores, and gas stations in Rogers City, but the real draw is Lake Huron. It’s such a gorgeous stretch of shoreline with plenty of sandy beach and easy swimming access for hot summer days. If you come during the festival, be sure to get there a few days early!
Guide
This is one spectacular place, and a very familiar campground for us. We’ve been there many times. The campground itself is about 100 yards further down the road from the entrance to the falls, across from it. The campsites are rustic, and are set along the Ocqueoc River, upstream from the falls. There are two outhouses, and a well with good drinking water. Cell service is iffy… a bar or two on a good day if you have Verizon, likely not with any of the other providers. It’s a popular campground in the summer and fall, so you'll likely have other campers around. There aren’t that many sites… maybe 15 or 20 at the most? And they’re first come, first serve. If you’re lookkng for privacy and seclusion, you likely won’t find it there during the months of June, July, and August, but the campers have always been respectful and courteous.
The best thing about this campground, of course, is across the road at the Ocqueoc Falls. It’s the only handicap accessible falls in the country, and the only real and constant river falls in the lower peninsula (not counting various artesian wells). There is an “underground river” off of Silver Creek Rd at the Little Ocqueoc River where locals take cool pictures and fish under the deep canopy of huge boulders and cedar trees in the spring, but it dries up pretty good by late summer. Ocqueoc Falls is picturesque, and a fun place to swim in the heat of summer. The park provides a nice, large grassy area for picnics and sunbathing, but there is no beach. It can be very crowded on holidays and weekends, especially during nice weather, so I’d recommend going during the week. You'll need a Michigan Recreation Passport to enter or else pay $5 (I think is the amount?) if you’re from out of state if you’re entering with a vehicle, but if you’re camping in the campground, you can also just walk across.
Personally I think the best part about Ocqueoc Falls State Campground is the trail system. It’s not a difficult trail, and circles altogether about 7 miles or so with various loops for shorter hikes. It’s cool because you get a mix of little ecosystems and different terrain and flora on various parts of the trail as it meanders and follows the river downstream. You can often see eagles flying overhead, and the trail is especially awesome in the fall. If you enjoy a fairly easy hike, then you’ve got to check it out. There isn’t much to do if you aren’t a fan of camping and hiking and fishing, and Millersburg — the closest town — doesn’t offer much other than a restaurant, small grocery, and a gas station. The campground isn’t far from Rogers City, though where there’s a decent Family Fare grocery and a cute downtown area.
Guide
Enjoyed our overnight stay at this clean fairground. It had everything we needed for tent camping. The cool northern Michigan air felt refreshing as well as watching the seagulls & Canadian geese. Adequate showers & restroom. Will stay here again.
GuideNice little metro park for tent camping. Most sites are dispersed. You can pull your car up to the site for unpacking.
Modern bathrooms and a snack shop on site.
Park offers kayak, canoe, and row boat rentals. Also paddle boards.
Disc golf and regular golf available.
Nice sandy beaches.
Guide
The campground itself was gorgeous, well maintained and spacious. (Tent) Camping there was the worst experience I’ve ever had. I pick rustic campgrounds for a reason. This one was full of RVs & 5th wheels all running on generators. There is no peace here. If you’re looking for quiet- it’s quieter at home than this place. Trying to sleep with an entire campground humming to the sounds of motors running all night was impossible. Ppl leaving their generators running even when they weren’t there. I would love to revisit this campground, but I won’t.
Guide
Lovely rustic campground, with several sites fronting Lake Huron. We tent-camped in August and swam twice a day in that beautiful crystal clear water. Our site was not particularly private (a medium-sized RV came in part-way through the week and its generator ruined our serene quiet), but its location on the water was priceless. We enjoyed touring the area, and especially loved Presque Isle. Some gorgeous farmlands to drive around, too, and we serendipitously came across an amazing sunflower farm. We'd love to return to this campground.
Guide
This is a great location to camp if you are looking for proximity to Mackinac Island. The staff is very friendly and accommodating. They have electric and water but no sewer. There is a dump on the way out. The spots are very tight to navigate into and took some extra work for my fifth wheel. Tent camping or smaller campers would enjoy this site. The town nearby is cool, includes a nice bakery and a great RV/hardware store. Wifi is hit and miss. You can walk up to the water to get a nice view of the bridge.
Guide
Took our family of four for a long weekend of tent camping. We had scoped it out before, so we had a general idea what spot we wanted, and reserved it online. The spot (304) was nice and big, and we had plenty of room. The park just seems more suited to RVs instead of tents, as do most parks up here. The facilities were nice - super clean bathrooms, great beach for the kids, even a dog beach. (Dogs are supposed to remain on leash on the beach.) There wasn’t really much of a playground for the kids, so they rode their bikes a lot. It was better than some we have stayed at, but not the spot if you’re looking for a little more rustic/private. You will certainly have neighbors.
GuideThe sites are decently sized and come equipped with a fire pit. The showers had decent shower heads and lots of pressure. There are some swings dow by the lake for adults and kids. Everything is nearby (not really walkable) and the shuttle for Mackinac Island ferries will come pick you up. They do not have full hookups, but we got by fine for a week since we have a composting toilet.
There is a small play scape feature by the lake. Plenty of folks tent camping as well as RVs. The campground has been here for quite a while and has mature trees. A small game room at the office features a pool table, air hockey, and a modern pinball machine.
Scout
This campground has tiny campsites that are very uneven. We camp in a tent so that was not ideal. There are about 8 lake side sites which are right across the road from the lake. Those were the best sites for size and view. The lake is really large so it is great for boating. The boat launch is right in the campground and it has two launches so it makes for quick access. You can anchor your boat in the water if you choose. If you have a boat you can access the Indian River which takes you to Mullett lake. Also you can take the crooked river to crooked lake but you have to pay a $10 fee for the locks. The water has leeches which was a pain with my 2 year old. She got one every time she went in the water. The campground does not have a host and dnr only came in the morning to check tags. The week we were here we had fireworks and a lot of noisy campers well past midnight.
GuideI have camped here a few times over the last decade. I have tent camped in the past and now with a travel trailer. The sites are large, and some humongous. The campground is quiet, and the lake is right behind the campground. A nice sandy shoreline and shallow water makes for a relaxing day. There needs to be some maintenance done at this campground, at least two water pumps are without handles, one was with out a handle three years ago as well, so the missing handles may be part of the campground management plan. There are a few vault toilets placed in various areas in pairs. Of each pair, one is closed, presumably to reduce costs associated with maintenance.
The fire rings in some sites are brand new, so it is obvious that maintenance is underway.
Overall this campground is still on a list of favorites that we return to once or twice a year.
LegendWe stayed for one Monday night on our way to the Porkies.
This is an established campground. The sites are tight, most have no bushes/trees. We were lucky on our right side to have some privacy. The perimeter sites back into a chain link fence that has a view of the woods. This is on both sides of the campground.
The bathrooms/showers were clean. The showers had 2 large lips to step over. My mobility challenged husband had some trouble.
The best sites are 26,27,28,76&77. These sites are right by the beach & have great views. 27 looked like it didn't have electricity & might be a tent site. Strangely, 26 & 27 were empty the night we were there.
The beach is small & you can swim there. There's no pool. There's several swings & benches to sit & look at the water. There's a game room by the store.
I did like this campground. It reminded me of what camping must have been like in the 50s/60s. A retro feel to it.
TravelerBeautiful setting. there are tons of trails through beautiful deep woods that lead out to various points along the lake. great paved bike paths to Rogers City and up north. Campsites under #50 are beautiful & heavily canopied. campsite # above that tend to be set closer to noisy local highway and more open, grassy sites. this place is a little gem. lucked out with virtually no mosquitoes but think it’s been a dry summer here. lots of poison ivy, as usual up here.
ScoutWe did camp on the weekend when it opened up after quarantine, so I get that the campground was going to be busy. The sites look large on the map and they are pretty good, but if you are on the interior or “straightaway” of the loop they are pretty tight without a lot of tree barriers and it was loud in the campground past midnight. The end sites looked more private for sure.
The location itself is nice. It’s a short walk to Lake Huron, and a nice bike ride to Rogers city or the light house. Very beautiful shoreline!
Scout
As others have said, if you like a campground off the beaten path, this is it. We live in the UP and use this campground frequently for day and overnight use.
Most visitors will likely head east on m-134 stop in Cedarville to grab provisions, gas and a snack there are a couple cute stores a bakery and ice cream in town.
The road to the campsites once you turn off m-134 is gravel/dirt and a bit windy, we usually tent camp so I am unsure how it feels to drive a trailer down it. Being so far off the road makes it a very quiet campground.
Bring cash or check and fill out your self-serve registration and pay for the site and if needed your Recreation Passport which is required.
Outer loop sites will keep you in the trees, sites closer to the water have trails that lead to the beach but access to the beach is reasonable for all sites at this campground. Plenty of sandy area to lay out and the water is clear and shallow.
Vault toilets, dumpster and hand pump water along with fire rings and picnic tables are the extent of the amenities at this campground, but if you come prepared it is more than enough.
On clear nights make sure to make your way our to the beach for some of the best stargazing!!
GuideDrive-in first-come first-serve camping through the Department of Natural Resources, this was my favorite place in Michigan's upper peninsula so far to tent camp. It offers a variety of twenty or so spacious sites for different camping needs - groups, RVs, or private. Multiple paths through the woods reveal sandy beaches and crystal clear water on Lake Huron.
We showed up to near max capacity on a Thursday night and were lucky to grab site 14. Plenty of dead trees were to be found in the surrounding woods for firewood. However, while our camp site was clear and covered in pine needles, the edge and woods were packed with poison sumac - which we were warned about on the information board. Standing water was to be found in the woods around each site, which made for pretty thick mosquitoes throughout the day and evening. With a good campfire and bug spray, I felt able to deal with them.
The sandy beach was beautiful and so peaceful! Small rocks in the shallow water make it slightly uncomfortable wading in, but once you get past the small grouping of rocks, it's very sandy lake bottom to swim and play on. You can hear the lake waves hit shore from your camp site in the morning and it's a wonderfully relaxing sound to wake up to.
Multiple vault toilets were well stocked with toilet paper. A large dumpster is available for trash. A pump is available for water, although I did not test the quality of it and used my own bottled water.
In the town of DeTour Village, a 10 minute drive from camp, you can find ice, bottled water, a grocery and a couple of restaurants.
I loved my time here and would absolutely return.
LegendReally nice location on beautiful Lake Huron. They have a really nice beach and swimming area. It is close to Rogers City shops, a really cool lighthouse a few miles away, and Ocqueoc Falls is 15 - 20 minutes away. Visiting the falls was one of the coolest parts of this trip. You can actually swim in them. We had probably the biggest site in the campground. It was what they called an eyebrow site, which basically means a pull-thru on an angle. We had a lot of space on the site and because our awning faced away from the road we had a lot of privacy. This was by far the best state park we’ve stayed at to date.
LegendThis campground is a must do. Electric site campground with a short walk to the beach on Lake Huron. One of few campgrounds you can view both sunrise over Lake Huron and sunset from the beach. Showers and flush toilets. Great biking and hiking trails. Really nice day use area with pavilion. Mini cabin and Sears Roebuck house for rent for those wanting more comforts. One of MI State Parks original campgrounds but well taken care of. Would have given it 5 stars except for the extremely rude Ranger on check in. I’ve never encountered this level of rudeness anywhere- I’d suggest he find another career. Other rangers were great. Rogers City, 40 Mile Lighthouse and waterfall all within easy drive from campground. Does have nice water tank filling station and dump station. Does not have water nor sewer hookups at sites.
Legend
Lime Island Recreation Area is located in the St. Mary’s River at the very east end of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. It sits in the middle of the river with Canada on one side and Michigan on the other. Raber, Michigan is the nearest shore town, 2 miles across the river. The only way to reach the park is by boat but there are no designated ferries, so the only way to reach it is by using your own boat or finding someone in the area with a boat willing to charter you and your gear. Non-motorized boats are not recommended due to the many freighters and choppy water conditions.
Overnight accommodations include six cabins that can sleep between four and seven guests each, as well as 10 tent sites on wooden platforms that look out over the river. The park is a favorite among fishermen, couples, and large families who like to rent out all the cabins for annual reunions.
A boat slip comes with your reservation. The island has limited electricity (solar-powered only) and no running water. Portable toilets are provided and there is a pump for a potable-water well. Cabin guests need to provide all their own gear, including sleeping and cooking supplies and equipment.
Approximately 7 miles of hiking trails traverse the island, providing guests the chance to wander, explore and possibly encounter wildlife. With so little human activity you never know what you’ll find.
One of the favorite pastimes of guests is sitting and watching the large Great Lakes freighters pass by at all hours of the day. They pass so close to the island you feel you could almost touch them. It’s quite a sight!
There's a ton of history on the island, some of which is still visible. According to the Michigan DNR, “Lime Island provides a significant representation of early 20th-century industrial and maritime history. The coal dock, fuel storage tanks, Quonset hut with bunker, fuel heating and pumping equipment, other supporting buildings, and scattered industrial equipment, provide a complete picture of the island’s use as a ship refueling depot. The schoolhouse, superintendent’s house (that was brought to the island by dragging it across the frozen river), cottages, and fruit trees remind visitors of island life for the workers that supported the depot.”
It's not an easy state park to reach, but if you can find a way to get there, the seclusion should make for some great camping on the tent platforms (or hanging out in the cabins if you're into that sort of thing.)
Legend
We looked forward to our stay at this campground so close to Mackinaw City. We arrived just before 5 pm behind another camper. Walter was having difficulty handling both of our check-ins: he couldn’t find the other camper’s reservation (apparently not a one-off) and then his computer kept freezing while processing ours. The process to get both of us checked in took almost 30 minutes.
The advertised group gathering gazebo seemed to have been taken over by the office; I saw no other covered gazebo. And the fire pit was horrible! It spewed toxic smoke the entire time we were checking in (I had to keep stepping outside). As Becky’s review mentioned, there was junk surrounding the “office” and close by area.
The RV sites did not have any separation/privacy between them. We had reserved a water/electric site but in the end, chose one of the tent sites that faced the lake. We didn’t even see a number indicating what site it was– it was mostly a large grassy area.
The mosquitos were horrible (I realize this is not the fault of the campground although the grass was a bit tall).
Although I’ve seen worse, the restrooms were just passable. The floor was wet. At least there was soap and paper towels. Did not use the shower so cannot comment on that.
The best part of this campground is the view of Lake Huron. As advertised, there is a (far-off) view of the Mackinaw Bridge from the beach, but you have to look through the wall of mosquitoes.
It’s my understanding this is a city-run campground and if that is correct, we expected better. In order for me to give this more than two stars, it would have to:
• cost less ($50 was way too much money to pay for this campground),
• have a more efficient check-in system, and
• be cleaned up of all the junk lying around.
If we would not have lost all our money, we would have ditched and looked elsewhere. We didn’t even cook in our van, opting instead to eat in town. We were up and out early the next morning.
GuideThis campground was redone to make sites more organized and bigger. The bathrooms seem to be older still, but were clean! The location is amazing, they are right on lake Huron which was beautiful and clean. It's a short drive to Ocqueoc waterfall which is why we went. The waterfall is worth a trip, and the only public waterfall in the lower peninsula of MI. Loved Roger's city downtown and cute shops. Also many hiking trails in the woods surrounding the park that connect to the campgrounds. Highly recommend!
GuideWe stayed 8-3 to 8-7, only issue was the weather. Didn’t rain, but was hit with a cold front 😳. This was a great SP, no issues fitting our 36’ TT with 2 slides in our pull through site. We were nestled in the back of the park. Electrical box did have both 30 and 60 amp service. Our site was gravel and pretty much level. Large cemented fire ring and site was spaced great (especially for a SP). No water hookups but we try to reserve next to a water spigot. Lots of trails all around the park for walking and bike riding. To get to the beach you had to take one of the beach trails which is roughly 50-75 yards off the campground road. We went nearing dusk and it was so beautiful. Since we were in the back of the park we decided to leave the park the following day about half mile to the East to a roadside pull off to watch the sunset (I wasn’t about to lug 4 large camping chairs across the campground, lol). This was unknown to us at the time but we ended up seeing a blood moon rise and on such a clear night that you can see all the stars and constellations. I would seriously recommend this campground to everyone (just pack warm clothes). There are some other great attractions in roger city like the quary, 40 mile lighthouse, and a small waterfall just outside of town. We will definitely be back.
ScoutLocated on Michigan’s sunrise side, Hoeft State Park offers a unite getaway for tent campers and RV campers alike. Many trees for hammocking! Short trek across sandy dunes brings you to the beach of Lake Huron. Shallow in parts for the kids but deep enough to snorkel for pudding stones. Rock hounds will slight in the fossil, Petoskeys and puddings along the shoreline. Excellent paved bike trail takes you to town or north to the lighthouse. Campground has excellent activities for the kids. Firewood for ale. Currently updating the electric and bathhouses.
Scout
Sand, pine trees, vault toilet, fire ring, gorgeous views, serenity, bear pole - my family adores this place. It is possibly the nicest camping we've done in Michigan. Water filter is a MUST unless you want to walk to the parking lot every time you need potable water. None of us ever got sick drinking the filtered lake water. Kayaking and canoeing in is easy. We have walked in, too. Having a wheeled cart is nice for bringing in large family-sized tents and other heavier items.
Legend
Sometimes you spend a long time getting somewhere and you think,“Why haven’t I ever come here before now?” I grew up in Michigan and had no idea that Drummond Island even existed, let alone had ever come close to it. Now, that I know it’s there, I plan to return, again and again. The campground run by the township on Drummond Island is, kind of like the island itself, a step back in time– but in a good way. Tucked away in a little rocky bay on the north shore of the island, protected and lovely, the campground seems like it hasn’t changed much in 40 years. But what more could anyone want, than a lovely campsite next to the water, with a rustic stone firepit for$15 a night?
Many of the sites have electricity which only costs an extra $5 if you’re in a trailer, $3 if in a tent. Rustic pit toilets are clean and come equipped with the standard Michigan pit-toilet bouquet (seriously, what it up Michigan?). We arrived after a steady week of rain and the campground was quite muddy in spots. But this was also a result of the record high water level of Lake Huron.
This is a paddler’s dream launch site, we left our boats on the shore for the week and jumped in them whenever the desire arose. Islands, rocky ledges, and fossil hunts lie around each headland. For those more adventurous paddlers the county has put together a number of paddler’s trails complete with suggested campsites, stop in at the visitor’s center for more information.
The township has several restaurants and a nearly full-stocked grocery store where you can find all of your basic supplies if not every variety of your usual food stuffs– no shortage of booze though. The island is famous for its OHV trails, and there are some weekends you may want to avoid if motorized recreation is not your thing. We got out on the water and found ourselves practically alone.
Legend
You can pick sites on the river or back by the woods. There are vault toilets and a well for water. The Shingle Mill Pathway runs through the campground. Each site comes with fire pit and picnic table. I've seen people tenting and I've seem people with large fifth wheels. Some sites are only big enough for tents but most sites can fit large rvs.
Guide
Nice campground, good mix of tents and trailers. Grassy/ shaded sites
Rogers City, Michigan, offers a fantastic backdrop for tent camping enthusiasts, with a variety of campgrounds that cater to outdoor lovers seeking adventure and tranquility.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Rogers City, MI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Rogers City, MI is Ocqueoc Falls State Forest Campground with a 4.8-star rating from 12 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Rogers City, MI?
TheDyrt.com has all 12 tent camping locations near Rogers City, MI, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring
