St. Ignace serves as the gateway to Michigan's eastern Upper Peninsula camping areas. Located at the northern end of the Mackinac Bridge, the area offers camping options within dense pine forests and along Lake Huron's shoreline. Summer temperatures typically range from 65-80°F, while spring and fall can drop to 40-55°F with more variable conditions. Most dispersed camping spots near St. Ignace require self-sufficient preparation as they lack facilities.
What to do
Stargazing at Wilderness State Park: The park features Michigan's only dark sky viewing area on the Lower Peninsula. "If you want to explore some gorgeous dark night skies in Northern Michigan, I suggest checking it out!" notes Amy G., who adds, "They have true rustic sites, where you have to hike into, usually a little over a mile. If you want to get away into your own space, Wilderness has it."
Ferry trips to Mackinac Island: Tee Pee Campground offers shuttle services to ferry docks. "The shuttle for the island ferry picks you up right at the campground," explains Tom M. Campers can bring bikes for island exploration without dealing with downtown parking.
Lakeside swimming: Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping provides beach access directly from campsites. As Chelsea & Wes J. describe, "Our site was just steps away from Lake Huron, so we got to enjoy swimming right from camp, which was such a bonus."
What campers like
Waterfront views: Many campgrounds offer sites with direct lake views. At Reddmann's Sleepy Hollow, Sam L. reports, "Our site, F, is right on the beach. Wonderful experience watching the sunrise and storm roll in."
Budget-friendly options: Dispersed camping at Search Bay provides free lakefront camping. One camper notes, "I had an 18' Thor Scope B class pulling a kayak trailer. I was pleased and surprised to find a site I could simply pull into, right on the lake looking out at a million-dollar view of a beautiful bay."
Peaceful atmosphere: Even in busy areas, campers find quiet spots. "This camp site was amazing! Very family friendly with plenty of activities. You are able to rent water equipment, play mini golf and swim around the lake," says Brittany R. about Brevoort Lake Campground.
What you should know
Seasonal mosquito patterns: Bug activity varies greatly by location and month. At Wilderness State Park, Brittany B. warns, "Very buggy in June, come prepared." Meanwhile, at Search Bay, a camper reports, "I don't know if it's just that I came at the right time but didn't see a single mosquito in three days."
Reservation requirements: Many established campgrounds fill quickly during peak season (June-August). Search Bay offers first-come, first-served dispersed camping, though Michael U. notes, "People have cleared sites and set up fire rings down the shore road."
Accessibility challenges: Some remote areas have limited vehicle access. At Search Bay, a reviewer explains, "I wouldn't try driving anything much bigger to this end of the trail. I did see a vehicle pull one of those boxy 20' camping trailers into a campsite up the road."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: St. Ignace-Mackinac Island KOA offers family amenities. One camper shared, "Being a KOA, there are games and things to do for the kids. Mini golf, carpet ball, volleyball, etc."
Beach activities: Sand beaches work better for children than rocky shorelines. Bryan R. advises at Mill Creek Camping, "We chose to stay on the Lake View side. For our families these were the best sites because they are on the water with beach sand. If you choose to stay on the side with the bridge view the shore line is rocky."
Biking opportunities: Many campgrounds connect to local trails. At Mill Creek Camping, Chelsea & Wes J. suggest, "Definitely bring your bike if you can! It makes exploring the park so much easier. But if you forget, no worries—they have rentals available on-site too."
Tips from RVers
Site selection strategy: At Mackinaw City/Mackinac Island KOA, Julia H. advises, "We travel towing a 14 foot trailer and were able to fit both in our pull through site along with my jeep. The site was easy to level. This lot (a premium lot) comes with a concrete patio with a round table with four chairs, two Adirondack chairs and a fire pit and a charcoal box grill."
Hookup locations: Some campgrounds have unusual utility setups. At St. Ignace-Mackinac Island KOA, Erin A. notes, "The only weird thing about the sites was the water hook ups were shared (which is tough for a pull through) so we needed three hoses to hook up. Not a huge deal just a tip."
Parking restrictions: Be aware of vehicle limits at campgrounds. One reviewer at Brevoort Lake warns, "Had issue about having more than one vehicle. Daughter pull fishing boat other daughter met up with us but she could not leave her vehicle there. Had to park at the local convenience store."
