Camping near Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan centers around inland lakes and wooded areas that offer alternatives to the popular St. Mary's River locations. Rustic camping options throughout Hiawatha National Forest provide escape from more developed sites, with temperatures ranging from 75°F summer highs to below-freezing nights in early spring and fall. Most inland campsites require visitors to bring their own water or use pump facilities.
What to Do
Freighter watching at multiple locations: Find viewing spots beyond the popular riverside campgrounds. "This location can't be beat: close to town and great freighter watching," notes a camper at Soo Locks Campground, where military activity adds to the experience. "It's next door to a military base and 5 Chinook helicopters ran drills in the morning from 8:30-11am."
Inland lake swimming: The inland lakes offer warmer swimming options than Lake Superior. "Monocle Lake is good for swimming. We brought our paddle board and kayaks and had a great time," reports a visitor at Monocle Lake. "The lake is beautiful too," adds another camper who passed through while exploring the Upper Peninsula.
Local history exploration: Visit historic sites within short driving distance. "Nearby Sault Ste Marie, MI is picturesque and has a lot of history for those who are interested," mentions a camper at Brimley State Park. A visitor at Bay View adds, "There are sandy beaches and shipwrecks in the bay which have been preserved for tourists and history geeks."
What Campers Like
Beach access variety: Both inland and Great Lakes beaches offer different experiences. At Bay View, "Awesome walk in spots lead right to the forested beach. Beautiful Lake Superior is just seconds from camp," writes one camper. Another notes the amenities: "Camp host was very friendly and helpful. Firewood was available at campsite. If you have kids great campground with some free games/beach items available."
Quieter woodland camping: For those seeking less crowded options, inland forest sites provide solitude. At Monocle Lake, a camper notes: "This campground was exactly what we were looking for. It was quiet, sites are far from each other, and it was only a short drive from where we wanted to go. We stayed in site 24, which was big, backed up against the woods, away from everyone else."
Practical amenities at casino campgrounds: Casino-adjacent camping offers conveniences not found at more rustic sites. "29.00 a day with full hook-ups. 21.00 without sewer. All come with free cable tv and wifi antennas every couple hundred feet so you get internet from any spot in the park," reports a visitor at Bay Mills Casino RV Campground. "Laundry machines are only 1.25 a load and the dryer actually dries."
What You Should Know
Seasonal considerations: Campgrounds in the area have varying seasons. "Reading the reviews I was expecting a lot worse than what I saw honestly," notes a visitor at Sherman Park, adding "I have been here for that's 24 summers and will continue every summer." For late-season camping, "Arrived here 9/27/30, leaving on 9/30/20. It rained off and on continuously... Colors in the surrounding forests show the promise of magnificence but were muted due to the clouds and rain."
Facility variability: Bathroom and shower quality varies widely between campgrounds. At Kewadin Casino RV Park, a camper reports: "The showers are large but could use some cleaning. The dump station is in the parking lot in the SWC." Meanwhile at Bay View, a visitor notes: "Vault toilet (cleanest one I have ever seen!)."
Limited or unique hookup options: Many sites have unusual utilities setup. "The only threaded faucets are at the dump station where you can fill up when you pull in," explains a camper at Brimley State Park. At Aune-Osborn Campground, "Our water was nearly 50 feet away and some are on the wrong side."
Tips for Camping with Families
Select sites with kid-friendly amenities: Some campgrounds offer unexpected perks for children. "Gilly (Santa) helped us with firewood and made us feel very welcome. He had a community box of games that we could use during our stay. We used sand buckets and shovels to play with during our stay," shares a family who stayed at Bay View with their three children.
Consider inland lake swimming: For families with younger children, Lake Superior may be too cold. At Brimley State Park Campground, "The swimming is some of the best with a nice sandy bottom and no rocks. The water is generally cold, as Lake Superior often is, but it's nothing too cold for swimming in."
Look for ranger programs: Educational activities enhance family camping experiences. At Brimley State Park, a visitor appreciates the "Ranger programs for kids, nice playground." Another notes the campground is a "Nice quiet park, cute cabins, nice spots throughout the park. Short walk to a clean beach."
Tips from RVers
Site selection factors: Advance research pays off for finding appropriate RV sites. "Be careful when selecting your site as there are many different sizes and some pull through sites as well," advises an RVer at Brimley State Park. Another visitor adds, "Very few campers at this time of year... Very nice park and we would come back again."
Accessibility challenges: Some campgrounds have tight spaces for larger rigs. "Although this is a great family campground, most bigger Campers and RVs can't stay here. There are many trees too close to roadways for turning corners, and many branches are hanging low overhead," cautions an RVer who struggled to park their 42-foot fifth wheel at Monocle Lake.
Utility constraints: Power reliability varies between campgrounds. "We stayed here for a wedding a couple of years ago. Brand new camper, maiden voyage so really excited... It is a grassy field with unreliable power. It was super hot and the park wasn't even half full, yet our AC kept going out due to the power," reports an RVer at Bay Mills Casino RV Campground.
