Best Glamping near Sault Ste. Marie, MI

This park pretty much lacks any character as it is an open area with a bunch of scattered campsites but it makes up for that with its location. Most people come to the town of Sault Ste. Marie (called the “Soo”) to check out the famous Soo Locks and watch massive Great Lakes freighters pass through them on their way from Lake Superior to Lake Michigan.

This is a city run park that is 20 acres right on the St. Mary’s River so you get a great view of the ships passing by. When we arrived it had been rainy during the day and there was lots of water in the roads and at people’s campsites. Luckily our site was dry but there were some pretty big puddles and lots of standing water. Some of the sites are right on the river which and have unobstructed views of the ships. Reservations are by phone only. I had to leave a message but got a call back within a few hours and it was pretty easy from there

There are 100 sites with water and electric and all are pretty easy to get into with an RV. Tent camping is allowed but there is no separate section so you are mixed in with RVs.  Some of the hook-ups at sites are crazy. Our water was nearly 50 feet away and some are on the wrong side. Bathroom and shower facilities very nice and well maintained, with private lockable shower rooms. There is a laundry with book exchange but no camp store. The park has showers and restrooms that were very clean and modern. The showers are separate rooms that have privacy so you are not in the bathroom. They also have a laundry facility. The park wifi worked well at our site (#72) as did our Verizon phone and hotspot. Adjacent to the campground is a boat launch, playground (which looked like it was from the 1960’s), fish cleaning station, and an RV dump station.

The campground is not very large so for walking our dog we went to the adjacent park and were able to throw a ball for her. Within walking distance of the campground is a convenient store and there is a casual restaurant with burgers/fried fish/hotdogs/etc. 

A visit to the Soo Locks is definitely a must. The Visitor Center (operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) is free and well worth a visit. There are some short films, interpretive exhibits, and a board letting you know what time the ships are expected into the locks. Outside is a viewing platform where you get a great view of the ships in the locks watching them rise 20+feet as they make their transition.

I wouldn't consider this an amazing park, but if you come to Sault Ste. Marie there are not a lot of choices and its fine. You are just a few miles from downtown and the Locks and get to watch freighters navigate the narrow stretch of the river. The downsides are there are not lots of trees or privacy and the drainage is really poor. 

Tip 1: Site #9 is probably the best in the park as it is on the end, has a great view and more privacy.

Tip 2: For a delicious hamburger head under the International Bridge to West Pier Drive-In. It is the kind of place where you sit in your car and eat the most delicious juicy hamburger that fills your belly all day.

We decided to splurge on a yurt for our first camping trip of the summer. Well worth it! We stayed in"Kai" one of the newest yurts. It's at the end of what we came to call"the yurt village". Complete with electricity, indoor and outdoor string lights, two deck chairs, a heater, a queen sized bed, and an electric kettle with pour over coffee supplies, it was truly a treat! The bathroom and shower building is about.1 miles each way according to my fitness tracker, but it's doable. Downside: the firepit is small(about the size of a small charcoal grill) and shallow, so it's not really suitable for cooking. Bring a propane stove or some no-cook foods, or go enjoy some of the area restaurants! The site is still a diamond in the rough with cut downed wood and sawdust scattered about, and the ground is uneven. With time, though, it will probably turn out beautifully! We were there for three weeknights and rarely even heard other campers. A quiet and peaceful retreat.

Beautiful campground on Lake Michigan. Most of our time was spent on the sand beach. Beautiful sunsets and great swimming. Big sites and clean campground.

Made a quick overnight stop while road tripping with beautiful wife. Very nice lakeside campsites. Little on the pricey side for me. Edging a little bit towards the style of the Michigan state parks, which isn't my scene. None the less, sites were nice and facilities were clean.

I really enjoyed this campground. It was a last minute choice after a long day of driving and it was absolutely perfect. Sites are not super private but the sites on the lake side had a small walk to the gorgeous beach. That was private and quiet. From the beach the sunset and moonrise were beautiful and we couldn’t hear the road over Lake Michigan. We did wake up to highway noise but the view we got to look at all day/night was worth it!!

We hadn't planned on staying here but we are glad we did!  The sites are a little close and they have the water and electric hook ups placed a little strangely but it was all good.  It was super cool to see the large freight ships pass right by the campground!  The campground is very close to town and the Soo Locks but not too close.  It was pretty quiet in the campground but it was only about half full.  The showers were clean, private, hot and had good pressure.  The bathrooms were very clean.  There were not many trees and most of the campsites are out in the open.  I would stay here again but I would like to try the Soo Lock campground right down the street.  It had more trees and the sites didn't look as close together.  I recommend visiting the Soo Locks and the Shipwreck museum in Sault St. Marie.

We had a great stay at Aune Osborn. Beautiful quiet place. Friendly staff, pet friendly and freighter watching.

We visited her to enjoy the lock's. But the family found it was so much more enjoyable to be able to just step outside the camper and see the boat's go by every chance. Sites on the river are very nice with a great view.

This location can’t be beat: close to town and great freighter watching. The bathhouse is one of the nicest I’ve ever seen at a campground. The sites are very small and close together. There is no privacy whatsoever and I really felt like the other campers looked down at us for having a tent. They made snide comments and I got really sick of it by the time we left. It really reminded me why I usually stay at public campgrounds.

We found this site by accident looking to visit the locks. There isnt a lot to do in the park but watch the freighters but thats why we wanted to go. Minutes to town and the locks, tours and more. I will be back for a waterfront spot.

We stayed here for a wedding a couple of years ago. Brand new camper, maiden voyage so really excited. The folks in the office were nice and that is the only reason for the two stars. 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. The only reason to stay here is the casino across the street AND the state park is full or closed. I hate to be negative, but I would never stay here again.

29.00 a day with full hook-ups. 21.00 without sewer. All come with free cable tv and wifi antennas ever couple hundred feet so you get internet from any spot in the park. The newer side of the park has large spaces with plenty of room to stretch. No crazy rules here. Laundry machines are only 1.25 a load and the dryer actually dries.

Good size lots with fire pit. Some full hookup and others with electric and water. Also WiFi available however seems not to work well. Cable tv, Laundry and bath house. At friendly with nearby trails.

Clean open campground that is quiet. Some road noise from local traffic. Close to food and fuel. Easy pull through sites. Check in is currently across the street at the hotel. Masks are required in the hotel/casino. Good sites. Decent park. Fit our 46’ fifth wheel with ease.

Close to the water and even closer to the casino. We used this as a base for seeing sites, mainly the locks. A bit wet while we were there but not to bad. The staff at the casino is nice and helpful. Have to check in at the casino and not the park which was odd. We parked and then went over as our rig was to bid for the parking lot at the casino.