Do you enjoy camping but don't want to rough it? Glamping is a great option. Glamping offers the perfect opportunity to explore Sault Ste. Marie and stay off the beaten path. The Dyrt's camping photos, reviews, and tips are an easy way to find the right Michigan glamping spot for you.
Located just off the Whitefish Bay Scenic Byway in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, Bay View Campground provides a rustic opportunity to camp along the shores of Lake Superior. The campground is a perfect stop amidst many recreational opportunities available in the Sault Ste. Marie area. Visitors also enjoy exploring the Whitefish Bay National Scenic Byway all the way to the beautiful Tahquamenon Falls.
Miles of sandy beaches and beautiful sunsets stretch across Lake Superior, the greatest single body of fresh water in the world. Birding and sightseeing are popular pastimes, and visitors enjoy long walks along Superior's beaches.
The campground is located in Lake Superior's famous Whitefish Bay, the site of numerous historically preserved shipwrecks and lighthouse stations. The area is also a natural corridor for migratory birds.
Tahquamenon Falls, a series of beautifully brown-colored waterfalls on the Tahquamenon River, are located just 30 miles away. The Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum and Whitefish Point Lighthouse are 39 miles to the north and west while the Point Iroquois Lighthouse lies about 8 miles east.
For facility specific information, please call (906) 373-2272.
Please cancel 7 days in advance if you need to cancel your reservation. Reserve sites cannot be transferred to walk up sites.
$21 - $24 / night
The Lower Falls Modern Campground features two campground loops, Hemlock and Portage. All sites have 30-amp service, and some 50-amp sites are available. A sanitation station is available seasonally, and recycling is available.
The Hemlock campground loop is located about a mile from the Lower Falls and is open year-round. The campground is generally more shaded than the Portage campground loop, with access to the park’s hiking trail system. The campground is the best place in the Lower Falls for cellphone service. In winter, portions are reservable for semi-modern camping.
The Portage campground loop is located near the river, about a quarter-mile from the Lower Falls. This campground loop features an ADA-accessible modern toilet and shower building and some accessible campsites. A few sites have river views, and the campground loop is generally sunnier and more open than the Hemlock campground Loop. There is North Country Trail access from the campground. In winter, the campground loop is open for hike-in camping.
$28 - $32 / night
Brevoort Lake Campground stretches along the western shore of its namesake in the Hiawatha National Forest. This popular fishing destination is situated on a peninsula that juts into the lake and Beodne Bay. Visitors to the campground enjoy the easy access to the pristine sandy beaches.
The 4,233-acre Brevoort Lake provides ample opportunities for recreation. Boat access is available from the center of the campground on Boedne Bay. In 1985, the Forest Service completed the construction of a walleye spawning reef in Brevoort Lake, providing plentiful fishing in the area. Anglers can also expect healthy populations of pike, bass, perch and a variety of other fish. Hiking is also a popular pastime of visitors to the campground. The Ridge, Sand Dunes Cross Country and North Country National Scenic trails pass near the campground. A 10-minute ferry ride to Mackinac Island makes for an interesting day trip. The 3.8-acre island offers hiking, biking, horseback riding and shopping, as well as access to historical sites and museums, among other activities.
Campsites are somewhat secluded, surrounded by huge pine, hemlock and oak trees and low, shrubby vegetation. Beach grass grows along the lake shore, sometimes buried in light sand.
St. Ignace, Michigan, about 20 miles east of the campground, offers historical and tourist attractions as well as grocery and gas services.
For facility specific information, please call (906) 373-2272.
Please cancel 7 days in advance if you need to cancel your reservation. Reservation sites cannot be traded for walk-up sites.
$26 - $48 / night
$28 - $42 / night
Lake Michigan Campground at St. Ignace provides great views and unlimited access to Lake Michigan. The area has excellent trails, winding hikers through ancient sand dunes, windswept foundations and a variety of vegetation.
The campsites are located between 20- to 30-foot high sand dunes and are just steps away from great body-surfing waves, that crash onto the lake's sandy beaches during commonly high winds. Lake Michigan does offer fishing, but anglers tend to prefer Brevort Lake better, for its catches of walleye, pike, bass, perch and crappie. Campers at Lake Michigan have access to the popular Sand Dunes Cross-Country Ski Trail, as well as the North Country National Scenic Trail, which connects a host of natural areas, from valleys to hilltops, prairies to forests and everything in between. Both trails offer miles of terrain, keeping hikers busy for as long as they choose.
The campground stretches along a bluff between the highway and the lake. Dunes, waves, sand and wind are the primary environmental factors present. Visitors enjoy watching shorebirds, like the Spotted Sandpiper, which can often be seen running up and down the beaches throughout the day.
Brevort Lake is about five miles from the campground. St. Ignace is about 18 miles from the campground and is the closest town.
For facility specific information, please call (906) 373-2272.
Please cancel 7 days in advance if you need to cancel your reservation. Reservation sites cannot be traded for walk up sites.
$26 / 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
Legend
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.
Traveler
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.
Guide
Best campground in Michigan. Sites aren’t too close together yet there are bathrooms in a reasonable walking distance from each site. Wonderful camp host and the beach is the best I’ve seen in Michigan.
Guide
Awesome base camp to explore the UP of Michigan. Clean facilities, level sites, well spaced out, and beautiful scenery
Traveler
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.
GuideA must if you live in Michigan. Portage camp is a walk from the lower falls. Brand new and clean bathrooms. Sewage dump is a mile at hemlock camp. Get water there before you go to your site.
Guide
Less than half full. Good non motorized boat launch. Nice forest, most sites well screened. 4 sites with great lake view, on little lake. kayaked around lake. No real navigable access to the larger Bevoort Lake or Lake Michigan. Quiet, no highway noise.
Guide
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.
TravelerAs a lifelong Michigander it’s always been on my bucket list to travel up to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and visit Tahquamenon Falls. This campsite was taken care of, had great facilities, electricity, quiet by 10pm and was a 6 mile hike to the Upper Falls from camp.
Only reason why I’m giving it a 4 instead of 5 was because the toilets were backing up semi-frequently.
TravelerI 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!!
LegendGorgeous Lake Superior shore experience! Fall asleep to the sound of waves.
Address of property: 19456 West Lakeshore Drive, Brimley, Michigan 49715
There are no services nearby. Plan accordingly.
Sites fronting the sand beach include: #3; #5; #6; #7; #9; #11; #13; #15; #17; #18; #20; #21;#23;#24;# 25. In fact, these campsites are very large and mostly situated about 20 feet above the beach with a path leading to the sand. Pine-Maple-Spruce-Oak forest is dense. There is a vast difference in experience if camping on the inland side of the narrow road. Try to reserve a site on the beach side where access is just a simple path away.
Sites are shady with limited dappled sun occasionally. The most beguiling sites for a tent camper are sites # 24 & #25 with minimal walk-in.
There are 2 vault toilet outhouses in the narrow campground; and they are well-maintained. Campground hosts for 2021 were super helpful and friendly.
The campground is close to the agate beach at the historic Point Iroquois Lighthouse first built in 1855.
TravelerWe decided to stay 5 days here after our original plan fell through. It’s a smaller secluded campground with larger sites. We arrived in the middle of the week so there were a variety of sites available. Each site has a fire pit and picnic table. Be prepared to bring enough firewood and supplies as many of the shops nearby close early.
Pros: Little Brevort lake is a great spot for stargazing with good visibility and shooting stars. Large sites, close to Lake Michigan, quiet, secluded, great views, shaded sites, inexpensive, opportunity to listen to native wildlife.
Cons: Sites can be close together but not clustered. Bathrooms are stocked by DNR but were FULL of flies. No individual trash cans, dumpster only. We made the mistake of buying cheap trash bags that ripped on the way to the dumpster.
ScoutThis campground is exactly as it’s named; right on Lake Michigan.
While it is directly off of US-2 and road traffic is noticeable and slightly distracting while sleeping, it’s a perfect spot to set up camp for a day or two!
We reaeved a site on the road side of the grounds but after further exploration, a lake-side site is a must. Most had pathways to the beach, just a short walk to the water from the actual site.
Camp sites each had a fire ring and picnic table and rustic pit toilets were pretty well spaced out through the entire campground.
Would recommend if you’re just looking for a spot for some swimming! Bring earplugs for the trucks and traffic at night.
*** Newberry bear ranch is about 45 mins away and absolutely worth thr drive/money.
LegendJust a short drive from Mackinac lies a beautiful campground to sink into the quietness of a river setting. I stayed in the rustic portion with campsites right along the river. River access is available for small boats along with a fishing deck. Vault toilets and water merge with large campsites to create a quiet ambiance. Showers and a modern toilet are available in the modern portion of the campground which is a short walk through a playground and separating trees.
My site meant waking up to fog drifting down the river, birds chirping and quiet forest behind me. Walking my dog through the forest was nice as the fallen pine needles created a soft path. My site had plenty of room for the tent as well as tress to hang my hammock on. My dog couldn't wait to jump into the hammock and relax in the cool Michigan air. The campground hosts came through and we had a nice chat (which added to the homey feeling).
This campground is not by the Tahquamenon Falls area so I would make sure to get the correct location. It sits south of Paradise, MI. It was a 20 or so mile drive to get to the falls area with beautiful hiking trails. The remote location of the campground adds to the perfect Northwoods feel. The North Country Trail goes past the campground on the other side of the river. You can hike all the way to the falls area if you are up to it.
GuideWe had a great stay at Aune Osborn. Beautiful quiet place. Friendly staff, pet friendly and freighter watching.
ScoutThis is a great campground if you want to watch the freighters. I gave it only 4 stars because there is only 30 amp hookups available and there aren’t many trees for shade. But the close access to watch the freighters makes up for those short comings. Also make sure to visit West Pier Hamburger. Definitely one of the best burgers I’ve ever had. And get the onion rings!
GuideThis 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.
GuideWe 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.
TravelerWe 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.
GuideWe 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.
Scout
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.
GuideClean 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.
TravelerIt's not a secluded get away being a large campground accross from the Casino but for what it is it's clean, full or partial hook-ups and the price for $20(partial hook-up) is a value.
TravelerWe 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.
Scout29.00 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.
GuideIf you want to gamble it's the place for you If you want to camp fine a better place
GuideClose 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Sault Ste. Marie, MI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Sault Ste. Marie, MI is Bay View (Hiawatha National Forest, MI) with a 4.8-star rating from 18 reviews.
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TheDyrt.com has all 12 glamping camping locations near Sault Ste. Marie, MI, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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