S
Scott B.
Traveler
TravelerWagon Trail Campground
Great campground in Door County
Clean, large sites, many shaded. Excellent management. Lots to do on the peninsula.
Camping near Stephenson, MI
146 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
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SUMMARY PRESENTED BY
Stephenson, Michigan and the surrounding region provide numerous camping opportunities along the western edge of Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Campgrounds like Shakey Lakes Park and River Park offer varied accommodation types including tent sites, RV hookups, and cabin rentals. J.W. Wells State Park Campground stands out with its Lake Michigan waterfront campsites, while Cedar River North State Forest Campground provides more rustic options for those seeking a primitive camping experience. These established campgrounds form part of a wider network of camping areas extending from Cedar River south to Menominee, with several sites providing direct access to Lake Michigan's shoreline.
Campground facilities vary considerably throughout the area, with some offering full amenities including electric hookups, showers, and sanitary dump stations, while others maintain a more basic, rustic appeal. Many campgrounds in the region remain open year-round, though services may be limited during winter months. Summer brings higher occupancy, particularly at waterfront sites, which typically require reservations well in advance. Access to most established campgrounds involves paved or well-maintained gravel roads suitable for standard vehicles, though some forest service roads may require higher clearance. One camper noted, "Little Bay De Noc, Lake Michigan access with a pier. Only a few campsites, but includes group fire pit, playground and proximity to Pictured Rocks, 1 hour."
Waterfront camping represents a significant draw for the Stephenson area, with several campgrounds offering sites directly on Lake Michigan. Campers frequently mention the sunrise views across the lake as a highlight of their experience. "The view from our site was majestic, especially watching the sun rise over the horizon of Lake Michigan. The sunrise was the pinnacle moment of this trip," shared one visitor at J.W. Wells State Park. Wildlife sightings, including deer, turkey, and even porcupines, add to the natural experience. The campgrounds closer to town provide convenient access to basic amenities, while those further into forested areas offer greater privacy and quiet. Several reviews mention the cleanliness of facilities, particularly at state park campgrounds, though bay flies can be a seasonal nuisance along the lakeshore during certain times of year.
Best Campgrounds near Stephenson (146)
1. J.W. Wells State Park Campground
"Great views of Lake Michigan! Beautiful sandy beach just a short walk away! Really nice playground for the kids. Overall, one of our favorite places to connected camp!"
"This was our first experience at this park in the southern section of the western part of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Many of the sites are just feet from Lake Michigan. "
from $23 - $216 / night
Check Availability2. Kleinke Park Campground
"It's hard to beat waking up next to serene Lake Michigan waves but it was definitely worth it."
"Drive in, select your site, put payment in envelope simple process to reserve a site at a nice campground! Brilliant sunrises over the lake. "
3. River Park
"Each site is a good distance away from the nearest one so you do feel more remote as you camp."
"Campsite 2 is amazing and has a path down to the river, which is so beautiful. Was very spacious and could fit a camper with a tent easily."
from $10 / night
Check Availability4. South Nicolet Bay Campground — Peninsula State Park
"It's a beautiful campground, with great hiking trails and fantastic views of the clear waters of Lake Michigan."
"Large campground on shore of either Lake Michigan or Bay of Green Bay in Door County, this is a very popular area with many activities. Must have State Park Pass plus camping fees. "
from $28 - $53 / night
Check Availability5. Shakey Lakes Park Campground
"We visit our family up at shakey lakes campground every summer! They have a permanent site along with several other family members. It is RV and tent friendly."
6. Fox County Park Campground
"No water or showers but great location with electric. Back up to Lake Michigan and wake up with the sunrise."
"On Lake Michigan not much else to say!"
from $15 - $25 / night
Check Availability7. Cedar River North State Forest Campground
"It's 8 miles down an old logging trail but it's worth the drive. There is no electricity but they have a fresh water spigot."
8. Wagon Trail Campground
"And hallelujah, a playground to get my kids out of my hair, positioned in front of their office/store so it feels safe, too."
"Quiet, serene, close to the lake. The night sky viewing was AMAZING here. Because of its location, there is very little light pollution which makes for wonderful star gazing."
from $40 - $150 / night
Check Availability9. North Nicolet Bay Campground — Peninsula State Park
"Beautiful wooded area with ready access to the water. Fantastic shower facilities. You do feel a bit packed in with your fellow campers at the adjacent sites. Not a heck of a lot of privacy."
"A short walk through the woods to the beach, feeling secluded surrounded by the sounds of nature. Hiking paths and peace. Clean water and nice sites."
from $28 / night
Check Availability10. Tennison Bay Campground — Peninsula State Park
"Surrounded by small quaint towns, Peninsula State Park is nothing less than a Mecca for all sorts of camping enthusiasts. "
"If you're looking for bells and whistles, lots of amenities and lots of friendly neighbors in close proximity, this is the place to go!"
from $28 - $53 / night
Check Availability
Drive Time
- 1 hr 13 min from Green Bay, WI
- 1 hr 32 min from Appleton, WI
- 1 hr 52 min from Oshkosh, WI
- 2 hrs 24 min from Wausau, WI
Recent Camping Photos near Stephenson, MI
181 Photos of 146 Stephenson Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Shakey Lakes Park CampgroundC
Kleinke Park CampgroundJ
River Park
J.W. Wells State Park Campground
Cedar River North State Forest CampgroundL
Fox County Park Campground
O. B. Fuller Campground
Diamond Lake Family Campground and Trout Farm
River Park Campground
Morgan Park
Welcker's Point Campground — Peninsula State Park
North Nicolet Bay Campground — Peninsula State Park
Recent Reviews near Stephenson, MI
611 Reviews of 146 Stephenson Campgrounds
- BBRIAN F.
GuideGladstone Bay Campground
Fine for passing through
Campground is situated in an industrial area…warehouses, truck storage, etc. It does have a 150 ft narrow sand beach on a bay in Lake Michigan. Campground is a flat somewhat charmless place with tight spots. All the “full hook-ups” appear to be farthest from the water. Seems like a good amount of seasonal folks here escaping from midwestern heat. Bathrooms and showers are centrally located and are VERY clean and nice. We’re here just one night so no complaints but I wouldn’t stay longer than that.
haley W.TravelerVeterans Memorial Park Campground
Tranquil, rustic, family friendly
I absolutely loved it here first time staying and will be back many more! Would've given 5 starts if the sites had electricity, but theres still plug in over by the pavilion. Definitely a gem of a find.!!!!
- RRobin L.Guide
Laurel Lake Campground
Peaceful, quiet lake & spacious campsites.
We love the quiet beautiful lake, the forest is beautiful, do watch the trees when choosing your site. We did not reserve, we drove up, followed the directions to choose a site and are staying 2 weeks. And we will be using bug spray, lots.
Matias Ignacio
ScoutGeitner Homestead Equine Campground
I'll come back there next time
Very affordable, quite, bathrooms super clean and people super nice.
Ryan Y.ScoutRustic Timbers Door County Camping
Very nice
Very nice campground lots to offer quiet relaxing with stuff to do to keep kiddos very busy everything is well up kept and clean
- Jeff K.Scout
Tranquil Timbers
Nice campground and location
This is our first time here and we love it and will be coming back, however there are some definite downsides. The biggest downside is the limited number of campsites with sewer hookups. We are in a field next to a building with full plumbing. It seems like it would be relatively easy to put in sewer connections when the sites are so close to a building with sewer. It seems like almost all of the very few sewer sites are reserved for seasonals. The other downside is there are lots of narrow passages through the woods with low hanging branches. The grounds are beautiful but they really need to do a lot of pruning work along the roads.
Cee C.ScoutTennison Bay Campground — Peninsula State Park
Expensive, crowded, dirty facilities & unmaintained sites
We spent almost $200 on three nights of camping here. They charge $28 a night + $15 a night if you're out of state. On top of that you have reservation fees, tax and have to purchase a sticker for $55. For this price we expected clean and modern facilities, but they were dirty and dated.
We found our campsite to be the smallest we've ever camped in and it was covered in invasive vines and poison ivy. It was more of a summer camp for kids and families than a quiet, peaceful getaway.
If you have a family and want to ride your bike around and eat ice cream at the beach then this park is for you. They have a huge golf course too, not exactly a shining example of forest preservation.
Xena T.GuideBagley Rapids NF Campground
Nice little campground
Most of the sites were well spaced with a lot of trees in between. Bathrooms are clean. Each site had the standard picnic table and fire ring. My only complaint is that the path along the river had cutoffs to each campsite, and people would cut through where I was staying.
Guide to Stephenson
The Stephenson area sits at an elevation of approximately 650 feet above sea level in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, where dense forests meet the western shore of Lake Michigan. Camping sites near Stephenson, Michigan feature a mix of county, state, and private campgrounds with varied terrain from riverfront to lakeside settings. Most campsites experience summer temperatures averaging 75-80°F during peak camping season, with cooler nights dropping to the 50s.
What to do
Wildlife watching: River Park in Stephenson offers camping with riverside wildlife viewing opportunities. "We saw a park ranger during the morning but not sure how much they come around. Overall, great experience and would recommend if you are looking for some relaxing camping time," notes Gwynn S. about River Park.
Fishing access: Cedar River North State Forest Campground provides direct river access for anglers. "There is a kayak launch and the river is a great place for catching bass. Every site has at least one handicap accessible picnic table and a small fire pit," reports Lauren B. about Cedar River North State Forest Campground.
Beach activities: Several campgrounds offer swimming beaches with varying amenities. "Loved the location- near Menominee MI, took in some time around the town, before relaxing for a day on the nice Lake Michigan beach at the campground. Water level is currently extremely high, but it was still a nice place," shares Sara S. about Kleinke Park Campground.
What campers like
Lake Michigan views: Fox County Park Campground offers unobstructed waterfront campsites. "Private, secluded, right on the water, small campground with big sights. Pay in the box and camp! Love it!!!" exclaims Anna G. about Fox County Park Campground.
Clean facilities: Shakey Lakes Park maintains well-kept amenities. "Clean bath house, reasonable fee, spacious sites, great staff," notes Charles F. about Shakey Lakes Park Campground.
Private sites: Many campers appreciate the spaciousness between sites. "This was a great trip to escape into the wilderness. Vault toilets were clean, centrally located and close to the hand pump well. Plenty of space at each of the sites," mentions Eric S. about River Park.
What you should know
Seasonal insects: Bay flies can be prevalent along Lake Michigan shorelines. "One 'negative' that cannot be controlled: bay flies. Happened to be there when the bay flies were thick! The flies do not seem to bite, just a nuisance," warns Sara S. about Kleinke Park Campground.
Limited facilities: Some campgrounds offer minimal amenities. "It was a little on the expensive side for only having one flush bathroom. The showers costed $1.00 for 8 minutes which was asking a lot for really stinky well water," notes Emily M. about Kleinke Park.
Varied access roads: Road conditions to campgrounds range from paved to rough gravel. "Road is slightly bumpy but completely fine for almost any vehicle to go down. Mosquitoes are plentiful," advises Christopher L. about Cedar River North State Forest Campground.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Several campgrounds feature play areas for children. "We visit our family up at shakey lakes campground every summer! They have a permanent site along with several other family members. It is RV and tent friendly. There's an ice cream/food stand on the beach, and a playground," shares Tayah H. about Shakey Lakes Park.
Swimming options: Beaches vary in quality and facilities across the region. "We got our new Marmot Tungston 4P tent so I took the wife and kids on a quick weekend trip to J.W. Wells State Park campground in Michigan's Upper Peninsula to test it out," explains Augy P., who adds that the park has "showers and a playground right in the middle."
Safety considerations: Some sites require extra precautions. "There was a good amount of broken glass and some trash at site 2, so be careful if you have little ones or dogs," warns Gwynn S. about River Park.
Tips from RVers
Site selection: Some campgrounds have limited accessibility for larger rigs. "I would not recommend this campground for anyone with a larger camper. I have a 38' long, 12'+ tall bumper pull and was scraping the roof on trees and struggled to get backed into the site," cautions Cole M. about River Park.
Hookup availability: Electric hookup options vary across campgrounds. "We pulled in after a long day of driving and without a reservation. Fortunate to be able to pull right in and had several easily navigable sites available. Flat, clean and easy to maneuver. Able to pay using an envelope. Nice facilities available as well and we had power available," reports Julie F. about Kleinke Park Campground.
Dump stations: Waste disposal options are available at select locations. "Easily accessible waste dump and water. We enjoyed our stay and would come back again," adds Julie F. about her experience at Kleinke Park.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Stephenson, MI?
What camping is available near Stephenson, MI?
According to TheDyrt.com, Stephenson, MI offers a wide range of camping options, with 146 campgrounds and RV parks near Stephenson, MI and 30 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Stephenson, MI?
Which is the most popular campground near Stephenson, MI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Stephenson, MI is J.W. Wells State Park Campground with a 4.3-star rating from 27 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Stephenson, MI?
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Stephenson, MI?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 30 free dispersed camping spots near Stephenson, MI.
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