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Mike H.
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TravelerManistique Lakeshore Campground
Right on the shores of Lake Michigan, level sites and clean restrooms, very popular for RV’ers with limited tent camping sites
Camping near Trenary, MI
3 campgrounds with availability next weekend
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Campgrounds surrounding Trenary, Michigan range from established, reservation-based sites to more primitive forest camping areas throughout the Upper Peninsula. The Hiawatha National Forest encompasses many of these camping areas, with Au Train Lake Campground and Hovey Lake Campsites offering waterfront locations approximately 15-20 miles from Trenary. Most sites accommodate both tent and RV camping, though hookup availability varies significantly. Forest Lake State Forest Campground near Chatham provides electric hookups with access for boats, while Munising Tourist Park Campground offers more developed amenities including showers, water hookups, and sewer connections for visitors seeking modern conveniences.
Road conditions and seasonal availability strongly impact camping experiences in the region. Many campgrounds operate from May through September or early October, closing during harsh winter months. "We reserved our site online. Having never been before we didn't really know what to expect. It was nothing less than perfect. Tucked away in a silent wooded area. Paved roads all the way in. 15 minutes from Munising," noted one visitor about Au Train Lake Campground. Cell service can be limited at more remote sites, with areas closer to Munising and Marquette offering better connectivity. Forest Service roads accessing some campgrounds may require higher clearance vehicles, especially during spring runoff periods or after heavy rainfall. Campers should come prepared with adequate supplies as convenience stores and markets are limited outside of the larger towns.
Waterfront camping receives consistently positive reviews throughout the area, with Lake Superior and inland lake access being major draws. Sites at Superior Times and Otter Lake Campground offer water views paired with amenities like electric hookups, showers, and trash collection. Several visitors mentioned appreciating the spacious, private sites separated by wooded areas that provide shade and natural screening between campers. Wildlife sightings are common, with one camper reporting seeing "a porcupine hanging out in a tree and eating leaves, deer and a turkey." Proximity to natural attractions represents another significant advantage, as most campgrounds provide convenient access to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, hiking trails, and fishing opportunities. For visitors seeking more solitude, the state forest campgrounds typically offer quieter experiences with fewer amenities but more natural surroundings.
Best Campgrounds near Trenary (148)
1. Munising Tourist Park Campground
"AMAZING views of Lake Superior just steps away from the camp site. Spots don't stay empty for long. The RV park stays full"
"If you can’t get into the campgrounds in Pictured Rocks this site is a good alternative due to its proximity (three miles) the downtown and the entrance to the park. "
Check Availabilityfrom $29 - $45 / night
2. Au Train Lake Campground
"Tucked away in a silent wooded area. Paved roads all the way in. 15 minutes from Munising. Was a perfect hideaway for us driving from SW michigan over memorial day weekend."
"Small, remote campground, located on a nice size inland lake in Hiawatha National Forest. Close to Au Train, Munising and Pictured Rock National Lakeshore."
Check AvailabilityCampground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $26 / night
3. Otter Lake Campground & Lodge
"Otter Lake Campground is nestled within the Hiawatha National Forest and a close driving distance to Munising, Michigan."
"Was about 5 minutes outside Munising. Great place to stay if your planning on visiting pictured rocks. It’s right on the lake too with boat rentals if you just want to hang around your campsite."
Check Availabilityfrom $20 - $38 / night
4. Bay Furnace Campground
"It's a small campground, but very near the lake, and the coolest part is the old blast furnace (hence the name of the camp on the bay) on display."
"Convenient to Pictured Rocks, which is why we made this trip to Michigan."
Check AvailabilityCampground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $26 / night
5. Forest Lake State Forest Campground
"Near Au Train Falls. On 8 mile Forest Lake, with access. $15/night. Walk-in and lake sites. Beautiful, quiet spot with many regulars. Great for respectful campers. Great Dark Sky View!"
"Clean campground with access to the reservoir."
6. Superior Times
"We opted for the rustic campground which still allowed access to the bathroom and showers, but was secluded from the cabin and RV area. The lake access was great! Warm water and good fishing."
"Outhouse and showers were clean Electric hook up
Filled water at dump station We stayed in site 10 it was quiet and away from the core of the noise
Friendly staff Seasonals were a little wild and"
Check Availabilityfrom $20 - $200 / night
7. Hovey Lake Campsites
"There is a small store/restaurant nearby too. We didn’t see hiking trails but we found a lot of atv trails. Some people were walking along the road."
"There was a little trail right to the waters edge at our site, nice and sandy (dont need water shoes) We spent most of our time there soaking up the sun in our tubes. Very quiet secluded site."
8. Haymeadow Creek NF Campground
"Even though this campground is a decent distance from the main road, the way out is paved. This was unexpected but there are plenty of unpacked side roads to explore."
"The loop is also directly connected to a cheeky little waterfall trail. Nice and out of the way"
9. Pete's Lake Campground
"Petes Lake is a great campground tucked in the Hiawatha National Forest. The campground is located about 15 minutes south of Munising. "
"One interesting thing is that there are information plaques around camp giving you something to learn as you walk through camp. We’ve never seen this before- it’s a nice touch."
Check AvailabilityCampground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $24 - $50 / night
10. Widewaters Campground
"This is a small (35 sites) heavily wooded campground in the Hiawatha National Forest and makes for a great place to camp where you can get away and be surrounded by nature, yet you are only a dozen miles"
"It is a peaceful and quite campground with a lake and a river, and beach it is away from everything the stars at night really shine here. The caretakers and really cool and nice people. "
Check AvailabilityCampground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $26 / night
Drive Time
- 2 hrs 19 min from Green Bay, WI
- 2 hrs 39 min from Appleton, WI
- 3 hrs 30 min from Wausau, WI
- 4 hrs 18 min from Traverse City, MI
Recent Camping Photos near Trenary, MI
261 Photos of 148 Trenary Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Recent Reviews near Trenary, MI
725 Reviews of 148 Trenary Campgrounds
- MMichael K.
ScoutHickey Marsh Dispersed Camping
Great spot, easy to get to. Could only find two pull off spots which are both relatively small, and only one has a fire pit in good condition so you’d need to build back up the other a bit. Very convenient spot that met all my needs
- ddeep W.
GuideMunising Tourist Park Campground
Convenient to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
This campground is located directly on Lake Superior and operated by the city of Munising. It has 100 RV sites and 22 tent sites. About 1/4 of the RV sites provide water, sewer, and 50/30/20 electrical hookups. The rest of the RV sites provide shared water spigots (with both line pressure and with pressure reducers) and shared 30/20 electrical pedestals. Depending on the site, the water or electrical hookups may require an extension cord or another hose length to reach your RV. The campground is quite open, only the tent sites have any privacy. Do to lack of obstructions, I saw several starlink antennas on rigs..... The campground offers decent wifi and two very nice bath houses with flush toilets and showers. It also offers a dump station on site with tank flush and potable water fill stations. A beautiful sandy beach fronts the campground. One negative is that Michigan Hwy 28 runs past the campground and it has plenty of traffic at all hours.
We visited with plans to take a Pictured Rocks boat tour, but 3 days of gale force winds scrubbed those plans. The boat tours were canceled.
Coltyn C.ScoutHickey Marsh Dispersed Camping
Perfect spot to pull off and camp for the night or weekend! Big pull in area where we stayed for the night, there was one other person but we stopped once we noticed the fresh tracks and didn’t go any further back. Perfect overnight spot.
- UUrsula
LegendFayette Historic State Park Campground
Historic buildings close by, nice campground
The first thing we noticed driving in is that the wash house closes today 10/14 at 4 PM for the season, which isn’t an issue for us. Open sites, walkways to a rocky beach, but also trail to a sandy beach. Our site is not level.
- WWill W.Guide
Marquette Tourist Park Campground
It is what it is
This is probably the CG I was least excited about. The site seemed overcrowded with not much separation between sites. Just a big open park, next to a lake crammed with people. The staff were friendly when I called to reserve a site and were bang on when I requested one with WiFi. Because there were no tent camping sites I got one with electrical hook ups and at least recovered some of that cost plugging in my EV. But the adjoining site had a ginormous tent and a boisterous group and CD were less than five feet from my electric box.
I didn’t use them but the sower area was spacious and the bathrooms weren’t dirty.
By far the least fav CG I’ve stayed at on this trip and would look elsewhere next time but truth be told I’ve stayed at some great places. Stayed 10/2.
Amber W.GuideHemlock Campsite on Grand Island
Peaceful Night
We stayed here on our last night, this beach was amazing! The site is set back really nice, the latrine is not very private and can be seen from both sites near. Other than that it has a bear pole and box and was very spacious, would stay again!
- Amber W.Guide
Shelter Ridge Campsite On Grand Island
Great Stay
Stayed a night here while hiking the island, you do have to walk to the beach to get water but its close. There is only a bear pole not a box but it was fine. The latrine was fine but the privacy screen is a little too short.
- Amber W.Guide
Little Dune II Campsite on Grand Island
Best Site!!
My boyfriend and I spent 3 nights on the island in the beginning of October, this was our favorite site! There is a fully enclosed toilet near by, a day use area where you can drop trash and your right on the beach. It was windy but it's a beach site. However the cell service was spotty for me.
Guide to Trenary
Campgrounds throughout the Upper Peninsula near Trenary, Michigan cater to diverse camping styles with established facilities like Forest Lake State Forest Campground and Otter Lake Campground & Lodge providing tent and RV accommodations. The Hiawatha National Forest region contains numerous camping options ranging from developed sites with electrical hookups to more rustic experiences. Most campgrounds in this area offer direct access to lakes, rivers, and forest land, with several sites situated along shorelines for water activities.
Camping season generally runs from May through October, with most facilities closed during winter months due to harsh weather conditions. Many campgrounds open around mid-May and close by late September or early October. "Super beautiful campground. Spent 10 days here to visit all the waterfalls, Pictured Rocks, Twelve Mile beach etc. Also just 20 min from beautiful beaches on Lake Superior," notes one camper about Forest Lake State Forest Campground. Road access varies considerably, with some sites requiring travel on unpaved forest roads. Cell service is limited throughout the region, particularly at remote locations like Otter Lake where multiple reviews mention no cell coverage. Campground amenities range from basic (vault toilets and hand pumps for water) to more developed facilities with showers and electrical hookups.
Waterfront sites represent a significant draw for campers visiting the Trenary area. Forest Lake State Forest Campground receives consistently high ratings for its lakefront sites and peaceful setting. As one visitor described it: "Some waterfront sites, the lake was beautiful but we didn't have much luck with fish. Plenty of wood around and water hand pump on grounds." Wildlife viewing opportunities abound with several reviews mentioning loons, sandhill cranes, and osprey. Campgrounds like Otter Lake provide family-friendly amenities including boat rentals, basketball courts, and swimming areas. Many visitors appreciate the secluded nature of camping in this region, with Haymeadow Creek described as having sites that are "spread out" creating a feeling of being "all on your own out here." Most campgrounds maintain clean facilities, with reviewers frequently noting well-maintained bathrooms and showers at the more developed sites.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Trenary, MI?
What camping is available near Trenary, MI?
According to TheDyrt.com, Trenary, MI offers a wide range of camping options, with 148 campgrounds and RV parks near Trenary, MI and 17 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Trenary, MI?
Which is the most popular campground near Trenary, MI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Trenary, MI is Munising Tourist Park Campground with a 4.2-star rating from 51 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Trenary, MI?
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Trenary, MI?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 17 free dispersed camping spots near Trenary, MI.
What parks are near Trenary, MI?
What parks are near Trenary, MI?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 9 parks near Trenary, MI that allow camping, notably Hiawatha National Forest and Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.
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