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Best Tent Camping in Michigan

5,778 Reviews

When you think about camping in Michigan, it’s the water that draws most to the Great Lakes State. Michigan has 3,288 miles of shoreline, the second longest of any state, including 1,056 miles of island coast. Plus, you’re never more than six miles from a natural water source, or more than 85 miles away from a Great Lake.

There are plenty of opportunities for coastal and island camping in Michigan, but it’s more than just water. Michigan has the largest state park and state forest system of any state, with over 100 state parks, recreation areas, and state forests. There are also several national parks, forests, and lakeshores to pitch a tent or park the adventure rig. Needless to say, you have some options, so stick with The Dyrt to help you narrow it down. Consider these main Michigan attractions when deciding on where to go camping in Michigan.

For most campers, the epicenter of natural beauty and outdoor recreation in Michigan is Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Mountainous dunes slope from high peaks and plateaus down to meet with the clear blue waters of Lake Michigan. Hiking, biking, hang gliding, off-roading, kiteboarding, paddle boarding, or just simply sandy beach lounging can all be found in and around Sleeping Bear Dunes. Also, when you take a camping trip to Sleeping Bear Dunes, the nearby quaint towns and rolling inland hills speckled with fruit orchards provide the perfect bonus excursions.

Michigan has more lighthouses than any other state in the country. Michigan waterways have been essential to the growth of the nation, but they’ve also been treacherous for mariners for centuries, and continue to demand respect. When camping in Michigan, touring some of the iconic Michigan lighthouses can be a great way to learn about the history of the region, while also taking in stellar views of natural landscapes and architectural achievement. Check in with The Dyrt for information on camping near some great Michigan lighthouses.

Finally, the Upper Peninsula of Michigan is an entire playground of its own for outdoor recreation and exploration. Discover some of the many waterfalls like the impressive Tahquamenon Falls, or kayak on Lake Superior for a memorable view of the famous Pictured Rocks. The power of Lake Superior can be seen across the northern shore with unique rock formations, and remnants of the prominent mining and shipping industry still exist throughout. If you’re thinking about more remote or wild camping options in Michigan, the Upper Peninsula is for you. Whatever your camping style, stay tuned to The Dyrt for inside information on the best camping in Michigan.

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Best Tent Sites in Michigan (274)

    1. Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore Backcountry Sites — Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

    21 Reviews
    Grand Marais, MI
    Website
    +1 (906) 387-3700

    "The eastern side of the park is definitely quieter and less populated than the western half, but even the western half is pretty quiet except near Chapel."

    "Campground Review

    The Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is great for backpackers. We camped at Lowney Creek and parked at the Beaver Lake Basin Overlook. "

    2. Mouth of Two Hearted River State Forest Campground

    20 Reviews
    Paradise, MI
    Website
    +1 (906) 492-3415

    $20 / night

    "Fire ring and picnic table Easy access over the bridge to the beach. Calvin was our camp host and was a great guy. We stayed Sept 25&26 2023 Vault toilets were clean."

    "The walking bridge over the Two Hearted River takes you to the Lake Superior beach. It has small rocks near shore and lots of sand near the river.

    Vault toilets and a water pump are available."

    3. Covert/South Haven KOA Holiday

    17 Reviews
    Covert, MI
    Website
    +1 (269) 764-0818

    "Delivery service of food and firewood was great. Trash pickup was appreciated. WiFi reception was a welcomed surprise. Showers and bathrooms were clean."

    "It has a splash pad a jump park and the pool. Sites are a little small, you are very close to your neighbors."

    4. Coloma/St. Joseph KOA Holiday

    14 Reviews
    Watervliet, MI
    Website
    +1 (269) 849-3333

    $60 - $120 / night

    "It was small enough for our kids to ride bikes around alone and they frequented the park, which we could see from our site. Jumping pillow & mini golf were also a hit."

    "They had a hot tub and heated pool. Mini golf and bikes you could rent. The store was nice and lots to offer and the prices were very reasonable. Showers close by."

    5. Ocqueoc Falls State Forest Campground

    13 Reviews
    Millersburg, MI
    Website
    +1 (989) 785-4251

    "First come first serve sites, a well with pump for water and clean vault toilets."

    "this rustic campground is just accross road from Ocqueoc falls, which is a handicap accessible water fall in northern Michigan, it is very nice, lots of the sites are on the river, it’s a beautiful area"

    6. Lake Superior State Forest Campground

    13 Reviews
    Grand Marais, MI
    Website
    +1 (906) 293-3293

    $10 - $20 / night

    "To date this is my favorite rustic campground I've been to in Michigan. Being in the UP and on Lake Superior makes this place one of a kind."

    "Grand Marais is very close if you need gas, firewood or an awesome burger from the best burger in Grand Marie (can’t miss these)."

    7. South Channel Campground

    14 Reviews
    North Muskegon, MI
    Website
    +1 (231) 744-3480

    $10 - $60 / night

    "Has a path to the channel with a short walk to Lake Michigan beach. Electric hook up, no water hook up. Site 89 was large and wooded."

    "The park/location is a 5. The beaches, the dunes the wildlife, the ice cream shop… but this is a campground review and I’d give that a 3. We had a blast tons of kids everywhere."

    8. South Gemini Lake State Forest Campground

    13 Reviews
    Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, MI
    Website
    +1 (906) 452-6227

    $15 / night

    "its in the middle of nowhere, on a lake, super freaking beautiful and theres hardly many people around. i cant wait to go back honestly. vault toilets & no showers, no electric either. super rustic"

    "Great little campground in the middle of nowhere. 15 minute drive off the beaten path keeps the crowds away. Couple spots right on the water. Vault toilets were fairly clean and stocked."

    9. Allendale-West Grand Rapids KOA

    13 Reviews
    Allendale, MI
    Website
    +1 (616) 895-6601

    "The Allendale KOA is a perfect spot for GR residents looking to have a nice camping getaway without having to drive out too far."

    "The clean restrooms and full-service showers were a highlight, offering a comfortable and convenient experience after a long day of outdoor activities."

    10. Port Huron KOA

    12 Reviews
    Clyde, MI
    Website
    +1 (810) 987-4070

    "Got to watch out for kids buzzing around on banana bikes and golf carts cruising around.

    We stayed a couple times this summer."

    "This is probably the best campground in Michigan. Lots of activities to do. Swimming pools, bicycles for rent, playgrounds, pizza, children's train, etc."

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Recent Tent Camping Photos in Michigan

214 Photos of 274 Michigan Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews in Michigan

5778 Reviews of 274 Michigan Campgrounds

  • Amanda L.
    Aug. 7, 2018

    D.H. Day Campground — Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

    Sleeping Bear Bliss

    Quiet campground with sites quite close to one another. This campground butts up to the heritage trail, which is 20 miles of hiking, biking, walking, or skiing fun. A short walk will get you to Lake Michigan and it’s sandy beach. Each site has a nice picnic table, a designated tent pad (if it’s a tent site) and a fire ring with a grill top. Firewood is available on site for $5/bundle, vault toilets are also available. No shower facilities. Lots and lots of poison ivy! Stay on the paths!! And tIcks! Stay in trails and out of tall grass or weeds. The tent pad is very compacted ground, definitely need a hammer or decent sized rock to pound in the tent stakes, and also definitely bring a sleeping pad or air mat. Tent sites are only $20/night, but you also need a National Park Pass, which is $20/1 week or $40/ 1 year, so be aware of that! Stayed at site 88, seemed to be a slightly more “roomy” site than others, as there were no neighbors behind us. PLUS thIs Is located very near to thw sleepIng bear dunes and natIonal lake shore!

  • Cam N.
    Oct. 22, 2018

    Negwegon State Park Campground

    Great place to start your backpacking obsession

    If you're looking at getting into backpacking or unsure if backpacking is for you, Negwegon is a great place to start. First of all, each of the sites are only a mile or two away from the parking lot of the park. This gives newbies the chance to take a small hike in for that backcountry feel. Second, each site has a fire ring and picnic table... and a vault toilet. This means you get a few of the comforts of car camping but with beautiful views of Lake Huron and limited interaction with humans. Staying at Blue Bell, site #1, we were treated with Lake Huron just about 100 feet away from our campsite. We had the chance to check out site #3– for those that love sand, that is the spot for you.

    As for the camping site overall, #1 is a great start. It is about 75 feet off of the trail, but in the fall, foot traffic was very limited. The wind provided us with plenty of fallen limbs and brush to start a fire. If you pack a hatchet, options are expanded to larger fallen branches. There are a few spots on the site to pitch your tent– with it being windy, we setup tucked in a flat area surrounded by thick evergreen trees that provided wind protection. Lake Huron is very clear and we filtered about 10 cups of water to drink throughout our stay.

    Going in mid-fall, be prepared for that breeze blowing off of the lake, we came prepared for the cold, if you don't, you'll be miserable. Upsides of camping in the fall, limited to no bugs. We didn't have any issue with bugs and in fact, we saw no wildlife at all– even including a hike up past site #4.

  • Amy G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 11, 2019

    Bay Furnace Campground

    Small and quiet without frills

    It just so happened we were there on the very last night they were open for the season. And yet they still had over half the sure booked! 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. Mother Nature took it over, but you can feel the history!

    A few spaces are actually on the water front with beach access, but one is taken by the camp host, the other two are reservable.... And they were reserved. But there were others, all within an easy walk of the sand. Ours was tucked in the woods, others more exposed, all with fire pits and grills and picnic tables. Even a hanging post of some sort. Drinking water was also a perk.

    There is no electric and there are no showers, but vault toilets are centrally located. There is an adjacent park with more tables and grills. Even though there were a lot of RVs, we heard no generators the night we were there.

    This is a forest service campground in the Hiawatha Forest. Sites are $20 each as of 2019.

  • Nona A.
    Aug. 1, 2017

    Hurricane River Campground — Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

    Great Campground in a Awesome Location

    Hurricane River Campground is a rustic campground located along the Pictured Rocks National Lake Shore. The campground is accessible from Au Sable Point Trial Rd, or by Hiking along the North Country Trail. Campsites here are first come first serve. This campground has a Upper and a Lower sections of campsites. The lower section has 11 sites and is close to the shores of Lake Superior. The Upper section has 10 campsites. Some Sites will fit trailers but some are tent only. There are a couple sites for handicap visitors. Handicap sites become available each day to the rest of the public after 6 p.m. if not occupied, they do ask that you leave the next day at your earliest convinces rather than the 12 p.m. normal check out time, so if a Handicap person does come looking for a site the next day early it is available for them to use. This Campground is Rustic and offers vault toilets, drinking water, and trash/recycling bins. And I did see 1 bear box for food storage. Each site has a fire pit, picnic table, and a lantern pole. Each site was separated from the next site by trees, so your sites were so what private.

    Each section of the campground has a Kiosk that has a drop box for payment of your site, and information on weather and actives that are in the area, along with the campground rules. There are lot's of things do keep you busy around this campground. You are located along the Pictured Rocks NLS. You can take a 1.5 mile hike along the shores of Lake Superior to the Au Sable Light House stopping to see old ship wreck remains. There are lot's of hiking trails around including the North Country Trail that begins in New York and ends in North Dakota. You could also just spend the day hanging out on the beach, and checking out the small waterfalls along the Hurricane River. The beach and river mouth is located a short walk from the Lower section of the campground, if you are staying at the Upper it is a 0.2 mile hike through the woods to the beach.

    If you are planning on staying at this campground I would recommend that you arrive early to get a site especially in the summer months. Be aware of other close campgrounds as back up in case the campground is full. Little Beaver Lake Campground and Twelvemile Beach Campground are a couple that are close by.

  • S
    Aug. 21, 2021

    Hemlock Campsite on Grand Island

    Stunning waterfront nearby, few people, easy hike in

    • Crystal clear lake superior is accessible by stairs near this campsite. Beautiful rocks to explore. When we went, the stairs were damaged and not open, though we were able to use them anyway. 
    • Potable well water is available along the hike in to the site, about .5 miles from the Hemlock campsite. We didn't expect this, and could have left our water filtration set up at home. 
    • Free firewood is provided right near the entrance to the campsite. We had no idea about this, and it was a great surprise. 
    • Fire ring and benches were at the site.
    • There was a bear box and pit toilet provided for this site, too.
    • The hike in is flat with some nice views of Lake Superior along the way. 
    • We didn't have too many problems with flies or mosquitos this year. It's been a very dry year, though.
  • Amanda L.
    Aug. 9, 2018

    D.H. Day Campground — Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

    Perfect Proximity

    This campground is in this system ( the Dyrt) like 3 times under similar names, and I just want to be sure you all know how great it is! This is a first-come-first-served campground, so get there earlier in the day if you want a site, even on a weekday. There are rustic bathrooms, no flushing, no sink, nothing. No showers available here, either. However, it is so close to Glen Haven, Glen Arbor, Empire, and the Sleeping Bear Dunes. The location is truly fabulous. You are able to take a short walk down to Lake Michigan from your site. The sites are hard packed ground, dirt, rocks...so bring a mallet or hammer to pound in your tent stakes! I would also advise a sleeping pad or air mat for this same reason. The tent pads are nice and level though, which is awesome. It rained quite a bit over night when I stayed, so I’m thankful for the level ground. There is LOTS of poison ivy on location, so stay on the trails!!! Sites were only $20/night but you also need a National park pass which is $20/week or $40/year, so be mindful of that. This is also an “Active Black Bear Site,” so everything with a scent—clothes, candles, etc., must be stored in your vehicle. No, we did not see any bears while we were there. Everyone was very friendly, and the campground was so much more quiet than anticipated. It was very peaceful and serene. Firewood is available for purchase on site through a wood vending machine basically, so have $5 bills on hand. Stayed at site #88

  • Hilary S.
    Jul. 24, 2022

    Platte River Campground — Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

    Walk-in sites practically on top of each other

    Pros: Designated dish-washing sink, as well as shower/bathroom building for walk-in sites specifically. Short 0.8 mile hike from camp to Lake Michigan. Bear boxes are shared between only two adjacent campsites, and are large. 

    Cons: Walk-in sites have essentially no privacy and are much less secluded than other walk-in sites where I have stayed at other parks. I was at site A003, which abutted adjacent A-loop sites as well as B-loop sites. The other sites were visible, and folks at a neighboring site were playing music late into the night.

  • Ash S.
    May. 15, 2022

    Leelanau State Park Campground

    Very peaceful lakeside campground

    No hookups, No problem! Very quiet campground on the Shores of Lake Michigan. Sites are large and private with large fire rings and picnic tables. Vault toilets only but they are kept very clean.

  • Gemma G.
    Apr. 24, 2019

    Scheck's Place State Forest Campground

    Schecks Place-TRAIL CAMP enjoy privacy, the river, horse trails

    There are 2 sections of Schecks Place. One is a campground with picnic tables and site numbers.

    The other is the trail camp. You drop your money in the box pick a spot of as much space as you want (there is hardly ever a lot of people).

    The last 2 times we went there was maybe one or two people with their horses or just passing thru.

    There are bathrooms and a well for water. No showers No electric.

    The river runs by and is awesome to go tubing down.

    There are trails that go through so if you are an equestrian this spot is perfect.

Guide to Michigan

Tent camping in Michigan offers a unique blend of natural beauty and outdoor adventure, making it a favorite for nature enthusiasts and families alike.

Tent campers appreciate these amenities

Tent campers like these nearby activities

  • The South Channel Campground offers easy access to Lake Michigan, perfect for swimming, fishing, and enjoying beach picnics.
  • Campers at Daisy Farm Campground can explore the beautiful hiking trails and enjoy stunning views of the lake, making it a great spot for outdoor adventures.
  • The Three Mile Campground is ideal for day hikes, with scenic trails leading to breathtaking views of Lake Superior.

Tent campers should check out these features

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I look for when choosing a tent campsite in Michigan?

When choosing a tent campsite in Michigan, look for level ground with good drainage and protection from wind. At South Gemini Lake State Forest Campground, campers enjoy lakeside sites with beautiful views and relative seclusion. Consider proximity to water sources—some rustic sites require water filtration equipment while others provide potable water. Check amenities like toilet facilities (many Michigan campgrounds offer vault toilets) and bear-safe food storage options. For beginners, Negwegon State Park Campground offers sites just 1-2 miles from parking, providing a backcountry feel without difficult hikes. Also consider seasonal factors—spring brings fewer crowds but potentially more insects, while fall offers spectacular colors but cooler temperatures.

What are the best tent-only campgrounds in Michigan?

Michigan offers several outstanding tent-only camping experiences for those seeking a more authentic outdoor experience. White Pine Backcountry Camp in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore features six secluded sites just 1.5 miles from the Lake Michigan shore on an easy sandy trail, with pit toilets and a group cooking area. For island adventure, Channel Marker Campsite On Grand Island is easily accessible (half-mile flat trail from the ferry dock) with primitive toilets, bear poles, food storage lockers, and fire rings with grill tops. Michigan's backcountry sites typically provide fire rings, pit toilets, and sometimes bear poles, while requiring campers to pack in their own water or filter from natural sources.

Is tent camping available on Lake Michigan shores?

Yes, tent camping is available along Lake Michigan shores at several beautiful locations. Shelter Ridge Campsite On Grand Island offers primitive camping with direct beach access via North Light Creek beach, featuring latrines, food storage poles, fire rings, and benches. At Hemlock Campsite on Grand Island, campers can access crystal-clear Lake Superior via nearby stairs, with potable well water available along the half-mile hike to the site. For mainland options, the Mouth of Two Hearted River State Forest Campground provides Lake Michigan shoreline camping. Most Lake Michigan shoreline sites are rustic, offering scenic views but limited amenities, so prepare for primitive conditions with proper water filtration and food storage equipment.

Where can I find the best tent camping in Michigan's Lower Peninsula?

Michigan's Lower Peninsula offers excellent tent camping experiences, particularly along its stunning shorelines. Bay Campground in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore provides a less-traveled experience with beautiful hiking opportunities near Lake Michigan. Sites include fire pits and vault toilets, though you'll need water filtration equipment. For horse enthusiasts or those seeking solitude, 4-Mile Trail Camp DNR offers uncrowded camping with water pumps, vault toilets, picnic tables, and fire rings. The Lower Peninsula also features several state parks with tent-friendly sites, rustic state forest campgrounds with waterfront views, and the popular Jackpine Hike-In Campground at Ludington State Park for those seeking a more secluded experience.

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