Are you in need of a campground near Grand Portage, MN? Grand Portage is an adventure-filled destination for those who love the outdoorsy camper lifestyle. But it's also great for those who prefer to spend time near the city, exploring and sightseeing. You're sure to find the perfect campground for your Grand Portage camping trip.
Minnesota's arrowhead region is famous for spectacular scenery, pristine Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, rugged Sawtooth Mountain range, Superior National Forest and numerous Minnesota State Parks. A rich history of first nations, explorers, pioneers, artists and adventurers speaks to the special sense of place found with Grand Marais Camping.
The Grand Marais municipal campground is the ideal base camp for exploring Minnesota's arrowhead and north shore of Lake Superior. Campers especially enjoy the convenience of set-up and walking to downtown Grand Marais. Our 60 acres of public parkland includes: Sweetheart's Bluff nature area, cobblestone beaches, harbor break wall and public water access, 4 clean bathhouses, ball field, playground, pavilion, Rec Hall, community garden, Gitchi-Gami bike trail connections, and cozy office with free coffee and wi-fi. Here's a few more details:
-A full spectrum of camping options across 300 campsites
-Pull-thru and 50 AMP RV sites
-Lakeside and Wooded tent sites
-Nightly, Weekly and Monthly rates
-Reservable and Drop-In sites
-Open Year Round
-Full service bath houses, water at sites & reservations May-October
East Bearskin Lake Campground is located on its namesake lake, at the edge of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in Northern Minnesota. It is a perfect spot for visitors who want the experience found in Boundary Waters and the convenience of car camping. Visitors can reserve standard or walk-in tent sites, or rent small cabins that accommodate up to five or seven people. Canoeing, kayaking and motorized boating is available on East Bearskin Lake. The facility can be conveniently accessed by vehicle. Guests are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety, and must bring several of their own amenities.
Over a million acres in size, the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness extends nearly 150 miles along the borders of the United States and Canada, containing over 1,200 miles of canoe routes, 12 hiking trails and over 2,000 designated campsites. The two eastern bays of the lake are within the boundaries of Boundary Waters, thus the campground attracts canoe enthusiasts. Portages link to Flour Lake. Entering the wilderness area requires a special permit. Day permits for non-motorized use are available at the campground, but overnight and motor use permits must be obtained in advance. More information on the Boundary Waters region can be found here. East Bearskin Lake features several shallow bays, making the campground and shoreline good places for wildlife watching. Moose, beavers, eagles, ducks, loons, songbirds and bears are the most common visitors. See recreation guides and maps of hiking trails and canoe routes in the national forest. Fishing is also a huge draw for the area, with East Bearskin Lake offering great fishing for bass, walleye and lake trout. A boat ramp at the campground allows motorboats and canoes access to the lake. Back on shore, a variety of hiking, mountain biking and cross-country ski trails are nearby.
Over a million acres in size, the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness extends nearly 150 miles along the borders of the United States and Canada, containing over 1,200 miles of canoe routes, 12 hiking trails and over 2,000 designated campsites. The two eastern bays of the lake are within the boundaries of Boundary Waters, thus the campground attracts canoe enthusiasts. Portages link to Flour Lake. Entering the wilderness area requires a special permit. Day permits for non-motorized use are available at the campground, but overnight and motor use permits must be obtained in advance. More information on the Boundary Waters region can be found here. East Bearskin Lake features several shallow bays, making the campground and shoreline good places for wildlife watching. Moose, beavers, eagles, ducks, loons, songbirds and bears are the most common visitors. See recreation guides and maps of hiking trails and canoe routes in the national forest. Fishing is also a huge draw for the area, with East Bearskin Lake offering great fishing for bass, walleye and lake trout. A boat ramp at the campground allows motorboats and canoes access to the lake. Back on shore, a variety of hiking, mountain biking and cross-country ski trails are nearby.
The campground and surrounding area is shaded with majestic red and white pines, balsam fir, spruce, birch and aspen trees. A thick understory offers plenty of shade and excellent privacy between campsites. The campground lies on the shore of the 643-acre East Bearskin Lake, a typical loon nesting site. The surrounding Superior National Forest is located in northeastern Minnesota's arrowhead region and is comprised of 3 million acres. The forest spans 150 miles along the border of the United States and Canada. Visitors can find recreation opportunities year-round, including travel in the famous Boundary Waters area.
Boats, canoes and kayaks are available for rent at the neighboring Bearskin Lodge. The store also offers fishing licenses, day use permits, groceries, ice, firewood, maps and fishing guide services for sale.
$76 / night
$29 - $59 / night
Devil Track Campground is a nicely wooded campground located on the shore of Devil Track Lake. There are many young pines in the area, making it an excellent spot to look for wildlife. Devil Track Lake is a rough translation of the Ojibwe name: 'spirit' would probably better capture the concept than 'devil'. Regardless of the name, the lake is fun to fish. A carry down boat launch and pier are located at the campground and a drive in ramp located about 0.5 miles away will help you get a line in the water. Downloadable information and map.
$16 - $18 / night
McCargoe Cove Campground is located in McCargoe Cove, on the north shore of Isle Royale National Park, off of the Indian Portage and East Chickenbone Trails. Boats can overnight at dock. Canoe/kayak access from Lake Superior or 1.2 mile portage from Chickenbone Lake. Stay Limit: 3 nights effective from June 1 ___ Labor Day annually. Shelters: 6 Depth at dock (normal conditions): 7___. Access: Foot/canoe/kayak/private boat
Todd Harbor Campground is located in Todd Harbor on the north shore of Isle Royale National Park, off of the Minong Ridge Trail. Boats can overnight at dock. Stay Limit: 3 nights from June 1 ___ Labor Day annually. Shelters: 1 Depth at dock (normal conditions): 2___. Access: Foot/canoe/kayak/private boat
$34 - $750 / night
Free camping often comes with a beautiful hike or paddle, and when you get there it can be hit or miss if they are full since they are all first come first serve. Be prepared to have to continue on to the next area or return to your last point so you are not caught off guard or end up recking a wonderful experience for someone else. And remember to be mindful that much of the Superior Hiking Trail is on private land and they owner can remove it from the system if you are not respectful of this gift.
East Lake Agnes Campsites are located on the Superior Hiking Trail and the shores of Lake Agnes. They can be reached by traveling south and west 1.1 miles from the SHT overnight lot on the Caribou Trail/Cty Rd 4 near White Sky rock. Remoteness and wet slopes make advance planning and caution important.Drinking water available with filtration.
Chippewa Harbor Campground is located in Chippewa Harbor, on the south shore of Isle Royale National Park. Trail access is via the Indian Portage Trail. Boats can stay overnight at dock. Stay Limit: 3 nights from June 1 ___ Labor Day annually. Shelters: 4 Depth at dock (normal conditions): 7___ Access: Foot/canoe/kayak/private boat
Recently I stayed in the upper level bunkhouse suite, which means that I have stayed in all of the accommodation types that HH offers. I loved having our own dedicated lounge space upstairs. The upper level used to be a traditional hostel format, but sometime during the pandemic they switched it to a single booking for the entire space. You get a large bed (full or Queen I can’t recall) and then 4 bunks.
This was the most affordable option to take my nephew up to the north shore while still having a roof over our heads and running water. The only things that are still communal with this space are the showers on the first floor (only a toilet and sink upstairs) and the fire pit. Love love love hungry hippie!
We had a good Campspot and the neighbors were nice. The beach is 2 minutes and the city 20 minutes. Great pleasant experience
What a great place. Clean bathrooms if needed with showers. Many of the RV sites have lake access if not you just use the launch ramp. RV spots can be a little tight getting in and out for hook, but doable. Great supply store open during day. The “sisters” and crew are super hostesses! Mosquitos were horrible, but hey it’s MN in June. You never know.
This is a lovely campground on Isle Royale - none of them are terrible (let's face it - you are on a gorgeous island that's basically untouched!), but this one is a little larger than some with more shelters than others.
Shelters - they are first come first served. If the campground is uber full, the policy and expectation is that you consider sharing with others, especially if you are a party of one or two. Not a bad policy and courteous, for sure. But this didn't happen when we were here. Each shelter is four sided with the front side "screened in" for bugs. This is lovely in buggy weather! There are also boards all over the inside (parallel to the floor around the walls) that are great for hanging and airing out wet items. Each one had a picnic table and trees and was a very short walk to water and a toilet.
Tent pads - there are separate tent areas that are away from shelters, for the most part. Nothing is "close" here so there is quite a bit of room.
Group - there are three group areas. If using group areas on a normal basis, you must have a group reservation and groups of more than 6 require this in advance. Three group areas all near to each other but with nice green buffers in between and a toilet to share between them.
Toilets - not fancy but offer privacy. Small wooden shelters with a metal toilet and a pit. **NOTE: they do not provide TP - you must take your own** They don't smell like roses (what pit toilet does?) but they allow privacy and no need to dig a cat hole. Bonus win win.
This is one of only a handful of camps on the island that has a fire pit! It's a shared fire (not one for each site) with picnic tables nearby and a lovely view of the water. Only collect downed wood (no bigger than your wrist) to burn.
As others have mentioned - there is a very nice dock here since a boat comes a few times a week with passengers. This is a "stop" for drop offs from the mainland (you must book this boat in advance to get here). So it's a great place to chill in the breeze, do a bit of yoga stretching, dry your socks, enjoy an evening coffee or fall over after hiking - lol.
***Be aware - there are leeches in the lake. We attempted to splash off a bit and noticed them.***
Oh yes - the camp fox. He/she is a regular here. We saw the fox many times. Not afraid of people, will steal your stuff (including shoes) so be careful, tie your drying shoes to the picnic table, and do not feed the wildlife. But it it a beautiful specimen of an animal!
Stayed here on my way to Isle Royale and had a wonderful night. I booked an electric site (#233) to charge and camp in my Tesla, which worked out great. It was crowded on a Thursday night (August 17th) but it got really quiet after dark. I had plenty of space at my site and didn’t mind that the other sites were close by. Bugs weren’t bad, but I used spray, a citronella candle, and a Thermacell for protection. The women’s bathrooms were clean, and firewood was available at the office (I think a bundle was $6). Very pet friendly- my dog was relaxed here. Loved the location next to town, which was a beautiful walk during sunset (and I highly recommend getting coffee at Java Moose in the morning). Night skies are beautiful, especially on the water. A little pricey with all the fees (a $43 site turned into $60). I booked my site over a month in advance and there were only a few spots available, so don’t delay!
Large campground with many many sites, both RV and tent that are crammed close together. The best part about it is how close it is to the lake and how easy it is to access the rock beaches. The bathrooms are clean and modern. However, if your site happens to be next to a loud, obnoxious group, it can be a pretty miserable experience. Also, watch out for the hoards of kids on bikes, both when walking and driving! :)
It is a lovely camp ground. Most of the spots are lakefront
Nice campground that is out of the way from the other busier campgrounds. Enjoyed a night here. Very rustic but had some water spigots to get water from which was nice. Facilities were clean. Fairly private campsites so you are not bugged by your neighbors noise too much. Close to fishing and hiking and just far away from town to feel like you are on your own.
Watched a YouTube video of someone reviewing this campground before heading up...thank you good sir. This campground is clean, simple, and amazingly located. If you are looking to get away from everything and just enjoy nature and go for a paddle or a hike this is the best place to do it. You can't go wrong really with any of the sites here but some are better than others. The campground has a couple loops that offer a variety of sites and some go quicker than other because of their proximity to the water and the views, but you should be able to get a site. You would probably be better served fitting a smaller camper in here or even just tent camping which seemed to be the popular way to go while I was there. I would highly recommend spending a couple nights here and recharging and connecting with nature!
They do have a couple cabins that looked pretty basic and during the buggier months might be better suited for some. All of the sites located in the front or near the water were my favorites, but even some of the sites away from the water were perfect as well.
Simple campground with full hookups. Pretty close together. Older campers accepted which is not the greatest (the one next was really run down and leaking some sort of stinky liquid). Close to the water which was great!
Beautiful location but not a lot of trees or privacy. Very nice Rv park
Looking out over the bay at two lighthouses right from our RV and open my door to the sound of the babbling brook right on our site. Large sights flat paved. Lots of walking places pet friendly.
McCargoe is one of the most beautiful campgrounds on the island. I have heard that it can get busy due to the dock, but when I stayed there it was quite peaceful and solitary. A loon was swimming in the cove and we came across a cow moose just south on the trail.
Given that there is a relatively large dock here and a concessionaire ferry comes through here several times a week, there can be a lot of traffic. That being said, there are nice tent sites and some really cool tent/cabin structures. It wasn't super buggy while we were here so being in a tent was just fine. There are some nice open, rocky, sunny spots that are nice for sitting and enjoying the view. Be advised, there are quite a number of waterfowl that frequent the area so treat your water well, in fact the Park Service recommends treating your drinking water in two ways (ie. filter AND boil, chemically treat AND filter, some combination of two). The water is refreshing but there are leaches in addition to abundant bird poop. All part of the experience I suppose!
We visited in August so the bugs weren't bad, almost non-existent really. These spots were well spaced and while impacted, had a nice pine duff layer on the ground which was nice for sleeping. The view of Todd Harbor was beautiful and we enjoyed sitting on the rocky beach in the evening. The area is well shaded and there was a large group fire pit in the middle of the campground area. Super quiet spot with several tent sites and a cabin type tent, but it was occupied when we arrived. Sites are first come, first serve but permits are issued to insure that there are sites available. I would definitely recommend this spot.
Concessionaire is Bearskin Lodge. Clean sites, several level. Wooded. Unpaved road to access campground is good. Some sites are first come, first serve. Clean vault toilets. Good water supply near campsite #3. Privacy between most sites. No T-Mobile cell service. Pretty lake.
We visited this campground in June 2020 at the beginning of the pandemic. Services were pared back quite a bit, regardless we had a great time. Our 33' motorhome was able to fit nicely in a pull-through site and we rented a boat during our stay. The campground is in a very secluded part of the world, and it was very relaxing. It was worth the trip up the gunflint trail.
Steep but short hike in to the lake via superior hiking trail. Quiet campsite right on the lake, with great views. Sites are in the middle of a spruce forest and are quite rooted, so make sure you have a good pad.
I love having a lakefront site so this place was perfect. The lake is beautiful!
My husband and I absolutely LOVE this campground. We came here to celebrate our anniversary and will definitely be back!! I love that you feel like you’re mikes out of town but you are actually really close to all the fun things that there are to do in Grand Marais! There’s also a lot of hiking near by! I highly recommend this camp ground!
The beauty and serenity here is exponentially greater than anything I've ever experienced before. I encourage you to go and explore nature. Become reconnected to our planet.
I stayed here for two nights prior to the launch of a solo SUP trip on what can be called the East Bearskin Loop of 9 lakes and 9 portages back to the launch just outside this campground. I pulled up in late morning on a Thursday and had no trouble snagging a decent first-come spot. I think it was #9. Anyway, the spots are in the trees and very private. The whole campground has that way up north feel and you can launch your canoe, paddle board, or kayak from either the boat launch or the other end of the campground. Just a wonderful experience. But remember—you’ll be way out there a fair pace up the Gunflint, so don’t expect to have any amenities close by to purchase. Bring everything you need and just have fun!
We were amazed and sure glad we had reservations. The camp was full. Spent one night traveling along the north shore. Because of Covid-19 many places are closed but the Scenery is superb. Travel up to higher elevations to see beautiful vistas below of Lake Superior. Very clean sites. Grocery shopping not far away. Beautiful hiking trails out side of town.
It’s a ways out, but very nice. Off of the Gunflint Trail, down a gravel road you’ll find this peaceful campground. Very pleasant.
Just had our annual stay and it did not disappoint. In fact , it was better the 2nd time around. I won’t bore you with specifics , as I pretty much covered it all in my last review. The place is still rad. But! I mostly wanted to cover how COVID is being handled this time around . I’m sure some of you are a little curious .., All I can say is I was blown away! We were ,quite frankly , very worried this year to make our trip. Not only for us, but we also experienced a little city-folk guilt invading & possibly contaminating a zero COVID case county. Well, rest assured. They are doing an amazing job at social distancing, having protocols in place, yet still not taking away from the integrity & charm of this magical place . It didn’t feel overly sterile , stuffy & mechanical. It still felt relaxed & most everyone appeared to be doing what they’re supposed to do. I’ve always appreciated that Grand Marais just seems to have a different, more diverse crowd & I love that. It feels like everyone knows to respect this lovely place & that is why we continue to return. I’ve not experienced too many hillbilly yahoos up here.. thank god.
So, The COVID 411: if you want to go into a business - put on a damn mask, slather on some antibacterial at their nifty little stations , conveniently set up when you first walk in ( it’s mando FYI) & stay the hell off each other. I’d shop like this everyday if it meant not having someone all up on me all the time! Seriously, just back the eff up people!
The restaurants all appeared to be open & had taken over sidewalk space for outdoor dining. Our beloved Hippie Tacos had adapted to new safety protocols & seemed to be having fun with it! They have some pretty cool carry out specials too if you check out their Facebook page. I was relieved to see that the same business were still there & nothing appeared to be closed down due to COVID & lost business. Be warned though, there are reduced hours in place at most businesses . Also be aware that many restaurants require reservations to control crowd flow . Plan accordingly. And if you’re wondering, Worlds Best Doughnuts was chugging right along! We had our usuals every morning with zero issues. 2 people in at a time, or a family. Call ahead orders at the side window. Workers had on masks AND face shields, as did everyone at every business we went into. Long story short- they are NOT messing around! And I’m relieved to know they aren’t! It didn’t hinder our daily activities in the slightest & shouldn’t anyone else’s. Guys.. Grand Marais takes pride in their village . They work hard & It shows ! They have have come together as a community to ensure their wellbeing & OURS. Don’t be a selfish jerk & just be a good abiding guest!! You will still have all the fun you’ve ever had there & feel safe too!
I would HIGHLY recommend this hostle either for the private rooms, shared rooms, glamping or tent sites. It is INCREDIBLY clean, with such nice people. It is a perfect stop off for a break on the SHT. It has a big shared kitchen with a fridge that you can store food in over night. My wife and I got one of the private rooms for the weekend, and we will definitely be doing it again soon
Do you love camping and Grand Marais a whole lot? If so, then this is the campground for you. You are within easy strolling distance of downtown Grand Marais, and all of the glorious offerings. This is probably the only campground close to Hwy 61 that you do not get highway noise from, thanks to the reduced speed limit through Grand Marais.
There is a wide variety of sites available, and not all of them offer the same amenities. Their campground map does a good job reflecting which sites have electric/water, electric/water/sewer, or nothing beyond the site itself. The campground is overwhelmingly dominated by rvs and trailers(some of which look pretty permanently settled there).
There are a lot of amenities on the propert. You have a picnic shelter, ball field, play ground, clothes lines, a bathhouse AND a community garden. Oh, and you also have Lake Superior RIGHT THERE. This campground is a little more cramped than I would like, but you can’t argue against the premium location for both lake-viewing and access to town.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Grand Portage, MN?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Grand Portage, MN is Grand Marais Campground & Marina with a 4.1-star rating from 27 reviews.
What is the best site to find glamping camping near Grand Portage, MN?
TheDyrt.com has all 11 glamping camping locations near Grand Portage, MN, with real photos and reviews from campers.
