Hi there!
The Fayette State Park campground is a modern campground with campsites near Lake Fanny Hooe.
Fayette State Park does have showers at the campground bathroom.
So you’re planning a camping trip in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan!
Camping at the Fayette Historic State Park campground means that you’ll be not too far from Lake Michigan…
And then of course you will be right near the historic town of Fayette!
This is like an outdoor museum where you can explore the old town of Fayette.
This old town of Fayette is not a real town today. It is like an outdoor museum!
You can imagine what life may have been like back in the day when the area was a vibrant town by walking through the historic town site.
Side note: Another outdoor museum and historic area turned historic state park in the UP is Fort Wilkins Historic State Park.
First, some quick things to know about the Fayette Historic State Park campground.
Then, a bit on how to make camping reservations.
Things to know about camping in Fayette Historic State Park
1. Fayette Historic State Park is on the Garden Peninsula on the southern side of the Upper Peninsula.
2. Once you’re on the small Garden Peninsula, you’ll pass wind farms and rural Michigan, and you’ll drive to the end of a Michigan highway.
3. The campground sits right near Lake Michigan.
Or more specifically the Big Bay de Noc that’s a bay of Lake Michigan.
4. You can take the Lake Michigan overlook trail right from the campground to have a walk with views of Lake Michigan.
You’ll be walking along higher ground, and you’ll get views of Lake Michigan!
You’ll also see Snail Shell Harbor. The Fayette historic town is on the shores of Snail Shell Harbor and Lake Michigan.
5. There’s a beach trail from the campground.
Although I didn’t go on it so I’m not sure what the beach is actually like. But it seems to be a swimming beach. It also seems like it might be a rocky beach, so pack along water shoes just in case!
6. The campground is for tent camping and RV camping
7. The Fayette Historic State Park is a “modern” campground.
Compared to a “rustic” campground.
8. You can get electricity at your Fayette campsite.
9. There are regular bathrooms along with hot water showers.
10. There are faucets throughout the campground for drinking water.
11. There’s a garbage dumpster for campers.
12. There’s an RV dump station.
13. You can walk from the campground to the historic Fayette town site.
You can drive 1-2 minutes to the Fayette Historic State Park visitor center, or you can make it a walk through the park there!
14. And then you can explore Michigan history and the historic old Fayette town that is on the shores of Lake Michigan!
You may want to allow 1-2 hours for this, depending on how in depth you want to explore.
You can walk around the old town and the different neighborhoods to imagine what life may have been like. These include the “central business district” with an old hotel you can see and the “industrial district” with charcoal kilns you can see, as well as areas that were for home to residents (now named “lower income neighborhood” and “middle income neighborhood”).
This will also take you on a walk along the shores of Lake Michigan (Snail Shell Harbor) as you explore.
15. You can see a unique geological formation for the region, with some dolomite cliffs along Lake Michigan that are a part of the Niagara Escarpment.
You can see part of the Niagara Escarpment when you are walking along the shores of the Snail Shell Harbor and Fayette old town. You can walk along the cliffs and escarpment when you hike the Lake Michigan overlook trail from the campground.
16. You can go scuba diving in Snail Shell Harbor.
According to Michigan State Parks:
Scuba diving is permitted in the harbor during certain times of the day.
A fee and use permit is required.
All submerged artifacts are to remain in place and nothing is to be removed from the harbor bottom.
17. There is boat camping at Fayette State Park.
You can reserve a marine slip in the Snail Shell Harbor.
18. You can stay at a lodge in Fayette Historic State Park.
If you want a little more luxury compared to camping, then there is the Fayette Furnace Hill Lodge that’s located on the grounds of Fayette Historic State Park. You can consider this a furnished cabin, and you’re expected to do your own cleaning, including leaving the lodge as you found it before you leave. It’s listed that reservations must be made by phone or in-person. The cost of the lodge starts at $110 per night on weekdays and $135 per night on weekends. During peak season there’s a 2-night minimum. See details about staying at the Fayette Furnace Hill Lodge.
19. Summer days are long!
Garden MI is the “city” that Fayette Historic State Park is located. In June and July, there are days when sunrise is before 6am and sunset isn’t until after 9:30pm on the Garden Peninsula!
That means time for lots of outdoor activities!
Read the reviews of the Fayette Historic State Park campground.
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Now…
How to make camping reservations at Fayette Historic State Park campground
This is the official website for making Michigan State Parks camping reservation.
You can choose Fayette Historic State Park, and then go from there.
You’ll be able to find an updated campground map too.
You can also see the individual campsites that are available. If you click on an individual campsite, it will also give you any noteworthy description of the site.
Fayette Historic State Park campground map
Cost of camping at Fayette state park campground
In 2020, the cost of camping at the Fayette Historic State Park campground was around $25 per night. There is an additional reservation fee. See here for updated camping fees.
Also, as a Michigan State Park, a Michigan recreation passport is required for entry.
If you’re a Michigan resident, hopefully you already have the annual recreation passport, in which case there’s no additional fee.
If you don’t have the recreation passport, or you’re from out of state, for Michigan residents the annual pass is around $17 when purchased at a state park and for out-of-state residents it’s around $34. See current fees here.
Checking in to your campsite
Then, once you arrive at Fayette Historic State Park, you’ll stop by the campground office to check in and get your camping permit!
Then off you go to find your campsite!
And that’s a bit about camping at the Fayette state park campground!
More in the UP:
- Fayette to Kitch-iti-kipi is around a 45 minute drive
- Fayette to Porcupine Mountains State Park is around a 4 hour drive
- Fayette to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is around a 1.5 hour drive
- Fayette to Tahquamenon Falls is around a 2 to 2.5 hour drive
- More places to visit around the UP
And see more Great Lakes camping spots on the list of best Michigan state park campgrounds in the UP.
HAPPY CAMPING NEAR THE HISTORIC OLD TOWN OF FAYETTE!
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