Best Lake Superior camping! (views!) 15+ Michigan campgrounds near Lake Superior in the Upper Peninsula ⚓ Michigan travel blog

Hi there!

 

You can camp near Lake Superior in Michigan!

There are many campgrounds near Lake Superior, including campsites that are directly along Lake Superior!

Lake Superior is one of the Great Lakes, so by staying along Lake Superior, it’s a Great Lakes camping trip!

I did a 2 week Upper Peninsula road trip, and this included staying at many campgrounds near Lake Superior!

 

It’s possible to camp near Lake Superior in Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Ontario (Canada).

This list below will cover the Michigan side of Lake Superior.

Camping along Lake Superior in Michigan means a trip to the Upper Peninsula.

This is the part of Michigan that touches Lake Superior.

 

 

The list below includes campgrounds that are a part of state parks, state forests, a national park, a national lakeshore park, and a national forest.

There is tent camping and RV camping available.

And for backpackers (long-distance overnight hikers), you can even go for some island camping near Lake Superior!

 

 

This list will basically take you from east to west along Lake Superior. You can make it a great Upper Peninsula road trip just by sticking mostly to the shoreline!

There are great scenic places to be seen all along Lake Superior!

 

 

 

Best Michigan campgrounds near Lake Superior

 

1. Brimley State Park Campground

👆 Explore the map: Brimley State Park campground

 

Proximity to Lake Superior: There’s a short beach path directly from the Brimley State Park campground to Lake Superior. Whether your walk is 30 seconds or 1-2 minutes from Lake Superior will depend on your campsite location.

 

 

See more: Lake Superior camping trip to Brimley

 

 

2. Andrus Lake State Forest Campground

👆 Explore the map: Andrus Lake State Forest campground

 

Proximity to Lake Superior: This is a little inland. You might like this as a more rustic setting for a campground.

 

See more: Camping trip to Andrus Lake

 

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3. Tahquamenon Falls State Park

👆 Explore the map: Rivermouth campground, Tahquamenon Falls State Park

 

👆 Explore the map: Lower Falls campground, Tahquamenon Falls State Park

 

Proximity to Lake Superior: Tahquamenon Falls State Park has 2 main campgrounds. The one that’s closer to Lake Superior is the Rivermouth Campground, named since it is right near the mouth of the Tahquamenon River, where it meets Lake Superior. There is also the Lower Falls Campground that’s a little more inland, and this is the one that’s closer to the waterfalls of the state park. Tahquamenon Falls are the most popular waterfalls in Michigan.

 

See more: Planning a trip to Tahquamenon Falls State Park

 

 

Also make a visit along Lake Superior to:

• Whitefish Point
• Vermilion Point
• Crisp Point

aka stops to make as a part of your Lake Superior lighthouse tour or things to do in the Eastern Upper Peninsula!

 

 

4. Muskallonge Lake State Park Campground

👆 Explore the map: Muskallonge Lake State Park

 

Proximity to Lake Superior: The campground is right on the inland lake of Muskallonge Lake. But also a part of this state park is a Lake Superior side. This can be a short drive across the main road, or it can be a nice leisurely walk of 10-15 minutes from the campground to Lake Superior.

 

 

See more: Lake Superior camping trip to Muskallonge Lake

 

 

5. Lake Superior State Forest campground

Lake Superior lakefront camping!

👆 Explore the map: Lake Superior State Forest campground

 

Proximity to Lake Superior: At the Lake Superior State Forest Campground, you are basically perched right above the beach of Lake Superior! This means that you will go DOWN to reach the Lake Superior shoreline. You are steps away from views of Lake Superior. This rustic campground is located right along the road called Grand Marais Truck Trail. This is a bit of a gravel road with part of it that runs right along side Lake Superior.

 

See more: Driving the Grand Marais Truck Trail

 

 

6. Hurricane River campground, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

👆 Explore the map: Hurricane River campground

 

Proximity to Lake Superior: There are 2 areas of Hurricane River Campground, the lower area and the upper area. From the Lower Hurricane River Campground, you may be a minute away by foot from a Lake Superior beach. To get from the Upper Hurricane River Campground to the lower campground, there is a foot trail that might be about a 5 minute walk (or you can drive), and that’s how far away you are from Lake Superior.

 

 

See more: Lake Superior camping trip to Hurricane River

 

 

7. Twelvemile Beach campground, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

Lake Superior lakefront camping!

👆 Explore the map: Twelvemile Beach campground

 

Proximity to Lake Superior: At the Twelvemile Beach campground, you can get a campsite with views of Lake Superior! This campground is perched higher up.

 

 

See more: Lake Superior camping trip to Twelvemile Beach

 

 

8. Little Beaver Lake campground, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

👆 Explore the map: Little Beaver Lake campground

 

Proximity to Lake Superior: This campground is a little inland. There is a hiking trail that will take you to a Lake Superior beach, and you can further walk along a coastal trail with views of Lake Superior. It’s about 1.5 miles of hiking from Little Beaver Lake Campground to Lake Superior.

 

 

See more: Lake Superior camping trip to Little Beaver Lake

 

 

PLUS…

Backcountry camping near Lake Superior: Pictured Rocks

If you’re looking for a backcountry camping trip along Lake Superior, then Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is where you want to go! There are several backcountry campgrounds that are located along the North Country Trail that runs along Lake Superior for much of the time in Pictured Rocks.

 

 

See more: Planning a trip to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

 

 

PLUS…

Island camping near Lake Superior: Grand Island National Recreation Area

Just west of Pictured Rocks is the town of Munising. And it’s from Munising that you can catch the Grand Island ferry to Grand Island National Recreation Area, which is a part of Hiawatha National Forest. There are campgrounds on Grand Island. You can make it a backpacking trip around Grand Island.

 

 

9. Bay Furnace Campground, Hiawatha National Forest

Lake Superior lakefront camping!

👆 Explore the map: Bay Furnace campground, Hiawatha National Forest

 

Proximity to Lake Superior: The Bay Furnace campground is right along Lake Superior. You can get a campsite that is directly next to Lake Superior! Depending on your campsite location, you may be a minute’s walk or less from the shoreline.

 

 

See more: Lake Superior camping trip to Bay Furnace

 

 

10. AuTrain Lake Campground, Hiawatha National Forest

👆 Explore the map: AuTrain Lake campground, Hiawatha National Forest

 

Proximity to Lake Superior: This campground is a little inland. If there’s no availability at the Pictured Rocks campgrounds or Bay Furnace Campground, you may try AuTrain Lake Campground to be near Pictured Rocks.

 

 

11. Baraga State Park Campground

👆 Explore the map: Baraga State Park

 

Proximity to Lake Superior: The Baraga State Park campground is across a main road from Lake Superior. There are campsites from which you can see Lake Superior.

See more: Baraga State Park campground reviews

 

 

12. Fort Wilkins Historic State Park Campground

👆 Explore the map: Fort Wilkins State Park campground

 

Proximity to Lake Superior: Fort Wilkins State Park campground is on an inland lake in the Keweenaw Peninsula. Lake Superior is located on the other side of the main road, and it can be a 10-15 minute walk to see Lake Superior. Or, you can bike or drive there. This campground is near the town of Copper Harbor.

 

 

See more: Lake Superior camping trip to Fort Wilkins

 

 

PLUS…

Island camping near Lake Superior: Isle Royale National Park

You can catch a ferry to Isle Royale National Park from Copper Harbor or Houghton, both towns located in the Keweenaw Peninsula. This is Michigan’s only true national park. There are campgrounds on Isle Royale. You can make it a backpacking trip around Isle Royale National Park.

It’s also possible to access Isle Royale from Minnesota. There is a ferry from Grand Portage MN.

In 2020, the ferry services to Isle Royale were cancelled for the season because of public health safety reasons. Check for updates about 2021.

 

 

13. McLain State Park campground

Lake Superior lakefront camping!

👆 Explore the map: McLain State Park campground

 

Proximity to Lake Superior: At McLain State Park, it’s possible to get a campsite that’s right along Lake Superior!

 

 

See more: Lake Superior camping trip to McLain

 

 

14. Union Bay Campground, Porcupine Mountains State Park

Lake Superior lakefront camping!

👆 Explore the map: Union Bay campground, Porcupine Mountains State Park

 

Proximity to Lake Superior: At Union Bay Campground, it’s possible to get a campsite that’s right along Lake Superior! Lake Superior lakefront camping!

 

 

See more: Lake Superior camping trip to Union Bay

 

 

15. Presque Isle Campground, Porcupine Mountains State Park

👆 Explore the map: Presque Isle campground, Porcupine Mountains

 

Proximity to Lake Superior: At Presque Isle Campground, it’s possible to get a campsite with views of Lake Superior, although the views are a bit obstructed by trees. From the campground, there are stairs that lead to Lake Superior. Depending on the location of your campsite, Lake Superior will be a minute’s walk away, or maybe a few minutes away.

 

 

See more: Lake Superior camping trip to Presque Isle River

 

 

PLUS…

Backcountry camping and cabins near Lake Superior: Porcupine Mountains

If you’re looking for a backcountry camping trip along Lake Superior, then Porcupine Mountains State Park is another spot you can go. There are several backcountry campgrounds that are located along Lake Superior.

 

 

It’s also possible to hike to a cabin that’s located along Lake Superior.

 

 

See more: Lake Superior camping trip to the Porcupine Mountains

See more: Planning a trip to Porcupine Mountains State Park

 

 

And those are some ideas for camping near Lake Superior in Michigan!

 

 

The quick list (and more pictures!) of the campgrounds near Lake Superior:

• Brimley State Park campground
• Andrus Lake State Forest campground
• Tahquamenon Falls State Park campground
• Muskallonge Lake State Park campground
• Lake Superior State Forest campground – reviews
• Hurricane River campground
• Twelvemile Beach campground
• Little Beaver Lake campground
• Bay Furnace campground
• Autrain Lake campground
• Baraga State Park camping
• Fort Wilkins Historic State Park campground
• McLain State Park campground
• Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park campgrounds

 

As you are camping along Lake Superior, you can also make it a Lake Superior lighthouse tour or a Lake Superior waterfalls tour too!

 

HAPPY CAMPING NEAR LAKE SUPERIOR!