Lake Camping in Michigan: 10 Sites With Real Water Access

Feller called the desk last month asking where to take his family for lake camping in Michigan, and I told him what I'll tell you: Michigan's got more shoreline than any state except Alaska, and about half the campgrounds slap the word "lake" in the title without giving you a proper way to touch the water. So I made a list. My sister lived outside Petoskey for twenty-some years and I've been out to see her enough times to have opinions, plus the ranger network talks, and my old trail-crew buddy Denny worked a season at Hiawatha National Forest. Between us we can steer you right.

What follows is ten lakeside campgrounds where you can actually walk from your tent to the water without crossing a highway or paying six bucks for a day-use pass. Some are big-water Great Lakes sites, some are inland-lake spots where the loons still wake you up. Sadie prefers the inland ones because Lake Superior scares her, which is fair, it scares me too.

What "real water access" actually means

I get tired of seeing "lakefront" in a brochure when the reality is a bluff, a set of stairs, and a "no swimming" sign at the bottom. Real water access, the way I mean it, is you can carry a canoe from your site without a portage cart. You can walk down in your camp sandals to rinse dishes. Kids can splash without a lifeguard whistle every forty seconds.

Michigan does this better than most states, in part because the Michigan DNR designed a lot of these parks in the CCC era when the idea was to put the campground near the lake, imagine that. But you still have to know which sites in a loop actually front the water and which ones stare at the back of an RV.

Lower Peninsula lakeside campgrounds worth the drive

Down in the mitt, the crowds are heavier and the reservation windows fill up faster. But there's good country here if you know where to point the truck.

Ludington State Park (Ludington, Lake Michigan / Hamlin Lake)

This is the one I'd send my own family to. You got Lake Michigan on one side, Hamlin Lake on the other, and the Sable River running between em. Three campgrounds — Pines, Cedar, and Beechwood — and the Pines loop is closest to the big lake beach. Canoe rentals right in the park. Book it four, five months out on Recreation.gov... actually no, Michigan state parks reserve through the DNR system, not Rec.gov. Point being, book early.

Wilderness State Park (near Mackinaw City)

Twenty-six miles of Lake Michigan shoreline and it feels emptier than it has any right to. The Lakeshore Campground loop puts you right on the water. Dark skies out here. The state got it designated a dark-sky preserve some years back and you can see why once the moon's down.

Fisherman's Island State Park (Charlevoix)

Rustic sites only, which is exactly why I like it. No hookups, no gift shop, no nonsense. Some of the sites — the ones down the south road — are just about on the beach. Bring water because the pumps can be temperamental.

Interlochen State Park (Interlochen)

Sandwiched between Duck Lake and Green Lake, and it's Michigan's oldest state park. The campground on Duck Lake is quieter. The one on Green Lake has the swimming beach. Used to be a real sleeper. Internet found it.

South Higgins Lake State Park (Roscommon)

Higgins Lake is the clearest inland lake I've ever laid eyes on outside the Rockies. Sandy bottom, blue like a swimming pool without the chemicals. Big campground, and honestly it can feel like a small town on a July weekend, but the water is worth the neighbors.

Hoeft State Park (Rogers City, Lake Huron)

The Sunrise Side gets skipped by folks chasing Lake Michigan sunsets, and that's their loss. Hoeft's got a mile of Huron beach, pines coming right down to the sand, and a campground you can usually get a site at without planning your life around it. The water is cooler than you'd expect. Bring the warmer sleeping bag even in July.

Upper Peninsula picks — where the loons outnumber the people

Cross the bridge and everything gets quieter, colder, and in my book, better. The bugs in June will carry off a small child so plan accordingly. July through September is the sweet spot.

Muskallonge Lake State Park (near Newberry)

This one's the gem of the bunch if you ask me, and I know I said I don't use that word. It's set on a narrow strip of land between Lake Superior and Muskallonge Lake — so you can swim in the warm inland lake and then walk five minutes to stand in Superior and lose feeling in your ankles. Rockhounds love it. Denny once found a chunk of agate the size of a hen's egg.

Twin Lakes State Park (Toivola)

Lake Roland is the warmest lake in the U.P., or so the sign claims, and I'm not going to argue. Small campground, sandy beach, and you're a reasonable drive from the Porcupine Mountains if you want a day of hiking. Dont expect much cell service.

Bewabic State Park (Crystal Falls)

Fortune Lake, chain of four connected lakes, canoe or kayak between em without a portage. Old CCC pavilion still standing. Campground is small and separate from the day-use area which is how it should be done.

Craig Lake State Park (near Michigamme)

This one's for the folks who read this far because they wanted something the buses cant reach. Seven miles of rough two-track to get in, walk-in tent sites and a few rustic cabins, no potable water, no electric, no cell. Just the lake and moose tracks in the mud. If you've never done a proper backcountry-style lakeside campground in the Midwest, this is the one. Bring a good backpacking stove and don't count on driving out fast if it rains.

The gotchas — read this before you book

Every one of these parks has a wrinkle. Some of em I learned the hard way, some Denny called me about while cussing.

• Reservation windows fill fast for July and August. Michigan DNR opens bookings six months ahead rolling. Set a calendar reminder.
• Not every site in a "lakefront" loop actually fronts the lake. Look at the site map, not just the loop name. Odd-numbered vs even can be the difference.
• Recreation Passport. You need the state park pass on your plate to enter — cheap if you're a Michigan resident, a little more for out-of-staters. Not the same as your camping fee.
• Rustic means rustic. Fisherman's Island and Craig Lake do not have flush toilets or showers. Bring a jug.
• Bear country in the U.P. Especially Craig Lake and up toward the Hurons. Store food properly. Coolers in the truck at night, not on the picnic table.
• Superior kills people every year. I'm not being dramatic. Cold water shock is real. Wade, don't swim out.
• Firewood restrictions. Michigan doesnt let you bring firewood in from out of state, and some parks want it from within 50 miles. Buy it there.
• Biting flies. Late June, early July, especially the U.P. Long sleeves and a head net or you'll regret it.

Gear notes for lake camping in Michigan

Great Lakes weather turns on a dime. I've seen 85 degrees at noon and 52 with sideways rain by supper. Pack for both. A tent with a proper full-coverage rainfly matters more here than in a lot of drier country — the humidity keeps things from drying out and a marginal fly will condensate on you all night.

Water shoes are worth their weight for the rocky Superior beaches. A tarp for the picnic table saves a weekend. And if you're going anywhere near Craig Lake or a rustic site, treat your drinking water — I don't care how clean it looks. Rest of the general checklist is over on our gear page, and the parks section has details on the state and national units if you want to poke around.

What we'd actually do

If I had one week and a family in tow, I'd spend three nights at Ludington and three at Muskallonge, driving the shoreline of Lake Michigan in between. If it was just me and Sadie and a canoe, I'd point straight at Craig Lake and not talk to another human being for four days. Either way, book early, respect the big water, and don't skip the U.P. because it's a longer drive. The drive is half the reason to go.

For trail ideas near any of these, poke around AllTrails Michigan or check our trails section before you head out. Its good country. Treat it like it.