My cousin and I were born only four days apart from each other and grew up in a camping/traveling family. Our first excursion, according to family lore, took place when we were only a few months old. As we grew older, beginning in our late teens, we started camping together with our friends.
Most notably, we camped primitively on the west side of Michigan, south of Traverse City, in a smaller town named Frankfort, in tents, on Elberta Beach, off the shores of Lake Michigan. We quickly learned that you need tent stakes (yes, they are a real thing!) and to move our tents to the other side of the bluff for protection, to keep our tents from blowing away.
However, it was technically illegal for us to camp on the beach, but the locals told us that we would be okay as long as we followed the golden rule of camping, “Take only pictures; leave only footprints,” and most importantly, leave the space we occupied better off than how we found it. Oh yeah, and absolutely NO VEHICLES on the beach. We had to haul our gear on foot down the beach to set up camp.
We camped for four years on Elberta Beach, then relocated our annual Fourth of July cousin-friend party to the east side of Michigan, in Oscoda, on the Au Sable River, where we set up primitive camps in tents within the Huron-Manistee National Forest. Our last location, before we all settled down with spouses and children, was on the west side of Michigan again, but this time in the Manistee National Forest, which was just footsteps away from the beach on Lake Michigan; no longer on the beach.
Whether as a child or an adult, I have explored many places, either camping or staying in motels in Michigan, yet I always enjoyed a campfire no matter where we stayed. When I was very young, my grandparents took us camping in Ontario, Canada. However, when we visited Niagara Falls, whether on the Canadian or U.S. side in upstate New York (NY), we usually stayed in motels or hotels.
For years, I have been able to see many camping destinations in beautiful Pure Michigan, with most of them being near or on a body of water, such as:
- Lake Michigan
- Lake Erie
- Au Sable River
- Rifle River
- Lake Huron
- Portage Lake (on the Chain of Lakes)
- Houghton Lake
- Lake St Helen
- Indian River
- Burt Lake
- Mullet Lake
- Black Lake
- Carp Lake
- Lake Superior
As you might have noticed, I have had the good fortune of camping near or off of four out of five Great Lakes.
Great Lakes beach camping, according to the National Park Service, has “Drive-In Camping at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.
All campsites, including wheelchair-accessible sites, require a reservation. There is no drop-in camping. Camping fees are $25 per night per campsite.
All campgrounds require a reservation. There is no drop-in camping.
Campgrounds are open from May 15 through October 15. After October 15th, water systems and toilets are shut down.
Camping anywhere outside designated campgrounds is not allowed.
Overnight car camping (sleeping in vehicles) in parking lots is not allowed.
No overflow camping allowed. No beach camping allowed.
Campgrounds Overview
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore has three rustic drive-in campgrounds: Little Beaver Lake (8 sites), Twelve Mile Beach (36 sites), and Hurricane River (21 sites).
Campsites have a picnic table, fire ring with grill grate, and tent pad.
The campgrounds have vault toilets and well water.
Tent-style enclosures for campsite portable toilets are strictly prohibited.
Campgrounds do not have electric, water, or sewer hookups. Typically there is no cell phone reception.
Biting insects are very common from late May through early September. Don’t let flies ruin your experience! Bring long pants, long-sleeved shirts, and insect repellant,”.
Best campgrounds in Michigan
As I mentioned earlier, I have camped across the great state of Michigan in State Parks and on National Forest Land. As a mom, I have also taken my sons camping all over Pure Michigan. Here are some of my favorite spots to explore:
- Huron Manistee forest in Oscoda, on the Au Sable River
- Manistee National Forest, Manistee, footsteps from Lake Michigan
- Ludington State Park, on the shores of Lake Michigan
- Lakeport State Park, on the shores of Lake Huron
- Proud Lake State Park, on the Huron River (close to home)
- Seven Lakes State Park, for Halloween camping (close to home)
- Algonac State Park, on the shores of Lake Huron (great pier fishing)
- Burt Lake State Park, on Burt Lake (which connects to the Indian River, connecting to Mullet Lake, which feeds into the Cheboygan River, which leads to Lake Michigan), has Great boating and swimming
- Mears State Park
According to the United States Forest Service (USDA), the land where we love to camp is, “Lying between the shores of Lake Michigan and Lake Huron in the northern half of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan, is the nearly one-million-acre Huron-Manistee National Forests. The Forests offer year-around motorized and non-motorized recreation opportunities. Most popular are the trails and campgrounds along four nationally designated Wild and Scenic Rivers such as the Pine, Manistee, Au Sable and Pere Marquette,”.
Wisconsin State Parks along Lake Michigan shoreline camping
Okay, I know that my home state is not the only state on the Great Lakes, so let’s give our sister Great Lake state of Wisconsin some love, too.
Wisconsin DNR lists the following state parks along the Lake Michigan shoreline:
- Rock Island State Park
- Newport State Park
- Penninsula State Park
- Kohler-Andrae State Park
- Harrington Beach State Park
- Lakeshore State Park
On the Michigan side, here are a few of the State Parks along Lake Michigan in the lower peninsula:
- Ludington State Park
- Muskegon State Park
- Silver Lake State Park
- Mears State Park, on the shores of Lake Michigan, minutes from the world-renowned Silver Lake Sand Dunes
- Duck Lake State Park
- Wilson State Park
- Newaygo State Park
- Pere Marquette Park
- P. J. Hoffmaster State Park
- Holland State Park
- Van Buren State Park
- Grand Mere State Park
- Warren Dunes State Park
My favorites are Ludington, Muskegon, Silver Lake, and Mears. After camping for more than fifty years, Mears is by far my favorite Michigan State Park because it actually has several campsites on the beach of Lake Michigan. The campground is smaller than most, yet very beautiful and serene. It is also extremely difficult to make reservations, as it is undoubtedly highly sought after.
Great Lakes beach camping
In conclusion, from childhood adventures to serene state parks, Great Lakes beach camping has shaped a lifetime of memories, traditions, and deep appreciation for nature’s beauty.