Camping in Northern Michigan: State Parks, National Forest, and Hidden Spots

Why Northern Michigan Is a Camping Destination

Michigan has more state parks than any other state in the contiguous US, and Northern Michigan contains some of the finest of them. Add to that the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore's backcountry camping, hundreds of national forest campgrounds in the Huron-Manistee National Forests, and dispersed camping opportunities throughout state forest land, and you have a camping landscape of extraordinary variety and quality.

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore Campgrounds

The Lakeshore has two drive-in campgrounds — DH Day Campground near Glen Haven and Platte River Campground south of Empire — and a backcountry camping program that allows permits for sites throughout the Lakeshore. The drive-in campgrounds fill in summer; reservations open 6 months in advance at recreation.gov. Platte River Campground has immediate access to the Platte River and the Lake Michigan beach at Platte Bay. The backcountry permit system for the South Manitou Island campsite is particularly sought after — camping on a Lake Michigan island with no vehicles and minimal infrastructure is a genuine wilderness experience.

Orchard Beach State Park — Manistee

Orchard Beach State Park north of Manistee offers 179 campsites on a high bluff above Lake Michigan with sunset views that justify every dollar of the nightly fee. The sites in the northern section of the campground sit closest to the bluff edge. The beach below the bluff is reached by stairway and is significantly less crowded than accessible beaches. This park is among the most scenically located campgrounds in the Lower Peninsula.

Wilderness State Park — Mackinaw City

Wilderness State Park near Mackinaw City is the northernmost substantial state park in the Lower Peninsula — 10,000 acres of shoreline, wetlands, and upland forest on Lake Michigan and the Straits. The park has 26 miles of trails, a rustic cabin rental program, and one of the finest sunset views in Michigan from the Waugoshance Point area. Astronomy is exceptional here — light pollution is minimal and the Milky Way is visible on clear summer nights.

National Forest Dispersed Camping

The Huron-Manistee National Forests cover vast sections of northern Lower Michigan and allow dispersed (primitive, no-fee) camping throughout most of their land area. No facilities, no reservations — find a site at least 200 feet from any water body, practice Leave No Trace, and have the forest to yourself. The Pere Marquette River corridor and the Wellston area within the Manistee National Forest are particularly good dispersed camping territory.

Practical Camping Advice

Mosquitoes in Northern Michigan's forests are serious from late May through early August — bring effective repellent and treat clothing with permethrin for multi-day trips. Bear-proof food storage is required in many campgrounds and recommended everywhere; bears are common throughout the region. The best camping weather in Northern Michigan is typically late August and September — warm days, cool nights, virtually no bugs, and the beginning of fall color. Check individual park reservation systems early; the best sites at popular parks book out months in advance.