Michigan's upper peninsula is located south of Canada and east of Wisconsin. The upper peninsula represents one-quarter of Michigan's land mass, but only 3 percent of the state's population lives there. This makes for peaceful camping trips in the woods surrounded by the Great Lakes. Summers are generally warm and humid, with winter featuring plenty of snow and below-zero temperatures. Temperatures in the summertime also can be cool, so it is always best to pack lots of blankets for camping trips. This area of Michigan has become a popular vacation spot for hunters, boaters, hikers, snowmobilers, fishermen and those who want to enjoy the landscape and the 150 waterfalls the area has to offer.
Rustic
There are several campgrounds in the upper peninsula of Michigan that let you camp in a rustic setting. AuTrain Lake Campground in the Hiawatha National Forest, four miles south of AuTrain, is a first-come, first-serve rustic campground with 37 sites on a lake with a sandy beach, a boat ramp, canoeing down the AuTrain River, hiking, picnic tables and a fire pit. Grand Island, near Munising in the central northern upper peninsula in Lake Superior, also offers wilderness rustic camping with about 17 campsites. The island, which you can get to by ferry, offers hiking, fishing, mountain biking, skiing and snowmobiling. Camping is available at particular sites or primitive designated areas.
Electricity
For those who prefer electricity and designated showering areas, Otter Lake Campground, located on Otter Lake in the Hiawatha National Forest, has 70 sites with electric service, bathrooms with hot showers, and a laundry area. The park offers a beach for swimming, row and paddle boating, and a nature trail to hike on. The Ontonagon Township Park lies on the shore of Lake Superior and is a little smaller, offering 40 sites with electricity and water and a sandy Lake Superior beach for swimming. The park also offers a picnic area and a playground for campers or day use.
Cabins
Michihistrigan Campground, located 65 miles west of the Mackinac Bridge, offers year-round rental cabins for modern campers, accommodating up to 14 people. Modern cabins offer a bathroom, shower, bunk beds, and linens and towels. Remote cabins for rustic camping are also available at Porcupine Mountains State Park, which is Michigan's largest area of undeveloped wilderness with views of waterfalls and Lake Superior. This is Michigan's largest state park, with about eight campgrounds to choose from, many being rustic campgrounds with vault toilets, but there are also some modern ones. There are almost no roads, but there are 87 miles of hiking trails. There are at least 25 different hiking trails ranging in difficulty and length.
RV Parks
The Country Village RV Park in Ishpeming offers 105 RV sites and four cabins. Pull-through sites are also available. The park includes a pavilion, a swimming pool, a spa and a children's play area. The Lakeshore Park Campground is another option for those with RVs; the campground is open between May 1 and Oct. 15. The park has a pull-through access and encourages large RVs to stay with them. They offer free Wi-Fi Internet access, a bath house and RV supplies.
Pools
On top of having plenty of lakes to swim in, many campgrounds in the upper peninsula also provide pools. Wandering Wheels Campground in Munising has a heated outdoor pool in a gated area and is only five miles from Lake Superior. The in-ground pool is oval-shaped and provides chairs and lounge chairs for relaxing. Summer Breeze Campground, near Iron Mountain, also has a heated in-ground swimming pool. The pool is shallow, so there is no diving. The park provides 70 sites for RVs and tents. Swim at your own risk at both places.
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