Coastal camping in Michigan with hiking
With lakes and forests covering two-thirds of the state, Michigan is a camper's paradise.
95% (843 reviews)
- Michigan
95% (843 reviews)
Popular camping styles for Michigan
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Under $50
11 top coastal campgrounds in Michigan with hiking
99%
(505)
Camp Moonshadow
6 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents5 acres · Honor, MI
Our property was originally the only homestead on this road. WE offer 4 Walk in Tent sites and a RV site for small campers up 20 ft.- 20 Amp service Only!!! WE also have a 59 Vintage Shasta that rents nightly up to 3 nites
The big barn was built over 100 years ago and is still standing.
The farm house was built in 1907.
It has been remodeled with a second story added.
Pine trees were planted to prevent erosion in the 1960's.
The national park began buying land near us in the 1970's and the boundary line to the park is a half-mile from Moonshadow Camp.
The area is surrounded by state forests and many hiking and biking trails.
Our valley is known for incredible stargazing.
Amenities include full access to the Camp kitchen and dining area. You will also have access to a Portable restroom and hand washing station which is located by our BIG BARN. Hot Showers, no problem, you can enjoy a secluded private shower in our shower house which has indoor and outdoor showers. Nearby is Lake Michigan and Esch Rd beach. Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lake shore is nearby and The National Park is famous for attractions , trails, and hiking. Electricity and
water is included at the RV site, and the Shasta Camper along with the Showerhouse and Camp Kitchen
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$60
/ night
99%
(305)
Jackson Station Leelanau
4 sites · Tents32 acres · Maple City, MI
Our sites accomodate 2 adults and their minors, with 1-2 vehicles at your site's access point. If you're traveling more than 2 adults please book more than one camp site. Enjoy a peaceful outdoor experience in beautiful Leelanau County via Agritourism at Jackson Station on the Leelanau Peninsula! Our property has 4 private sites situated among a dense pine forest on our small-scale farm.
We're located conveniently between the two popular vacation destinations of Glen Arbor and Leland, MI - both a short scenic drive in either direction. The Leelanau Peninsula is littered with recreational opportunities including hiking, biking, beaches, boating, fishing, dining, shopping and wine tasting, and of course the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore!
Our farm produces pastured, all natural meat, including pork, beef, chicken and goat. Find the hens roaming around and see the pigs, cows and goats hanging out in the fenced-in areas. A variety of cuts of meat from our freezers are available for sale or get a tour of the farmstead ~ Just ask! You may simply enjoy the scene at your leisure.
SITE DETAILS: Each camp site has a bed of woodchips, gravel surrounding a bonfire ring, a clothesline and neatly stacked firewood for sale. Our sites may accomodate 2 adults and their minors. We recommend that larger groups or multiple adults book more than one site next to each other (sites 1 and 2 or 2 and 3 are good for this). Quiet hours are enforced between 10pm-7am. This is our home and farm, not a campground, please think of staying here in that way.
A short walk from camp, down the farm road to the north end of the livestock fence, you'll find access to a water pump for delicious drinking water straight from our well, so that you may fill containers of water or utilize for rinsing.
Our land borders the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. You'll be just a few miles from access to beautiful Lake Michigan beaches. Relax in the sand, hunt for rocks, hike a trail, kayak or paddle-board and watch an epic sunset.
We are just down the road from the uninhabited School Lake, known for its fishing from non-motorized boats or a quiet place to paddle. Additionally, just 2 Miles away you can access the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail, a non-motorized 27 mile groomed trail that follows the scenic M-22 from our location all the way to Empire, MI. This trail is open year round to walk, run, bicycle, snowshoe or cross-country ski.
2.8 miles in the other direction from our camp, you'll find a Mountain Bikers paradise at Palmer Woods Forest Preserve, with various hiking trails and a 6 mile mountain bike trail.
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$40
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99%
(46)
Superior Lake Effect
1 site · RV, Tent8 acres · Ontonagon, MI
Happy almost fall campers! So many views and so little time here in the western Upper Peninsula.
Fall colors expected to peak first weekend October (as of 9/30/24)! Check out Porkies State Park chairlift rides 10/5, 6 and 12. 10 to 430 ET each day, 10$ plus recreational passport.
Copper Peak also offers amazing views of fall colors. Open daily from 930-430 CT, check out copperpeak.net for pricing and details.
Enjoy 400 ft of Lake Superior private sandy beach frontage with access to more than 1.5 miles., Beautiful sunsets, and a chance to witness the northern lights, in your private dark sky park; bring your telescope. Search for agates and yooper rocks; bring a black light.
Situated on 8 acres of old growth forest, your short walk to the lake is through a park like preserve. Keep your eyes open for wildlife as you cross the boardwalk to the beach.
Bring your kayak and or paddle board for a unique experience. A boat launch 1/2 mile away can easily accommodate 16 ft motor boats if fishing is of interest.
Enjoy waterfalls? Bond, Agate, Bonanza, and O Kun-de kun and many more are all within an hour.
ATV trails are abundant as well and all county roads allow both ATV and snowmobile traffic, with appropriate permits.
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$150
/ night
95%
(93)
LTBB Rental Cabins
2 sites · Lodging3 acres · Carp Lake, MI
Tribal Property to share with others. Wonderful spot right on the Straights of Mackinaw within the Wilderness State Park private enclave. Come stick your toes in the water. Two of three cabins available for rent. Views of the Mackinaw Bridge.
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$72
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93%
(29)
Camp Clear Sky
9 sites · Tents9 acres · Lowell, MI
Camp Clear Sky is our family compound in Lowell, Michigan. We allow guests to camp and sometimes have music for our guests to enjoy. Our 2BR 1BA eco-house is available for short-term rentals.
There are three large parks and two rivers within a mile of the property. Nearby connections to hiking, bicycle, snowmobile, and water hiking trails include the North Country Trail, Lowell Area Trailway, Flat River Water Trail, Grand River Water Trail, Fred Meijer River Valley Trail, and more!
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$16
/ night
63%
(4)
Blue Heron Homestead
2 sites · Lodging1 acre · Au Gres, MI
Spend an enchanting evening on the shores of the Saginaw Bay. We are located in the North Bay- the northern end of the Saginaw Bay in a secluded coastal marsh. Enjoy some of the best views of stars in the Lower Peninsula, or roast marshmallows around a bonfire while the sound of frogs singing lulls you to sleep.
Wake up to the sounds of blue herons and snowy egrets coasting over the bay as the sun rises in the morning and enjoy the biodiversity of plants and birds that call this part of Lake Huron home. Watch eagles and kingfishers fish as you kayak the marsh or just lounge in hammocks and enjoy the tranquility of this region.
Activities:
Kayaking- bring your own kayak or use one of ours. The bay is very shallow here and an ideal spot for a leisurely paddle. Take a tour by kayak of the maze of marsh, or kayak out to the tip of Point Au Gres.
Fishing-Perch, Walleye , catfish, bluegill, sunfish, pike and bass are common in the North Bay. Need fishing gear or a license? Stop to Norm's Sporting Goods at the traffic light in Au Gres for a local experience.
Birdwatching- This spot is truly a birdwatcher's paradise. In the summer we see abundant herons, egrets, kingfishers, swans, grebes, and a myriad of ducks on a daily basis. During migration seasons the bird action is endless.
Swimming- although the marshy coastline here is not ideal for swimming you can easily kayak out to a sandbar or jump in, or just down the road is a public county park with a sandy beach.
Visit the Northeast Region! Au Gres has few amenities or restaurants, but 20 minutes north Tawas has ample public beaches, dozens of bars and restaurants, a Walmart and other provisions you may want. The Huron National forest outiside of Tawas also has many great hiking trails, ORV trails and more.
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$40
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(1)
Love Farm Wilds, LLC
3 sites · Tents200 acres · Crystal Downs Country Club, MI
Welcome to Love Farm Wilds in beautiful Benzie County. Share our native Michigan forest and enjoy low impact camping for enlivening rapport with nature and your own sweet self.
I'm going to tell you a secret. Being a year round local in Benzie County is the best. We've got both sweet water, quartz sand summer beaches and dire, dark winters of the soul. The gentle beauty of the visitor season can turn fierce and menacing when the snow flies. The dancing waters sparkle with the delicious warmth of our local star and then... BAM! That same sun is cloud shrouded for literally 3 months.
The contrast is a feature, not a bug. Coming through the dreary, dragging chill physically and mentally intact means we get to tune into the paradisaical seasons all the more. Benzie County is literally exploding with outdoor excellence, and thankfully not many people outside of the shire are aware of this. We aren't overrun with mavens of mediocrity quite yet, we aren't being priced out of our homes as often happens in other gorgeous places. We remain blissfully forgotten and undiscovered.
You've gotta live here full time to really get it, but visiting is pretty sweet too! The delight will creep up on you, the weight of your cares will be lifted. You might get hints about the hidden places, hear rumors about spots that aren't conveniently situated by a parking lot. But for heaven's sake, don't stay, don't move here. Not unless poplar leaves spinning in the wind feels like an invitation, nor before cricket music starts shading towards language.
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$90.25
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(13)
Harbor Country Cabins
2 sites · Lodging1 acre · Sawyer, MI
I become owner of this property in 2017. The cabins were built in the late 90's financed by the previous owner. The property was vacant for decades prior to that. In the 1950's, the property was a drive-in motel called the 'Harbert Motel'. We have an arial photo from this time period which showed a number of small bungalows for guests, each with its own carport. I love all the stories I hear from locals who have been around long enough to remember how things 'used to be'.
Southwest Michigan has an interesting history and has been a 'destination' from city dwellers for close to 100 years. Even Al Capone and his goon's frequented the area as they moved illegal good during the days of prohibition.
Learn more about this land:
Breweries, Wineries, Berry Picking, Art Studios, Farmers Markets, hiking trails, biking trails, Lake Michigan boating, kayaking, fishing, canoeing.......all those things and more await you in Southwest Michigan.
We have 6 'tiny house' style cabins on 1-acre property we call - Harbor Country Cabins. Harbor Country Cabins is located along the Lake Michigan Wine Trail. Our resort offers a unique lodging and gathering location in the center of Harbor Country, near Southwest Michigan’s premier destination for beaches, breweries, wineries, dining and summer fun. With 12 queen bunk and 4 twin bunk beds spaced across 6 cabins, our property can hold up to 28 people. Price in this listing is for rental of all 6 cabins.
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$855
/ night
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(2)
Rosemary Pines
4 sites · RVs, Tents5 acres · Oscoda, MI
This home was built by my grandparents back in the 40’s he was a military man she was a homemaker! We lived around the kitchen with smoked fish and freshly baked oatmeal raisin cookies! At one time my uncles horse lived here and many of my grandfathers chicken! This home and land has lots of love surrounding it! There are many blueberry farms and amazing fishing spots! I can hand out brochures when you arrive. I also have a relationship with a local fishing charter if you would like to do a fish and fry!Learn more about this land:Woods and moss with a pond. We offer camping (must bring tents) on the property. It’s optional bathrooms and showers, grill chairs and table. We are a mile from the beach and we can drop you at the canoe rental in town. You can choose to only camp or to camp and use toilet and shower with code access. . We offer s’more sets for 2 people package in garage in refrigerator if wanted. We also have in town canoeing local and beach side fire pits along Lake Huron. We’re close to Lumberman monument which is a beautiful place to hike and see the fall colors. We’re also not a far drive from the Mackinac Bridge. You can engage in water, beaches, canoeing or just sit by the bonfire and eat s’mores! The property is 5 acres with a home located on site and someone will be available if needed. We do have dense pines with bugs so bring bug spray!
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$80
/ night
100%
(1)
SheriDune
2 sites · Lodging1 acre · Pentwater, MI
Our cottage was originally built by two women who were a couple in 1965. The Burke family bought it in the mid-1970s and added on the Master Bedroom and Living Room. The Sheridan family purchased this magical property in 2013 and have lovingly maintained it since. While we had thoughts of rebuilding like many of our neighbors have, we chose to honor the past owners and improve it. We have doubled the deck size, replaced all windows and doors, and put wood ceilings with ceiling fans in all bedrooms and the bathroom, a significant improvement over the old drop ceilings. Future projects include a bathroom remodel and kitchen remodel.Learn more about this land:Best views of Little Sable Point Lighthouse & lots of hangout space, sleeps 8.First time ever available as a rental!With unparalleled views of Little Point Sable Lighthouse from the expanded deck and from inside the cottage, and right across the street from Golden Sands beach, you simply cannot beat this location. This magical property has amazing beach access right across the street, and the most incredible sunsets you will ever see!SheriDune is surrounded on two sides by Silver Lake State Forest and has a private fire pit area out back for 'Smores roasting and stargazing. With so many different zones to hang out in, your friends and family will have plenty of space to enjoy from the cottage to the huge deck to the fire pit area to the beach.The deck is the place to be from the morning cup of coffee on. It boasts a bar height table for 4 and a picnic table for 6-8, both made from recycled milk jugs! There is another "kids" picnic table for activities and a queen-sized day bed with a sun canopy overhead. There is also a Design Within Reach plastic sofa on the deck and other seating for everything from sunbathing to stargazing!Not to be outdone, the beach is like something you would fly thousands of miles to visit, and most of the time you have this huge public beach all to yourselves.With 3 bedrooms and a bathroom, SheriDune comfortably sleeps 8. There is a Queen in the Master, a Full-size bed in the guest bedroom, and a kids' bunk room that has 4 bunks.Very limited calendar so book fast!!
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$540
/ night
Sunset Retreat
1 site · Lodging1 acre · Calumet, MI
This is a great opportunity to enjoy pristine Cedar Bay on Lake Superior from the comfort of a vintage Airstream Argosy! There are 200 feet of private beach access as well as trails that connect through the 10 back acres to the Black Creek Nature Preserve. The property faces directly west which provides amazing sunsets year round over lake Superior. You will have access to the deck overlooking the dunes and lake. We regularly see Bald Eagles and deer as well as loons. Because of it's location near the end of a dead-end road, most mornings you will awaken to the sounds of birds and waves. This is the perfect place to disconnect from the world but if you need to connect there is also Starlink internet access.
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$175
/ night
Star Hosts in Michigan
Available this weekend
Coastal camping in Michigan with hiking guide
Overview
When it comes to natural attractions, Michigan holds all the aces. This landlocked state has more state parks and state forests than any other, miles of coastline, and more than 10,000 lakes—which means you’ll never be more than six miles from the water. Some of the best camping is found on the beaches and islands of the Great Lakes, so plan a summer getaway to swim, fish, and kayak, or a fall camping trip to admire Michigan’s spectacular foliage. Winter is best suited for RV camping, with snow blanketing much of the state from November through March.
Where to go
Upper Peninsula
The Upper Peninsula is Michigan’s wild toupée, with swathes of old-growth forests, sandy beaches, and inland lakes stretching along the southern shore of Lake Superior. This is the spot to escape the crowds, whether pitching your tent by the sand dunes in the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, parking your RV by a waterfall in Tahquamenon Falls State Park, or yurt camping in the Porcupine Mountains. For the ultimate camping experience, the Hiawatha National Forest has some 60 campsites to choose from.
Northern Lower Peninsula
Bordered by Lake Michigan to the West and Lake Huron to the east, the northern Lower Peninsula has the highest concentration of Michigan state parks. Miles of mountain biking, horseback riding, and hiking trails await in the Huron National Forest, where you can choose from modern campgrounds or backcountry camping. Along the coast, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is a must-see, Wilderness State Park is a dark sky reserve, and Ludington State Park Beach is a family favorite.
Southwest Michigan
Grand Rapids is the gateway to Michigan’s southwest, where the shore of Lake Michigan provides plenty of options for a summer camping trip. Lakefront cities such as South Haven, Benton Harbor, and Holland have sandy beaches, historic lighthouses, and seafront campgrounds. Forget tent camping in the wilderness—RV sites come equipped with full hookups, playgrounds, and watercraft rentals.
Southeast Michigan
Michigan's "Thumb" juts out along the west shore of Lake Huron, where Sleeper State Park and Port Crescent State Park are the big draws for campers. Below this, the west coast is ideal for a road trip, peppered with shipwreck dive sites, secluded beaches, and golf courses. South of Detroit and Lake St. Clair, Sterling State Park is the only state park on the shore of Lake Erie, with a mix of RV and tent sites by the beach.
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