Best Camping & Campgrounds
Western Michigan Upper Peninsula
South Shore Lake Superior Circle Tour

Porcupine Mountains State Park Camping

Located on Lake Superior, the Porkies offer 35,000 acres of premier hiking, backcountry camping, waterfalls, and scenic beauty. The Union Bay campground is on the lake and offers 100 camp sites with modern facilities - showers, hookups, dump station and boat launch. More rustic camping facilities are available at Presque Isle Park and sprinkled along the South Boundary Road.

Go here for Porcupine Mountains Camping and Campgrounds
Go here for Map & Porcupine Mountains State Park Facility Information
Go here for Porcupine Mountains Park Pictures or Waterfall Pictures
Winter Camping, Snowshoeing, Skiing in the Porkies

Reserving Camp Sites at Michigan State Parks

Another camping option for the Porkies is Big Bear Union River Campground, near the entrance to the park. Recently re-opened it has 50 campsites, all with electrical power and some with upgraded utilities. Walking distance to the beach and to the Porkies visitor center. See more information and our link on the Porkies Campground Page.

Black River Harbor Scenic Byway

The Harbor's campground is located on a high bluff above Lake Superior. Forty nicely spaced wooded camp sites with picnic tables, level tent pads and adequate parking for RVs. This national forest campground formerly was semi-modern with running water bathrooms and a dump station but these amenities had to be removed for environmental and budgetary reasons. It is now served by two new clean and comfortable vault toilets at either end of the campground loops and water hydrants for potable water. There are no electric hookups*. The small convenience store at the harbor has closed so get your provisions in Ironwood before you camp. The pavilion near the picnic area and boat harbor has running water bathrooms and is normally open during the main summer season (but is now closed due to covid mania).

Black River Harbor is one of our favorite spots for rock picking, agate hunting, hiking and scenic beauty of the waterfalls and surrounding area.

*If the Forest Service ever got funding to put in electric service, offer running water bathrooms and fix the deteriorating pavement, this would be one of the premier campgrounds around Lake Superior.

In 2022, the road through the campground and all of the campsite parking pads were freshly paved.

Go here for more information on Black River Harbor Camping & Waterfalls

Ottawa National Forest Camping and Recreation

Little Girls Point Campground & Picnic Area

This camping area is run by Gogebic County and is located on Lake Superior a few miles east of the Wisconsin-Michigan border. Most sites have lake views and electric service. There is running water in the washrooms, but no showers. A favorite spot for rock hounds. We've found a few agates there and met people on the beach who have had very good luck here. Has a nice picnic ground; day visit price is reasonable ($2.00) and 2011 camping fees ranged from $14 to $22. Sites may be reserved by calling 906-932-1913 after May 3rd or 906-663-4687 before May 3rd.

More information on Little Girls Point Lake Superior Campground

Saxon Harbor Campground & Picnic Area

This camping area is actually in Wisconsin about 8 miles east of Little Girls Point. Run by Iron County and and located on Lake Superior on County Highway A just off of State Highway 122. (Destroyed by the flood of 2016, the campground has been re-built and modernized) Most RV sites have electric utilities, are level and have fresh gravel on the parking pads. Modern washrooms and showers. A swimming beach nearby and a decent rock picking beach. Attractive play area for the kids.

More information on Saxon Harbor Campground

Curry Park Campground, Ironwood, Michigan

Curry Park is on the Western edge of Ironwood, located on US Highway 2. It is a city owned campground and is located next to Gogebic County Fairgrounds.

Until recently we didn't realize the campground was as extensive as it is. We had the impression it was primarily a tenting campground with only a few sites suitable for RVs. Curry Park has 56 campsites, all with electric hookups. Some of the hookups are 50 amp, others 30 or 20 amp. 9 of the sites include full hookups – electric, water, and sewer.

More Information and Pictures on Ironwood Curry Park Campground

Fort Wilkens Historic State Park

This park occupies an isthmus between Lake Fanny Hooe and Lake Superior. All of the facilities face Fanny Hoe but there are hiking trails and scenic overlooks of Lake Superior. The park service also operates tours of the historic Copper Harbor Lighthouse complex and manages the Fort Wilkens Historic preservation exhibit that occupies the center of the park. 165 camp sites, electric hookups, and modern washrooms with showers. It is a great family campground. Near enough to Copper Harbor and its attractions but far enough away that the kids have lots of room to run around. For RVers, one of the two campgrounds is laid out with pull-throughs for large units (and is largely populated by an adult population).

If Fort Williams is full, consider nearby Lake Fanny Hooe Resort & Campground. We've stayed there a few times and have been satisfied with the maintenance and service. A plus is that it's within walking distance of downtown Copper Harbor.

Go here for more information on Copper Harbor & Camping
Go here for Map of Ft. Wilkins Facility Information

City of Houghton RV Park

We discovered this well organized, very clean and fully paved RV park in 2006 and have been back a few times since. It faces the Portage Waterway and is within walking distance to downtown Houghton, yet sufficiently isolated for security and comfort. 24 sites, each with a covered patio with a picnic table, BBQ grill, fire ring and full hookups - water, sewer, and electric. Limited Wi-Fi service. Adjacent to city swimming beach, pavilion and boat launch. Internet service.

Across the waterway is the municipal campground of Hancock. It is not near as nice as Houghton's park but it does offer tent sites as well as RV hookups.

Go Here for the Houghton RV park web page

F.J. McClain State Park

McClain is located about 20 miles west of Hancock on Lake Superior near the western end of the Portage Canal. Scenic views, beautiful sand beaches, and a cooling night breeze off Lake Superior are among the features that make FJ McClain one of the more popular Upper Peninsula parks. All 98 campsites have electrical service. Reservations are recommended for July and August as well as September weekends.

Go Here for a park map.

Twin Lakes State Park

This park is located on Highway 26 midway between Copper Harbor and the Porcupine Mountains near the town of Toivola. 62 camp sites with electric service and modern washrooms with showers. This is a very convenient overnight stay for the Circle Tour traveler who finds themselves between the Porkies and the Keweenaw. There's a nice playground, picnic area, swimming beach and a nature trail.

Go Here for more information on Twin Lakes State Park

Baraga State Park

This park is located on the southern edge of the town of Baraga on US Highway 41, about 20 miles south of Houghton, Mi. It overlooks Lake Superior's L'Anse Bay. Highway 26 midway between Copper Harbor and the Porcupine Mountains near the town of Toivola. 116 modern camp sites with electric service and modern washrooms with showers. This is a very convenient overnight stay for the Circle Tour traveler who is traveling between Marquette and the Keweenaw Peninsula. It is also convenient for travelers staying in the area for a few days to enjoy the area waterfalls and hiking in the Huron Mountains. If this park is full, there is a waterfront campground across the bay operated by the village of L'Anse.

Go Here for more information on Baraga State Park

Van Riper State Park

Located about 25 miles west of Marquette on US Highway 41, Van Riper is a convenient overnight stay. Its primary appeal is to fishing and watersports enthusiasts who recreate on Lake Michigamme. But for the traveler it offers modern facilities with showers and 147 sites with electric service. There is also a 40 unit rustic campground and a park store.

Go Here for more information on Van Riper State Park

One summer weekend evening traveling through this area we found Van Riper full but found a private campground a few miles west with a few vacancies. We found Michigamme Shores campground adequate and fairly priced.