Michigan Outdoor Guide: Campgrounds, Trails, Beaches & RV Spots
Key Takeaways
- Sleeping Bear Dunes was ranked the #1 beach in the entire Great Lakes region in a well-known national survey — this isn’t just a good Michigan beach, it’s a genuinely exceptional one
- The Upper Peninsula (Pictured Rocks, Porcupine Mountains) and Lower Peninsula (Sleeping Bear, Ludington, Holland) are two very different Michigan trips — decide which one you’re doing before you book
- Ludington State Park is the single best all-around family camping destination in the state — dunes, two lakes, and a lighthouse, all in one park
- Michigan requires a Recreation Passport for state park entry on top of camping fees — factor it into your budget
Two Peninsulas, Two Different Trips
Michigan’s Upper and Lower Peninsulas offer genuinely different experiences — the UP is wilder and more remote, the LP has the state’s best beach towns and easiest family logistics. Most families should pick one per trip.
Campgrounds
Ludington State Park — Ludington
The premier lower-Michigan camping destination, sitting between Lake Michigan and Hamlin Lake with over 350 electric sites and a genuine dune-and-lighthouse landscape. If you’re only doing one Michigan trip, make it this one.
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Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park (Union Bay) — Ontonagon
100 modern sites on Lake Superior, with 29 coveted lakefront spots. The gateway to Lake of the Clouds and the Escarpment Trail — the best UP base for a family that wants real wilderness scenery without going full backcountry.
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Warren Dunes State Park — Sawyer
Three miles of Lake Michigan shoreline and towering dunes, about 52 miles from Chicago — the closest quality Lake Michigan beach camping to the city.
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Grand Haven State Park — Grand Haven
174 all-electric sites literally on the beach at the mouth of the Grand River. You camp next to the water and walk to downtown — genuinely unique, though sites are close together with no shade. Books out within minutes 6 months ahead.
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Tahquamenon Falls State Park — Paradise
Camping near the UP’s famous root-beer-colored waterfalls. Fills quickly in peak season — book early.
Learn moreHiking Trails
Chapel Loop — Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore (Munising)
Roughly 10 miles past Chapel Falls, Chapel Rock’s lone pine growing on a sea arch, and dramatic Lake Superior cliffs. The park’s signature hike — a real commitment, but the best single hike in the UP.
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Escarpment Trail — Porcupine Mountains
Rated among the best hikes in the entire Midwest — high rocky cliffs above Lake of the Clouds. Mostly unshaded, so bring water and real bug spray.
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Empire Bluff Trail — Sleeping Bear Dunes
An easy-to-moderate 1.5-mile round trip to bluff-top Lake Michigan views. One of the best short hikes in northern Michigan, on a clear day you can see all the way to South Manitou Island.
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Dune Climb — Sleeping Bear Dunes
Steep and deceptively strenuous — kids love the sand climb, adults sweat more than expected. About 4 miles out-and-back to the lake.
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Sugarloaf Mountain & Black Rocks (Presque Isle Park) — Marquette
Short climbs to Lake Superior overlooks, with a genuine cliff-jumping spot at Black Rocks for older kids and confident swimmers.
Learn moreBeaches
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
Ranked #1 in a well-known national Great Lakes beach survey — ahead of every other beach in the region. Requires a National Parks pass. Within the lakeshore:
Learn more- North Bar Lake — the best pick for young kids, a shallow warm protected lake with a short walk to Lake Michigan waves
- Glen Haven Beach — accessible, near the historic village
- Platte River Point — where the river meets the lake, warm and shallow with a sandbar
Holland State Park (Ottawa Beach)
One of Michigan’s most-visited beaches, with the iconic “Big Red” lighthouse and sugar-fine sand. Arrive early on weekends.
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Sand Point Beach — Pictured Rocks (Munising)
A top-tier Lake Superior beach in its own right — colder water, dramatic cliff backdrop.
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Petoskey State Park (Little Traverse Bay) — Petoskey
Clear water and the best public spot in Michigan to hunt for actual Petoskey stones, especially after storms.
Learn moreRV Spots
Ludington State Park — Ludington
Over 350 electric sites with a dump station and mini-cabins — the flagship Lower Peninsula RV base, and it books instantly once reservations open.
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Grand Haven State Park — Grand Haven
All-electric paved sites right on the beach — big-rig accessible, though there’s no shade and sites sit close together.
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P.J. Hoffmaster State Park — Norton Shores
297 sites with 30/50-amp electric, a trail leading directly to the beach, and a quieter feel than Grand Haven.
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Porcupine Mountains (Union Bay) — Ontonagon
100 electric sites on Lake Superior, with lakefront big-rig sites available — the best UP option for RVers.
Learn moreNote: Michigan requires a Recreation Passport for state park entry, separate from camping fees — factor it into your trip budget.
Planning Your Trip
If beaches are the priority, Sleeping Bear Dunes should anchor the trip — it’s genuinely the best in the region, not just a strong regional pick. Pair it with Ludington for the best combined camping-and-beach experience in the Lower Peninsula. If you’re headed to the UP instead, base at Porcupine Mountains and build your days around the Escarpment Trail and a Pictured Rocks visit — but treat it as a separate trip from the Lower Peninsula, not an add-on.