20 stunning Michigan campsites worth a weekend road trip

By Metro Times Staff on Wed, Jun 7, 2017 at 4:47 pm

Michigan is home to stunning, picturesque campsites, each of which offers something unique and appealing in its own right. Whether you’re looking for a spot near home or willing to travel hours away, this list is the perfect place to start planning your outdoor summer getaway.

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Lake Margthe
M-72 & McIntyres Landing Rd.,Grayling; 989-348-7068
Drive a few hours up north to experience good camping and more inside Lake Margrethe State Forest Campground. The site offers numerous rustic sites for small tents and medium trailers, as well as vehicle routes with opportunities for hiking, cross-country skiing, fishing, boating, and picnicking. Photo via Instagram, @dustin_goodspeed

Ludington
8800 W. M-116, Ludington; 231-843-2423
Grab your hiking gear and hit the park's 5,300-acres to see wildlife up close. Boat across picturesque Lake Michigan, or enjoy the sun on Hamlin Lake. Soak in some good folk music at the Ludington's Amphitheater after a day of learning about the Great Lakes and Big Sable Point Lighthouse. Photo via Shutterstock.

Muskegon State Park
3560 Memorial Dr., North Muskegon; 231-744-3480
With over 1,100 acres on Lake Michigan and Muskegon Lake, 12 miles of groomed hiking trails, and modern and semi-modern campsites, this park has a little bit of everything. Take in all Muskegon has to offer through sunbathing, swimming, picnicking, and ice fishing. Photo via Instagram, @brianbialik

Porcupine
33303 Headquarters Rd., Ontonagon; 906-885-5275
Make sure to bring a map to navigate this 60,000-acre outdoor wonderland. The "Porkies" — located three miles west of Silver City — includes modern, rustic, and yurt lodging. Take in scenic waterfalls and stunning sunsets while hiking 90 miles of foot trails. Photo via Shutterstock.

Ossieneke
Griffin St., Ossineke; 989-734-2543
This is a perfect place to go for a campground picnic or barbeque. Ossineke has tables with adjoining grills, plus 42 sites for tents and small trailers, sandy beaches, a white pine and oak forest, and a barrier-free boardwalk out to Lake Huron. Photo via Instagram, @ecenglund

Newaygo State Park
2793 Beech Street, Newaygo; 231-856-4452
Newaygo State Park — located about three hours west of Detroit — is a 99-site rustic campground set atop 20-foot embankments overlooking the Hardy Dam Pond, a beautiful six-mile flooding of the Muskegon River perfect for boating and fishing. The sites also offers picnic tables and fire rings. Photo via Instagram, @madison_mach

Sleeping Bear Dunes
9922 Front St., Empire; 231-326-4700
The park offers visitors access to forests, dune formations, beaches, and wildlife. It is a perfect family hangout with climbing, swimming, trail walking, a 1871 lighthouse, and historic farms available for sightseeing. Photo via Instagram, @puremittigan

Canoe
Canoe Harbor Rd., Grayling; 989-821-6125
Enjoy canoeing, trout fishing, hiking pathway, and 54 sites for tent and small trailer usage on the South Branch Au Sable River. With no reservations required, all you need is a recreation passport, and the campground can be yours. Photo via Instagram, @lesliemcintyre

Hartwick Pines
3612 State Park Rd., Grayling; 989-348-7068
Hartwick Pines State Park is a 9,672 acre scenic beauty, one of the largest state parks in the Lower Peninsula. The go-to feature of this park is the 49-acre forest of old growth pines, which serves as a historical artifact and a reminder of the importance of the pine lumber industry. Photo via Instagram, @africabartz

Indian Lake State Park
8970 W. County Road 442, Manistique; 906-341-2355
Located on Indian Lake, the fourth largest inland lake in the Upper Peninsula with an area of 8,400 acres, Indian Lake State Park is the perfect spot for relaxation. The park is made of two units, three miles apart, and separated by the Indian Lake water. Amenities include camping, hunting, fishing, hiking, beach and beach house, picnic area, boat access site and launch, and metal detecting area. Photo via Instagram, @mattyboi1974