Get ready for sand-crusted swimsuits and reading by firefly light! Here are some hidden gems for Great Lakes camping that will help you escape the throngs of people and embrace your inner mermaid.
While Put-In-Bay is a popular summer destination on Lake Erie for tourists, the waterfront campsites on Middle Bass Island are less popular and incredibly scenic.
If you don’t mind roughing it a bit, consider one of the primitive hike-in campsites at Negwegon State Park, a wild park on Lake Huron's western shore.
Just a stone’s throw from Gary, Indiana, the spectacular Indiana Dunes National Park boasts some of the most biologically rich ecosystems in the nation.
Characterized by lush forests, native wildflowers, rolling sand dunes, and boggy wetlands, this park is home to one of the most beautiful campgrounds on Lake Michigan.
The most remote campground is Popple Campground, with only 7 sites. You have to hike 3.5 miles from the ferry dock, but that first Lake Michigan sunrise will make it all worth it!
Located on the largest of all the Apostle Islands in Lake Superior, Big Bay State Park can only be reached by boat. After that, it’s a 6-mile drive, walk, or bike ride to Big Bay State Park.
Located on Michigan’s Upper Peninsula on Lake Superior , this park stretches for 42 miles with 15 miles of craggy cliffs. There are 100 miles of trails, wild beaches, and great camping.
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, MI
Ready to camp?
Read our complete overview of the best and most secluded camping spots on the Great Lakes!