Visiting Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is an amazing experience. There is a ton to see and do in the area, including hiking, taking in the scenery from one of the many viewpoints and of course, spending time on the water. However, one great option to really put yourself right in the scenery is to go camping in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. There are camping options inside the park that you can drive to, some that you have to hike to, and a good number of options outside the park. Some are very spartan, while others have full hookups and amenities if you plan to stay for more than just a couple of days.
We put this guide together for you to help you figure out the best campground for your situation when visiting Pictured Rocks. We’ll cover information about each campground (including reservation info, services offered and what’s nearby. We’ll also include info on where to get supplies in the area and details about a few campgrounds outside of the park.
In addition to what we include in this guide, you can also check out details about the park in our other blogs on Things to Do in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore as well as the Best Hikes in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.
Ahead of departing on your trip and being out of cell service, get our itinerary for Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore! We cover all you need to know about visiting Pictured Rocks, including the best hikes, maps, packing lists and much more!
PICTURED ROCKS NATIONAL LAKESHORE CAMPING: OVERVIEW
While Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore isn’t one of the larger parks in the National Park System, there are quite a few options for camping in the park. There are three established drive-in campgrounds and numerous hike-in only campgrounds.
The campgrounds are fairly small, so they do fill up fast and advance reservations are pretty much a must. All spots are good, but just be advised that they are in the woods and many of them have sand (as they are on the banks of Lake Superior), so you need to be sure you are prepared for plenty of sand at your campsite as well as bugs!
Most of the sites are pretty small, so be sure to check when making your reservation to be sure that your camping setup will fit!
The typical season for these campgrounds is May through October, and reservations typically open up six months in advance of your desired date.
PICTURED ROCKS NATIONAL LAKESHORE CAMPING SUPPLIES
As always, we recommend you stock up on what you need ahead of getting your campsite setup. The good news is that there are places to get groceries on the way into the park.
If you are coming from the west, there are several grocery stores in Munising, MI. On the eastern side you can get food in Grand Marais, MI. If you are need of camping supplies or general items at a big box store, then the best place to go is Marquette, MI. Here you can find multiple places to pickup goods, and it’s only about an hour west of Muising, MI.
PICTURED ROCKS NATIONAL LAKESHORE CAMPGROUNDS: DETAILS AND CAMPGROUND MAPS
Hurricane River Campground
Map of Hurricane River Campground in Picture Rocks National Lakeshore, courtesy of the National Park Service
- Location: Hurricane River Campground is located near the Hurricane River and the Au Sable Light Station within Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. It is the eastern-most campground in the park. To get here from Munising, head east on H-58 for about 16 miles. Turn left on Hurricane River Campground Road and follow the signs to the campground.
- Accessible via: Car.
- Reservations: The campground is open May through October, by reservation only. Visit recreation.gov to make your reservation. Be sure to make your reservation early!
- Capacity: 21 sites within two loops. One of the loops is generator free, but since quiet hours are between 8 pm and 8 am, all generators will be off when it’s time to go to bed.
- Electricity / Water Hookups / Dump Station: No / No / No.
- Toilets / Showers / Dishwashing station: Vault toilets, no showers and no dishwashing station.
- Additional details: Each site has a fire grate, picnic table and bear-proof locker (for storage of food). There are also campfire rings at every site.
- Nearby: Right from the campground you can get on the Au Sable Light Station Trail (3.1-miles, round-trip). This easy hike leads to the Au Sable Light Stations, which is isolated with no other way of getting here! There is also access right down to the water from the campground.
Hurricane River Campground in Picture Rocks National Lakeshore, courtesy of the National Park Service
Twelvemile Beach Campground
Map of Twelvemile Beach Campground in Picture Rocks National Lakeshore, courtesy of the National Park Service
- Location: The Twelvemile Campground is just west of the Hurricane River Campground on the shores of Lake Superior. From Munising, head east on H-58 for approximately 25 miles. Turn left onto the Twelvemile Beach Campground Road and follow the signs to the campground.
- Accessible via: Car.
- Reservations: The campground is open May through October, by reservation only. Visit recreation.gov to make your reservation. Again, get your reservation early!
- Capacity: 36 sites within one long road stretching through the campground. The eastern part fo the campground is generator free, and thus a bit quieter during the day.
- Electricity / Water Hookups / Dump Station: No / No / No.
- Toilets / Showers / Dishwashing station: Vault toilets, no showers and no dishwashing station.
- Additional details: Each site has a fire grate, picnic table and bear-proof locker (for storage of food). There are also campfire rings at every site.
- Nearby: The biggest attraction here is the proximity to Twelvemile Beach. From here you’ll have stunning views of Lake Superior and unforgettable sunsets. You can also hope on the White Birch Trail, which is an easy and short (2.0-miles, round-trip) trail that helps you learn about the natural history of the area.
Twelvemile Beach Campground in Picture Rocks National Lakeshore, courtesy of the National Park Service
Little Beaver Lake Campground
Map of Little Beaver Campground in Picture Rocks National Lakeshore, courtesy of the National Park Service
- Location: The Little Beaver Lake Campground is located near Beaver Lake (surprise!), which is on the east-central side of the park. To get here, head east from Muising on H-58 for about 20 miles. Turn left onto Little Beaver Lake Road and follow signs to the campground.
- Accessible via: Car.
- Reservations: The campground is open May through October, by reservation only. Visit recreation.gov to make your reservation. Reserve well ahead of your visit!
- Capacity: 8 sites on one loop.
- Electricity / Water Hookups / Dump Station: No / No / No.
- Toilets / Showers / Dishwashing station: Vault toilets, no showers and no dishwashing station.
- Additional details: Each site has a fire grate, picnic table and bear-proof locker (for storage of food). There are also campfire rings at every site. This campground is very quiet, but you don’t have access to the beach from here, at least not too easily.
- Nearby: You can hike right around the Little Beaver Lake Trail, which is about 1.5-miles (round-trip). There is also a boat ramp right to Beaver Lake.
Little Beaver Campground in Picture Rocks National Lakeshore, courtesy of the National Park Service
PICTURED ROCKS NATIONAL LAKESHORE GROUP CAMPING
There are no drive-in group campsites in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.
BACKCOUNTRY CAMPING IN PICTURED ROCKS NATIONAL LAKESHORE
There are 13 designated backcountry campsites in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, and all require you to hike to them. Each campground has up to six campsites, and each is first-come, first-served. You do need to obtain a backcountry camping permit ahead of your travels.
CAMPING NEAR PICTURED ROCKS NATIONAL LAKESHORE
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is quite popular. Because of the popularity of camping in the park, or perhaps because you have a desire to be in a bit of a quitter camping location, there are some great campgrounds to consider outside of the park in the Hiawatha National Forest. Of course, there are private campgrounds to consider, but these are all run by the Forest Service and are quite good. These are a few:
Bay Furnace Campground
Map of Bay Furnace Campground in the Hiawatha National Forest, courtesy of the U.S. Forest Service
- Location: The Bay Furnace Campground is located 12 miles east from Munising, MI on H-58.
- Accessible via: Car.
- Reservations: The campground is open May through October, by reservation only. Visit recration.gov to make your reservation. Reserve well ahead of your visit!
- Capacity: 20 sites on one loop.
- Electricity / Water Hookups / Dump Station: No / No / No.
- Toilets / Showers / Dishwashing station: Vault toilets, no showers and no dishwashing station.
- Additional details: Each site has a fire ring and picnic table. There are some good views of Lake Superior that is within a short walk of all the campgrounds. The sites are mostly wooded, with a few out in the open.
- Nearby: Right at the campground is the Bay Furnace Historic Site, which is worth checking out!
AuTrain Lake Campground
Map of AuTrain Lake Campground in the Hiawatha National Forest, courtesy of the U.S. Forest Service
- Location: The AuTrain Lake Campground is near AuTrain Lake in the town of AuTrain, about 8 miles west of Munising on AuTrain Lake Road, which is reached by turning off M-28 onto Forest Lake Road.
- Accessible via: Car.
- Reservations: The campground is open May through October, by reservation only. Visit recration.gov to make your reservation. Reserve well ahead of your visit!
- Capacity: 42 sites on one loop.
- Electricity / Water Hookups / Dump Station: No / No / No.
- Toilets / Showers / Dishwashing station: Vault toilets, no showers and no dishwashing station.
- Additional details: Each site has a fire ring and picnic table. The views to Au Train Lake from the campground are awesome, and there is good fishing and amenities close by in the town of Au Train.
FURTHER INFORMATION ON PICTURED ROCKS NATIONAL LAKESHORE FROM JUST GO TRAVEL STUDIOS
- Be sure to check out our other articles on Things to Do in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore as and Best Hikes in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.
- After your vacation, send us your photos and we can make amazing custom, vintage travel posters with your own custom wording!
