If you’re looking for picturesque places to visit for your next RV trip, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is an all-around crowd-pleaser. Pictured Rocks is located in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, on the northern side of the famous Mackinac Bridge–and looks like a scene straight out of a fairytale.
A trip to Pictured Rocks will be unlike anything you’ve ever seen in the U.S. Best of all, there are plenty of great campgrounds and RV parks within driving distance of the Pictured Rocks, making it the perfect destination for an RV trip.
Best RV-Friendly Campgrounds Near Pictured Rocks: Overall Top Picks
If you’re looking for the best overall campgrounds and RV parks near the Pictured Rocks cliffs and lakeshore, here are our top selections:
#1: Wandering Wheels Campground
- Location: Munising, MI
- Cost Per Night/Week/Month: $35-$50 per day / no discount for weekly or monthly stays
- RV Size Restrictions: Varies by site
- Top Amenities: Pet friendly, 30/50 AMP and full-hookup options, swimming pool, shower house, hiking trails
- Nearby Attractions: Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Downtown Munising, Grand Island
Wandering Wheels Campground is a great RV camping option, whether you’re traveling alone or as part of a larger group. Here, you’ll find a mix of group sites, cabin rentals, and a wide range of pull-through and back-in sites that can accommodate RVs of every size.
When staying at Wandering Wheels, you’ll only be 10 minutes from the Pictured Rocks and Downtown Munising areas, making it a great central location for your adventures. Once you’ve taken in the local sights and sounds, you can relax at the campground or take a hike or bike ride, as the campground offers 440 acres of hiking and biking trails!
#2: Bay Furnace Campground
- Location: Munising, MI
- Cost Per Night/Week/Month: $22 per day / no discount for weekly or monthly stays
- RV Size Restrictions: Varies by site
- Top Amenities: Drinking water, vault toilets, beachcombing, lake access, dumping station, fire ring, picnic table
- Nearby Attractions: Grand Island
If you’re looking to rough it on your RV trip to Pictured Rocks, Bay Furnace Campground is the place to do it. It’s located inside Hiawatha National Forest, meaning it doesn’t offer traditional amenities such as electricity, full hookups, or water at every site.
However, there are 50 beautiful and rustic campsites, a community water spigot, and vault bathrooms to serve your needs. You’ll also have access to the Bay Furnace Day Use area, which includes Lake Superior beaches and the option to go fishing, kayaking, or swimming in the lake.
#3: Otter Lake Campground
- Location: Munising, MI
- Cost Per Night/Week/Month: $37 – $50 / no discount for weekly or monthly stays
- RV Size Restrictions: Most sites are built for 20/30 amp hookups, and only one 50-amp site.
- Top Amenities: Access to Otter Lake and the connected beach, Octoball, a basketball court, playground, fire rings, picnic tables, dump station, laundry facilities
- Nearby Attractions: Hiawatha National Forest & downtown Munising
If roughing isn’t for you and you want the amenities of a traditional campground, Otter Lake Campground is an excellent option. It is located on 92 acres of land and is surrounded by Lake Superior shoreline and Hiawatha National Forest–while still being just minutes from downtown Munising. The best part? You’ll have quick access to a wide range of indoor and outdoor activities.
Otter Lake is also family-owned and operated, promising a true family feel. Every site is well-maintained and clean, and you can choose between rustic, grassy, and lakefront sites. The park is also pet-friendly and features a dog-walking trail, so there’s no need to leave your furry friends at home!
#4: Munising Tourist Park Campground
- Location: Munising, MI
- Cost Per Night/Week/Month: $40-$51 per day / no discount for weekly or monthly stays
- RV Size Restrictions: Vary by site
- Top Amenities: Free Wifi, shower house, playground, dump station, no camping fees other than your nightly rate
- Nearby Attractions: Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Miners Pasty Kitchen
With a history dating back to 1924, the Munising Tourist Park Campground is one of the oldest campgrounds and RV parks in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. It’s also located on the banks of Lake Superior, offering lakeside campsites.
Munising is also one of the closest campgrounds to Pictured Rocks, as it’s about a 15- —to 20-minute drive to the Chapel Loop trail, which leads back to Pictured Rocks
Munising Tourist Park is actually where my wife and I stayed when we visited Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, and it was one of the best experiences we’ve ever had.
This campground caters to all types of campers, whether you prefer full or partial hookup sites or rustic camping. It operates on the honor system, which means you can check in at any time and are responsible for stopping in at the front office to pay on your way out..
#5: Munising / Pictured Rocks KOA Journey
- Location: Wetmore, MI
- Cost Per Night/Week/Month: Contact KOA for pricing details
- RV Size Restrictions: None
- Top Amenities: Swimming pool, firewood, dog park, pavilion, wifi, cable TV
- Nearby Attractions: Wagner Falls Scenic Site, Hiawatha National Forest, Pictured Rocks, downtown Munising
The Munising / Pictured Rocks KOA Journey is arguably the nicest and least rustic RV park in the area surrounding Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. The Pictured Rocks RV park offers all the standard perks and amenities of a KOA, including a dog park, Wi-Fi, a swimming pool, and no RV size restrictions.
It’s also just down the road from the Wagner Falls Scenic Site, Hiawatha National Forest, and, of course, the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. The campground also offers cabins and plenty of tent sites if you’re traveling with people who don’t have an RV.
#6: AuTrain Lake Campground
- Location: AuTrain, MI
- Cost Per Night/Per Week/Per Month: $22 per night / no discount for weekly or monthly stays
- RV Size Restrictions: Varies by site
- Top Amenities: Vault toilets, water spigots, picnic tables, fire pits, lake access
- Nearby Attractions: AuTrain Lake, Hiawatha National Forest, Rock River Canyon Wilderness, the sandstone cliffs of Pictured Rocks
Getting back to the rustic side of things, AuTrain Lake Campground is another excellent option. However, when I say rustic, I mean it. This little campground of 37 sites is located inside Hiawatha National Forest, which means no water, electricity, or sewer hookups.
There are, however, vault restrooms and a community water spigot, and every site has its own picnic table and fire pit. You’ll also have access to some of the best fishing, water skiing, boating, and swimming in the Upper Peninsula, courtesy of the 830-acre AuTrain Lake.
#7: Jack Pine Lodge Campground
- Location: Manistique, MI
- Cost Per Night/Week/Month: $42+ / contact for weekly and monthly discounts / seasonal rate of $2,499 plus electric
- RV Size Restrictions: None
- Top Amenities: 30/50 amp and full hookup options, shower house, laundry facilities, pet friendly, sanitation station, cabin and lodge rentals, on-site bar and grill
- Nearby Attractions: Hiawatha National Forest, Pictured Rocks, ATV and snowmobile trails
Situated in the Hiawatha National Forest along Highway 94, Jack Pine Lodge Campground offers a luxurious camping experience. It’s one of the few campgrounds in the area that offers 50-amp connections and full hookup sites, making it the most RV-friendly option.
In addition to being within 30 minutes of Munising and Pictured Rocks, the campground itself offers plenty to do. The campground’s Bar & Grill hosts annual events like the Long Riders Relic Ride and Poker Snowmobile Runs and offers some of the best pizzas and roasted hog in the UP. You’ll also have access to hundreds of acres of hiking, snowmobiling, and ATV trails, not to mention fishing and canoeing spots.
Final Thoughts
Once you’re finished exploring Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore (and anything else you want to see in the Upper Peninsula), you’ll need somewhere to store your RV. When choosing a storage location, it’s important to pick a spot where your RV will be safe, secure, and ready to go for your next trip.
If your own property doesn’t fit the bill, consider using Neighbor, a peer-to-peer storage marketplace. Neighbor offers safe and affordable RV storage near you so that you can check in on your rig whenever necessary!
Frequently Asked Questions
Are There Free Campgrounds in Michigan?
Yes, there are some backcountry camping options along the North Country Trail, which leads back to Pictured Rocks. However, you must secure a permit, and all sites are rustic and tent-only.
How Much Time Is Needed at Pictured Rocks?
You should give yourself at least one day to traverse the hiking trails leading back to Pictured Rocks and another day for either a boat or glass-bottom boat tour of Lake Superior.
What Is the Number One Campground in Michigan?
There are a number of great campgrounds in northern Michigan. In addition to the options in this article, Twelvemile Beach Campground, Little Beaver Lake Campground, and Hurricane River Campground are also great options.
