Canoeing/Kayaking

Indian Lake RV Resort & Campground

57 RV Sites

Indian Lake RV Resort and Campground in Manistique, Michigan, offers 57 RV sites on the shores of Indian Lake in the Upper Peninsula, with 30 and 50-amp service and rigs accepted to 50 feet on a big-rig-friendly layout. Full-hookup back-in, water-and-electric back-in, and pull-through categories join a beach, cabins, and dump station in Schoolcraft County. Fifty-seven sites run in back-in, back-in water-and-electric, and pull-thru categories, carrying water, sewer, and electric where noted, sized to 50 feet, with fire pits and picnic tables. Confirm your tier before booking, as the water-and-electric category does not carry sewer at the site. Cabins round out the lodging. A laundry, dump station, and restrooms handle the practical side. A beach on the property supports swimming, boating, canoeing, kayaking, and fishing. Hiking runs through the surrounding forest, and the birding along the lakeshore and the nearby river is genuinely productive. A golf course and a state park are nearby. Pets are welcome. Indian Lake is the fourth-largest inland lake in Michigan, and this stretch of the Upper Peninsula's Big Lakes country sits between Lake Michigan's north shore and the waterfalls and birch forest of the central UP. Manistique's boardwalk and lighthouse are close, with Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Kitch-iti-kipi Big Spring, and the Seney National Wildlife Refuge all within reach — an unusual concentration of natural attractions for a quiet corner of the state. The UP season is short and concentrated. Summer is peak, with fall color drawing a strong second wave. Reserve well ahead for July and August, and check operating dates for the shoulder months.

from $42/night

Thornton's Rafting Resort and Campground

17 RV Sites, 4 Cabins, 3 Tent Sites, 1 Mobile Home, 2 Onsite RV/Trailers

Thornton's Rafting Resort and Campground in Athelstane, Wisconsin, provides RV sites, cabins, and tent camping alongside the Peshtigo River's whitewater rafting access in Marinette County's Northwoods country — a family-friendly resort whose on-site Camp Inn bar with billiards, darts, foosball, and video games gives guests the indoor social space that the Peshtigo River country's wet-weather rafting days specifically warrant, and whose proximity to one of Wisconsin's premier whitewater rivers makes it the natural overnight destination for guests coming to paddle the Peshtigo's technical Class II through IV drops. The resort's combination of water recreation access, diverse accommodation, and the social programming that the Camp Inn sustains gives it the multi-dimensional character that river resort campgrounds at their best consistently deliver. RV sites, cabins, and tent camping areas give the resort the accommodation range to serve the full spectrum of Peshtigo River adventure visitors — from families in cabins who want the river adjacent experience without tent camping to hardcore paddlers in tent sites who want the most immersive connection to the river environment. The Camp Inn bar's pool table, darts, foosball, and video games provide the evening social infrastructure that river resort campgrounds sustain most effectively when the outdoor programming shifts indoors after a full day of whitewater. Pets are welcome. The Peshtigo River through Marinette County is Wisconsin's most technically challenging and most widely respected whitewater river — a waterway whose watershed in the Nicolet National Forest and the Peshtigo River State Forest sustains Class II through Class IV rapids across its multiple run sections from the Caldron Falls Flowage downstream to the Lake Noquebay corridor. The First and Second Drop sections on the lower Peshtigo provide the Class IV technical rapids that Wisconsin whitewater kayakers and experienced rafters specifically pursue in a state where the generally flatwater river network makes the Peshtigo's gradient exceptional, while the Upper Peshtigo's continuous Class II-III paddling delivers the sustained exciting water that guided commercial raft trips specifically feature. Marinette County's Northwoods landscape — the Peshtigo River State Forest's 225,000 acres of northern Wisconsin mixed conifer and hardwood forest, the Caldron Falls and High Falls Flowages, and the Mountain Bay State Trail's rail-trail cycling through the Marinette County forest — gives resort guests the complete northern Wisconsin outdoor recreation portfolio beyond the river itself. The Peshtigo Fire Museum in the city of Peshtigo, 30 miles east, commemorates the October 8, 1871 fire that killed approximately 1,500 to 2,500 people on the same night as the Great Chicago Fire — one of the deadliest natural disasters in American history, historically overshadowed by the Chicago fire's greater national news coverage despite its far larger death toll. Thornton's Rafting Resort and Campground operates through the Northwoods season from spring through fall, with the spring high-water rafting season from April through June providing the most powerful and most technically demanding Peshtigo River conditions and the summer season delivering the most comfortable camping weather. Fall color in Marinette County's northern Wisconsin forest peaks from early October through mid-October in a maple, aspen, and birch display that the Peshtigo River corridor specifically frames with river reflections and forested bank foliage that river-level paddling reveals in its most intimate form. Reserve sites and cabins ahead for Memorial Day weekend and the peak spring whitewater season, when Peshtigo River visitor traffic fills the Athelstane corridor's limited accommodation.

from $49/night

Timberline Campground

98 RV Sites

Timberline Campground in Benzonia, Michigan, offers 98 RV sites with 30 and 50-amp service and rigs accepted to 40 feet, in Benzie County's forested lake country. Full-hookup and water-and-electric categories in both back-in and pull-through serve anglers targeting the Betsie River and Lake Michigan's tributary streams, with two-story cabin rentals on site. Ninety-eight sites span full-hookup back-in, water-and-electric back-in, 30-amp pull-through, 50-amp pull-through, and water-and-electric pull-through categories, carrying water, sewer, and electric where noted, sized to 40 feet, with fire pits, picnic tables, and site WiFi. Note the 40-foot cap before booking a larger rig. Two-story cabin rentals round out the accommodations. A general store, laundry, propane fills, dump station, RV storage, restrooms, and showers handle the practical side. An outdoor pool anchors the summer, with a clubhouse, pavilion, playground, and dog park across the grounds and basketball, volleyball, horseshoes, shuffleboard, and corn hole besides. Canoeing, kayaking, hiking, and swimming run from the area, with a golf course nearby. Pets are welcome. The campground's reputation is built on fishing — it is the premier base camp for trout and salmon anglers working the Betsie River system, and that loyal repeat community drives much of its business. Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and Crystal Mountain's year-round resort are both close. Salmon and steelhead runs drive the sharpest demand spikes alongside summer family season. Reserve well ahead for both.

from $40/night

Wildwood Outdoor Adventures & Campground

73 RV Sites, 10 Tent Sites

Wildwood Outdoor Adventures and Campground in Eagle River, Wisconsin, offers 73 RV sites and 10 tent sites directly on the Eagle River Chain of 28 Lakes, with 30 and 50-amp service and rigs accepted up to 102 feet. Pond water view and premium back-in categories in both full-hookup and water-and-electric versions join boat docks, kayak rentals, and floating boat slips. Seventy-three sites span pond water view back-in 30/50-amp, pond water view back-in 30/50-amp water-and-electric, premium back-in 30/50-amp, and premium back-in 30/50-amp water-and-electric categories, carrying water, sewer, and electric where noted, sized to 102 feet, with fire pits and picnic tables. Every category comes in both a full-hookup and a water-and-electric version, which lets you choose the setting and the hookup level independently — a sensible structure. One hundred two feet accommodates the longest coaches with a tow. Every site gets a fire ring and picnic table. Ten tent sites round out the lodging. A general store, laundry, dump station, restrooms, and private family shower rooms handle the practical side. Floating boat slips, a full dock, and kayak rentals open the chain for boating, canoeing, and kayaking, with a lake, pond, river, walking trails, biking, a playground, community fire pit, and productive birding filling the rest. The Eagle River Chain is the largest freshwater chain in the world — 28 glacially carved lakes connected end to end across more than 3,000 acres. Summer is decisively the season. Reserve well ahead.

Tippy Dam Campground and Cabins

17 RV Sites, 3 Cabins, 11 Tent Sites

Tippy Dam Campground and Cabins sits in the heart of Manistee National Forest in Wellston, Michigan, positioned directly on the Manistee River at one of the state's most celebrated trout and salmon fishing destinations. The campground takes its name from the Tippy Dam—a hydroelectric facility on the Manistee that creates the impoundment responsible for the world-class steelhead and chinook salmon runs that draw anglers from across the Midwest each fall and spring. The campground provides 24 electric sites and 11 non-electric sites, all with picnic tables and fire pits, plus a bathhouse with showers that received a complete upgrade in fall 2024. A water fill station and dump station handle logistical needs for self-contained rigs. Rustic cabins sleep up to six people each and come equipped with bunk beds, a propane heating stove, solar-powered lighting, a table and chairs, and a fire circle outside—a genuinely remote feel despite the convenient road access. An accessible fishing pier extends over the Manistee River from the parking lot, putting productive water within reach for campers of all mobility levels. The tippy dam campground is pet-friendly and operates year-round for campers who time their visits around the seasonal fish runs. Manistee National Forest surrounds the campground on all sides, creating one of Michigan's most immersive forest settings—stands of northern hardwood and conifer, sandy two-track roads, and the wide, cold Manistee River moving steadily through it all. The river here is wide, dark, and deep in the pool below the dam, an ideal holding environment for the large salmon and steelhead that stack up during fall and spring runs. The North Country Trail and Manistee River Trail both pass through the area, offering multi-day backpacking routes and day hiking options through the national forest with river views and backcountry scenery that rivals anything in Michigan's Lower Peninsula. The Manistee River downstream of Tippy Dam is one of Michigan's premier canoe and kayak routes, offering a gentle float through forested national forest land with a series of riverside campgrounds accessible only by water. Several liveries in the Wellston-Mesick area offer canoe, kayak, and tube rentals with shuttle service, making it easy to run a half-day or full-day river trip. Caberfae Peaks ski area is about 20 miles east and offers winter recreation once the snow arrives. The resort town of Cadillac, about 30 miles east, provides full commercial services, waterfront dining on Lake Cadillac, and additional paddling on the connected Lakes Cadillac and Mitchell. Tippy Dam Campground is one of Michigan's genuine four-season destinations—steelhead in spring, canoeing and hiking through summer, salmon runs in September and October, and snowshoeing and ice fishing through winter. The fall salmon run is the calendar's peak, attracting serious anglers who know that the Manistee River below Tippy Dam ranks among the most productive chinook salmon fisheries in the Great Lakes system. Electric sites fill quickly during the salmon season and summer weekends, so reservations are important for peak periods. If you're looking for a Michigan campground where the river itself is the primary attraction—and fishing, paddling, and trail miles define the daily agenda—Tippy Dam Campground and Cabins delivers the real thing.

from $32/night

Boyne Country RV Park and Campground

24 RV Sites

In Boyne City, Michigan—on the southern shore of Lake Charlevoix in the Charlevoix County community at the heart of Northern Michigan's most celebrated four-season resort region—Boyne Country RV Park and Campground provides 30 sites within minutes of restaurants, shops, and the full commercial and recreational infrastructure of a genuine Northern Michigan resort town, with a modern service building featuring hot and cold water, flush toilets, and showers, a disc golf course, and a mini nature preserve alongside the lake, river, mountain, and forest access that makes Boyne City one of the most completely equipped recreational communities in the Great Lakes region. The campground's town-center proximity means guests walk to dinner rather than driving, and the lake, ski, and trail access starts within minutes. Sites range from 10 full hookup sites with sewer, water, and 30-amp electric to 20 additional sites with 20 and 30-amp electric service, all on level, large 35-by-50-foot pads that accommodate the variety of rigs the Northern Michigan camping season attracts. A dump station and adequate parking serve the property's logistical needs, and recreation areas and a mini nature preserve on the grounds provide the immediate natural character that makes the campground feel genuinely wooded despite its walkable proximity to town. A general store handles daily supply needs, and the community fire pit creates the evening gathering space that Northern Michigan's cool nights make particularly inviting from Memorial Day through September. Boyne City sits at the head of Lake Charlevoix—Michigan's third-largest inland lake at 17,260 acres and 72 miles of shoreline—in a setting where the lake's sailing, boating, fishing, and the surrounding forest and resort infrastructure create one of the most complete outdoor recreation environments in the northern Lower Peninsula. The Boyne River flows through town from the east, and the surrounding Charlevoix County landscape of hardwood and conifer forest, inland lakes, and the Lake Michigan shoreline accessible across the Charlevoix peninsula creates the natural context for the four-season resort culture that Boyne City has developed. Boyne Mountain, seven miles southeast in Boyne Falls, operates one of Michigan's premier four-season ski and golf resorts with the Alpine Slide, zip lines, and lift-served mountain biking in summer and downhill skiing on 60 trails in winter. The nearby community of Charlevoix, 12 miles west on Lake Michigan, provides the Earl Young Mushroom Houses—the whimsical, organic-shaped stone cottages designed by eccentric architect Earl Young in the mid-20th century—the Venetian Festival on Pine River Channel, and the ferry service to Beaver Island, Michigan's most remote inhabited island 32 miles offshore in Lake Michigan. Petoskey, 15 miles north, adds the historic Gaslight District, Petoskey State Park, and the Petoskey stone beaches where the fossilized coral specimens unique to this area of Lake Michigan's shoreline can be collected. Boyne Country RV Park operates seasonally in Northern Michigan's outdoor recreation calendar, with the prime season running from Memorial Day through Labor Day for summer lake and outdoor recreation, with some fall foliage season extension through mid-October when Charlevoix County's hardwood forests produce the color display that makes Northern Michigan's autumn one of the Midwest's most photographed seasonal events. Reserve your site at Boyne Country and let Lake Charlevoix, Boyne Mountain, and the walkable character of one of Northern Michigan's finest resort towns deliver the full Great Lakes resort experience.

from $45/night

Whispering Surf Campground at Bass Lake

37 RV Sites, 1 Cabin, 6 Tent Sites, 2 Cottages

Whispering Surf Campground at Bass Lake in Pentwater, Michigan, offers a serene and picturesque lakeside camping retreat on Bass Lake in Oceana County, combining direct lake access with the proximity to Lake Michigan's pristine beaches and the natural beauty of western Michigan's lakeshore country in a setting where the sounds of water and woodland create the peaceful ambient environment that defines the Great Lakes camping experience at its most characteristic. Positioned a short distance from Pentwater's charming resort village and the Lake Michigan shoreline, the campground provides a quieter and more intimate alternative to the crowded public beaches while maintaining easy access to the coast. The campground accommodates guests in a mix of full hookup RV sites, cabin rentals, and tent spaces, with boat docks, a beach, dog park, pet washing station, playground, and walking trails providing the amenity combination that supports multi-day family stays. Fishing, boating, canoeing, kayaking, and paddleboarding on Bass Lake give guests multiple water recreation options from the campground's own shoreline, and the stargazing enabled by Oceana County's relatively dark skies adds a celestial dimension to evenings on the lake that western Michigan's low urban density makes genuinely rewarding. Horseshoes and picnicking complete the traditional campground recreation roster. Bass Lake is a clear inland lake typical of western Michigan's glacial lake-dense coastal landscape, where kettle lakes, outwash ponds, and the connected waterways of the Great Lakes' tributary systems create a paddling and fishing environment of remarkable variety within a compact geographic area. The lake's sandy bottom and clean water provide swimming conditions that local families have enjoyed across generations, and the morning calm on Bass Lake before the breeze develops offers some of the most tranquil paddling available in the Pentwater area without the fetch and chop that Lake Michigan's size generates on windy afternoons. Pentwater's village character—a small, well-preserved resort community with a municipal marina, boutique shops, and a walkable commercial district—provides the authentic Michigan lake town experience that summer visitors seek without the scale and development pressure of larger resort communities. Lake Michigan's Silver Lake State Park and Mears State Park, both accessible within 10 miles north and south of Pentwater respectively, protect exceptional dune environments including the Silver Lake Dunes' OHV-accessible sand hills and the pristine swimming beaches of Mears. The nearby Manistee National Forest provides inland hiking access and additional campground alternatives for guests who want to explore the broader region. Whispering Surf Campground operates seasonally from late spring through early fall in the western Michigan climate where the Lake Michigan proximity extends the warm season and delivers the cool breezes that make midsummer camping comfortable even when inland temperatures climb. July and August represent peak demand, and cabin reservations and full hookup sites fill well in advance for the prime summer weeks when Michigan's families and downstate visitors converge on the Lake Michigan shoreline communities. The campground's intimate character and Bass Lake's quiet waters make it particularly appealing for guests who want a less commercially intense version of the Michigan lakeside vacation experience.

from $45/night

Sun Retreats Silver Lake

16 RV Sites, 5 Cottages

Sun Retreats Silver Lake sits in Mears, Michigan, on the western shore of Silver Lake in Oceana County—a Sun Outdoors resort of over 250 concrete-pad RV sites and one- and two-bedroom cottage rentals positioned minutes from Silver Lake State Park and the Silver Lake Sand Dunes, one of the most distinctive OHV recreation environments in the Great Lakes region and the primary draw for the western Michigan summer tourism market that has anchored the Mears-Pentwater corridor's identity for generations. The resort's combination of comprehensive on-site amenities and proximity to the sand dunes creates a family camping destination where the activity options run from early morning to late evening without requiring much driving. Over 250 concrete-pad RV sites with full hookups and fire pits serve RV campers, alongside cottage rentals that sleep four to six guests in private bedroom and full-kitchen configurations. An outdoor heated pool, hot tub, stocked fishing pond, camp store, game room with video machines and billiards, clubhouse, playground, dog park, laundry, and propane service provide the resort infrastructure. Pickleball courts, shuffleboard, volleyball, and a jumping pillow handle outdoor recreation within the property, and the arcade and organized planned activities—including the events programming that Sun Outdoors properties run through the season—fill the entertainment calendar for multi-day family stays. Silver Lake State Park is minutes from the resort and contains the Silver Lake Sand Dunes—a 2,000-acre field of migrating sand dunes on Lake Michigan's eastern shore that supports a designated ORV/ATV riding area within the state park, one of only a handful of locations in Michigan where off-highway vehicle riding is permitted on publicly managed coastal dune terrain. The combination of riding dunes, Lake Michigan swimming beach, and the natural dune hiking area within the park provides three separate outdoor recreation experiences in a compact geography. Mac Wood's Dune Rides offers guided dune buggy tours for non-riders who want the dune experience without a personal OHV. The western Michigan shoreline north and south of Mears provides the broader context for a Silver Lake base camp: Ludington State Park, about 20 miles north, is one of the most acclaimed state parks in Michigan for its combination of Lake Michigan beach, inland lake, sand dunes, and the 18-mile Bay de Noc-to-Grand Island Wilderness Canoe Trail. Pentwater, about 10 miles south, is a classic small Michigan resort town with a harbor and beach access that functions as the quieter alternative to the more heavily developed Silver Lake area for day trips. The Lake Michigan shoreline's evening sunsets—viewed directly west over the water—are the definitive end-of-day experience that western Michigan camping is built around. Sun Retreats Silver Lake operates through the Michigan camping season, typically May through October, with the summer peak from Memorial Day through Labor Day concentrating the OHV dune riding, beach swimming, and family resort activity at maximum density. The resort's concrete pads, full-service infrastructure, and Silver Lake State Park proximity make it one of the most efficiently positioned family camping properties in western Michigan, and the summer weekends fill to capacity well in advance. Spring and fall visits offer quieter conditions with the dune park, trails, and lake access still available at reduced visitor density.

from $57/night

Hattie Sherwood Campground

20 RV Sites, 12 Tent Sites

Situated on the shores of Big Green Lake in the central Wisconsin village of Green Lake, Hattie Sherwood Campground offers RV sites and tent sites with elevated views of the lake through a mature hardwood canopy—a natural setting that takes advantage of Big Green Lake's status as the deepest inland lake in Wisconsin, with a maximum depth of 237 feet that gives the water an unusually clear, cold quality distinctive among the state's glacially formed lakes. The campground's wooded bluff position provides dappled shade throughout the day that moderates summer temperatures and enhances the visual appeal of the lakeside setting. Each site is equipped with a picnic table and fire pit, and the campground's facilities include bathrooms, showers, a dump station, and a boat ramp giving guests direct lake access from within the property. A children's playground and walking trails make the campground functional for families with younger guests, and the pet-friendly policy accommodates travelers with dogs. The recently added permanent pier on the lake extends the guests' connection to the water, and firewood is available for purchase on-site for campfire evenings under the Green Lake hardwood canopy. Hattie Sherwood Beach, directly across the street from the campground, provides a sandy swimming beach and additional shoreline access that complements the campground's bluff-side position above the lake. Kayaks, canoes, and rowboats are available for rent nearby, and the marina on Green Lake supports more expansive boating for guests bringing their own watercraft or seeking charter options on the lake. Fishing on Big Green Lake targets walleye, smallmouth bass, northern pike, and panfish across a season that extends from ice-out in spring through the fall fishing window. The village of Green Lake hosts an active summer and fall community event calendar, with local dining options, ice cream shops, and the historic Heidel House Resort and Spa providing additional amenity access for campground guests within walking distance or a short drive of the campground. The Green Lake Conference Center, one of the oldest conference centers in the country, draws event-related visitors to the community throughout the season, and the surrounding Marquette County landscape provides additional hiking and scenic driving options for guests exploring beyond the immediate lake area. Hattie Sherwood Campground is open through the warm-weather camping season, with summer representing the peak period for lake swimming, boating, and fishing. Green Lake's cold, clear water makes it an appealing swimming destination even during the warmest weeks of summer, when shallower lakes warm to less comfortable temperatures. Advance reservations are recommended for summer holiday weekends, when the campground's lakeside position and immediate beach access make it one of the more sought-after sites in central Wisconsin's lake country. Big Green Lake's cold, clear water—maintained by the lake's unusual depth and the cold spring inputs that feed it from the surrounding limestone formations—gives it a water quality that supports exceptional trout fishing and a swimming experience distinctly different from the warmer, shallower lakes that are more common in central Wisconsin's glaciated landscape.

from $33/night

Buffalo Lake Camping Resort

47 RV Sites

On Buffalo Lake in Montello, Wisconsin—the Marquette County seat and the birthplace of John Muir, whose formative years in the glacially sculpted lake country of central Wisconsin shaped the conservation philosophy that would eventually protect Yosemite Valley and inspire the creation of the National Park Service—Buffalo Lake Camping Resort provides 110 campsites, three two-bedroom housekeeping cabins, a park model cabin, a solar-heated swimming pool, rowboat, canoe, and kayak rentals, bait and tackle, a carry-out kitchen, arcade, covered pavilion, and the complete family camping infrastructure of a well-established Wisconsin lake resort where every site has a picnic table, fire ring, and basic cable TV and free WiFi covers the entire property. The lake access and the classic Wisconsin camping atmosphere make Buffalo Lake a destination in its own right for the Fox Valley and Madison-area families who return season after season. The 110 sites range from full hookup RV accommodations with 30-amp service to more primitive options, and the big-rig-friendly infrastructure accommodates the larger motorhomes and fifth wheels that the Wisconsin camping community brings to the lake. Boat docks and a boat ramp serve guests with their own watercraft alongside the resort's own rowboat, canoe, and kayak rental fleet, and the 24-hour on-site laundry supports the extended family stays and the week-long reservations that Buffalo Lake draws from its loyal repeat guest base. Weekend activities, volleyball, basketball, horseshoes, gaga ball, and an arcade create the social and competitive programming that keeps families entertained between lake outings, and the carry-out kitchen handles the meal logistics for days when cooking out isn't on the agenda. Montello sits at the head of Buffalo Lake in Marquette County in the Central Sands region of Wisconsin, where the glacial landscape of the Green Bay Lobe's retreat created the outwash plains, kettle lakes, and the sandy soils that support the pine barrens and lake country that characterize this part of the state. The John Muir birthplace connection is genuine—Muir's family settled in Marquette County in 1849 when John was eleven, and the Fountain Lake Farm and the Muir Memorial Park near Montello preserve the landscape where Muir developed his passion for natural observation that would make him the father of American conservation. Green Lake, approximately 20 miles north, is the deepest inland lake in Wisconsin at 237 feet—a deep, cold lake in a beautiful setting that provides the swimming, boating, and fishing complement to Buffalo Lake's shallower, warmer recreational character. The resort towns of Green Lake and Ripon provide the restaurants, shops, and the Ripon College campus that give the central Wisconsin lake country its cultural infrastructure beyond the lake itself. The Wisconsin River corridor, accessible within the broader Marquette County area, provides additional fishing, canoeing, and the Dells of the Wisconsin River's dramatic sandstone gorge scenery that makes the Dells one of the state's most visited natural attractions. Buffalo Lake Camping Resort operates from Memorial Day through Labor Day in Wisconsin's summer camping season, with the Fourth of July week and the August weekends filling earliest for the resort's loyal repeat guest community. The carry-out kitchen and the weekend activities calendar create the social energy that extends beyond individual sites and makes a Buffalo Lake stay feel genuinely communal. Reserve your site or housekeeping cabin at Buffalo Lake Camping Resort and let Marquette County's lake country, the John Muir landscape, and the classic Wisconsin summer camping experience deliver a season of memories on a lake that Muir himself would have recognized.

Camp Deer Trails

29 RV Sites, 8 Cabins, 7 Tent Sites

On the shores of Long Lake in Clare County, Michigan, Camp Deer Trails spreads across 140 wooded acres encompassing three distinct beach areas, a network of nature trails, and accommodation options from RV sites to log cabin rentals—all within the quiet inland lake country of Michigan's Lower Peninsula, at a latitude that marks the traditional boundary between the state's agricultural south and its pine-forested north. Harrison, the Clare County seat, sits at the geographic center of the Lower Peninsula's tourism corridor between Houghton Lake—Michigan's largest inland lake—and the commercial resort activity of Mount Pleasant, giving Long Lake and the surrounding area a more secluded character than the higher-profile destinations nearby. The 140-acre property ensures that the lakefront never feels crowded regardless of occupancy. RV sites, rustic campsites, and ten cabin rentals with a variety of configurations accommodate the full range of camping preferences, with cabins providing both basic shelter options and more fully furnished retreats for guests who prefer comfort over tent sleeping. Three separate beach areas on Long Lake—an all-sports lake with swimming, fishing, boating, and water skiing—distribute the water activity across the property's generous shoreline and prevent the crowding that single-beach campgrounds encounter during peak summer weekends. Outdoor hot-water showers, regularly maintained restrooms, and the indoor lodge's ceremony and event infrastructure make Camp Deer Trails a year-round community gathering place for family reunions, weddings, and organized group camping that goes well beyond the typical campground use case. Long Lake's all-sports designation supports the full spectrum of water recreation—fishing for bass, pike, and panfish in the clear inland lake, kayaking and canoeing along the wooded shoreline, swimming from the sandy beaches, and motorized boating from the on-property launch area. Archery, geocaching, nature study programs, and backcountry camping trails on the 140-acre property extend the outdoor activity menu well into the surrounding woodland terrain away from the lakeshore. Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing on the trail network during the winter season give the property a year-round outdoor identity that makes it substantially more than a summer-only camping destination. Harrison's surrounding Clare County landscape is defined by the inland lakes and river systems of the central Lower Peninsula—a terrain shaped by glacial action into a geography of kettle lakes, river moraines, and upland pine and hardwood forests that support one of Michigan's most active outdoor recreation economies. Houghton Lake, the state's largest inland lake, lies about 20 miles north and provides an enormous fishing and water sports destination drawing boaters and anglers from across the Midwest during the summer season. The Muskegon and Cedar Rivers both have headwater origins in the Clare County region, providing canoe and kayak routing through the central Lower Peninsula's most scenic river country. The warm-season camping program at Camp Deer Trails centers on the summer months of June through August, when Long Lake's swimming beaches and the cabin rental program operate at peak demand. Spring and fall offer fishing conditions that surpass the summer months—bass and pike activity on Long Lake peaks in the cooler water of May and September-October, and the fall foliage across Clare County's hardwood uplands in late September and October rivals anything in Michigan's better-known northern resort communities. Reserve cabin accommodations and lakeview sites well in advance for July and August, and consider mid-week options during peak summer season for more relaxed availability and quieter beach conditions throughout the day.

from $25/night

Deep Lake Campground

3 RV Sites

In central Wisconsin's lake country, just fifteen minutes from the waterslides and attractions of Wisconsin Dells, Deep Lake Campground offers a quieter alternative that puts a pristine natural lake front and center. The campground sits on Oxford's Deep Lake with 62 sites ranging from tent spots to full-hookup RV pads and cozy cabin and cottage rentals, providing a well-rounded base for campers who want genuine lake access alongside easy proximity to the Dells entertainment corridor. The combination is rare, and guests who discover it tend to come back. The lake is the campground's defining feature, and the facilities around it are designed to maximize time on the water. Rowboat, paddleboard, and kayak rentals are available to registered guests at no additional charge for three-hour windows, removing the barrier to getting out on the water as soon as the mood strikes. Pontoon boat rentals with a fee are available for those wanting a longer cruise. A swimming beach gives families a sandy place to splash around, and all RV sites include water, sewer, and 30/50-amp electrical service. Cabin and cottage rentals offer comfortable alternatives to setting up a rig, and picnic tables and fire pits at every site make evenings on the grounds feel right. Deep Lake has the clear, unhurried quality of a Wisconsin lake that hasn't been over-developed. Wooded shorelines frame the water, and the lake attracts fishing pressure for bass and panfish from guests who find the campground well before they find the Dells. Loons are a reliable presence, and an early morning paddle across the calm surface—before the boat engines start and the families begin stirring—is the kind of experience that defines the best of Wisconsin lake camping. The surrounding central Wisconsin countryside has a gentle agricultural character that balances the campground's natural setting. Fifteen minutes to the north, Wisconsin Dells offers the full spectrum of family entertainment that has made it the waterpark capital of the world: indoor and outdoor waterslides, go-karts, mini golf, Tommy Bartlett shows, and the historic Dells boat tours through the scenic sandstone Wisconsin River. Devil's Lake State Park—one of Wisconsin's most visited parks, with soaring quartzite bluffs and excellent hiking, rock climbing, and swimming—is within easy range for a day trip. Mirror Lake State Park and the Dells' countless attractions add further options for days when more variety is called for. Deep Lake Campground operates from mid-April through mid-October and books up quickly for summer weekends, when the combination of lake access and Dells proximity proves irresistible for Wisconsin families. Boat rentals, lake views, and cabin availability are the first things to fill, so reservations made early in the season pay off. Whether you're looking for a lake-focused camping trip, a family vacation that mixes nature with Dells entertainment, or simply a quiet week in central Wisconsin with a boat at your disposal, Deep Lake gives you more to work with than the name suggests. Reserve early and get on the water.

from $45/night