MUNISING, MI – Two Michigan campgrounds are among those most difficult to book in the U.S.
According to The Dyrt, a camping resource with millions of user-generated reviews and photos, an estimated 84.8 million Americans ditched the city lights to sleep under the stars in 2023, making top campgrounds more in demand than previous years.
“It’s great that more people are getting outdoors and embracing the joy of camping,” said The Dyrt founder Sarah Smith. “But now more than ever, it’s important to really plan ahead and secure your campsite well in advance.”
“The Dyrt makes it easy to monitor availability and track cancellations in real time so you can find a place to rest at some of the country’s most beautiful locations.”
Campgrounds within National Park Service sites have skyrocketed in popularity, and Michigan’s most-popular campgrounds follow that trend.
RELATED: Rustic spot where Lake Superior meets Michigan river among top Midwest places to camp
According to The Dyrt, both of Michigan’s hard-to-book campgrounds are located within the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore near Grand Marais.
Twelvemile Beach Campground is No. 2 having been booked 99.4% of the time and Hurricane River Campground is No. 6 having been booked 96.8% of the time.
The Dyrt notes that Michigan boasts nearly 3,300 miles of pristine coastline, and Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore and its 42 miles of coastline is considered the state’s crown jewel by many.
“Centrally located a skipping stone’s throw from an immaculately sandy beach, Twelvemile’s well-maintained, accessible grounds offer easy access to the waters of Superior, plus landmarks like lighthouses, the otherworldly Chapel Rock and more,” The Dyrt noted. “Add easy access to the charming Upper Peninsula towns of Grand Marais and Munising, and Twelvemile Beach is the ideal place to experience everything the Pictured Rocks have to offer from one easy vantage.
Users praised the scenery at the 36-site campground and the easy access to the largest Great Lake.
As for the Hurricane River Campground, campers praised the sounds of the Hurricane River emptying into mighty Lake Superior that make it the “most peaceful destinations for campers in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.”
This rustic 21-site campground offers a chance to truly unplug. There’s a also a short hike to the Au Sable Light Station where you can spy on the remains of shipwrecks from on high.
“You will not be bored since so many great sites are so near- within a bit of a hike or a quick drive. Wooded sites make for some feeling of seclusion,” Dyrt user Sara S. wrote.
Pictured Rocks also has the eight-site Little Beaver Lake campground.
Miss out on those spots?
The best news is that these aren’t the only two great places to camp in the area. There are private campgrounds in the Pictured Rocks area, too, including the Paddling Michigan spots that offer a home base for adventure
Here is the complete list of the hardest-to-book campgrounds in the U.S.
- Nevada Beach Campground - Nevada
- Twelvemile Beach Campground
- Devils Garden Campground - Utah
- Seven Points Campground - Tennessee
- Kirk Creek Campground - California
- Hurricane River Campground
- Aspenglen Campground - Colorado
- Fruita Campground - Utah
- Colter Bay RV Park - Wyoming
- Twin Lakes Campground - California
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