8 Remote Camping Spots Across Michigan

You crave the kind of quiet that makes you notice your own heartbeat. That’s what Michigan’s secret campsites deliver: a blend of solitude, wild beauty, and a break from the relentless ping of notifications. If you’ve ever wanted to sleep under a sky stuffed with stars, swim in lakes so clear you swear they’re enchanted, or just prove to yourself you can survive two days without WiFi, these eight remote spots will treat you right. Grab your sense of adventure (and bug spray), and let’s wander off the map together.

1. Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness Area

Someone once said, “The best therapy is a walk on the beach, but make it wild.” Nordhouse Dunes takes that literally, with 3,500 acres of rolling sand and forest, no lifeguard on duty, and zero cell service. You hike in past jack pines, balancing your pack and your existential dread, until the only footprints you see are yours, and maybe a deer’s.

Camp wherever the sand feels right (as long as you’re 400 feet from Lake Michigan), and watch the sun melt into the water. No bathrooms, no picnic tables, not even a trash can. It’s just you and a breeze that smells like pine needles and possibility.

Nordhouse is proof that wild places still exist if you’re willing to work for them. Bring your own water (there’s none here), follow Leave No Trace, and trust that a night with the world’s biggest freshwater lake as your soundtrack is better than any spa retreat. Dogs are welcome. Just don’t forget your sense of humor, or your trowel.

2. Little Beaver Lake – Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

Picture this: You’re paddling on glassy water, the only ripples made by your own clumsy strokes. Little Beaver Lake is that rare pocket where the crowds vanish but the scenery turns the drama up to 11. Even the beavers keep it low-key here, mostly appearing when you’re not looking.

The campsites are tucked among trees, so you wake up feeling cocooned, not exposed. Hike in or paddle if you want the real adventure points, but either way, you’ll need a reservation from the National Park Service and a healthy respect for mosquitoes.

A quick tip: bring earplugs if you’re unaccustomed to actual silence. Pictured Rocks’ cliffs are just a short trail away, so stretch your legs and let your jaw drop. This is where you remember how small you are in the best possible way. Don’t bother searching for bars (cell or cocktail).

3. Big Island Lake Wilderness

If you’ve ever wanted to star in your own nature documentary, Big Island Lake Wilderness hands you the script. This 6,400-acre sprawl of lakes, pines, and absolute hush feels like something a hermit designed in a daydream. The lakes have that perfect stillness that begs for a skipped stone, or a whispered secret.

Campsites are primitive, meaning you’ll earn every ounce of tranquility. Expect to hike at least a mile or two with your gear, then claim your patch of shoreline like the world’s gentlest pirate. Bonus: The fishing here is, as my dad would say, “not too shabby.”

If you listen closely, loons might serenade you at sunset. There are no trash cans or running water, so bring what you need and haul out what you don’t. This is off-grid in the best sense, where your only to-do is daydreaming. Just remember your map. GPS is more suggestion than promise.

4. Craig Lake State Park

Here’s the truth: Sometimes you want to disappear; not in a dramatic way, just in a ‘nobody can find me unless they really try’ way. Craig Lake State Park is Michigan’s champion of that vibe. It’s the most remote state park in the state, accessible only by hiking or paddling, so you can leave your car (and possibly your worries) miles behind.

You’ll find rustic campsites scattered beside Teddy, Craig, and Claire Lakes, with only the sound of loons and the occasional slap of a beaver’s tail for company. There’s no cell service and the trails are wild, so pack your patience alongside your tent stakes.

Fun fact: This park used to be the private wilderness retreat of Milwaukee’s beer baron, Fred Miller. Now you get to claim it, at least for a weekend. Fishing, hiking, and solitude are in endless supply; just don’t forget to bring your own water (or boil it).

5. Shelldrake Lake

Sometimes, you need a camping trip that’s less about testing survival skills and more about breathing, staring at clouds, and listening to frogs. Shelldrake Lake is your place. It sits near Whitefish Point, almost as far north as you can get before Canada starts charging rent.

Campsites are free and scattered along a dirt road, so you can pick the one that speaks most to your inner hermit. Fishing is practically a sport here, though there’s no shame in just watching the water. The only crowds you’ll find are dragonflies and maybe, on a lucky evening, an owl.

Access is easy for most vehicles but the sense of seclusion is real. There are no official amenities; meaning what you pack in, you pack out. If you want to feel like a character in a quiet indie film, this is your scene. Bring a book, or better yet, a friend who understands the value of comfortable silence.

6. Hovey Lake Dispersed Campground

You know that feeling when you want to run away, but only for a weekend? Hovey Lake’s your safe haven. Situated a short drive from Munising, this spot is beloved by trout fishermen, amateur kayakers, and introverts who never learned to whistle.

Sites are primitive (no flush toilets, obviously), but the lake access is unbeatable. Paddle out in the morning mist, or snooze at your tent while chickadees argue overhead. The Indian River flows nearby, and trails snake through the woods for those who want to wander but not get lost.

The campground is accessible by dirt road and can fit small RVs or trailers, though it shines brightest for tent campers. If you need a reminder that simple things (like coffee in a tin mug or canoeing with geese) are enough, Hovey’s got your back. Just remember your bug spray and sense of humor.

7. Perrault Lake

Ever just want to vanish from the group chat for a weekend? Perrault Lake lets you do that: no explanations, no guilt. The campsites are primitive and lineup along the lake, edged by forests that look straight out of a moody northern fairytale.

The dirt road in has character (read: potholes), so bring a high-clearance vehicle if you value your suspension. Once you’re there, you can fish, paddle, or sit on a log perfecting your thousand-yard-stare while the sun plays tag with the water.

No fees, no reservations, no problem: just raw, quiet space to be whoever you need to be. Fun fact: this area is a favorite for birdwatchers in late May when warblers pass through. Don’t come expecting amenities; come if you want to swap your to-do list for a good old-fashioned nap. Sometimes that’s enough.

8. Green Road Dispersed Camping

Green Road feels like a whispered secret passed among seasoned campers. Tucked beside Nordhouse Dunes, it’s a sandy stretch where you can pull over, pitch a tent, and let the lake’s hush fill your head. The road is rough and sometimes deep with sand; small RVs can make it, but this is not a spot for the family minivan.

What sets it apart? Easy access to Lake Michigan’s wild shoreline. You walk a short path and suddenly, you’re staring at miles of empty beach, wind in your hair, and the kind of quiet that’s almost intimidating. Pack out everything you bring (seriously, even the weird snacks).

This is laid-back camping for people who like their mornings slow and their evenings sandy. The best memories here usually involve a frantic search for a lost flip-flop or a twilight beach walk with someone who laughs at your worst jokes. Bring patience, a shovel, and a camera for those sunsets.