The best camping in Michigan.

Surrounded by the Great Lakes and swathed in 20 million acres of forest, Michigan is a magnet for outdoor enthusiasts. They don’t call it the Fresh Coast for nothing—the state has 3,288 miles of pristine shoreline. From the warm beaches of Lake Michigan to the wild and unpredictable Lake Superior, you’re never far from a lakeside campsite.

If you want to escape the crowds, head straight for the Upper Peninsula. The Michigan magic is strong here, whether you’re biking around car-free Mackinac Island State Park or parking your RV by a waterfall in Tahquamenon Falls State Park. In the remote northern Keweenaw Peninsula, pitch a tent on the beach and fall asleep to a legendary Lake Superior summer sunset—or watch the Northern lights dance overhead in the winter.

For true adventure seekers, Isle Royale National Park (one of the least-visited parks in the system) offers the best hiking and backcountry camping in the state. Bring your camera; you might even spot a wolf or a moose from your tent.

The Lower Peninsula has plenty to offer, too. At the Sleeping Bear Dunes, you can run down 200-foot sand dunes. Get off the grid at Thunder Bay River, or enjoy the amenities at the many Michigan state parks and state forest campgrounds.

If you prefer a more populated area, camp in Holland State Park and check out the blooming tulips. In Grand Haven, you’ll find some of the best boating in the state.