12 Best Private Campsites Near Mackinac Island, MI, US 2026

Welcome to Hipcamp! If you're looking for a private camping experience near Mackinac Island, Michigan, you're in luck. We have over 36 options available specifically in that location. With prices starting as low as $20 per night and an average price of $41 per night, there's something for every budget. Check out some of our top campsites with rave reviews, like Camp 437 in the Sturgeon Valley (100 reviews), Andy’s Wolf Traxx (60 reviews), and Cabin on the lake (51 reviews). No matter which campsite you choose, you can enjoy popular amenities like potable water, pet-friendly areas, and toilets. Plus, you'll have plenty of activities to keep you entertained, such as boating, whitewater paddling, and surfing. So pack your gear and get ready for an unforgettable camping experience near Mackinac Island, Michigan!

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Top-rated campgrounds near Mackinac Island

Welcome to Hipcamp! If you're looking for a private camping experience near Mackinac Island, Michigan, you're in luck. We have over 36 options available specifically in that location. With prices starting as low as $20 per night and an average price of $41 per night, there's something for every budget. Check out some of our top campsites with rave reviews, like Camp 437 in the Sturgeon Valley (100 reviews), Andy’s Wolf Traxx (60 reviews), and Cabin on the lake (51 reviews). No matter which campsite you choose, you can enjoy popular amenities like potable water, pet-friendly areas, and toilets. Plus, you'll have plenty of activities to keep you entertained, such as boating, whitewater paddling, and surfing. So pack your gear and get ready for an unforgettable camping experience near Mackinac Island, Michigan!

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Top-rated campgrounds near Mackinac Island

1. Doe Creek Hideaway

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(48)

50mi from Mackinac Island · 3 sites · Tents, Lodging

Located in the Eastern Upper Peninsula of Michigan in the small town of Engadine. You will be just a few miles from Lake Michigan and camp beside the tranquil waters of doe creek. There is wildlife traveling through the property and at times make this their home. This is a birding paradise again for those birds migrating through and others making nests and raising their babies. We are a hobby farm, we hay in July, garden during the summer and at times have a variety of farm animals. There is recreation galore including swimming, fishing, boating, skiing, hiking, and biking to name a few very familiar activities to this area.

2. Island Yurts & Jasper Moss Retreat

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(6)

14mi from Mackinac Island · 3 sites · Lodging

Jasper Moss is a glamping retreat experience located on the remote Bois Blanc Island, Michigan, where you can unplug, rest, retreat and rejuvenate while surrounded by untouched nature. The venue consists of three yurts, an outdoor shower, sink and toilet, and fully screened outdoor kitchen. It is located across the gravel road from Lake Huron, next to a public nature preserve and a 5-minute walk from one of just two restaurants on the island.  The blue and turquoise yurts each have a full-sized bed, a small table and two chairs.  The red yurt has two twin beds. There is basic electric access for a bedside light, fan, and charging of electronics as needed. The outdoor kitchen is fully screened in, and offers basic amenities for communal use, such as a refrigerator, grill, gas burner and griddle, toaster oven, coffee maker, and basic utensils, dishes, pots, and pans.  Revelers will live comfortably close to the Earth and immersed in the diversity of flora, fauna, and geology. Onsite is a separate art studio where we paint, turn wood, and do lapidary art.  Inquire directly to customize your island experience.  Kids and families are welcome. Jasper Moss is located on a private property, owned and operated by a BIPOC LGBTQIA family of 6. Important things to note:  1) You must take a ferry to the island, via Plaunt Transportation, which leaves out of Cheboygan, Michigan 2) Your experience is entirely customizable. It can be booked as a single yurt or the entire venue. Tent sites also available. 3) Want an experience beyond just a yurt rental? Contact us via email at jaspermossretreat@gmail.com and we will help you plan for a great time on the island

3. Camp 437 in the Sturgeon Valley

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(219)

49mi from Mackinac Island · 5 sites · Tents, RVs

In April of 2025 Michigan's Governor declared a 12-county disaster area due to an unprecedented ice storm in Northern Michigan. Unfortunately our Camp 437 is located in one of the affected counties and was greatly impacted by the storm. In the upcoming months we will be clearing the drive into Camp and clearing the campsites and trails to make our woods safe. We want nothing more than to walk our trails again and to share our Camp with others, however it will take some time to get things back to normal. Thank you for your interest in our Camp and please check back again soon!

4. Norton's Nook

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(21)

10mi from Mackinac Island · 2 sites · Tents

The Norton Nook campsites are perfect for off-grid boondocking or pitching a tent. Small Sprinter-style vans or adventure motorcycles are welcome. We offer two campsites on 100 secluded acres with lots of privacy. Site 1: The Beaver Dam site is more open with a good breeze and a fantastic view of the active large Beaver Pond. This spot is only accessible with a Subaru, Jeep, Truck, or four-wheel drive Sprinter van. Site 2: The Woods site is just that, in the woods with lots of Pine and Aspen trees. Accessible with any vehicle. The property is located right off U-23, 7 Miles from Mackinaw City. Bring your bikes and ride from camp to Mackinaw City (7-8 miles) on the Northeastern Bike Trail. The Barbara Hoffius Nature Preserve is only a half-mile away and has great trails to the beach. These simple campsites are PACK IN PACK OUT. We don’t have any services. There is the Mackinaw Straits roadside park one mile west which has well water and a public bathroom. Table and chairs and a fire pit are provided. Feel free to scavenge for deadfall firewood. Please don’t cut any trees down for any reason. Also, check with the DNR for fire risk. Do not burn during high risk of fire. The location can't be beaten, if you want to visit the Mackinaw Area but need space from the crowds. It will not disappoint.

5. Rooster Ridge

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(10)

37mi from Mackinac Island · 5 sites · Tents, RVs

Come relax on our 20 acres of wooded paradise, surrounded by thousands of acres of State land. You can enjoy any of our well maintained campsites in peace and quiet! We offer a common area with games, bathroom facilities, hand washing station, picnic tables, and a gas grill for cooking. We have four campsites available and each site has a fire pit and cooking grate. We have 2 tent only sites, one site that'll fit a pop-up camper and/or a tent, and a fourth that will fit a tent, pop-up, or camper/RV. One of our sites is very remote and is walk-in only, so we do provide wheeled carts to make hauling your gear easy! The other 3 allow for vehicle access. Stop by our storefront for firewood, fresh organic chicken eggs, local honey, and more for purchase. You can also find wild strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries during the spring/summer months. We are dog friendly, but all pets must be on a leash at all times, to respect other campers. With the maps provided, feel free to walk our cut trails that wind throughout the property. Enjoy the serenity of our rippling creek, and watch for wildlife such as grouse, deer, bear, bobcat, elk, and more! We do raise pheasants for release, so don't be shocked if you spook one up on the trail! You can also hit the public trails next door on State Land and walk for miles and miles. We are only 4.4 miles to and from I75, with easy access to Gaylord, Petoskey, Mackinac, and just down the road from downtown Wolverine and Indian River. Check us out on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61566756576617 *Note: Tents are not provided. Used for staging purposes in photos only.

6. Heather's Haven

96%

(14)

35mi from Mackinac Island · 2 sites · RVs

Beautiful property on the St. Mary's River in the Eastern Upper Peninsula. Watch the freighter go by. Have a campfire. Restaurant is walking distance.. Four hookups for water and electric Located in Barbeau, 25 miles from Sault Ste. Marie and the famous Sault Locks. Driving distance to many sites in the Eastern Upper Peninsula Enjoy launching a boat near by or launch a kayak or canoe right from property. Property is not suited for tenting. Must have self contained bathroom facilities

Recent reviews from the Hipcamp community

M

Minli

October 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to Rooster Ridge

This place is so cute! I didn’t have much time to explore, but the morning was so peaceful. The owners are very nice and welcoming too! Since I arrived late, they switched my site for easier car access and even helped me turn the car around because of my poor driving skills, haha. Highly recommend!

J

Jerry

October 2025

With pets

Weekend Trip to Doe Creek Hideaway

This was our second time back to stay in the tiny cabin. We loved our first trip. We drive downstate often to visit family. Perfect place to stop and enjoy nature with your dog and family. There's some trails to walk around with beautiful fall colors. We will be back. Highly recommend this hidden gem.

Kate

October 2025

1 night at Doe Creek Hideaway

Super sweet, very private, cozy and comfortable. The perfect stop after an 8 hour drive

Travis

October 2025

Weekend Trip to Rooster Ridge

This is an amazing stay! Private sites, I really enjoyed the hike in aspect. The trails are great for hiking, I would recommend this property and would absolutely stay again.

A

Andrea

October 2025

18 ft travel trailer

3 nights at Heather's Haven

This place was awesome! We were able to park right where we could see the boats coming from the Soo Locks. We hooked up to the electric and filled jugs at the water spicket provided. We did not hook up our water. We only saw one area for water. We definitely enjoyed our stay. The little market down the road wasn’t expensive. We even bought tortillas there!

M

Mike

October 2025

30 ft toy hauler

5 nights at Heather's Haven

Heather was very accommodating and the campsite was AWESOME!!! The site was easy to drive into and turn around. It was flat, nicely mowed grass and a fabulous view to watch the ships go by.

Kyle

September 2025

16 ft car

With pets

Weekend Trip to Rooster Ridge

Great property, amazing hosts, and well set up. I would definitely recommend to others!

Terri

September 2025

19 ft Class B

With pets

1 night at Heather's Haven

I really enjoyed staying at Heather's property. The view of the St. Mary's River is amazing and it was fun to watch the freighters go by. It is a very peaceful spot. Heather wasn't there so I didn't have the opportunity to meet her, but she was responsive to my messages. I would definitely recommend this lovely spot and would stay there again. Note regarding cell service: I have Verizon and my phone connected to a tower in Canada -- when it did occasionally connect. The connection was 3G so it was very poor. Other times, there was no connection at all.

Christy

September 2025

Weekend Trip to Doe Creek Hideaway

The space was amazing! Monte and Lisa were great hosts. Very friendly and helpful.

L

Leo

September 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to Doe Creek Hideaway

The primitive site was excellent! Very clean and well maintained with easy access. We had a small issue with the tent on site and it was resolved immediately. Very nice and responsive hosts, we’ll be staying again!

J

Joel

September 2025

1 night at Doe Creek Hideaway

We only got to stay one night, but we really enjoyed it.very welcoming host and beautiful location.

T

Tayler

August 2025

Tent

With pets

Weekend Trip to Norton's Nook

We had a great experience at the pines camp spot. It offered a nice balance of seclusion and proximity to the city. The bike trail access was extremely convenient. The spot itself was ideal for privacy while also providing ample space for our kids to have some freedom. The star gazing at night was absolutely beautiful. We will definitely return!

C

Claire

August 2025

Weekend Trip to Doe Creek Hideaway

This was such a lovely experience! The vintage camper was so cute and the area around was perfect and secluded. The grounds were absolutely gorgeous, I couldn’t recommend enough! The hosts were so kind and generous, I feel so lucky to have found this spot and will certainly be returning

G

Gabrielle

August 2025

Weekend Trip to Doe Creek Hideaway

Great stay! Monte and Lisa greeted me when I arrived and gave me a lay of the land. They also had recommendations for local eateries. Camper was perfect for me and I loved the extra touch of the s’mores kit and firewood. Highly recommend!

E

Eric

August 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to Doe Creek Hideaway

Monte and Lisa are amazing hosts! Their primitive campsite was secluded and private. It had a nice soft grassy place to put up my tent and a table, bench and canopy with a fire pit. Lucy was an excellent greeter also:)

E

Emma

August 2025

Tent

1 night at Rooster Ridge

This was such a great place to have our first camping experience. We could not have asked for an easier experience. The property is so beautiful and vast. Thank you Robert for sharing it with us.

M

Maryli

August 2025

Weekend Trip to Doe Creek Hideaway

Just wonderful! Great couple and dog who were very friendly and helpful the entire time, but gave plenty of privacy. Every detail was well thought out, from the sun showers to the s'mores kit. Would definitely recommend, and won't hesitate to come back again.

L

Lenny

August 2025

21 ft travel trailer

Weekend Trip to Heather's Haven

Great site, peaceful, private and awesome views. Very friendly and accommodating host. YouTube channel is weekend-reset, check us out and give us a like and subscribe

A

Amanda

August 2025

Tent

With kids

Weekend Trip to Rooster Ridge

Great location! We rolled in late one night and left early (en route to a backpacking trip). Robert laid out a set of lights to easily direct us to our gorgeous site.

B

Becky

August 2025

With pets

Weekend Trip to Doe Creek Hideaway

Monte and Lisa's place was a wonderful experience. The camper was quaint and provided just what we needed. The outdoor shower was an experience everyone should have. At the end of the day, we sat by the fire and painted rocks with the supplies they had. Such a thoughtful touch!