An Unforgettable Great Lakes Camping Road Trip Itinerary

Check out this scenic route along the Great Lakes, which includes stops at all three designated national lakeshores.

The ultimate Great Lakes road trip itinerary doesn’t have to include the entire 5,000 miles it takes to drive by all of them. Instead, you can plan a few key stops and still see the stunning beauty, sandstone sea caves, iconic lighthouses, and diverse wildlife that capture the charm of this iconic region. 

Whether you’re taking the RV around the four main lake circle tours or you’re bringing a tent to stay directly within nature at state parks or private campsites, a solid plan is the first step to a successful road trip experience. That’s why we gathered a few helpful tips and practical insights into the best places to stop and go camping on your next Great Lakes adventure. 

Planning a stress-free Great Lakes road trip

It’s worth it to do your research and planning well in advance of a camping road trip around the Great Lakes. That’s because popular lakefront campsites book up early during the best times of year to visit—typically from late spring to early fall when the region has pleasant weather and vibrant local events. 

Along with booking your preferred campsites, pack versatile clothing to accommodate the changing weather. Bring layers for cooler mornings and rain gear for unexpected showers. Stock up on food and gear that may be hard to find along the way. 

Before you get going, use Hipcamp’s Roadtrip search to map out your route with incredible campsites and flexibility for both spontaneous detours and must-see spots, like ice cave tours and epic waterfalls. If you want to take the time to fully enjoy each lake and its unique attractions, plan for about a week to accomplish each Great Lakes circle tour itinerary. 

If you can’t decide which locations deserve a stop, we created an itinerary for you that includes the greatest hits along the Great Lakes—starting at Lake Superior near Duluth, Minnesota, and ending at Lake Ontario near Syracuse, New York. It covers about 25 hours of driving along the open road for a scenic drive with a spirit for adventure.

Stop 1: Apostle Islands National Lakeshore

Head east out of Minnesota to begin your road trip around the Great Lakes at Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. Set in Wisconsin on the shores of Lake Superior—the largest and deepest of the Great Lakes—the area offers activities like scuba diving around shipwrecks, kayaking by intricate sandstone sea caves, and boating and fishing around the lakeshore’s 21 islands. There are also eight historic lighthouses you can visit and view—the Raspberry Island Light is the most accessible. 

The islands don’t have vehicle access, but you can reach them by sea kayak or private boat. Commercial shuttles and cruise tours are offered too, but RVs aren’t permitted on the islands. If you’re staying a few days here, venture out to explore old mining towns or go biking and hiking through the forests of Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park. 

Top Hipcamps near Apostle Islands 

• Superior Beach Camp, Superior, Wisconsin (10 minutes from Superior)
• Farm Stay Glamping Site, Mason, Wisconsin (30 minutes from Bayfield)
• Bad River Wilderness, Mellen, Wisconsin (on the upper Bad River)

Stop 2: Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

Continuing on your road trip around Lake Superior, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore features towering bluffs and sandstone cliffs overlooking the lake’s southern shores. The Grand Sable Dunes are a definitive feature of the landscape in the area, along with the solitude of the Beaver Basin Wilderness where campers can enjoy hunting, canoeing, and day hiking. Pictured Rocks is a great spot for year-round Lake Superior camping, even in the winter when ice-cave tours highlight frozen waterfalls. 

If you want to complete the Lake Superior circle tour, head into Canada to complete the drive along the lake’s northern shores, passing by Pukaskwa National Park and Thunder Bay, before returning to the U.S. by way of Minnesota. 

Top Hipcamps near Pictured Rocks 

• Superior Times Resort, Au Train, Michigan (17 minutes from Pictured Rocks)
• Blueberry Fields Campground, Marquette, Michigan (30 miles from Pictured Rocks)
• Forest Overlooking River, Gladstone, Michigan (1 hour from Pictured Rocks)

Stop 3: Thompson’s Harbor State Park

Setting up camp on the Michigan side of Lake Huron marks the next major landmark on your Great Lakes road trip itinerary. Set along the Huron Shores Heritage Route in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Thompson’s Harbor State Park offers a pristine nature retreat among dense forests and rugged shorelines. The remote location is also great for stargazing away from city lights.

While here, revel in the historic charm of nearby Mackinac Island or head out on a glass-bottom boat tour at Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Manitoulin Island, the largest freshwater island in the world, is another prime stop along the Canadian side of the Lake Huron Circle Tour.

Top Hipcamps near Thompson’s Harbor 

• Mackinaw Camp Inn, Mackinaw City, Michigan (2 miles from downtown Mackinaw City)
• Beautiful Lake View Camping, Lupton, Michigan (1 hour and 35 minutes from Thompson’s Harbor)
• Lake Huron Private Campspot, Ocqueoc, Michigan (100-foot walk to a Lake Huron beach)

Stop 4: Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

The next stop takes you into the heart of the Midwest with a road trip around Lake Michigan. The signature beach and sand dunes at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore reach 450 feet above the shores of Lake Michigan. 

Diverse landscapes await on hiking trails through historic farmlands, maple forests, and marshy wetlands—all home to over 1,500 plant and animal species. For a peaceful retreat, head to a private campground on Lake Michigan and enjoy easy access to Glen Lake, Platte Lake, and Crystal Lake, too. 

Top Hipcamps near Sleeping Bear Dunes 

• Camp Moonshadow, Honor, Michigan (25 minutes from Sleeping Bear Dunes)
• House of Bear, Grawn, Michigan (40 minutes from Sleeping Bear Dunes)
• Sportsman’s Port, Wellston, Michigan (1 hour from Sleeping Bear Dunes)

Stop 5: Indiana Dunes National and State Park

With the soaring downtown skyline of Chicago, Illinois in the distance, Indiana Dunes National Park boasts 15 miles of beaches as well as numerous RV sites right on Lake Michigan. The location is terrific for birdwatching and swimming during warmer months—lifeguards, showers, and locker rooms are available seasonally at West Beach. 

For land lovers, try hiking or horseback riding along the 50 miles of meandering trails through sand dunes and woodlands. Then, head northwest toward Milwaukee and Green Bay to continue your Lake Michigan circle tour, or turn east toward Toledo for the next lake on your Great Lakes road trip itinerary.

Top Hipcamps near Indiana Dunes 

• Organic Apple Orchard and Farm, Berrien, Michigan (50 minutes from Indiana Dunes)
• Willowthorne, Lynwood, Illinois (25 miles to Chicago)
• Lochloosa River Retreat, Monterey, Indiana (located on the Tippecanoe River)

Stop 6: Maumee Bay State Park

Just south of Detroit, Ohio’s Maumee Bay State Park is one of the best spots in the Great Lakes region for Lake Erie camping. Spanning over 1,300 acres, the park is fun for the whole family with a challenging golf course, over 300 bird species to observe, a free archery range, and a Storybook Trail populated by native frogs and butterflies. 

Nearby, Cedar Point beckons nature lovers with its national wildlife refuge while thrillseekers gravitate to the roller coaster theme park. For more campgrounds on this Great Lake, continue past Cleveland to Presque Isle State Park in the Pennsylvania stretch of the Lake Erie shoreline. 

Top Hipcamps near Maumee Bay 

• Camp Peace, Waterville, Ohio (40 minutes from Maumee Bay)
• Farley’s Farm Sanctuary, Swanton, Ohio (50 minutes from Maumee Bay)
• Riverside Camping, Port Clinton, Ohio (located on the Portage River)

Stop 7: Four Mile Creek State Park

To reach the fifth and smallest lake on this Great Lakes road trip, head into New York state to camp near Four Mile Creek State Park. While Michigan offers access to the other four Great Lakes, the only way to visit Lake Ontario from the American side is in New York. While here, look out for white-tailed deer and great blue herons, or go fishing in Lake Ontario for Chinook salmon and brown trout. 

Four Mile Creek State Park is just 20 minutes from the iconic Niagara Falls near Buffalo. Further along Lake Ontario’s shoreline is Hamlin Beach State Park near Rochester, just before you wrap around the north shore to the Canadian side toward Toronto. 

Top Hipcamps near Four Mile Creek 

• Big Tree Camping, Orchard Park, New York (15 minutes from Lake Erie)
• The Quarry, West Falls, New York (1 hour from Four Mile Creek)
• Wood Spring Club, Inc., East Aurora, New York (1 hour from Four Mile Creek)

A great escape to campgrounds on the Great Lakes

The amount of time you have will help you plan your specific road trip around the Great Lakes. A circle tour of a single Great Lake can take a week (or more) with stops at different tent or RV campsites along the lakeshore. Without circle tours, expect to take about 2 weeks traversing west to east (or east to west) on a Great Lakes road trip, staying for two or three nights by each lake. 

Whether you start planning your own road trip around the Lakes’ most beautiful spots or use this quick-and-easy itinerary, a Great Lakes camping trip should be on your road trip bucket list.