At Glen Cove the road becomes rated as 4WD, and after 2 miles on this 4WD road you’ll reach this free Drummond Island camping spot. Glen Cove Road leading to this camping area is rated as 2WD. However, you can fill up your water containers for free at Sune’s IGA Grocery before heading down the trail (there’s a spigot on the east side of the building). There are also no amenities at this primitive campsite. The beach is covered in smooth stones instead of sand (woohoo!), but there’s very little natural shade at this campsite (boooo!) so bring an umbrella if you don’t have an awning on your rig. You’ll likely see groups of Jeeps drive by, but otherwise expect solitude. This primitive camping site is away from all civilization and found right on Lake Huron. If you have off-road capability and want to go exploring on Drummond Island, you’ll appreciate this free Upper Peninsula camping spot! This free campsite in Michigan is maintained by the Department of Natural Resources, so you’ll need to have a copy of the DNR form (see above) to post at your site. Likely, RVs much longer than 25 or 30 feet would have a difficult time leveling or even turning around. Outside of makeshift fire pits, there are no amenities provided at this free campsite, making it a great place to experience primitive camping in Michigan. The sites are large enough to share if desired, and are spaced far apart from each other, providing plenty of privacy. You might see some fishermen using the boat launch at the end of the dirt path, but you won’t see anyone swimming here as the lake is too marshy. The 6 open campsites (6 more are barricaded and marked as no camping) are off a well maintained one-lane dirt path and right on French Farm Lake. You can also bike or walk to Headlands International Dark Sky Park and a Lake Michigan public beach access. This popular free camping area in Michigan fills up rather quickly, probably because it’s convenient camping near Mackinac Island. Consider investing in a good booster if you’re dependent on service.ġ2 Free Primitive Camping Spots in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan French Farm Lake Free Campground Most of our sites had poor or no cell service. Ha!ĭon’t count on cell service being consistent in the Upper Peninsula. Ya know what, you might just invest in one of these*. Don’t forget to grab some extra cartridges. This portable mosquito repellent* keeps bugs away within a 15 foot radius with no spray or scent (so you might want a couple to set up around camp). This permethrin spray* is for your gear and clothing having a swarm of bugs - from biting flies to mosquitoes - we’re saying it once! Do not visit Michigan’s Upper Peninsula without several options for keeping the bugs at bay. Most are open roughly between Memorial Day and Labor Day.īugs! Rather than making a note about every. We recommend carrying a few kitchen sized trash bags and disposable glovesīecause they’re in the cold and sometimes harsh U.P., these campsites are not left open through the winter. Free camping sites are routinely shut down because they cost too much to maintain when a bunch of people leave their trash all over. camping trip.Īlways leave sites better than you found them, which sometimes means cleaning up other people’s garbage. We recommend you print a handful before leaving for your U.P. The DNR Form/Camp Registration Form that’s required to be posted at state forest camping areas can be found here. This site, under the tab ‘Rules For Dispersed Camping’ gives guidelines for using this land for free. Many of these sites are on Michigan state forest land and are maintained by The Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Also become familiar with the 7 Leave No Trace Principles before wild camping. When you’re done reading about these camping spots, check out this post - Start Wild Camping Like a Pro - for tips. That means you have to be set up to boondock or wild camp with no water hookups, no electric hookups, no trash service, and no shower houses. These 12 sites are all primitive camping in Michigan. road trip or camping trip, you’ve come to the right spot! We’ve got 12 free Upper Peninsula camping spots for you to check out.īut before we get into the free campsites, a couple general notes about camping in the U.P.: If you’re looking for some great free camping spots in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula for an upcoming U.P.
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