Michigan RV Destinations
With over 100 state parks and recreation areas within its borders, Michigan is every RV camper’s dream. Based in the Great Lakes region of the upper Midwest, Michigan is known for its beautiful views, Detroit and the Auto Industry, its upper and lower peninsulas, and lakeshore summer fun. The Great Lake State is the 11th-largest in America by geographic size, and the largest by area east of the Mississippi River. Michigan is bordered by four of the five Great Lakes and has the longest freshwater coastline of any national subdivision in the world!
The state offers travelers a wide range of diverse camping experiences through its various lake, forest and island stays. Whether you own a large RV or a smaller tow-along rig, there are plenty of locations to choose from on your next summer or fall adventure in Michigan.
Michigan National Parks
According to Michigan’s official website, the National Park Service oversees five national parks in-state. There are many, many private parks and campsites as well for RVers to enjoy, but for this post we’ll focus just on Michigan’s fantastic national parks and their draws.
Not only is Isle Royale National Park comprised of the main island of Isle Royale itself, but also the 400-island archipelago that surrounds it! Founded in 1940, this park is one of the least-visited in the entire National Park system, but that’s only because it takes a little while to get there. Isle Royale is 55 miles from Copper Harbor in the Keweenaw Peninsula, and is accessible only by a three-hour ferry ride.
Nevertheless, the park is known by visitors for its stunning lake views. At Isle Royale National Park, backpacking, paddling, wildlife watching and camping are the most popular ways to spend your time.
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
Established as America’s first national lakeshore in 1966, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore stretches more than 40 miles along the edge of Lake Superior in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. According to the National Park Service, Pictured Rocks features sandstone cliffs, beaches, sand dunes, waterfalls, inland lakes, deep forest, and wild shorelines.
The main attraction, however, are the amazing sandstone cliffs that display ribbons of color due to the presence of minerals like copper, limonite, and iron. These cliffs are gorgeous and a true beauty to behold and should definitely be on your list of sites to see in Michigan if you can make it all the way to this unusual locale. With more than 100 miles of trails, there’s always something new to see at Pictured Rocks National Park.
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
A recent article from MLive.com states that of the more than 2.5 million visitors to Michigan’s five national parks in 2016, 1.5 million of those were to Sleeping Bear Dunes alone—and the numbers haven’t changed much since then. This is the most popular of the national parks in Michigan to be sure.
Established four years after Pictured Rocks in 1970, Sleeping Bear Dunes is often described as an oasis by visitors. With two islands, fishing, camping, beaches, boating and over 100 miles of trails to explore, Sleeping Bear Dunes has something for everyone, including a wide range of diverse scenery for nature lovers.
Keweenaw National Historical Park
A National Historical Park was founded in 1992 in Keweenaw in order to preserve more than 7,000 years of rich copper mining history. Keweenaw National Historical Park encompasses 1,700 acres of land, plus 21 heritage sites and offers attractions and events during every single season of the year.
Museums, mine tours, mountain biking and more are all available at Keweenaw, but according to Kathleen Harter, the park’s chief of interpretation and education, the most popular time to visit is in the Spring when artifacts and the remnants of historical structures are more visible, because the wild Northwoods around them have not yet filled in with its summer vegetation.
River Raisin National Battlefield Park
As Michigan’s newest National Park (established in 2010), River Raisin National Battlefield Park is unlike its predecessors, since it was built to commemorate the January 1813 battles of the War of 1812 and their aftermath in Monroe and Wayne counties in SE Michigan. The Battle resulted in the greatest victory for Tecumseh’s American Indian confederation and the greatest defeat for the U.S. The resulting rally cry – “Remember the Raisin” – spurred support for the rest of the war.
The park is 81 acres in size, with numerous biking trails, historical demonstrations, workshops, exhibits and events for history buffs and those eager to learn about this particularly dramatic and dynamic period of American history.
Custom Glass Solutions Supports RV Travelers in Michigan!
Whether you are motoring to the shores of Lake Superior or seeing the historic sites of the River Raisin Battlefield, accidents can happen to your all-important windshield glass during your trip. If you encounter any form of RV windshield damage and are in-need of quick repairs, simply contact CGS to repair or replace your motorhome windshield anywhere in Michigan state.
Custom Glass Solutions offers speedy and professional windshield repair and replacement service in cities and towns all across the country for a tremendous variety of RV brands, including within the 83 counties comprising Michigan. Contact us today with questions, or to get started with your RV glass repair or replacement project – please use our easy online form found here. Make sure to visit Pure Michigan online for a complete list of campgrounds and RV Parks where you and your family can enjoy the RV lifestyle while visiting this great Midwestern state.
Written by Matt Eder