If you’re in the mood to sink your toes in the sand, catch a trophy fish or slice your kayak paddle through crystal clear blue water at sunset, you don’t have to join the migration of spring break tourists flocking to the Gulf of Mexico and coastal beaches of Florida and California to make it happen. A spring break camping trip in the Great Lakes region offers the mix outdoor adventure, relaxation and time to reconnect, but without the crowds and traffic common at vacation hotspots in the south.
The five Great Lakes of the Upper Midwest region hold over 80 percent of North America’s surface fresh water, a size and scale you have to see to believe. The starry night skies over Lake Superior will take your breath away. Sunrise over the brilliant blue waters of Lake Michigan rivals anything in more tropical climates. And reeling in a lunker walleye on your Lake Erie fishing trip will earn you bragging rights for years to come. From Ohio and Michigan, to Indiana and Illinois, we selected nine unique campground experiences perfect for a spring break getaway in the great outdoors.
Pick one of these Great Lakes campgrounds for your next spring break adventure.
1. Kayak Lake Erie
Kelleys Island State Park, Ohio
Take the ferry to tiny Kelleys Island, a four-square-mile knob rising out of Lake Erie near Marblehead, to camp on the rocky, glacier-carved island. You’ll have sunrise to sunset access to flatwater paddling in the protected North Bay cove between the park and Long Point on the island’s eastern tip. Launch your boat at the park boat ramp to paddle the undeveloped shoreline of North Pond State Nature Preserve. Down by the park beach, exposed limestone bedrock is scarred with 400-foot long, 10-foot deep grooves that were carved into the rock by glaciers over 350 million years ago. The campground welcomes tent and RV campers, with more amenities including a picnic area, pickleball court, playground for the kids, fish cleaning station and easy boat and beach access. Book now.
2. Explore the Grand Canyon of the East
Letchworth State Park, Castile, New York
The Genesee River carves a 600-foot-high gorge through upstate New York about an hour south of Lake Ontario in Letchworth State Park. There are over 50 waterfalls cascading into the Genesee from the tributaries that thread through the park. Explore them on the 66-mile trail network, or follow the canyon rim to waterfall views, picnic overlooks and bald eagle, barred owl and Cooper’s hawk sightings on the Gorge Trail. Look for deer, ruffed grouse, turkey and rabbit in the thick hemlock forest. Campers can choose from campsites or cabins, and the campground boasts amenities for all guests, including food concessions, picnic tables, pavilions, playing fields and a swimming pool. Book now.
3. Climb the Lakeshore Dunes
Indiana Dunes State Park, Chesterton, Indiana
Climbing the sand dunes on Lake Michigan’s southern shore is a surprising study in contrasts in springtime. Over 10 miles of trails lead to patches of grey stumps called tree graveyards, white pine forests choked off and submerged under the shifting sand. In other areas you’ll find patches of bright and inviting moss-pink, lupine and wild geranium poking through the dunes and announcing the arrival of wildflower season. The campground offers something for everyone, with electric sites, tent-only sites and youth sites. Guests can use campground facilities, such as a playground, gaming area with volleyball, picnic area, grills and fire rings. It’s a great location with easy access to hiking and biking trails, lake beaches and water sports like water skiing and parasailing. Book now.
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4. Fish the Walleye Capital of the World
Geneva State Park, Ohio
Ohio’s first summer resort, Geneva-on-the-Lake, has attracted vacationers to Lake Erie for over 100 years for its warm, shallow water and abundant plankton that attracts trophy fin fighters to the waters just off shore. A natural boat harbor creates ideal conditions for small boat fishing from a canoe, kayak or sportfishing boat to catch walleye, yellow perch, channel catfish, smallmouth bass and steelhead trout. The lakefront campground has a fish cleaning station, where you can prepare your catch and throw it on the grill for dinner. With a reservation for a cabin, electric or full hookup campsite, guests can also enjoy basketball and volleyball courts, hiking trails and lake swimming. Book now.
5. Bike Family-Friendly Forest Roads
Cook Forest State Park, Cooksburg, Pennsylvania
Bike through old growth forest in the Alleghany Mountains of western Pennsylvania on 13 miles of lightly traveled dirt roads. Towering white pines and hemlocks have been growing untouched here since the mid-1600s. Ride to the Forest Cathedral Natural Area, where some trees are up to 200 feet tall and three feet in diameter. Or take to the water to cool off on a raft or canoe and float down the Clarion River. The Cook Forest State Park campground offers cabins, campsites, shower houses, picnic areas, a playground and pet-friendly perks. Book now.
6. Take a Waterfall Hike
Gooseberry Falls State Park, Two Harbors, Minnesota
Five waterfalls are the highlight of your hike, but that’s not all there is to see on 20 miles of hiking trails in Gooseberry Falls State Park. Follow the one-mile Falls Loop to Upper and Middle Falls, or double your distance along the Gooseberry River to Fifth Falls. You can also hike through evergreen, aspen and birch forest on the shores of Lake Superior, and connect with two long distance trails, the 310-mile Superior Hiking Trail and 29-mile Gitchi-Gami State Trail for a long-distance trek that takes you outside the park along Lake Superior’s northwestern shore. There are a variety of camping experiences nearby, and advance reservations are required. Learn more.
Recommended: 9 Great Campgrounds for Spring Break in the Pacific Northwest
7. Shred the Singletrack
Rock Cut State Park, Loves Park, Illinois
Spring is one of the best times of the year to ride the mountain bike trails of Rock Cut State Park. You’ll have unobstructed views of the park’s two lakes and the Rock River, and none of the heat and humidity that descends on the area as summer approaches. Be prepared for creek crossings, punchy climbs and a fast flow on 23 miles of intermediate trail. Beginners and families can start in the park to ride 15 miles of paved trails to neighboring towns on the Perryville and Willow Creek bike trails. After a big day on the trails, relax in your premium campsite or private cabin. Campground activities and amenities include boating, fishing, retail concessions, picnic areas and a playground. Book now.
8. Hang Out on the Beach
Kohler-Andrae State Park, Sheboygan, Wisconsin
For a traditional spring break beach vacation, head to Kohler-Andrae State Park on the western shore of Lake Michigan. Pristine dunes, golden sand and deep blue water as far as the eye can see is your setting for beachfront camping and hiking. More than 50 shipwrecks rest in the waters off the coast. Stroll over two miles of shoreline, walk the marsh boardwalk trails and hike through wildflower meadows on the 2.5-mile Black River Trail. The park offers a variety of camping options. Learn more.
9. Paddle Three Ways
Petoskey State Park, Michigan
With Round Lake to the east and the protected harbor of Little Traverse Bay to the west, there’s plenty of flatwater paddling to be done in Michigan’s Petoskey State Park. What’s surprising is a third paddling option, right in downtown Petoskey. Minutes from the park, you can be running the rapids on Bear River, where there are 25 miles of some of the best whitewater kayaking in the Midwest at Bear River Valley Recreation Area. Petoskey State Park offers multiple camping opportunities. Learn more.
