Pete's Lake Campground
Petes Lake Campground, located in the center of Michigan's Hiawatha National Forest, is surrounded by several lakes and offers excellent hiking, biking, fishing, boating and more. Snuggled amongst mixed hardwood trees, the campground offers a swimming beach and day-use picnic area away from the hustle and bustle of city life.
Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served.
More like this: first-come in Michigan · reservable in Michigan · big rigs in Michigan · pets allowed in Michigan
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 46 |
| Tent-only | 2 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 75 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
48 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Type | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | People / vehicles | Fires |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2A | Standard | Back-in | 60 | Gravel | Full | 8 / 1 | Yes |
| 3A | Standard | Back-in | Gravel | Full | 8 / 1 | Yes | |
| 4A | Standard | Back-in | 60 | Gravel | Full | 8 / 1 | Yes |
| 5A | Standard | Back-in | 60 | Gravel | Full | 8 / 1 | Yes |
| 6A | Standard | Back-in | 45 | Gravel | Full | 8 / 1 | Yes |
| 7A | Tent only | Gravel | 8 / 1 | Yes | |||
| 8A | Tent only | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 1 | Yes | ||
| 8D | Standard | Back-in | Gravel | Full | 16 / 1 | Yes | |
| 001 | Standard | Back-in | Gravel | Full | 8 / 1 | Yes | |
| 002 | Standard | Back-in | Gravel | Full | 8 / 1 | Yes |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 02:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | None |
| Max vehicle length | 75 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
The campground offers multiple spacious and forested private campsites for tent and RV camping. A few sites overlook the lake. Each site is equipped with tables and campfire rings and about half of the sites have access to a grill. Accessible vault toilets and drinking water are provided. A shaded day-use picnic area at the campground offers multiple tables and benches right on the lake shore. Accessible vault toilets and drinking water are also provided in the picnic area, as well as a fairly large parking area.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Closed for the season. Forest Service sites close for the season; check the official page for the reopening date. |
| Season | May 13 to September 30 |
| Forest | Hiawatha National Forest |
| Booking | Some of the sites at Pete's Lake are reservable. |
| Fees | Standard Non Electric Site $22 Double Family, per 2 camp uits, per night - $44 Premium Single Site $24 Premium Double $48 Walk-in Campsite $20 Double Campsite, 2 camp units per night $38 Federal Recreation Passes (Golden/America the Beautiful) are accepted. Firewood for sale. |
Weather by month
Getting there
From Munising, Michigan, go approximately 3 miles east on State Route 28 to Highway 13 at Wetmore. Travel south on Highway 13 about 10 miles to Forest Service Road 2173. Turn left and drive about a half-mile down the road to Pete's Lake Campground.
| Nearest town | Munising, Michigan |
| Coordinates | 46.2282° N, 86.5970° W · Directions ↗ |
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 15.6 mi |
| RV sales & service | Hilltop RV Superstore ↗ | 38.6 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Van Life ~ Campground Tour (Pete's Lake) Michigan's U P
Worth a stop
Big Island, Fish and Straits lakes are all within 25 miles of the campground.
- 13.6 miMunising Falls Visitor Center ↗Visitor center
Trails nearby
- 0.9 miMcKeever Hills Ski ↗6.6 mi trail · snowshoe, ski
- 1.1 miBrunos Run ↗12.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 2.2 miBig Island Lake Portal0.2 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 2.7 miIndian River Canoe Route ↗41.8 mi trail · paddle
- 2.9 miMid Lake Portageunder 0.1 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 2.9 miMidlake to Townline Lake0.06 mi trail · hiking, horse
Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.
Public land it sits in
This campground sits inside Hiawatha National Forest.
- inHiawatha National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,300,321 acres
- 2.7 miBig Island Lake Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 5,268 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
Cabin and lookout rentals nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Lobb HouseBuilding · Munising · 12.9 mi
- Schoolcraft Furnace SiteSite · Munising · 13.6 mi
Natural features
The campground is situated on the upper peninsula of Michigan, on the shores of the 190-acre Petes Lake. It sits amid rolling hills that are forested with a variety of deciduous and conifer trees. Many of the campsites are shaded and private.
Recreation
Visitors enjoy a variety of water-related recreation opportunities. The campground also has fishing pier next to the day-use area. Anglers can expect healthy populations of northern pike, bass, walleye and perch in the lake. The nine-mile Bruno's Run Trail, which winds its way past a host of small lakes in the area, passes directly through the campground and is a popular trail for hiking and biking, as well as snowshoeing and cross-country skiing in the winter.
Guidebooks for Hiawatha National Forest and Michigan
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
- Field Guide Hiawatha National Forest Ecological Classification SystemGreg Kudray, 2019Find at Bookshop.org
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Pete's Lake Campground?
For some sites. Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Pete's Lake Campground?
Standard Non Electric Site $22 Double Family, per 2 camp uits, per night - $44 Premium Single Site $24 Premium Double $48 Walk-in Campsite $20 Double Campsite, 2 camp units per night $38 Federal Recreation Passes (Golden/America the Beautiful) are accepted. Firewood for sale.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Pete's Lake Campground?
Check-in 02:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is Pete's Lake Campground open right now?
Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026. Season May 13 to September 30.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Pete's Lake Campground have?
48 sites, including 46 standard sites without power and 2 tent-only sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Pete's Lake Campground?
The longest site here provides 75 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.
Source: Will my RV fit
Are pets allowed at Pete's Lake Campground?
Yes, pets are allowed at Pete's Lake Campground. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Pete's Lake Campground?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.
Source: Recreation.gov
What is there to do at Pete's Lake Campground?
Visitors enjoy a variety of water-related recreation opportunities. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Pete's Lake Campground?
Munising, Michigan. Big Island, Fish and Straits lakes are all within 25 miles of the campground.
Source: Getting there
What if Pete's Lake Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Ewing Point Campsite (0.8 mi), Widewaters Campground (1.6 mi, partly first-come), and Council Lake Campsites (2.6 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby