Detour State Forest Campground

4.57

81 reviews

Quick Facts

Price

$20/night

Booking

Walk-in Only

Sites

21 campsites

Season

Year-round

Cell

Unknown

Pets

Allowed

RV Friendly

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Quick Facts

Price

$20/night

Booking

Walk-in Only

Sites

21 campsites

Season

Year-round

Cell

Unknown

Pets

Allowed

RV Friendly

Opens Michigan DNR site

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Detour State Forest Campground

$20.00 - $20.00 / night

Campsite Fees

A Google review lists the nightly fee as $20; official DNR fee not provided in source materials. Sites are rustic (no hookups).

Standard Site Fee$0.00

Hookup Site Fee$0.00

Premium Site Fee$0.00

Hike and Bike Site Fee$0.00

Group Site Fee$0.00

Food Storage Locker Fee$0.00

Total Campsite Fees$0.00

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Michigan

Provider

(906) 248-3422

What Campers Say

4.57

Top-Rated

Based on 81 reviews

78 Google reviews

Most mentioned

viewsquietlocationlake

Some mention

mosquitoessmall

"Reviewers consistently praise the campground's peaceful, wooded setting and direct Lake Huron access; vault toilets and a hand-pump well are noted as clean and functional. Many reviewers emphasize the rustic, first-come-first-served nature and limited suitability for large RVs."

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Fees & Passes at Detour State Forest Campground

$20/night

Campsite fees

Prices verified December 13, 2025

Prices may vary by season and site type. Always confirm current rates on the official Michigan DNR website.

Best Time to Camp at Detour State Forest Campground

Spring and shoulder seasons bring a peaceful, almost meditative quality to this remote shoreline retreat, with refreshingly cold lake water perfect for a bracing swim or wade. The beach landscape shifts subtly with Lake Huron's changing water levels, offering a slightly different experience each visit. Night owls and stargazers will find the area's famously dark skies a constant draw, revealing celestial displays that make the remote location feel all the more special.

Best

Spring (Mar-May)

Wildflowers bloom, mild temperatures, fewer crowds. Great for hiking and photography.

Summer (Jun-Aug)

Peak season with warm weather, perfect for water activities. Book early.

Fall (Sep-Nov)

Beautiful fall colors, cooler temps, quieter campgrounds. Ideal for peaceful trips.

Winter (Dec-Feb)

Off-season, limited services. Check for closures before visiting.

Planning Tips

About Detour State Forest Campground

Escape to DeTour State Forest Campground, where rustic charm meets Lake Huron's pristine shoreline just five miles west of DeTour Village. This intimate, first-come-first-served retreat offers wooded, well-spaced sites that open onto a beautiful sandy-pebble beach—perfect for campers seeking a genuine back-to-basics experience with vault toilets, hand-pump well water, and the soothing soundtrack of Great Lakes waves.

Rustic Lake Huron state forest campground with about 21 first-come, first-served sites; primarily used by tent campers and small trailers, with a few larger sites able to handle bigger rigs.

Weather and SeasonsSpring and shoulder seasons bring a peaceful, almost meditative quality to this remote shoreline retreat, with refreshingly cold lake water perfect for a bracing swim or wade. The beach landscape shifts subtly with Lake Huron's changing water levels, offering a slightly different experience each visit. Night owls and stargazers will find the area's famously dark skies a constant draw, revealing celestial displays that make the remote location feel all the more special.

Natural Features and SceneryNestled within thick mixed forest along Lake Huron's spectacular shore, each campsite feels like your own private sanctuary. Wind through tree-shaded paths to discover a driftwood-adorned beach where crystal-clear Great Lakes water laps at the shore. The surrounding habitat comes alive with frogs calling from nearby wetlands, shorebirds patrolling the waterline, and wildflowers dotting the forest floor. When darkness falls, you'll understand why the eastern Upper Peninsula is renowned for its star-filled skies—here, the Milky Way stretches overhead in stunning clarity, undiminished by artificial light.

Geological RegionLake Huron shoreline on the eastern Upper Peninsula (shoreline/forested coastal area)

Campsite details

Total Campsites21 campsites

Best Campsites

Curated by campers, for campers

Reveal picks

Reserving a campsite

Tents

Tents are allowed

RV vehicles

RV vehicles are allowed

Primitive

Primitive are allowed

Reservable

Reservations are not allowed

Reservation PlatformsMIDNRReservations.com

Amenities available

Potable water

Picnic tables

Vault toilets

Activities you can enjoy

Lakeshore camping on Lake Huron with beach access for swimming, beachcombing, and ship watching; carry-in paddlesports and shoreline fishing are common. Trails and nearby public land provide hiking, wildlife viewing, biking and hunting access on adjacent state land.

Hiking

Trails include shoreline walks through cedar and mixed forest; nearby Bush Bay/Narnia Trail (about a 3.8-mile out-and-back shoreline hike) is noted by reviewers.

Fishing

Shore and nearshore Lake Huron fishing; sources note species such as walleye, bass, pike and musky in the area and additional nearby fishing opportunities.

Swimming

Sandy/pebble beach on Lake Huron with areas suitable for wading and swimming; water is described as cold and clear.

Biking

Boating

Wildlife viewing

Campground rules

Pets are allowed
No firewood is sold in the campground; visitors are advised to purchase firewood along M-134 before arrival. No official on-site fire policy provided in source materials.

Hazards

General hazardsHand-pump well water has been reported as brown from iron by at least one camper. Minimal signage off M-134 can cause missed turns. Variable shoreline due to water levels can affect beach size. Many sites are small or have tight access for large RVs; only a few sites can accommodate very large vehicles. Cell/data coverage is not documented and should not be relied upon.

Weather at Detour State Forest Campground

°F

Dec 26

Friday

Moderate snow fall

Precipitation: 0.4%

Humidity: 84%

Wind: 14.2 mph

Moderate snow fall

Weather History

Weather data powered by Open-Meteo

Detailed 7-Day Forecast

Reveal forecast

Good to know

Common complaintsRustic facilities only (no electricity or showers), minimal highway signage to find the campground, well water often brown from iron, mosquitoes/standing water and small/tight sites for larger RVs.

Campground Map

Detour State Forest Campground

Driving directionsLocated about 5 miles west of DeTour Village via M-134. Turn onto Campground Road; signage from M-134 is minimal so watch for a small trailer/campground sign.

Accessible from M-134; approach drive passes through thick mixed forest. Minimal highway signage may make the entrance easy to miss.

Nearby places

DeTour Village (≈5 miles east)

Caribou Lake area (≈3 miles north)

St. Mary's River area (≈5 miles east). Nearby towns with services include DeTour Village, Cedarville, and Hessel.

Nearby supplies

Supplies and services available in DeTour Village (≈5 mi). Additional dining/amenities in Cedarville and Hessel.

Reviews from booking and map sources

4.6

81 reviews

Top-Rated

Detour State Forest Campground is top-rated, placing it in the top 15% of campgrounds based on reviews

Reviewers consistently praise the campground's peaceful, wooded setting and direct Lake Huron access; vault toilets and a hand-pump well are noted as clean and functional. Many reviewers emphasize the rustic, first-come-first-served nature and limited suitability for large RVs.

Review Summaries

Based on 81 reviews

What Campers Love

Quiet, uncrowded lakeshore location with wooded, semi-private sites, easy access to a sandy/pebble beach, good swimming and paddling, dark night skies and frequent close-up views of freighters.

Based on 81 reviews

Pro Tips & Recommendations

Arrive early (all sites are first-come, first-served); bring your own drinking water or filtration due to iron-stained well water; buy firewood before arrival (no on-site sales); target mid-loop...

Based on 81 reviews