2 Michigan campgrounds are among the hardest to book in the US

MICHIGAN – Two campgrounds in Michigan are among the 10 most difficult campgrounds in the United States to book.

Last week, The Dyrt, a popular camping trip planning website, released its list of the ten most difficult campgrounds in the U.S. to book at. Campgrounds from seven states rounded out the top ten, including two from Michigan.

Both campgrounds are located within the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, about a six-hour drive from Metro Detroit.

Twelvemile Beach Campground is the second hardest campground to book in the U.S. According to Dyrt, the campground is booked 99.4% of the year. Located in Grand Marais, the campground has 37 sites for tents and small RVs.

“Centrally located just a stone’s throw from a pristine sandy beach, Twelvemile’s well-maintained and easily accessible grounds provide easy access to the waters of Superior as well as attractions like lighthouses, the surreal Chapel Rock and more,” The Dyrt wrote of the campground. “Add to that easy access to the charming Upper Peninsula towns of Grand Marais and Munising, and Twelvemile Beach is the ideal location to experience all that the Pictured Rocks have to offer from a convenient vantage point.”

Hurricane River Campground is the sixth hardest campground to book, booking 96.8% of the year according to Dyrt. Also located in Grand Marais, this campground has 22 sites for tents and small RVs.

“Like Twelvemile Beach, Hurricane River is located in the colorful heart of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, and with the sound of the Hurricane River flowing into mighty Lake Superior, it is one of the most peaceful camping destinations on Michigan’s Upper Peninsula,” wrote The Dyrt.

According to the National Park Service, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore had more than 910,000 total visitors in 2023. That’s a 30% decrease from 2021, when the park saw its peak visitor count of 1.3 million.

Although these specific campsites are difficult to book, there are about ten campgrounds near Pictured Rocks, including two other national park campgrounds. If camping isn’t your thing, Pictured Rocks has plenty of hotels.

Nevada Beach Campground tops the list of hardest campgrounds to book in the United States. It is booked 99.4% of the year and has 54 sites for tents and RVs. It is located on Lake Tahoe, near the Nevada-California border.

Here’s the entire top 10 list with the percentage of the year it’s fully booked.

• Nevada Beach Campground – Nevada, 99.4%

• Twelvemile Beach Campground – Michigan, 99.4%

• Devils Garden Campground – Utah, 99.2%

• Seven Points Campground – Tennessee, 97.6%

• Kirk Creek Campground – California, 97.5%

• Hurricane River Campground – Michigan, 96.8%

• Aspenglen Campground – Colorado, 96.1%

• Fruita Campground – Utah, 95.9%

• Colter Bay RV Park in Colter Bay Village – Wyoming, 94.9%

• Twin Lakes Campground – California, 93.7%