# Five miles of steel over the straits, copper hills and the lake of the clouds – by camper from the Mackinac Bridge to the Porcupine Mountains

> Around 1000 kilometres through Michigan’s Upper Peninsula: a car-free island, amber waterfalls, lighthouses on the shipwreck coast, colourful sandstone…

Source: https://camping-spirit.com/guides/rf-291-michigan-upper-peninsula/

**At a glance:** 8-day road trip of about 799 km (496 mi) with 13 stops, from Mackinaw City to Lake of the Clouds. About 8 h 52 min of driving in total. Best time to go: May–June and September. No toll roads expected for a car. Around 1000 kilometres through Michigan’s Upper Peninsula: a car-free island, amber waterfalls, lighthouses on the shipwreck coast, colourful sandstone cliffs, copper country and a wilderness park on the far western edge.

| | |
|---|---|
| Distance | approx. 799 km (496 mi) |
| Driving | 8 h 52 min |
| Suggested days | 8 |
| Stops | 13 |
| Route | Mackinaw City → Lake of the Clouds |
| States | MI |
| Best time to go | May–June and September |
| Tolls and vignettes | None expected |
| Updated | September 1, 2026 |

[Download GPX file](https://camping-spirit.com/gpx/rf-291-michigan-upper-peninsula.gpx)

Practical guides for this route: [Driving in the US: The Rules European Visitors Most Often Get Wrong at the Wheel](https://camping-spirit.com/magazine/us-driving-rules-visitors/), [Fuel, Tolls and Distances: Practical US Driving Math for Motorhome and Camper Travelers](https://camping-spirit.com/magazine/us-fuel-tolls-distances/), [US national parks: entry fees, passes and reservations in plain terms](https://camping-spirit.com/magazine/us-national-park-passes/)

*Around 1000 kilometres through Michigan’s Upper Peninsula: a car-free island, amber waterfalls, lighthouses on the shipwreck coast, colourful sandstone cliffs, copper country and a wilderness park on the far western edge.*

## The spirit of the route

As you roll across the Mackinac Bridge, you feel the wind through the steering wheel, and on the other side begins a land the locals call “the U.P.”, one that feels like a state of its own. The traffic thins out, the towns get smaller and the forest becomes the constant: birch, maple, hemlock, with bogs and rivers the colour of black tea in between. To the north lies Lake Superior, cold, clear and as moody as an ocean. From the sliding door you see freighters on the horizon, banks of fog over the water in the evening and, with a bit of luck, northern lights over Whitefish Point at night. The route links horse-drawn carriages on Mackinac Island with copper mines, sandstone walls with ancient forests. You drive slowly, buy pasties and smoked fish at the roadside and learn to plan around mosquitoes and the weather.

## Stage-by-stage plan

### Stage 1: Mackinaw City to St. Ignace (with Mackinac Island) (approx. 12 km)

- **The drive:** From Mackinaw City take the I-75 across the Mackinac Bridge to St. Ignace. The suspension bridge is around 8 km long and tolled (the toll plaza is at the northern end in St. Ignace; the fare depends on the number of axles, so rigs with trailers pay more). The inner lanes have open steel grating, which feels unsettled in a crosswind and with a tall vehicle; the outer lanes are paved, and with a motorhome or trailer rig you will usually have a calmer drive on the outside. Speed limit 45 mph, and no more than 20 mph for high-profile vehicles when a wind warning is in force. Driving time 15 minutes, plus the day trip to the island by ferry.
- **Highlights & must-sees:**
  - Mackinac Bridge: In strong winds the Mackinac Bridge Authority issues warnings: from sustained winds of about 35 mph, high-profile vehicles (“high profile”, which includes motorhomes and trailer rigs) have to wait for an escort by a bridge vehicle; from about 50 mph they are banned, and from 65 mph the bridge closes completely. If you don’t trust yourself to make the crossing, you can request a driver from the bridge authority through the Driver Assistance Program for a fee on top of the toll, who will take your vehicle across; check conditions and waiting times on mackinacbridge.org.
  - Mackinac Island: Cars have been banned on the island since 1898; you get around on foot, by bike or by horse-drawn carriage. Ferries run from St. Ignace and Mackinaw City in around 20 minutes; most of the island belongs to Mackinac Island State Park, with Fort Mackinac and Arch Rock. The loop on the M-185, the only state highway in the USA on which motor vehicles are banned, is a good 13 km by bike.
  - Colonial Michilimackinac in Mackinaw City: a reconstructed 18th-century fort and trading post right beneath the bridge, a good introduction to the history of the straits; seasonal opening hours.
- **Official campsite or RV park:** Straits State Park in St. Ignace: a state park on the northern shore of the straits with pitches in pine forest, some with a view of the bridge, electricity, washrooms with showers and a dump station. Book through the Michigan DNR reservation system; vehicles need the Recreation Passport (see Practicalities). In summer book early, as the campground is in high demand as a base for the island.
- **Free camping or nature tip (where legal):** North of St. Ignace begins the Hiawatha National Forest. Foley Creek Campground on Mackinac Trail is a simple Forest Service campground close to town; dispersed camping is generally permitted in the National Forest away from campgrounds, but is rarely practical near town. In St. Ignace and Mackinaw City, overnighting on streets and in ferry car parks is not permitted.
- **Insider tip for campers:** The motorhome stays on the mainland: the ferry companies in St. Ignace have day and long-term car parks; for large vehicles, ask in advance about suitable spaces. Bikes can be taken along for a surcharge, and there are plenty of rental shops on the island. Check the bridge wind report the evening before and in the morning; crosswinds often come off Lake Michigan.

### Stage 2: St. Ignace to Tahquamenon Falls (Lower Falls) via Whitefish Point (approx. 175 km)

- **The drive:** Head north on the I-75, then take the M-123 via Trout Lake to Paradise and continue on Whitefish Point Road to the tip of the point; return to Paradise and follow the M-123 west to Tahquamenon Falls State Park. After the I-75, two-lane country roads through forest and bog, little traffic, 55 mph. Driving time around 2.5 hours. Fuel in St. Ignace and Paradise, with hardly any services in between.
- **Highlights & must-sees:**
  - Whitefish Point: At the 1861 lighthouse, the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum commemorates the wrecks of the “Shipwreck Coast”, among them the Edmund Fitzgerald, which sank in 1975 and whose bell is on display here. In spring and autumn the point is a well-known spot for bird migration.
  - Tahquamenon Falls, Lower Falls: a series of small cascades around an island in the river, which in summer you can reach in a rented rowing boat. The brownish colour of the water comes from tannins leached from the cedar and hemlock swamps, not from pollution.
  - Tahquamenon Falls, Upper Falls: the main fall is around 60 m wide and about 15 m high, with viewing platforms along the top edge and a long staircase to the bottom; visit the Upper Falls the next morning, when there are still few people around.
- **Official campsite or RV park:** Tahquamenon Falls State Park, Lower Falls Campground: modern loops in the forest near the Lower Falls with electricity, washrooms with showers and a dump station; alternatives in the same park are the Rivermouth areas where the river meets Whitefish Bay. Book through the Michigan DNR reservation system and give your vehicle length when choosing a site.
- **Free camping or nature tip (where legal):** In the hinterland between Paradise and Newberry there is a lot of Michigan DNR state forest land. Dispersed camping is permitted there free of charge if you fill in a Camp Registration Card (as a PDF on the DNR website or at DNR offices) and post it visibly at your site; the site must be more than one mile from a state forest campground. Check the rules in advance. The simple state forest campgrounds in the region (for example Andrus Lake near Paradise) are a legal alternative with a hand pump and pit toilet.
- **Insider tip for campers:** Fill up with fuel and water once more in Paradise: over the next two days Newberry is the only larger town on the route. Whitefish Point Road ends at a small car park; with long vehicles in peak season, arrive early in the day.

### Stage 3: Tahquamenon Falls to Deer Park (Muskallonge Lake) (approx. 120 km)

- **The drive:** After visiting the Upper Falls, take the M-123 south to Newberry, then County Road H-37/407 north to Lake Superior at Deer Park. The county road is mostly paved but narrow and winding, partly gravel shortly before Deer Park; ask about conditions in advance and drive at a leisurely pace. Driving time around 2 hours. Refuel, shop and fill up with water in Newberry; further north there are hardly any shops.
- **Highlights & must-sees:**
  - Mouth of the Two Hearted River: the river flows over a sandbar into Lake Superior, and a footbridge leads to a beach strewn with driftwood. Access via gravel roads east of Deer Park, suitable for large motorhomes only in dry weather.
  - Beach at Muskallonge Lake State Park: only a narrow belt of dunes separates the inland lake from Lake Superior; on the pebble beach of the big lake many people hunt for agates, especially after storms.
  - Crisp Point Light: a remote lighthouse east of the Two Hearted River mouth, reached via long gravel roads; only with a suitable vehicle, a full tank and an offline map, as there is no mobile signal there.
- **Official campsite or RV park:** Muskallonge Lake State Park near Deer Park: a state park on the site of a former logging town between Muskallonge Lake and Lake Superior, with electricity, washrooms, showers and a dump station; book through the Michigan DNR reservation system, Recreation Passport required.
- **Free camping or nature tip (where legal):** Around Deer Park there are several simple state forest campgrounds of the Lake Superior State Forest, for example at the mouth of the Two Hearted River or on small lakes such as Pike Lake and Bodi Lake; mostly without reservations, with self-registration and a fee on site. Dispersed camping on state forest land only with the free Camp Registration Card and more than one mile from state forest campgrounds.
- **Insider tip for campers:** Black flies are very active here from about mid-May to the end of June, followed by mosquitoes; on windy days the beach on Lake Superior is the most pleasant place to be. In late summer stable flies also bite along the shore, mainly going for your legs; long trousers help.

### Stage 4: Deer Park to Munising (via Grand Marais and Pictured Rocks) (approx. 110 km)

- **The drive:** From Deer Park take County Road H-58 (CR 407) west to Grand Marais and on through Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore to Munising. The section in Luce County between Deer Park and the Alger County line is a gravel road; with a large vehicle or in wet conditions, the detour back via Newberry, Seney and the M-77 to Grand Marais is the safer choice. From the county line the H-58 is paved, but within the park it is winding and hilly with wildlife crossing, 35–45 mph. Driving time around 2 hours, a full day with detours. Fuel station and small shop in Grand Marais; Munising has supermarkets and several fuel stations.
- **Highlights & must-sees:**
  - Grand Marais: a small harbour town on a natural bay with a breakwater and harbour lighthouse; west of town is the Grand Sable Visitor Center at the eastern end of the Pictured Rocks.
  - Au Sable Light Station: from Hurricane River Campground a flat shoreline path (about 2.5 km each way) leads to the 1874 lighthouse; along the way, remains of shipwrecks lie in the sand, visible depending on the water level.
  - Chapel Rock and Mosquito Beach: a loop hike from the Chapel Basin car park to the rock arch on which a single pine tree grows, and to a stretch of shore with flat sandstone ledges; the access road, Chapel Road, is unpaved and tight for long vehicles. To finish, the detour to Miners Castle with a view of the coloured cliffs.
- **Official campsite or RV park:** Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore: Twelvemile Beach Campground and Hurricane River Campground on the H-58 lie in the forest above Lake Superior, with basic facilities (well water and pit toilets), no electricity and no dump station; open from about mid-May to mid-October, reservation via recreation.gov is mandatory (six-month booking window). The park recommends a maximum of 36 ft (approx. 11 m) for single vehicles and 42 ft (approx. 12.8 m) for combinations. Bay Furnace Campground (Hiawatha National Forest) on the lakeshore west of Munising is another simple option; check status and season.
- **Free camping or nature tip (where legal):** Within the National Lakeshore, overnighting is permitted only at designated campgrounds, and backcountry camping only with a permit. South of the park lies the Hiawatha National Forest, where dispersed camping away from campgrounds and recreation areas is generally permitted; length of stay is limited, ask the Munising Ranger District about fire regulations.
- **Insider tip for campers:** There is no entrance fee for the Pictured Rocks; check on nps.gov whether this changes. From land you only see the cliffs in glimpses; the best view is from the water: tour boats leave from Munising, and kayak tours should be done only with a guide and in calm weather, as the cold lake does not forgive mistakes.

### Stage 5: Munising to Marquette (and Big Bay) (approx. 120 km)

- **The drive:** Take the M-28 along the shore via Au Train to Marquette, then optionally County Road 550 north to Big Bay. The M-28 is two-lane with stretches of beach right next to the road, 55 mph; the CR-550 is winding, hilly and wooded. Driving time around 1.5–2 hours. Marquette is the largest town in the U.P., with supermarkets, repair garages and launderettes.
- **Highlights & must-sees:**
  - Laughing Whitefish Falls State Scenic Site: a waterfall reached from the M-94 south of the M-28 that slides broadly over a rock step; from the car park, a short woodland path and staircase.
  - Black Rocks in Presque Isle Park in Marquette: dark rocks at the northern tip of the town’s peninsula, from which you look out over Lake Superior; in the park, note the vehicle length limits and one-way rules.
  - Sugarloaf Mountain on the CR-550: a short, steep climb with stairs to a rocky summit with a panoramic view over Marquette, the coast and the forest.
- **Official campsite or RV park:** Perkins Park Campground in Big Bay: a Marquette County park on Lake Independence with electricity at some of the pitches, washrooms with showers and a dump station; check the season and reservations with the county in advance. In Marquette itself, the city runs the Tourist Park Campground with electricity and washrooms.
- **Free camping or nature tip (where legal):** Around Marquette there are large areas of the Escanaba River State Forest; dispersed camping is permitted there with the DNR’s free Camp Registration Card (more than one mile from state forest campgrounds). In the city of Marquette and at the beach car parks along the M-28, overnighting in your vehicle is not permitted.
- **Insider tip for campers:** In Marquette, do your big shop and take care of the gas bottle and dump station: the Keweenaw and the west of the peninsula are much more thinly served. Pasties, the Cornish miners’ pastries, are available at many bakeries in town.

### Stage 6: Marquette to Houghton/Hancock (approx. 160 km)

- **The drive:** Take the US-41/M-28 west via Ishpeming, then the US-41 north via L’Anse and Baraga along Keweenaw Bay to Houghton. Partly four-lane, mostly two-lane, with long climbs in the iron-ore country around Ishpeming. Driving time around 2.5 hours. Fuel stations in Ishpeming, L’Anse and Houghton.
- **Highlights & must-sees:**
  - Canyon Falls: a roadside rest area on the US-41 south of L’Anse, from which a short woodland path leads to a waterfall in a rocky gorge of the Sturgeon River.
  - Keweenaw Bay near L’Anse and Baraga: the US-41 runs along the shore of the bay, with views across the water to the Keweenaw Peninsula.
  - A. E. Seaman Mineral Museum of Michigan Tech in Houghton: Michigan’s official mineral collection, with copper ores and native copper from the region; check opening hours.
- **Official campsite or RV park:** Hancock Recreation Area: a municipal campground on Portage Lake on the M-203 west of downtown Hancock with electricity at the RV pitches, showers and washing machines, open mid-May to mid-October; book online through the City of Hancock and check vehicle lengths there. Alternatively McLain State Park on the M-203 north of Hancock on the lakeshore (Michigan DNR).
- **Free camping or nature tip (where legal):** On the Keweenaw, much of the forest belongs to private timber companies. Land enrolled under the Commercial Forest Act is open on foot for hunting, trapping and fishing, but camping there is not permitted without the owner’s permission; legal alternatives are the simple state forest campgrounds of the Copper Country State Forest and the municipal campgrounds.
- **Insider tip for campers:** On the US-41 south of L’Anse, moose and deer are frequently about, especially at dusk. Fill up with water and fuel in Houghton or Hancock; north of there the villages are small.

### Stage 7: Houghton to Copper Harbor (approx. 95 km)

- **The drive:** Take the US-41 to Calumet, then the M-26 along the west coast via Eagle River and Eagle Harbor to Copper Harbor, finishing with the Brockway Mountain Drive. The M-26 is narrow, winding and follows the shore; the Brockway Mountain Drive is around 14 km long, narrow, with steep ramps and no guardrails in places, suitable for large motorhomes and trailer rigs only with experience and in dry weather. Driving time around 2 hours.
- **Highlights & must-sees:**
  - Eagle Harbor Lighthouse: a red-brick lighthouse on the rocks at the harbour entrance with a small museum run by the Keweenaw County Historical Society; seasonal opening hours.
  - Jacobs Falls and Great Sand Bay on the M-26: a small waterfall right by the road, followed shortly by a stretch of pebbly shore with a view to the west; car parks are small.
  - Brockway Mountain Drive: the road runs along a ridge around 220 m above Lake Superior, with views of Copper Harbor, Lake Fanny Hooe and the forests of the peninsula; in spring many birds of prey migrate through here. In fog, there is no view at all.
- **Official campsite or RV park:** Fort Wilkins Historic State Park in Copper Harbor: two campground areas on Lake Fanny Hooe with electricity, washrooms with showers and a dump station; book through the Michigan DNR reservation system, Recreation Passport required. In peak season and during the autumn colours, book early.
- **Free camping or nature tip (where legal):** In the Copper Country State Forest there are simple campgrounds and state forest land for dispersed camping with the free Camp Registration Card; private and timber company land (Commercial Forest) is off limits for camping. When the wildfire risk is high, fire bans apply; check the status on michigan.gov/dnr.
- **Insider tip for campers:** Drive the Brockway Mountain Drive in the early evening and wait for the sunset over Lake Superior at the summit car park. If you’d rather not take a large vehicle up, take the M-26 from Eagle Harbor to Copper Harbor and hike in the Estivant Pines, a preserve with old eastern white pines south of town (access via narrow gravel roads).

### Stage 8: Copper Harbor to Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park (approx. 210 km)

- **The drive:** Take the US-41 back to Houghton, then the M-26 south-west via Twin Lakes, the M-38 to Ontonagon and the M-64 along the coast to Silver City; there, turn onto the M-107 into the park. Two-lane country roads through forest, 55 mph, few towns. Driving time around 3.5 hours. Fuel stations in Houghton and Ontonagon; there are none in the park.
- **Highlights & must-sees:**
  - Lake of the Clouds: at the end of the M-107, a short path leads from the car park to the viewpoint on a rock ledge, below which the long, narrow lake lies between wooded ridges; check access and the condition of the viewing platform in advance on michigan.gov/porkies.
  - Summit Peak: from South Boundary Road, a short woodland path to an observation tower on the highest point in the park, with views over Lake Superior and, on clear days, as far as Wisconsin.
  - Presque Isle River: at the western end of the park the river drops over several steps (Manabezho, Manido and Nawadaha Falls); a loop trail over a suspension bridge and boardwalks, slippery when wet.
- **Official campsite or RV park:** Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park: Union Bay Campground at the eastern end of the park, right on the shore of Lake Superior, with electricity, washrooms with showers and a dump station; Presque Isle Campground at the western end is rustic (pit toilets, hand pumps, no electricity) and lies in the forest near the waterfalls. Both can be booked through the Michigan DNR reservation system, Recreation Passport required; note the facilities and length limit for each site.
- **Free camping or nature tip (where legal):** West and south of the park lies the Ottawa National Forest; dispersed camping away from campgrounds and recreation areas is generally permitted there, subject to a stay limit and the fire regulations of the ranger district. Black River Harbor Campground (Ottawa National Forest) near Ironwood is a simple Forest Service campground on the shore if the sites in the Porkies are full.
- **Insider tip for campers:** South Boundary Road links the eastern and western parts of the park over around 40 km: narrow, winding, without services, with wildlife crossing. With a large vehicle, drive slowly or approach the Presque Isle River from the south via County Road 519. Fill up and stock up on supplies in Ontonagon.

## Camping practice & local rules

### Wild camping & overnight parking

- Michigan state forest land (DNR): dispersed camping outside campgrounds is permitted free of charge if a Camp Registration Card (PDF on the DNR website or at a DNR office) is filled in and posted clearly at your site; the site must be more than one mile from a state forest campground, not in State Game Areas and not at places with a “No Camping” sign. Check the rules on michigan.gov/dnr before your trip.
- Hiawatha and Ottawa National Forests: dispersed camping is generally permitted away from campgrounds, picnic areas and trailheads, subject to a stay limit per location and the fire regulations of the relevant ranger district. Park vehicles only on existing tracks and clearings.
- Off limits: state parks outside the campgrounds, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore outside the designated campgrounds, private land and timber company land under the Commercial Forest Act, beach car parks, highway rest areas and ferry car parks. Violations are enforced by rangers and police, and fines are possible.
- Firewood: because of the emerald ash borer, do not bring firewood from other regions; buy wood near the campground.
- Wildlife: black bears live throughout the U.P.; store food and rubbish in the vehicle or in bear-proof containers at night. Moose are mainly found in the west and on the Keweenaw.
- Apps and websites: the Michigan DNR reservation system, recreation.gov for federal campgrounds, plus Campendium, iOverlander and The Dyrt.

### Waste disposal & supplies

- Dump stations can be found in many state parks (for the park’s campers or for a fee), at municipal campgrounds and at some fuel stations; simple state forest and national forest campgrounds usually have none.
- Drinking water: state forest campgrounds often have only hand pumps, whose water is not always designated as drinking water; fill your tank in St. Ignace, Newberry, Munising, Marquette and Houghton. Filter or boil water from lakes and rivers before drinking.
- Empty grey water only at dump stations; do not empty chemical toilets into pit toilets.
- Propane: filling stations in larger towns and at some campgrounds; European bottles are generally not refilled, and rental motorhomes have built-in US tanks.
- Fuel and shopping: there are large gaps between Paradise, Deer Park and Grand Marais and between Ontonagon and the Porcupine Mountains; refuel at half a tank at the latest.
- Mobile signal: patchy along much of the route (Whitefish Bay, Deer Park, Pictured Rocks, the tip of the Keweenaw, the Porkies); save offline maps and reservation confirmations beforehand.

### Vehicle size & traffic rules

- Recreation Passport: to drive into Michigan’s state parks (including Straits, Tahquamenon Falls, Muskallonge Lake, Fort Wilkins and the Porcupine Mountains) you need a Recreation Passport. Residents buy it with their vehicle registration; visitors with vehicles from outside Michigan buy an annual pass (a windscreen sticker, valid until 31 December) or a non-resident day pass at the park entrance or by self-registration; only the annual pass is available online, with two to three weeks’ delivery time. Check current prices on michigan.gov/recreationpassport. The camping fee is payable on top.
- Reservations: state park campgrounds are booked through the Michigan DNR reservation system, generally up to six months in advance; for July, August and the autumn colours from late September to early October, book early. Federal campgrounds (Pictured Rocks, some national forest) via recreation.gov.
- Speed limits: freeways mostly 70–75 mph, two-lane highways usually 55 mph, 65 mph on designated stretches; lower limits apply to heavy trucks and semi-trailers (“Truck” signs), and with a trailer rig or large motorhome you should drive defensively anyway. In towns often 25–35 mph.
- Tolls: only the Mackinac Bridge (toll plaza at the northern end in St. Ignace, fare by number of axles; cash, card, Apple/Google Pay or MacPass). The tolled International Bridge to Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, lies off the route.
- Mackinac Bridge: in storms there are warnings, mandatory escorts for high-profile vehicles or partial closures; check the Mackinac Bridge Authority’s notices before you set off. Stopping on the bridge is prohibited.
- National parks: since 2026, visitors without US residency have in some cases faced higher fees or surcharges at heavily visited national parks; check current amounts on nps.gov.
- Dimensions: standard clearance height is 13 ft 6 in (approx. 4.1 m); on gravel roads in state forests and on narrow park roads such as the Brockway Mountain Drive and South Boundary Road, keep the length and width of your vehicle in mind.

## CampingSpirit packing & preparation checklist

- Head net and repellent with DEET or icaridin: black flies from mid-May to the end of June, then mosquitoes in forest and bog, and stable flies on the beach in late summer.
- Bikes or a folding bike: for Mackinac Island, where cars are banned, and for shoreline paths in Munising and Marquette.
- Thermos flask and warm layers: Lake Superior stays cold even in high summer, evenings on the coast can drop below 10 °C, and in autumn there is early frost.
- Printed Camp Registration Card and paper map of the state and national forests: for legal dispersed camping without mobile signal.
- Waterproof hiking boots: for wet boardwalks at the Tahquamenon Falls, at the Presque Isle River and on the shoreline paths of the Pictured Rocks.
- Binoculars: for freighters on Lake Superior, bird migration at Whitefish Point and birds of prey on Brockway Mountain.

_As of 2026-09. Closures, fees and booking rules change: check official sources before you go._

## Sources

- [Mackinac Bridge Authority – Wind Warnings and Closures](https://www.mackinacbridge.org/?p=6698)
- [Mackinac Bridge Authority – Fare Schedule](https://www.mackinacbridge.org/fares-traffic/fare-schedule/)
- [Mackinac Bridge Authority – Rules & Regulations](https://www.mackinacbridge.org/fares-traffic/rules-regulations/)
- [Mackinac Bridge Authority – Driver Assistance Program reinstated with increased fees](https://www.mackinacbridge.org/?p=6135)
- [Michigan DNR – Recreation Passport](https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/buy-and-apply/recreation-passport)
- [Michigan DNR – Dispersed camping on state forest land](https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/things-to-do/camping-and-lodging/backpack)
- [Michigan DNR – Commercial Forest Program](https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/managing-resources/forestry/private/cf)
- [Michigan DNR – Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park](https://www.michigan.gov/Porkies)
- [National Park Service – Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore: Camping](https://www.nps.gov/piro/planyourvisit/camping.htm)
- [City of Hancock – Hancock Recreation Area Beach & Campground](https://www.cityofhancock.com/recreation-beach-campground.php)
- [Newberry News – Road work in progress (CR 407, Luce County)](https://mynewberrynews.com/features/road-work-in-progress/)
- [Upper Michigan's Source – County Road 407, 410 paving projects in Luce County](https://www.uppermichiganssource.com/2023/02/16/county-road-407-410-paving-projects-works-luce-county)

## Which stops are on the route from Mackinaw City to Lake of the Clouds?

1. **Mackinaw City** (MI)
2. **Mackinac Island** (MI)
3. **St. Ignace** (MI)
4. **Whitefish Point** (MI)
5. **Tahquamenon Falls** (Paradise, MI): A 200-foot-wide waterfall colored root-beer brown by tannins, with the Lower Falls four miles downstream. A lovely trail links both.
6. **Deer Park** (MI)
7. **Grand Marais** (MI)
8. **Munising** (MI)
9. **Marquette** (MI)
10. **Houghton** (MI)
11. **Copper Harbor** (MI)
12. **Ontonagon** (MI)
13. **Lake of the Clouds** (MI)

## When is the best time for the route from Mackinaw City to Lake of the Clouds?

The most pleasant months are usually May–June and September. Still fine, with some compromises, in July–August. Cold, short days in December–March. July and August are the busiest months: book campsites early. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)

## FAQs

**How long is Five miles of steel over the straits, copper hills and the lake of the clouds – by camper from the Mackinac Bridge to the Porcupine Mountains?**
8-day road trip of about 799 km (496 mi) with 13 stops, from Mackinaw City to Lake of the Clouds. About 8 h 52 min of driving in total.

**How many days do you need for Five miles of steel over the straits, copper hills and the lake of the clouds – by camper from the Mackinac Bridge to the Porcupine Mountains?**
We suggest 8 days: about 8 h 52 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.

**Where does Five miles of steel over the straits, copper hills and the lake of the clouds – by camper from the Mackinac Bridge to the Porcupine Mountains start and end?**
It starts in Mackinaw City and ends in Lake of the Clouds.

**Which states does Five miles of steel over the straits, copper hills and the lake of the clouds – by camper from the Mackinac Bridge to the Porcupine Mountains pass through?**
Michigan.

**Where can you camp along Five miles of steel over the straits, copper hills and the lake of the clouds – by camper from the Mackinac Bridge to the Porcupine Mountains?**
OpenStreetMap lists 125 campsites and motorhome stopovers within 19 mi of the stops on this route. For example: Woodland Park Campground, Tiki RV Park and Castle Rock Campark.