Lake Huron Circle Tour Camping Itinerary

Embark on a camping adventure around Lake Huron, the second largest of the Great Lakes. With various state and provincial parks, this route offers a unique blend of nature, wildlife, and outdoor activities. Our suggested Lake Huron Circle Tour Itinerary includes a shortcut and a way to divide the route into US (Michigan) and Canadian (Ontario) trips.

We love the Great Lakes and hope to camp along the perimeter of each one. We have Circled Lake Michigan and done much of the Lake Superior Circle Tour. It took us a few trips to complete Lake Huron, which we now present to you.

Lake Huron Circle Tour Map

This Circle Tour of Lake Huron goes in a counter-clockwise direction, starting at the southernmost park in Canada. Reverse the itinerary or do parts of it as you see fit.

Things to Note: Reservations are strongly encouraged on both sides of the lake! Many parks in Canada require reservations for day visits in addition to camping. Provincial Park reservations can be made 5 months in advance. Canadian National Park reservations in Ontario open on February 5, 2024. The Michigan State Park reservation window is 6 months in advance.
Also, the electrical poles at many parks are often a distance from parking pads, so pack a long cord.

Lake Huron Camping Trip Itinerary

Enjoy the following stays along the coast of crystal-clear Lake Huron.

Campground	Country	Things to Do & See
Pinery PP	Canada	Bike, Beach
Inverhuron PP	Canada	Sunset
Bruce Peninsula NP	Canada	The Grotto, Wildlife
Six Mile Lake PP	Canada	Georgian Bay Islands NP
Killbear PP	Canada	Views, Sunset
Killarney PP	Canada	Paddle, Wildlife
Chutes PP	Canada	Manitoulin Island
Aune Osborn Campground	USA	Freighters, Soo Locks
Straits State SP	USA	Mackinac Island
Cheboygan SP	USA	Paddle, Fireworks
Harrisville SP	USA	Beach, Sunrise
Tawas SP	USA	Walk to the Point, Sunset
Bay City SP	USA	Bike or Hike Tobico Marsh
Port Crescent SP	USA	Boat to Turnip Rock
Lakeport SP	USA	Watch Freighters

Lake Huron Circle Tour Camping in Canada

We recommend Americans on the Lake Huron Circle Tour cross the border into Canada at Port Huron/Point Edward. If you have time, stop and visit the park at the base of the bridge on the Canadian side for beautiful views of the blue water. Check out these travel tips for RVers crossing into Canada. Nearby, Sarnia has several grocery stores right off the highway where you can stock up on fresh ingredients.

Pinery Provincial Park 

Pinery Provincial Park is a popular park along the lake in the southernmost part of Canada. The park features three campgrounds with a total of 1000 campsites. The campsites are spacious and have foliage separation, providing privacy for campers. Among the campgrounds, Riverside is situated at the park’s center, while Dunes and Burley are near the beach. Electric hookups are only available in Riverside.

Enjoy biking, hiking, paddling, fishing, and relaxing on the beach. The park has a visitor center that offers interactive exhibits, a theater, a nature store, and free Wi-Fi. Additionally, there is a store where visitors can purchase souvenirs, snacks, and camping items, and a restaurant, bike rentals, canoe rentals, and ice cream.

Pinery Provincial Park 9526 Lakeshore Rd, Grand Bend, ON N0M 1T0

Visit the Beach at Grand Bend

The town of Grand Bend lies to the north of Pinery. A touristy district with shopping, restaurants, and a large beach is on Main Street West. It is a great place to get souvenirs. 

Inverhuron Provincial Park 

Midway up the peninsula is Inverhuron Provincial Park. The park has 351 campsites within three campgrounds that have easy access to Lake Huron. Sites are level, spacious, and private.

The shoreline is mostly rocky, but you will find a sandy beach on the park’s south end. Either is great for watching the sunset. Walk or bike around the park on the Chain Trail. 

Inverhuron Provincial Park 19 Jordon Rd, Kincardine, ON N0G 2T0

Roadside Water Falls

Just north of Sauble Beach is Sauble Falls Provincial Park. The north side of the bridge has the Falls Viewing Day Use parking area on the west side of the road. Sauble Falls is a great stop to have a picnic lunch or swim in the cascading falls. 

Bruce Peninsula National Park

Bruce Peninsula National Park is a beautiful park located just south of Tobermory. One of the park’s most popular attractions is The Grotto (pictured at the top of this post), a natural area with sea caves and towering rock formations. The crystal-clear waters are perfect for swimming.

We stayed at the Cypress Lake Campground along its namesake’s shores. Each site has a picnic table and fire ring (must get a permit to use). There are no hookups, but a dump station is located near the exit. The campground shower building has electrical outlets on the outside so you can charge your devices.

Walk from Cypress Lake to The Grotto. If you want to drive to get closer to the trail, you will have to make a separate parking reservation.

Bruce Peninsula National Park Tobermory, ON N0H 2R0

Visit the Largest Fresh Water Beach in the World

Wasaga Beach, which is located along the southernmost edge of the Georgian Bay of Lake Huron, is the largest freshwater beach in the world. This huge beach has eight distinct beach areas. Dogs are allowed in a small portion of Beach Area 3.

Six Mile Lake Provincial Park

This park is along the east side of the Georgian Bay on Six Mile Lake. It has seven campgrounds, of which two offer electrical hookups. The park also offers a park store, hiking, biking, canoeing, kayaking, and fishing. Swim or relaxing on the sand at one of the three beaches along Six Mile Lake. The beaches have lifeguards on duty during summer, making the park ideal for families.

We picked this park due to its proximity to Honey Harbour, where you catch a boat to visit the national park in the Georgian Bay.

Six Mile Lake Provincial Park 2024 Joe King’s Road, Port Severn, ON L0K 1S0

Georgian Bay Islands National Park

Georgian Bay Islands National Park, located in the world’s largest freshwater island group, covers an area of 13.5 square kilometers (3335 acres) and features over 60 islands and islets. The park is known for its rugged terrain, clear waters, and stunning views of Georgian Bay. Reservations are required to visit the park.

The park can only be accessed by boat where visitors can enjoy hiking, camping, boating, swimming, and fishing. The park accommodations include rustic cabins, waterfront campsites, and canvas tents. The Day Tripper boat shuttles visitors from Honey Harbour to Beausoleil Island, where they can rent a bicycle to tour the island.

Day Tripper Dock at Honey Harbour 2384 Honey Harbour Road, Honey Harbour, ON L0K 1S0

Killbear Provincial Park

Killbear features a shoreline of rugged rocks mixed with sand beaches along the Georgian Bay. It has seven campgrounds, three of which have electric hookups. There is a visitor center, hiking, biking, canoeing, kayaking, and fishing. The park also features a recreational trail that is 6 km long and passes by several islands, waterfalls, and rock formations. The trail offers views of windswept pines, wildlife, and Georgian Bay sunsets.

Killbear Provincial Park 35 Killbear Park Road, Nobel, ON P0G 1G0

Killarney Provincial Park

Killarney Provincial Park is located on the north shore of the Georgian Bay. It covers an area of 645 square
kilometers (159,383 acres) of wilderness landscape. The park is named after the Killarney Range, a series of white quartzite hills contrasting with the pink granite cliffs and sapphire lakes. The park is home to over 100 species of birds, as well as moose, deer, black bears, wolves, lynx, bobcats, martens, and beavers.

Camping options in the park include backcountry sites that are accessible by paddling or hiking, rustic cabins, yurts, and drive-in camping at George Lake Campground.

The park offers hiking, biking, and fishing. Bring your own canoe or kayak to paddle or rent from a nearby outfitter. The area reminds me of the Boundary Water Canoe Area Wilderness.

Visit the nearby historic village of Killarney, which was founded in 1820 as a fur trading post on Georgian Bay, and enjoy some world-famous fish and chips at Herbert Fisheries.

Killarney Provincial Park 960 ON-637, Killarney, ON P0M 2A0

Sudbury, Ontario

As you continue to circle the lake, you will pass through the city of Sudbury, which is a great place to pick up groceries and do laundry. We enjoyed a fantastic meal at Tucos Taco Lounge.

Chutes Provincial Park

Chutes is a basic park with a decent campground along the Aux Sables River. We opted to stay at this small park due to its proximity to Manitoulin Island. The park has the standard Ontario Provincial Park bathroom with showers and a six-kilometer hiking trail with great views of scenic waterfalls and river gorges.

Chutes Provincial Park 650 Imperial St N, Massey, ON P0P 1P0

Alternate Canadian Route Around Lake Huron

The stops in this itinerary were completed over three separate family trips. On a trip in 2017, we visited the first two campgrounds listed below as part of our Circle Lake Michigan and Upper Peninsula trip. The rest of the Michigan stops were completed on our Circle the Mitten of Michigan trip in 2021.

In 2023, we visited the Canadian locations on one trip. After visiting the Bruce Peninsula, we took the Chi-Cheemaun Ferry across Lake Huron to Manitoulin Island. After spending the day exploring Manitoulin, which is the world’s largest freshwater island, we stayed at Chutes PP before finishing a clockwise loop around the Georgian Bay.

Chi-Cheemaun Ferry across Lake Huron

This ferry crossing is a great experience. The Chi-Cheemaun is capable of transporting 600 passengers and 150 vehicles. It is so cool that the bow opens up for vehicles to enter from the Tobermory port and exit via the stern onto Manitoulin Island. They really pack you in with vehicles inches apart. Our video:

After crawling out, we took the stairs up to the decks, spending most of the time on the top deck enjoying the view of the lake. Reservations are highly encouraged. Exact measurements of your vehicle(s) at the time of booking.

Manitoulin Island

Manitoulin Island is an island in the northern part of Lake Huron. With an area of 2,766 square kilometers (1,068 sq mi), it is the largest freshwater lake island in the world. It is so big that it contains 108 lakes and 4 major rivers. Six Indigenous communities call the island home.

We disembarked the ferry in South Baymouth and spent the day touring the island. Driving north on Highway 6 to 542 to 542A, where we stopped to visit the Blue Jay Creek Fish Culture before stopping to enjoy lunch along the shore of Lake Mindemoya.

We continued on to Providence Bay Beach, which is one of the best beaches in Ontario. It has sandy beaches, a boardwalk, and The Discovery Centre, an interactive space highlighting the natural and cultural heritage of the area.

Our next stop was the harbor at Gore Bay, where we enjoyed walking around the docks. Finally, we visited Bridal Veil Falls. This waterfall can be viewed a few steps from the parking lot. Go down the stairs to access a swimming area or walk behind the falls.

Manitoulin Island can be fit in between Killarney and Chutes if you do not cross the lake on the ferry.

Lake Huron Circle Tour USA Portion

On a counter-clockwise direction, you cross into the US in Sault Ste. Marie. Passengers can enjoy a view of the Soo Locks as they cross the international bridge.

Aune-Osborn Campground

Aune Osborn Campground may not have much shade but offers great views. The main attraction of this municipal campground is the opportunity to watch the Great Lakes freighters travel up and down the St. Mary’s River. While some sites may be quite close together, the stunning views make up for it.

If you are unable to secure a waterfront site, there’s no need to worry. A large grassy area and benches along the river provide a clear view of the freighters as they pass by.

Aune Osborn Campground 1225 Riverside Dr, Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783

Things to do near Aune Osborn

The Soo Locks are the most well-known tourist attraction in the region. Take in the locks from the viewing platform or take a boat tour to experience the 21-foot difference in water level between Lake Huron and Lake Superior.

There are several other tourist attractions in the vicinity to explore, such as the Valley Camp, the Tower of History, and the Cloverland Electric Cooperative Hydroelectric Plant.

Straits State Park, St. Ignace

Straits State Park is situated at the northern base of the Mackinac Bridge, providing an incredible view of the Mighty Mac and the Straits of Mackinac. Additionally, visitors can enjoy a lovely small beach along Lake Huron.

The campground is divided into three areas, with a total of 270 campsites available. These sites come equipped with standard fire rings, picnic tables, and electrical hookups.

The ferry dock for Mackinaw Island is less than a mile from the park.

Straits State Park 720 Church St, St Ignace, MI 49781

Visit Mackinac Island

A visit to Mackinac Island is highly recommended. This charming island, which does not allow cars, is home to great shopping, beautiful sights and views, and great restaurants and fudge.

Biking around the island is a popular activity. Pay to bring your own bike on the ferry or rent one when you arrive. We rode our bikes clockwise and enjoyed many great views, including our favorite, Arch Rock.

Other St. Ignace sites include Father Marquette National Memorial, Bay View Park, Wooden Observation Tower, and Castle Rock. Eat a pastie at Lehto’s or Bessie’s.

Mackinaw City

When you cross the Mighty Mackinac Bridge from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, you arrive in Mackinaw City.  This tourist town has a lot of restaurants and shopping, in addition to the historic Fort Mackinac at the base of the bridge.

RVs can park in extra-long parking spaces along Central Avenue, just east of I-75.

Lake Huron Campgrounds in Michigan

Please note:  Several state parks on the Lake Huron side of Michigan only provide 20 amps of electricity.

A one-night stay is sufficient for each campground along the Michigan side of the lake. The coastline is dotted with state harbors, where you stop for a picnic lunch or a bathroom. A Michigan Recreation Passport is required for all state parks, harbors, and forests.

Cheboygan State Park

Cheboygan State Park, 30 miles southeast of Mackinaw City, offers 75 campsites, scenic views, and water activities like kayaking and paddleboarding. Hike the trails to the east, where you can see Great Lake freighters go by. On Fridays, watch fireworks over Mackinaw City from the campground beach.

An alternate to Cheboygan is Hoeft State Park.

Cheboygan State Park 4490 Beach Rd, Cheboygan, MI 49721

Things to do in NE Lower Michigan

Here are a few spots to check out as you travel between Cheboygan and Harrisville

Ocqueoc Falls

We highly recommend taking a detour inland to Ocqueoc Falls State Park, which boasts the most spectacular waterfalls in Lower Peninsula Michigan. The main attraction is the falls, which are perfect for swimming, but the park also offers excellent hiking and mountain biking trails. It tends to get very crowded on weekends, so an early start is advised.

Seagull Point Park

Seagull Point Park in Rogers is a picturesque spot to stop for a picnic lunch. We parked at the tip of the eastern lot and watched kayakers fight the wind on the crystal-clear lake.

Presque Isle Lighthouses

A trip to Presque Isle is worth the detour. There are two lighthouses to explore. The old lighthouse was built in 1840 and boasts a giant bell on its grounds for kids to ring. Climbing up both lighthouses requires a nominal fee, but each offers a unique and stunning view.

The new lighthouse, built in 1870, is the tallest public-accessible lighthouse in the Great Lakes. Though it’s a long climb, it is undoubtedly worth the effort!

Harrisville State Park

Harrisville State Park campground boasts 195 campsites, some of which are lakeside. The park’s main attraction is its stunning beach. Visitors can enjoy playing volleyball, using the playground, or launching a boat. This park is located near the shoreline of the charming resort town of Harrisville. Campers frequent the ice cream and fudge shop across from the park entrance.

Harrisville State Park 248 State Park Rd, Harrisville, MI 48740

Tawas Point State Park

Tawas Point is located on a narrow strip of land that forms a bay to the west of the park. The bay provides a spectacular view of the sunset from the beach of the campground. The park has a total of 193 campsites, which are relatively large, but the electric pole spacing makes them close together.

The campground is mostly grassy, with a few trees scattered throughout. The top activities at this park include paddling, bird watching, walking out to the point, and visiting the lighthouse. The campground will be closed for updates beginning 9/3/24.

Tawas Point State Park 686 Tawas Beach Rd, East Tawas, MI 48730

Bay City State Park

Bay City State Park is located within the city, but once you step inside, you feel like you have escaped the hustle and bustle of city life. The park has a spacious campground with 189 well-spaced campsites. The beach is beautiful and perfect for leisurely strolls. The park also has excellent biking trails, and we enjoyed riding our bikes through Tobico Marsh, which boasts two marsh observation towers.

Bay City State Park 3582 State Park Dr, Bay City, MI 48706

Port Cresent State Park

Port Crescent is a narrow park located between the lake and M-23. The campground is quite hilly, and some of the campsites are close together and unlevel. However, the campground has a fun and relaxing beach vacation vibe. Enjoy stargazing in the Dark Sky Preserve. Accommodations include 142 campsites, cottages, camper cabins, and two Geodomes.

Port Crescent will be closed in 2024 for campground improvement. Sleeper State Park is nearby.

Port Cresent State Park 1775 Port Austin Rd, Port Austin, MI 48467

Visit Turnip Rock

Stop in the nearby town of Port Austin and take a boat to see Turnip Rock. This unique rock next to the shoreline looks like a massive turnip, with the trees on top as the greenery.

You can rent a kayak for a 4-hour paddle or take a tour boat. We did the latter and got a private tour, which was well worth the expense. Park at the state harbor while you explore this cute little town.

Sanilac Petroglyphs Historic State Park

We highly recommend taking a short trek inland to visit the Sanilac Petroglyphs. This historic park boasts a large collection of early Native American teachings carved in stone. Ranger-led tours are available during the summer season. Additionally, we enjoyed walking around the beautiful park.

Lakeport State Park

The state park furthest south along Lake Huron is Lakeport. It’s a vast park with two campgrounds and 250 campsites. We camped in a spot that overlooked the lake in the north campground. The beach is mostly covered with small rocks, so we watched freighters pass by from the ridge above the beach.

Lakeport State Park 7605 Lakeshore Rd, Lakeport, MI 48059

That completes the path around the lake. We hope this Lake Huron Circle Tour itinerary is helpful with your planning.