Drive-In Camping at Pictured Rocks

Camping site at Twelvemile Beach Campground

NPS photo

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore has three rustic drive-in campgrounds: Little Beaver Lake (8 sites), Twelvemile Beach (36 sites), and Hurricane River (21 sites). Campsites have a picnic table, fire ring with grill grate, and tent pad. The campgrounds have vault toilets and well water. Typically there is no cell phone reception. Campgrounds do not have electric, water, or sewer hookups. Each campground has at least one wheelchair-accessible site.

Little Beaver Lake is a small campground on a beautiful inland lake surrounded by the Beaver Basin Wilderness. Twelvemile Beach and Hurricane River campgrounds are along Lake Superior. Some campsites have a lake view.

Drive-in campgrounds are open from May 15 through October 15. They are closed the rest of the year. Check out private and other nearby camping options.  

All campsites require a reservation. There is no drop-in camping.  Camping fees are $25 per night per campsite. Reservations must be made through Recreation.gov. Reservations can be made up to 6 months in advance. Photos and details about each site are available at Recreation.gov. 

Campground Rules and Regulations

• Checkout time is 11:00 am.

• No more than eight people are allowed per site.

• No more than two vehicles per site, including towed vehicles. Vehicles and trailers must stay on the delineated campsite parking area. Any extra vehicles will have to park elsewhere in parking lots.

• Two tents are allowed per site, or two sleeping hammocks (or one of each). One tent must be on the tent pad, and the other must be within 6 feet of the pad. Any hammocks must be within 10 feet of the tent pad. No overflow camping allowed. No beach camping allowed.

• Only one screened porch/tent may be placed over the picnic table per site. A screened tent does not count towards the two tents per site limit.

• Pets are NOT allowed at Little Beaver Lake Campground. At the other drive-in campgrounds, pets must be on a leash (six feet or less) at all times. Pet owners must pick up after their pets and dispose of waste in a trash receptacle. Owners must not allow a pet to make noise that is unreasonable.

• Campground quiet hours are 8 pm to 8 am. There are generator-free areas at Twelvemile Beach and Hurricane River Campgrounds. Music must be for private listening only.

• Campfires are permitted in fire rings only. Fires or hot coals cannot be left unattended. Purchase wood locally. No collecting of wood in the campgrounds. No cutting of standing trees or limbs. Ash firewood is prohibited. Beach fires are not allowed.

• This is bear country! All food items, beverages, cooking equipment, food storage containers and pet food must be kept sealed in a hard-sided vehicle when not in immediate use (day or night). Those camping without a hard-sided vehicle must use the park-provided metal boxes for food storage. Violations of food storage rules may result in fines.

• Garbage must be placed in bear-proof trash cans. Dispose of any dish or waste water in the toilet.

• Feeding wildlife is prohibited.

• Use vault toilets or toilet in your camper/RV. No dumping of human waste in trash or on the ground. 

• Camping anywhere outside designated campgrounds is not allowed. Overnight camping (or sleeping in vehicles) in parking lots is prohibited.

Details

Duration

1-14 Days

Camping is allowed in this campground for up to 14 days at a time, or 14 days total in a calendar year.

Activity

Car or Front Country Camping

Pets Allowed

Yes with Restrictions

Leashed pets are allowed at Twelvemile Beach Campground and Hurricane River Campground. They are not allowed at Little Beaver Lake Campground as there are no pet-allowed trails in the Beaver Basin Wilderness zone that surrounds the campground.

Activity Fee

Yes

The fee for drive-in camping is $25 per night per site. 

Location

Twelvemile Beach Campground

Map point designates Twelvemile Beach Campground. Other drive-in campgrounds include Little Beach Lake Campground (to the west) and Hurrican River (to the east)

Reservations

Yes

All campsites, including wheelchair-accessible sites require a reservation through Recreation.gov. Reservations can be made up to 6 months in advance.

Season

Spring, Summer, Fall

Drive-in campground are open May 15 - October 15.

Accessibility Information

Each campground has at least one wheelchair-accessible site. Each accessible site has a hard-packed tent pad, an accessible picnic table, a raised fire ring, and a cooking grill mounted on a post.