Rock Island State Park sits off the northernmost tip of the Door County Peninsula. Reaching the island involves two ferry rides. The Washington Island Ferry will transport your vehicle, equipment and bikes, allowing you to travel across the island to the Rock Island Ferry. Leave your vehicle or bike at the parking lot and hop on the Rock Island Ferry to be transported to the island. You may also take your own boat, but the lake's reefs and unsettled weather can be dangerous. All campsites are a minimum of a quarter-mile from the boat dock, with additional remote sites situated on the far eastern side of the island in pines along the shoreline. Campsites are arranged in loops, with drinking water and vault toilets convenient throughout. The remote sites are not suitable for small children due to a 15-foot cliff on the edge of some of the campsites.
If getting away to quiet serenity is part of your plan, head out to Newport State Park, which devotes all its campsites to backpack camping. You'll hike 1 to 2.5 miles along forested trails to get to your site, with a few sites found along Lake Michigan's shoreline and others tucked farther back into the woods. Camping along the shoreline is only allowed in designated sites. An open-air pit toilet is provided at each site, as well as a fire ring with fold-over grill and two wooden benches. You can fill water bottles at the park's hand pump in the picnic area, but will need to carry your supplies back to your site.
State parks and private campgrounds are a good way to enjoy camping lakeside with a less rugged experience than those offered on the Door County peninsula. In Point Beach State Forest 10 miles from Manitowoc, you can enjoy tent camping in the pines overlooking Lake Michigan or RV sites with electrical hookups closer to the shore. The facility has drinking water, flush and vault toilets, picnic facilities and hot showers. Additional amenities such as full hookups and Wi-Fi can be found at private campgrounds. Tranquil Timbers RV resort provides both tent and RV sites overlooking Sturgeon Bay at the base of the Door County Peninsula. The park also rents a selection of yurts and cabins.
Although bears are not common along Lake Michigan, you'll still want to pack your food, garbage and other scented items carefully to avoid attracting raccoons, which can be destructive and dangerous. Packing food and scented items in airtight containers can help eliminate odors that can attract the creatures to your camp, and storage in a wildlife-resistant container will encourage them to go find an easier meal. Keep dogs on a leash and under your control at all times, as porcupines are commonly seen and can leave an excited dog with a painful mouth full of quills.
