Carp River Campground
Hiawatha National Forest — lakeside, fishing, hiking
Location: ST. IGNACE, MI, MI
Price: From $24 per night
Rating: 4.2 out of 5 (45 reviews)
Season: May through October
Nestled in a quiet, rustic setting adjacent to the Carp Wild and Scenic River, Carp River Campground is an ideal place to get away and enjoy the outdoors. The surrounding Hiawatha National Forest provides visitors with countless recreational activities, and the scenery provides a beautiful backdrop for a traditional camping experience.Located in Michigan’s wild and scenic Upper Peninsula, the Hiawatha National Forest is known as "the Great Lakes National Forest." The forest’s dramatic shorelines
Cell coverage (FCC estimate): moderate signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas. Best carrier: Verizon. Verizon 4G: 100%. AT&T 4G: 100%. T-Mobile 4G: 0%.
Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Vault Toilets, Drinking Water, Fishing
Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/carp-river-campground to be notified when sites open up.
Nestled adjacent to the Carp Wild and Scenic River in a quiet, rustic setting within Hiawatha National Forest, this campground offers a traditional camping experience with access to biking, fishing, hiking, and wildlife viewing.
Wildlife alert: Osprey, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, American Kestrel, Hooded Merganser, North American Porcupine, Eastern Chipmunk, and Common Garter Snake verified in the area.
Insider tips for Carp River Campground: Book early as this is a popular federal campground Bring a self-contained RV as there are no hookups available Fishing access available directly at the campground
Skip Carp River Campground if: You need RV hookups. You want to camp outside May-October season. You prefer developed campground amenities beyond basics.
Best time to visit Carp River Campground: May-October — Campground operates seasonally May through October only.
Nearby campgrounds: Brevoort Lake Campground (St. Ignace, MI), Lake Michigan At St. Ignace (St. Ignace, MI), Soldier Lake (St. Ignace, MI), Three Lakes (STRONGS, MI).
Cell Phone Coverage at Carp River Campground
Cell signal at Carp River Campground (ST. IGNACE, MI): moderate overall signal based on FCC broadband data. Best carrier: Verizon.
- Verizon 4G LTE: 100% coverage
- AT&T 4G LTE: 100% coverage
Coverage data source: FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC). Actual signal may vary due to terrain, tree cover, and distance from towers. Camper reports are more reliable than coverage maps in remote areas.
Nestled in a quiet, rustic setting adjacent to the Carp Wild and Scenic River, Carp River Campground is an ideal place to get away and enjoy the outdoors. The surrounding Hiawatha National Forest provides visitors with countless recreational activities, and the scenery provides a beautiful backdrop for a traditional camping experience.Located in Michigan’s wild and scenic Upper Peninsula, the Hiawatha National Forest is known as "the Great Lakes National Forest." The forest’s dramatic shorelines lie nestled up to Lakes Superior, Huron and Michigan. Outstanding lakeshores, lighthouses, islands and historic sites create a playground and place of respite, all within a day’s drive from major urban and rural areas of Michigan and Wisconsin.
Verified facts
RIDB / Recreation.gov official databaseAmenities
RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verifiedStraight talk
CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reportsKnown issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.
Insider tips & when to go
CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entryBook early as this is a popular federal campground
Bring a self-contained RV as there are no hookups available
Fishing access available directly at the campground
Campground operates seasonally May through October only
Things to do nearby
RIDB /activities /recareas + intelConditions today
LiveCell signal
FCC BDC · quarterly datasetFCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal. Best carrier: Verizon.
Wildlife nearby
iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 kmLocation
Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Getting there →
4664 Mackinac Trail, St Ignace Michigan 49781 From the intersection of US-2 and I-75, drive north on I-75 to exit 352. Turn right on County Road 123, then turn left on Mackinac Trail/Highway 63. Drive north approximately five miles, turn left onto FR 3445 and drive a quarter mile to the campground.
Campground entrance
Google Maps APICommunity
#community · posts, photos & Q&A · AI-moderated (Claude Vision)Pro tips
- Book on recreation.gov exactly 6 months ahead at 10am ET — Hiawatha National Forest fills fast in peak season.
- Check current road conditions at Hiawatha National Forest before arrival — seasonal closures common.
Frequently asked questions
RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakableHow much does Carp River Campground cost per night?+
What season is Carp River Campground open?+
Does Carp River Campground have hookups?+
What is the maximum RV length at Carp River Campground?+
How do I make reservations at Carp River Campground?+
What is the cell service like at Carp River Campground?+
What season is Carp River Campground open, and what are check-in times?+
Official resources
●Data sources on this page
CamperWatch never fabricates data. Where data is unavailable, it is not shown.
Nearby Campgrounds
Own a campground nearby?
List free on CamperWatch — we take 5% only on bookings we send. No monthly fee.