Grand Island National Recreation Area
Hiawatha National Forest — lakeside, fishing
Location: Munising, MI, MI
Price: From $8 per night
Price range: $8–$30 per night
Rating: 4.7 out of 5 (29 reviews)
Season: May through October
Grand Island is located in Lake Superior, about one-half mile from the mainland community of Munising, Michigan. Munising is about 43 miles from Marquette and 55 miles from Manistique. Grand Island is the perfect place to spend a day or even just a few hours biking and exploring.
Cell coverage (FCC estimate): strong signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas. Best carrier: AT&T. Verizon 4G: 100%. AT&T 4G: 100%. T-Mobile 4G: 100%.
Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Drinking Water, Bear Boxes, Fishing
Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/grand-island-national-recreation-area to be notified when sites open up.
Grand Island offers a premier biking and outdoor recreation destination with pristine sandy beaches, cultural sites, and diverse trails. Real campers consistently praise the island's scenic 20-mile bike loop and rating of 4.6/5 stars, though they recommend bringing bug spray and renting bikes to fully explore the area.
Wildlife alert: American Black Bear present; also watch for American Marten, Gray Fox, Bald Eagle, and Snowy Owl
Insider tips for Grand Island National Recreation Area: Rent bikes from Grand Island Service to tackle the diverse 20-mile trail system Book early — federal campground with only 18 tent sites fills quickly Access via passenger ferry from Grand Island Landing on M-28, 3-4 miles from Munising
Skip Grand Island National Recreation Area if: Expecting RV hookups — no hookups available. Visiting outside May-October — seasonal operations only. Unprepared for bugs — bring substantial bug spray per camper reports. Unable to access by ferry or private watercraft.
Best time to visit Grand Island National Recreation Area: May-October — Official operating season; Memorial Day weekend noted as ideal in verified reviews.
Nearby campgrounds: Bay Furnace Campground (Munising, MI), Grand Island Cabins (Munising, MI), Au Train Lake Campground (Munising, MI), Island Lake (Munising, MI).
Cell Phone Coverage at Grand Island National Recreation Area
Cell signal at Grand Island National Recreation Area (Munising, MI): strong overall signal based on FCC broadband data. Best carrier: AT&T.
- Verizon 4G LTE: 100% coverage
- AT&T 4G LTE: 100% coverage · AT&T 5G: 100%
- T-Mobile 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.
Grand Island is located in Lake Superior, about one-half mile from the mainland community of Munising, Michigan. Munising is about 43 miles from Marquette and 55 miles from Manistique. Grand Island is the perfect place to spend a day or even just a few hours biking and exploring.
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 entryRent bikes from Grand Island Service to tackle the diverse 20-mile trail system
Book early
federal campground with only 18 tent sites fills quickly
Access via passenger ferry from Grand Island Landing on M-28, 3-4 miles from Munising
Official operating season; Memorial Day weekend noted as ideal in verified reviews
Things to do nearby
RIDB /activities /recareas + intelConditions today
LiveCell signal
FCC BDC · quarterly datasetFCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal. Best carrier: AT&T.
Wildlife nearby
iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 kmLocation
Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Getting there →
Visitors can get to the island via passenger ferry (Grand Island Ferry Service) or private watercraft. The ferry departs from Grand Island Landing on the mainland, located on M-28, about 3 to 4 miles west of the Munising's blinking light. Look for the Grand Island NRA signs. Prices and schedules vary from season to season. For information or reservations, call (906) 387-2600 or visit their website at http://www.grandislandup.com/
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.
- Bear country — store all food in bear boxes or locked vehicle at all times.
Frequently asked questions
RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakableHow much does Grand Island National Recreation Area cost per night?+
What season is Grand Island National Recreation Area open?+
Does Grand Island National Recreation Area have hookups?+
What is the maximum RV length at Grand Island National Recreation Area?+
How do I make reservations at Grand Island National Recreation Area?+
What is the cell service like at Grand Island National Recreation Area?+
What season is Grand Island National Recreation Area 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.
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