Medium Demand — 2.5 Miles of Undeveloped Lake Michigan Shoreline

Fisherman's Island State Park

Charlevoix County · Lower Peninsula · Charlevoix, MI 49720
45
Campsites
2,678
Acres
From $17
Per Night
2.5
Miles of Shoreline
Season: May – October
Hookups: None — Rustic Campground
Pets: Allowed on leash
Reservation: MiDNRReservations.com
Phone: (231) 547-6641
Book on MiDNRReservations.com →

About Fisherman's Island State Park

Fisherman's Island State Park protects 2.5 miles of undeveloped Lake Michigan shoreline just south of Charlevoix, making it one of the more rugged, low-key beach parks in the northern Lower Peninsula. At roughly 2,678 acres, it's a large park with intentionally minimal development — no modern campground, no paved loops, just a rustic campground tucked among the dunes and hardwoods along the water.

The park is a favorite for rockhounding: its cobble beaches are one of the better spots in the region to hunt for Petoskey stones and other Lake Michigan beach stones. The 45-site rustic campground has no electric hookups, vault toilets, and hand-pump water, keeping the experience quiet and close to nature.

CampgroundSitesHookupsBest For
Fisherman's Island Rustic Campground45 sitesNone (vault toilets, hand pump water)Tent camping, beachcombing, quiet
Heads up: Because the campground is entirely rustic, this park isn't set up for large RVs — expect a tent- and small-camper-friendly experience rather than a full-hookup stay.
Local tip: Walk the shoreline at low-light hours (early morning or evening) for the best rockhounding conditions — wet stones are much easier to spot, and Petoskey stones show their pattern more clearly when damp.

Petoskey Stones & Undeveloped Shoreline

PHOTO PLACEHOLDER

The park's signature feature is its stretch of wild, cobble-strewn Lake Michigan beach — a prime rockhounding spot for Petoskey stones (Michigan's official state stone) and other beach glass and stones. A network of trails winds through dune and hardwood forest connecting the campground to the shoreline and a small chain of islands just offshore that give the park its name.

How to Get a Reservation

The 6-Month Booking Window

Like all Michigan DNR campgrounds, Fisherman's Island State Park opens reservations exactly 6 months in advance through MiDNRReservations.com.

Set a CampDrop Alert

If your dates are sold out, CampDrop monitors MiDNRReservations.com around the clock and texts you the moment a site opens up at Fisherman's Island.

Reserve directly: MiDNRReservations.com · Park phone: (231) 547-6641

What to Know Before You Go

Hookups & Site Types

All 45 sites are rustic — no electric, water, or sewer hookups. A hand pump provides water and vault toilets serve the campground.

Season

The campground typically operates May through October; confirm exact dates on MiDNRReservations.com.

Pets

Pets are welcome throughout the park on a 6-foot leash.

Access Road

A gravel road leads into the campground and beach areas — low-clearance vehicles can generally manage it, but drive slowly, especially after rain.

Directions

Fisherman's Island State Park is located at 12190 US-31 S, Charlevoix, MI 49720, in Charlevoix County, about 3 miles south of downtown Charlevoix.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes — the park's cobble beaches are one of the better rockhounding spots in the Charlevoix area for Petoskey stones and other Lake Michigan beach stones, especially when the stones are wet.

No, all 45 sites are rustic with no electric, water, or sewer hookups — the campground has vault toilets and a hand water pump.

The park has 45 rustic campsites tucked among dunes and hardwood forest near the shoreline.

Reservations open exactly 6 months in advance through MiDNRReservations.com. For sold-out dates, a CampDrop alert will text you the moment a cancellation opens up a site.

Typically May through October. Confirm exact dates on MiDNRReservations.com.

It's better suited to tents and smaller campers, since the campground is entirely rustic with no hookups.