Isle Royale has 36 campgrounds and 244 individual sites, and you cannot drive to any of them. Every site is reached on foot or by boat, every party needs a permit, and only 43 group sites across the island can be reserved in advance — everything else is first come, first served. This page lists all 36, with site counts, water and toilet facilities straight from the NPS campground directory.
Isle Royale National Park Camping: Backcountry Permits (2026)
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Camping Guide
Isle Royale National Park Camping requires backcountry permits, not traditional campsite reservations. Most of the 36 campgrounds operate first-come, first-served, with no RV.
April 14, 20261,903 words
Your plans
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Before you go
A small-party permit covers 1–6 people and is required for everyone staying overnight in a campground. You get it on arrival — a ranger issues it at Windigo or Rock Harbor, or aboard the Ranger III on the crossing. There is no charge for the permit beyond the entrance fee (NPS permits). Parties larger than six count as group camping and follow a different process.
The entrance fee is $7 per person per day, including your arrival and departure days, charged 16 April–31 October. Under-16s are exempt (NPS fees).
Pets are not allowed. Quiet hours run 10:00 p.m.–6:00 a.m. EDT (9:00 p.m.–5:00 a.m. CDT). Fires are only permitted in designated metal rings or standing grills. No fishing licence is needed for inland lakes and streams, but Michigan size, season and possession limits apply, only barbless hooks and artificial lures are allowed inland, and Lake Superior fishing does require a Michigan licence.
Water: Rock Harbor and Washington Creek have a treated supply, seasonally. At the other 34 campgrounds you collect your own — the park's guidance is to filter and chemically treat backcountry water (NPS camping).
Campgrounds at a glance
| Campground | Sites | Tent-only | Group sites | Water | Toilets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beaver Island | 3 | 0 | 0 | Must be filtered | Composting |
| Belle Isle | 7 | 1 | 0 | Must be filtered | Composting |
| Birch Island | 2 | 1 | 0 | Must be filtered | Composting |
| Caribou Island | 3 | 1 | 0 | Must be filtered | Composting |
| Chippewa Harbor | 7 | 2 | 1 | Must be filtered | Composting |
| Daisy Farm | 25 | 6 | 3 | Must be filtered | Vault |
| Duncan Bay | 3 | 1 | 0 | Must be filtered | Composting |
| Duncan Narrows | 3 | 1 | 0 | Must be filtered | Composting |
| East Chickenbone | 4 | 3 | 1 | Must be filtered | Composting |
| Feldtmann Lake | 7 | 5 | 2 | Must be filtered | Composting |
| Grace Island | 2 | 0 | 0 | Must be filtered | Composting |
| Hatchet Lake | 8 | 5 | 3 | Must be filtered | Composting |
| Hay Bay | 1 | 1 | 0 | Must be filtered | Composting |
| Huginnin Cove | 5 | 5 | 0 | Must be filtered | Composting |
| Intermediate Lake | 3 | 3 | 0 | Must be filtered | Composting |
| Island Mine | 6 | 4 | 2 | Must be filtered | Vault |
| Lake Richie | 6 | 4 | 2 | Must be filtered | Composting |
| Lake Richie Canoe | 3 | 3 | 0 | Must be filtered | Composting |
| Lake Whittlesey | 3 | 3 | 0 | Must be filtered | Composting |
| Lane Cove | 5 | 5 | 0 | Must be filtered | Composting |
| Little Todd | 4 | 4 | 0 | Must be filtered | Composting |
| Malone Bay | 7 | 0 | 2 | Must be filtered | Composting |
| McCargoe Cove | 12 | 3 | 3 | Must be filtered | Composting |
| Merritt Lane | 2 | 1 | 0 | Must be filtered | Composting |
| Moskey Basin | 10 | 2 | 2 | Must be filtered | Composting |
| North Desor | 3 | 3 | 0 | Must be filtered | Composting |
| Pickerel Cove | 1 | 1 | 0 | Must be filtered | Composting |
| Rock Harbor | 23 | 11 | 3 | Potable (seasonal) | Flush + composting |
| Siskiwit Bay | 9 | 4 | 3 | Must be filtered | Composting |
| South Lake Desor | 10 | 7 | 3 | Must be filtered | Composting |
| Three Mile | 15 | 4 | 3 | Must be filtered | Composting |
| Todd Harbor | 9 | 5 | 3 | Must be filtered | Composting |
| Tookers Island | 2 | 0 | 0 | Must be filtered | Composting |
| Washington Creek | 19 | 5 | 4 | Potable (seasonal) | Flush + composting |
| West Chickenbone | 9 | 6 | 3 | Must be filtered | Composting |
| Wood Lake | 3 | 3 | 0 | Must be filtered | Composting |
Campground details
Beaver Island Campground
3 sites, no group sites. First come, first served. Water: must be filtered. Toilets: composting. Location: 47.9041, -89.1743.
Belle Isle Campground
7 sites, 1 tent-only, no group sites. First come, first served. Water: must be filtered. Toilets: composting. Location: 48.1524, -88.5860.
Birch Island Campground
2 sites, 1 tent-only, no group sites. First come, first served. Water: must be filtered. Toilets: composting. Location: 48.1101, -88.6856.
Caribou Island Campground
3 sites, 1 tent-only, no group sites. First come, first served. Water: must be filtered. Toilets: composting. Location: 48.0946, -88.5722.
Chippewa Harbor Campground
7 sites, 2 tent-only, 1 group site. 1 group site is reservable; individual sites are first come, first served. Water: must be filtered. Toilets: composting. Location: 48.0294, -88.6510.
Daisy Farm Campground
25 sites, 6 tent-only, 3 group sites. 3 group sites are reservable; individual sites are first come, first served. Water: must be filtered. Toilets: vault. Location: 48.0921, -88.5962.
Duncan Bay Campground
3 sites, 1 tent-only, no group sites. First come, first served. Water: must be filtered. Toilets: composting. Location: 48.1506, -88.5225.
Duncan Narrows Campground
3 sites, 1 tent-only, no group sites. First come, first served. Water: must be filtered. Toilets: composting. Location: 48.1693, -88.4780.
East Chickenbone Campground
4 sites, 3 tent-only, 1 group site. 1 group site is reservable; individual sites are first come, first served. Water: must be filtered. Toilets: composting. Location: 48.0734, -88.6943.
Feldtmann Lake Campground
7 sites, 5 tent-only, 2 group sites. 2 group sites are reservable; individual sites are first come, first served. Water: must be filtered. Toilets: composting. Location: 47.8486, -89.1830.
Grace Island Campground
2 sites, no group sites. First come, first served. Water: must be filtered. Toilets: composting. Location: 47.8825, -89.2164.
Hatchet Lake Campground
8 sites, 5 tent-only, 3 group sites. 3 group sites are reservable; individual sites are first come, first served. Water: must be filtered. Toilets: composting. Location: 48.0211, -88.8508.
Hay Bay Campground
1 site, 1 tent-only, no group sites. First come, first served. Water: must be filtered. Toilets: composting. Location: 47.9339, -88.9400.
Huginnin Cove Campground
5 sites, 5 tent-only, no group sites. First come, first served. Water: must be filtered. Toilets: composting. Location: 47.9343, -89.1765.
Intermediate Lake Campground
3 sites, 3 tent-only, no group sites. First come, first served. Water: must be filtered. Toilets: composting. Location: 48.0338, -88.7227.
Island Mine Campground
6 sites, 4 tent-only, 2 group sites. 2 group sites are reservable; individual sites are first come, first served. Water: must be filtered. Toilets: vault. Location: 47.9302, -89.0400.
Lake Richie Campground
6 sites, 4 tent-only, 2 group sites. 2 group sites are reservable; individual sites are first come, first served. Water: must be filtered. Toilets: composting. Location: 48.0513, -88.6874.
Lake Richie Canoe Campground
3 sites, 3 tent-only, no group sites. First come, first served. Water: must be filtered. Toilets: composting. Location: 48.0438, -88.7002.
Lake Whittlesey Campground
3 sites, 3 tent-only, no group sites. First come, first served. Water: must be filtered. Toilets: composting. Location: 48.0076, -88.7071.
Lane Cove Campground
5 sites, 5 tent-only, no group sites. First come, first served. Water: must be filtered. Toilets: composting. Location: 48.1449, -88.5577.
Little Todd Campground
4 sites, 4 tent-only, no group sites. First come, first served. Water: must be filtered. Toilets: composting. Location: 48.0203, -88.9267.
Malone Bay Campground
7 sites, 2 group sites. 2 group sites are reservable; individual sites are first come, first served. Water: must be filtered. Toilets: composting. Location: 47.9852, -88.8072.
McCargoe Cove Campground
12 sites, 3 tent-only, 3 group sites. 3 group sites are reservable; individual sites are first come, first served. Water: must be filtered. Toilets: composting. Location: 48.0872, -88.7093.
Merritt Lane Campground
2 sites, 1 tent-only, no group sites. First come, first served. Water: must be filtered. Toilets: composting. Location: 48.1846, -88.4297.
Moskey Basin Campground
10 sites, 2 tent-only, 2 group sites. 2 group sites are reservable; individual sites are first come, first served. Water: must be filtered. Toilets: composting. Location: 48.0630, -88.6452.
North Desor Campground
3 sites, 3 tent-only, no group sites. First come, first served. Water: must be filtered. Toilets: composting. Location: 47.9809, -88.9939.
Pickerel Cove Campground
1 site, 1 tent-only, no group sites. First come, first served. Water: must be filtered. Toilets: composting. Location: 48.1245, -88.6522.
Rock Harbor Campground
23 sites, 11 tent-only, 3 group sites. 3 group sites are reservable; individual sites are first come, first served. Water: potable (seasonal). Toilets: flush + composting. Location: 48.1454, -88.4893.
Siskiwit Bay Campground
9 sites, 4 tent-only, 3 group sites. 3 group sites are reservable; individual sites are first come, first served. Water: must be filtered. Toilets: composting. Location: 47.8904, -88.9988.
South Lake Desor Campground
10 sites, 7 tent-only, 3 group sites. 3 group sites are reservable; individual sites are first come, first served. Water: must be filtered. Toilets: composting. Location: 47.9707, -88.9715.
Three Mile Campground
15 sites, 4 tent-only, 3 group sites. 3 group sites are reservable; individual sites are first come, first served. Water: must be filtered. Toilets: composting. Location: 48.1239, -88.5296.
Todd Harbor Campground
9 sites, 5 tent-only, 3 group sites. 3 group sites are reservable; individual sites are first come, first served. Water: must be filtered. Toilets: composting. Location: 48.0508, -88.8211.
Tookers Island Campground
2 sites, no group sites. First come, first served. Water: must be filtered. Toilets: composting. Location: 48.1294, -88.5033.
Washington Creek Campground
19 sites, 5 tent-only, 4 group sites. 4 group sites are reservable; individual sites are first come, first served. Water: potable (seasonal). Toilets: flush + composting. Location: 47.9162, -89.1546.
West Chickenbone Campground
9 sites, 6 tent-only, 3 group sites. 3 group sites are reservable; individual sites are first come, first served. Water: must be filtered. Toilets: composting. Location: 48.0633, -88.7247.
Wood Lake Campground
3 sites, 3 tent-only, no group sites. First come, first served. Water: must be filtered. Toilets: composting. Location: 48.0085, -88.7396.
Site counts, facilities and coordinates on this page come from the National Park Service campground records for Isle Royale (nps.gov/isro), retrieved 2026-08-29. Conditions change — confirm with the park before you travel.
Recommended Gear
What experienced visitors bring to Isle Royale National Park Camping: Backcountry Permits (2026)
Links may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend gear we believe in.
Sun & Heat Protection
Insulated Water Bottle (32oz)
Keeps water cold in desert heat all day
Winter Gear
Microspikes / Traction Devices
Essential for icy rim trails in winter months
Camping Gear
3-Season Tent (2P)
Lightweight shelter for most conditions
Sleeping Pad (R-value 3+)
Insulation and comfort on cold ground
Camp Stove (Canister)
Quick meals without building a fire
Sources
- Official source: National Park Service nps.gov/isro/planyourvisit/camping.htm
- Official source: National Park Service nps.gov/isro/planyourvisit/permits.htm
- Official source: National Park Service nps.gov/isro/planyourvisit/fees.htm
- Official source: NPS — Isle Royale National Park nps.gov/isro/index.htm
- Official source: National Park Service nps.gov/places/isle-royale-national-park.htm
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Location data courtesy of the National Park Service (U.S. Department of the Interior). NPS data is public domain. Official NPS page.
Images: NPS; NPS; NPS; NPS; NPS.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Weather data: Open-Meteo.com.
Park operations alerts: NPS.gov · Weather hazards: National Weather Service · Live conditions.
Information may change. Always verify fees, hours, and conditions directly with the official source before visiting.
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