Algonac Campground

The Great Outdoors

The St. Clair River functions as an outlet for Lake Huron as it drains into Lake St. Clair, so if you want to experience one of the largest lakes in North America and one of the largest cities in Michigan located on the lake’s south shore, book an RV in St. Clair County and take your rental motorhome to the Algonac campgrounds.From Algonac, you're not only within an hour's drive of Detroit but also of Port Huron, the county seat, on the U.S. side of the massive lake. Walk or bike the Thomas Edison Parkway in Port Huron to see where the St. Clair River and Lake Huron meet. If you'd like to be on the water, a public cruise ship operates out of Port Huron in the summer. It takes you on a sightseeing tour to view massive freighters, the Blue Water bridges, and the Fort Gratiot Lighthouse.Port Huron is the start of the Great Lake-to-Lake Trails Route No.1 as it winds its way across the Lower Peninsula for 275 miles before concluding in South Haven on the western end. Alternatively, a shorter route to explore in your Algonac camper rental is the 50 miles of Bridge to Bay Trail that features shoreline views of Lake Huron, the St. Clair River, and Lake St. Clair. Along the way, the trail is peppered with urban areas, open vistas, and beaches. Expect to hike or bike on boardwalks, rail trails, and safety paths, and encounter natural vegetation and animals, or sailboats and powerboats passing through coastal waterways.It's altogether a different time and place at the Sanilac Petroglyphs Historic State Park, about two hours' drive away when RV camping at Algonac State Park. Lush with woods threaded by a gentle stream, the park takes you back to the Late Woodland Period when ancient inhabitants of Michigan's "Thumb" area carved discernible figures on a large slab of sandstone and left behind one of Michigan's largest collection of Native American petroglyphs. A self-guided hiking trail leads you through a serene forest, other carvings (birds, animal tracks, and spirals), clues to a Chippewa tribe village, and remains of a 19th-century logger's cabin.

Exploring the Area

Camp in an RV near Algonac and soak up the riverside views as massive freighters float by day and night. There are a few gas stations and grocery/convenience stores in town to keep you well-stocked during your stay, and plenty more in nearby Marine City when you want to venture out for more dining options.Algonac is a powerboat racing hub, and you can learn more about its connections to the sport when you step inside the two maritime museums in town. In the newer museum, you'll see a race boat patterned after boats seen in the river in the 1940s and '50s, motors and models of varying kinds, and an iceboat and a run-about. You'll also be able to view a model of a landing craft that was deployed in Normandy, which the museum also proudly declares on its wall.Across the St. Clair River in the Clay Township, a 19th-century house built of hand-hewn logs still stands after conservation efforts by local residents. Close to the log house is a waiting station of the Detroit Urban Railway that dates back to 1892 until the 1930s. Interestingly, if you wish to know who the passengers were during those years, just look at their names, dates of travel, and home cities carved into the wood.For livelier riverside happenings, head to nearby Marine City where more nautical-themed museums, extensive restaurant offerings, and thumping nightlife can be enjoyed, all with freighter views. Circle your calendar in early August and rent a motorhome near Algonac Campground to be close to Marine City’s Maritime Days Festival when parades and carnivals, arts and crafts shows, and other contests liven up the streets.You can't get much closer to the water when you’re camping in Algonac State Park. Loads of land-based adventures also await those who venture farther out, so bring your sense of adventure, book an RV rental in Algonac, Michigan and enjoy the best of both worlds.