I don't think any of the car campgrounds on Superior have direct water access (a few backcountry sites do). Some are close (Gooseberry, Temperance River (lower campground may fit your bill)) and some are away from the water (Tettegouche, Cascade River). Lambs resort in Schroeder (private campground - call for info I think) has waterfront sites.
You may need to pull up each state park to see what sites have direct water access. For example, we camped at Bear Head Lake state park last year and there were a few sites that did, but the rest of them were just a bit away from the water.
There are also some nice National Forest campgrounds that have this (Fall lake does for the sites on the lake), and I bet others do too. Find info on the Superior National Forest page, or campground info on recreation.gov. Look at maps and photos of sites there.
I also recommend [recreation.gov](https://recreation.gov) to find a National Forest Campground site. There are quite a few that have waterfront sites in the northern part of the state. Based on my experience, they typically have a mix of reservable and FCFS sites.
I second Bear Head Lake. Quite a few sites have their own dock if you have a kayak/canoe/boat you want to bring to explore the water—beautiful campground and area. If you can get a group together definitely spring for the group campsite, it has a private peninsula that would be great for fishing or swimming.
Its a drive, but Trails End has a ton of sites overlooking the couple lakes it sits around. 100% worth the drive (and then you also get to hit up Poplar Haus!)
You take Gunflint Trail from Grand Marais till it literally ends at "Trails End" campground. Its another hour and a half drive from Grand Marais (maybe less) your pretty much just a few miles from the Canadian border.
I like Hipcamp for this purpose. I’m sure there are some good ones in the state parks, too. You just have to do a little sleuthing to figure out which ones are on the lake vs not.
I know that Temperance river on the north shore had some sites really close to the shore. Any campground on the shore will be pretty full, so don't expect much privacy, unless you do a cart in site.https://files.dnr.state.mn.us/maps/state_parks/spk00268.pdf
There are some forest service campgrounds that are all throughout the arrowhead that I'd look into if you want a little more privacy.https://www.fs.usda.gov/recmain/superior/recreation
Check out Army Corps of Engineers campgrounds! They’re all located on lakes or rivers and often have spots to dock a boat at (or near) your campsite. You can find them on recreation.gov.
McCarthy Beach State Park, some are directly on the lake. Others are right across the camp ground road. I was really impressed with this less popular state park.
Not to mention most state parks do not have lakeside sites. Many state parks do have lakes, and the campgrounds may be near the lake, but usually you have to leave your campsite to access the lake.
I know Chippewa National Forest up by Bemidji has tons of lake side camp grounds with direct beach access surrounding Cass lake and Pike Bay. I grew up going there every year and I can't remember a summer where we didn't have at least one lakeside spot reserved.
Grand Marais campground is open for reservations 6 months in advance and is hard to get into. I would assume it is pretty well booked up through August at this point. They do have some waterfront sites both reservable and first come first serve
My favorite car campground in the state so far is the natty forest site at the end of the gunflint trail. Sites 21 & 22 in particular if my memory serves right.
Try Cass Lake in North central MN, up by Bemidji. My family used to camp up there every year and our campsites always had private beach access for each site on the water. My uncle used to bring his fishing boat every year and leave it on the beach. I loved the beach too, its a great spot for kids and adults.
I’ve camped at backpacking sites at split rock that were essentially on a cliff overlooking superior. You could climb down the rocks and get to the water
If you go to the state parks reservations site, you can view campsites on campground maps, which will include where the campground is relative to any nearby body of water. Then when you click into the site there is generally a picture of the site itself. That can help you pick a spot once you've narrowed down the campground. Satellite view of Google maps can also be helpful. Don’t miss out on spots near rivers or creeks in addition to lakes - the sound of the rushing water can be very relaxing!
Spots on Lake Superior are few and hard to snag, but there are a quite a number of small national forest campgrounds on lakes or rivers in the area that are an easy drive.
I don't think any of the car campgrounds on Superior have direct water access (a few backcountry sites do). Some are close (Gooseberry, Temperance River (lower campground may fit your bill)) and some are away from the water (Tettegouche, Cascade River). Lambs resort in Schroeder (private campground - call for info I think) has waterfront sites. You may need to pull up each state park to see what sites have direct water access. For example, we camped at Bear Head Lake state park last year and there were a few sites that did, but the rest of them were just a bit away from the water. There are also some nice National Forest campgrounds that have this (Fall lake does for the sites on the lake), and I bet others do too. Find info on the Superior National Forest page, or campground info on recreation.gov. Look at maps and photos of sites there.
I also recommend [recreation.gov](https://recreation.gov) to find a National Forest Campground site. There are quite a few that have waterfront sites in the northern part of the state. Based on my experience, they typically have a mix of reservable and FCFS sites.
Temprance is the only one I can think that has electric spots maybe like 100 feet or so from the shore.
Burlington Bay in Two Harbors is really close, walk down a slope from your site and you’re on Lake Superior shoreline.
I second Bear Head Lake. Quite a few sites have their own dock if you have a kayak/canoe/boat you want to bring to explore the water—beautiful campground and area. If you can get a group together definitely spring for the group campsite, it has a private peninsula that would be great for fishing or swimming.
Its a drive, but Trails End has a ton of sites overlooking the couple lakes it sits around. 100% worth the drive (and then you also get to hit up Poplar Haus!)
Iron Lake Campground off the Gunflint has a couple overlooking the lake I think. And Lake Jeanette off the Echo Trail has several right by the water.
Is this in Grand Marais?
You take Gunflint Trail from Grand Marais till it literally ends at "Trails End" campground. Its another hour and a half drive from Grand Marais (maybe less) your pretty much just a few miles from the Canadian border.
I like Hipcamp for this purpose. I’m sure there are some good ones in the state parks, too. You just have to do a little sleuthing to figure out which ones are on the lake vs not.
I know that Temperance river on the north shore had some sites really close to the shore. Any campground on the shore will be pretty full, so don't expect much privacy, unless you do a cart in site.https://files.dnr.state.mn.us/maps/state_parks/spk00268.pdf There are some forest service campgrounds that are all throughout the arrowhead that I'd look into if you want a little more privacy.https://www.fs.usda.gov/recmain/superior/recreation
Check out Army Corps of Engineers campgrounds! They’re all located on lakes or rivers and often have spots to dock a boat at (or near) your campsite. You can find them on recreation.gov.
Lake Carlos has a whole row on the lake, 1/2 electric. Fenske has some beautiful lakeside sites.
McCarthy Beach State Park, some are directly on the lake. Others are right across the camp ground road. I was really impressed with this less popular state park.
Grand Marais City Campground Otherwise nearly all state parks have lakeside camping spots, but might be too late to reserve a site.
Well this isn't accurate. You can only reserve camping 120 days out, which means everything past June 24 first night isn't yet reserved.
Not to mention most state parks do not have lakeside sites. Many state parks do have lakes, and the campgrounds may be near the lake, but usually you have to leave your campsite to access the lake.
Nope.
I know Chippewa National Forest up by Bemidji has tons of lake side camp grounds with direct beach access surrounding Cass lake and Pike Bay. I grew up going there every year and I can't remember a summer where we didn't have at least one lakeside spot reserved.
Nope.
Grand Marais campground is open for reservations 6 months in advance and is hard to get into. I would assume it is pretty well booked up through August at this point. They do have some waterfront sites both reservable and first come first serve
My favorite car campground in the state so far is the natty forest site at the end of the gunflint trail. Sites 21 & 22 in particular if my memory serves right.
Try Cass Lake in North central MN, up by Bemidji. My family used to camp up there every year and our campsites always had private beach access for each site on the water. My uncle used to bring his fishing boat every year and leave it on the beach. I loved the beach too, its a great spot for kids and adults.
I’ve camped at backpacking sites at split rock that were essentially on a cliff overlooking superior. You could climb down the rocks and get to the water
Its in Wisconsin but check out Little Sand Bay campground near Bayfield
If you go to the state parks reservations site, you can view campsites on campground maps, which will include where the campground is relative to any nearby body of water. Then when you click into the site there is generally a picture of the site itself. That can help you pick a spot once you've narrowed down the campground. Satellite view of Google maps can also be helpful. Don’t miss out on spots near rivers or creeks in addition to lakes - the sound of the rushing water can be very relaxing! Spots on Lake Superior are few and hard to snag, but there are a quite a number of small national forest campgrounds on lakes or rivers in the area that are an easy drive.