FAQs

Kona Hills is a self-serve campground, which means:

• There is no check-in office — campers must book online in advance or upon arrival.

• You’re responsible for being informed. This means reviewing your confirmation email and reading the posted info at the welcome area upon arrival.

• We do not accept cash, and there is no on-site payment system.

• Staff and a camp host are on-site daily — they perform regular site checks to confirm reservations and are also available if you need assistance.

• If you have questions or need help, you can always contact us directly at 906-376-4132

• Guests are expected to inform themselves, follow campground rules, and clean up after themselves. Failure to do so may result in being unable to book future stays.

Self-serve allows us to offer a quiet, low-impact camping experience with minimal interruption — just you, nature, and a little independence.

Kona Hills is intentionally rustic. Our campground is designed to offer a simple, low-impact, and immersive outdoor experience that feels far removed from everyday life.

Guests should expect:

• No hookups: Campsites do not have water, sewer, or electrical hookups.

• Vault toilets: Clean, maintained vault toilets (no flush toilets or showers).

• Minimal development: Roads, campsites, and trails are natural and may be uneven.

• Natural conditions: Weather, mud, wildlife, and changing conditions are part of the experience.

• Self-sufficiency: Guests should arrive prepared with lighting, and appropriate gear.

• Space and privacy: Campsites are spread out and designed to feel secluded, often separated by trees, vegetation, and elevation changes rather than rows or tight spacing.

While Kona Hills feels like a true “middle of the woods” campground, we are located just 3 miles from downtown Marquette, offering convenient access to food, fuel, and Lake Superior.

Because of this proximity, guests may occasionally hear faint road noise or intermittent noise from a nearby Department of Corrections shooting range. These sounds are typically brief, but we believe in being upfront.

Kona Hills is a great fit for guests seeking a quiet, rustic camping experience with privacy and room to breathe—without being far from town. It may not be the right fit for those seeking resort-style amenities or densely packed campgrounds.

No. Kona Hills feels remote, but it is not isolated. The campground is just a short drive or bike from downtown Marquette, making it easy to access supplies, restaurants, and local attractions.

Campsites are intentionally spaced to provide privacy, with natural buffers like trees, vegetation, and elevation changes between sites. This creates a secluded, peaceful feel—without being far from town.

The result is the best of both worlds: a quiet, wooded camping experience where you’re not packed in next to your neighbors, paired with the convenience of modern amenities just minutes away.

Reservations are required via this website. We do not hold or reserve any sites for walk in, though you are welcome to walk in and make an online reservation accordingly.

There is a limit of one car and one camping unit per site, unless otherwise noted in the site description.

Sites can fit 1-4 people, with a handful going up to 6 campers. If you have larger groups please contact us directly to discuss options!

Since all reservations are required to be booked online, we accept credit and debit card payment exclusively. We do not accept cash.

There is no direct beach access from Kona Hills Campground. However, there is a small public beach at the Michigan Welcome Center across from Kona Hills.

Additional options include:

• Bonus Point - a rocky beach on a small cape off of the Iron Ore Heritage Trail

• South Beach - 2 miles west in the city of Marquette. A great family and dog friendly beach.

• M28 Beaches - the MDOT scenic turnout and Lake Superior Scenic Turnout are great options further east
  
  

Currently we are open June through mid-October. In the future as we build out more amenities we hope to extend our operating season.

Being an active participant of our community is important to us. If you have an idea or request please contact us so we can discuss!

Up-to-date emergency information is posted at the Welcome Area onsite.

Not at this time. In the future we hope to as we add on additional amenities for our guests.

Kona Hills is a great fit for guests who value space, simplicity, and connection to the land.

Kona Hills may be right for you if you:

• Enjoy rustic camping without hookups or resort-style amenities

• Value privacy and seclusion, with campsites spread out and buffered by trees, vegetation, and elevation changes

• Are comfortable being self-sufficient and coming prepared

• Appreciate a campground that feels remote but is just minutes from downtown Marquette

• Want a quiet place to unplug, slow down, and enjoy the outdoors

Kona Hills may not be the right fit if you:

• Prefer full hookups, flush toilets, or on-site showers

• Expect a completely silent or fully remote backcountry setting

• Want a highly developed campground with paved roads and tightly spaced sites

• Are looking for a resort-style or highly social camping environment

Our goal is to create a peaceful, low-impact camping experience that respects the land and our guests. Being upfront helps ensure Kona Hills is a great match—for you and for us.

• Vault toilets, no showers

• Hand pump well for drinking water

• Picnic tables at each site

• Fire ring at each site

• Kiln dried firewood available for self-serve purchase with cash or card (via QR code). Payment is due when firewood is taken.

We plan to enhance amities quickly, focusing on permanent bathrooms next. Learn more about our future plans here.

Currently, Kona Hills does not have shower facilities, though we are working on making this a reality for future seasons. in the meantime, here are some shower options:

• Snag a day pass from the local Marquette YMCA . The cost varies: Adult $15, family $25, youth $10. Open M-F 5AM-8PM, Sa 7AM-3PM, Su 10AM-3PM.

Yes! We know how fun it is sharing adventures with family pets. We welcome responsible pet owners who pick up after their pet (even if their business is “off trail”). Pets are not to be left unattended and should be leashed while at Kona Hills. Aggressive behavior or excessive barking is not allowed—disruptive pets may be asked to leave. Owners are fully responsible for their pet’s behavior and any damage they cause.

Be mindful of small pets. There is an active eagle nest on the property and wild animals nearby.

Yes! As a state licensed campground, we are required to provide drinking water. The welcome area features a hand-pump, artisan well. Kona Hills does not have hose hookups.

No. As a rustic campground our facilities offer basic amenities including drinking water, bathrooms, fire pits and picnic tables. If you are in need of these amenities please check out the following nearby Marquette Campgrounds: Tourist Park, Rippling River Resort, Chocolay River Campground, or Ojibwa Casino RV Park.

Not yet! We will most certainly add one in the future with a focus on local products and basic necessities. Be sure to sign up for our e-newsletter to be the first to know when new amenities launch!

Two great spots nearby to stock up on supplies include Ace Hardware (supplies, propane, tools) and Michigan Made Harvey Location (cold beer, local snacks, gifts)—both are located practically next door when you take a right turn out of our driveway.

Kiln dried firewood is available for purchase by the Welcome Area, next to the hand-pump well. It is self serve. Payment is due when firewood is taken. Cash and card (via a QR code) are accepted.

Please only use local fire wood so as to be responsible stewards of the land.

Kona Hills does not currently provide wifi, but 5G and cell phone service is readily available across the entire property.

Small RVs and recreational vehicles under 24’ are welcomed to Kona Hills. We cannot accomodate larger rigs and fifth wheels due to our setup. We do not have pull-through sites and our sites are not large enough to accomodate larger camping setups, and turn around space is tight. We strongly suggest bringing leveling blocks as we are located on a rock outcropping and most sites have a gentle slope to them.

Small travel trailers under 24’ are also welcomed.

As a rustic campground, our sites do not feature hookups of any kind. We also do not have any paved parking pads. For all these reasons, we have intentionally chosen to cater to tent, car, truck, and smaller recreational vehicles.

We recommend checking out the following nearby options for larger vehicles: Tourist Park, Rippling River Resort, or Ojibwa Casino RV Park.

Thank you for understanding!

No gas generators, please! Kona Hills offers a rustic camping experience. Our guests want to hear the sounds of nature and the rustle of the leaves, not the constant humming of a generator. Thank you for understanding!

Yes! Any of the drive in sites can accommodate teardrops or other small trailers that are under 24 feet in length.

We love hammock camping so it’s something we thought about for every site. There are some sites better than others but most have at least 2 viable trees and ideally 3 so you can setup a tarp for your hammock as well. We recommend any of the backside sites as there’s some solid, older pine trees that were not logged.

We are in the process of implementing a full forest management plan. The land was logged in the early 2000s meaning there’s mostly really dense poplar trees that need to be cleared out so more mature growth can occur.

Not yet! Stay tuned.

While all sites at Kona Hills are designated, many of them are setup in a way that is similar to dispersed camping in the sense that they are private from any neighbors. There are several public lands nearby Marquette that you can also practice dispersed camping on.

More Info

Since we are 200’ above Lake Superior, you will not be able to hear the lake. South Beach is just down the road if you’re looking for a great beach spot to hang out.

They’re not bad at all because WE DON’T HAVE ANY! That’s right! Due to our location and elevation, we do not experience black flies. The thing you do need to be on the look out for is ticks. Check yourself and your pets often!

Yes. There are ticks at Kona Hills. Be sure to check yourself and your pets for ticks often. Staying on marked trails will help you avoid ticks, but it’s still a good idea to check yourself.