CITY OF HOUGHTON RV PARK, HOUGHTON, MI (U.P.)

Our Opinion: Recommend.  Excellent location in town; good base for exploring the Keweenaw Peninsula.

Date of Stay: August 2 through 5, 2010.

Weather During Stay:  Pleasant summer weather, highs in the 80’s, lows in the 60’s, plenty of sunshine.

Site Description:  This city owned RV park enjoys a great in-town location on the shore of the Portage Canal, adjacent to a city park and swimming beach.  All 22 sites are for self-contained RV’s (no tents), as the park has no bathroom facilities.  This park definitely feels like an RV park (which it is), rather than a campground. 

All sites are back-ins, all sites are FHU, and all sites have 20/30/50 amps and cable TV.  Each site has large a wooden deck facing the water, with a picnic table, shade structure, and bench.  There is room on the deck for a couple of lawn chairs.  Each site has its own covered trash barrel, a fire ring and a grill.

The road and the sites are paved.  Sites are surrounded by grass and many have a small tree or other landscaping. Sites can accommodate  40 foot motor homes and a towed, with space for slides and awnings.

No dump station, no bathroom, no laundry.  Very reliable electricity even on a hot afternoon.

Rate: $25/night for 30 amps; $28/night for 50 amps. 

Phone/radio/TV:  Strong Verizon signal for phones and aircard.  No obstacles to block our roof-mounted satellite TV.  Cable TV is included.  WiFi is included, but we didn’t use it because Verizon worked so well.   NPR broadcast from on 91.1.

Elevation/landscape/terrain: This is a very small, open, terraced park at 600 ft. elevation on the shoreline of Portage Lake in “downtown” Houghton.  Views are of other rigs, the blue water of the lake (a canal), and the small town of Hancock across the water.  Very appealing, and the decks are designed to take advantage of the view.     

Lighting/noise:  Located just below Canal Road, road noise is noticeable during the day and lighter (very light late) when traffic thins at night.  Thought it was noticeable, it didn’t keep us awake.  Pleasantly dark at night.

Favorite Sites:  All the sites are similar in size, orientation and amenities.  We were in an upper tier site, with slightly more privacy than the lower tier, but would request a lower tier site next time for proximity to the water.

Hiking/Walking: From the RV park, a biking/walking trail goes east through town and the campus of the Michigan Technological University for an unknown distance (we walked at least 2 miles), and walking downtown is a short, pleasant stroll.  Many places to hike on the Keweenaw Peninsula.

Comments:  Houghton is a pleasant, small (4000 population) town that is proud of its history, well presented on interesting historical signs along the waterfront walkway and in the old downtown section.  We enjoyed the proximity of the park to the town, and it made a great home base for exploration of “Copper Country”.