There are numerous great campgrounds and other destinations for camping throughout the state of Minnesota, whether campers are looking for a place with creature comfort amenities, RV campsites, tent campsites, loads of outdoor recreation opportunities, or simply somewhere to sit around a campfire and roast marshmallows. From campgrounds on the outskirts of cities to lakeside getaways and recreation areas to state parks and national forests, there are a wide variety of camping areas to choose from for a camping trip and an outdoor adventure.
1. Country Camping, Minnesota
Country Camping is located in Isanti, Minnesota open from the middle of April through the middle of October, offering guests a chance to camp among the forty acres of beautiful woodland and rolling hills. The campground is conveniently situated about four miles from downtown Isanti, right off of Highway 65. Amenities at Country Camping include horseshoes, sand volleyball courts, a half-court for basketballs, a playground for children, complimentary wireless internet, a game room, laundry facilities, a dump station, propane refill station, modern restroom facilities with free showers, a splash pad, a heated swimming pool, kayak rentals, and a camp store.
27437 Palm St NW, Isanti, MN 55040, Phone: 763-444-9626
2. Kiesler's Campground & RV Resort
Kiesler's Campground and RV Resort in Waseca is a place for camping, fun in the sun, fishing, crafts, sports, and swimming in southern Minnesota, along the shores of Clear Lake There is even a track for remote-controlled car racing. Owned and operated by the Kiesler family for more than forty years, the resort consistently strives to provide guests with superb activities, great facilities, and friendly service, all within a beautiful natural setting in the middle of the Southern Lakes region. Guests can enjoy free Wi-Fi, a heated pool, horseshoes, a playground, miniature golf, hiking, biking, planned activities, and much more.
14360 Old Hwy 14, Waseca, MN 56093, Phone: 507-835-3179
3. Lebanon Hills Regional Park-Campground
The Lebanon Hills Regional Park Campground offers visitors of all ages an opportunity to spend a night in the great outdoors, under the starry sky in Dakota County. Surrounded by serene woodlands, the campground is conveniently located only minutes away from the Minnesota Zoo, the Mall of America, and downtown Minneapolis, yet feels like it’s much further, offering an ideal getaway close to home or a different camping experience for out-of-town visitors. Campground features include wireless internet at full hookup campsites, a playground, laundry facilities, hiking trails, hot showers, restroom facilities, pull-through sites, and 50-amp electric service.
12100 Johnny Cake Ridge Rd, St Paul, MN 55124, Phone: 651-480-7773
4. Snake River Campground, Minnesota
The Snake River Campground, as the name suggests, is situated along the banks of the scenic Snake River in McGrath, Minnesota. The campground is nestled within a grove of tall pine trees that provide plenty of shade and a backwoods setting that many campers love. With the rustic setting, the Snake River Campground doesn’t have any more amenities than what’s necessary. The campground consists of twelve sites, a canoe landing, picnic tables, drinking water, and pit toilets. The primitive camping area doesn’t provide electricity. It also provides access to hiking trails and the Soo Line and Redtop ATV trails.
State Hwy 65, McGrath, MN 56350, Phone: 218-927-7364
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5. Afton State Park
Afton State Park is an ideal destination for cross-country skiers, horseback riders, and hikers, offering a perfect setting for nature-oriented outdoor recreation. Set upon bluffs that overlook the St. Croix River, the state park is home to a rolling, rugged landscape, as well as campgrounds and a swimming beach about three-fourths of a hike away from the parking lot. There are several camping options in Afton State Park, such as two rustic group camps, two yurts, four cabins equipped with electricity, twenty-four campsites, and one canoe-in campsite. The park also offers several miles of trails for horseback riding, biking, and hiking.
6959 Peller Avenue South, Hastings, MN 55033, Phone: 651-436-5391
6. Glacial Lakes State Park
Located near Starbuck, Minnesota, Glacial Lakes State Park is home to a unique stretch of soaring hills that serve as a contrast to supine valleys created by glaciers over ten thousand years ago. Visitors can take a swim in the crystal clear lake, hike along the park’s ridgetops, and explore the oak savanna and prairie of Minnesota. The campground at Glacial Lakes State Park features handicap-accessible campsites, group camp facilities, pull-through sites, camping cabins, tent campsites, restroom facilities with flush toilets, hot showers, and a sanitary dump station. There is also a camping area for guests with horses.
25022 County Road 41, Starbuck, MN 56381, Phone: 320-239-2860
7. Interstate State Park
The Interstate State Park is located along the banks of the scenic St. Croix River, established near the town of Taylors Falls. The campground consists of almost forty family campsites, twenty-two of which include electric hookups, situated within a wooded forest setting along the river. Each of the sites feature a cooking grate, a fire ring, and a picnic table. Other campground features at Interstate State Park include a dump station, both vault and flush toilets, showers, and drinking water. Outdoor recreation opportunities here include rock climbing, fishing, canoeing, biking, wildlife viewing, kayaking, boating, and viewing glacial potholes.
307 Milltown Rd, Taylors Falls, MN 55084, Phone: 651-465-5711
8. Itasca State Park
Itasca State Park near Park Rapids is the oldest state park in Minnesota and a natural national landmark. Visitors can explore the unspoiled wilderness where the Mississippi River meets Lake Itasca, featuring pine trees that have been around for over two hundred years. Within this naturally beautiful wilderness setting is a campground with more than two hundred drive-in sites, 160 of which have electricity. There are also eleven hike-in rustic campsites at Itasca State Park, as well as around fifty miles of hiking trails throughout the park grounds. During the winter months, snowmobiling and cross-country skiing are popular activities.
36750 Main Park Dr, Park Rapids, MN 56470, Phone: 218-699-7251
9. Lake Maria State Park
Lake Maria State Park is located near Monticello, Minnesota and is an ideal destination for a spontaneous, or planned, getaway to escape the hustle and bustle of the state’s Twin Cities. There is a high level of seclusion and quiet found at the park, despite it being so close to major cities. The park also offers a campground remotely situated within Lake Maria’s riparian confines, offer several primitive, backpack-in campsites that provide a perfect distraction-free camping experience, as well as bear boxes. The camper cabins and walk-in campsites at Lake Maria State Park are open throughout the entire year.
11411 Clementa Avenue NW, Monticello, MN 55362, Phone: 763-878-2325
10. Nerstrand Big Woods State Park
When many people think of huge trees, the picture of redwoods in northern California may come to mind, however, Nerstrand Big Woods State Park in Minnesota offers big tree fun as well. Huge basswoods throughout the park tower over visitors, hiding the fittingly named Hidden Falls. One advantage to the Nerstrand Big Woods Campground is that it doesn’t get as busy as several state parks in Minnesota since it lacks historical sites or bodies of water, the latter making the campground less buggy as well. The one sometimes crowded spot in the park is the main trail to the Hidden Falls.
9700 170th Street East, Nerstrand, MN 55053, Phone: 507-384-6140
11. Scenic State Park
Scenic State Park is a name that doesn’t mislead visitors to this state park near Bigfork, Minnesota, home to some of the most mesmerizing natural scenery in the state. The Chase Point trail is the one guests should make sure not miss, winding along the glacial esker in the park to a ridge offering stunning views of Sandwick Lake and Zaiser Island. The bog boardwalk guides visitors through the Scenic State Park’s marshlands and the boardwalk is also a great spot to watch the sunrise or do some bird watching. Historic lodges and rustic WPA cabins abound as well.
56956 Scenic Highway 7, Bigfork, MN 56628, Phone: 218-743-3362
12. Minnesota Camping: Split Rock Lighthouse State Park
Split Rock Lighthouse State Park, located along Lake Superior’s North Shore, offers both backpack-in and cart-in campsites, as well as a variety of outdoor activities, such as twelve miles of hiking trails, eight miles of biking trails, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and stream, river, and lake fishing. All of the cart-in sites are within 2,000 feet of the campground’s parking area and wheeled carts are available to transport supplies and gear. The backpack campsites range from half a mile to two miles away from the parking lot. Anglers can cast a line for brown trout, salmon, and lake trout.
3755 Split Rock Lighthouse Rd, Two Harbors, MN 55616, Phone: 218-595-7625
13. Temperance River State Park
Temperance River State Park is a place that could be described as a pleasant surprise for visitors. Campers can take in the gorgeous sunset from their campsites by the lakeshore before adventuring to the Temperance River for a unique experience of viewing the river flow into Lake Superior. Peaks, gorges, and waterfalls can be found throughout Temperance River State Park that are all stunning in their own right as well. Carlton Peak in particular is popular among rock climbers and hikers. Hidden Falls can also be reached by a hike. The campground’s more sparsely occupied side offer more privacy from neighboring campers.
5702 Highway 61, Silver Bay, MN 55614, Phone: 218-663-3100
14. Whitewater State Park
Whitewater State Park near Altura boasts several reasons for it being one of Minnesota’s best state parks. Between the Whitewater River’s churning waters and the bluff-lined trails for hiking, what ties everything the park has to offer together is the scenic and spacious campsites. There are over one hundred campsites at Whitewater State Park, with the most popular and abundant ones being located in the Cedar Hill Campground along the riverfront. This area offers several other activities, such as fishing, wading, and tubing. Sites include fire rings and picnic tables, and the campground also offers clean water, showers, and toilets.
19041 Highway 74, Altura, MN 55910, Phone: 507-312-2300
15. Wild River State Park
Located near Center City, Wild River State Park provides a wild, natural setting for campers conveniently situated right in the city. The park combines sunshine, approximately thirty-five miles of hiking trails, and the scenic St. Croix River, offering an ideal escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life, not far from all of its comforts. Open year-round, Wild River State Park Campground has campsites along the riverbanks so that guests can enjoy everything the river and park has to offer, including swimming, fishing, and hiking. Anglers can cast their line and try for smallmouth bass, walleye, and northern pike.
39797 Park Trail, Center City, MN 55012, Phone: 651-583-2125
16. Fall Lake Campground, Minnesota
The Superior National Forest has certainly doesn’t have a shortage of sites for camping in northern Minnesota. Throughout this wild and rugged area of the United States, overnight visitors can choose from an array of options for camping, ranging from modern campgrounds with amenities that are able to accommodate RVs to backcountry campsites only accessible by boat. The Falls Lake Campground is just one example of a modern campground in the national forest. Situated near Ely, Minnesota, the campground offers flush toilets, clean water, and several other amenities, as well as direct access to the state’s Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
Fall Lake Rd, Ely, MN 55731, Phone: 218-365-2963
17. Kamp Dels
Kamp Dels is a family-oriented campground on the shores of Lake Sakatah in Waterville, Minnesota. Part of what makes this campground so unique is its water park, as well as its variety of camping options, which include cabin rentals, seasonal campsites, RV campsites, and tent camping. In addition to the water park, Kamp Dels offers opportunities for several other recreation activities, such as boating, pony rides, racquetball, volleyball, basketball, tennis, miniature golf, lake activities, water slides, a water climbing wall, a petting zoo, and playgrounds. The Aqua Playground is particularly fun amenity at Kamp Dels for younger children.
14842 Sakatah Lake Rd, Waterville, MN 56096, Phone: 507-362-8616
18. Stony Point Resort & Campground
Stony Point Resort and Campground in northern Minnesota is designed for campers of any age. Guests will find several modern cabins featuring all of the home comforts, including leaving housekeeping to the resort while visitors play on the long sandy beach or go swimming, biking, fishing, and sightseeing. Along with these cabins, Stony Point also has a full-service campground for tent camping and a RV park. Stony Point Resort and Campground offers numerous amenities as well, including playgrounds, laundry facilities, safe swimming areas, picnic shelters, a gift shop, and a family-style restaurant, as well as kayak, canoe, paddle boat, and pontoon boat rentals.
5510 US-2, Cass Lake, MN 56633, Phone: 218-335-6311
19. Rice Creek Campgrounds
The Rice Creek Campground is situated within Minnesota’s Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Regional Park Reserve, which provides more than five thousand acres of scenic and natural wilderness less than thirty minutes away from St. Paul and Minneapolis. Outdoor recreational activities available at the Rice Creek Campground and the surrounding area include swimming, golf, boating, fishing, and biking. The amphitheater in the campground regularly hosts nature programs, as well the Wargo Nature Center, located only a mile away. Also situated about a mile from Rice Creek is the Chomonix Golf Course, offering campers a quick game of golf.
7373 Main St, Centerville, MN 55038, Phone: 763-324-3340
20. Wildwood RV Park & Campground
Located in Shafer, Minnesota, the Wildwood RV Park and Campground provides guests with an array of different campsites, such as pull-through sites, campsites with electricity and water, and tent campsites. There are also several activities possible within only minutes from the campground. Campers can enjoy the complimentary wireless internet, self-guided nature trail, horseshoes, volleyball, basketball, miniature golf, a seasonal heated pool, bike trail, and playgrounds. Flush toilets and showers are provided at the Wildwood RV Park and Campground as well. For campers who want to go kayaking or canoeing, there’s a free shuttle to Taylors Falls Canoe and Kayak Rental.
20078 Lake Blvd, Shafer, MN 55074, Phone: 651-465-7162
21. Eagle Cliff Campground
The Eagle Cliff Campground is a secluded campground along the banks of the Root River for both RV camping and tent camping, with campsites that include shaded group camps and riverfront tent campsites. As for amenities, the naturally mosquito-free Eagle Cliff offers complimentary wireless internet, an on-site ATM, five-room on-site motel, a playground, a game room, fire rings, a picnic shelter, picnic tables, centrally located clean restroom facilities, a canoe launch, and rentals for bikes, tubes, kayaks, and canoes. Located in Lanesboro near a sixty-mile state paved bike trail, campers can also go biking, hunting, fishing, tubing, and canoeing.
35455 MN-16, Lanesboro, MN 55949, Phone: 507-467-2598
22. Rice Lake State Park
Rice Lake State Park was established to preserve the land that Native Americans once used for harvesting wild rice long ago. The marshy edges and shallow waters of Rice Lake today attract several different species of waterfowl during their migrations. Visitors can also find camping opportunities in the Minnesota wetland beneath tall hardwoods, as well as opportunities for birdwatching, picnicking, and nature photography, especially of spring wildflowers. Popular winter activities include snowmobiling and cross-country skiing along the trails. For more secluded camping experiences, visitors can venture across Rice Lake and stay at one of the canoe campsites.
8485 Rose St, Owatonna, MN 55060, Phone: 507-414-6191
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23. Frontenac State Park
While birdwatching many not be everyone’s cup of tea, Frontenac State Park in Minnesota is one of the country’s best spots for viewing numerous migratory birds during the spring and fall seasons. Located along the border of Minnesota and Wisconsin along the Mississippi River, the park is home to the Wildlife Observation Blind, which is like a treehouse. The campground itself offers great views, situated upon the edge of a bluff, approximately 430 feet up from the river below. The picnic area overlooking Lake Pepin also serves as the trailhead for several hiking paths that traverse Frontenac State Park.
29223 County 28 Blvd, Frontenac, MN 55026, Phone: 651-345-3401
24. Two Rivers Campground and Tubing
The family-oriented Two Rivers Campground and Tubing in the town Royalton, Minnesota is only ninety minutes away from the bustling Twin Cities, yet feels like it’s a world away out in nature. The campground offers a relaxed, comfortable atmosphere in which guests can take in the natural scenery, splash around in the river, go swimming in the pool, or simply take a leisurely stroll. The spacious and clean Two Rivers Campground provides a variety of campsites, ranging from shaded campsites for tent camping to pull-through RV sites with 50-amp electric service and abundant room for RVs with slide-outs.
5116 145th St NW, Royalton, MN 56373, Phone: 320-584-5125
25. Ann Lake Campground, Minnesota
Situated in the town of Big Lake, the Ann Lake Campground is a primitive campground designed to provide only the basic necessities for camping. Campground amenities consists of drinking water, garbage cans, vault toilets, and a sandy beach. Each of the campsites in the Ann Lake Campground also include a picnic table, a fire ring, and a cleared area. There are also two designated accessible parking spots within the campground. All of the campsites are offered on a first-come, first-served availability. Panfish fishing, snowmobiling and horseback riding opportunities are also possible nearby during different parts of the year.
Prairie's Edge Wildlife Dr, Big Lake, MN 55309, Phone: 763-878-2325
What are the The Best Camping in Minnesota - 25 Perfect Ideas?
The The Best Camping in Minnesota - 25 Perfect Ideas according to local experts are:
- Country Camping, Minnesota
- Kiesler's Campground & RV Resort
- Lebanon Hills Regional Park-Campground
- Snake River Campground, Minnesota
- Afton State Park
- Glacial Lakes State Park
- Interstate State Park
- Itasca State Park
- Lake Maria State Park
- Nerstrand Big Woods State Park
- Scenic State Park
- Minnesota Camping: Split Rock Lighthouse State Park
- Temperance River State Park
- Whitewater State Park
- Wild River State Park
- Fall Lake Campground, Minnesota
- Kamp Dels
- Stony Point Resort & Campground
- Rice Creek Campgrounds
- Wildwood RV Park & Campground
- Eagle Cliff Campground
- Rice Lake State Park
- Frontenac State Park
- Two Rivers Campground and Tubing
- Ann Lake Campground, Minnesota
