Best Campgrounds in Minnesota

Our family loved the campground, extremely clean and wonderful place to stay

We were amazed by the family feel, the quality of the fishing on trout lake, and the amount of seasonal sites available.

A hidden gem by the lake! I recently had the pleasure of staying at this charming campground, and I can’t recommend it enough! From the moment I arrived, I was impressed by how clean and well-maintained the entire facility was. The grounds were spotless, and it was clear that the staff takes great pride in keeping everything in tip-top shape. The highlight, of course, was the stunning lake right next to the campground. Whether you’re into kayaking, swimming, or simply enjoying the view, this lake is the perfect backdrop for a relaxing getaway. The water was clear, and I spent hours just soaking in the peaceful atmosphere.

This is an amazing campground, extremely clean and helpful and friendly staff. Lots of seasonal sites available would recommend.

The site was just fine for what we wanted to do and that was trying out our new trailer. Not much in the way of hiking, but the lake access looked nice.

As with most State Parks, the campground sites are really close together and you have very little privacy. The hikes were beautiful and the variety of old growth trees was spectacular.

I thought I was getting punked. I had the entire State Park to myself. It was super cool be eerie. Great hikes and the view from the top was worth it. Campsites in the campground are really close together, so when full, I imagine that is a downside. Didn’t matter to me, there were zero other campers.

My journey to visit all 64 MN State Parks lead me through Minneopa State Park. Stayed in February and was surprised that we had so many neighbors. Campsites are not very private. I could hear all my neighbors voices. The cool thing about the park is the walk and/or drive through the Bison sanctuary. The ranger was on a power trip, so That turned me off. Still, made the most of it and nights under the stars are always a good time.

The camp site was pretty awesome. Like others said, nice and secluded. If you're new to hiking, I suggest doing some research if you're going to attempt stuff like this.

I camped here back in 2020 of November. Overpacked, along with not packing the right gear and didn't have a cart. Buddy and I parked at the southeast parking lot so the hike was about a mile and also hilly. 

BP7 didn't have much dead wood around so we had to reserve the firewood we purchased. Carrying firewood, food, water, gear, on a hilly trail through the woods can become real tough real fast for anyone that isn't physically active. I easily was carrying 100lbs and had to take a couple breaks on the way. I knew nothing about this place so that was my mistake.

Despite all my problems, it was a great experience. Just being out in the woods in November usually meant there wasn't any people around so we were able to enjoy the outdoors.

Don't forget wet wipes!

This is a small county park and campground off the beaten path. It is located adjacent to the Little American Falls, and alongside the Big Fork River water trail. There are several campsites you can drive into, and if it is not the muddy season you could drive with a trailer or small RV into some of the the camping sites. Although the sites themselves are pretty well kept, campers are advised to pack out their own garbage but it seems some folks don't feel they have to--so there is some litter around, and evidence of campers burning garbage in the firepits. There is little to no cell phone service here, no on site ranger or camp host, but sites have basic picnic tables and fire rings, and there is an outhouse available. You should bring your own water; any RV's should know there are no hookups of any kind, but you are allowed to use a generator here. 

The main appeal of this campground is access to the river, which involves going down a steep bank (there are stairs) but worth it for fishing or kayaking or canoeing. The falls are beautiful, and worth a visit. There arent official biking or hiking trails but you could easily walk or bike on the back roads adjacent to the campground. If you want more privacy, there is a canoe campsite on the bank opposite of the county campground, just downstream of the falls, that is maintained by the Minnesota DNR and is water-access only.

There is no cost to camp here, but also no reservations so first come first served. For maps, you can refer to the Koochiching County recreation maps to see location, which are here: 

https://www.co.koochiching.mn.us/DocumentCenter/View/135/Outdoor-Recreation-Map-PDF?bidId=

https://www.co.koochiching.mn.us/DocumentCenter/View/994/Koochiching-Recreation-Map-2018-PDF

The Big Fork Water Trail map is here: https://files.dnr.state.mn.us/maps/canoe\_routes/bigfork1.pdf

And for more info you can contact the Koochiching County Lands and Forests office here: https://www.co.koochiching.mn.us/178/Land-Forestry

Nestled along the North shore of beautiful Lake Superior in the City of Two Harbors, Minnesota. You can rent kayaks, paddle boards or bicycles from local vendors or hike on our paved and unpaved City trail system as you explore the area. You can pick agates, go fishing, or boating or visit one of our local shops and museums. All sites have a picnic table and fire ring. Campground has bathrooms, shower facilities, and Wi-Fi.

A little close to hwy 61 so be prepared for road noise.

I was looking to take a solo camping trip for the weekend and paddleboard on the Cuyuna Mine Lakes. I booked the trip pretty late because of a lot of different factors, but Crow Wing State park still had plenty of availability. The park is nothing spectacular, but it was nice, wooded, and the staff were great. It was my first time solo camping in awhile, so I opted to stay at a state park where there would be rangers. I noticed that the rangers stopped and talked to me night one, and remembered me- which made me feel very safe as a solo female camper. The campground was overall pretty quiet, and my site was wooded so that I normally could not see other campers from my site, which was great! It felt decently quiet . If you visit in the summertime, expect hellish mosquitoes and pack accordingly!

You can join the hiking club trail straight from the campground, which was nice- I went on a few beautiful sunset walks to watch the sunset over the river

The bathroom and shower were clean and easily accessible.

The park was a 20-30 minute drive from the Cuyuna Mines area, so I was able to easily drive over Saturday morning and spend the day paddleboarding.

This park is not one of the most spectacular in Minnesota, but I had a great stay and it was very relaxing. It was great for a weekend getaway for a solo female camper looking to do some paddle boarding in the area

My husband had a fall break at the beginning of October, and we were looking for beautiful fall colors a short drive from the twin cities for a one night camping trip. We wanted a quiet, secluded campsite, but one we wouldn't have to backpack into. Several people recommended Whitewater State park for fall colors close to the twin cities, and I cannot thank all the people who recommended it enough!

We stayed in a cart in campsite and it was perfect. The sites were quiet, woodsy and secluded... We could see site 4 from our site, but all we could hear was the stream. Our campsite was perfect in October, with sun and golden leaves and the sound of the water. We were in site 3, which was very spacious. If we came again just the two of us, we would book site 4 because it was the most private and right next to the water, although the area to pitch a tent was small, so if we came with a larger group we would book site 2 (right on the water and very spacious). The cart in sites felt woodsy and secluded, but it was a fairly short walk back to the parking lot, bathrooms, and water. For those that want to take a shower, you could drive up to one of the electric campgrounds at the park and use the very clean, nice bath houses. I love backpacking, but my husband had never been, so carting in was a good first camping trip for us as a couple.

The hiking at Whitewater State Park is great. We did the 4 mile loop and it was perfect for us- a beautiful and challenging hike that wasn't too punishing. There were lots of scenic views, and a good variety of terrain to keep it interesting. Fantastic for fall colors.

This was the perfect trip for a relaxing, beautiful 24-hour getaway in the woods. We may make it an annual tradition!

Games Lake County Park, near New London, Minnesota, is a great spot for camping. With tent, RV, and cabin options, it suits all campers. The park offers electric hookups, clean facilities, and friendly staff. FR Legends recommends this park for its peaceful atmosphere and great amenities. Located near Games Lake, it’s perfect for fishing, boating, and family fun. A playground, beach, and boat launch make it a great getaway. Open May to September, it’s ideal for outdoor adventures!

Only about a mile from the parking lot. This site was nearly surrounded by a lake which lended to a lot of bugs, but was absolutely gorgeous! We could see one other camper in a different site, but it still felt like you were in the wilderness.

Very pretty and secluded! It was pretty buggy and ticks were bad, but that's to be expected. Bog/marsh was beautiful with some wildlife and was generally a very pleasant place to camp. Had a bear box as well which was great! It did rain quite a bit while I was there.