Campgrounds in Minnesota

Author Brad Lane enjoyed a lengthy reporting trip throughout Minnesota and camped every night of the way.

With the many state parks, national forests, and bountiful wilderness areas in Minnesota, there is no shortage of great spots to pitch a tent. Campsites in Minnesota interweave with the lakes and waterways of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and are found throughout the prairie grass in the southern portion of the state.

While every place to camp in Minnesota is different, all campgrounds in Minnesota offer immediate access to outdoor adventure. Whether you are looking for a place to park an RV for a while, or you want to be able to sleep out of sight of your vehicle, a great campground in Minnesota is not far away.

The summer is a good time to camp in Minnesota, though the autumn is equally beautiful and sees far fewer mosquitoes. The Minnesota DNR manages all state parks and provides the most updated information on campground conditions. Reservations are available 120 days in advance.

No matter where you want to go, discover the best places to visit with our list of the top campgrounds in Minnesota.

Woodenfrog Campground, Kabetogama State Forest

Minnesota is home to a remarkable 58 different state forests. Many state forests offer campgrounds, like Woodenfrog, that are more affordable than what you'll find in adjacent state parks and often provide less crowded conditions.

All state forest campgrounds in Minnesota are considered primitive, containing established camping spots designated by picnic tables and fire rings, with pit toilets and freshwater spigots throughout.

While all state forest campgrounds can save you a little money on your Minnesota vacation, in terms of scenery and access to nearby attractions, they all deliver.

In the far northern part of the state, Woodenfrog Campground within Kabetogama State Forest is a great example of a state forest campground. It has 61 non-electrical campsites and easy access to adventure in the surrounding Kabetogama State Forest. It also sits at the front door of Voyageurs National Park and offers a launching point into a whole new world.

This primitive campground is available on a first-come, first-served basis and serves as one of the few drive-in campgrounds with access to the water-fed Voyageurs National Park. The sites are known to fill up quickly. Vault toilets are available at the campground.

The campground is on the shores of Kabetogama Lake and provides access to the water with a boat ramp and swimming beach. Longer adventures in Voyageurs are easily accomplished with the many paddle-in campsites available throughout the national park.

Address: Co Rd. 122, Ray, Minnesota

Split Rock State Park Cart-In Campgrounds

The North Shore of Lake Superior provides endless adventure stretching from Duluth to the US/Canadian border. Activities range from cross-country hiking to sailing in the frigid waters of Lake Superior.

Great campsites stretch all along this recreation destination at Split Rock, located approximately halfway up the shore. With just a little bit of effort, campers at this lakeside destination are afforded some of the best views found in the state.

Split Rock Lighthouse features 20 cart-in campsites that are approximately 2,000 feet from the parking lot. All campsites have a picnic table and fire ring and include a cart to haul in your gear. Flush toilets, showers, and clean water are available to all campers at Split Rock, but the real draw for the cart-in campgrounds is the immediate access to the stunning surroundings.

A strong recommendation when staying the night at Split Rock Lighthouse State Park is to reserve one of the campsites on the lakeside portion of the campground loop. These all offer personal views of the rugged shoreline and Split Rock Lighthouse in the distance. Campsites can be reserved one year in advance, and many are during the popular summer season.

Address: 3755 Split Rock Lighthouse Road, Two Harbors, Minnesota

Jay Cooke State Park

Jay Cooke State Park is home to some of the best hiking trails in Minnesota and is a popular destination for camping. The state park is adjacent to the St. Louis River, near the western tip of Lake Superior, and features over 80 sites ranging from walk-in tent sites to electric spots to park an RV.

The campground also features camper cabins and restroom facilities with hot showers. The campground is located near one of the most popular hikes of the park, the Silver Creek Trail, which includes crossing over a scenic bridge that swings above the St. Louis River.

The state park has over 50 miles of trails spread throughout its 8,125 acres. The 300-mile Superior Hiking Trail originates at the Minnesota/Wisconsin border near Jay Cooke State Park. The state park also connects with the Willard Munger State Trail.

Address: 780 MN-210, Carlton, Minnesota

Portsmouth Campground, Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area

Serving as one of Minnesota's newest state recreation areas, Cuyuna Country is quickly becoming one of the most popular. This former iron mine encompasses abandoned pits now filled with turquoise-tinted water and 25 miles of some of the best mountain bike trails in Minnesota. The best way to experience it all is by staying at the Portsmouth Campground within its boundaries.

Portsmouth Campground is on the eastern side of the 5,000-acre Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area and near the shores of Portsmouth Mine Lake. The campground features 18 electric sites, 15 non-electric sites, and four walk-in sites. Cuyuna Country also has three seven-person yurts, which are available year-round

All campsite occupants at Cuyuna Country share freshwater facilities and, more notably, quick access to all the recreational opportunities within Cuyuna Country. These adventure opportunities include more than 20 natural and manmade lakes, an abundance of mountain bike singletrack trails, and generous views that stretch beyond the horizon.

The neighboring community of Ironton makes for a great base camp, with camping supplies and bike rentals.

Address: 307 3rd Street, Ironton, Minnesota

Afton State Park Backpack Sites

Located less than a half-hour east of Saint Paul, Afton State Park is a popular prairie-filled park that attracts campers from the Twin Cities and beyond.

What makes the campgrounds at Afton unique within the Minnesota state park system is that they are only available for those willing to backpack their gear to the sites. The 27 backpack sites at Afton State Park are located less than a mile from the parking lot, and all include a picnic table, a fire ring, and plenty of space to pitch a tent or two. The campsites also share access to a communal pit toilet and water spigot.

The backpack sites at Afton vary from shaded to exposed, and all offer views and access to the surrounding wooded and prairie environments. This includes the extensive trail system that winds its way through the park.

No campsite is a direct neighbor to another, offering more privacy than your average campground, but it's not uncommon to hear the crackle of a nearby campfire throughout the night, reminding you that you're not completely alone in the woods.

Address: 6959 Peller Ave S, Hastings, Minnesota

Wild River State Park Campground

Situated along 18 miles of the St. Croix River, Wild River State Park is one of the larger state parks in Minnesota. Amid the many hiking, horseback, and canoeing opportunities, it also has an abundance of worthwhile camping spots.

The most popular spots are at the Wild River State Park Campground, with more than 90 sites catering to tents and RVS. A third of the sites have electric hookups, and all include a picnic table, fire ring, and plenty of space to spread out a bit. Wild River also has a variety of backcountry camping sites only accessible by non-motorized transportation.

Despite the high number of spaces available, advanced reservations are strongly encouraged at Wild River State Park, especially on the weekends. But with 6,000 acres to explore and wild waters to paddle, there's plenty of room at the park to explore on your own.

Address: 39797 Park Trail, Center City, Minnesota

Itasca State Park

This popular state park is home to the headwaters of the mighty Mississippi River and several scenic camping options. Over 200 sites comprise this campground in the northern part of the state, 30 miles southwest of Bemidji, ranging from RV-accessible to walk-in only.

Campsites are split between two campgrounds within Itasca State Park: the Bear Paw Campground and the Pine Ridge Campground.

All campers have access to a range of amenities, including flushing restrooms and hot showers. Campers also have access to potable water and playground areas throughout the campgrounds. More importantly, campers have quick access to the vast expanse of Itasca State Park, including more than 100 lakes and 50 miles of hiking trails.

Address: 36750 Main Park Drive, Park Rapids, Minnesota

Fall Lake Campground, Superior National Forest

There is no shortage of campsites within the Superior National Forest of northern Minnesota. Throughout this rugged and wild part of the country, overnight visitors have a wide variety of camping options ranging from boat-access-only backcountry sites to RV-accommodating campgrounds with modern amenities.

Fall Lake Campground, located just east of Ely, is a great example of a contemporary campground within Superior National Forest. The campground features clean water and flushing toilets, and all 64 campsites provide picnic tables, tent pads, and fire rings.

The campground also provides spectacular North Woods scenery, including the forested shoreline of Fall Lake. What really makes Fall Lake Campground so great, however, is its immediate access to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. With just a single paddle stroke, campers at Fall Lake Campground can find themselves exploring the Boundary Waters.

Additional permits are required to spend the night in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. This proximity to such a vast expanse of waterways makes Fall Lake one of the best campgrounds near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area.

Address: Fall Lake Road, Ely, Minnesota

Gooseberry Falls State Park

Gooseberry Falls is another popular state park and campground on Minnesota's north shore of Lake Superior. This state park is 40 miles north of Duluth and only a few miles south of Split Rock Lighthouse State Park.

It's the impressive set of wide waterfalls at Gooseberry that draws a crowd. These acts of gravity are split between Lower, Middle, and Upper Falls, all roaring near the lakeside Highway 61, also known as Scenic 61. This accessibility draws millions of tourists to the state park each year.

Gooseberry Falls State Park is also a popular overnight pit stop for lengthier trips along the north shore. Its campground has approximately 70 drive-in sites for tent camping and RVs up to 40 feet long. No hookups are available, and most sites enjoy a woodland setting. All overnight visitors have access to water, flushing toilets, and shower facilities.

Address: 3206 Highway 61 East. Two Harbors, Minnesota

Lakeview Campground, Father Hennepin State Park

Situated on the shores of Mille Lacs Lake, Father Hennepin State Park is named after a 17th-century priest who first wrote about the area. Mille Lacs Lake is one of the largest inland lakes in Minnesota, and the Lakeview Campground within Father Hennepin State Park provides easy access to the water in the form of a fishing pier and places to moor a boat.

All 60 campsites are split between non-electrical and electrical units and share access to flushing toilets, showers, and water spigots. Tents, pop-up campers, and RVs up to 60 feet long are welcome. If the Lakeview Campground is full when you go to reserve a spot, the Maple Grove Campground hosts another 40 campsites nearby.

Address: 41296 Father Hennepin Park Road, Isle, Minnesota

Glendalough State Park

In western Minnesota, approximately two hours northwest of St. Cloud, this scenic state park offers a true chance to get away with cart-in and canoe sites available. The more remote offerings at Glendalough State Park feature quiet surroundings and an easy connection to nature while avoiding the hustle and bustle of the usual drive-in campsites,

All 22 cart-in sites at Glendalough have access to potable water and restroom facilities with hot showers.

Glendalough State Park is in the transition zone between the Minnesota prairie and the hardwood forests to the north and is also surrounded by several bodies of water. The nearby Annie Battle Lake is a 335-acre non-motorized lake that is popular with canoes and kayaks. Campers have quick access to the water, as well as a paved bike trail that skirts the lake.

Address: 25287 Whitetail Ln, Battle Lake, Minnesota

Cedar Hill Campground, Whitewater State Park

Many factors make Whitewater State Park one of the best state parks in Minnesota. Between the bluff-lined hiking trails and churning waters of the Whitewater River, what really ties everything together at Whitewater State Park are its spacious and scenic campsites.

More than 100 campsites are available, and the most abundant and popular sites are within the Cedar Hill Campground. These reservable campsites provide immediate access to activities like tubing, wading, and fishing.

Two communal sanitation buildings are located within Cedar Hill Campground, and another can be found in the neighboring Gooseberry Glen Campground. All three provide toilets, showers, and clean water throughout the camping season.

Every campsite at Whitewater State Park provides a picnic table and fire ring, and they vary from pull-in to pull-through, with a few requiring a short walk from a parked car.

For those looking for more solitude, on the other side of the river from the Cedar Hill and Gooseberry Glen Campgrounds, Whitewater State Park also offers six walk-in sites averaging 500 yards from the parking area. These quiet campsites allow for a little more space and just as many views.

Whitewater State Park also features winter-ready camper cabins for cross-country and snowshoe enthusiasts to enjoy in the off-season.

Address: 19041 MN-74, Altura, Minnesota

Stony Point Campground, Chippewa National Forest

The Stony Point Campground places visitors on the shores of Leech Lake, three hours north of Minneapolis, and easily accessible from the city of Walker. This campground is a great launching point into the surrounding Chippewa National Forest and has 44 reservable sites all sharing access to the lake. Flush toilets, shower stations, and clean drinking water spigots are also on-site.

RVs are welcome at Stony Point, and campers are encouraged to use the boat ramp and two different harbors. The campground also provides easy access to a swimming beach and picnic area.

The campground doesn't just entice anglers, however. With hiking and biking trails like the North Country Trail and Paul Bunyan State Trail surrounding the area, the campground is also popular for those that like to explore on foot.

Address: 5510 US-2, Cass Lake, Minnesota

Red Fox Campground, Minneopa State Park

A spectacular double waterfall and signature trail are the crown jewel of this southern Minnesota state park. It's a quarter-mile hike to see this impressive act of gravity, all the while encountering park structures dating back to the Works Progress Administration (WPA) and built during the Great Depression.

Minneopa State Park is also home to the popular Red Fox Campground, with over 65 sites available. All sites cater to tent camping and RV camping, with 60-foot limits on RVs. Only six sites have electric hookups. All overnight visitors have access to flushing restrooms, showers, and water spigots.

Camping is one of the best ways to ensure a bison sighting on the state park's Bison Drive Road. Approximately 30-40 bison roam the 325 acres of this reserve, and visitors are required to stay in their vehicles the entire time. Sightings are not always guaranteed. The road is open to visitors six days a week and closed on Wednesdays.

Address: 54497 Gadwall Road, Mankato, Minnesota

Map of Campgrounds in Minnesota

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