Maplewood State Park Campground, near Pelican Rapids, Minnesota, is a fantastic spot for those looking to immerse themselves in nature while enjoying some modern comforts. With spacious sites that come equipped with picnic tables and fire rings, it’s perfect for gathering around the fire after a day of adventure.

This campground is known for its beautiful surroundings, featuring miles of hiking trails and stunning fall colors that leave visitors in awe. Many campers have praised the park for its ample opportunities for outdoor activities, including fishing and kayaking on the nearby lakes. One happy camper shared, “We loved this park. There are so many trails and so much to do.”

Amenities like electric hookups and drinking water make your stay comfortable, while the presence of wildlife adds to the charm. Campers have spotted everything from loons to chipmunks, making it a great place for nature lovers. The park also offers a fish cleaning station and easy access to boat ramps, so you can make the most of your time on the water.

If you’re looking for a little more than just camping, the nearby town of Pelican Rapids has grocery stores and local shops to explore. Whether you’re here for a weekend or planning a longer stay, Maplewood State Park Campground has plenty to offer for a memorable outdoor experience.

Campground is open year-round  
**Arrive prepared.** Go to mndnr.gov/maplewood for visitor alerts and seasonal updates.

Grass Lake Campground — Maplewood State Park

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The Best Camping Near Erhard, Minnesota

I have a special love for this park so I maybe a bit biased. I have had great experiences here during every season. From great lakes to kayak and fish on, to trails that are beautiful to hike, snowshoe or cross country ski this park has something for everyone.

There is a main campground for those who want more of a community experience, campgrounds that have sites spaced out to provide more privacy, remote sites you can hike out to and even a horse campground (and trails marked for trail riding). They also have camper cabins and the main campground is open year round.

Ive stayed mostly in the knoll loop and always had a good experience. Trees and shrubs between sites adds a good amount of privacy for campers. There is a vault toilet in the center of the loop for campers to utilize.

Only located an hour from Fargo, ND and Pelican Rapids, MN is just a hop, skip and a jump away if you need to grab any forgotten supplies!

The one thing I will say is properly store your food. There are some overly active raccoon robbers around at this park.

Great Park for Everyone 

Several rangers directed us here so we stopped in before we left Minnesota. The ranger was very helpful and set us up with a quiet campsite. The drive in was a few miles but it gave a view of the variety of ecosystems in the park. 

Site 33 is by itself on the access road to a small non-electric loop. This meant no distraction for my dog and let the bird song entertain us. There is a very long walk to a restroom but water is close by. The site is large and has enough room for two cars. This is a great site as long as you don’t mind the walk. 

We tried out hiking along one of the trails. The grass was long and we quickly found ticks crawling up our leg. More trimming of the trails would make hiking more pleasant. There are trails for horses and mountain bikes. Another draw is the lake. Bring your boat or rent one. There is even a place to clean your catch. 

The sites in the main loop have little privacy. That, coupled with the hiking trails, made this a not so high recommendation. It would go over higher with fishermen.

Spread out over a large area, a horse and fishing spot. 

For our first time camping with a two year old and two dogs, the Knoll Loop campground at Maplewood State Park offered pleanty of privacy as well as access to some great hiking. Although our campground didn't have shower facilities, they were conveniently close at the next campground. We enjoyed the views while hiking along Beers Lake and eventually ventured over to South Lida for some swimming. I'm not sure if it was the whole lake or just that particular part but the water quality was surprisingly poor and it smelled a bit foul. Nonetheless, we had a great time and would recommend!

Secluded campsite surrounded by wonderful hiking trails!

Lots of maple tree's red,orange colors in fall.

Beautiful scenery 

Imaculate

Very clean. We were alone in mid September.

We visited the primitive camping. Electric available for RV.

This was such a great campground. The state park is absolutely gorgeous and the camp sites are no different. The sites with electrical hook up are less private, but it’s a family camping site so it’s very friendly. The sites without any hookups are more private and secluded, great for tent camping. There are lots of walking trails as some fishing spots as well. We absolutely loved it here and will definitely be back!

Great Location

Very nice and peaceful with the loons singing in the morning 

The campsites are reasonable and private. But if you're not in the main loop you'll be walking for half a mile round trip. 

Large and remote

The hiking club trail is awesome! Beautiful way to spend the day. 

💜MN 

This was the first MN state park we’ve been to in the “shoulder” season (weekday before Memorial Day) that was staffed and had boat rentals available. Very spacious sites; the best ones in the main campground (with electric) are along Grass Lake (7,8,15,16) but all would be decent sites. Well-marked hiking trails, however, if you take the figure 8 hike around Cataract and Grass Lakes, it IS longer than the two miles advertised! Clean restrooms and showers. Friendly and knowledgeable staff. The only warning (and we were warned upon arrival) is to watch for ticks. I found two on me.

Spacious sites

We stayed 7 nights really wish we had booked a few weeks. Our site was #16. We had electric hook up, fill with water near the dump station. Our site was big and private on Grass lake facing west so we saw great sunsets sitting in our site. Our bump out was facing the water when we backed in so sitting at the dinette in the camper we had a great view of the lake. Our table &amp; fire pit were behind the camper with a great view of the water &amp; sunset. The small birds were amazing, the sound of the Loons and an occasional muskrat will swim by.  Every morning we had a Chipmunk warm itself up on a tree behind the camper when the sun hit that spot. The big Maple trees everywhere is nice very lush campground. When the sun set we kicked up a bonfire and took it all in. 

There are several docks on grass lake and a big dock on Beers lake you can fish from. We launched the Kayak at the boat ramp on Beers lake it's a nice ramp and not busy. We didn't get on Lake Lida it's much bigger and lots of go fast boats we prefer no wake. The bigger fish are on Lida.   

There are 8 lakes in the park which 3 or 4 have easy water access to launch a canoe or Kayak. Each lake has different fish in it. Our favorite was Beers lake it had some calm coves in it, we caught some Crappies, pan fish &amp; Bass on this lake. They say it also has Walleye and Northern Pike. Lots of beavers &amp; muskrats swimming interesting to watch. There is a hike or boat in site on Beers lake it's nice. 

Grass lake has Pan fish, crappie, Northern Pike &amp; more it's a smaller lake. Bass lake has trout, imagine that!

There is a 5 mile drive in the parks around some lakes that was nice we saw Swans with babies, Loons, and beavers. We loved this park. There are so many trails and so much to do.

There is a fish cleaning station, restrooms, boat ramps, canoe rentals, a swim beach and picnic area tat Lake Lida just a great place. We will go back &amp; spend a few weeks next time were from Florida so it's a ways to go but will do it again. 

The ranger that would drive through in the evenings was very knowledgeable about the wildlife, the area &amp; 2 other parks he works at.  Someone had 2 campers in one site he told them it wasn't allowed (I think we all know that) he made one book a spot &amp; move. It was the only noise we heard was their dogs in that site when no one was there they barked the entire time. Glad he made the one camper move it got quiet again. We did have some people try to walk through our site we asked them not to. They had to walk between the camper &amp; the truck I would think it was common sense. 

There is an Equestrian campground there and trails around the lakes to ride your horses on, a few water access spots for them to wet their hoofs. 

There is a town close by Pelican Rapids, the drive there is nice and it's a small town but a nice grocery store (Larry's), Liquor store, a drug store a few gift shops &amp; good ice cream. 

I'm so happy we found this campground we will return.

Amazing park Big Waterview Site one of my favorites

Easily a contender for best hiking trails in the MN state parks state system. This western park offers miles of hiking with the North Country Trail weaving throughout. The fall colors were just starting but popped in the prairie.

Great Hiking

We only stayed overnight while traveling through, but this was a really nice spot. Not the most private sites but big enough. Families seemed to be having a lot of lake fun.

Lake fun

92,000 acres and a chill vibe. Sites at Knoll Campground are nicely spaced out. I can see the lake and hear loons calling. I only wish there were more swimming .

It is big and nice

Close to fargo and moorhead if you're looking for things to do in the area! Like the other state parks you can get firewood at the office and sites come with a fire ring and table. 

Nice park

We don’t have much of an experience, booked online an electric site that showed full shade and plenty of grass. Got there and no good place to pop up a roof top tent, all dirt, no electric. We had to leave and go get a hotel room

Knoll Loop

Sites are very spacious, but some are pretty slanted. Beautiful area, just wish the campsites were closer to the beach.

Overall good

For established camping, this park is lovely and spots are spacious. The place is bumpin’ with people but trees provide some sense of privacy but large, louder group was definitely in our vicinity—we couldn’t enjoy the birdsongs as we’d have liked (over 150 species can be found here). Staying at Grass Lake, we might have been able to launch our paddleboards from our site, but would have been a little tricky. Energy was better spent on keeping a fire tended with onslaught of unavoidable mosquitoes. Also, park doesn’t permit burning of found woods in the pits…

Spacious and buggy

Stayed at knoll loop. I enjoyed the privacy of these sites. Road in is a little rough. The showers are at the main campground with plenty of parking. I wouldn't walk that far for the showers. Great place to stay.

Photos of Grass Lake Campground — Maplewood State Park

Real photos from real campers