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Side Lake Campground — McCarthy Beach State Park

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CAMPER SUMMARY PRESENTED BYFord

Side Lake Campground, near Hibbing, Minnesota, is a fantastic spot for those who love the great outdoors. With its proximity to both Side Lake and Sturgeon Lake, you’ll find plenty of opportunities for kayaking, canoeing, and swimming right at your fingertips.

The campground is equipped with essential amenities like drinking water, electric hookups, and clean bathrooms, making your stay comfortable. Campers have praised the beautiful sites, with one visitor noting, “The site was lovely! I stayed at #48 and it was nice and level.” You’ll also find picnic tables and fire rings, perfect for evening gatherings around the campfire.

For those who enjoy hiking and biking, there are easy trails nearby, and the area is dog-friendly, so your furry friends can join in on the fun. The beach area is a highlight, with shallow waters ideal for kids and a great spot for relaxing or playing water games. As one camper put it, “Beautiful lakes, beach and campsites,” which sums up the charm of this location perfectly.

While the campground can get busy during peak season, especially with families enjoying the beach, the overall atmosphere remains friendly and welcoming. Whether you’re here for a weekend or a longer stay, Side Lake Campground offers a great mix of relaxation and adventure.

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Location

Side Lake Campground — McCarthy Beach State Park is located in Minnesota

Detail location of campground

Directions

From the town of Hibbing, take U.S. Highway 169 north to County Road 5, then 16 miles to the park.

Address

7622 Mccarthy Beach Rd
Side Lake, MN 55781

Coordinates

47.66859311 N
93.03180118 W

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Connectivity

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    T-Mobile5G
    Excellent Coverage
  • signal strength bars
    VerizonLTE
    Some Coverage
  • signal strength bars
    AT&TLTE
    Some Coverage

Detours Nearby

LOCAL FAVORITES PRESENTED BYToyota Trucks
Big Rice Lake

Big Rice Lake

48 min away

Clubhouse Lake

Clubhouse Lake

1 hr 14 min away

Drive Time

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Connectivity

Presented byT-Mobile SatelliteT-Mobile is introducing T-Satellite to extend coverage in the outdoorsLearn More
  • signal strength bars
    T-Mobile5G
    Excellent Coverage
  • signal strength bars
    VerizonLTE
    Some Coverage
  • signal strength bars
    AT&TLTE
    Some Coverage

Access

  • Drive-In
    Park next to your site
  • Walk-In
    Park in a lot, walk to your site.
  • Boat-In
    Sites accessible by watercraft.

Site Types

  • Tent Sites
  • RV Sites
  • Standard (Tent/RV)
  • Group
  • Equestrian

Features

For Campers

  • Market
  • ADA Access
  • Trash
  • Picnic Table
  • Firewood Available
  • Phone Service
  • Reservable
  • Showers
  • Drinking Water
  • Electric Hookups
  • Toilets
  • Alcohol
  • Pets
  • Fires

For Vehicles

  • Sanitary Dump
  • Water Hookups
  • Big Rig Friendly

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Reviews

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4.5

out of 5

12 Reviews

Reviewed Sep. 10, 2022

It’s “Loony”!

Nothing says Minnesota like the call of the Loon and that’s what greeted me upon arrival at my site! This site is lovely—water and easy to access to water sports on either Sturgeon or Side Lake. Some road noise but not too bad. I am imagine it’s much more hectic in the summer with the big beach across the road. Great for kids! Easy trails for walking and dog friendly. Can be buggy but that’s MN. For more rustic, head further up to Beatrice Lake Campground.

Site50 (non electric) private, next to trail,
Month of VisitSeptember
Reviewed Sep. 6, 2022

great state park

Beautiful spot, close to great mountian biking. great time of year

Site9e
Month of VisitSeptember
Reviewed Sep. 18, 2021

Lake views!

The site was lovely! I stayed at #48 and it was nice and level. The only bummer was that the camp office was closed when I arrived at 5pm so I couldn’t buy firewood.

The lakeside trail was very pretty!

Site48
Month of VisitSeptember
  • Review photo of Side Lake Campground — McCarthy Beach State Park by Lindsay N., September 18, 2021
  • Review photo of Side Lake Campground — McCarthy Beach State Park by Lindsay N., September 18, 2021
  • Review photo of Side Lake Campground — McCarthy Beach State Park by Lindsay N., September 18, 2021
  • (7) View All
Reviewed Aug. 28, 2019

Great Campground

We camped here in the fall and were the only people in the campground.  The office staff was very nice and we really enjoyed the fall colors in the park.  We didn't use the shower/bathroom facilities, but the outhouse worked just fine for our needs.

Reviewed Aug. 28, 2018

swimming beach was so nice!

the sand was so nice and the area was very well kept up! so many tables and spots to sit. They had 4 trails we didn’t get to go on but were well marked and the staff was very nice! I can’t wait to go back!

  • Review photo of Side Lake Campground — McCarthy Beach State Park by megan G., August 28, 2018
  • Review photo of Side Lake Campground — McCarthy Beach State Park by megan G., August 28, 2018
  • Review photo of Side Lake Campground — McCarthy Beach State Park by megan G., August 28, 2018
  • (4) View All
Reviewed Jul. 28, 2018

Off the beaten path at McCarthy Beach

This state park that may be well known to locals for its stellar beach and day-use picnic grounds, but seems to be off the beaten path and a well kept secret as a family camping destination.

I would give the beach area a five star rating, as the beach is on Sturgeon Lake which is incredibly beautiful (even on a cloudy weekend like when we were there), the beach is amazing with crystal clear water, shallow depths for kids and family swimming, great picnic spots all along the expansive shoreline, new beautiful bath house, and overall terrific accessibility for folks of all kinds, including families with young kids and folks with disabilities as there are great paved walkways and gentle access ramps everywhere. There is a public boat access onto the lake just south of the beach area on Sturgeon Lake, and also in the campground which is actually across the isthmus on adjacent Side Lake. It is worth camping here if you want a relaxing vacation with daily trips to the beach, or time out on the water of either lake for fishing and boating. There are canoe rentals avaialble if you dont have a craft of your own. There are also naturalist programs,and regular outdoor perfromances by local music ensembles too, so overall there is lots to do in a relaxing and fun outdoorsy location.

I am giving the campground itself just a 4 star rating for a couple reasons. First, there is currently a water issue--testing has found contamination in the campground wells, so there isnt potable water and you have to get drinking water from other locations in the area. The campground also seems a bit cramped, with most sites placed very close together, so you dont get a real quiet secluded experience. An exception are some of the sites at the end of the loop, such as campsite 30, where the neighbors arent so close. Also, the Group campsite, which is located in between the beach and the boat access on Sturgeon Lake, is probably the best camping option in the park, with its own indoor shelter and tent sites for groups up to 40--for your best camping experience here in the park, get a group together and go for the group site!

Site#30 in the main loop, or the Group campsite, are the two best options
Month of VisitJune
  • Review photo of Side Lake Campground — McCarthy Beach State Park by Janet R., July 28, 2018
  • Review photo of Side Lake Campground — McCarthy Beach State Park by Janet R., July 28, 2018
  • Review photo of Side Lake Campground — McCarthy Beach State Park by Janet R., July 28, 2018
  • (11) View All
Reviewed Jun. 28, 2018

Beautiful lakes, beach and campsites.

Located just outside Hibbing and Chisholm, this campground is on Side Lake and Sturgeon Lake. If it is too windy on one lake, just walk across to the other one. Beautiful beach, with modern beach house and nice picnic area. The lake is shallow for quite a ways out so it’s great for water games and younger swimmers, as well as those who just just love floating around. The group campsite is beautiful. We have been Camping there now for over 10 years and it is still one of our favorite spots. Love listening to the loons at night and enjoying a campfire among the tall trees of the campground. This is also the best place that I have seen the northern lights.

SiteGroup campsite
Month of VisitJune
Reviewed Sep. 15, 2017

Stupendous camping.

We really enjoyed this park. Electric loop was tight and some sites had minimal privacy. The non electric sites were much more private. All sites had nice shady trees. It's a very forested park. We really appreciated the new restroom facilities. 

We had easy water access for our kayak off the campground loop. And it was easy enough to carry the kayak across to the other lake to explore out there. The beach on the big lake was very nice, clean and there were easily accessible "ends" of the beach to have a dog. The sandbar was expansive! 

This was a great park for campers of all styles; very family friend - it was very busy with lots of kids. Trails can be reached from the campground but the hike to the trails would be a hike in itself for some. Trail heads seemed remote compared to other parks. 

There were temporary problems with the drinking water on the whole campground - couldn't brush teeth with sink water, and had to go to the dump station to fill up from the one safe water spigot, but it wasn't anything that would keep us from coming back.

Site6E
Month of VisitJuly
  • Review photo of Side Lake Campground — McCarthy Beach State Park by Camp S., September 15, 2017
  • Review photo of Side Lake Campground — McCarthy Beach State Park by Camp S., September 15, 2017
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  • (5) View All
Reviewed Jul. 6, 2017

Remote, scenic, relaxing

Situated by a lake and awesome regional trails, McCarthy Beach is a great weekend trip. Lots of great wildlife and the lake is beautiful to sit and chill by on any evening. I loved it - quiet campsites and peaceful region.

Month of VisitSeptember

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Side Lake Campground the same as McCarthy Beach State Park?

Yes, Side Lake Campground is part of McCarthy Beach State Park. The campground is located on Side Lake, which is one of two lakes within the park boundaries. The state park itself encompasses both Side Lake and Sturgeon Lake, providing campers with access to both bodies of water. McCarthy Beach State Park is the official state park name, while Side Lake Campground refers specifically to the camping area within the park.

What do reviews say about camping at McCarthy Beach State Park?

Campers consistently praise McCarthy Beach State Park for its beautiful forest setting and tranquil lake environment. The campground is known for quiet, shady sites with varying levels of privacy - electric sites are somewhat closer together while non-electric sites offer more seclusion. Many visitors enjoy the peaceful atmosphere, wildlife viewing opportunities, and the ability to hear loons calling across the water. The park is noted as a family-friendly destination with well-maintained facilities that feels like a hidden gem, particularly for those seeking a less crowded Minnesota camping experience.

How can I find a map of McCarthy Beach State Park campground?

Maps of McCarthy Beach State Park campground are available at the park office during operating hours. For advance planning, the official Minnesota DNR website provides downloadable maps showing campsite layouts, trail systems, and facilities. The park features clearly marked trails and camping areas, making navigation straightforward once on site. Contact the park directly or visit the Minnesota State Parks reservation system for the most current map resources and campground layout information.

What amenities and facilities are available at McCarthy Beach State Park campground?

McCarthy Beach State Park offers both electric and non-electric campsites nestled among shady trees. The campground features modern restroom facilities along with traditional outhouses. Water access is available for kayaks and boats, and the park maintains several well-marked hiking trails. A camp office provides services including firewood sales (though hours may vary). The campground connects to regional trails and offers picnic areas with tables. Sites are generally level and situated in a forested environment, providing a classic Minnesota northwoods camping experience.

What beaches are available for swimming near McCarthy Beach State Park?

McCarthy Beach State Park features an excellent sandy beach on Sturgeon Lake that's widely praised for its quality and cleanliness. The beach area includes a modern beach house and numerous picnic tables in a well-maintained day-use area. The lake is notably shallow for a considerable distance from shore, making it ideal for water games and family swimming. Additionally, the park provides access to Side Lake, giving visitors swimming options on two different lakes. If winds make one lake less suitable for swimming, visitors can simply cross to the other lake, providing versatile beach experiences within the same park.