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Mille Lacs Kathio Petaga Campground — Mille Lacs Kathio State Park

14 Reviews

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CAMPER SUMMARY PRESENTED BY

Mille Lacs Kathio Petaga Campground, near Onamia, Minnesota, is a welcoming destination for campers looking to enjoy the great outdoors year-round. With a mix of tent, RV, and cabin accommodations, it caters to a variety of camping styles, making it easy to find a spot that suits your needs.

The campground is known for its spacious sites, many of which offer a good degree of privacy thanks to the surrounding trees. Visitors often highlight the clean facilities, including well-maintained bathrooms and showers, which make for a comfortable stay. As one camper noted, “The sites were roomy and the paths to the overlooks on the Rum River were close as well.”

For those eager to explore, the park boasts beautiful hiking trails and rich historical significance, with archaeological sites that tell the story of human activity in the area for thousands of years. Just be prepared for the mosquitoes, especially in the summer months; they can be quite relentless.

Whether you're planning a quiet retreat or an adventurous getaway, Mille Lacs Kathio Petaga Campground has plenty to offer. With its natural beauty and convenient amenities, it’s a great base for enjoying the outdoors and discovering the history of the region.

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Location

Mille Lacs Kathio Petaga Campground — Mille Lacs Kathio State Park is located in Minnesota

Directions

Go to mile post marker #221 on US Hwy 169, about 8 miles north of Onamia. Watch for the Kathio Arrowhead sign and take County Road 26 for about a mile, to the park entrance.

Address

15066 Kathio State Park Rd
Onamia, MN 56359

Coordinates

46.1350003 N
93.76100027 W

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Detours Nearby

LOCAL FAVORITES PRESENTED BY

Red Rider Resort

30 min away

Snake River Campground

31 min away

Drive Time

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1 hr 11 min from St. Cloud
1 hr 30 min from Minneapolis
1 hr 51 min from Duluth
2 hrs 31 min from Mankato

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Access

Drive-In
Park next to your site
Walk-In
Park in a lot, walk to your site.
Hike-In
Backcountry sites.

Site Types

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

Features

For Campers

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

For Vehicles

Sanitary Dump
Pull-Through Sites
Big Rig Friendly

Contact

General Info

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Amy G.

Legend

Reviewed Dec. 17, 2024

Winter camping- very quiet with the electric hookups

This is one campground in Minnesota that offers a handful of electric hookups for winter camping. The beauty of this campground, is that while the campsites available are in a row, there's plenty of space between sites and some of them are even pulled through. Making it easy for RVs to pull in and hook up.

The vault toilet is not easy to find from where the electric openings are in the winter. While these spaces are right next door to a shower house with toilets, this is closed in the winter. The vault toilet is several rows over and down, making it hard to find if you don't already know where it is. But it was clean, and it was available.

The campfire rings seemed clean, and each had a picnic table as well. We loved the pull-through site because then we were a little more protected from the road, although it's not busy this time of year at all. So it was very quiet except for our neighbors, and they didn't make much noise at all.

There are trails nearby that are easily accessible on foot from the campground, and you can make loops that come back to the campground as well.

There are two campgrounds at this park, but this is the one that has availability in the winter time. Ironically, they also have a couple of walk-in spots that are also open this time of year. If you're willing to brave the temps without an electric hookup. Not hard to find, not hard to access, but no electric hookups at these sites.

Site43

Month of VisitDecember

vincent W.

Guide

Reviewed Jul. 15, 2024

nice Campground in Midsotta

Nice campground. We were dry camping in the RV since there was no water. Still a nice place for a winter getaway. Will go back in the fall!

Site43E

Month of VisitMarch

(5) View All

Teresa T.

Legend

Reviewed Jun. 2, 2024

Nice enough spots but not my kind of park.

I came in the spring it was a wet spring there were a lot of bugs. The trails are probably not maintained because it was so wet but they were almost impossible to hike on simply because of the amount of mosquitoes. The bathrooms are nice the camp spots were nice they had good signage for the archaeological stuff. It was just very hard to enjoy it because it was so overwhelmingly buggy.

Site31

Month of VisitJune

Ashley H.

Traveler

Reviewed Aug. 1, 2023

Beautiful Park

We stayed in one of the walk-in sites. It was great, not too too buggy. Mostly quiet. Hiking trails in the park are wonderful and there's a lot of history to discover within the park

SiteW64

Month of VisitJuly

(4) View All

Kristi P.

Guide

Reviewed Aug. 4, 2022

Do not recommend.

Got here just after 4pm. No one to check us in. Only place to fill with water is at the dump station( and it is really slow, got harrased by the Park Ranger about speeding our bicycles to fast through the campground, and lastly went to get firewood( you cant bring your own in and I understand that) there was no wood. And same ranger harrased son in law for chopping the wood he got into smaller pieces. And I have only been here 1 day.

Month of VisitAugust

sarah

Scout

Reviewed Jul. 10, 2021

Don’t camp by bathroom

We had 44E major mistake. There was way too much traffic and apparently it was the kids hang out spot. It would’ve been ok if we had kids under 12 with us but we didn’t. NO hot water off and on. Drive to a gas station was 6 miles. Firewood was always available but a 3 mile drive from campsite. Trees around fire pit needed to be cut back. Impossible to put tent stakes in gravel ground. Beautiful flowers everywhere.

Site44E

Month of VisitJuly

Kate T.

Guide

Reviewed Aug. 30, 2020

Great spot not too far from the Cities

Stayed in Petaga (drive in) spot #52. The spots were pretty private - the surrounding campsites were definitely visible through the trees, but there was plenty of distance so you weren't overhearing everyone's conversations or anything. The site was very roomy! It was a short walk to the bathrooms, water was nearby. The paths to the overlooks on the Rum River were close as well. The inner campsites are RV hookup sites, and the sound definitely carried when someone came later at night to set up their RV. We lucked out with great weather, and bugs were not bad (some mosquitoes but not overwhelming). Campsites have easy access to the trails that connect to the west interpretive center. Some things were closed due to COVID (including the fire tower), but bathrooms were open. No boat rentals right now either, but the river looked like a great, calm spot to kayak.

Daniel R.

Guide

Reviewed Jun. 28, 2020

Bear Camp

We loved this camp site. Very clean. The only downside depending on your view are the bears. There was a black bear in our camp 15 minutes after we went to sleep. Then the 2nd a little guy was hanging around our site all day. Other than that we loved it!

(5) View All

Liz H.

Guide

Reviewed Jun. 20, 2019

Beautiful State Park

This is a wonderful state park with parts along the shores of Mille Lacs. The park hosts various seminars throughout the week. There are several places to swim and a big playground for the little ones. Mosquitoes are thick here so come prepared.

Month of VisitJune

Brian C.

Guide

Reviewed May. 28, 2019

Large sites, beautiful location

Located just south of Mille Lacs in central Minnesota, Mille Lacs Kathio State Park is large and welcoming.

In addition to a state park and campground, the park is also on the nation register of historical sites, owing to the large number of archeological digs, revealing human activity in the area that dates back thousands of years.

The sites are large and spaced decently from each other. We could have used a little more privacy between sites, but this can be written off as an effect of being nearly in the season.

With the exception of a large family reunion, the park was quiet and you can easily find yourself alone from the crowds.

Canoes are available for rental, which allow for fishing in the Rum River. There is also an observation platform- the climb can be intimidating, but the views are well worth it!

I wasn’t able to find a spot to find a spot to fish from shore at, but that could just be my failure.

The Interpretive Center gave you a really good glimpse into the wildlife and history of the area, as well as provided an assortment of activities.

The facilities were a little time-worn, but clean, and the water in the showers heater fast.

My family and I had a wonderful time, and will be back!

(9) View All

Katie B.

Scout

Reviewed Jul. 18, 2018

great park

We have camped here a few times. Kathio is a big park with lots of trails. Camp sites are decent sized and most have trees in between them. some of the sites are bigger and more secluded. All sites except hike-ins have fire pit with grill grate and picnic table. mosquitos are extra brutal mid summer here so be prepared.

Emily G.

Guide

Reviewed Jul. 18, 2018

Flies and Mosquitos

We were really excited about our luck finding a practically empty state park in July for a Thursday impromptu camping trip. Before we even stopped the car the deer flies were pelting the windows. Hundreds. I wish I was exaggerating. My husband and I tried to ignore it because we really wanted to explore the tower, hiking, and educational experiences. We lasted 20 minutes which gave us both dozens of fly and mosquito bites. Visit in the spring or fall and it would be a beautiful place to explore.

Amy G.

Legend

Reviewed May. 12, 2017

Nice and peaceful

Lots of nearby trails that are very peaceful to walk on. Dogs are welcome here! The campground was quiet and clean. My husband was with me and he and buddies went hunting for game birds. Great hunting!! Would stay here again!

Amber S.

Guide

Reviewed Mar. 21, 2017

Great Cart-in Sites

This park is an easy drive from the Twin Cities and offers great cart-in sites. The sites are large and an easyl 1/4 mile walk with complete privacy.

The hiking here is alright nothing too exciting but pleasant.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between Petaga Campground and other camping areas in Mille Lacs Kathio State Park?

Petaga Campground features drive-in sites with more standard amenities like fire pits with grill grates and picnic tables. Sites at Petaga, such as #52, offer good privacy while still being accessible by vehicle. This campground provides a balance of convenience and natural setting, with bathrooms within walking distance. In contrast, the park also offers more remote walk-in sites that provide greater seclusion and a more immersive nature experience, and cart-in sites that are approximately a quarter-mile from parking areas, offering complete privacy. The different camping areas cater to various preferences for convenience versus wilderness experience.

What do visitor reviews say about Mille Lacs Kathio State Park?

Mille Lacs Kathio State Park receives praise for its spacious, private campsites with good separation between neighbors. Campers appreciate the extensive trail network, though trail conditions can vary seasonally. The park's historical significance with archaeological sites is noted as a unique feature. Wildlife sightings, including bears, add to the authentic outdoor experience. Visitors should prepare for intense mosquitoes and deer flies, especially mid-summer. The park offers family-friendly amenities including a playground and swimming areas. Some campers mention occasional issues with bathroom hot water and firewood availability, while others appreciate the clean facilities and peaceful atmosphere.

Are there good photo opportunities at Mille Lacs Kathio State Park?

Yes, Mille Lacs Kathio State Park offers numerous photography opportunities. The park features scenic trails through diverse landscapes and portions along the shores of Mille Lacs lake. Wildlife photography possibilities include deer and even black bears. The park's status on the national register of historical sites provides unique archaeological features to capture. Seasonal variations add photographic interest, from spring wildflowers to fall colors. The observation tower provides elevated vantage points for landscape photography. Morning and evening light in the wooded campsites creates beautiful natural lighting conditions for photographers.

Are there cabins available at Mille Lacs Kathio State Park?

Mille Lacs Kathio State Park primarily offers tent and RV camping rather than cabins. The park features drive-in sites, cart-in sites, and walk-in sites. Cart-in sites provide more privacy and are about a quarter-mile walk from parking areas. For those seeking alternative accommodations to tents, the park has RV-friendly sites, though hookup availability may vary seasonally. Contact the park directly for the most current information about any potential cabin or alternative shelter options that may have been added.

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