Best Tent Camping near Babbitt, MN

Recent Tent Reviews near Babbitt, Minnesota

580 Reviews of 32 Babbitt Campgrounds

• 

  Dana K.

  Guide

  

  Aug. 11, 2018

  Gooseberry Falls State Park Campground

  a must go to

  Tent camp sites not too close. The view of Lake Superior was stunning. If you want to get to the Lake it is a hike down and then only a view and not up close. The hike to the falls was a short walk with fantastic views. The North Shore has so many places to visit.

• 

  Dana K.

  Guide

  

  Aug. 11, 2018

  Bear Head Lake State Park Campground

  nice sites for tent camping

  Quiet campground with a short walk to the lake. RV and tent camping had separate areas. Restrooms and showers were clean. Close to Ely.

• T

  Tom D.

  Traveler

  

  Jul. 14, 2021

  Lamb's Resort

  Awesome place

  Have stayed here many times, love it!
  Great tent sites right on Lake Superior.

  Hardly any bears :)

• 

  Ellen F.

  Guide

  

  Sep. 18, 2016

  Lake Jeanette Campground & Backcountry Sites

  Secluded and Wonderful!

  Camped here in early July and had no issues getting a secluded tent site. Beautiful area with sort walks throughout the campground and down to the lake.

• M

  MARY K.

  Ranger

  

  Sep. 7, 2021

  Split Rock Lighthouse State Park Campground

  Iconic views of Split Rock Lighthouse

  We camped in a cart-in site, with privacy and a beautiful view of Lake Superior. It is a splendid place for tent camping.

  The MN Historical Society runs the tours and manages a visitor center for the lighthouse. Go up in the lighthouse and look around the lighthouse keepers home from a hundred years ago.

• L

  Lindsay N.

  Guide

  

  Aug. 17, 2021

  Sherwood Forest Campground

  Lovely staff and nice grounds

  I got a tent site (E5) for a one night stay. The check in process was quick and seamless and the site was nice. I was sleeping on a bit of an incline, and there wasn’t a truly flat spot, but I made due. There was one tent in the spot next to me, but was far enough away to not be noisy.

• H

  Heidi T.

  Scout

  

  Aug. 29, 2018

  Mesaba Cooperative Park

  Historic Finnish Co-op Park with beautiful grounds, lake, and camping

  The park has a beautiful private lake with swimming beach, a few cabins available for rental, plenty of space for tent camping. A large pavilion with dancehall above and kitchen/dining on the lower level. There are memberships available to the park with sponsorship by a current member. There are fun events held at the park including a midsummer festival.

  Check their website for scheduled events to come in and check out the park.

• T

  Tom

  Ranger

  

  Oct. 6, 2023

  Lamb's Resort

  Well maintained campgrounds

  Nice clean bathroom and great showers that have an extra DRY SPACE and a chair to change into fresh dry clothes.

  Campground is well maintained, sites in the woods are spaced apart. Sites closer to Lake Superior are tight, some are VERY SHORT and tent sites only.

  Good electric power and water at the site we were at.

  Two nice beaches and a river at the campground. Very beautiful sunrise’s over the lake!

  Fall camping will be cool beside the lake so bring warm clothes.

  Close to MANY Minnesota State Parks and super good hiking trails.

  Site 8 with no electricity or water and is great site with super views of the lake.

• 

  Becky F.

  Guide

  

  Jul. 20, 2020

  Whiteface Reservoir

  Whiteface Reservoir

  My husband and I camped here over the 4th of July weekend with our entire family. We loved the campsites as the sites where spacious and seemed more secluded with all the trees. We loved how wooded the sites where as it felt more like camping and provided more privacy. The campground was pretty and very well kept. The sites vary in size so I would recommend driving around the loops to check them out to see which one would fit your best camping needs for your RV/Tents. We always do this as we like to know which sites to get the next time we camp here. We got the last two first come first serve non electric sites as it was over the 4th of July so we actually got lucky to get a site at all. We used generators as it was almost 100 out the entire week we camped. The campground asks for generators to be turned off I believe between 10-10:30pm.

  We spent most of our time at the beach and in the lake as swimming was a must this week due to it being so hot out. We brought our lily pad to use out on the water which was a big hit for everyone in our group.

  The tent sites where amazing they were full of trees for more of feel of actual roughing it camping. The best part of this campground is the tent site area has their own beach area which was amazing for all the kids in our group. The hosts were very informational and even delivered ice and firewood if you needed more! This was a huge perk as this campground has so many loops and our group camped in RV sites and Tent Sites.

  The beach area was very clean and boat launch was nice. Very friendly hosts as each loop has hosts assigned which was convenient.  The lake is huge just had to be careful as this was our first time at this lake and since the water levels where down the sand bars were more noticeable then usual as locals stated.  We plan on coming back to this campground it was very clean and well kept.

• 

  Scott M.

  Legend

  

  Jul. 13, 2020

  Burlington Bay Campground

  Not Private, but beautiful setting

  The campground is located in a very nice small town and the water sites are amazing for sunrise. The campground has all the amenities you need; Full hookups, water, dump station, fire rings, and picnic tables. Tent sites were the most numerous, but there were several RVs. We saw everything from big RVs to motorcycles here. Things were clean but it was a super packed when we were there. You can't sit outside without getting to know your neighbors inner secrets! 

  The view and access to water is what would bring us back.

• 

  Kelly E.

  Traveler

  

  May. 30, 2021

  Harriet Lake Rustic Campground

  Memorial weekend getaway

  My sister and I spent two nights tent camping here at a site right on the water. We arrived around noon on Friday of memorial day weekend when about half of the sites were filled. Plenty of options depending on the size of your party and rigs. Lots of other lakes to explore in this area. Our favorite parts were the ample space between each site and that it was free. Plenty of room for dogs and kiddos to run around. We only wish we brought a canoe to take out on the lake for more exploring. It’s about 30 minutes from Finland off hwy 1.

• 

  Carrie C.

  Guide

  

  May. 18, 2021

  Silver Rapids Lodge

  Ely, Mn

  We stayed here last June with our large family. My bf and I stayed 2 nights in a cabin and tent camped 2 nights on a camp site. This area has great access to many lakes including the BWCA along with being close to Ely for anything you may have forgotten. Silver Rapids Lodge itself has a bar/restaurant right by campground along with many other amenities. Many cabins to choose from from 4-6 ppl all the way up to a 24 person cabin!! Good fishing and lots of areas to do so without a boat, if you don’t have a boat and would like to rent one SRL offers boat rentals. Small swimming area and play place for kids. Pet friendly, clean, and nice hosts.

• 

  Tara M.

  Traveler

  

  Jul. 7, 2019

  Lake Vermillion - Soudan Mine State Park Campsites — Lake Vermilion-Soudan Underground Mine State Park

  New campground but a few missing pieces

  We stayed at site 312E, pull through site which made it convenient with the boat. We tent camp and it had a nice flat grassy spot for the tent with ample room for the screened in shelter. (+’s)

  1. New campground - bathrooms were nice and everything was freshly paved
  2. Not that many sites which mean overall traffic was low
  3. Boat ramp was within park
  4. Soudan mine tours were awesome
  5. Within reasonable driving distance to Ely which has the wolf center, shopping, etc
  6. It has WiFi!!! This was huge for the kids - devices were ON

  (-‘s)

  1. No view of the lake
  2. No beach
  3. Garbage was 3/4s of a mile away - made taking the trash out a pain
  4. No playground

  We didn’t do any biking but should bring the bikes next time as the paths look good.

  I see this campground more for RV and non-kid groups.

• 

  Janet R.

  Legend

  

  Sep. 28, 2021

  HooDoo Point Campground

  Good campground for fishermen

  This is a campground with good access to Lake Vermilion and excellent fishing, so that would be a main draw. This is a private campground and has some sites reserved for seasonal RV camping, and other sites avaialble for short term RV or tent camping. Many of the RV sites are open and close together, but there is also a loop set back in the woods that has shady campsites both on or off the lake which are pretty nice. The facilities seem a bit worn over all, but there is a basic camp office with some supplies, great docks for boats, a new playground for kids, and a nice picnic shelter.  I think the man draw here is access to fishing, but you could easily get to Lake Vermilion State Park and the Mesabi Bike Trail which arent far away.

• 

  Janet R.

  Legend

  

  Apr. 14, 2019

  Burlington Bay Campground

  Adequate for staying in Two Harbors

  If your objective is a daytrip or weekend trip to Two Harbors without dropping a lot of money for lodging, this is an adequate campground. There is a good new bathhouse facility, and the location of the campground is primo for exploring the Two Harbors area. However, the campsites are small, jampacked together, and open without trees. RVers will find the anrnities they need, but even for them I think they might find it a bit crowded. Not good for tent campers, no privacy, a lot of noise, and hard tent sites. Car camping might not be so bad if you really want to be in the Two Harbors area. Campground closes mid October to mid May.

  Note--the website link in the listing above doesnt seem to work, the correct website address is http://www.twoharborsmn.gov/city_departments/burlington_bay_campground/index.php

• 

  Jessica M.

  Traveler

  

  Jul. 7, 2018

  Burlington Bay Campground

  Nice for a couple days

  This campground is busy but not overcrowded. Their tent sites for the most part are open but large enough to feel like you have some privacy and space. The campground is right on Lake Superior with an easy walk to the beach. Nice playground. The bathrooms are clean though definitely older. The handicap accessible bathroom is still up a slight incline. Also it is only a permanent outhouse-there are no lights, no sinks or even hand sanitizer in it so that was disappointing. Employees were nice-however when calling to make a reservation it went right to voicemail I left a message and never got a call back…we decided to just stop and see if they had vacancies and they did. Overall we would definitely stay there again.

• T

  Tim

  Guide

  

  May. 19, 2021

  Burlington Bay Campground

  Great Views and Kid friendly

  Burlington Bay Campground was clean. The shower house by the playground was clean and new. The playground seemed fairly new and the kids loved playing on it. Walking on the beach lead to a nice City trail. The kids loved climbing all over the rock formations and finding new rocks. 

  The sites are close together and small. We tent camped and the ground was super hard. I am glad I had my MSR Groundhog stakes since my other stakes would not have worked. My MSR Groundhog stakes took a beating getting them into the ground. 

  The water from the site was good. Firewood at the campground is$6.00 a bundle and it is not well aged so it is a little hard to get going. The shop on site is nice and they stock quality items. 

  I would stay there again, but in the off-season so the campground is not full of people.

• 

  Scott M.

  Legend

  

  Jul. 18, 2020

  Burlington Bay Campground

  Big Rig Paradise

  This campground is adjacent to the Burlington Bay Campground. It has 3 rows of 11 sites meant for full hookup and big rigs. They are terraced so sites 24-34 are on the top while 1-12 are closest to the water and on the bottom of the hill.

  This is specifically meant for big rigs. No shade and no privacy unless you are inside. What they do offer is great facilities and an amazing view! There is also a community feel here where everyone most likely talks to each other and knows each other by the end of their stay. At the bottom of the hill is the waterfront. You can do a lot from here.

  You can rent for $45.00 per night or $276.00 per week. Sites are packed graves so they are level and easy in and out with your rig. Wouldn’t want to tent camp here. They have a nice shower house and dump stations as would be needed for big rigs. It is newer than the additional campground and still close to Lake Superior.

• 

  Janet R.

  Legend

  

  Jul. 7, 2018

  Bear Head Lake State Park Campground

  Edge of the wilderness experience

  Bear Head Lake is an established, full service state park that has something for everyone. There are a variety of camping opportunities, from camper cabins to guesthouse to tent campsites with lake access to RV sites. Though you have to hike to the beach, the beach is really lovely and has boat rental. There is an extensive network of trails for both hiking and cross country skiing, with a really great indoor Trail Center that serves as winter warming house, indoor meeting place for rainy days, and classroom for park naturalist events. The lake is great for boating, fishing and paddling. though part of the lake shore is privately owned, the lake is quiet and peaceful overall, nestled in tall pines with easy access to the town of Ely if desired. The vicinity is known for bears and is part of a long term bear research study; visit the American Bear Center nearby if interested! https://www.bear.org/website/

• 

  Jill G.

  Traveler

  

  Aug. 13, 2023

  Lake Jeanette Campground & Backcountry Sites

  Beautiful lake view right from our tent.

  This is a small campground but so beautiful. We stayed at site 7. It consisted of "two areas" which was super cool. The "lower level" was where we parked with a decent driveway. It also had the picnic table and fire pit with a gravel area for a tent pad. The "upper area" was up a small hill and there was the amazing view overlooking Jeanette lake. There was a huge rock outcropping overlooking the lake and an area for our 8 woman tent. We had views of the lake from bed. So beautiful! The mosquitoes weren't too bad except right at dusk. The vault toilets were not the best and the sites were rather close but with the right site you wouldn't even know it. Sites 6 and 7 both have the "two areas" with more secluded areas you could tent. Site 5, 6, 8, 9, and 10 all have some level of water access. The people at sites 8 and 9 had kayaks/canoes pulled right into their site. Site 7 has the best overview of the lake but no direct water access. The best part...the loons and ducks at dusk and dawn. One of my favorite things.

• 

  Roger W.

  Legend

  

  Aug. 18, 2023

  Fenske Lake Campground

  Drive through a nice campground

  Fenske Lake Campground, MN: (Scale 1- bad, 5-Very good (70 yr olds in 17’ trailer) Overall Rating: 4 - Great place for a canoe trip, I am told. Also access close by to the boundary waters Price 2023: $10 / night w lifetime senior pass. Usage during visit: During mid week it was pretty busy. Site Privacy: pretty nice Site Spacing: pretty nice Site surface: Gravel Reservations: Yes Campground Noise: Quiet Road Noise: There may be occasional road noise in the few sites closer to the entry.
  Through Traffic in campground: None Electric Hookup: No Sewer Hookup: No Dump Station: No Potable Water Available: Yes Generators: Allowed Bathroom: Pit Toilets Showers: No Pull Throughs: There are ‘some pullovers’, no separation from cg road. Those in use only had a van or used as tent sites Cell Service (AT&T). We didn’t check at the campground. But, down the road we accessed via a new AT&T tower.
  Setting: In the woods Weather: 70’s with a storm in the forecast Bugs: Mosquitoes are moderate. Solar: Not great for fixed panels Rig size: Some sites take large rigs. Check rec.gov for each site before making your reservation. Sites:

• 

  Steff

  Traveler

  

  Aug. 25, 2020

  Bear Head Lake State Park Campground

  Family Friendly

  The sites weren’t particularly large, the singular available vault toilet for the tenting sites was usually in disarray and the general noise level was surprising....but even with all of these unexpected speed bumps the trip was great!

  Everyone was super friendly and I appreciated being able to have my 3-legged companion along for the adventure. Sites were clearly marked and easy to find, along with trails to the beach area. Lots of families with children, so if you’re looking for a place to bring your littles, this should be on your list.

• 

  Nancy W.

  Legend

  

  Oct. 15, 2017

  Burlington Bay Campground

  Nice Water Views

  We spent three nights in this campground because we wanted to visit the town of Two Harbors and visit some of the nearby state parks that are known for their waterfalls. The park has 136 sites with various water, electric, and sewer hook-ups options. In addition, there are 10 primitive tent sites. The price fluctuates depending on what utilities you have and if you are on the “lakeside” or not or in the new “expansion” section. It is nice to have these pricing options if you are on a camping budget and don’t want to pay $38/night for a site but still want to stay here. Be aware that the price is based on parties of a maximum of four and one vehicle per site (with children under 12 staying for free) so the cost may go up depending on how many are in your party.

  The newest section (sites 1B - 34B) has three tiered rows that have nice views of the lake but no shade for trees and there is no bathroom in this section. The tent sites are in a very undesirable location right as you enter the park which is very open so you are on display. And, because they are located near a busy road it is much nosier.

  We stayed in site 82 and had trouble getting the RV level but loved that we backed up to the lake and had a nice campfire with great view. The sites along the lake are tighter than some others with just a grassy strip between you and your neighbor. But, the view is great. The bathhouse nearest our campsite was super old with cinder block walls and concrete floors and not very appealing.

  While the park offers Wifi it was not very good and we just used our Verizon hotspot. Wood and ice are sold at the park but you are just a few miles from town and a large grocery if you need supplies. One of the best features of this park is being on the lake with access. There is a path leading from the campground to a beach where you can hang out or launch canoes/kayaks. We also loved that there was a trail (the Sonju Trail) accessible from the campground which led to a lighthouse and view of the harbor where you could watch the large Great Lakes freighters fill with iron ore.

  Adjacent to the park is the Chamber of Commerce where we talked to a very knowledgeable and guy who gave us lots of information and recommendations on what to do in Two Harbors and the surrounding area. He was such a wealth of information and after talking to him we wished we had more time in the area to do all that he recommended. Gooseberry Falls and Split Rock State Parks are close by and definitely worth a visit. Another place you may want to visit is Betty’s Pie Shop.

• 

  Janet R.

  Legend

  

  Sep. 28, 2021

  Wakemup Bay — Kabetogama State Forest

  Off the beaten path and great for fishermen

  This is a small state forest campground on a small bay of the larger Vermilion Lake.  There is a nice beach, group picnic shelter, docks, and an adjacent public boat landing. For folks who are looking for a quiet place to stay while on a fishing trip at Vermilion, this wold be a good location, though more rustic than a state park. There are 5 fairly open sites close to the shelter and beach where RV's and trailers could easily park, but there are no hook-ups so be prepared. There is drinking water available in several locations throughout the campground, though this is shut off by mid September. There are  latrine toilets, and garbage collection.  There are also a group of 5 tent sites located close together that would work well as a group camp area, also cloe to the beach and docks. Further back in the woods, however, at sites 12-19, there  are larger more private sites spaced much further apart and set beautifully in among shady woods. Further along the campground loop road goes up a hill with more quiet sites, and two REALLY  exceptional hike-in sites at #20 and 21.  Site # 20 is a true gem, beautiful tall pines, picnic table, fire ring and tent pad in a very secluded setting but still just a short hike from where you park your car. There is a path down the hill to the beach and dock area. Really a primo campsite if you can get it, though all the sites are First Come-First Served and not reserveable.

• 

  Janet R.

  Legend

  

  May. 24, 2018

  Meander Lake

  Backcountry campsites at Meander Lake

  This campsite location is perfect for a weekend backcountry camping experience along the Echo Trail north and west of Ely. It would also be a good place to spend the night before launching off onto a BWCA river trip on the Indian Sioux River or the Moose River, both of which have entry points nearby. The Forest Service refers to the three campsites here as "backcountry sites," meaning they are rustic and dont have the amenities of Forest Service group campgrounds like Jeanette Lake and Fenske Lake further along the Echo Trail, but also have the advantage of being a bit less primitive and a bit more accessible than canoe-in only sites within the BWCA. There is no permit required nor campground registration needed, so staying here is on a first come first served basis. be advised though, that the sites provide only a fire grill, picnic table, and tent site, and are a pretty good hike in from the parking area, from which you will have to carry all your gear. However, it is worth the effort as you will likely be the only one, or one of few campers, at the lake, which is pristine and beautiful. A disastrous forest fire swept the north and west sides of the lake in 1970, followed by major wind storms and tree loss in the late 1980's and early 1900's, however the forest has slowly and surely recovered and the shores are beautiful once again.

• 

  Sean C.

  Scout

  

  Jun. 21, 2016

  Ninemile Lake Campground

  Awesome place to camp!

  Ninemile Lake Campground seems to be the gem that no one knows about. I've stayed there multiple times and it has remained my favorite campground. The campground is located in the Superior National Forest along County Road 7 North of Finland, Minnesota. There are 20+ campsites available, with about half with direct lake access. Drinking water is available from the east side of the campground. There is also a landing for boats to be put into the lake and taken out. The campsites near the lake are gorgeous and offer a nice view of the lake. All of the campsites are perfect for tent camping, and all should fit RV's. The campsites may look small at first, but once you enter them you will find that many have passageways that lead to a clearing. Each site has the standard picnic table and fire ring. There is firewood for sale, and boat, kayak, and canoe rentals available.

  The lake is beautiful, but not very exciting to swim in because it is quite muddy. There are 3 islands on the lake which I like to explore after a short kayak ride. One of the islands has some large boulders that offer a nice view of the sunset. Ninemile Lake got it's name because it is nine miles away from Lake superior! The fishing was decent, but the long winter a couple of years ago killed off many of the fish. I believe it was recently restocked.
  Ninemile Lake is within driving distance of the Superior Hiking Trail as well as many other trails. There is a hiking trail about a mile long just across the road from the campsite entrance, which also crosses a four wheeling trail.
  I found plenty of things to do while staying at Ninemile Lake Campground, and I would recommend it to all types of people who appreciate the outdoors.

• 

  GoWhereYouAreDraw N.

  Legend

  

  Sep. 26, 2018

  Bear Head Lake State Park Campground

  Secluded in the Northwoods

  Bear Head Lake State Park is just south of the Boundary Waters, and shares a comparable wilderness element.  The shoreline is beautiful and very fun to explore by kayak.

  Campground features: Cabin rentals, tent sites, and RV sites.  The campground is open in fall & winter. The campsites are private, well shaded, and level. Each campsite has a picnic table and fire pit. Flush toilets, hot showers, dump station, group sites, and electric are also available.

  Hiking at Bear Head Lake State Park

  • Bear Head Lake State Park Trail is a moderate 3.2 mile trail. This hike is a loop route. Dogs are allowed but only on leash.
  • Norberg Lake Trail is a easy 1.5 mile trail. It is a trail for all skill levels and dogs are allowed but only on leash. Mostly wooded.
  • Blueberry Lake Trail is a easy 4.5 mile trail. Longer than the other listed trails. It is an out and back hike that is mostly wooded. Dogs are allowed on leash.
  • Becky Lake Trail is a easy 2.7 mile hike. Beck Lake is a loop hike that is mostly wooded. Dogs are allowed on leash.

  Fishing at Bear Head State Park

  Bass, northerns, walleye, panfish, and trout can be caught at this State Park. Many people fish from the fishing dock or shoreline. Panfish are all over the lake and most likely the first ones biting. Good walleye fishing after 6pm.

  Other activities:

  Boat rentals, cross country ski trail (groomed), snowshoe trails, and snowmobile trails.