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Best Tent Camping near Bay Lake, MN

282 Reviews

State parks and public lands surrounding Bay Lake, Minnesota provide numerous tent camping options for outdoor enthusiasts. Mille Lacs Kathio State Park offers the Ogechie Campground with tent-only sites and the more secluded Sunset Meadow backpack campsite for those seeking primitive tent camping experiences. Along the Mississippi River, Crow Wing State Park features a dedicated Canoe Landing Campsite that accommodates tent campers arriving by water, foot, or vehicle. Overlook Park Canoe Campsite in Baxter provides tent-specific sites with river access, while Baxter Canoe Camp offers boat-in tent camping along the Mississippi water trail.

Most tent campsites in the Bay Lake region feature basic amenities including fire rings and picnic tables, with varying levels of additional facilities. Vault toilets are common at established sites, though drinking water is limited to certain locations like Crow Wing State Park. Tent pads range from level, cleared dirt areas to grassy spots with minimal grading. Spring and fall camping is often preferred due to intense mosquito activity during summer months. Campers should prepare for wildlife encounters, including mice at Ogechie Campground and occasional bear activity near waterfront sites. Permits are required for camping at state parks, with fees typically around $22 per night.

Tent campers frequently use these sites as bases for hiking, paddling, and wildlife observation. According to reviews, Overlook Park offers "a specific spot right on the river with a picnic table, fire ring, and nice high ground soft space for a tent" that feels remote despite its proximity to town. At Baxter Canoe Camp, visitors noted level tent pads "flat as a pancake and right on the river" with ample space for hammocks between trees. Walk-in tent sites at Ogechie Campground provide greater seclusion, with one camper reporting they "chose one of the dispersed sites so had to walk aways but worth it" for the privacy. The region's backcountry tent camping options are particularly appealing in early fall when temperatures moderate and insect populations decline.

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Best Tent Sites Near Bay Lake, Minnesota (26)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Bay Lake, MN

6 Photos of 26 Bay Lake Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Bay Lake, MN

282 Reviews of 26 Bay Lake Campgrounds

  • Amy G.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 8, 2018

    Father Hennepin State Park Campground

    Ranger Review of Alki Twilight Thermal Mattress Topper at Father Hennepin State Park, MN

    I've been to campgrounds in MN and other places that were nicer, but there isn't anything wrong with this campground at all. And at this time of year, the ice on the lake was breaking up, so it made for a beautiful sunset! Since it is still that time of year when it's warm during the day and cool at night, it was the perfect chance to test out the Twilight Thermal Mattress Topper by Alki while staying at Father Hennepin State Park in MN.

    CAMPGROUND REVIEW:

    We've been to this campground before, but not during this season or time of year. The campground is nice, but not terribly fancy. What it does have going for it is that it's a decent bit off the road, so there isn't much road noise. And although all the sites are fairly close together, there are tons of trees that (if it were summer) offer a buffer between them. It's possible to car camp at these sites or tent camp. They also have RV sites. Unfortunately, the RV sites are pretty close to the others, so if there are parties going on or radios playing, everyone can hear them, but that is to be expected at a campground where sites are close together. It wasn't terribly bothersome, though, and the scenery outweighed the mild disturbance.

    They do have showers and flush toilets (during warmer seasons) and vault toilets the rest of the time. There is also a dump station for RVs.

    Many of the sites are lakeside, for no additional cost. Benches dot the lakeside, and you get a gorgeous site of the sunset from here. There is also a paved path that runs near the water, so it's a pretty stroll late in the eve. This leads to a floating dock (not floating this time of year, though, because of the ice). Pretty space to chill and take in the breeze.

    PRODUCT REVIEW:

    As a Ranger for They Dyrt, I have the amazing opportunity to review incredible products in exchange for an honest review. This time, I received a Twilight Thermal Mattress Topper by Alki in a queen size. This is the first time I've ever tried something like this, so when I found it on Kickstarter, I was intrigued. The idea of a thermal layer built into a quilt-like blanket (think about the silver reflective stuff that everyone who camps talks about). But this isn't your typical mylar-type foil sheet. It's quiet. It's soft. It makes absolutely no noise at all. Now, this isn't something you are going to put in a backpack because it's big and it's not going to fit the bill of the ultralight hiker, but that's not what it's meant for. I emailed with the owners of the company and they intended it to be an addition to a car camping excursion or used on a bed as extra insurance from the night air. So I was intrigued. We are getting a teardrop trailer soon and I thought it might be a great way to stay warm without adding a heater to the mix.

    The owners, Saul and Carolyn, have created this super soft blanket-type mattress topper that can be used several ways. You can put it on the mattress directly and sleep on top of it. You can use it as a blanket, you could wrap up in it and make a mock sleeping bag. It's a microsuede type of fabric on top and feels amazing, but has a brushed polyester bottom that helps to keep it from slipping off your pad. I'm a cold sleeper, so I really wanted to give it a good test. Normally, I use a sleeping pad with an R Value of 4.4 or better so that I don't chill out in the night. This time, I decided to use a pad with an R Value of 1.9 (thank you to my husband for sacrificing his pad). Normally, I'd be frozen from the backside, even in temps that are in the 40's. So I put down my pad in the van, laid the topper over the pad, and then my bag on top of that. And then I was off to la-la land.

    The verdict…a toasty back side. It was truly wonderful to sleep in cooler weather without the typical CBS (cold butt syndrome) that campers talk about. Normally, with a pad that was only 1.9, I'd be frozen from the pad side. And that means tossing and turning all night to figure out how to stay warm. But I didn't have any cold spots from the pad side while sleeping on this topper. I just wish I'd thought to wrap it over my bag as well to insulate from the top as well. Then, I would have had the perfect night of sleep! It reflects back your own body heat to help keep you toasty.

    PROS:

    1. Super soft fabric! It has a great feel against your skin.
    2. No noise! Even though it has similar thermal properties as the crinkly mylar-type blankets, this is absolutely not the same. It feels just like a blanket.
    3. It works! Coming from me (a cold sleeper), I feel like this would be a great addition to your camping arsenal so that you can have a better night of sleep without needing a ton of expensive gear to stay warm.
    4. Machine washable!

    There really isn't anything negative to say about this blanket. Now, it does weigh more than a regular thermal blanket (queen is 4.5 pounds, and twin is 3 pounds), but they don't advertise it as ultra light or for backpacking. Carolyn said that it was designed with car camping in mind, as mentioned before. That said, it works beautifully for that purpose! It would be lovely if they'd consider making a skinny version that would fit in a hammock or under a sleeping bag/pad. As a cold sleeper, I'd seriously consider adding it to my cold weather backpack supplies, even if it meant an extra pound of weight.

    Bottom line, if you want to enjoy a good night sleep in the chilly night air while car camping with your family or friends, take this topper for a spin. It's perfect under a sleeping bag, over a sleeping bag or to snuggle while watching the autumn sunset.

  • Tori K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Feb. 9, 2025

    Dower Lake Recreation Area

    Swimming!

    offers sites with no hookups and sites with electric (no water, but potable water station is provided to fill up prior to parking) bathrooms and showers in the campground. Fire ring and picnic table provide for each site. Firewood and sewage dump station also provided for free to registered campers. There is a dock, sand swimming beach, horseshoe pits, disc golf, basketball court, and softball field.

  • Amy G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Dec. 17, 2024

    Mille Lacs Kathio Petaga Campground — Mille Lacs Kathio State Park

    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.

  • ERolf P.
    Sep. 23, 2016

    Charles A. Lindbergh State Park Campground

    Canoe Camp

    This is one of the most beautiful campsites we have stayed at in the midwest. The canoe campsite (also accessible through cart-in) is located on a small creek just off of the Mississippi river. There is a fire ring, picnic table, and ample tent space. There is about a 500yd walk to the restrooms, and you have to go another 500yds to the main campground to find the showers. We camped in mid-September, and the water to the main campground had already been turned off for the winter, so no shower review. The bathrooms near the cart-in sites were well maintained and clean, flush toilets. There was drinking water access near the old WPA water tower (but the water came from the city, not the well and water tower). We had some rain, but the sandy soil mean things drained quickly and were nearly dry in the morning. Lots of neat hiking trails within this small park, and a Minnesota Historical Society Site across the road at the Charles A. Lindbergh historic site (his boyhood home).

  • HollyRose M.
    Dec. 14, 2020

    Overlook Park Canoe Campsite

    Watercraft Site on the Mississippi - Spacious & Maintained!

    This hidden gem is on the Mississippi water trail around mile 996. It is called "Overlook Park" and owned/maintained by the city of Baxter, but is part of the DNR's state water trail. There is even signage for those on the river to inform them about their whereabouts on the trail when they pass this park. 

    So although this is a little private city park, there is a specific spot RIGHT on the river with a picnic table, fire ring, and nice high ground soft space for a tent. But really you could tent it anywhere in the park, but this space is set aside a bit from the rest, as it is a city park although very little traffic. There is garbage and a vaulted toilet. There are three picnic tables throughout including the tent site, and two fire rings. There is a nice canoe landing area with a few stairs to help give access up and down from the river bank. Very pretty spot on the river! The opposite land bordering this city park is part of Crow Wing State Park, so even though it's close to town, it does feel fairly remote. 

    Such a well maintained park! Pretty views and some rugged trails along the river for some hiking as well.

  • Makayla B.
    Oct. 7, 2020

    True North Basecamp

    Lake cabins and tent sites

    I've stayed in both the cabins and the camping area. The cabins are my favorite because of the lake views, proximity to the bathhouse, and heat/AC units. Cabin #5 has the best unobstructed views of the lake. Cabins have WiFi. The campground is nice but only has a primitive toilet adjacent to the campsites. There are no electric or sewer hookups, but there are a couple of tent sites than can accommodate small campers. I camped in site #18 and it either isn't very level or I just did a poor job of setting up my tent because we were slanted all night. Great stargazing at both the cabins and the tent sites. 

    Check-in information is shared via email (key codes for the bathhouse and the cabin locks). The emails are very informative and the owners have been prompt to reply when I had questions. They even offer up the option to have firewood delivered to your site (either cabin or tent site) before you arrive.

    This is my favorite place to stay in Crosby because it's so close to both the Rally Center Trailhead and Crosby. My favorite places in town are Red Raven (great coffee shop with good breakfast and lunch food options), Crosby Pub (wide variety of food - burgers, salads, appetizers), Rafferty's Pizza (pizza and beer plus a couple of arcade games in the back), and Iron Range Eatery (a little fancier than Crosby Pub (but not by much) and offers great food as well). All of these restaurants offer outdoor seating.

  • Laura M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 5, 2023

    Mabel Lake Campground

    Nice standard USFS campground

    Nice basic standard USFS campground in the Chippewa NF.

    $14/night, self pay, no reservations, no host. There’s a vault toilet on site and a pump-handle water faucet. No trash service here, please pack out. Each site has a picnic table and fire ring. 

    Mosquitos were brutal here! 

    Surprised to have ok (not great) verizon and ATT service here. 

    A little ways from the campground is the day use picnic area and boat ramp. You can walk along the main road or take a little connecting trail to it, but just a heads up that the mosquitoes are lying in wait in this trail. We decided to go for it and try out the trail (instead of walking back out to the main road), quickly regretting it and almost running through the whole thing to come out the other side (entrance to trail is near campsite 21). 

    Campsites were decent, not very private, and some were oddly shaped where you just pull onto the grass, with no clear driveway or parking area. But they were fine.

  • Amy G.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 18, 2019

    Father Hennepin State Park Campground

    Ranger Review of OOFOS shoes at Father Hennepin State Park in MN

    While I have seen parks and campsites with more privacy, there are so many trees (and many sites with a lake view) that it's worth a stay at Father Hennepin State Park in MN. Especially if you are rocking out with a pair of OOFOS flipflops!

    CAMPGROUND REVIEW:

    We've stayed at this campground a few times before, and it should seem obvious that since we keep coming back, it's not too shabby. Yes, I've seen campgrounds that have more privacy between spaces, but I don't think this place is every terribly crowded (at least not when we visit, in May). The leaves are just beginning to bud on the trees, so there is less coverage from your neighbors than in the heat of the summer, but since there are less campers, you can spread out a little bit. My only complaint, and this is the same of previous years here, is that the electric sites are so close to the tent sites that you can generally hear the generators and/or those that think that the wilderness is for loud music dance parties. Fortunately, this time, we were in our new teardrop camper and could shut out the tunes!

    We were at site 7, which was the last one in this campground that sits and faces the lake. And while we've been to this site before, it's the first time we've been in our Teardrop Trailer at this park. Lucky for us, the ice was gone and the wind was pretty calm, so the icy chill wasn't too bad. Each site has a fire ring with a grate that swings back and forth, depending on if you want to chill by the flames, or grill off some burgers. The site we had was fairly level. and provided ample space to park our teardrop and our car without hanging out into the road. A picnic table rounded out the scene to provide a full on camping experience. And lovely night sounds of frogs that sang us to sleep!

    There are well over a hundred sites, about 100 of them tent pads (no electric), and about 50 with electric. A few group campsites as well as 4 handicapped sites.There are 2 shower houses, 2 flush toilet buildings, vault toilets scattered around and water (in season, when it's turned on).

    In Minnesota, reservations are required. We've found that if you make them in advance, and then decide to cancel the day of the reservation, there are cancellation fees and first night fees and blah blah blah. If, however, you decide to take your chances and book it the "day of", there are no online reservation fees and you can cancel without penalty if you decide to go elsewhere.

    Drive in sites are approximately $23/night. Electric are about $34/night.

    PRODUCT REVIEW:

    Now, I have to admit, I'm an OOFOS junkie. Ever since I won a pair in my very firsts campground contest. That said, I'll never pass up the chance to review another pair! This time, I had the OOFOS Women's OOriginal Sandal. The last pair I had was a light color, and I loved the shoes, but they got dirty so quickly. Since these shoes are a type of foam, they scuff and dirty a little easier than other shoes, but the comfiness of them is off the chart, so they are totally worth having in other colors! This time, I chose black, to combat and dirt issues I might have while camping. If you can't see the dirt, it's not there, right?

    OOFOS are recovery shoes, and I didn't know what that meant at first, but just wait until you put them on at the end of a hard day on your feet (long work day, long hike, etc). They literally massage the sole of your foot. I'm not joking. I can't believe how my feet feel when I change shoes. If I listen veeeeeery carefully, I can hear my feet smiling! They are sort of spongy and squishy, but not in a strange way. Like walking on marshmallows! (but not sticky). Seriously, they cushioning, higher arch and wide fashion of the shoe (yes, it's a little chunkier, not a huge fashion statement) make it stable and comfy. They hug your feet and don't slip off the way some other "slippy" flipflops can. And so lightweight! The price is a little more than I normally pay for shoes, but I'd absolutely invest in another pair if this one wears out. The bottom has some fun grippy texture that looks as if it might channel away water if you stepped in a puddle.

    Quite frankly, as long as I have my OOFOS, I don't care what campground I'm staying at, but this one is good enough that I enjoy staying a little while, to look at the lake and enjoy the singing frogs!

  • Janet R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 20, 2018

    Rock Lake

    Hidden gem for rustic camping!

    This campground is really a hidden gem that i never knew about even though it is within an hour drive of my home. It is a rustic state forest campground with great campsites located in a gorgeous oak-birch-pine forest and right on a pretty lake. Although the campsites are karge enough to accomodate RVs, there are no hookups and no amenities like a bath house, so the campground favors tent campers. Many of the sites are right on the lake, including oarking space, tent pad, fire ring and picnic table, and each of these have a small lake access for swimming or launching a canoe or kayak. There is also a day use area with beach and boat launch, plus a nice nature trail. You can enjoy a quiet family weekend in the deep woods here, but still pop into the town of Pillager which is only 10 miles away. Well kept, quiet and peaceful

Guide to Bay Lake

Tent campsites near Bay Lake, Minnesota range from established campgrounds to primitive boat-in sites along waterways. Located in central Minnesota about 130 miles north of Minneapolis, this region features mixed hardwood forests and numerous lakes with seasonal temperature variations from below freezing to summer highs of 80°F. Mosquitoes are typically most prevalent from late May through August, with lower populations in spring and fall.

What to do

Hiking observation towers: Mille Lacs Kathio State Park features an observation tower that provides sweeping views of the surrounding area. "Lots of trails, close fishing, and an awesome lookout tower!!" notes Anne G. about Ogechie Campground.

Paddle the Mississippi Water Trail: The Mississippi River Headwaters Water Trail connects multiple campsites in the region. "This is a canoe campsite that is part of the Mississippi River Headwaters Water Trail, one stop on the paddle trail which allows canoers and kayakers to paddle from Lake Itasca to the north, all the way to the Iowa border," explains Janet R. about Canoe Landing Campsite.

Wildlife observation: Bird watching opportunities abound, particularly for Purple Martins. "There were several Purple Martin houses near the parking lot of the picnic area and we enjoyed watching the martins coming and going and feeding youngsters," shares MARY K. about her visit to Ogechie Campground.

What campers like

River-adjacent sites: Many campers appreciate the waterfront locations. "Hands down, one of the all time best campsites I've ever been to. Not many places you can camp and wake up to the sound of water babbling on the Mississippi River," raves Amy G. about Baxter Canoe Camp.

Level tent pads: Flat camping surfaces are a highlight for many visitors. According to Amy G., the tent pad at Baxter Canoe Camp was "flat as a pancake and right on the river."

Historic features: The area offers opportunities to explore significant historical sites. "We camped in the older Ochegie campground (site #1) near the historic native village site and trail," notes MARY K., who appreciated the cultural context of the area.

What you should know

Wildlife encounters: Bears and small mammals frequent some campsites. At Baxter Canoe Camp, one camper reported: "We did have a nighttime visitor in the form of something big and black and furry... heard the sounds of a bear. It never approached the tent, we never had to yell, and it never threatened."

Insect management: Mosquitoes can be overwhelming during summer months. "Beautiful state park, but WAY too many mosquitos in the summer. We had at least 100 bites after our trip," cautions Jen H. about Ogechie Campground.

Navigation challenges: Some water trail campsites can be difficult to locate. Amy G. notes about Baxter Canoe Camp: "This camp is not located exactly where it shows on the map... it was about a 1/2 mile to a mile farther south of Brainerd than we were expecting."

Tips for camping with families

Secluded options for noisy groups: Consider dispersed sites if traveling with active children. "Took my 3 little brothers camping here. We chose one of the dispersed sites so had to walk aways but worth it! We had a pretty nice spot on bottom of hill away from everyone," shares Jordan L. about Ogechie Campground.

Seasonal planning: Schedule family trips during lower bug seasons. "Definitely recommend, but in the spring or fall months," advises Jen H. who found summer camping at Ogechie Campground challenging due to mosquitoes.

Water access considerations: Assess river entry points if camping with children. At Overlook Park Canoe Campsite, "There is a nice canoe landing area with a few stairs to help give access up and down from the river bank," notes HollyRose M., making this site more accessible for families.

Tips from RVers

Alternative accommodation: Though primarily tent-focused, some areas can accommodate small campers. "We stayed here one night and part of the next day... We never used the showers or restrooms as our camper is self-contained," explains MARY K. about her experience at Mille Lacs Kathio State Park.

Supply planning: No camp stores exist at most sites, requiring thorough preparation. "If you need to re-supply on your own, there is no camp store in the park, and none in the vicinity that you could easily get to," warns Janet R. about Crow Wing State Park's canoe landing area.

Self-registration procedures: Be prepared to register after hours. "We were bike riding the Paul Bunyon Trail and rode into Crow Wing in the dark. I self registered because the office was closed (wrote in canoe site since you can't reserve it online)," explains Brittany about her experience at Crow Wing State Park.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Bay Lake, MN?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Bay Lake, MN is Ogechie Campground — Mille Lacs Kathio State Park with a 4.4-star rating from 7 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Bay Lake, MN?

TheDyrt.com has all 26 tent camping locations near Bay Lake, MN, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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