Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Regional Park in Centerville provides multiple camping styles within a 20-minute drive of Blaine. This regional park sits at an elevation of 889 feet and spans more than 5,000 acres across Anoka and Ramsey counties. Winter camping is available at several sites in the region, with seasonal temperature variations from below freezing in winter months to humid 80-90°F summers.
What to do
Trail exploration near campsites: Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Regional Park offers extensive walking paths with wildlife viewing opportunities. "Wonderful site! Feels very secluded in spite of being so close to the cities. Great beach & sunrise. Highly recommend!" notes Max P., highlighting the surprising seclusion despite urban proximity.
Water activities at multiple access points: Bunker Hills Regional Park provides both traditional swimming and waterpark facilities. The waterpark includes a wave pool that operates daily from 11am-7pm during summer months with separate admission fees. "Huge waterpark, miles of bike trails," mentions Tiffany W., emphasizing the recreational diversity.
Winter camping and activities: Several parks maintain year-round camping access with seasonal programming. "2/8/20-2/9/20... We snowshoed and skied. I really enjoyed the snowshoe hike along the St Croix River and watched the full moon rise. The ski trails were groomed and there were miles of trails," reports Joanna B. about her winter experience at Wild River State Park.
What campers like
Spacious, wooded sites: "Stayed here when we got our first camper and it is nicely shaded large sites. Great walking paths and clean restrooms. Great for a quick weekend camping trip," reports Courtney C. about Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Regional Park, highlighting the ample space and tree cover.
Year-round accessibility: Lake Maria State Park maintains backcountry sites accessible throughout winter months. "I camped here back in 2020 of November... Despite all my problems, it was a great experience. Just being out in the woods in November usually meant there wasn't any people around so we were able to enjoy the outdoors," explains a visitor about the quieter off-season experience.
Urban proximity with nature immersion: Many glamping spots near Blaine balance seclusion with convenience. "It was very easy to find, close to the twin cities, and clean. There was good access to kindling for a fire in the nice fire pit that has a grill. There is ample room to park a car and put up a large tent," says Ashley J. about their glamping experience.
What you should know
Site-specific challenges: The layout of some glamping options requires planning. "The only reason this isn't a full 5-star banger is the fire ring placement. That thing is doing its own thing like 30 feet from the tent pad—felt like I needed a shuttle to roast a marshmallow," mentions Alison O. about Baker Park Reserve.
Seasonal bug populations: Minnesota's lakes and rivers create breeding grounds for insects, particularly during summer months. "The black flies were dive bombing the car like a scene from Armageddon... First step onto the grassy trail exploded in a cloud of mosquitos," warns one camper about summer conditions at Lake Maria State Park.
Reservation timing requirements: Most glamping facilities near Blaine require advance planning. "You'll need to book for at least two nights and book as soon as you can. There are 200 sites but on the July weekend we stayed, I'd say almost all of them were booked," advises Joe R. about planning summer visits.
Tips for camping with families
Playground proximity: Baker Campground offers kid-friendly facilities near glamping areas. "With great fishing, playground, swimming, and biking trails very nearby, the kids were kept as busy as they wanted to be," notes Bryan S., highlighting the range of children's activities.
Family-oriented programming: Several glamping facilities offer structured activities. "This campground is great for everyone! It has a heated pool, splash pad area, BIG playground area, indoor game room, HUGE sites!" shares Spencer C. about Country Camping Tent & RV Park, noting the variety of family amenities.
Distance considerations for younger campers: Some sites require hiking from parking areas. "Backpack sites only. Love this park as it offers many backpacking sites with some being very short hikes in and some being longer hikes," explains Tori K., pointing out the variable distances that might impact families with small children.
Tips from RVers
Water and power considerations: Most glamping sites near Blaine offer varying hookup levels. "For being in the middle of the northern suburbs of Minneapolis, this park and campground is surprisingly woodsy, secluded and spacious. There are both primitive (tent) non-electric sites, and sites with electricity, even some 50 amp," notes Doug B. about the unexpected privacy despite full amenities.
Site selection strategies: Experienced RVers recommend specific areas within campgrounds. "The lower loops are definitely better for tent campers, even though quite a few spots could support an RV. The campground map does a good job of providing visual indicators of what a site provides. The upper loop (sits 45-64) is definitely more geared towards RVs," advises a visitor about layout considerations.
