145 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Campgrounds near Lindstrom, Minnesota cluster along the St. Croix River, with options ranging from primitive tent sites to full-service RV parks. Interstate State Park offers riverfront camping with both tent and RV sites, while Wildwood RV Park & Campground provides 135 developed sites with electrical hookups. Several state parks within a 30-mile radius feature cabin accommodations, including Wild River State Park and William O'Brien State Park. The region includes a mix of established campgrounds with modern amenities and more secluded spots for those seeking a quieter experience near the Minnesota-Wisconsin border.
Many campgrounds in the area maintain seasonal operations, with several only open from May through early October. Road access remains straightforward with most sites accommodating standard vehicles. "The park is not very large but what it offers is lovely. In the river side you'll enjoy rocky trails and the famous potholes and in the hill side you'll enjoy views from way up high," noted one visitor about Interstate State Park. Winter camping is limited, though some state parks like William O'Brien maintain year-round accessibility. Reservations are strongly recommended during summer weekends and holiday periods when river-adjacent sites fill quickly. Most developed campgrounds provide drinking water, fire rings, picnic tables, and access to toilet facilities.
The St. Croix River corridor creates a focal point for camping experiences in the region. Riverfront sites at Interstate State Park receive consistently high ratings for scenic views and water access. Campers report good hiking opportunities connected to many campgrounds, with trails leading to geological features like the glacial potholes. A recent review highlighted that "Group campsite one is a lovely open site right on the St Croix River" with "plenty of grassy space to play and set up several tents." Noise levels vary significantly between locations, with some sites experiencing highway sounds while others maintain a quieter atmosphere. Family-friendly amenities appear throughout the region's campgrounds, with several facilities offering swimming pools, mini golf, and organized activities during peak season.
"This is a state park on the Wisconsin side of the St Croix River, which is mirrored by a comparable but smaller state park in Minnesota on the wrst side of the river, both being part of the wild and scenic"
"Now that I live in Minnesota, I find myself frequenting the Taylors Falls side. Here you have the amazing "Pot Holes" from glacial waters and some pretty spectacular rock climbing."
from $24 - $50 / night
Check Availability"Stayed for two nights at a drive-in double site here and found it ideal for autumn camping."
"We stayed in campsite 29 in the drive in campsite over Labor Day weekend."
from $23 - $90 / night
Check Availability"Easy walking trails surround the park which is nice and convenient. Close proximity to Stillwater which made for a nice day trip. Camp sites were very clean and easy to access."
"We O'Brian has some of the best groomed trails that I have been on."
from $25 - $90 / night
Check Availability"Fun to play in the water, go behind the waterfall and a good hike up 200 steps to view the falls from above!"
"Located 5 miles outside of Hudson, Willow Creek State Park is large park with hiking, camp sites, fishing, canoeing, and the waterfall."
from $25 - $90 / night
Check Availability"These primitive sites are down a small dirt road away from the main RV camping area and are nicely wooded, but you can still see neighboring sites."
"The kids tried the bike trail that they could access right from the campground.
Plenty of space to social distance. We never felt uncomfortable and everything was really clean!"
from $44 - $75 / night
Check Availability"Kelly's Bar nearby has a great fish fry on Friday. The campground is neat and well managed."
"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."
from $20 - $75 / night
Check Availability"I had read somewhere that sites 65 and 67 had direct access to the river--true! But the path does come off the camp road and it really does serve the entire campground, so anyone can use it. "
"Beautiful sites but be careful when booking as some sites are very close to others. North campground is about 1/2 mile from downtown Taylor Falls via a bridge. So a quick walk to town is possible."
from $18 - $90 / night
Check Availability"We live in Minneapolis and love having this camp close to home, yet far enough to feel like we are up north. We come here a lot during the summer! The camp is rustic, in a good way."
"This is an awesome campground in a wooded setting just outside of the nearby town. Can't wait to come back!"
from $35 - $65 / night
Check Availability"Nice pool and a lake. Room between campsites and some tree coverage. All in all a nice place to camp."
"Great little family camp non-motorized lake great for kayaks or canoes couple decent spots for group camping, new owners only four years inand working hard to make it better"
from $22 - $38 / night
Check Availabilityfrom $225 - $500 / night
Check Availability
TravelerWe stayed for a weekend in the East Loop and had such a nice time! They have many trails to a pretty well-kept bathroom and the sites themselves are private nooks in the trees. They had firewood available that we took advantage of, and we overall had a great time!
ScoutPretty much in the middle of nowhere surrounded by small towns.
ScoutIf I could give this company negative stars I would. I would never recommend this company to even my worst enemy. This was our second experience with them. The first time took a long time but we knew it wasn’t their fault because the river was low and that’s out of their control. Our tubes were also good. The owner’s dad(Jerry?) picked us up and was so nice and sweet. We laughed at all our hiccups along the way.
This time around, it was just my friend and I and we were having a wonderful time for the first 2.5-3 hours. Then we realized we weren’t moving and the wind was blowing us upstream. We kept trying to go, waiting to see the landing. By the 5 hour mark we kept trying to call Pardun’s to mention that we were trying to come back and to let them know that we’d probably be later than expected and to see if they had any tips. Since the cell service is almost non existent, the calls would not go through. By that time, we didn’t know what to else to do but call 911. By the time we were able to get a hold of someone to ask for help, we were nearing 6 hours on the river. They called Pardun’s to let them know and the owner(Guy?) and his son were waiting to pick us up. As soon as they saw us, the snarky disrespectful remarks started and they began making fun of us. The owner was relentless. It was one rude remark after another. This was at about 9pm. When I started crying and asking him to stop talking to me, the a-hole dug in even more and had to get the last word in. It kept on until I screamed at him to shut the F up. I couldn’t take it anymore. He then stopped and started trying to kick us off the bus. I was sitting in the seat, sobbing while my friend was nicely asking him to just please go and please stop with the comments. He wouldn’t. Once we got back to Danbury, he stopped the bus and walked away. His son helped us get our stuff out and his wife eventually came out to make sure that we had our keys and let us know she had called the other people involved to let them know we were back. The son was initially being kind of a jerk when we got on the bus but he apologized to us soon after. His waste of a human father didn’t.
Please do not give this man your business. I have never been so humiliated and made to feel as awful as he made me feel. The blatant disrespect and language from the minute he saw was unbelievable. This man is the most awful human I have ever encountered. I sure hope he treats his wife and his mother with a little more compassion and empathy.
GuideThis is a well taken care of and pretty campground. The staff in the office is very nice. It's very small. Nice view of a running creek with wildlife. But there is traffic noise, you are very near the road. There is a nice little laundromat, clean showers and good drinking water here also. Great T-Mobile access.
ScoutGreat campsites. Have camped here 8 times this summer in 7 different sites and have loved every one of them. Bathrooms are good, showers are good, just very well kept.
ScoutI picked this site for the proximity to the golf course that I’m playing in the morning. A lot of people, a lot of noise being next to the highway but, I can’t sleep in my own house let alone being outside. When I came in and set up at the RV spot instead of the tent. Kurt was kind enough to help me relocate to the correct location. Kudos!
TravelerI arrived after the campgrounds closed I was welcomed and was very happy to be accepted
TravelerA ranger does nightly rounds of the camps
TravelerThey would not allow a visitor after 10 pm. I was not
Campgrounds near Lindstrom, Minnesota cluster along the St. Croix River Valley within a 30-mile radius. The terrain consists primarily of glacial plains with mixed hardwood forests and river bluffs reaching elevations of 700-900 feet. Summer temperatures typically range from 70-85°F with high humidity, while winter camping requires preparation for temperatures regularly dropping below freezing. The St. Croix National Scenic Riverway provides the region's defining waterway feature with numerous access points for paddlers.
Hiking glacial terrain: Interstate State Park offers distinctive glacial pothole hiking experiences with varied difficulty levels. "This is a beautiful spot just an hour outside of the cities... The trails also lead to the glacial potholes. Wonderful getaway, will come back again," notes Celina M. from Interstate State Park.
Paddling the St. Croix: Wildwood RV Park & Campground provides canoe and kayak rentals with shuttle service directly from their office. "We went canoeing and kayaking and they provided a shuttle right from their main office... We even saw bald eagles on the ride," reports Amy F. from Wildwood RV Park & Campground.
Winter recreation: Several state parks maintain winter accessibility with plowed campsites. "2/8/20-2/9/20. #91. First time to this park. The campsite was plowed out and had a nice spot for the tent. We snowshoed and skied... The ski trails were groomed and there were miles of trails," shares Joanna B. who visited Wild River State Park during winter.
Star gazing: The area offers designated areas for night sky viewing away from city light pollution. "The star gazing area was great! Intermittently had 1-2 bars of T-Mobile with LTE Internet. Wi-Fi is available at the park entrance," notes Katherine T. about her experience at Wild River State Park.
Riverside campsites: Sites with direct river access rank highly with visitors. "Group campsite one is a lovely open site right on the St Croix River with plenty of grassy space to play and set up several tents," mentions one camper. Another visitor at Wild River State Park observed, "Backpack site Buck Hill is right on the river, beautiful view to the east. Circled by flowers, brush and trees. End of the path so zero foot traffic/passersby."
Wildlife viewing opportunities: The region hosts abundant wildlife, particularly along the river corridor. "We saw sooooo many deer some even walking right through campsites! You can hear coyotes, raccoons and very loud owls," explains Kate H. from Camp Waub-O-Jeeg.
Trail connectivity: Campers appreciate trails directly accessible from campgrounds. "Gorgeous Trails! This was a last minute camping trip that needed to be near the metro to utilize time... The trails nearby were gorgeous and a good workout," shares Lisa O. about Interstate Park Wisconsin.
Off-season solitude: Fall and spring visits provide greater privacy. "Arriving on a Sunday afternoon was a dream—very few people in the campground loop (especially the non-electric ones), but still able to take advantage of a weekend day," writes Dani K. about William O'Brien State Park.
Site selection strategy: Many campgrounds have significant variation between sites. At William O'Brien State Park, "Per others' advice, I stayed at Savannah campground because the sites are slightly bigger and more private than Riverway... Site 117 was level, had decent privacy, and was more spacious than some of the other sites."
Noise considerations: Highway proximity affects some sites. "The North Campground has sites on the overpass side so there was vehicle noise of varying volume the whole time," notes Mallory S. at Interstate Park Wisconsin, while at Wild River, a camper observed, "Only downside to the site—you can hear cars on both sides (river and opposite side of forest)."
Variable phone reception: Cell service varies by location and provider. "Cell reception for T-Mobile was minimal to non-existent. Wifi is available in the visitor center parking lot," reports a camper at William O'Brien State Park, while Interstate State Park visitors report "Good ATT and Verizon cell service."
Timing matters: Summer weekends experience heavy usage. "We loved the campsite and the park ranger was SOOOO helpful!!" shares Josie V. about Interstate State Park, while noting reservations are essential during peak season when river-adjacent sites fill quickly.
Kid-friendly sites: Choose spacious sites with play areas. "Our site was large and flat with a nice fire pit. Thank you!" reports Mackenzie G. about Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Regional Park, a camping area that remains accessible to metropolitan residents while offering natural surroundings.
Water recreation options: Many campgrounds offer swimming and boating access. "Fantastic clean campground with a ton of things to do at the campground and in the local area. The pool and playground were clean and nice. The kids tried the bike trail that they could access right from the campground," explains Amy F. about Wildwood RV Park & Campground.
Wildlife education: Nature centers enhance family camping experiences. "The nature center is nice and a great place to spend some time if it is raining during their open hours," notes Krista T. about Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Regional Park.
Group camping accommodations: For multi-family trips, select designated group sites. "We have never really camped with friends before, so the point was to just go, not to really travel far. We loved the trails. It was easy to takes hikes of varying lengths," shares Karla J.B. about her experience at William O'Brien State Park.
Hookup availability: Electric service varies between campgrounds. "We stayed at the North Campground at an electric site 26E for two nights in a hard side pop up. Nice campground with good separation between most sites," reports Lindsay T. about Interstate State Park Wisconsin.
Road conditions: Access roads present challenges at some campgrounds. "The road to the sites named after birds was rough and I was nervous that I would bottom out going up the hill," cautions Krista T. about Camp Waub-O-Jeeg, while others note some state park roads remain well-maintained.
Size limitations: Not all campgrounds accommodate larger RVs. "Sadly I needed 4 hours of internet and my cellular data here was spotty. I spent this time right outside the office. There is a mini golf course, and an outdoor pool (closed for the fall). A bit close to the highway but quick access to city amenities," notes Jamie N. about Wildwood RV Park & Campground.
Dump station availability: Most established campgrounds provide sanitary services. Erik R. mentions about Wild River State Park, "Like many MN State Park campgrounds, you are close to your neighbors with no real private offerings. I stayed in site 66e. It was a typical site with nothing bad nor special about it."
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best things to do in Lindstrom, MN?
Lindstrom, MN offers plenty of outdoor activities throughout the year. Visit nearby William O'Brien State Park Campground for well-groomed hiking trails and family-friendly camping experiences. The park features miles of scenic trails perfect for all skill levels. Explore the St. Croix River for water activities including canoeing, kayaking, and fishing. The town's Swedish heritage is evident in local shops and restaurants. During winter, enjoy cross-country skiing and snowshoeing on local trails. Day trips to nearby Stillwater make for a charming excursion with historic sites and boutique shopping. The area's numerous lakes provide opportunities for swimming, boating, and fishing during warmer months.
Where can I find camping near Lindstrom, MN?
Lindstrom offers several excellent camping options within a short drive. Interstate State Park along the St. Croix River provides scenic campsites and is part of the Wild and Scenic St. Croix National Waterway, offering stunning river views and unique glacial potholes. Wild River State Park Campground is another nearby option with spacious sites and riverside camping. For a family-friendly experience with amenities, consider Lake Elmo County Park Reserve which features a filtered swimming pond with sandy beaches, extensive hiking trails, and modern campsites. Most campgrounds in the area require reservations, especially during peak summer months.
What is Ki-Chi-Saga Park in Lindstrom like for camping?
Ki-Chi-Saga Park in Lindstrom primarily functions as a day-use recreational area rather than a designated campground. For nearby camping experiences with similar amenities, consider Baker Campground - Baker Park Reserve, which offers inexpensive camping with clean facilities and is managed by Three Rivers Parks. Another alternative is Sand Dunes State Forest for those seeking a more rustic experience about an hour from the Twin Cities. This dispersed camping option provides a wilderness feel with no amenities (no toilets, water, or trash facilities) following Minnesota DNR guidelines. Verify current camping policies at Ki-Chi-Saga Park with Chisago County Parks before planning your trip, as regulations may change seasonally.
Keep Exploring
