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Glen B.
Ranger
RangerReddington Pass Dispersed
Goose chase
Gps puts the site smack in the middle of a soybean? field. The Dyrt needs to get with it on it's Minnesota sites. Phft.
Camping near Brainerd, MN
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The Brainerd, Minnesota area contains multiple campgrounds offering various accommodation options along the Mississippi River and nearby lakes. Crow Wing State Park Campground provides tent, RV, cabin, and glamping sites where the Crow Wing and Mississippi Rivers meet. Gull Lake Recreation Area, approximately 10 miles north of downtown Brainerd, offers tent and RV camping with boat access. Other options include True North Basecamp with cabin accommodations, Lum City Park with RV hookups, and several waterfront locations featuring tent-only sites accessible by canoe, including Baxter Canoe Camp on the Mississippi River.
Camping season in the Brainerd region typically runs from April through October, with most campgrounds closing by mid-November. Crow Wing State Park operates from April 1 to November 13, while Gull Lake Recreation Area is open May 1 through October 31. Water access sites on the Mississippi River remain available as long as the river is navigable. Many campgrounds provide amenities like showers, drinking water, and electric hookups, though facilities vary significantly between developed and primitive sites. Reservations are recommended, especially for summer weekends when waterfront locations fill quickly. According to one visitor, "There is a lake within walking distance. It is a small campground. 15 sites. Firepits. Water and electricity. Shower and restrooms."
Campers report high satisfaction with waterfront sites throughout the area. The Mississippi River corridor provides unique camping experiences with several boat-in sites receiving excellent reviews. A recent review noted, "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." Wildlife encounters are common, with some campers reporting bear activity in more remote locations. Crow Wing State Park features historic sites and hiking trails along the river, adding educational value to camping trips. The Paul Bunyan Bike Trail passes through the park, connecting to over 120 miles of recreational paths for campers seeking outdoor recreation beyond their campsite. While most campgrounds maintain clean facilities, some visitors mention that bathrooms at certain locations are dated or limited in number relative to the campsite density.
Best Campgrounds near Brainerd (157)
1. Crow Wing State Park Campground
"I live close so I visit frequently to use the trails for running."
"Excellent map signage on the hiking trails too. Clean and tidy vault toilets. There is access to the extended bike path from this state park as well."
from $24 - $80 / night
Check Availability2. Crow Wing Lake Campground
"What a beautiful, peaceful sight in the woods next to the lake. Sit back and relaxing camping at it finest"
"Only drawback was the lake was too mucky and weedy to swim in but has to be a great fishing lake. The owner's were awesome. Seriously great family rv campground."
from $24 - $34 / night
Check Availability3. Gull Lake Recreation Area
"It is a short 10 minute drive into Brainerd. If you are looking to eat out we love The Boulder Tap House and Rafferty’s pizza! You will love staying at this campground."
"Minnesota in the summer the parks are very full of large RVs. Our teardrop fits inside one. Nice clean campground. Friendly rangers. Nice showers."
from $32 - $50 / night
Check Availability4. Lum City Park
"Small campground but nice location with it being close to shopping and other activities."
5. True North Basecamp
"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."
"A great little campground right near the town (easy to bike in for coffee or beer) but it feels like you're deep in the northwoods! Some sites are better than others in terms of privacy."
6. Red Rider Resort
"Stayed at RV site 4 which is bordered by trees on one side which was nice for privacy."
"Easy access to both single track and to paved cycling path. Sites are close but still felt private, especially when leaves fill in. Nice shower house, and a sauna we didn’t use."
7. Baxter Canoe Camp
"There is a trail for maintenance workers to drive in (they come by regularly to empty the trash cans!), but I don't know if it's for drive in traffic as well."
8. Canoe Landing Campsite — Crow Wing State Park
"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 to the north, all the"
"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)."
9. Birch Bay RV Resort
"Sites are huge, very dog friendly, quiet, ice and firewood on site, cute little lake with gorgeous sunsets, huge kiddy play area on water, free kayak and paddle board use, nice little onsite store."
from $60 - $80 / night
Check Availability10. Rock Lake
"There are about 10 sites that are next to the water giving you access to fishing, swimming and docking a small watercraft. Most of the sites are surrounded by trees. Which is great for privacy."
"This a rustic campground with no showers and vault toilets. some sites are open and next to each other. there are RV people who think that because it’s rustic that they can run their generators all day"
from $15 / night
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Drive Time
- 1 hr 5 min from St. Cloud, MN
- 1 hr 55 min from Duluth, MN
- 1 hr 58 min from Minneapolis, MN
- 2 hrs 15 min from Fargo, ND
Recent Camping Photos near Brainerd, MN
94 Photos of 157 Brainerd Campgrounds
Amy G.
Baxter Canoe Camp
The Dyrt
Sullivans Resort and Campground
Brian C.
Crow Wing State Park Campground
Curt D.
Gull Lake Recreation Area
Janet R.
Gull and Love Lake Campground
Brittany
Canoe Landing Campsite — Crow Wing State Park
Shelly T.
Old Iron Camp
Gunnar C.
True North Basecamp
Dave T.
Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area Campground
Jennifer T.
Rock Lake
Jake N.
Red Rider Resort
Janet R.
Military Park Camp Ripley DeParcq Woods Campground
Recent Reviews near Brainerd, MN
329 Reviews of 157 Brainerd Campgrounds
- Crystal R.
GuideFather Hennepin State Park Campground
Cozy little state park right on the water!
I stayed here last summer (2025)and am planning on staying here this summer as well.
The park is smaller than it's sister park Mille Lacs Kathio, but it definitely has some things that are better about it!
I stayed in the Maplewood campground, which I recommend if you like quiet and privacy. The sites are further apart and give you a more "in the woods" feel. The other campground (lake view) is more traditional RV style camping where the sites are fairly close. However they have some sites (small and close together) that have views directly of the lake, if that's your thing.
I stayed at site 96 which was verrrrry deep and felt pretty private. It's backed up to the woods so you don't have anyone behind you. It has a nice tent pad, and plenty of space for canopies or other equipment. It's a short walk down to the water too, where there's a fishing pier really close by, and a large beach a little further down. I went in very early June and the mosquitoes honestly weren't terrible yet, but the caterpillars were everywhere! There were caterpillars all over my tent, in my sandals I left outside my tent, on my car, etc. When I found one I just relocated them to a safer area in the woods. Lots of deer, you can hear owls at night, squirrels etc. It is bear country, but I didn't see any bears. I kept my food locked up in my car.
One night it was kind if windy and you could hear the waves on the lake from the tent, so that was kinda cool.
I have t mobile and had decent service here as well.
- Crystal R.Guide
Camper Cabins — Mille Lacs Kathio State Park
Beautiful cabins, excellent staff!
I had a very...interesting experience at the camper cabins this week! I stayed at the cabin #3 this week, Monday through Thursday (3 nights). Monday and Tuesday were awesome. I was the only one there on the whole side of the road, and it was soooo peaceful.
Early Wednesday morning (around 3am)is where things stopped being peaceful. A really bad storm developed (that I had no idea was coming). It was probably the worst storm I had ever experienced in my life. Five trees fell in the yard, one small one hitting the cabin. One tree even fell a couple of feet behind my car, blocking me in. After taking a short walk when the sun came up, I realized the damage was everywhere in the park. I was seeing downed trees all over every single trial and road. I emailed the park office which opened at 8 that I was trapped, and they cleared all the trees from the office to where I was (almost three miles away) and was getting me out by 9:30. I was so impressed with how fast they worked. Amazing job! They offered to give me a refund if I wanted to go home early (I didn't, because I was still really enjoying my time there). I will definitely be back!
Without the whole storm fiasco, here are some pros and cons:
Pro *the cabins are gorgeous and cozy. *they have electric and heat (a gas burning stove heats the cabin, how cute!) *there's a screened in porch allowing you to enjoy the weather without bugs. *the vault toilet is really close, but there is also flush toilets with a shower in the campground, which is like a five minute walk, or a very short drive. *the mattresses on the bunk beds appear to be newer than some cabins I stayed in, that being said, a foam mattress topper isn't a bad idea if you struggle to sleep *the trails are gorgeous. The cabins aren't far from the lake either. There's a visitor center that's currently closed for renovations (2026) but I think will be open next year. There's a short interpretive trail behind it too. *there's a fire ring and picnic table outside.
Cons (there aren't many!) *I think being separated from the main campground is both a pro and a con, depending on your personality. If you like solitude then it's perfect. If you enjoy being where everyone else is, then it's a con.
- the cabins are kinda close together, but there's trees and shrubs between (although several fewer than there were earlier this week 😭) so it does kinda feel private. But the noise can travel (there were people two cabins down my first night and I did hear them just a little bit).
- there's not much cell service. I heard Verizon does best. I had t mobile and depending on where I was standing I either got zero bars or occasionally up to 2bars (usually I didn't really get much though). That's kinda annoying especially during situations like the storm that happened (thankfully I was not harmed, my car wasn't harmed, and the cabin didn't get damaged from the tiny tree that fell right on it).
- Amanda P.
ScoutLum City Park
Nice stay
Small campground but nice location with it being close to shopping and other activities. City park is just across the parking lot and includes a beach, fishing docks, boat access and the bathroom/shower amenities. Be warned that the map online may not seem quite accurate. They camp spots seem much larger and spaced apart more then they actually are. Even the host agreed with that. We picked a site that seemed like it would be plenty large enough for our camper and truck but in reality it was barely big enough for our camper which is 31 feet long. So be aware of that when booking. My kids enjoyed the beach area when it was nice enough out. Bathrooms are what I would call a typical public bathroom. Could use some updating such as repainting and better mirrors over the sink area and I didn’t see a single trash can in the bathroom either. The shower area is basic but does the job. It’s a single person room basically but there is no interior lock so if someone has a key and you don’t hear them knock they can enter and with it being just a room as soon as that door is open it’s not private. All in all I would stay there again but I would definitely be more prepared and pick a better location for a site.
- SShanae O.
TravelerTwo Rivers Campground
Amazing
Absolutely love this campground. 2nd year for my family. We plan on coming back for many years to come. This place is completely family oriented. Very well maintained. Wonderful staff members. Just overall a wonderful experience each and every time. I highly recommend a visit if you rang to amenity memories that will last a life time.
- BBonita C.Scout
Clarissa City Park
Don’t think it has camping anymore
I couldn’t locate where the camping was. A local said just there on the grass but signs say stay off grass. So I went on to Brenda. I would call if you are planning a stop there.
Erin H.ScoutCamp Holiday Resort and Campground
Lake Resort!
Camp Holiday has many great options for lodging and amenities. The hosts are personable and friendly. There are activities for everyone; kids, teens and adults. The lake is big enough and they have two beach access points. We can't wait to stay again this summer!
- Shelly T.Scout
Old Iron Camp
Best looking camp ground in area
Well groomed, right next to trails, lakes , shops restraunts excellent locatin
- CChristine K.Scout
Cuyuna Range Campground
We won't stay anywhere else!
We love camping at Cuyuna Range Campground. We stay at Cuyuna a couple of times each year. It is clean, quiet and so relaxing. There is so much to see and do in the area or just relax at our campsite. Check this campground out you will not be disappointed!
Guide to Brainerd
The Mississippi River flows through the Brainerd area, creating diverse camping terrain from riverside sites to lake-based recreation areas. Elevation in the region ranges from 1,200 to 1,300 feet above sea level, with sandy soil common at many campsites. Seasonal conditions vary dramatically, with summer daytime temperatures typically ranging from 75-85°F while spring and fall nights can drop below 50°F.
What to do
Biking adventures: Crow Wing State Park provides direct access to the Paul Bunyan Bike Trail extending over 120 miles. According to a visitor at Crow Wing State Park Campground, "Great state campground, good hiking trails, Paul Bunyan Bike Trail passes through park(120 miles long). Crow Wing town site interesting."
Paddleboarding at Cuyuna: Located about 20-30 minutes from Brainerd, the Cuyuna mine lakes offer exceptional paddleboarding. A camper notes, "The park was a 20-30 minute drive from the Cuyuna Mines area, so I was able to easily drive over Saturday morning and spend the day paddleboarding."
Fishing opportunities: Rock Lake offers family-friendly fishing with abundant sunfish. One visitor to Rock Lake mentioned, "If you have little kids you can catch a million Sunnys but not much past that. It is a nice area as we took our kayaks and explored some of the other lakes and enjoyed the short weekend here."
Hiking historical trails: Several campgrounds feature educational hiking trails highlighting the area's history. A camper at Crow Wing State Park described, "Love doing a sunset hike, this trail is just over two miles, all along the river, with pretty much continual sunset views if you take the trail East to West. Historic signs describing the old town are along the beginning part of the trail."
What campers like
Spacious, private campsites: Gull Lake Recreation Area offers exceptionally large sites. A visitor to Gull Lake Recreation Area reported, "This is an impressively well run campground nestled on both sides of the Gull River and on the shores of Gull Lake. The campsites are very large and impeccably maintained."
Clean facilities: Campers consistently praise the maintenance standards at many Brainerd area campgrounds. According to one review, "The sites are flat gravel (class5) no leveling blocks needed. Nice sandy beach on the other side of the dam. Nice playground for the small people. Very friendly staff."
Waterfront access: Many campers specifically seek sites with direct water access. A visitor to Baxter Canoe Camp shared, "We had a huge picnic table, and the tent pad was level! No joke...flat as a pancake and right on the river. There was another official site with a fire ring and picnic table, and there were also plenty of unofficial spaces."
Wildlife encounters: The Brainerd area offers opportunities to observe wildlife in their natural habitat. One camper reported, "Wildlife encounters are common. We did have a nighttime visitor in the form of something big and black and furry. We didn't see him (her?), but heard the sounds of a bear."
What you should know
Reservation timing: The best places to camp near Brainerd, Minnesota fill quickly, especially waterfront locations. For Gull Lake, a camper advised, "Book early on Recreation.gov - we reserved 6 months out for memorial weekend."
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best campgrounds in Brainerd, MN?
What are the best campgrounds in Brainerd, MN?
The Brainerd Lakes area offers several exceptional camping options. Gull Lake Recreation Area is highly rated for its spacious, private sites and is just a 10-minute drive from Brainerd. Cuyuna Range Campground provides wide sites with picnic tables and fire rings, nestled in the woods while still close enough to explore Brainerd. For RV enthusiasts, Minnesota National RV Park offers full hookup sites uniquely situated within a golf course. Each provides a different experience while serving as an excellent base for exploring the popular lakes and attractions of the Brainerd area.
What amenities are available at Crow Wing State Park campground?
What amenities are available at Crow Wing State Park campground?
Crow Wing State Park Campground offers a good mix of amenities for visitors. The park features spacious campsites, an amphitheater, riverside trails, and a group center. Bathroom facilities are well-maintained, and there's an electric site area, though it can get crowded during peak season. The park also contains historic sites to explore and is conveniently located just under two hours from the Twin Cities, making it perfect for weekend getaways. While it may not be ideal for extended stays, its proximity to Brainerd provides access to additional services when needed. The park's natural setting along the river creates a peaceful camping environment with opportunities for hiking, wildlife viewing, and outdoor recreation.
How do I find camping near Brainerd, MN?
How do I find camping near Brainerd, MN?
To find camping near Brainerd, start by exploring the surrounding lakes area which offers numerous options. Cross Lake Recreation Area provides a wooded camping experience despite being in the middle of Crosslake town, with access to Cross Lake and the Whitefish chain. For a unique experience, consider Baxter Canoe Camp, where you can wake up to the sounds of the Mississippi River. City parks like Crosby Memorial City Park offer convenient options with easy access to trails and recreation. Search online reservation systems for state parks and national forest campgrounds, or use The Dyrt to find and book campsites throughout the region.
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