Best Tent Camping near Brainerd, MN

Recent Tent Reviews in Brainerd

274 Reviews of 28 Brainerd Campgrounds

• 

  Amy G.

  Legend

  

  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.

• 

  Tori K.

  Legend

  

  Nov. 13, 2024

  Dower Lake Recreation Area

  Has everything you need

  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, horse shoe pits, disc golf, basketball court, and softball field.

• 

  Tori K.

  Legend

  

  Nov. 1, 2024

  Sunnybrook Park

  WOW!

  park features fishing in Whiskey Creek, (stocked with rainbow trout, crappies, and sunfish), picnic area, children's playground, semi-enclosed shelters, campground area with full hook-up and tent sites, two camping cabins, softball fields, frisbee golf, volleyball area and a children's zoo, which includes buffalo, whitetail deer, peacocks, and golden pheasants. Site had picnic table and fire ring.

  We thoroughly enjoyed the frisbee golf and the zoo!

• L

  Lee M.

  Scout

  

  Sep. 14, 2024

  Clint Converse Campground

  Peaceful

  Was here every summer in the late eighties and early nineties as a kid with my family and it’s still as nice and peaceful as it was then. I’ll continue to keep coming back every summer

• T

  Tracy B.

  Guide

  

  Sep. 5, 2024

  Wilderness of MN Campground

  Nice camping near Mille Lacs Lake

  The campground was nicely maintained. Had a nice pool and friendly seasonal campers. The management and reservation process was less than desirable. Very difficult to get ahold of management and upon arrival they had given our reserved site away to someone else and moved us. Paid for a water/ electric site and were moved to an electric only site and no cost difference or refund offered.

• 

  MickandKarla W.

  Legend

  

  Sep. 1, 2024

  Minnesota National RV Park

  Golf is the Thing Here

  As this was our second time here at Minnesota National, we had no problem finding the course or RV park. The RV navigation in our new Ford 450 was also spot on. When you turn in at the golf course, drive all the way to the club house/lodge parking lot and there’s a road to the right that takes you into the campground (CG). As you check-in online prior to arrival, you simply proceed to your camp site. As you turn down the short road to the CG, there’s a sign to help you identify your site location. We proceeded to back-in site 25 with full hook ups. The utilities are in the back of pad in this CG, so you may need 20+ feet of electric, sewer, or water cord/hose depending on your rig’s configuration. The sewer grade is a bit up hill. We got 3 bars LTE on Verizon and no CG WiFi. There is only a vault toilet/out house in the CG. We came here to golf for two weeks. The 18 hole course is quite challenging where the 9 hole Savannah is shorter and a little bit easier. The golf course restaurant has decent food and a good deal on draft beer during their Sunday to Thursday Happy Hours.There is not much more to do here except golf. McGregor is about 15 minutes away and is where we did laundry and got our groceries.

• 

  Denny K.

  Traveler

  

  Aug. 7, 2024

  Crosslake Campground

  Bad time

  We got to the site and we had low branches asked them to cut them. They said they were at there standards so we had hold it up. Them the site next to us had to have rock concrete us and 4 others called several times nothing

• S

  Sid D.

  Traveler

  

  Aug. 6, 2024

  Charles A. Lindbergh State Park Campground

  Nice and Clean, SUPER buggy

  Came through on an evening in July to meet a buddy canoeing the misssissippi. This was easily the buggiest site we stayed in all summer. Mosquitos so thick we had to wear nets over our faces. Maybe we’re just sensitive about it, but it was hard to get anything done.

• E

  Erin G.

  Guide

  

  Jul. 28, 2024

  Rum River State Forest Dispersed

  Secluded, Quiet, Good Cell Coverage, Bugd

  There are many different sites (most just pull offs) in this area! I did see one that was pull through further down game refuge road. The cell service with Verizon is good enough to stream videos and work on your laptop with ease. There aren't too many people in the area, even on a Sunday in July. The bugs are not great but that's just what you're going to get in an area like this one. Overall I would definitely stay here again.

• 

  samuel C.

  Ranger

  

  Jul. 18, 2024

  Hill River State Forest

  Okay

  There were a good amount of spots, and I seemed to be the only person. Was a good and secluded. I did hear some weird noises throughout the night, but all was well. It is your average dispersed site. I made it fine with 2wd, just take it slow.

• v

  vincent W.

  Guide

  

  Jul. 15, 2024

  Mille Lacs Kathio Petaga Campground — Mille Lacs Kathio State Park

  nice Campground in Midsotta

  Nice campground. We were dry camping in the RV since there was no water. Still a nice place for a winter getaway. Will go back in the fall!

• T

  Tom

  Ranger

  

  Jun. 10, 2024

  Crow Wing State Park Campground

  Beautiful trails, easy to walk

  Nice trails along the Mississippi River, easy to walk, good signage on trails, and good information signs with history of each site along the trail.

  Very Clean men’s bathroom. One shower needs a new shower head.

  Sites 40 to 45 are very nice and secluded. Sites 58 and 59 are prime secluded sites.

• 

  Teresa T.

  Legend

  

  Jun. 7, 2024

  Snake River Campground

  I think this place is great

  Friday afternoon 5:00 finished out my work day here. I've had great wireless I'm getting 5G Verizon believe it or not. We're the only ones here it is pretty rustic coming in so if your camper is very sensitive you need to take your time. But the river is going past it's lazy it's quiet I hope it stays quiet all nice and it's $20. Hi Summer might be hot most of the park spots are in the sun but if you had a tent you can find a shady spot down by the river. Their are mosquitoes this year and I don't think the four wheeler trails are highly used I was hoping there would be hiking trails we'll probably just stay one night because the limited walking and I won't go in the high grass with the ticks in the mosquitoes. But it's beautiful I'll upload some pictures in a video.

• 

  Teresa T.

  Legend

  

  Jun. 2, 2024

  Father Hennepin State Park Campground

  This place is great

  Smaller campsite with less spaces but right on the waters edge which provides a breeze and keeps the bugs down. Wet spring so Kathoy was terrible but works here. Trails, town which has a grocery store, place to wash cloths and a place to trade out the books I've ready for a new set. Good connectivity so easy to work from with decent bathrooms.

• 

  Teresa T.

  Legend

  

  Jun. 2, 2024

  Mille Lacs Kathio Petaga Campground — Mille Lacs Kathio State Park

  Nice enough spots but not my kind of park.

  I came in the spring it was a wet spring there were a lot of bugs. The trails are probably not maintained because it was so wet but they were almost impossible to hike on simply because of the amount of mosquitoes. The bathrooms are nice the camp spots were nice they had good signage for the archaeological stuff. It was just very hard to enjoy it because it was so overwhelmingly buggy.

• 

  Emelia O.

  Guide

  

  Jun. 1, 2024

  Crow Wing State Park Campground

  Semi Secluded Site

  The campsite was pretty wooded on most sides. I visited in the late spring so there were quite a few mosquitos since the campground is near the river. Bathrooms/showers were cleanish, water was mid from the outdoor taps but not horrible

• 

  Teresa T.

  Legend

  

  May. 31, 2024

  Charles A. Lindbergh State Park Campground

  Small state park

  Small, well spaced out camp spots and very quiet. This was a wet spring and under the trees, the bugs were overwhelming so keep that in mind. Few nice trails, several museums right across the street, really nice parks in little falls and neat views of the dam on the river

• 

  Teresa T.

  Legend

  

  May. 28, 2024

  Crow Wing State Park Campground

  What you expect in the state park

  This is a more rustic State Park. There's lots of history here most of it is just a plaque not actually something to see. The river was really high and there was a fair amount of mosquitoes outside but a lot of trails and a lot of signs and a lot of history in the park.

• R

  Rob E.

  Scout

  

  May. 27, 2024

  Father Hennepin State Park Campground

  Nice weekend spot

  Hiking was great, we saw an albino deer on the hiking club trail! Site was a bit tight for our travel trailer and a tight fit to back up on the pad. Recent rain had the campsites pretty muddy but the paved spaces were well maintained.

• 

  Renee H.

  Ranger

  

  May. 23, 2024

  Crow Wing State Park Campground

  Wooded with abundant hiking and biking nearby

  Nice wooded campground. Gravel sites, fairly level. Water fill and firewood available at the registration building. The water was high in iron. Canoe and kayak rentals available. Lots of trails for hiking and biking. Bring bug spray in the summer!
  Historical sites along hiking path. Bathrooms and showers were decent. Dump station on site.

• 

  Stacy M.

  Guide

  

  Mar. 8, 2024

  True North Basecamp

  Great spot

  We stayed in a cabin for a week of biking. Excellent location with all the trails. It has a great swimming area, though it did get deep fast for little kids. We brought our paddleboard and had a great time on the quiet lake. We did hike up to the top of the camp area and were glad we stayed in the cabins. The shower/bathroom house was nice. Overall, we would stay here again.

• S

  Skip H.

  Ranger

  

  Jan. 26, 2024

  Rum River State Forest

  Great place to camp!

  Most of these spots are cutoffs on the sides of the dirt road. They are deep and have plenty of room, though. Almost all of them I could see have firepits. The spot I stayed in was the most secluded I could find. It was through a ditch and up a small hill and set back in the woods. There is a firepit up there as well. I spent 3 days here with only one car passing through on the first night. After that, nothing! You wouldn't have a problem finding a place if your pulling a trailer.

• S

  Skip H.

  Ranger

  

  Jan. 17, 2024

  Hill River State Forest

  Quiet dispersed sites

  You'll want to come in on 640th lane. The road does a lot of winding, and sections aren't always in the best shape. I wouldn't recommend any trailers unless you have 4x4 and the trailer is set up for offroad. Ideally, this is a better straight vehicle spot. There are numerous spots off the road to camp. I stayed over at the very dead end, which, on Google, is labeled "deer camp." It's quiet and deep in. Good luck. No amenities.

• 

  Laura M.

  Legend

  

  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.

• 

  MickandKarla W.

  Legend

  

  Sep. 21, 2023

  Minnesota National RV Park

  Great Campground for Golfers

  Our RV GPs took us to the golf course, but we called the info phone number, which was the golf course clubhouse, to find out exactly how to get to the campground(CG) area. We were told to take the main road into the clubhouse, and right at the clubhouse, there’s a road to the right with a sign that shows the CG and where the sites are situated. We went in that way, where our other travel partner went past the golf course entrance(on the left side of the road) and took the unmarked RV park entrance less than a 1/4 mile past on the left. Either way works fine. We had registered online so we could go straight to the CG and to site 25 with FHUs. We had no issues backing our 40’ Brinkley TH into the site and still had room to put our patio down and park our F-450. The only problem with site 25 is that the entrance to site 24 comes in at a weird angle right next to the entrance of site 25. If our truck was centered on site 25, someone coming into site 24 might clip our truck. The utilities are in the far back of the site. I needed about 20’ of sewer, electric, and water hose to reach my rig. We got our Starlink maneuvered around the trees to get a good north shot of the sky. The loop we were in had quite a few trees along with the first loop as you come into the CG from the clubhouse area. The 44-50 loop more towards the golf course had fewer trees to block satellite. We got 3 bars LTE on Verizon, and there was no CG WiFi. The water pressure is very good at 60+ psi, so suggest a reducer. The sites were gravel with a picnic table and a nice fire pit. There were three 5th wheels in our group, and we parked in adjacent sites and did not need to use levelers; all the sites here are FHUs, and the CG does not have a dump station. There was one outhouse in the CG, along with a dumpster. The clubhouse has a locker room and shower, but there is no CG information or rules we saw at the clubhouse about the CG or whether you can use the showers, and we did not ask. The workers at the pro shop could answer simple questions about the CG. There is no playground or lake to fish, just golf. We had no issues, so did not need any more info or help. Occasionally, a worker drove a golf cart around checking campsites, and when we stayed, there was no CG host. The registration email stated that they charge 10 dollars a day for each dog. During our 7-night stay, along with the four seasonal campers, only one other camper came in for 2 days. The 27-hole golf course was in good shape and fun to play. McGregor is about 15 minutes away and has grocery, gas, hardware store, and restaurants. We plan to come back to this CG sometime in the future.

• m

  mark M.

  Scout

  

  Sep. 6, 2023

  Crow Wing Lake Campground

  Relaxing camping

  What a beautiful, peaceful sight in the woods next to the lake. Sit back and relaxing camping at it finest

• 

  Jeremy W.

  Scout

  

  Sep. 5, 2023

  Sunset Pines Campground

  Loved every minute of this trip!

  Lots to do here, very fun, very friendly staff. If you are looking for a good vacation, come here you won’t be disappointed!