South of Sand Dunes State Forest provides dispersed camping opportunities on sandy terrain approximately one hour north of the Twin Cities. The forest's sandy soil supports pine stands interspersed with open areas, creating a diverse landscape for camping. Forest visitors should prepare for potentially challenging access during wet periods when sandy roads may become difficult to navigate.
What to do
Wildlife watching opportunities: The forest hosts numerous bird species and wildlife. "There's lots of little spots off the main gravel road. Nothing allowed further into the forest. One pull through area that I found. Couple vehicles pass a day. Sand storks are very protective. Stay away from them. They attack," notes Heather W. about wildlife encounters.
Hammock camping: The pine stands provide excellent hammock hanging locations. According to Joslyn H., "I love that it's so close to home. I was able to walk in and find an incredible spot to camp and lay in my hammock."
Bird watching: The area offers diverse avian sightings. As one camper reports, "This is a nice quiet area. Some younger people coming through sporadically playing with their trucks but nothing serious and not often," mentioning the peaceful setting ideal for bird watching.
What campers like
Proximity to urban areas: The convenient location makes this forest popular for quick getaways from Brooklyn Park and surrounding communities. "I love that it's so close to home," mentions one camper about the free camping near Brooklyn Park, Minnesota.
Variety of camping spots: The forest offers numerous pull-off sites with different characteristics. "For the proximity to the city and nearby highways, this was a good spot. Didn't expect to see as many campers as I did, but all seemed to be friendly," notes Samuel C. about the camping options.
Peaceful environment: Many campers appreciate the quiet atmosphere. "Came back on a warm weekend. A bit more traffic, but after 12 p.m., not much of anything. I really recommend this for an easy stop if you're looking for a place to put up. It's peaceful and tons of spots to park," shares Skip H. about the camping experience.
What you should know
Road traffic varies: Some forest roads experience more vehicle traffic than expected. "Plenty of spots. Fairly small spots. This road is pretty busy for a dirt forest road and people FLY down it. Almost got hit a few times walking. Even through a Wednesday night cars are flying down the road," warns Ryan P. about safety concerns.
Limited trailer options: Vehicle size restrictions may apply. "Great spot. Plenty of parking. Best for straight vehicles or very small trailers," advises one visitor regarding camping limitations.
Regulatory confusion: Local enforcement may interpret camping rules differently than DNR guidelines. One camper reports, "Be aware if you have an RV though. I had a county sheriff person tell me it's not lawful to park a trailer and they kicked me out. I called the DNR and they said that wasn't right but I decided to leave anyway."
Tips for camping with families
Insect preparation: During warmer months, insects can be problematic. A visitor at County Road O Landing mentions, "We camped here on our way to the badlands starting from Michigan. It was easy to find, and the spot itself was good and had restrooms. The only problem was the mosquitoes."
Site selection for children: Choose camping locations further from main roads due to traffic. "This road is pretty busy for a dirt forest road and people FLY down it," notes one camper about safety considerations for families.
Communication planning: Cell service is unreliable throughout the area. "I pulled into the campsite late at night and was really confused where to go. There are bathrooms and 1 bar of Verizon (no T-mobile service)," reports a camper about connectivity issues.
Tips from RVers
Size limitations: Most spots accommodate smaller vehicles rather than large RVs. "Drove past several sites, most of which were by water. We did find one we thought we liked, but branches over hung, and rested on our camper (8ft high) and in fact most sites were shaded," shares Gregory about navigating with a camper.
Access challenges: Some roads and campsites have overhead obstructions. "I just did an overnight camp one night in a truck camper and it was very easy to navigate and it was cleaned quiet area to spend the night. The bad part a lot of the side roads are closed to motor vehicles," reports Adam W. about accessing camping areas.
Overnight options: For those seeking free RV camping near Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, the forest offers limited but viable options. "There are a few spots that have great views or pull-through areas, and there are limited spots that are big-rig friendly," notes one visitor about RV accommodations.
