The Dyrt is here to help plan your best camping near Buffalo. Aside from great camping spots, you'll find hiking and many more outdoor experiences. Thinking of traveling with kids? You're in luck—Buffalo is surrounded by family-friendly activities. At The Dyrt, campers like you share their favorite spots, plus tips and photos. No matter where you're headed in Buffalo, you'll find the best spot for you and your camping crew.
"Baker Park Reserve — A Peaceful Lakeside Retreat Just Outside the Cities
If you’re looking for a clean, quiet, and well-maintained campground near the Twin Cities, Baker Park Reserve is it!"
"If you’re looking for a peaceful escape where the only sounds are rustling leaves, birdsong, and frogs singing at dusk — Site B6 at Lake Maria State Park is the one."
$21 - $29 / night
"This campground was nice and the bathrooms were nice and clean. They have nice walking trailers to the lake and beach area. They lake and beach were nice and has a big sanding beach area."
"Clean gravel sites with electric hook up surrounded by well maintained grass, picnic table, and fire pit. Central water spigot and dump station. Great signage throughout."
"Sites are close to each other, but easy access, clean grounds and facilities, friendly staff, and a K9 fenced area for a pet friendly campground."
"It’s a normal KOA setup but the staff is wonderfully sweet and the amenities are clean and reliable. Close to lots of state parks and hiking opportunities."
"There was some suggestion that there was some drive in sites that were not reservable, that is. They were first come first serve. But I was unaware or unable to find those."
"This place had awesome trails and so many deer ! It’s like they were camping with us."
$15 / night
"Do a 180 on the trail and she is happy to trot away from the trailer."
"This campground is nicely maintained and has nice mature trees that a lot of people set up hammocks in. The vault toilet near the barn is nice, there are no showers."
"Bathrooms were close and well kept. There were lots of other campers there but the sites are large and plentiful so it was not crowded."
"Tons of trails and camping. 🏕"
$60 / night
"Impressed with the distance to/from the metro (less than an hour on Highway 12 heading west to Cokato)."
"RV resort and some lot rentals, Heated pool, lake with beach, boat launch area just block away, tennis/pickle ball, mini golf, resort store with ice cream, goat park, paved roads and much more)!"
$15 - $18 / night
"This campground even has 2 walking/hike-in campsites to give your avid campers a real out-in-the-middle-of-nowhere kind if feel, like you drove hundreds if miles to get away from the hustle and bussle"
"It’s right off the highway, and very easy to find. The camp is very well-maintained, the beach is gorgeous, and the staff was extremely nice over the phone when I set my reservation.
10/10"
"Restrooms and laundry available on site. Although from a sign posted, they wanted the restrooms to be used by those in pop-ups or tent camping only (just an fyi)."
"They also offer a nice seating area for those hot or raining days with free arcade. Verizon cell coverage is good here and OTA TV has a few channels."
$20 - $32 / night
"Perfect for kids, they have a water park with a wave pool, a disc golf course, a golf course, several pavilions with grills, a few playgrounds and plenty of trails both paved and unpaved."
"For being in the middle of the northern suburbs of Minneapolis, this park and campground is surprisingly woodsy, secluded and spacious."
GuideMy partner and I scheduled a 3 day / 2 night stay in a new Vintage Cruiser RV for $39.99, in exchange for attending a presentation on private membership.
We checked in Wednesday evening, and the nicest staff I've ever met helped us acclimate to RV living. We are new to this game. They patiently described how to utilize the grey and black water tanks, as well as encouraged us to check-out the canoes, row boats, bikes, horseshoes, ladder golf and many other entertainment items - for FREE!
The map provided was accurate which made locating the cruiser a breeze. There were further instructions inside as well. The RV was immaculate. Provided for our use were all linens (a public very clean bath and shower was just across the road), dish soap, dish towels, paper towels, flat wear, plates, bowls, mugs and pans.
The campground has a couple of ponds, as well as access to Ham Lake where the watercraft is launched. There is a petting arena with goats, ponies, and a llama who gave my partner the stink eye, but fell in love with me rubbing the fence and giving me all googly eyes!
The clubhouse sells bundled wood, ice, snacks, cold drinks, ice cream and provides 24-hour fresh coffee. There is also a small resupply area, and gift shop.
There are pull-through sites, back ups, 50 and 30 amp hook ups, and tent sites, covered pavilions, picnic tables and fire pits.
The campground itself seems remote, secluded and peaceful, however, you are conveniently located to two well-stocked convenience stores, as well as Wal-Mart about 15 minutes away. It's also only about 45 minutes from the Minnesota Twin Cities.
One note: We visited in August and needed gallons of bug spray.
We very much enjoyed our get away!
GuideWe stayed here for a weekend in May. The campsites are a little bit on top of each other. There aren't many campsites that you're able to reserve. The majority of the campsites are seasonal campsites. There are a lot of mature trees that help with the shade! The beach area is nice, but the only problem is that boaters and kayaks are in the same general area so you have to be careful so you don't get hit. There is a dock for fishing as well. You can also rent boats, kayaks and paddleboards for a small fee. If you want to walk the whole campground having a golf cart would be nice. Also there is NO petting zoo as stated on the website or on the campground maps. There hasn't been one for a few years but they have yet to edit the website or the campground maps. We went there partly because there was a petting zoo for the little kids. Seems lazy to me that they can't update the website or the campground maps.
GuideWe took a 30 minute drive north of the cities for a quick get away, and were rewarded with a very nice campground!
The check in staff was friendly, helpful and efficient. She gave us the info we needed for wood and other campgrounds in the area.
Our site was clear, flat and grassy, and had an established fire pit. Other loops had grills and hook ups for pop-up campers and RVs.
There is a gorgeous beach area with tables, a pavilion, changing rooms and a well equipped playground.
We walked a portion of the trails towards the golf course, on a paved path under a green canopy.
Plenty of bugs, so bring your spray!
LegendTo be fair I'd like to preface this review with a word of caution. We went in the middle of Summer. High bug season. Take a look at other reviews as they come in and see what time of year they visited. Maybe they'll have a similar experience, maybe not. The fun thing about this state park is that all the sites are hike in. No drive up camping. It has a couple camper cabins as well. But everyone is spread out along a few trails so it's a little quieter than your typical campground.
When we pulled up to the parking lot we knew we were in trouble. The black flies were dive bombing the car like a scene from Armageddon. We prepared the kiddos for a quick grab and run and jumped out of the car. Our campsite was about a mile from the car so we started at a quick walk onto the trail. First step onto the grassy trail exploded in a cloud of mosquitos. Walking along the kids all looked like Pig-Pen from Peanuts. Even though we'd sprayed everyone down the bugs must have felt safety in numbers because we were covered in welts in no time flat. That's when the jogging began. Soon we were running and also planning out how to set up camp the quickest. Little tent first, throw the kids in, big tent second and then everyone in there while dinner was being made. Luckily at our actual campsite the bugs weren't quite as horrendous so we were able to get out a bit after applying a few more layers of repellant. Our site was on a short private trail off the main loop and opened up to a decent space. We had a picnic table and fire pit and plenty of space for our two tents and an area to play. We were all entertained by the plethora of mushroom varieties that surrounded the camp. We spent a bit of time outside and then played in the tent the rest of the night. Unfortunately the bugs were bad enough that the next morning we just packed up and headed back to the car. I would like to come back to this park in late fall and try out a camper cabin. There are three of them all on lakes so if you can get past buggy season it has the potential to be a great experience. Have you ever been to Lake Maria? Stayed in one of their camper cabins? Let me know, I'd love to hear how it went!
GuideBaker Park Reserve — A Peaceful Lakeside Retreat Just Outside the Cities
If you’re looking for a clean, quiet, and well-maintained campground near the Twin Cities, Baker Park Reserve is it! We recently camped at sites G1, C1, and C10, and each one had something special to offer. • G1 is a spacious group-friendly site with great tree cover and privacy. It’s flat and perfect for multiple tents, with a solid fire pit and picnic table. Bathrooms and water access were super close but still discreetly tucked away. • C1 is right near a lovely trail that leads to the lake. It’s peaceful and just far enough from the main loops to feel secluded without being isolated. Perfect for early risers who want to stroll to the water and watch the sunrise. • C10 was our sunniest site — ideal for those who want to catch some rays but still have a little shade from the mature trees. It’s centrally located, close to the store, beach, and bike trails.
The whole park is packed with amenities: great beaches, boat access, miles of trails, and clean facilities. Bonus points for the friendly staff and how well the sites are cared for. Wildlife was abundant — we saw deer, owls, songbirds, and even a cheeky raccoon that tried to sneak a marshmallow!
Pro tip: Sites in loops G and C offer a nice mix of wooded seclusion and convenience. Definitely worth checking out during peak season — just book early, they go fast!
We’ll absolutely be returning to Baker Park. Can’t beat the proximity to the Cities with the feel of being hours away.
ScoutIt 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. We were impressed with the upkeep of the park.
GuideThis campground was nice and the bathrooms were nice and clean. They have nice walking trailers to the lake and beach area. They lake and beach were nice and has a big sanding beach area. You an bring you boat with you. The only down fall was the location of the fire pit. It was located closer to the neighboring campsite and was awkward to use because it was behind the camper and you would think it was the other campsites. The site were very close together and had no privacy. The site had electric but no water.
ScoutImpressed with the distance to/from the metro (less than an hour on Highway 12 heading west to Cokato). Inground, heated swimming pool; mini golf; pickleball; tennis; arcade room attached to the office. Ice cream shop has 8 flavors of hand-dipped yum! Freezer pizzas can be cooked at the store or bring one home for later. All the incidentals and condiments you might need. Plenty of fun clothing for sale to bring home and make memories with. And memories: here's the place to start your family fun and lifetime memories! Head on out to the Cokato Lake Experience!
ScoutClean gravel sites with electric hook up surrounded by well maintained grass, picnic table, and fire pit. Central water spigot and dump station. Great signage throughout. Showers and restrooms available. A couple disc golf baskets, sand volleyball court and well maintained grass fields were available for play. Lake independence is a 5-10 minute walk along a newly paved trail. Lake offers two swimming beaches, a water equipment rental area, new restroom facilities, and a playground that was under construction at this time. Simple online reservation process at $26/night our one night total cost $36.03 all fees included. Morning of our reservation, camp staff called to communicate a change of site due to our reserved site having issues with its electrical. All amenities functioned appropriately. My wife, two young boys, and I had a great first time experience with our Bambi 19CB Airstream!
Frequently Asked Questions
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Buffalo, MN is Lake Maria State Park Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 36 reviews.
TheDyrt.com has all 19 glamping camping locations near Buffalo, MN, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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