Lebanon Hills Regional Park campground offers pet-friendly camping experiences near Burnsville, Minnesota, with varied terrain and amenities. Located within a 2,000-acre park in the Minneapolis suburbs, the campground features two distinct loops at elevations of approximately 900 feet, with weather conditions typically ranging from 30°F in early spring to 85°F during peak summer months. The facility serves as a convenient base for exploring the Twin Cities metropolitan area while enjoying outdoor recreation.
What to do
Water recreation beyond the campground: While Lebanon Hills has lakes within the larger park, some visitors prefer exploring nearby options. Cleary Lake Regional Park offers additional water activities as noted by Chris S.: "Nice little lake to kayak on." The park includes rental options for paddlers wanting to explore without bringing their own equipment.
Trail exploration: The extensive trail system at Lebanon Hills Regional Park supports multiple activities. Rico R. mentions: "Great biking and hiking trails. Great amenities. Close to the zoo as well as the city." These multi-use paths provide options for morning walks or all-day adventures.
Day trips to attractions: The campground's proximity to urban areas makes it ideal for combining camping with city attractions. At Willow River State Park Campground, campers appreciate similar opportunities: "The Mall of America was not too far of a drive too, if that's your thing!" notes Keith M., highlighting how campers can enjoy both natural settings and urban entertainment within the same trip.
What campers like
Privacy between campsites: Many campers value the thoughtful spacing of sites, particularly for tent camping. Blair at Lebanon Hills Regional Park notes: "Tent camp sites are far enough from each other that neighbors can't be seen, and we didn't hear them either." This layout creates a more secluded experience despite being in a developed campground.
Variety of site types: The campground offers options for different camping styles. Katie C. appreciates this flexibility: "Sites with full hookups or more remote sites with electric that are more tucked away in the pines." This variety accommodates both RVers wanting full amenities and those seeking more natural surroundings.
Clean facilities: The maintenance standards receive consistent praise from campers. At Baker Campground, Joanne M. reports a similar experience: "The bathrooms were among some of the nicest I've used at a campground. The shower stall was big enough for a meaty human like myself to shower comfortably." Regular cleaning makes extended stays more pleasant.
What you should know
Reservation timing: The popularity of camping near Burnsville means planning ahead is essential. Blair advises: "Reserve early online, most weekends were already reserved by mid May." Sites fill quickly, especially for summer weekends and holidays.
Road noise: While the park feels secluded, its proximity to urban areas means some ambient noise. Similar to what campers experience at Willow River State Park Campground, some report: "Highway noise was noticeable in the evenings." Light sleepers might want to choose sites farther from main roads.
Site sizing clarification: Davis D. notes: "Sites are a little close with little to no privacy in most. Reservation system is weird and the sites are much bigger than they say. All rv sites are the listed length plus 16' for your tow vehicle, which you need to call to find out." This insight helps with selecting appropriate sites when booking.
Tips for camping with families
Playground accessibility: For families with young children, campsite location relative to play areas matters. Angela L. shares from her experience: "Our spot was spacious, and close to the bathrooms and play area. The play area was really nice and looked brand new. Our girls loved making new friends to play with."
Lake activities: Cleary Lake Regional Park offers family-friendly water options nearby. Teresa O. describes: "The camp is great though, 4 or 5 hookups and a private dock and the whole site is private and on a little point so the lake is surrounding you. Only caught a few catfish and bass there but still a great view fishing." This provides additional recreation for families beyond hiking trails.
Multi-generational options: The variety of accommodations supports different comfort levels. At Dakotah Meadows RV Park, visitors appreciate this flexibility: "Great place to stop and rest when traveling through the twin cities. Great price for full hookup," says Jon C., making it suitable for families traveling with members who may need more amenities.
Tips from RVers
Site selection strategy: When camping with an RV at Dakotah Meadows RV Park, Tom D. advises: "We last stayed in side 25, a back in up on the hill. We have also stayed in the pull through sites, but not really a fan of those. Still, I would choose this park over others in the area for the access to 494 and 35W." The hillside sites often provide better spacing and views than pull-throughs.
Full hookup benefits: For longer stays, RVers appreciate complete connections. At Lebanon Hills, Suzanne B. notes: "We just found this campground in September and this year we've been there 3 times and we live in Montana, there's no place I'd rather stay. It has nice clean bathrooms and it's a great place to walk your pets, they do have 3 different areas to camp but we always use the full hook-ups."
Testing new gear: Some RVers use local campgrounds for equipment trials. Erik R. from Lake Auburn Campground shares: "I bought new camping gear and this campground, given its proximity to our house, made for an easy weekend getaway to give the gear a trial run." The accessible location makes it ideal for shakedown trips before longer journeys.
