Camping options near Burnsville, Minnesota range from secluded RV parks to full-service regional campgrounds across Dakota County and surrounding areas. Most campgrounds in this region sit at elevations between 700-900 feet above sea level, with seasonal operations typically running from mid-April through October. Winter camping remains limited to Town & Country RV Park in Savage, which maintains year-round accessibility.
What to do
Canoeing and kayaking on Cleary Lake: Cleary Lake Regional Park offers peaceful paddling opportunities with rentals available. "The park also has a golf course and is very well kept! We really want to use one of the large group camp sites for a weekend party!" according to Lili R. at Cleary Lake Regional Park.
River tubing expeditions: Country Camping RV Park provides organized tubing on the Rum River with shuttle service. "Tubing! They have a bus that takes you into town float back to the campground, love it," reports Tom D. The campground features "floating on the Rum River, swimming pool with splash pad, little camp store, Golf cart rentals!" adds Carol H.
Cycling on regional trails: Baker Park Reserve contains extensive paved trails connecting to wider networks. One visitor noted, "There are nice paved trails around a couple of lakes/ponds for biking, and easy access to the shower and bathroom facilities (which were very nice)." Another reviewer mentioned, "A lot of biking trails. Nice clean bathrooms. Nice park for kids just a small hike away."
What campers like
Private tent sites near water: Some of the most appreciated sites are those offering water proximity and seclusion. At Lebanon Hills Regional Park, Blair shares, "Tent camp sites are far enough from each other that neighbors can't be seen, and we didn't hear them either." Another camper noted, "The sites are nice and level, with plenty of space between each one. This feels very much like a nice state park."
Clean, accessible facilities: Many campers highlight facility quality as a major benefit. As Joanne M. states, "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." Another camper mentioned facilities are "cleaned several times a day."
Casino proximity with shuttle service: Dakotah Meadows RV Park offers convenient casino access. According to James and Susan K., "The Casino operates a round trip Shuttle that picks you up and drops you at your site." Beth B. adds that "Security patrols regularly and there is shuttle if you want to visit casino. Pool at hotel is not included."
What you should know
Reservation requirements: Most popular campgrounds fill quickly, particularly during summer. As Jim M. notes at Dakotah Meadows, the campground has "cement parking pads with full hookups. The grass around the lots is very green, lush and well maintained." But reservations can be challenging as Lisa D. points out, "Bad thing is they don't make you pay to make a reservation so people reserve a spot and don't show up."
Connectivity varies by location: Cell service and Wi-Fi performance differs between campgrounds. Chris F. reported at Dakotah Meadows, "wifi is not great, less than 1MB download speeds from our site, and our Verizon service was pretty poor in our spot, max 2 bars."
Urban noise considerations: Some campgrounds experience road or urban noise despite natural settings. At Baker Park Campground, reviewers noted you can "hear road noise — and depending on your site you'll hear the alarm of one of the access gates for the Minnesota Zoo."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Several campgrounds feature dedicated play areas for children. At Lebanon Hills, Angela L. shares, "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."
Swimming options: Country Camping Tent & RV Park offers multiple water recreation options. Beasty B. reports, "it was fantastic great playground and heated pool the spaces were well kept and spaced apart 10-10 would most defiantly go again! A ton for the kids to do!"
Educational activities: Some parks provide nature programming or environmental features. At Baker Park, Alison O. mentioned, "One of the standout features of Campsite C1 is the beautiful rain garden. It adds a touch of tranquility to the surroundings, with its lush greenery and vibrant blooms attracting local wildlife."
Tips from RVers
Site spacing considerations: Town & Country RV Park offers convenience but with limited spacing. Claire M. notes, "It's a nice park but very close compact. Everyone is squeezed in like sardines. Very tight quarters on roads and sites." However, Jennifer H. highlights its location benefits: "It's an easy on and off the interstate, super close to a gas station and RV wash bay."
Service amenities for RVs: Dakotah Meadows RV Park provides specialized RV services. Beth B. observed, "There is fuel on site as well as RV wash station. Bath house and laundry and card controlled ($5 card deposit on check in)... well maintained facilities."
Pet-friendly considerations: Most RV parks welcome pets but have varying accommodations. Beth B. notes at Dakotah Meadows there's a "Dog park available, watch a few spots in fence near bottom where fencing has risen up... little dogs could easily climb under."
