Erin F.
Guide
GuideSpirit Mountain Campground
Great Basecamp
Mountain bikers and hikers will love this beautiful treed campground. Level sites that are spread out enough to offer some privacy. Bath house was old, but adequate.
Glamping near Carlton, MN
5 campgrounds with availability next weekend
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Jay Cooke State Park Campground houses premium glamping accommodations amid northeast Minnesota's scenic woodlands, offering a luxury outdoor experience just minutes from Carlton. The park's upscale canvas tents and glamping cabins feature comfortable beds with linens, electricity, and private decks overlooking the St. Louis River gorge. These accommodations blend wilderness immersion with modern comforts, including climate control systems for year-round enjoyment. Spirit Mountain Campground and Big Lake Shores also provide elevated glamping options with water-view sites and upgraded amenities. Each glamping site includes picnic tables, nearby modern shower facilities, and private fire rings for evening relaxation. "The site was nice and secluded but still close to water and bathrooms, perfect for experiencing nature without roughing it," one guest shared.
Extensive hiking networks, including the famous swinging bridge over the St. Louis River, create exceptional outdoor experiences directly from glamping doorsteps. Glamping guests enjoy privileged access to the park's 50+ miles of scenic trails, kayaking opportunities, and professional naturalist programs without sacrificing comfort. The glamping resorts maintain proximity to Duluth's dining options while preserving a wilderness feel. Winter visitors appreciate heated accommodation options that support cold-weather activities like snowshoeing and cross-country skiing across 30+ miles of groomed trails. According to a camper, "We have stayed in winter and summer, exploring so many trails on our snowshoes and cross country skis in the winter and enjoying mountain bike rides in summer—the accommodations were well maintained with very clean facilities."
Best Glamping Campgrounds near Carlton (19)
1. Jay Cooke State Park Campground
"I stayed at two sites, the second being 41E, which has electric."
"Another oddity is that some fire pits are on the opposite side of your doors, but no biggie. The bathrooms are wonderfully new and central to all the camping loops."
48 Sites AvailableAvailable next weekend
from $23 - $90 / night
2. Spirit Mountain Campground
"The downhill mountain biking is awesome (the kids still want to go back) and the Adventure Park was a lot of fun too - and a short walk from camp. "
"Nice Campsites mostly secluded in the woods. Campsites are not to close to eachother giving you the privacy you want. Great views by the ski lift of Duluth!"
3. Cloquet-Duluth KOA
"We are KOA members (who stay at a lot of KOAs) - our 1st visit at this Cloquet KOA was Sept 2020: The staff were friendly."
"Nice campground...a little rural but close to town. Helpful staff, decent size sites and hookups. Pool area was nice but busy on our stay. Great family camping."
4. Fond du Lac City
"Great place.Plenty to do.People that work there are freindly and helpful.Great mountain bike trails across the road,and hiking trails only right down the road about 6 blocks.Lots of Canoe and kayak rentals.Bath"
"kind campground hosts with quiet but well-used atvs
-easy lake access with docks and shoreline
-free wifi
-this is a good day-of campsite if you’re looking for an adventure or a fun story to tell!"
5. Big Lake Shores & The Lounge
"Refrigerator, microwave, queen bed along side a bunk; double on the bottom bunk and a twin up top. The neighborhood is welcoming."
6. Nemadji Mobile Home and RV Park
7. Northland Camping & RV Park
8. Willow River Campground — General C.C. Andrews State Forest
"Kind of off the beaten path. You have to take the Willow River exit and go through the town a little bit. There's a small sign next to the Squirrel Cage restaurant and bar."
"There were mosquitoes a plenty due to the lake. Good spacing between sites and wooded enough to almost forget how close you are to i35."
1 Site AvailableAvailable next weekend
from $50 / night
9. Banning RV Park and Campground
"If you are planning to explore the Kettle River and Banning State Park nearby, this is a good alternative to camping within the State Park itself."
"Staff was extremely friendly and helpful. The bathrooms were very clean. The fenced in dog park was a big bonus for our pup. The grounds hosted outdoor games and volleyball/basketball courts."
Check Availabilityfrom $25 - $60 / night
10. Bois Brule Campground — Brule River State Forest
"If it was simply about the location, this would get five plus stars because it's so beautiful!"
"Cost for non-residents is $21 for the campsite and another $11 daily state park entrance fee. So, $32 for the same type of campground as a USFS at about $15."
22 Sites AvailableAvailable next weekend
from $20 / night
Drive Time
- 17 min from Duluth, MN
- 1 hr 53 min from Minneapolis, MN
- 2 hrs 7 min from St. Cloud, MN
- 2 hrs 30 min from Eau Claire, WI
Recent Glamping Photos near Carlton, MN
14 Photos of 19 Carlton Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Glamping Reviews near Carlton, MN
183 Reviews of 19 Carlton Campgrounds
- TTanya L.
TravelerJay Cooke State Park Campground
Crowded but lovely stop
A weekend in October...peak color but the campground is crowded and pretty noisy up until 8 pm ish when it does quiet down a bit. Would stay again, just when it's less crowded.
- MMelissa S.
ScoutPardun’s Jack Pine Campground
This is for Pardun’s Tube Rental. Don't give this man your business!
If I could give this company negative stars I would. I would never recommend this company to even my worst enemy. This was our second experience with them. The first time took a long time but we knew it wasn’t their fault because the river was low and that’s out of their control. Our tubes were also good. The owner’s dad(Jerry?) picked us up and was so nice and sweet. We laughed at all our hiccups along the way.
This time around, it was just my friend and I and we were having a wonderful time for the first 2.5-3 hours. Then we realized we weren’t moving and the wind was blowing us upstream. We kept trying to go, waiting to see the landing. By the 5 hour mark we kept trying to call Pardun’s to mention that we were trying to come back and to let them know that we’d probably be later than expected and to see if they had any tips. Since the cell service is almost non existent, the calls would not go through. By that time, we didn’t know what to else to do but call 911. By the time we were able to get a hold of someone to ask for help, we were nearing 6 hours on the river. They called Pardun’s to let them know and the owner(Guy?) and his son were waiting to pick us up. As soon as they saw us, the snarky disrespectful remarks started and they began making fun of us. The owner was relentless. It was one rude remark after another. This was at about 9pm. When I started crying and asking him to stop talking to me, the a-hole dug in even more and had to get the last word in. It kept on until I screamed at him to shut the F up. I couldn’t take it anymore. He then stopped and started trying to kick us off the bus. I was sitting in the seat, sobbing while my friend was nicely asking him to just please go and please stop with the comments. He wouldn’t. Once we got back to Danbury, he stopped the bus and walked away. His son helped us get our stuff out and his wife eventually came out to make sure that we had our keys and let us know she had called the other people involved to let them know we were back. The son was initially being kind of a jerk when we got on the bus but he apologized to us soon after. His waste of a human father didn’t.
Please do not give this man your business. I have never been so humiliated and made to feel as awful as he made me feel. The blatant disrespect and language from the minute he saw was unbelievable. This man is the most awful human I have ever encountered. I sure hope he treats his wife and his mother with a little more compassion and empathy.
- AAnita L.Guide
Spirit Mountain Campground
Spirit Mountain Campground
Private sites, W/E, Close to downtown Duluth. Our site was just big enough for our 38' 5th wheel with slides on both sides. They delivered wood which was $9 for 5 pieces. RR and showers close to this site. Toilets fairly new, but showers paint peeling and could use remodeling.
- JJeremy J.Scout
Old Logging Trail Campground — St. Croix State Park
Nice campground, but…
The campground is nice and has more woods/bushes and more privacy than the other two campgrounds in the park. The bathroom/showers were relatively clean and functioned well with nice hot showers. The electric sites functioned as expected but, they all seem very well used. Not much in the way of grass (bit of a drought at the time) and lots of little bits of garbage all over our campsite. All the electrical sites were occupied while we were there and a lot of the other sites near the modern bathroom were occupied. If you want privacy and a less worn campsite I would suggest booking a non-electrical site further away from modern bathroom. Oh, another plus water from spigots around campground was good.
Cari E.
RangerSpirit Mountain Campground
Convenient when the SP are booked
If you’re hopping between state parks in the north shore area and need something near Duluth, this campground is a solid option if there’s nothing else available. Time has not been overly friendly and the park and campground are somewhat run down, but there are still upsides. It’s close to local stores and the sites are shaded and actually quite lovely, but beware that MANY of the sites on the far west loop (45-70) will not be level. Most also do not have a dedicated space for a tent, but there is usually ample space on the gravel drives (bring extra padding). This loop is also not ideal for larger RVs. Verizon cell service was manageable and if you scout the site images online, you can find spots with northern-facing openings in the trees for Starlink if needed. Water spigots in this loop are also well placed and the water was quite chilly. Now for the ugly…the bathrooms in this loop are serviceable, but if you touch the wall or floor while showering, you might want to star over. If you forgot your shower shoes, you won’t be showering. Older bath houses are acceptable, but this one was plain filthy beyond simple age.
- Cari E.Ranger
Jay Cooke State Park Campground
Everything is convenient
I stayed at two sites, the second being 41E, which has electric. This loop is perhaps the most central to the bath house, but all are conveniently located nearby and the dump station isn’t too far (but far enough to stay out of sight, out of mind). The bath house is fully handicap friendly and the shower heads can all the raised and lowered, and there are wheelchair ramps up to the facility. The dirt roads are miraculously pothole free and the drinking water spigots are blissfully cold if you’re here during a heatwave. Site 41E, like quite a few actually, has the fire pit behind/on the wrong side of your rv door, but no biggie. The biggest downside is that the site is rather unlevel, but if you are able to scoot all the way to the right (closest to the electrical tower), it’s not so bad. The bridge/park office/store is a quick 7 min walk, and the bath house is less than a 2 min walk.
When I was staying, we were hit with hazardous levels of wildfire smoke, and I was so impressed that the park staff opened visitor’s center early so that campers would have a place to escape the smoke. I’ve never stayed at any park where the staff goes so far above and beyond.
- Cari E.Ranger
Jay Cooke State Park Campground
Woodsy Perfection
Every site is nestled into the woods, which is cozy and adds the added benefit of privacy. That said, the extra big rigs wouldn’t be a good fit—one loop only allows for rigs under 25’ in length due to a tight corner. Another oddity is that some fire pits are on the opposite side of your doors, but no biggie.
The bathrooms are wonderfully new and central to all the camping loops. There are men’s and women’s sides for toilets/sinks and independent shower rooms—all handicap friendly. The park really outdid themselves here, even the building is beautifully designed.
Firewood is for sale at the camp office along with your typical camping goods and souvenirs, and the park staff is wonderful to interact with. There are black bears, but no bear boxes, so be smart with your food. I had 1-2 bars of LTE on Verizon, and if you need Starlink access, try to find a site that runs north/south more than east/west because there are obviously trees everywhere.
Site 5 is near a small dumpster, which turned out to be rather convenient—there is a line of trees/brush for privacy, so don’t let that stop you. There is also an ice cold water spigot behind the site, which was even better—again, trees/brush for privacy. Mostly level, with just the smallest tilt toward the fire pit. 2 minute walk to the bathrooms, conveniently located near a walking path to the park office/bridge.
- Stina M.Guide
Paint Rock Springs Campground — St. Croix State Park
Lots for kids to do, big place
Was a nice place. I didn’t see any truly private sites. All are stacked on top of each others. I didn’t look around too much, it was just a quick overnight stop.
Guide to Carlton
Jay Cooke State Park provides four seasons of camping opportunities 23 miles southwest of Duluth. The park sits along the St. Louis River with multiple camping options across its 8,938 acres of northern Minnesota forest. Year-round tent sites, RV spots with hookups, and backpacking locations are available at elevations ranging from 610 to 1,310 feet above sea level.
What to do
Hiking adventures: Jay Cooke State Park Campground offers extensive trail networks beyond the main swinging bridge. "Love this park! Well maintained campground with plenty to do. You can bike, run, hike and camp," notes Katie E. The park maintains both family-friendly paths and more challenging routes throughout its diverse terrain.
River exploration: The St. Louis River provides paddling opportunities with varying water levels. "I spent a day trip with friends at Jay Cook. The water levels were low, so we clambered around on the sculpted granite rocks that line the river and falls, dipping on and out of pools and up slick rock faces," shares Jared S. from Jay Cooke State Park Campground.
Mountain biking: Spirit Mountain Campground connects directly to trail systems designed for riders. "Heavily wooded and beautiful! Very close to Duluth. It is a mountain bikers paradise. Loved it!" writes Michelle P. The trails accommodate various skill levels with technical sections for experienced riders.
What campers like
Secluded backpacking sites: Jay Cooke offers remote camping options away from the main campground. "Very pretty and secluded! It was pretty buggy and ticks were bad, but that's to be expected. Bog/marsh was beautiful with some wildlife and was generally a very pleasant place to camp. Had a bear box as well which was great!" reports Lydia N. about the Lost Lake backpacking site.
River access: Fond du Lac City provides direct water access for boats and fishing. "Great place. Plenty to do. People that work there are friendly and helpful. Great mountain bike trails across the road, and hiking trails only right down the road about 6 blocks. Lots of Canoe and kayak rentals. Also a huge plus the Campground has a private boat landing to the St. Louis River," explains Crosby W.
Off-the-beaten-path locations: Willow River campground offers a quieter alternative to the popular glamping in Carlton, Minnesota. "Kind of off the beaten path. You have to take the Willow River exit and go through the town a little bit. There's a small sign next to the Squirrel Cage restaurant and bar. Usually hardly anyone is here. They have picnic tables, pit toilets and water," shares Nigel N. from Willow River.
What you should know
Site selection matters: Camping spots vary significantly in privacy and amenities across the Carlton area. "Every campsite seems to be well-treed and relatively private, providing a perfect atmosphere to just enjoy nature from your campsite," explains Krista T. about Jay Cooke. She adds, "The layout of most campsites is kind of tight. If you are camping with multiple tents it might be a good idea to get multiple sites OR just do your research."
Frequently Asked Questions
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campsite near Carlton, MN?
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Carlton, MN?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Carlton, MN is Jay Cooke State Park Campground with a 4.7-star rating from 72 reviews.
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