Campgrounds near Champlin, Minnesota feature a mix of developed county parks and private facilities with a range of accommodation options. Bunker Hills Regional Park in Coon Rapids offers tent, RV, cabin and glamping options in a wooded setting just south of Champlin, while Minneapolis Northwest KOA in Maple Grove provides similar amenities approximately 5 miles west of Champlin. The area campgrounds primarily operate seasonally from spring to fall, with most facilities closing by mid-October. Several sites offer both rustic and modern camping experiences within a 20-minute drive of Champlin's city center.
Seasonal considerations shape the camping experience in this region, with most campgrounds operating from late April through mid-October. "Despite being in the middle of the northern suburbs of Minneapolis, this park and campground is surprisingly woodsy, secluded and spacious," notes one visitor about Bunker Hills Regional Park. Advance reservations are recommended, particularly for weekend stays during summer months when facilities reach capacity. The campgrounds typically maintain paved access roads suitable for standard vehicles, though larger RVs may find limited site options at certain locations. Many campgrounds in the area charge separate reservation and daily park entrance fees, which visitors should factor into their budget planning. Winter camping is generally unavailable as facilities close during the colder months.
The suburban location of these campgrounds creates a unique experience where natural settings exist alongside urban conveniences. Campers highlight the wooded privacy at Bunker Hills despite its proximity to suburban amenities. Elm Creek Horse Camp offers equestrian-friendly camping with horse corrals and trail access, though non-equestrian campers are welcome. Site privacy varies considerably across campgrounds, with reviewers noting that Minneapolis Northwest KOA features relatively close sites while Bunker Hills provides more separation between campsites. Several campgrounds in the area complement camping with recreational facilities—Bunker Hills features a water park, disc golf course, and extensive trail networks. For campers seeking a quick escape from the Twin Cities metropolitan area without driving long distances, these campgrounds provide accessible nature experiences within minutes of urban neighborhoods.
$20 - $32 / night
"I was very happy with the trails and accommodations available to me, during my stay."
"It has a golf course, a restaurant is on the grounds, there is a stable with horses/ponies that you can take guided trail rides on, a water park(it is called The Beach, which was very confusing for us"
$21 - $29 / night
"Baker Park near Minneapolis Minnesota was a our camp choice for inexpensive camping on the last leg of our Minnesota vacation in 2017."
"The beaches are some of the best in Minnesota. The bike trails are nearby and plentiful."
"The site was spacious and private-surrounded on 3 sides by trees. The bathrooms were clean. The pool area was clean and without issue."
"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."
$20 - $75 / night
"Kelly's Bar nearby has a great fish fry on Friday. The campground is neat and well managed."
"It 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."
"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."
"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."
$50 / night
"Lots of close camp sites for larger groups near the entrance. The further back you go on the road, the more spread out sites get. There are a few walk-in sites that I absolutely love."
"Just a quick one night trip but a perfect getaway close to home. Very quiet. Camp host was nice . Found a tucked away site that we could park Infront of for more privacy"
$54 - $999 / night
"The map provided was accurate which made locating the cruiser a breeze. There were further instructions inside as well. The RV was immaculate."
$23 - $80 / night
"For a County Park, Lake Elmo has an impressive list of amenities. Before we even get to the campsite let's mention the filtered swimming pond."
"Lake Elmo County Park in Washington County Minnesota is a great park for families."
$20 - $32 / night
"Access to lake is great. Firewood at $7 a bundle doesn't burn, it just smokes. I asked for a refund. Buy firewood elsewhere."
"Beach was closed but we still got some good walks in. Fire ring was a little shallow for my liking so had to get some solid coals going to get dinner on the table."
$24 - $42 / night
"Professional built mtn bike trails for adventure. Camping in Minnesota suburbs. Miles of hiking, horseback riding, cross country ski trails. . perfect for my family's weekend Stay-cation"
"We live about 15 mins. away from this campground. We stayed in the East Loop which is for smaller RVs and tents. it has electricity but no water hookups, however there are water pumps."
ScoutGot a nice spot by the water, big parking spot, little below the spot is an opening towards water with a fire pit. 2-3 bars of service but never had an issue. Worked well. Very private. Bugs weren’t bad either
ScoutI was able to find a campsite not on the road. There was a trail from the parking spot so keep an eye out. Lots of animals saw a turkey and coyote so just be aware. Very pretty and calm. Had to pick up some trash from other campers just a reminder to leave no trace.
TravelerWe stayed here from about 10pm to 6am. There were a ton of people there so it was hard finding somewhere to sleep. Once we did, it was very quiet and we got a good nights rest. There were a couple of cars that passed us in the morning when we left but nothing too crazy. The scenery was very beautiful. This is definitely a great free option if you’re looking for a peaceful spot in the woods to sleep!
TravelerI stayed there with my RV. Most all of the campsites were too small to park it, but I found one at the very end of the park to stay. Although the land itself is beautiful, the locals were reporting me to the DNR officer, who were clearly his friends, and accusing me of things I was not doing. Also, there’s a lot of traffic in and out of there and they fly through there day and night, as well as a lot of gunfire going off a lot of the time. I use T-Mobile service and I was on SOS most of the time. Not very impressed.
GuideSmall pullout area on state forest land. Can walk trail back to tent.
LegendInterstate Park in Wisconsin is just south of HWY 8 on HWY 35. The entrance is located on the west side of HWY 35 in the town of St. Croix Falls. St Croix Falls is a small town with a nice downtown on the river with plenty of restaurants (Dalles House Restaurant and Lounge is a favorite) and places for necessities. There are coffee shops, hotels and even a Wal-Mart nearby. There is also a casino in the town of Turtle Lake about 30 mins away.
The park is home to the western terminus of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail that covers 1200 miles through Wisconsin. The park also offers a Ice Age Interpretive Center which boasts interactive activities and displays of the last Ice Age. The park is also home to several other trails worth discovering.
There are two campgrounds in the park, a North and South campground as well as two group campsites. The South is a bit more rustic. The showers are located at the North campground.
For amenities there are flush toilets and showers. There is a sandy swimming area available as well as boat launch and other water activities.
This park is beautiful especially being on the cliffs of the St. Croix River offering spectacular views through out the park and the area. You can even take the bridge over to Taylor Falls Park Minnesota for more spectacular views as well as other shopping options. If you take this trip, Taylor Falls Park will be on the South and your shopping options will be to your North.
Even being in such a wonderful location with plenty of activities and amenities, I find the camping hard to enjoy at this park for all the noise that generates from the hwy crossing over the river. The sound especially of the semi trucks and their brakes that go all night long. This is the big reason for the average rating for this campground.
GuideNice spot right on the lake. Lots of animal noises! Pretty sunrise/sunset.
GuideGot in late on a Sunday night and there was plenty of space. Most sites are right along the gravel road so not super private. Wouldn’t recommend for large trailers/RVs as sites are small. Found a couple sets of deer bones right next to my site, not sure if it’s from hunters dumping their waste or coyotes but keep an eye out either way.
GuideKind of confusing for first time. Was not sure where I could camp. But then found out it's the spots right along road. Beautiful. Some good spots. Ended up in a pull thru around w view.
Campsites near Champlin, Minnesota typically close for the season by mid-October, with most reopening in late April when temperatures consistently rise above freezing. The area sits at approximately 860 feet above sea level within the Rum River watershed, creating a terrain that ranges from wooded ravines to open prairie. Most camping facilities in the area maintain gravel camping pads rather than paved ones, which can become muddy during spring thaws or after heavy rainfall.
Trail exploration: Hiking and biking paths surround nearly every camping destination near Champlin. At Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Regional Park, campers can access extensive walking networks from their sites. "We spent a great time walking the trails, it was always kind of exciting to see what random feature was tucked seamlessly into the next bend," notes one visitor. The park maintains both paved and unpaved trails suitable for various skill levels.
Fishing opportunities: Multiple lakes within a 20-minute drive of Champlin offer fishing access. At Ham Lake Resort, visitors can utilize the boat launch to access fishing spots. "The campground has a couple of ponds, as well as access to Ham Lake where the watercraft is launched," explains a reviewer. Species typically caught include bass, crappie and northern pike.
Water activities: Swimming and boating remain popular throughout summer months. Lake Elmo County Park Reserve features a unique swimming option that combines natural elements with pool-like features. "They have a home made lake that has a sand bottom but it has chlorine like a pool so no weeds. Great for swimming," a visitor reports about this distinctive amenity.
Privacy variations: Site seclusion differs dramatically between campgrounds, affecting the camping experience. Minneapolis Northwest KOA offers varying levels of privacy based on site location. "We tent camped here for a night while passing through. It's a basic KOA with a few amenities. The lots were really big and we had no one near us, so it was nice and private," writes one camper who stayed in the back section. This contrasts with front area sites that tend to be more densely occupied.
Clean facilities: Well-maintained bathrooms consistently receive positive mention. Lebanon Hills Regional Park earns particular praise for its restroom upkeep. "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," shares one visitor. Many facilities receive daily cleaning, sometimes multiple times per day.
Urban access: Proximity to services while maintaining natural settings ranks highly with visitors. "For being in the middle of the northern suburbs of Minneapolis, this park and campground is surprisingly woodsy, secluded and spacious," notes one reviewer about a local option. Most sites maintain cell service, with campers reporting 3-4 bars at most locations.
Seasonal pests: Bug activity can affect camping experiences, particularly during summer months. Rice Creek Campgrounds receives specific mention regarding insect activity. "My husband and I paid for one night at a non electric drive in tent site... As we slowly whined down a gravel road the trees became more dense, our site seemed perfect for the two of us! That is when we started noticing the horseflies were making it known that we were 'trespassing on their turf'," explains one camper who struggled with persistent insects.
Firewood considerations: Quality varies between campgrounds, with availability sometimes limited. "Many campsites are fantastic with good spacing and shade. Access to lake is great. Firewood at $7 a bundle doesn't burn, it just smokes. I asked for a refund. Buy firewood elsewhere," advises one visitor about their experience at a local park.
Reservation requirements: Planning ahead becomes essential during peak season. Most campgrounds near Champlin require reservations, particularly for weekend stays. Many campers recommend booking at least 3-4 weeks in advance for summer weekends, with some popular sites filling months ahead.
Playground access: Recreation areas provide entertainment options at several campgrounds. Baker Campground - Baker Park Reserve offers multiple play spaces. "For our first time camping, this was a great site! It was very clean, had friendly staff, and was close to a really fun park for our kids. We will be back!" reports a first-time camping family.
Educational opportunities: Nature programs operate at select locations during summer months. "On Saturday nights they have a campground program for the kids and families to watch," notes a parent about one local park. These ranger-led activities typically run 30-60 minutes and focus on local wildlife and ecology.
Site selection: Space considerations matter when camping with children. "The sites are good sized, and the bathroom/showers are great. With great fishing, playground, swimming, and biking trails very nearby, the kids were kept as busy as they wanted to be," explains a family camper who visited Baker Park Reserve.
Hookup variations: Electric access differs between campgrounds, with many offering multiple options. Ann Lake provides varying levels of site development. "30' class C motor home. Some overhanging branches on the road in scrape the top and sides. Campsites are nice, mowed, gravel parking. Sites range from open and flat to secluded and a little hilly," explains an RV camper. Low-hanging branches can create access challenges for larger rigs at some locations.
Site length accuracy: Reservation systems may not fully account for tow vehicle space. "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," advises an RVer who stayed at Lebanon Hills Regional Park.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best campgrounds near Champlin, Minnesota?
Several excellent campgrounds are located near Champlin. Baker Campground - Baker Park Reserve is highly recommended for inexpensive camping with well-maintained facilities and is managed by Three Rivers Parks. William O'Brien State Park Campground offers beautifully groomed trails, great amenities including toilets, and is perfect for families with new campers. Other nearby options include Bunker Hills Regional Park and Elm Creek Horse Camp, all providing convenient access to outdoor recreation while staying close to the Twin Cities metro area.
Are there RV parks with full hookups near Champlin?
Yes, there are several RV-friendly options near Champlin. Minneapolis Northwest KOA offers full hookup sites and is big-rig friendly, making it convenient for RVers. Ham Lake Resort is another option within a short drive from Champlin. For those looking for a temporary overnight spot, Cabela's Rogers, MN allows overnight parking, though it's worth noting it can be noisy due to its proximity to I-94. Rice Creek Campgrounds also accommodates RVs with various amenities including water and toilet facilities.
Is Cleary Lake Regional Park a good camping option near Champlin?
Cleary Lake Regional Park isn't currently known for developed camping facilities. Better alternatives near Champlin include Lebanon Hills Regional Park, which offers excellent family camping with amenities including electric hookups, water pumps, and hiking trails. Another great option is Lake Elmo County Park Reserve, which features impressive amenities including a filtered swimming pond with sandy beach, hiking trails, horseback riding, and boating opportunities, making it an excellent family-friendly alternative to Cleary Lake.
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