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."
$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."
"When Rice Creek Campground opens up again in April I'd highly recommend going there if all you want is a simple camping experience to get away from the city grind."
"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."
$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."
$16 / night
"Tucked away near the archery range(don’t worry—nobody’s aiming at your pup), this campsite offers a solid patch of peace where dogs can sniff, stretch, and settle in by the fire."
TravelerWe stayed here with a group of hot tent campers in early January. The site is large and had a couple of fire pits. Includes a few picnic tables, and a pit toilet. It's a beautiful open area not far from the parking lot with a gorgeous view of the St. Croix River.
ScoutWe visited Avatan Nudist Campground last July with our two kids (ages 8 and 11) for what was supposed to be a wholesome, body-positive family getaway. The website and brochures paint a perfect picture: serene woods, a sparkling pool, family activities, and a "welcoming community" vibe. And on the surface? Yeah, the grounds are stunning—pristine trails, a well-maintained pool. The facilities are clean, the staff (mostly) polite, and the natural setting is genuinely relaxing. If you're just looking for a quiet spot to shed your clothes and unwind in nature, it checks those boxes.
But dig a little deeper, and Avatan reveals itself as something else entirely—a place that's quietly optimized for adult fun, with kids as an inconvenient footnote they have to tolerate to keep the "family" label. From the moment we arrived, it was clear the real energy was elsewhere. Evenings around the fire pits and at the "Squirrel's" (code for the bar area) had this unmistakable swinger-party undercurrent. Lots of lingering glances, couples disappearing into the woods or private cabins, and a vibe that felt more like a discreet resort for the lifestyle crowd than a spot for building sandcastles with the little ones. Our kids picked up on it fast—whispers about "grown-up games" and awkward questions we had to deflect. The camp "tolerates" families, sure, but it's obvious the core membership would prefer a child-free zone. Activities for kids are minimal: a basic playground and the occasional nature hike, while the adults get themed nights, "sensual yoga," and late-night mixers that go until dawn.
What really soured the experience was the toxic underbelly of the community itself. This place is a powder keg of power struggles, with a small cadre of long-time board members and "elders" locked in a perpetual cold war. Gossip flows like the creek itself—endless whispers about who's sleeping with whom, who's "stealing" prime cabin spots, or who's cozying up to the President for favors. We overheard more drama in one week than in a season of reality TV. Cliques form fast: the "party crew" vs. the "purists," the swingers vs. the swingers-who-pretend-they're-not. As newcomers (and parents, no less), we felt like outsiders crashing a private club. Smiles were surface-level; the second you stepped away, the backstabbing started.
And then there's the elephant in the (clothing-optional) room: the camp's ugly history with sexual predators. We didn't know it going in, but after a few days, the stories trickled out from sympathetic members—multiple incidents over the years involving members who turned out to be registered offenders or worse, preying on the vulnerable in this "trust-based" environment. The rules around anonymity are ironclad: no photos, no last names, "what happens at Avatan stays at Avatan." It's sold as protecting privacy in a nudist space, which sounds noble until you realize it shields the creeps. Anyone who dares speak up—whether it's a parent noticing a sketchy guy lingering too long near the kids' area or a survivor sharing a red flag—is immediately branded a "troublemaker," "paranoid," or "anti-community." We've heard of families getting shamed in group meetings, then quietly asked to leave for "disrupting the harmony." Evictions happen fast if you rock the boat, all in the name of keeping the peace and the paying members happy.
Look, we're no prudes. Nudism can be liberating, and we've been to other resorts where it felt truly inclusive and safe. But Avatan? It's a divided house built on denial. The adult-party atmosphere thrives because the kids are an afterthought, and the predator problem festers because calling it out gets you exiled. If you're a child-free couple into the full swinger scene, this might be your paradise—plenty of like-minded folks and zero judgment. But if you're a family hoping for that advertised "safe, empowering space"? Steer clear. Your kids deserve better than being tolerated in a place where silence is golden and the wrong questions get you blacklisted. We won't be back, and I hope this review saves someone else the regret.
RangerSo, I think you know what you are signing up for here when you stay camp at the backpacking site at Afton, but let me fill in some of the blanks. #1 yes, the hill climb is as big of an effort as other people have said. You will feel like you earned your dinner. I may have found a hack for this, but more in that later. #2 the site are mostly private. I stayed on site #12. I could see (and they could have seen me) site #9, but thankfully no one was there. That would have been a bummer to have other looking into my site. There is even a semi-worn path between 12 and 9. They would make a good combo if you have a group. Other than that, totally secluded. As far space at #12, you could build as big of a tent structure there as you would need, easily room for a massive 16’x24’ palace (if you would dare to carry it) or anything smaller. An Eagle Scout project built hammock posts at this site, so it is ideal for that set up. #3 the campground amenities are very nice. The solar powered water works great year round, the two pits toilets (if you can even call them that) are very new and nice. And the coolest campground feature is the cut your own firewood station. I went a little overboard since it was so nice and had a way bigger fire than I needed. Bring your own saw and you will love it too. #4 After walking around the park, I discovered a possible hack. There is an unmarked entrance to the park on the north side. Instead of walking all my gear back to the parking lot, I walked the .5 miles to the service entrance, dropped my pack, and then walked the 1.8 miles back to the parking lot. I tend to carry too much. The flat short walk to drop my gear was worth it. Then I drop around the park and picked up my stuff. Probably not MN DNR endorsed way to do it, but I was proud of my discovery. All in, this is a unique and wonderful camping experience. Highly recommend.
TravelerIf you’re just passing through especially in the off-season, this is an extremely convenient location. Propane run out in the middle of the night? They got you. Need more beer? They got you. 10/10 if you just need a place to sleep. View is irrelevant
GuideNice spot with plenty of space between sites, which gives you some privacy. It’s right off a busy road, so you’ll hear some traffic noise. The hunters were out during my stay, so there were gunshots throughout the day, but that’s to be expected this time of year. Overall, a good spot for a quick overnight stay and it’s conveniently close to the cities.
RangerI was looking for a secluded backpack in site where I could have a peaceful 48 hours of prayer and solitude, and this site was perfect! I also wanted one that wasn't too far remote, since I hadn't been on a proper backpacking trip since the pandemic hit. And as a solo female camper, I wanted a reserved site so that there would be a record of my location for safety reasons. I'm so glad I chose the Deer Creek site, and will almost definitely stay here again at some point!
This site is accessible by either hiking or canoe. It took me about 30 minutes to hike in from the visitor center parking lot. There is easy access to river water to boil or filter from the canoe landing.
This site was incredibly spacious. It includes a fire ring and picnic table overlooking the creek and river. It also includes 2 large tent pads (look out for widow makers, one of the tent pads is under a dead tree!). It also has a spot nestled in some pine trees that could fit a smaller tent, canoe storage, or I found it to be the perfect spot to hang my hammock! (This would be a great site for hammock camping.) So if you're camping with a small group of people this would be a great site. It also includes a trail to a fairly private latrine, and a bear box (the park ranger warned me that there are bears in the park although I did not see any.) I also found plenty of dead down and dry wood and birch bark on the ground for building fires.
This site is great for a one nigjt stay on a longer backpacking or canoeing trip, but also great for camping out at for a couple of nights. I stayed for two, and it connects to all the major trails in the park, so I was able to use it as a great base for hiking and seeing the beautiful changing leaves. In the morning I hiked North to do the Riverside trail and looped back through the woods. Then in the afternoon I did the Deer Creek loop, which is a shared horse and hiking trail. It was so nice to he able to hike out to some of the best trails in the park directly from my site.
This site felt remarkably remote for being only an hour from the twin cities and a mile from the parking lot! I stayed there Thursday -Saturday, and after leaving the parking lot on Thursday did not see another human being for the rest of the day, and Friday not until I hit the main trails! There was no one else staying within at least a mile of me. I was even able to see fantastic stars Friday night. There was amazing wildlife - a blue heron frequented the site, and I heard all types of owls. Two bald eagles had a nest across the river so I got to see and hear them the whole trip, too- it was absolutely magical!
This site has a great view of both sunrise and sunset. Thursday night there was a gorgeous sunset over the woods reflected in deer Creek. Both mornings I woke up to watch the sunrise while drinking my coffee next to the fire (it was freezing!!!). Watching the sun rise over the river and fog roll over th water and evaporate while eagles soared was truly magical. Having an easy backpack in site surrounded by water on two sides and with views of the sunrise and sunset like this was so incredible!!!
GuideThey have two lots for RV and travel trailer use although the first lot only has two spaces and the second one has a total of five. The five space spot has no water or electric hook up but was a great place for me to test out my new solar set up. Word to the wise, gates ACTUALLY close at 10pm, there's no way to contact anyone and I had to walk about a mile in parked outside the gate 😅. The White Pine lot (5 spaces) has a central bathroom/shower building. The park was jam packed Friday/Saturday but a ghosts town the remains sun/mon/tue I stayed.
ScoutFor 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!
TravelerNever again, $81 for an electric only site. Come on Wisconsin let's jab the out of .staters. Entry fee to parks, extra for out of staters. The site was secluded but not close to level. Not close to the facilities. I am going back to SD. They don't add fees because you are from out of town, they actually encourage out of state tourists. Last trip to a Wisconsin state park . And the showers were closed for the season, this is 10/9/25. But still full price and just an electric only site. No thanks Wisconsin
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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