RV camping near Chanhassen, Minnesota offers access to a variety of parks within 20-45 minutes of this southwest Twin Cities suburb. The area sits at approximately 950 feet elevation with numerous lakes including Lake Minnetonka to the north and Lake Waconia to the west. Winter camping options remain limited, with only a few campgrounds like Town & Country in Savage operating year-round, though water hookups may be winterized.
What to do
Water recreation at Baker Park Reserve: Located in Medina, this park surrounds Lake Independence with swimming beaches and boat rentals. "There are 2 swimming beaches: 1 for the campground and one for all of the day visitors. You can rent canoes, paddle boats and SUP boards," notes a camper at Baker Campground.
Tubing adventures: The Rum River provides a popular summer activity near Isanti. "They have a bus that takes you into town float back to the campground, love it," explains a visitor at Country Camping RV Park. The river has a "very clean and sandy bottom," according to campers.
Golf courses: Several campgrounds are located near golf facilities. Cleary Lake Regional Park includes a golf course that's "reasonably priced for those interested," according to a recent reviewer. The park is "jam packed Friday/Saturday but a ghost town" during weekdays.
What campers like
Clean facilities: Shower buildings and bathrooms receive consistent praise. "Amazing bathroom/Showers. Quiet, lots of flies, good spot overall," reports a camper at Cleary Lake Regional Park. Another notes this park has "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."
Family-friendly activities: Campgrounds offer numerous recreational options beyond hiking. "It has a heated pool, splash pad area, BIG playground area, indoor game room, HUGE sites! You can either relax in the pool or even take a ride down the rum river in a rented canoe, tube, or kayak," shares a visitor at Country Camping.
Site privacy levels: Campground designs vary significantly in terms of spacing. "Lots of good trees and space between campgrounds which isn't always the case at the regional parks," notes a Cleary Lake camper. The park's hike-in sites are "super close to the car so it doesn't even require much work."
What you should know
Reservation timing: Many parks fill completely during summer weekends. "We lucked out and were able to stay 2 nights without reservations...only had to move because they were fully booked for the 4th," reports a camper at Dakotah Meadows RV Park.
Seasonal patterns: Some parks experience dramatic attendance fluctuations between weekends and weekdays. Gates at certain parks lock at specific times: "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."
Site amenities consistency: Not all sites within a single campground offer identical hookups or features. A camper at Cokato Lake RV Resort notes there are "heated pool, lake with beach, boat launch area just block away, tennis/pickle ball, mini golf, resort store with ice cream, goat park, paved roads and much more."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Several parks feature dedicated play areas. "The golfing nearby that seemed reasonably priced for those interested," notes a Cleary Lake camper. Baker Park Reserve includes "a nice park for kids just a small hike away."
Entertainment options: Indoor and outdoor recreation choices help during inclement weather. "Game room small pool unfortunately all closed due to COVID but super cute little park," reported a visitor at Town & Country Campground.
Group camping availability: Larger family reunions can take advantage of dedicated group sites. "We always stay at the Cleary point group camp and we love it... 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."
Tips from RVers
Site selection strategy: At some parks, specific areas offer better experiences. "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," advises an RV camper at Dakotah Meadows, adding the park's "website has an incomplete campsite map showing only the lower sites between the pond and road."
Solar capabilities: For those with solar setups, some parks offer boondocking opportunities. A visitor at Cleary Lake Regional Park mentioned using the no-hookup area to "test out my new solar set up."
Road noise considerations: Proximity to busy roads can affect camping quality. A camper at St. Cloud-Clearwater RV Park suggests choosing sites away from main roads: "We were located near the casino road, which has an occasional loud car, even at night."
