Best Tent Camping near Chanhassen, MN
Tent camping options near Chanhassen, Minnesota include several established campgrounds within an hour's drive. Lake Maria State Park Campground offers backpacking-style tent sites that require a hike of approximately one mile from the parking area. Afton State Park Campground provides secluded walk-in tent sites situated on bluffs overlooking the St. Croix River, with most requiring a moderate uphill hike of about a mile from the parking area.
Most tent sites in the area feature level tent pads, fire rings, and picnic tables. Lake Maria's backcountry sites include food lockers for secure storage, while Afton provides a communal firewood pile where campers can cut their own wood with provided saws. Both parks maintain vault toilets near the camping areas, though campers should bring their own toilet paper. Water access varies by location, with Afton offering a solar-powered well pump year-round and Lake Maria providing water at the parking area before heading to backcountry sites.
Areas farther from the Twin Cities typically offer more seclusion and quieter camping experiences. According to one visitor at Lake Maria, "The sites are about a mile hike in. We went in late April and were able to hammock camp. It felt isolated even though other sites were nearby." The terrain at these parks provides varied camping experiences, with some sites nestled in wooded areas and others situated in open prairie settings. Tent campers at Afton State Park can access hiking trails directly from their sites, with paths leading through rolling hills and down to the St. Croix River. During summer months, mosquitoes can be abundant, particularly at Lake Maria, so proper repellent is essential. Winter camping is available at both parks for experienced campers, with snowshoes often necessary to access the backcountry tent sites.
