Located in the northern Twin Cities suburbs, Circle Pines camping destinations sit near the southern edge of the Rum River watershed. The area's oak forest and wetland ecosystem create natural camping corridors within a 30-minute drive of Minneapolis. Summer temperatures typically reach 83°F with evening lows around 65°F, creating comfortable conditions for outdoor sleeping from late May through early September.
What to Do
Water activities on Lake Independence: Baker Campground offers direct access to Lake Independence with canoe, paddle boat and stand-up paddleboard rentals. According to a visitor, "Access to lake independence. A lot of biking trails. Nice clean bathrooms. Nice park for kids just a small hike away. Plus a decent amount of rentals."
Trail exploration at Wild River State Park: The park features extensive river-side trails and oak savanna paths just 45 minutes from Circle Pines. A camper noted, "The park is huge and beautiful. We snowshoed and skied. I really enjoyed the snowshoe hike along the St Croix River and watched the full moon rise."
Splash pad and pool access: Country Camping Tent & RV Park includes heated pool and splash pad facilities for glamping guests. A recent visitor mentioned, "This campground is great for everyone! It's has a heated pool, splash pad area, BIG playground area, indoor game room, HUGE sites!"
What Campers Like
Spacious sites with privacy: Bunker Hills Regional Park offers wooded sites that provide separation between neighbors. According to a reviewer, "This is a beautiful park and the campsites for the most part all seem spacious, and the loop we were in all had decent tree cover."
Backpacking opportunities: Lake Maria State Park features hike-in sites ranging from short walks to longer treks. A camper explained, "Love this park as it offers many backpacking sites with some being very short hikes in and some being longer hikes. Some are lake front and some are more woodsy sites."
Quick access from urban areas: Minneapolis Northwest KOA provides convenient glamping options within 20 minutes of Circle Pines. One visitor shared, "The sites are stacked on top of each other, but there is a pool (unheated) and a cute little camp store."
What You Should Know
Seasonal operation limitations: Most glamping accommodations near Circle Pines operate from early May through mid-October, with some parks like Baker extending slightly longer from April 30 to October 20.
Bug preparation essential: Lake Maria campers frequently mention insect activity. One camper warned, "The black flies were dive bombing the car like a scene from Armageddon... Pack light and bring permethrin-treated clothes during bug season."
Varied bathroom facilities: Afton State Park offers glamping in yurts and cabins but has limited shower access. A visitor reported, "No shortage of lovely trails at Afton to spend your day on," though another noted water access can be limited.
Tips for Camping with Families
Playground and activity access: Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Regional Park offers multiple recreational facilities near glamping sites. A camper reported, "Great walking paths and clean restrooms. Great for a quick weekend camping trip."
Short hike options for young children: Kozy Oaks Kamp provides family-friendly trails and a non-motorized lake perfect for beginners. A visitor explained, "They have a pool, RC track, mini golf, playground, and community room with board games & such. We would have preferred more privacy."
Beach proximity: Several campsites offer swimming beaches within walking distance from glamping accommodations. One camper at Rice Creek noted, "Stayed here when we got our first camper and it is nicely shaded large sites. Great walking paths and clean restrooms."
Tips from RVers
Site selection strategies: When glamping with larger RVs at Baker Park Reserve, one visitor suggests requesting specific sites: "The sites a Baker Park Reserve are larger than average. This is a big campground with a lot of paved bike trails and a nice lake a short walk away."
Utility hookups: Ham Lake Resort provides full hookups for glamping RVs with both 30-amp and 50-amp service available. A camper explained, "There are pull-through sites, back ups, 50 and 30 amp hook ups, and tent sites, covered pavilions, picnic tables and fire pits."
Off-season considerations: Wild River State Park maintains year-round access for glamping in heated cabins. One winter visitor shared, "The campsite was plowed out and had a nice spot for the tent. The sites were far enough apart and it looked like it would be more private when the leaves come in."
