RV sites near Circle Pines, Minnesota cluster along the Rum River and surrounding lakes in Anoka County, where the terrain consists primarily of gently rolling hills and mixed woodlands at an elevation of 860-900 feet. Most campgrounds open from early May through mid-October, with July temperatures averaging 71-85°F. Weather patterns can change rapidly, with afternoon thunderstorms common during summer months.
What to do
River recreation on the Rum River: At Country Camping Tent & RV Park on the Rum River, water activities are a major attraction. According to David G., "The tubing is a plus. The river is very clean and sandy bottom." Many campers rent tubes, canoes, or kayaks for floating trips along the river. As Tom D. notes, "Tubing! They have a bus that takes you into town float back to the campground, love it."
Mini-golf and games: St. Cloud-Clearwater RV Park provides on-site recreation beyond swimming. S L. reports the campground has "a 9 hole mini golf, shuffleboard, salt water pool, and a lobby/gift shop." The park also offers "a nice seating area for those hot or raining days with free arcade." Activities typically run from morning until dusk throughout the camping season.
Wildlife viewing: Seasonal campsites often border natural areas. Dan O. from Mississippi Riverwood RV Park describes "large wooded lots, most facing the river or wildlife pond." Binoculars are recommended for spotting local birds and animals. Morning and evening hours typically yield the best wildlife viewing opportunities.
What campers like
Spacious sites: Campers frequently mention the generous spacing between sites at campgrounds near Circle Pines. At Country Camping RV Park, Spencer C. praised the "HUGE sites" noting "Max trailer length that I've seen here is 70'. Anyone can fit in here!" Carol H. agrees, mentioning the "great variety of things to do for everyone. Group sites, tent sites, covered wagon sites!"
Clean facilities: Campground cleanliness ranks high among visitor priorities. Heidi H. at St. Cloud-Clearwater RV Park notes "Clean bathrooms with hot water, clean laundry room." Cheri W. stayed for "a little more than a month" and recommends the "friendly staff, quiet during the week and busy on the weekends. Nice pool, laundry facility, nice restrooms with showers."
Family-friendly amenities: Parents appreciate campgrounds with multiple activities. At Country Camping Tent & RV Park on the Rum River, Beasty B. shares: "I stayed here 3 weeks ago with my wife and 2 young children and it was fantastic great playground and heated pool the spaces were well kept and spaced apart." Aaron L. describes St. Cloud-Clearwater as "100% Gem" with "so much to do for them. Pool, pool table, soccer table, mini golf, swing set, clubhouse, 3 wheel bike racing, and water balloons wars."
What you should know
Seasonal operation: Most RV parks near Circle Pines operate during warm months only. Country Camping RV Park runs from "May 1 - Oct 1" while St. Cloud-Clearwater RV Park opens from "May 3 to Oct 13." Always check current operating dates before planning trips, as weather conditions may affect opening and closing times.
Reservation requirements: During peak times, advance booking is essential. Sites fill quickly, especially for weekends. At Dakotah Meadows RV Park, Lisa D. notes an issue where "they don't make you pay to make a reservation so people reserve a spot and don't show up." For holiday weekends, reservations 2-3 months in advance are recommended.
Site characteristics: Most RV parks offer full hookup sites with varying pad materials. Jim M. describes Dakotah Meadows as having "cement parking pads with full hookups. The grass around the lots is very green, lush and well maintained." Chris F. adds that "The sites are paved and have well-maintained grass," though mentions "wifi is not great, less than 1MB download speeds from our site."
Ownership structures: Some RV parks operate under private ownership models. Laurie V. at Mississippi Riverwood RV Park cautions, "This hidden gem is a PRIVATE RV Park where each lot is individually owned and most owners live South in the winter. Individual owners can rent their lot with restrictions and those rentals are between the owner and the renter."
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly activities: Wildwood RV Park & Campground offers multiple options for children. Amy F. shares, "The pool and playground were clean and nice. The kids tried the bike trail that they could access right from the campground." Dominick C. adds, "The kayaking/canoeing was an amazing adventure that everyone should try. It was even great for kids 3 and 6."
Playground access: Several campgrounds feature modern play areas. At Country Camping Tent & RV Park on the Rum River, Spencer C. mentions a "BIG playground area" along with "heated pool, splash pad area." These facilities provide entertainment options when weather conditions aren't ideal for water activities.
Proximity to attractions: Some campgrounds offer easy access to regional activities. Tori K. notes that Wildwood RV Park & Campground is "Close to Taylors falls and stillwater" and recommends, "Be sure to check out Franconia sculpture garden if you're staying here and have the time!"
Tips from RVers
Hookup variations: RV campers should confirm specific hookup types before booking. At Ham Lake Resort, sites include "pull-through sites, back ups, 50 and 30 amp hook ups." James and Susan K. describe Dakotah Meadows sites as "60+ feet, concrete and level. Each site has their own fire pit."
Laundry facilities: Access to laundry varies between campgrounds. Dakotah Meadows provides laundry facilities that "require hotel card entry. Cards are $5 with $3 returned at check-out." St. Cloud-Clearwater RV Park offers on-site laundry facilities with clean machines, though hours may vary seasonally.
Internet connectivity: Wi-Fi quality differs significantly among RV parks near Circle Pines. Jaime N. notes at Wildwood RV Park & Campground, "Sadly I needed 4 hours of internet and my cellular data here was spotty. I spent this time right outside the office." Chris F. reports at Dakotah Meadows, "wifi is not great, less than 1MB download speeds from our site, and our Verizon service was pretty poor in our spot, max 2 bars."
