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Headquarters RV Park is located near Voyagers National Park and in the heart of the Voyager Country ATV trail system. We are a quiet, family owned, pet friendly RV Park. Our address is 7070 Crane Lake Road in Crane Lake Minnesota. You can drive your ATV from our place to the ATV trails. We have some walking tails in the park as well as trails you can take your pets on. There is a playground, horseshoe pit as well as a place to play bocce ball.
$45 - $60 / night
Plan your escape to The Pines of Kabetogama Resort. An impressive expanse of the Northwoods with an exquisite collection of recently remodeled cabins and spacious RV campsites nestled in the towering pines on the shoreline of Lake Kabetogama. Owned by world travelers dedicated to showcasing Voyageurs National Park and surrounding waterways.
At The Pines of Kabetogama Resort, we are committed to showcasing the beautiful “land of sky blue water”. The Pines of Kabetogama Resort is proud to be featured in “Where Should We Camp Next? A 50-State Guide to Amazing Campgrounds and Other Unique Accommodations’’. The author selected our resort as "Best in State" in Minnesota, and we received their "Glamping" badge for our luxury accommodations. In addition The Pines of Kabetogama has been named the Best Place Stay in Minnesota with Your RV by MSN.com!
Choose from six well-appointed cabins perfect for enjoying the National Park and vast waterways. Interiors are impeccably decorated in Northwoods’ theme with local knotty pine and granite. No need to sacrifice luxury at the lake: housekeeping; high-quality linens and towels are included; luxurious sundries; Keurig Coffee machine; high definition LED television with Direct TV satellite connection; complimentary Wi-Fi; and outdoor dining table and chairs on the large deck with charcoal grill. All cabins are air-conditioned, and there is an onsite coin-operated laundry facility.
Large RV sites are located throughout the 54-acre estate. Several sites have a breathtaking view of Lake Kabetogama. RV sites have 30 & 50 amp electric, water, and sewer hook-ups, and complimentary Wi-Fi. There is a new restroom/shower facility, coin-operated laundry located on lake level, and there is also a small general store. We do offer golf cart rentals or take pleasure in our many walking trails.
Our marina offers dock space, gas, ice, and live bait. Electric and water connections are also available at the dock. There is a designated area for fish cleaning. Boat rentals are available to resort guests: Pontoon, Lund fishing, kayaks, and paddleboards. Our angler’s retreat, located on the shore of Lake Kabetogama, accesses the historical chain of lakes – including Namakan, Sand Point, Rainy and Crane Lakes, Sullivan’s Bay, and Ash River. Our resort offers incredible fishing, including but not limited to walleye, sauger, northern, largemouth and smallmouth bass, and crappie.
Babbitt Campground & RV Park is a new campground that will open the spring of 2023.
Welcome to Northeast Minnesota’s newest Campground & RV Park nestled amongst the pine trees, adjacent to the Southern shores of Birch Lake near the town of Babbitt. We offer large full hook up sites, a full-service shower house/restroom, a camp store that offers firewood, ice, soft drinks, ice cream, camping supplies, and gift items. Our facility also houses a fish cleaning house and extra parking for boat trailers and ATVs for your convenience.
The Campground is located within walking distance to Birch Lake, Babbitt’s Public Beach, Heartland ATV Trail, and a paved bike path to allow easy access to leisure activities such as fishing, boating, ATVing, swimming, or just enjoying the nature of the north woods. We are also only a short drive to many of the area’s attractions such as The International Wolf Center, The North American Bear Center, The Dorothy Molter Museum, multiple golf courses including Babbitt, Ely, The Wilderness, and Giants Ridge, restaurants, and local shopping in Babbitt and Ely.
Come stay a day, a week, a month, or the whole season. We gladly welcome your visit!
$32 - $51 / night
Drive-in Sites 86 sites Electric Sites 21 sites RV Length Limit 40 feet Length is measured from front of tow vehicle to rear of vehicle being towed. Walk-in Sites 3 sites These are first-come, first-served sites in the Beatrice Lake Campground. Horse CampLocated in George Washington State Forest, Stony Brook Horse Campground. Not located in the park. Although the horse campground is not located in McCarthy Beach State Park, they are managed by the park. The Stony Brook Horse Campground is located 9 miles from the park office. Trails connect the park to the horse camp. Group Camp 1 Site - Accommodate up to 40 people Site located on wooded bluff overlooking Big Sturgeon Lake, nestled between the picnic area and boat landing. Spigot for water and vault toilets available. May accommodate a few small camping trailers, but is primarily a tenting area.
Guide
In our years of RV travels The Pines of Kabetogama is among the best RV resorts we have ever stayed at. Long story short, the resort itself provides direct access to Voyageurs National Park, is immaculately maintained, has top-shelf amenities, and the staff is amazing. You truly get what you pay for.
After hours of driving, we just wanted to get to our site and settle in. Upon arrival, Jeanne greeted us at the front office and was very kind, friendly, and helpful. She treated us like family. Tom guided us to site number 20 on the upper level with a poured concrete pad with pristine full-hookups. We were pleasantly surprised at just how spread-out the sites were. There isn't a bad site in the entire resort. It comes down to what your preference is. Do you prefer the community experience? The sites on the lower level fill that preference. Spread out with more privacy? Reserve a site on the upper level.
The restrooms were an unexpected surprise. Absolutely spotless with granite countertops and glass bowl sinks!?! We didn't expect to walk into a luxury bathroom experience at an RV resort.
The view of the sky at night was amazing. We didn't know this until we arrived and walked over to the Lake Kabetogama Voyageurs National Park Visitors Center that the park is Dark Sky Certified.
Having direct shoreline access to Voyageurs National Park was the highlight for my family. As soon as you are on the water, you are in a National Park. If you have a boat be sure and bring it along, otherwise, you can rent one from the resort and tour the lake. Tom informed us that if you have a motorhome RV, as we do, and you tow your boat the staff will launch your boat for you. The resort has a very large dock system with 16 slips by our count.
In terms of wildlife, we were fortunate enough to see more deer than we could count, as well as several bald eagles, and loons during our stay.
There are on-site coin-operated washers and dryers which we did not use, but are nice to know are available. If we were there for a longer stay we would use them for sure.
Even though we were not staying in the luxury cabins, the staff was kind enough to allow us to peek inside and they are immaculate. The decor is iconic, and the finishing touches are high quality. They aren't like the other ramshackle bunkhouses with spring bed frames we've stayed at in the past.
As I began my review, because the resort itself provides direct access to Voyageurs National Park, is immaculately maintained, has top-shelf amenities, and the staff is amazing you truly get what you pay for.
GuideVery nice RV resort. Beautiful views of lake at cliff sites. Clean,roomy bathrooms. Good wifi service.
Legend
Bear Head Lake is an established, full service state park that has something for everyone. There are a variety of camping opportunities, from camper cabins to guesthouse to tent campsites with lake access to RV sites. Though you have to hike to the beach, the beach is really lovely and has boat rental. There is an extensive network of trails for both hiking and cross country skiing, with a really great indoor Trail Center that serves as winter warming house, indoor meeting place for rainy days, and classroom for park naturalist events. The lake is great for boating, fishing and paddling. though part of the lake shore is privately owned, the lake is quiet and peaceful overall, nestled in tall pines with easy access to the town of Ely if desired. The vicinity is known for bears and is part of a long term bear research study; visit the American Bear Center nearby if interested! https://www.bear.org/website/
Legend
Our Family stayed at Headquarters RV Park in Buyck (just outside of Orr, MN) for 4 days over the Memorial Day weekend, and we were so impressed!! This is a new, family owned and operated park situated on 30 acres of beautiful pines. The hosts Brad and Koreen are so welcoming, and have put their hearts into making this Park a refuge from the hustle and busle of our hetic work week.
The one thing we appreciated the most is how close they are to Crane Lake, Namakan Lake, Voyageurs National Park, and the Superior National Forest. We spent our time fishing and checking out visitor destinations like the I. W. Stevens Resort (a historical jem!!) After a long day of fun it was so nice to sit out in the screen tent listening to the ruffled grouse drum and the peace and quiet of nature. There are only 13 spacious sites in this park with plenty of room to fit your RV, boat or 4 wheelers and trailer, screen tent with plenty of room to spare, and beautiful pines between you and your neighbor for privacy.
When you arrive you will find your site ready with a picnic table and fire pit. The full service hook ups are easy to access, and make set up a breeze!! They offer 20, 30, and 50 amp service, and make note that they also offer a potable water station too. Firewood is available for purchase, but don’t be surprised if the Sokoloski’s invite you to their host site for a campfire:) The walking paths are beautiful too!! We brought our dog Max, and he loved it too!! We’ll be back for sure!!
Legend
A really nice place with lots of fun stuff do to right in the campground including a beach and boat ramp on Pelican Lake. There is a nice playground area for kids. The place caters mostly to seasonal folks more than overnight roadies. I stumbled on it by accident when I was heading to Voyageurs NP but just wanted to get off the road for the night.
Some of the seasonal sites have extensive decking and screened porches. The sites for the temp folks had full hookups but were gravel that was not well maintained and not level. The bathrooms were ok, maybe a C+. There was no soap at the men’s bathroom sink. There are only six daily/weekly RV/tent sites. The rest are seasonal rentals. It got 4 stars instead of 3 because it is so pretty and peaceful.
Legend
Nice little campground that isn’t overly luxurious. Mostly built for RVs with hookups as there isn’t much shade and it would be very hot come July/August. So why stay...the fishing. Campers all had boats to get out on The lake. There is some great walleye fishing here, which is why I stopped. Nothing too fancy but they have almost 60 sites that range. Some are able to be near water and others are just in the sun. Everyone I saw had air conditioners are going.
It’s all about the fishing here tho.
GuideBeautiful place. Full hookups. No bathrooms or showers.
Guide
This campground is about as close as you can get to the Ash River Visitor center of Voyageurs National Park. Full hookups, good spacing, clean bathrooms and showers. Friendly owner. Check in was a little awkward as there are not really any signs and no official office. I think they have mostly to season long visitors, but our one week stay was great! Ice and firewood offered on site. Owner also does boat rentals, but we didn’t utilize that service. Would stay there again. One note, no cell signal on Verizon.
ScoutBeautiful location right on Lake Kabetogama. Lake views and full hookups. Prettier than pictures show.
Ranger
This will now be one of our new favorite campgrounds. It’s the perfect mix of modern (lots of nicely spaced electric sites, well maintained shower/bathrooms, on-site store, canoe rentals and more) and rustic. (Wildlife, birds, a stones throw from the BWCA, and gorgeous sunsets.) Be mindful of your camping equipment and the size of the sites - it varies widely. There’s no dump station (closest is in Ely), but there’s a spigot to fill your RV’s water tank. AT&T service was good (2 bars, fast internet and streaming), T-Mobile not so good. (1 bar, slow internet and no streaming) Thanks to the great campground hosts for tips and info too!
TravelerExceptionally maintained campsites with well wooded sites. Raised cement fire pits, level tent pads, and large sites for campers and RVs. Many of the lake-side sites are nestled into the hillside with stairs going down to the water. The Fall Lake campground is very well managed and has clean shower/toilet buildings, and a store with firewood, canoe rentals, and other miscellaneous items. If there is one drawback, it is that this campground is a popular place for RVs and large campers. For those tent campers wishing to get away and have some solace, it can be busy and noisy at times - depending on who your closest neighbors are. Overall, I give it four stars because we had an RV near us with screaming children that dampened our experience. I would give it five stars due to the beautiful location, the access to the north woods/BWCA, and the care that is taken to keep it maintained.
LegendBy far this was our favorite campground of the summer. The campground is fairly small, has plenty of towering trees for shade and privacy, and sits right on Fall Lake. Fall Lake is a popular place for anglers and those looking to adventure into the boundary waters. The park will accommodate anything from tents to large RVs and is well worth a visit in our opinions. In fact, plan on staying the maximum two weeks … pretty sure you will like it as much as we did.
About half of the sites are reservable with the others being walk-ups. We booked three nights because we didn’t want to drive the RV all the way up into the northwoods of Minnesota and not get a campsite. Especially, since we were there in August during the busy summer season. While we liked our first site (which was a pull-thru), it was booked after our stay so we started scouting other sites. Walk-up site #39 caught our eyes and as luck was on our side it was going to be vacant the morning we were due to check out. That morning we headed to the office fifteen minutes before they opened to get in line hoping to book the sites. We scored the site and booked it for the maximum two weeks.
In our opinions, the walk-up sites are the most desirable because they have direct access to the water. Our site had steps that led down to the lake where we kept our kayaks on the bank so we didn’t have to rack them on the car every time we used them. Even if you don’t have one of these sites there are other public pathways leading to the lake for easy access. Our site was pretty close to the boat ramp which is a busy place so it was a big noisy – especially in the early morning hours but we didn’t mind.
The bathrooms and showers (which are free) are some of the cleanest we have found. They were cleaned daily and the camp hosts returned many times during the day to check for cleanliness and make sure they were stocked with paper products. You have to use a keypad to enter the bathroom which ensures only campers are allowed in. Water pressure in the shower was great and the water was hot. There was no dial to adjust how hot you wanted the water and our shower was almost too hot to use but that was better than being cold. There was a potable water spigot outside which made it easy to fill up our water jugs.
The park has two group camp areas that are ideal for multiple campers and are very private. They have their own bathhouse, pavilion, large grassy common area, grills, and water access. We would definitely rent one of these sites if we came back with three or four friends.
One day, I walked the Stub Lake Trail that left from the campground but was really disappointed. It is in an area with lots of blow down so there was not much shade or interesting scenery. More interesting trails are located about 15 minutes away at Bass Lake which are longer and more scenic with water access. We loved the town of Ely especially the Tuesday Farmers Market and the restaurant Insula. If you are interested in renting outdoor gear there are many outfitters in town ready to assist or you can also rent canoes for $20/day at the campground office. Don't miss the International Wolf Center, the North American Bear Center and the Dorthy Molter Museum. All are really interesting and definitely worth the price of admission.
We camped here in an RV and the only thing that could have made our experience better is if there were full hook-ups. But, since the bathrooms were clean we didn't mind. There is a water fill-up station by the camp office and a dump station in town at the Chamber of Commerce.
LegendThis is a campground with good access to Lake Vermilion and excellent fishing, so that would be a main draw. This is a private campground and has some sites reserved for seasonal RV camping, and other sites avaialble for short term RV or tent camping. Many of the RV sites are open and close together, but there is also a loop set back in the woods that has shady campsites both on or off the lake which are pretty nice. The facilities seem a bit worn over all, but there is a basic camp office with some supplies, great docks for boats, a new playground for kids, and a nice picnic shelter. I think the man draw here is access to fishing, but you could easily get to Lake Vermilion State Park and the Mesabi Bike Trail which arent far away.
ScoutThis campground has well spaced, well foliaged camping spaces. Great for both tent and RV Camping. The bathrooms are immaculately clean as well. Plenty of options for hiking or getting on the lake and it is close to more attractions in Ely!
Legend
We were in Site # 1 which there are only 3 sites must be self contained. They are close together yet was a place to stay in Voyagers National park with Full hook up. Wooden Frog State Forest Campground is next door to it you can use their boat ramp & swim beach. The Lodge has rooms and a bar & restaurant you can sit in the log Lodge or out on the deck. Mike makes a good Margarita but a little pricey. The food is ok. The owners are so nice working hard to maintain the place. There is a small playground and a community fire pit.
Great place to watch sunset is at Wooden Frog day use area.
They have a dock you can keep a boat at or rent a boat if you don't have one. They rent Kayaks & canoes too. We had out own Kayak you really need to get out on the water to enjoy Voyageurs National Park it's all water based. We launched the Kayak mostly at Wooden Frog and once at Arrowhead lodge depending on the wind.
We kayaked to Bittersweet Island and got out to stretch in a cove. Took a dip and relaxed. There are some leeches in the water so check you feet if your walking around in it. Got a nice juvenile Eagle picture here on was sitting in a tree.
lake Kabetogama is big with many islands. It can be shallow in places with big rocks submerged out of the water so know where your going. Being in a Kayak you could really see the rocks. We found a nice Swim area off an Island near the submerged rocks with warnings there was primitive camp sites on the islands some were really nice.
Fishing is great we caught Walleye & big Northern Pike. They clean your fish for you if you want them to.
There are loons (love the sound they make) and White Pelican's on the lake. Some of the white pelicans had big bumps on their beak which we found out they have that bump till they mate. Then the bump falls off so you feel sorry for the ones with a bump on their upper beak. The white throat Sparrow has a great tune they carry.
We saw several Eagles on the islands out there too.
We Like to explore so we check out other campgrounds, visitors centers if open and really enjoyed eating at the Rocky Ledge (great Pizza and Patty Melt). International falls is the biggest town it's about a half hour or so away. We ate at Barajas Mexican Grill it was good. Got some groceries and went to one Antique store there.
Heading the other direction on the Highway was another Antique place called Rainy days Antique. Nice people & a lot of stuff in there.
We mostly had good weather yet we did have some rain & some marble sized hail once. Some big trees came down in Wooden frog with this storm that had hail.
ScoutThe camp ground was great place for families. Beach, playground, boat landing, and most sites are on Lake Vermillion. Close to many vacaton options with good sized sites. The camp ground manager was friendly and helpful. The place is busy. Campers need to do a better job cleaning up after themselves as it seems that there is little staff. Set up mainly for RV camping, our site was gravel.
Legend
Dyrt Ranger Review of Banner and Oak Products at the South Kawishiwi Campground
Campground Review: My husband and his motorcycle buddies love riding on backroads and scenic byways in our state and National Forests in northern Minnesota. The MN State Highway 1 winds through the tall pines of the Chippewa National Forest, to the Bear Island state forest, and the Superior National Forest all the way east to Lake Superior. A nice weekend ride on this route includes a nice campout at the National Forest Service’s South Kawishiwi campground just off Highway 1 between Ely and Isabella. The campground is a typical rustic Forest Service campground, no hookups or plug-ins for RVs though many of the campsites would have room for a camper. All of the sites are great for tent camping, with large sheltered campsites in the pines, picnic tables and great fire rings with grill. There are water pumps for drinking water, and but the bathroom facilities are outhouses. One of the best features of this campground is the waterfront, with a nice beach and picnic area and a good boatlaunch for canoes and fishing boats. The campground is quiet and peaceful and well maintained. You can hike or boat in the area, and its an easy trip into Ely if you need supplies or want to visit the nature centers in town. Well recommended for families and small groups, accessible for motorcycles, cars, trailers and campers who want a quiet and simple camping experience.
Product review: As a Ranger for the Dyrt, I sometimes have the chance to review camping gear and related outdoor products. This review is for Banner and Oak gear, specifically their outdoor tshirts https://bannerandoak.com/collections/shirtsand their camping mugs https://bannerandoak.com/collections/gear-we-love/products/steel-camper-mug-white . My husband tried out these products on his recent camping trip with his motorcycle buddies, and he lived both of them. Our mess kit includes the standard flat sierra cups, which are fine for your instant oatmeal in the morning, but not great for coffee. The Banner and Oak mugs are enameled stainless steel, sturdy enough to be crammed into a tight pack and large enough to hold a good stiff morning coffee—and the “Freedom to Explore” motto on it is great! But most of all, he LOVED the shirts, and said they were the softest he has ever worn, whether hanging around the campsite or, more importantly, under his motorcycle jacket when he is on the road. He felt it was soft and comfy—yes, by comparison, softer even than our little pug dog, which is saying a lot— and its lightweight, and breathes well in addition to preventing chafing under his jacket. He’s a fan! He doesnt usually pay much attention to his tshirts, but Banner and Oaks are remarkable and he will surely be buying more. Its a plus that they are made in the US too!
Guide
61 sites. Multiple loops. All Boondocking- No electric or septic or water hookups. No showers. Very quiet. Two are marked as accessory. Far from the highway- the final turn can sneak up on you. Sights are spacious and most are a far distance apart (50 feet). Lots and lots of trees between sights. Sites are a mix of deep and shallow. Some are one car wide, others are two cars wide. Most 30 foot trailers would do okay. We saw a dozen travel trailers, one fifth wheel, a couple shorter motor homes, and lots of tents. A fire ring and picnic table are located at each site and water fountains/down spouts and vault toilets are located throughout. (Not all spigots have hose attachments.) Bathrooms were clean with a good amount of TP. There is a fair amount of sticks and firewood among the downed trees. A couple of public docks are located along the edge of the campground for guests to dock their boats. The boat launch, beach, and picnic area is very nice and nearby. No weeds when swimming. Dogs are not allowed at the primary beach, but there is a hidden rock beach at the end of the campground by one of the docks were they could swim. There are hiking trails that weave behind sites and between roads. Some sites are closer to the road (shallow) and some are surprisingly deep. A few sites are closer together, but would work well if you had multiple families camping together. $15.00 per night. Dogs are allowed. Unfortunately there are no reservations. We came on a Saturday morning in the end of August and one third of the sights were open, by midday half of the sights were open. We enjoyed our time.
LegendWoodenfrog MN State Forest:
(Scale 1- bad, 5-Very good
(70 yr olds in 17’ trailer)
Overall Rating: 4.5
Price 2023: $17
Usage during visit: 50 - 70%
Site Privacy: Very private sites are offered
Site Spacing: Most are very good
Site surface: lightly graveled
Reservations: No. First come, first serve
Campground Noise: Some inconsiderate groups here during part of our time. I think the hosts were on top of this.
Road Noise: None
Through Traffic in campground: No
Electric Hookup: No
Sewer Hookup: No
Dump Station: No
Potable Water Available: Yes, scattered spigots .
Generators: Allowed
Bathroom: Pit toilet, moderately maintained.
Showers: Out of luck here .
Pull Throughs: Most, if not all are back ins.
Cell Service (AT&T): Good
Setting: Densely wooded
Weather: Hot and humid, bearable Dfor with screened shelter
Bugs: Mosquitoes.
Solar: No, forest is too dense.
Host: Yes, but never saw them.
Rig size: 25, is about the largest I saw. The sites are large enough for a large RV, but driving through the campground may be the issue. If you have a large rig, check the website. No problem with our 17’ trailer.
Sites: 30 to 41 contain sites with a lake view. They are less private than others. A short trail between sites 39 and 41 lead to the boat dock pictured below.
ScoutFirst off, and most appealing to me is the fact that there is no cell service. All 12 campsites are first come first serve and you can’t jump a line by going on a website to reserve a spot.  there are no water or electric hook ups but there are hand pumps for pumping water and you could bring a generator or not.
Located north of Grand Rapids Minnesota about 60 miles or 35 miles from Nashwauk Minnesota which is the closest gas station, grocery store or post office. All the sites are back in no pull through sites, generally level however there’s a few that are on an angle
Legend
Fenske Lake Campground, MN:
(Scale 1- bad, 5-Very good
(70 yr olds in 17’ trailer)
Overall Rating: 4 - Great place for a canoe trip, I am told. Also access close by to the boundary waters
Price 2023: $10 / night w lifetime senior pass.
Usage during visit: During mid week it was pretty busy.
Site Privacy: pretty nice
Site Spacing: pretty nice
Site surface: Gravel
Reservations: Yes
Campground Noise: Quiet
Road Noise: There may be occasional road noise in the few sites closer to the entry.
Through Traffic in campground: None
Electric Hookup: No
Sewer Hookup: No
Dump Station: No
Potable Water Available: Yes
Generators: Allowed
Bathroom: Pit Toilets
Showers: No
Pull Throughs: There are ‘some pullovers’, no separation from cg road. Those in use only had a van or used as tent sites
Cell Service (AT&T). We didn’t check at the campground. But, down the road we accessed via a new AT&T tower.
Setting: In the woods
Weather: 70’s with a storm in the forecast
Bugs: Mosquitoes are moderate.
Solar: Not great for fixed panels
Rig size: Some sites take large rigs. Check rec.gov for each site before making your reservation.
Sites:
RangerStayed at a camper cabin- had the park to ourselves! Absolutely gorgeous. The drive off the main highway is a few miles, so you really end up out in the wilderness! We also appreciated that this park doesn’t allow hunting so you know you are safe during that season.
The campground is along a series of winding lakes, with multiple access points to the water. Very spaced out and easy access to vaulted toilets and water. A couple of different fishing piers and docks right near the campground itself. Has electric and non-electric sites. Definitely impressed with the campground itself. Very pretty no matter where you camp.
Park has:
- fishing pier
- hiking trails
- fish cleaning building
- stocked backcountry fishing lakes
- canoe rental
- a trail center with a community fire ring and comfy chairs
- dump station
- RV sanitation station
- camper cabins
- group camp
- swimming beach
- trailer access
- watercraft and backpack sites
We enjoyed night walks and star gazing- we decided it was the best stars we had ever seen! Even saw shooting stars. Cooked some great meals, and enjoyed the hiking club walk through the woods to some super-secret small lakes.
Checked out the group site- so cool. Right on the water with a personal dock and toilets.
This park is truly in the wilderness, felt like actually being in the Boundary Waters! Crystal clear water, thick gorgeous forests, and an amazing sky.
Head into Ely, maybe 20 mins, if you need supplies or a break from the woods. Also can access the BWCAW there too.
We appreciated that this park is open year-round, but can’t wait to go back in the summer!
GuideWe have enjoyed staying here. Minnesota does a nice job with their state parks. The campsites are varied in types, sizes and layouts. Ours works great for our 26’ travel trailer and truck, and includes electrical. Main restroom has showers. Nice canoeing lake adjacent to the campground. The Taconite State Trail is nearby. Only complaints are campsites are close to each other and only one bar of service on T-Mobile phone.
Legend
Lake Vermilion is a large multi-purpose recreational lake at the edge of the Superior National Forest and the Boundary Waters Canoe Area wilderness. It is a very popular lake for fishermen, but until now there was no State Park campground available on its shores. This is a new state park campground, which just had its Grand Opening in June 2018. It is located on land adjacent to the historic Soudan Mine state park, which was a park for history tours and day use only until the park expanded and developed this campground for campers interested in lake recreation, especially a fishing-oriented vacation. With the exception of a handful or remote hike-in and boat-in dispersed campsites which are currently free of charge, the majority of campsites are drive-in and have electric hook-ups. There are also three group campsites, one hike-in with simpler facilities perfect for scout troups etc, and two others with both tent and RV sites and picnic shelters and their own bath houses.
For tent campers, the sites are large but newly cleared so still a bit rough. For RV campers or fishermen with boats and trailers, there is ample room for your vehicle and trailer. All of the sites are carved out of the woods and, though near the lake, are not within viewing distance of it. You do have to drive a bit to get to the boat landing, but it isnt far and has a great brand new ramp and docks. If you want a place to camp that is conveniently located for fishing Lake Vermilion, this is it. It is also a good place to camp if you want to bike on the Mesabi Bike trail, which goes through the park and runs from Ely to Grand Rapids. BWCA trippers will also find this to be a convenient stopove the night before or after a BWCA trip, and no doubt the brand new bathrooms and showers will be very welcome. There are a sporadic park naturalist programs here, but fewer than a lot of other state parks. There are a lot of activities and things to do in the nearby town of Ely though, https://www.ely.org/ and basic supplies located next door to the park in the village of Soudan. A visit to the historic Soudan Mine in the west of the park is quite an experience too.
Note: I visited in mid June, just as summer campers were coming to try out the park. Apparently a big wind storm camp through at the end of June causing some treefall and damage to some areas of the park. check here for updates:
https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/park.html?id=spk00285#homepage
TravelerThis is a grass surface campground. Suited for car camping, smaller trailers & 25’ RV’s. Sites have picnic table & fire pit and an outhouse on site.
Scout
Quiet Campground with plenty of wooded area between campsites for privacy. Mix of RV/Travel Trailers and Tent campers. Vault toilets and drinking water available. Our site did not have direct clear access to the water, but we walked past other sites that did. Boat launch available right at the entrance to the campground. Our site fit our 30’ travel trailer with left slide just fine and plenty of room for the truck. Overflow parking available near the campground entrance for a small fee. Clean and well kept! Would definitely recommend
Guide
Campground is small with 3 free campsites, all of which can fit a small Rv or travel trailer. There is a boat landing with a vault toilet that was clean. Verizon cell reception of 2 bars. I was able to stream YouTube video.
Crane Lake, Minnesota, offers a fantastic escape for RV camping enthusiasts, surrounded by stunning natural beauty and a variety of outdoor activities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular RV campsite near Crane Lake, MN?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular RV campground near Crane Lake, MN is Headquarters RV Park with a 4.8-star rating from 6 reviews.
What is the best site to find RV camping near Crane Lake, MN?
TheDyrt.com has all 46 RV camping locations near Crane Lake, MN, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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