Camping areas surrounding St. Francis, Minnesota span from primitive sites to full-service campgrounds within an hour's drive. The landscape includes waterfront camping at Ann Lake in Sand Dunes State Forest, where tent and RV sites offer access to trails and fishing. Country Camping Tent & RV Park on the Rum River provides more developed options with full hookups, while South of Sand Dunes State Forest offers dispersed camping opportunities for those seeking a more rustic experience.
Seasonal considerations heavily impact camping access throughout the region, with most developed campgrounds operating from May through October. Many sites require reservations, especially during summer weekends when waterfront locations fill quickly. One camper noted, "I've been camping here since I was a little kid. The further back you go on the road, the more spread out sites get. Show up early on weekends if you want one of the better spots." Winter camping is limited to dispersed sites and requires proper preparation for Minnesota's cold conditions. Cell service varies significantly, with several reviews mentioning weak or nonexistent coverage in forested areas, particularly at dispersed sites.
Campers consistently highlight the region's balance between natural settings and proximity to urban amenities. Several visitors mentioned appreciating the ability to enjoy secluded camping while remaining within an hour of the Twin Cities. While dispersed sites offer privacy and solitude, they come with challenges. A recent review pointed out that "Lots of poison ivy" and "weak cell service" are common at undeveloped sites in the Sand Dunes State Forest area. Mixed-use campgrounds like Bunker Hills Regional Park and Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Regional Park balance accessibility with natural settings, offering electric hookups, shower facilities, and recreational amenities while maintaining wooded environments. Water access represents a significant draw, with fishing, swimming, and paddling opportunities available at many locations during the warmer months.
"Lots of close camp sites for larger groups near the entrance. The further back you go on the road, the more spread out sites get. There are a few walk-in sites that I absolutely love."
"Just a quick one night trip but a perfect getaway close to home. Very quiet. Camp host was nice . Found a tucked away site that we could park Infront of for more privacy"
$20 - $32 / night
"I was very happy with the trails and accommodations available to me, during my stay."
"It has a golf course, a restaurant is on the grounds, there is a stable with horses/ponies that you can take guided trail rides on, a water park(it is called The Beach, which was very confusing for us"
$40 - $75 / night
"Nice river nearby canoeing swimming pool fireplaces and little store for treats."
"For the proximity to the city and nearby highways, this was a good spot. Didn’t expect to see as many campers as I did, but all seemed to be friendly."
"I love that it's so close to home. I was able to walk in and find an incredible spot to camp and lay in my hammock."
"Close to the Twin Cities, right on the Rum River. Great tent sites right on the river.
Tubing! They have a bus that takes you into town float back to the campground, love it."
$20 - $75 / night
"Kelly's Bar nearby has a great fish fry on Friday. The campground is neat and well managed."
"We have lived in the Twin Cities for two decades and have never visited Rice Creek Chain of Lakes before. We will again!"
"The site was spacious and private-surrounded on 3 sides by trees. The bathrooms were clean. The pool area was clean and without issue."
"Sites are close to each other, but easy access, clean grounds and facilities, friendly staff, and a K9 fenced area for a pet friendly campground."
$22 - $80 / night
"This park is only about 50 minutes away from me, and for hiking/camping I only think it is worth a trip in the fall."
"I chose Lake Maria for a solo camping excursion because it was close to the Cities, but still offered the level of seclusion I wanted."
$54 - $999 / night
"The map provided was accurate which made locating the cruiser a breeze. There were further instructions inside as well. The RV was immaculate."
$21 - $29 / night
"Baker Park near Minneapolis Minnesota was a our camp choice for inexpensive camping on the last leg of our Minnesota vacation in 2017."
"The beaches are some of the best in Minnesota. The bike trails are nearby and plentiful."
TravelerWe stayed here with a group of hot tent campers in early January. The site is large and had a couple of fire pits. Includes a few picnic tables, and a pit toilet. It's a beautiful open area not far from the parking lot with a gorgeous view of the St. Croix River.
ScoutWe visited Avatan Nudist Campground last July with our two kids (ages 8 and 11) for what was supposed to be a wholesome, body-positive family getaway. The website and brochures paint a perfect picture: serene woods, a sparkling pool, family activities, and a "welcoming community" vibe. And on the surface? Yeah, the grounds are stunning—pristine trails, a well-maintained pool. The facilities are clean, the staff (mostly) polite, and the natural setting is genuinely relaxing. If you're just looking for a quiet spot to shed your clothes and unwind in nature, it checks those boxes.
But dig a little deeper, and Avatan reveals itself as something else entirely—a place that's quietly optimized for adult fun, with kids as an inconvenient footnote they have to tolerate to keep the "family" label. From the moment we arrived, it was clear the real energy was elsewhere. Evenings around the fire pits and at the "Squirrel's" (code for the bar area) had this unmistakable swinger-party undercurrent. Lots of lingering glances, couples disappearing into the woods or private cabins, and a vibe that felt more like a discreet resort for the lifestyle crowd than a spot for building sandcastles with the little ones. Our kids picked up on it fast—whispers about "grown-up games" and awkward questions we had to deflect. The camp "tolerates" families, sure, but it's obvious the core membership would prefer a child-free zone. Activities for kids are minimal: a basic playground and the occasional nature hike, while the adults get themed nights, "sensual yoga," and late-night mixers that go until dawn.
What really soured the experience was the toxic underbelly of the community itself. This place is a powder keg of power struggles, with a small cadre of long-time board members and "elders" locked in a perpetual cold war. Gossip flows like the creek itself—endless whispers about who's sleeping with whom, who's "stealing" prime cabin spots, or who's cozying up to the President for favors. We overheard more drama in one week than in a season of reality TV. Cliques form fast: the "party crew" vs. the "purists," the swingers vs. the swingers-who-pretend-they're-not. As newcomers (and parents, no less), we felt like outsiders crashing a private club. Smiles were surface-level; the second you stepped away, the backstabbing started.
And then there's the elephant in the (clothing-optional) room: the camp's ugly history with sexual predators. We didn't know it going in, but after a few days, the stories trickled out from sympathetic members—multiple incidents over the years involving members who turned out to be registered offenders or worse, preying on the vulnerable in this "trust-based" environment. The rules around anonymity are ironclad: no photos, no last names, "what happens at Avatan stays at Avatan." It's sold as protecting privacy in a nudist space, which sounds noble until you realize it shields the creeps. Anyone who dares speak up—whether it's a parent noticing a sketchy guy lingering too long near the kids' area or a survivor sharing a red flag—is immediately branded a "troublemaker," "paranoid," or "anti-community." We've heard of families getting shamed in group meetings, then quietly asked to leave for "disrupting the harmony." Evictions happen fast if you rock the boat, all in the name of keeping the peace and the paying members happy.
Look, we're no prudes. Nudism can be liberating, and we've been to other resorts where it felt truly inclusive and safe. But Avatan? It's a divided house built on denial. The adult-party atmosphere thrives because the kids are an afterthought, and the predator problem festers because calling it out gets you exiled. If you're a child-free couple into the full swinger scene, this might be your paradise—plenty of like-minded folks and zero judgment. But if you're a family hoping for that advertised "safe, empowering space"? Steer clear. Your kids deserve better than being tolerated in a place where silence is golden and the wrong questions get you blacklisted. We won't be back, and I hope this review saves someone else the regret.
RangerSo, I think you know what you are signing up for here when you stay camp at the backpacking site at Afton, but let me fill in some of the blanks. #1 yes, the hill climb is as big of an effort as other people have said. You will feel like you earned your dinner. I may have found a hack for this, but more in that later. #2 the site are mostly private. I stayed on site #12. I could see (and they could have seen me) site #9, but thankfully no one was there. That would have been a bummer to have other looking into my site. There is even a semi-worn path between 12 and 9. They would make a good combo if you have a group. Other than that, totally secluded. As far space at #12, you could build as big of a tent structure there as you would need, easily room for a massive 16’x24’ palace (if you would dare to carry it) or anything smaller. An Eagle Scout project built hammock posts at this site, so it is ideal for that set up. #3 the campground amenities are very nice. The solar powered water works great year round, the two pits toilets (if you can even call them that) are very new and nice. And the coolest campground feature is the cut your own firewood station. I went a little overboard since it was so nice and had a way bigger fire than I needed. Bring your own saw and you will love it too. #4 After walking around the park, I discovered a possible hack. There is an unmarked entrance to the park on the north side. Instead of walking all my gear back to the parking lot, I walked the .5 miles to the service entrance, dropped my pack, and then walked the 1.8 miles back to the parking lot. I tend to carry too much. The flat short walk to drop my gear was worth it. Then I drop around the park and picked up my stuff. Probably not MN DNR endorsed way to do it, but I was proud of my discovery. All in, this is a unique and wonderful camping experience. Highly recommend.
TravelerIf you’re just passing through especially in the off-season, this is an extremely convenient location. Propane run out in the middle of the night? They got you. Need more beer? They got you. 10/10 if you just need a place to sleep. View is irrelevant
GuideNice spot with plenty of space between sites, which gives you some privacy. It’s right off a busy road, so you’ll hear some traffic noise. The hunters were out during my stay, so there were gunshots throughout the day, but that’s to be expected this time of year. Overall, a good spot for a quick overnight stay and it’s conveniently close to the cities.
RangerI was looking for a secluded backpack in site where I could have a peaceful 48 hours of prayer and solitude, and this site was perfect! I also wanted one that wasn't too far remote, since I hadn't been on a proper backpacking trip since the pandemic hit. And as a solo female camper, I wanted a reserved site so that there would be a record of my location for safety reasons. I'm so glad I chose the Deer Creek site, and will almost definitely stay here again at some point!
This site is accessible by either hiking or canoe. It took me about 30 minutes to hike in from the visitor center parking lot. There is easy access to river water to boil or filter from the canoe landing.
This site was incredibly spacious. It includes a fire ring and picnic table overlooking the creek and river. It also includes 2 large tent pads (look out for widow makers, one of the tent pads is under a dead tree!). It also has a spot nestled in some pine trees that could fit a smaller tent, canoe storage, or I found it to be the perfect spot to hang my hammock! (This would be a great site for hammock camping.) So if you're camping with a small group of people this would be a great site. It also includes a trail to a fairly private latrine, and a bear box (the park ranger warned me that there are bears in the park although I did not see any.) I also found plenty of dead down and dry wood and birch bark on the ground for building fires.
This site is great for a one nigjt stay on a longer backpacking or canoeing trip, but also great for camping out at for a couple of nights. I stayed for two, and it connects to all the major trails in the park, so I was able to use it as a great base for hiking and seeing the beautiful changing leaves. In the morning I hiked North to do the Riverside trail and looped back through the woods. Then in the afternoon I did the Deer Creek loop, which is a shared horse and hiking trail. It was so nice to he able to hike out to some of the best trails in the park directly from my site.
This site felt remarkably remote for being only an hour from the twin cities and a mile from the parking lot! I stayed there Thursday -Saturday, and after leaving the parking lot on Thursday did not see another human being for the rest of the day, and Friday not until I hit the main trails! There was no one else staying within at least a mile of me. I was even able to see fantastic stars Friday night. There was amazing wildlife - a blue heron frequented the site, and I heard all types of owls. Two bald eagles had a nest across the river so I got to see and hear them the whole trip, too- it was absolutely magical!
This site has a great view of both sunrise and sunset. Thursday night there was a gorgeous sunset over the woods reflected in deer Creek. Both mornings I woke up to watch the sunrise while drinking my coffee next to the fire (it was freezing!!!). Watching the sun rise over the river and fog roll over th water and evaporate while eagles soared was truly magical. Having an easy backpack in site surrounded by water on two sides and with views of the sunrise and sunset like this was so incredible!!!
GuideThey have 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. The five space spot has no water or electric hook up but was a great place for me to test out my new solar set up. 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 😅. The White Pine lot (5 spaces) has a central bathroom/shower building. The park was jam packed Friday/Saturday but a ghosts town the remains sun/mon/tue I stayed.
ScoutFor our first time camping, this was a great site! It was very clean, had friendly staff, and was close to a really fun park for our kids. We will be back!
TravelerNever again, $81 for an electric only site. Come on Wisconsin let's jab the out of .staters. Entry fee to parks, extra for out of staters. The site was secluded but not close to level. Not close to the facilities. I am going back to SD. They don't add fees because you are from out of town, they actually encourage out of state tourists. Last trip to a Wisconsin state park . And the showers were closed for the season, this is 10/9/25. But still full price and just an electric only site. No thanks Wisconsin
Dispersed camping near St. Francis, Minnesota offers unique access to the region's mixed pine-hardwood ecosystem at elevations between 850-950 feet. Winter temperatures often dip below 0°F while summer highs reach into the 90s with significant humidity. Most primitive sites lack designated boundaries, requiring campers to identify suitable spots within designated public lands.
Tubing adventures: Country Camping Tent & RV Park on the Rum River offers river floating experiences with equipment rentals. "Great tubing and canoeing," notes Rory T., while David G. adds, "Key thing is the river is very clean and sandy bottom."
Trail exploration: Sand Dunes State Forest contains multiple interconnected trail systems for hiking and wildlife viewing. "Wonderful State Park. Great beach access, easy to find... Lots of trees great for hammock camping. Great biking around the grounds for youth," reports Ashley V.
Wildlife observation: Early mornings provide optimal viewing for deer, pileated woodpeckers, and sandhill cranes. "Very quiet with lots of different bird sounds," reports Jason B. about South of Sand Dunes State Forest. Heather W. warns, "Sand storks are very protective. Stay away from them. They attack."
Privacy levels: South of Sand Dunes State Forest offers secluded dispersed camping areas. "There's lots of little spots off the main gravel road. Nothing allowed further into the forest. One pull through area that I found. Couple vehicles pass a day," explains Heather W.
Proximity to metro: Despite feeling remote, many campsites remain conveniently accessible. "After reading a lot of Pinterest reviews I'm glad we stayed at this camp... we used it as a base camp for the Mall of America," writes Joe R. about Baker Park.
Lake accessibility: Ann Lake provides waterfront recreation opportunities. "Took my son on his first overnight camp outside of backyard... Sites close to water or deep in the woods, sites for hammocks and group sites can be reserved," shares Chris B.
Bug preparation: Mosquitoes and ticks thrive throughout the region, especially in wooded areas. "Took a look at other reviews as they come in and see what time of year they visited... We went in the middle of Summer. High bug season," notes one camper about Lake Maria State Park.
Cell service variations: Bunker Hills Regional Park typically offers reliable connectivity, while more remote areas have spotty coverage. "2 bars of 4g service made it a little difficult to pay online over the phone. No reception in lower elevation sites," warns Andy L.
Poison ivy prevalence: This plant grows abundantly in wooded campsites. "Sites are large with varying degrees of privacy. Well spaced out, just some have less undergrowth. Be aware that the undergrowth is at least 25% poison ivy," cautions Kari P.
Seasonal road conditions: Spring and fall bring muddy roads at dispersed sites. "Primitive roads; bring anything from AWD to 4×4 depending on your rig and route," advises a camper at South of Sand Dunes.
Playground access: Baker Campground offers family-friendly facilities. "With great fishing, playground, swimming, and biking trails very nearby, the kids were kept as busy as they wanted to be," states Bryan S.
Splash pad options: Water features provide summer cooling opportunities. "I stayed here 3 weeks ago with my wife and 2 young children and it was fantastic great playground and heated pool... A ton for the kids to do!" reports Beasty B. about Country Camping.
Nature education: Schedule morning walks for wildlife spotting and plant identification. "I really enjoy sites 1, 2, and 3 as they are a little more secluded from other sites... Site 1 is my favorite despite the road noise due to the location of the tent pad and being on almost a peninsula offering lots of lake views," suggests Tori K. about Lake Maria State Park.
Quiet camping times: Mid-week visits typically mean fewer neighbors and more available sites. "During the week so not as many people and not busy at all. Plenty of sites to choose from," notes Chris B.
Site selection priorities: Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Regional Park accommodates larger vehicles. "The lower loops are definitely better for tent campers, even though quite a few spots could support an RV... The upper loop (sits 45-64) is definitely more geared towards RVs," advises Krista T. at Bunker Hills.
Generator restrictions: Many campgrounds limit or prohibit generator use, especially during quiet hours. "So many generators... Went on a busy summer weekend. Beautiful rustic campsites but even sites that you can't drive directly up to were still too close to all of the RVers with loud generators," reports Chris D.
Hookup availability: Full-service sites require advance booking. "This campground is great for everyone! It has a heated pool, splash pad area, BIG playground area, indoor game room, HUGE sites! This place does have 30amp and 50amp hook ups and has pull through spots and sewer sites," explains Spencer C. about Country Camping.
Leveling challenges: Some sites require significant adjustment. "Very beautiful and lots of deer on the trails. Sites range from open and flat to secluded and a little hilly," notes Andy L.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near St. Francis, MN?
According to TheDyrt.com, St. Francis, MN offers a wide range of camping options, with 124 campgrounds and RV parks near St. Francis, MN and 7 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near St. Francis, MN?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near St. Francis, MN is Ann Lake Campground — Sand Dunes State Forest with a 4.2-star rating from 23 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near St. Francis, MN?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 7 free dispersed camping spots near St. Francis, MN.
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