Camping options near Crystal, Minnesota range from heavily wooded sites to more open RV parks with modern amenities. Located in Hennepin County at an elevation of about 860 feet, this area experiences summer temperatures that can swing from 65°F to 90°F between June and August with occasional heavy rainfall. Most campgrounds operate seasonally with peak usage in July and August when mosquito activity also reaches its height.
What to do
Explore extensive trail systems: At Bunker Hills Regional Park, miles of paved and unpaved trails connect throughout the park. "There are nice trails to help explorer the regional park," notes Melissa A., while another camper mentions "the temperature was COLD the first night, but perfect the rest of the week. Absolutely loved the experience."
Visit water attractions: The Minneapolis Northwest KOA offers a pool for guests. Though one camper notes "the pool area was clean and without issue. There were no extra walk ways or special features in those regards," it provides a convenient cooling option. At Bunker Hills, a waterpark with wave pool is available within the park boundaries.
Try disc golf courses: Several campgrounds offer disc golf access. At Rice Creek Campgrounds, one visitor mentioned being "close to a top 10 disc golf course if that's your thing (it's ours)." Most courses are open from April through October, with some requiring small usage fees.
Fish in local lakes: Lake Auburn Campground provides fishing access from their dock. "The swim area was cool after a hot day and the beach was gently sloping and smooth," according to Sarah S. Fishing licenses are required and can be purchased online or at local sporting goods stores.
What campers like
Wooded seclusion: Many campsites offer tree cover for privacy. At Willow River State Park, one camper noted "large campsites, most with thick wooded areas between the sites." While slightly farther from Crystal (about 30 miles east), campers appreciate that "you can't even tell you're in Hudson."
Family-friendly amenities: Baker Park Reserve scores high with families. "With great fishing, playground, swimming, and biking trails very nearby, the kids were kept as busy as they wanted to be," writes Bryan S. Another visitor appreciated that it was "a great site! It was very clean, had friendly staff, and was close to a really fun park for our kids."
Easy access and conveniences: Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Regional Park offers convenience close to home. "We love to camp here as it's so close to home. Decent amenities, however NOT the feel of a State Park. Think suburbia meets nature," explains one camper. The park provides a mix of developed facilities while maintaining some natural settings.
Clean facilities: Campground cleanliness receives frequent positive mentions. At Lake Auburn, "the facilities are very nice, but I like my camp sites to be more private than what Auburn Lake has to offer," notes Emily H. Most campgrounds in the area maintain restrooms daily during peak season.
What you should know
Reservation requirements: Most campgrounds fill quickly during summer weekends. At Lake Auburn, "this campground, given its proximity to our house, made for an easy weekend getaway to give the gear a trial run," mentions Erik R. Reservations are typically available 3-4 months in advance.
Bug considerations: Mosquitoes and horseflies can be problematic, especially in wooded areas. One camper at Rice Creek Campgrounds described a difficult experience: "When you first pull in to the park there we're an average amount of annoying bugs, especially for an 85 to 90 degree, summer day in a highly vegetative, woodsy park." Come prepared with repellent.
Site privacy varies significantly: Some campgrounds offer more separation between sites than others. At Lake Elmo County Park Reserve, "sites are spacious and spread out, electric hookups at all sites, swim pond is great for kids," according to John H. Minneapolis Northwest KOA, by contrast, has sites "stacked on top of each other like sardines in a can."
Water access considerations: Swimming areas may have limited hours or seasonal closures. "The beach area looks nice but we didn't use it," noted a camper at Lake Auburn. Several parks have recently upgraded their swimming facilities, though some have seasonal limitations.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Lake Auburn Campground offers excellent play facilities. "Great beach, good playground, okay camp sites," reports Emily H. The playground accommodates various age groups and is centrally located within the campground.
Swimming options: Multiple campgrounds feature swimming areas. At Baker Park Reserve, "there are 2 swimming beaches: 1 for the campground and one for all of the day visitors. You can rent canoes, paddle boats and SUP boards," writes Jennifer H. Most beaches are unguarded, so parental supervision is required.
Activity planning: Lebanon Hills Regional Park offers diverse activities for children. "We love Lebanon Hills! Close to home and an oasis in the middle of the Twin Cities," shares Katie C. The nature center provides educational programming throughout summer months, typically between 10am-4pm daily.
Noise considerations: Some campgrounds experience traffic noise that might disturb light sleepers. At Willow River State Park, campers mention "highway noise was noticeable in the evenings," while still rating the experience highly. Sites farther from main roads tend to be quieter.
Tips from RVers
Hookup availability: Full hookups are available at several campgrounds. Dakotah Meadows RV Park offers "cement parking pads with full hookups. The grass around the lots is very green, lush and well maintained," according to Jim M. Electrical service ranges from 30-50 amp depending on location.
Site layout and accessibility: RV sites vary significantly in size and arrangement. "Sites are paved and have well-maintained grass. We were located near the casino road, which has an occasional loud car, even at night," notes Chris F. at Dakotah Meadows. Most campgrounds can accommodate rigs up to 40 feet, though some have sites for larger vehicles.
Dump station access: Not all campgrounds with electric hookups offer full sewer connections. At Rice Creek Chain of Lakes, facilities include sanitary dump stations that may have limited hours. Water fill stations are generally accessible throughout operating hours.
Reservation timing: RV sites often book faster than tent sites. At Lebanon Hills Regional Park, one camper advises: "Reserve early online, most weekends were already reserved by mid May." Some parks offer limited first-come, first-served sites, but these fill early in the day, especially on summer weekends.
