Baker Campground and Bunker Hills Regional Park provide several upscale glamping options near Dayton, Minnesota. Located in a region with oak woodlands and prairie terrain, these areas feature a mix of flat and gently rolling landscapes with elevations ranging from 850 to 950 feet. Winter temperatures often drop below freezing while summer camping season typically runs from late April through mid-October with occasional rainfall.
What to do
Biking on paved trails: Baker Campground has extensive paved pathways connecting to larger trail systems. "There are nice paved trails around a couple of lakes/ponds for biking, and easy access to the shower and bathroom facilities (which were very nice)," notes one visitor at Baker Campground - Baker Park Reserve.
Disc golf adventures: Multiple parks in the region offer disc golf opportunities. "Close to a top 10 disc golf course if that's your thing (it's ours)," reports a camper who stayed at Bunker Hills Regional Park during a cross-country trip.
Horseback riding experiences: The trail system at Crow Hassan Park Reserve caters specifically to equestrians. "This is my all-time favorite park to bring my horse to, and it's her favorite trail too. Seriously, when we head back to our trailer she will stop and refuse to proceed. Do a 180 on the trail and she is happy to trot away from the trailer," explains an experienced rider about the equestrian opportunities near Dayton.
Water activities on multiple lakes: The region offers numerous options for paddling, swimming and fishing. "Great for the active family, not those wanting privacy. With great fishing, playground, swimming, and biking trails very nearby, the kids were kept as busy as they wanted to be," writes a camper about Baker Campground.
What campers like
Private tent sites with natural features: Secluded camping areas provide greater privacy among the trees. "Loved this site! Super peaceful vibes, nice tree cover, flat tent pad, and plenty of space to spread out. It's tucked just enough off the path to feel private, but not so far that you feel isolated," reports a visitor to Baker Campground about site C14.
Clean facilities with modern amenities: Many campers appreciate the well-maintained bathrooms and showers in the area. "The bathrooms were nice (no water). The sites are a little close together. I had a group in 3 campsites across from me with kids and noisy adults so couldn't find peace in my own campsite. But the easy walk to the lake, sitting on the dock or the grass and swimming in the water are a great way to destress," notes a visitor to Lake Auburn Campground.
River tubing opportunities: Several campgrounds feature rivers suitable for recreational floating. "The campground is nice and clean. Good size spaces. The tubing is a plus. Key thing is the river is very clean and sandy bottom," comments a guest at Country Camping Tent & RV Park on the Rum River, highlighting one of the more unique glamping opportunities close to Dayton.
Proximity to water parks: Families enjoy the added benefit of water recreation facilities. "Huge waterpark, miles of bike trails," mentions a visitor to Bunker Hills Regional Park, which offers luxury camping experiences within minutes of water recreation amenities.
What you should know
Seasonal bug challenges: Insect activity varies dramatically by season with summer months requiring preparation. "We went in the middle of Summer. High bug season. The black flies were dive bombing the car like a scene from Armageddon. We prepared the kiddos for a quick grab and run and jumped out of the car," writes a visitor to Lake Maria State Park Campground about their summer experience.
Site selection considerations: Not all sites offer equal privacy or amenities. "The lower loops are definitely better for tent campers, even though quite a few spots could support an RV. The campground map does a good job of providing visual indicators of what a site provides. The upper loop (sites 45-64) is definitely more geared towards RVs, so not what I would consider an ideal tent site," explains a visitor to Bunker Hills.
Weekday vs. weekend experiences: Occupancy patterns affect the overall experience. "While the park is nice and has mature trees, the sites are very open and offer little privacy between sites. The only separation is the driveway where you park your car. I stayed here during the week though, so there wasn't another camper anywhere near us. I'm not sure how busy it gets on the weekends," notes a Lake Auburn camper.
Fire ring placement variations: Some sites have unusual configurations. "The only reason this isn't a full 5-star banger is the fire ring placement. That thing is doing its own thing like 30 feet from the tent pad—felt like I needed a shuttle to roast a marshmallow," mentions a Baker Campground visitor about site C14.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Multiple campgrounds feature play areas for children. "For 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!" shares a first-time camping family who stayed at Baker Campground.
Beach swimming options: Natural swimming areas provide cooling relief. "The swim area was cool after a hot day and the beach was gently sloping and smooth," reports a camper at Lake Auburn, which offers spacious glamping sites close to Dayton, Minnesota with easy lake access.
Educational wildlife viewing: Nature centers and hiking trails provide learning opportunities. "I really enjoy sites 1, 2, and 3 as they are a little more secluded from other sites, however 1 is fairly close to the county road so you will hear some vehicle noise overnight. Site comes with a fire ring, picnic table, and bear locker," explains a backpacker at Lake Maria State Park about the sites where wildlife viewing is optimal.
Watercraft rentals: Families can explore waterways without bringing equipment. "You can rent canoes, paddle boats and SUP boards, and many people bring their own boats (although they do charge to park your boat trailer unless you bring it back to the campground and they limit the number of boats on the lake at a time)," explains a Baker Campground visitor.
Tips from RVers
Site leveling requirements: Some campgrounds have uneven terrain. "While some sites are a little uneven and better suited to RVs than to tents, all sites are spacious and clean," notes a visitor to Lake Auburn Campground.
Electrical hookup availability: Power options vary across campgrounds. "Had one issue with power dropping so we had to pull the surge protector off then it was fine. Also very hot and humid so everyone was running AC to the max," reports an RV camper at Country Camping on the Rum River.
Dump station access: Not all campgrounds offer full hookups. "The bathrooms/showers are great. With great fishing, playground, swimming, and biking trails very nearby, the kids were kept as busy as they wanted to be. The sites are about as private as the typical state park, so not very, but that is offset by all the other positives this campground has to offer," explains a visitor to Baker Campground, where RVers need to plan for septic requirements.
Reservation requirements: Many parks require advance booking. "We spent two nights in the campground. It was fairly busy, but we still felt secluded despite a full campground," notes a Baker Campground visitor about the importance of securing spots in advance.
