109 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Red Rider Resort accommodates pets throughout its ten tent sites and three RV spaces, offering direct access to Cuyuna mountain bike trails. True North Basecamp also maintains pet-friendly policies across its 39 campsites and cabins, though they charge a small fee for dogs. Both campgrounds feature clean shower facilities with running water that campers and their pets appreciate after trail activities. Most pet-friendly campgrounds in the Deerwood area provide standard amenities including picnic tables, fire rings, and drinking water. Crosby Memorial City Park allows pets at its waterfront camping area with full hookups for RVs, while Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area permits leashed pets at all campsites, including their unique yurts overlooking a trout pond. Sites are generally close together but provide adequate space for tent camping with dogs.
The Cuyuna area trail systems offer extensive pet recreation options with miles of accessible paths connecting directly from most campgrounds. Red Rider's lakefront location provides water access for dogs to swim after hiking, with a private dock and beach area. Mountain bikers particularly value the pet-friendly accommodations that allow them to bring dogs along on trail adventures. The proximity to downtown Crosby means pet supplies are easily accessible, with several restaurants offering pet-friendly outdoor seating areas within walking or biking distance of campgrounds. Winter campers should note that while some facilities like Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area remain open year-round, others operate seasonally from May through September. Among dog-friendly campgrounds near Deerwood, shower houses are consistently noted for cleanliness, a practical priority for campers returning with muddy dogs after trail excursions.
"A great little campground right near the town (easy to bike in for coffee or beer) but it feels like you're deep in the northwoods! Some sites are better than others in terms of privacy."
"The cabins are my favorite because of the lake views, proximity to the bathhouse, and heat/AC units. Cabin #5 has the best unobstructed views of the lake. Cabins have WiFi."
"Stayed at RV site 4 which is bordered by trees on one side which was nice for privacy."
"Easy access to both single track and to paved cycling path. Sites are close but still felt private, especially when leaves fill in. Nice shower house, and a sauna we didn’t use."
"My dogs loved exploring the woods. The other campers were fun and social. And, this campground is close to the fun downtown in Crosby and the great bike trails and parks there."
"It’s clean, well-maintained, and close to town for groceries and restaurants. Would stay here again."
from $57 - $65 / night
Check Availability"Right on the lake with private dock. Sites a close by. Most have water and electric. Full hookups are very limited. Only 4 site near the back. Off of a quiet road. No traffic noise."
"We had site 4, lake side access. The site was amazing, with a dock to the lake. Has a picnic table with a lean to shelter, and a fire ring."
from $30 - $66 / night
Check Availability"The mountain biking trails were in great shape and were great for all skill levels. The lake was super clear and the small beach was wonderful."
"The old mine pits around and in the park are pristine and literally crystal clear! You can see hundreds of feet down through crystal clear water making it an amazing place to canoe and kayak."
from $24 - $80 / night
Check Availability"Easy trail access to the Cuyuna MTB trails and paved bike paths. Right on Serpent Lake for boating and swimming access."
"On park, next to playground and beach. Walking distance to restaurants and bars, And easily bike to the Cuyuna Mountain Bike Trails.
Cons. Road noise and low privacy."
"We loved the group camp site except for the fact the people would walk through it. There was a main hiking trail and lots of people came through. Our dogs did not care for that surprise."
"Just kidding, our dogs hate camping but we definitely enjoyed Crow Wing. The park ranger was super helpful on our first visit to the park."
from $24 - $80 / night
Check Availability"Trail connector with easy access to Bobsled is right there and you can ride to Cruser's Kettle. Highly recommend."
from $30 - $45 / night
Check Availability"Well groomed, right next to trails, lakes , shops restraunts excellent locatin"
from $55 - $75 / night
Check Availability"Central located water spigot for drinking also a dump station with water. Now the bad if the wind is blowing wrong you smell the waste water treatment plant next door."
LegendFun for the whole family. Amenities include: playground, pool, lake, dog park, and store. Each site has a table and fire pit. Keep an eye on your account. We noticed goggles charged to ours even though none of the 3 of us bought any. Somebody must've given them the wrong site number to charge to. Overall great campground, but a little spendy.
TravelerA great little campground right near the town (easy to bike in for coffee or beer) but it feels like you're deep in the northwoods! Some sites are better than others in terms of privacy. The bathrooms were always clean. Situated right on a quarry with fun fishing and kayaking opportunities. Connects to the mountain bike trails too! They do charge for pets.
LegendOur RV GPS brought us right to the campground(CG). We arrived about an hour early of their 3:00 PM check-in time with no issues checking in. We drove to FHU site 38 and backed in one and done. Our utilities were at the back of the site, and we needed about 35’ of electric and water hose. The sewer was more central, and I needed about 18’ of sewer hose for our rig. Our area had a few shade trees, but we had no problem hitting the north sky for Starlink. The water pressure was good, and we put on a reducer. Our nightly rate is based on an average over the weekday and weekend rates with no discounts offered. We stayed here three years ago when the CG was fairly young and not so built up. The clubhouse had gone to a full-service restaurant and bar, and when we were there around 10:30 AM, quite a few people were eating breakfast. We were told that the seasonal guests can golf on the weekends/holidays for free as part of their package, so tee times are needed. We saw a few seasonal folks going out, but just about every seasonal guest here has a golf cart, and they drove them around continuously during our Labor Day stay. Many of the seasonals also had ATVs, which they took off to ride the local trails. With the pool, new putt-putt golf, and other family activities, the CG was full of people. We were pleasantly surprised that the kids who rode on all sorts of electric bikes and scooters plus golf carts behaved themselves, and the parents seemed attentive. Everyone was friendly, and we happily noticed that the seasonal guests kept their sites clean and picked up after their dogs. They had expanded their dog park that’s up near the clubhouse, basketball court, and playground, but the dog area was not very convenient to the backside of the CG now that there are about 142 sites plus cabins/trailer park models available(with plans for more sites). However, there was plenty of room and little trails to walk your dog. The original/older sites 4-12 and the 30-40 area are currently being used for short-termers. Sites 1-3 are now cabins/park models. They have WiFi, but the signal was not very strong in our area. The golf course was under new design construction due to adding additional sites, but it was playable. Based on this CG becoming a seasonal golf cart community, we probably will not return.
TravelerFirst the negatives. No internet, medium phone signal. The campsites are too small and too crowded. The adults let their young kids drive their cold carts and atvs back and forth from the campground to the beach all day long. I counted one particular one make 34 trips in less than 6 hours. I used to golf and I occasionally used a cart but usually I walked. Kids and young parents are way too lazy now, because it's a small campground and short walk to the beach from the farthest site. I think they do it for 2 reasons, they are bored, and they can. There is only one road in and out so there is constant traffic, and the road is gravel so prepare to eat dust. The sites aren't paved or even gravel, you park on the grass. Now for the positives. Some sites have 50 amp, most just 30 amp or less. Water hookups at most. No full hookups or dump site. There is a beach and swim area on Skunk Creek. A playground by the bathroom and showers. That building is clean, showers are free. Lots of shade from all the trees. Mosquitoes are few, flies plentiful. It is a quiet park after 10pm, but although they say closed after 8pm there was traffic all night long. Ask for a site in the back to avoid headlights shining on you all night long. Rates are $40/night for the pull through site we had w50 amp service. It has a few seasonal sites, all located at the rear. There is a golf course right next door across the creek. That is where the office is located. The town is small, only a gas station and small grocery store, so bring what you need. A Subway and nice drive-in are close by. Oh, the water is in me/my dogs opinion not for drinking. I wouldn't suggest weekends here unless you're into hearing every conversation your neighbors have or want to sleep in. Maybe the week days are better? They do allow leashed pets.
ScoutAmazing, Family-owned campground, just far enough from “the cities” to get away for the weekend, without spending too much time in the car. Clean bathrooms, nice sized park for kids, pool (not open in Sept), lake with ample docks for fishing or you can rent boats. The “general store” has everything you need from souvenirs to wood, to marshmallows for s’mores, and all at reasonable prices. Each campsite has electrical hookup, picnic table and fire pit. Pets welcome.
LegendFollowing the winding pathway you will come to the campground. It’s situated near four lakes and loads of biking/hiking. There is a lot to do in the area from fishing, hiking, biking, and nature watching. Loon lake has a nice little “park” with a beach so that is great for families.
The campground itself sits next to the lake which is nice and while no site has true waterfront claim several can see the water. I stayed in 22E which was next to a trail head but close to the water spigot and showers. Sites 62/3/4 would be great for a large family as they have loads of space. Showers and restrooms were super clean!
Yes it is buggy but it’s minnesota so you deal with it. There is lots of nature. We saw a bear while hiking the continental divide trail so nature is out there.
GuideThe thing about State Parks is that they don't always know what they want to be.
Are they here to celebrate nature, and provide a moments breath away from the pace of urban life? Are they here for historical facts? Are they for revenue?
Crow Wing State Park suffers from this dilemma. While the tent sites are nice and spacious, the RV sites are stacked one on top of another, with no illusion of privacy. The weekend we were there, they were pretty full, but noise coming from other campers was acceptable.
There are plenty of water spigots, and toilet/shower facilities. The facilities are clean, but old.
There is an almost constant booming, however, coming from Fort Ripley, just down the river. The Fort serves as training for everything from the national guard, to state police, to the DNR. At one point, we could clearly hear live rounds being fired.
The walks and paths were well maintained, except that some were flooded out due to recent heavy rains. The area dedicated to the Old Crow Wing Village was well done.
What causes me the most confusion though, is that someone made the call to cover the roads with sand, instead of the traditional crushed stone. So, never mind that the sand made it harder to walk up hill to the water and showers, it got everywhere. When we tore down camp, I emptied enough sand from my tent, that I could have added a fresh layer to a cat's litter box.
I am very conflicted about this park. It is very pretty, but when you get right down to it, the little quirks that surround it add up. I'm not sure if we will be back. Not that we won't, it's just that we won't be rushing back.
GuideRight on Lake Mille Lacs, one of Minnesota’s largest. Walking distance from the bakery and bar! Newer, updated facilities. Boat access. Lake side sites (if you book early enough). You can hit Mille Lacs State Park if you want to knock them both out on one trip! This park seems to attract a lot of long term campers, as I’m sure it’s pretty reasonable to stay at the lake all summer. We went mid-July I think and the trees were literally raining caterpillars… it was tough to want to hang out in our tree canopy-covered site. Sooo.. we ventured outside of the park more at this one.
There was a festival going on in a town west of here that had a couple rides and a really fun patio bar. If you do decide to venture out at night, ask the bartender for the limo driver’s number; he’s the city’s “uber”!
ScoutMinnesota in the summer the parks are very full of large RVs. Our teardrop fits inside one. Nice clean campground. Friendly rangers. Nice showers. Beach area is small and no where the dogs can get in. Great charity that sells and delivers firewood.
The Cuyuna Lakes area near Deerwood, Minnesota contains over 5,000 acres of restored mine land with more than 25 abandoned iron ore pits now filled with water. Camping options range from rustic tent sites to developed campgrounds across elevations between 1,250-1,450 feet above sea level. Winter camping options remain available at select locations where temperatures can drop below -20°F during January and February.
Mountain bike trail access: Cuyuna Range Campground connects directly to the mountain bike trails, making it convenient for riders. "This new campground has everything you need and nothing you don't. Camping here makes it so easy to take in as much biking (or whatever else) as you want," notes Janae L. The campground features 17 sites with full hookups.
Fishing opportunities: Camp Holiday Resort and Campground offers direct lake access with private docks for fishing. "We had site 1 which was right on the lake. We were able to park the camper parallel to the lake which was amazing. Such a beautiful view!" writes Nick K. Guests can bring their own boats or rent various watercraft on site.
Winter exploration: Unlike many seasonal options, Crow Wing State Park Campground offers extended season camping access. "Set on the Upper Mississippi this was well worth the 8 Mile detour off the main east/west route through MN. History, hiking, biking, fishing and boating here," explains Lindsey R. The park maintains hiking trails that follow the river even in winter months.
Private wooded sites: Red Rider Resort tent campers appreciate the natural setting. "The site here was nice and wooded. Definitely a bit more private than other Cuyuna options," explains Jake N., who also notes the convenience of the "community kitchen in the main bath house to clean the dirty dishes from camp."
Sauna amenities: After cold weather activities, campers at Red Rider Resort can warm up in the on-site sauna. "Camp Sites were open early (March), if not year round. Other campgrounds don't open until mid-April... Nice shower house, and a sauna we didn't use," mentions Matthew H., highlighting the extended season availability.
Swimming areas: True North Basecamp provides designated swimming areas for summer visitors. "We stayed in a cabin for a week of biking. Excellent location with all the trails. It has a great swimming area, though it did get deep fast for little kids," notes Stacy M. The quiet lake setting also supports paddleboarding.
Site leveling challenges: Some tent sites require additional preparation due to terrain. At True North Basecamp, one camper reported: "I camped in site #18 and it either isn't very level or I just did a poor job of setting up my tent because we were slanted all night," according to Makayla B.
Road conditions: Access roads at some campgrounds may present challenges. Cuyuna Country State Rec Area visitors should prepare for rough entry routes. "The roads are very bumpy and narrow," notes Liz H., who also mentions, "The lack of signage is really a problem here. If you are camping, you need to know you are looking for 'Portsmouth Campground' and ignore every other sign that says Cuyuna."
Reservation systems: Most dog friendly campgrounds near Deerwood use digital systems for bookings. At True North Basecamp, "Check-in information is shared via email (key codes for the bathhouse and the cabin locks). The emails are very informative and the owners have been prompt to reply when I had questions," explains Makayla B.
Playground access: Aitkin County Campground provides Mississippi River access with family-friendly amenities. "Mowed and clean... Vault toilets and spring water... Has a boat ramp into the river," explains Quinten F., noting its suitability for shorter stays with children.
Kid-friendly activities: Pet-accommodating campsites near Deerwood often include recreational options for children. At Crosby Memorial City Park, Charlie S. describes it as "A very cool place for the kids! Swimming beach on Serpent lake is nice for the whole family. When they're tired of swimming, the skate park is always a good time. The playground is modern and very nice."
Group camping options: For family reunions near pet-friendly campgrounds in Deerwood, consider large group sites. "We loved the group camp site... For the group site there is tons of space and very secluded which was great. Also right on the river!!" reports Lauren S. about Crow Wing State Park's group facilities.
Site width considerations: Cuyuna Range Campground offers unusually spacious RV pads. "Nice layout with ample trees between every site, and each pad is super wide. We parked two vehicles and our Airstream and still had plenty of space for relaxing," notes Janae L., who also mentions that "Even when the campground is full on weekends, it doesn't feel crowded or loud."
Hookup availability: When seeking pet-accommodating campgrounds with full connections, options vary widely. Katie B. highlights Cuyuna Range Campground: "The sites were amazingly large with nice privacy between the lots. Easy to get into with plenty of room to spare. Each lot has full hook-ups, that was a huge bonus!!"
Seasonal considerations: Most dog friendly RV sites around Deerwood have limited winter availability. Mission Beach Resort offers seasonal camping with electric hookups and access for smaller units. "This campground is small, but everyone is friendly. No tent sites available on the lake as those are reserved for RV, but the tent area is nice and wooded," explains Brandon F.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Deerwood, MN?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Deerwood, MN is True North Basecamp with a 4.7-star rating from 9 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Deerwood, MN?
TheDyrt.com has all 109 dog-friendly camping locations near Deerwood, MN, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring
