Detroit Lakes, MN is a great camping destination for adventurers of all types. Enjoy the scenic camping, fun activities, and sights and sounds of Detroit Lakes. Find the best campgrounds near Detroit Lakes, MN. Read helpful reviews and tips to find the perfect camping option for you and your crew.
$50 / night
"Quiet Detroit Lakes is nearby and worth a visit."
"Detroit Lake area is also one of the sightings of Thomas Danbo troll sculptures which require a mile walk."
"Several rangers directed us here so we stopped in before we left Minnesota. The ranger was very helpful and set us up with a quiet campsite."
"We had electric hook up, fill with water near the dump station. Our site was big and private on Grass lake facing west so we saw great sunsets sitting in our site."
$24 - $34 / night
"good trail system with a walk through the prairie and/or by the river..the weather was perfect when we came, 75 and a breeze...
We had an incident with our cat."
"Very nice walking trails all around the campground and throughout the park as a whole. Trash dumpsters here as well as an assortment of segregated recycle bins."
"So close to the parking area it's a breeze to get to, yet far enough away you'd never guess you were near your car (except for very occasional road noise). "
"This resort is amazing, quiet, clean, friendly people, and pet friendly!"
"On the Gunflint Trail off the beaten path! Get away from it all...really. No cell to bother you here! On Flour Lake with great service from the staff."
"Large drive-through sites for RVs nice sitting close to the lakeA little spend he at 50 bucks a night"
GuideVery Clean, very friendly. Sites are level and have shade. Laundry available. Game room with pool, shuffle board, ping pong and more. Quiet Detroit Lakes is nearby and worth a visit.
TravelerBuffalo river is not our favorite State Park but it is close to family and friends in the Fargo Morehead area. For the most part it’s just really mosquitoey. Make sure you bring bug spray. The campsites aren’t quite as spread out as some of the other state parks and it’s not as wooded as you’re in the plains. some of the sites have more trees than others.
We will go back because it’s convenient. You are also fairly close to the Detroit Lakes area. That is a fun place to visit and do some shopping.
GuideKaren and Todd, who own and run this lovely campground Come from the background of service. Their attention to all the details are everywhere. The upkeep and the maintenance of all the sites is impeccable. They also supply aged hardwoods for the benefit of controlling the fires, but the wood is perfect for cooking if you so choose, I love cooking on an open fire so I appreciated it on a personal level.
Karin’s grandfather took this property from a farmland, planted all the trees. which give ample shade for many of the sites. There are two playgrounds in a field. Chipper golf, ladder golf, horseshoes, basket ball & volleyball courts. Laundry room and a rec room that has pool table, foosball, ping pong and shuffleboard. There are showers available as well.
My favorite surprise in addition to everything else she does she bakes homemade sourdough bread on certain nights. Which you can order the toppings and select ingredients. Sweet or Savory I went with Parnassian/garlic. Fresh right from the oven with Irish butter perfection for this foodie!
All 30 the sites have water, power and sewage, picnic table and fire rings.
Detroit Lake area is also one of the sightings of Thomas Danbo troll sculptures which require a mile walk.
LegendCAMPGROUND REVIEW
Itasca State Park is a primo destination in northern Minnesota for folks interested in exploring the headwaters of the Mississippi River. There are several campgrounds, group camps, cabins and lodge accomodations in the park that suit most visitors. But for folks who want a wilderness experience while at the headwaters, there are miles of wilderness trails in the backcountry area on the southern end of the park—and there are campsites and Adirondack shelters scattered throughout the myriad glacial lakes of this backcountry, enough so that you could backpack by foot or on snowshoes or cross country skis for a week through the territory, staying at a different lakes every night. April in Minnesota means we are still winter camping—but despite the snow, the sun is bright and warm, and it is great to get out into it. The park is at its peak of solitude in the winter, but if you can find a way to get to a campsite, they are open and reservable. This review is for Remote Campsite 11, located on an isthmus between Coffee Break Lake and Deer Park Lake. It is a several mile hike in from the nearest parking areas, either via Mary Kake and the Ozawindib Trail, or via the Deer Park Trail from Douglas Lodge. The trail is rolling and maintained for cross country skiers, snowshoers and snowhikers in the winter. This campsite is located just past the Ozawindib Adirondack Shelter, which is a good backup if its too windy or cold at the campsite. The campsite itself is down a hill by the lakeshore, between two lakes actually, on a rise that overlooks both. There is an additional campsite nearby on the south end of Deer Park Lake, campsite 10. There is a tent pad sheltered under the tall pines (and currently under the snow!) as well as a fire ring and an outhouse. There is no water provided, but a large bucket is available, so you can get lake water and filter it, or melt snow or bring your own. This is a great location for folks who like winter camping as the trek in is only a few miles, I was able to do it easily carrying a backpack of gear on my back, and a front pack with my dog when she got tired if trudging through the snow. And of course it is an easy hike in during the milder snow-free seasons. The site is scenic, pristine, and largely sheltered from the wind. The vista north over Coffee Break Lake would be awesome for viewing northern lights, this is a dark sky part of the park. It can get a little muddy in the transition season, including around the campfire area, so we hung out at the Adirondack shelter nearby and did our cooking there.
To see a map and reserve a back country campsite at Itasca, check this link:
https://reservemn.usedirect.com/MinnesotaWeb/Facilities/AdvanceSearch.aspx
For more info on Remote Camping in Minnesota State Parks, see this link: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/remote_camping.html
For general info on Itasca State Park, go to the homepage: www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/park.html?id=spk00181#homepage
PRODUCT REVIEW
As a Ranger for The Dyrt, I ocasionally get camping products to test out. Today I am testing Mountain House Southwest Breakfast Hash https://www.mountainhouse.com/m/product/spicy-southwest-breakfast-hash.html
Mountain House makes lightwieght, freeze-dried trail meals that are "cooked" in their own pouches using only boiling water. The sealed pouches are durable and lightwieght to carry, and the no-fuss no-muss prep of adding boiling water and letting it stand for 4 minutes in the re-sealable pouch is really easy. Since I was carrying my gear on my back, and carrying my tired little dog in a front pack carrier, I certainly didnt want to have extra weight! But these meal pouches are so light you hardly know you are carrying them. This pouch of SW breakfast hash had more than enough for two people plus some leftover for the dog, we served it up on tortillas that we had also packed, but you could eat it straight up. The hash featured beans, corn, potatoes, veggies and shredded beef for a well rounded complete meal as is, but you could extend the servings by scrambling it with eggs to dish up for a larger group. The taste and texture were surprisingly good, tasty without being too spicy, and I would defintiely buy this again. See our video review at https://youtu.be/nB9lBmjUsqU
ScoutWe had electric site and easily fit our 27 foot trailer. Beautiful campground. Lots of biking and hiking trails. Pets allowed.
LegendNice and clean campground with the best bathrooms we have been too...
good trail system with a walk through the prairie and/or by the river..the weather was perfect when we came, 75 and a breeze...
We had an incident with our cat. Cat got loose and everyone worked as a team to get him found. People were walking and looking for him. Posters went up around the grounds. We left our # with two campgrounds and as soon as they saw him 8 hours after he went missing, they called us and kept him contained. We appreciate everyone and their kind acts...
RangerScoutWhat an amazing find and diamond in the rough! This resort is amazing, quiet, clean, friendly people, and pet friendly! Only a 3 mile ride down the gravel to get to ATV trails, and a premium gas pump to fill up with when you get back at the resort after riding. Private boat launch and swimming beach make it fun for the kids and convenient for dad to dock his boat to go fishing. Will definitely book a stay here again, soon!
LegendWhile this seems to be mainly an "RV" campground, but there were a few cabins on the lake and two gorgeous tent sites that would be the envy of many other camps. They were ideal, especially for the family that wanted the "tent" experience without having to huff it through the woods with toddlers in tow.
Sleeping Fawn is very clearly marked from the road, and although they don't say "campground" on the sign, there are a few tent sites available. It's about a 3/4 mile drive off the main road, but signage is apparent the entire way, and it's super easy to find once you get there. There is an office for check in, cabins to rent and lots of RV sites available too. Even though RV's seem to dominate here, the roadway through the woods and past them is peaceful and serene. Pine needles cover the ground and create a softness to the scenery. The posts that mark each site are wooden, tall, and are clearly numbered. Close to the entrance is a "tent parking" area, a cart for hauling your things, and 2 tent pads, just across the drive and down a little path about 20 yards. Perfect!
The tent sites are far enough apart to be "separate", but close enough that if you had family or friends, they are close by. Garbage cans are at the split in the path between #1 and #2 and each site has a fire ring, picnic table, gorgeous, flat tent pad and a view of the lake. And again, if you needed something from the car, it's a 50 yard walk. Not a 3 mile trudge through the woods.
Camping in tents May 18 - Oct 1
Camping rates were a bit steep for my liking, but I like primitive sites in the woods. So if you were a family trying to introduce wee ones to camping, it would still be worth it. $28 for a site as of 2018. Or a weekly rate of $170. Showers and laundry available, as well as free coffee in the morning. They also have a beach, nature trail, small store and other amenities.
NOTE: Pets are not allowed at this resort
Discovering pet-friendly camping options near Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, allows you to enjoy the great outdoors with your furry friends. Here are some excellent choices that cater to both you and your pets.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Detroit Lakes, MN?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Detroit Lakes, MN is Country Campground with a 5-star rating from 5 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Detroit Lakes, MN?
TheDyrt.com has all 66 dog-friendly camping locations near Detroit Lakes, MN, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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