Camping near Eden Prairie, Minnesota offers options ranging from rustic tent sites to full-service RV parks within 30 minutes of the city. The area sits at approximately 900 feet above sea level in the Minnesota River Valley, creating a varied terrain of rolling hills and wetlands. Spring camping season typically begins in late April when overnight temperatures consistently stay above 40°F, though early season campers should prepare for muddy conditions from snowmelt.
What to do
Swimming and water sports: Lake Auburn Campground features a swimming beach where families can cool off during summer months. A visitor noted, "The lake is nice, smaller with not many motor boats so good for kayaking or canoeing, the beach is pretty clean, some weeds floating in the water and very shallow for kids."
Hiking trails: Lebanon Hills Regional Park offers extensive trail networks through diverse terrain. According to one camper, "We love Lebanon Hills! Close to home and an oasis in the middle of the Twin Cities... Great hiking." Another visitor shared, "We did get to check out part of one of the many hiking paths."
Archery practice: Lake Elmo County Park Reserve provides an archery range for outdoor enthusiasts. One camper mentioned, "Great campground, sites are spacious and spread out, electric hookups at all sites, swim pond is great for kids, and other amenities like an archery range and hiking trails are fantastic for kids."
Biking: Multiple paved trails connect throughout the region's parks. A camper at Baker Campground noted, "The lake is nice. There are 2 swimming beaches: 1 for the campground and one for all of the day visitors... There is a nice 6+ mile biking trail that connects to others, so bring the bikes."
What campers like
Secluded tent sites: While many campgrounds focus on RV camping, Lake Auburn has more private tent options. A reviewer explained, "Tent camp sites are far enough from each other that neighbors can't be seen, and we didn't hear them either. The bathroom facility near the ranger station was very well maintained and cleaned several times a day."
Educational programs: Baker Campground offers regular nature programming for families. As one visitor shared, "On Saturday nights they have a campgound program for the kids and families to watch. Very organized and clean facilities."
Modern bathrooms: Several campgrounds maintain high-quality facilities. A visitor to Lebanon Hills mentioned, "The bathrooms were among some of the nicest I've used at a campground. The shower stall was big enough for a meaty human like myself to shower comfortably. And you can tell the staff takes good care of the facilities."
Urban accessibility: Most campgrounds are positioned for quick city access. A Cleary Lake camper stated, "We camped here last minute when the rain held off and we could only find this campground with availability... Our 'hike in' spot was very close to the car but hidden in a forest. Gorgeous spot."
What you should know
Reservation timing: Popular campgrounds book quickly during peak season. One Lebanon Hills visitor advised, "Reserve early online, most weekends were already reserved by mid May."
Noise considerations: Proximity to urban areas can mean more background noise. At Dakotah Meadows, one camper reported, "We would be willing to try the campground again, but would probably chose a site further from one of the main roads into Mystic Lake Casino. We heard a lot of traffic coming and going well into the wee hours of the night."
Site privacy variations: Cleary Lake Regional Park provides a mix of exposed and secluded sites. A visitor mentioned, "I really like the hike in sites. Short walk from the car and right by the water yet spaced nicely for privacy."
Gate closures: Some parks strictly enforce entry times. One camper warned, "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."
Tips for camping with families
Swim facilities: Baker Park Reserve offers supervised swimming areas. A regular visitor mentioned, "With great fishing, playground, swimming, and biking trails very nearby, the kids were kept as busy as they wanted to be."
Playground access: Several campgrounds have modern play equipment. A Baker Park camper noted, "It was very clean, had friendly staff, and was close to a really fun park for our kids. We will be back!"
Educational opportunities: Lake Elmo provides nature programming. A visitor shared, "On Saturday nights they have a campgound program for the kids and families to watch. Very organized and clean facilities. Reasonably priced."
Shorter hikes: Many campgrounds offer trails suitable for younger hikers. A Lebanon Hills camper stated, "We liked that we weren't super close to any campers unlike most RV spots are nowadays. We will be back to explore other parts of the campground."
Tips from RVers
Level parking pads: Dakotah Meadows RV Park provides cement pads at each site. A repeat visitor explained, "This is a really nice campground with cement parking pads with full hookups. The grass around the lots is very green, lush and well maintained."
RV length accuracy: Some parks have unique measuring systems. A Lebanon Hills visitor warned, "Reservation system is weird and the sites are much bigger than they say. All rv sites are the listed length plus 16' for your tow vehicle, which you need to call to find out."
RV washing stations: Dakotah Meadows offers specialized facilities for cleaning your rig. A camper noted, "There is a RV wash bay available for a fee and the campground even has gasoline available 24 hours a day using a credit card."
Weekend availability: Town & Country Campground fills quickly during summer. A visitor advised, "It appears to be sold out for the weekend so book ahead. Lots of MN license plates and a few of us from out of state too."
