RV camping near Eden Prairie, Minnesota offers scenic opportunities within a short drive of the Twin Cities metro area. Most campgrounds are situated near lakes or rivers, with the Mississippi River watershed providing water recreation options from May through October. Temperatures range from summer highs around 80°F to cool fall nights in the 40s, making spring and fall camping comfortable alternatives to busy summer weekends.
What to do
Swimming and beaches: Baker Campground at Baker Park Reserve has two swimming beaches—one for campers and another for day visitors. "There are nice paved trails around a couple of lakes/ponds for biking, and easy access to the shower and bathroom facilities," notes a camper at Baker Park Reserve.
River tubing: The Rum River provides popular water recreation at Country Camping RV Park. "Tubing! They have a bus that takes you into town float back to the campground, love it," reports a visitor at Country Camping RV Park. The river is clean with a sandy bottom, making it ideal for summer cooling off.
Mini-golf and lawn games: St. Cloud-Clearwater RV Park offers recreational options beyond water activities. A camper reports the park has "a 9 hole mini golf, shuffleboard, salt water pool, and a lobby/gift shop. They also offer a nice seating area for those hot or raining days with free arcade."
What campers like
Concrete pads and level sites: Cleary Lake Regional Park receives praise for its layout and site selection. "I really like the hike in sites. Short walk from the car and right by the water yet spaced nicely for privacy," explains a camper at Cleary Lake Regional Park.
Natural settings close to the city: Town & Country Campground provides urban access without feeling completely developed. One reviewer noted, "If you want to be close to the city this does it. We're in town to catch a twins game and see the mall of America and this was a campground not too far from both. It's an easy on and off the interstate."
Heated pools: Cokato Lake RV Resort stands out for family-friendly amenities. A visitor highlights "Heated pool, lake with beach, boat launch area just block away, tennis/pickle ball, mini golf, resort store with ice cream, goat park, paved roads and much more!" at Cokato Lake RV Resort.
What you should know
Seasonal limitations: Most Eden Prairie area campgrounds have limited seasons. St. Cloud-Clearwater operates from May through mid-October, while others close after Labor Day. One visitor noted, "Stayed for a little more than a month after selling my house. (End of Aug-Sept)."
Site privacy varies: At Town & Country Campground, space constraints are noteworthy. A camper explains, "It's a nice park but very close compact. Everyone is squeezed in like sardines. Very tight quarters on roads and sites."
Road noise at sites near highways: Sites positioned near main roads at Dakotah Meadows RV Park can experience traffic noise. "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."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Baker Campground features play areas within walking distance. A family camper shares, "With great fishing, playground, swimming, and biking trails very nearby, the kids were kept as busy as they wanted to be."
Splash pad options: Country Camping Tent & RV Park on the Rum River offers water features beyond pools. A visitor explains, "This campground is great for everyone! It's has a heated pool, splash pad area, BIG playground area, indoor game room, HUGE sites!"
Game room availability: Several parks provide indoor entertainment for rainy days. A family at Baker Park notes, "It's a great place to spend a weekend close to home, but feel like you are getting away!"
Tips from RVers
Site selection for privacy: Choose back-in sites at Dakotah Meadows for more space. A regular visitor advises, "We have also stayed in the pull through sites, but not really a fan of those. Still, I would choose this park over others in the area for the access to 494 and 35W."
Technology connections: Cell service can be unreliable at some campgrounds. At Dakotah Meadows, a camper reported "wifi is not great, less than 1MB download speeds from our site, and our Verizon service was pretty poor in our spot, max 2 bars."
Deposit requirements: Many parks require advance cards or fees. One camper at Dakotah Meadows notes, "Bath house and laundry and card controlled ($5 card deposit on check in)…well maintained facilities."
