Empire is the perfect place for adventurous campers and RVers. There's so much to see and do, from exhilarating hikes or bike rides to exploring the local dining and shopping. Get the dirt on all the best camping near Empire. Browse campgrounds by amenities, site types, and more.
$24 - $42 / night
"Professional built mtn bike trails for adventure. Camping in Minnesota suburbs. Miles of hiking, horseback riding, cross country ski trails. . perfect for my family's weekend Stay-cation"
"We live about 15 mins. away from this campground. We stayed in the East Loop which is for smaller RVs and tents. it has electricity but no water hookups, however there are water pumps."
"Minnesota State Parks have just started to build Yurts for 3 campgrounds around the state; Afton, Cuyuna and Glendalough State Parks."
"It is also next to Afton Ski resort. This park has a lot of beautiful prairie landscape with some temperate forest features. Wildflowers, shrubs, fungi, evergreens, and deciduous trees."
"Minnesota is beautiful and there is so much to do here. The bathrooms are spotless and everything is new here."
"Washington County, which manages campgrounds at both the Lake Elmo Park Reserve and St Croix Bluffs Regional Park, does a great job of maintaining campgrounds, trails, and bathroom facilities at both parks"
"Near lake and excellent bike path. Great brewery and winery close by."
"We didn’t get to swim at the lake because it was shut down due to a chemical spill at the time, but we did walk over and check it out. The views are great!"
$23 - $80 / night
"For a County Park, Lake Elmo has an impressive list of amenities. Before we even get to the campsite let's mention the filtered swimming pond."
"Lake Elmo County Park in Washington County Minnesota is a great park for families."
"This is a Nice campground middle of Minnesota. Surprising place in the middle of farm country. Very nice campground and lots of walking trails. Great for leaf peeping."
"To be on the safe side, incase we had issues, we decided to stay close to home so we decided to hit up a new park, Nerstrand Big Woods State Park just outside Northfield, Minnesota."
$85 / night
"There is a fire ring outside of each cabin, along with a table. No cooking is allowed inside the cabins, which can make things rough if the weather isn't cooperating. "
"There is no cooking inside the cabin so you have to use the fire ring outside. Shower facilities are really nice and match the cabins. Plan ahead as these are hard to come by."
$39 - $60 / night
"We didn’t get to swim at the lake because it was shut down due to a chemical spill at the time, but we did walk over and check it out. The views are great! We stayed in a RV spot next to the lake."
"Sites were so easy and the bike trails were awesome! Lots of nature paths too."
"Fun to play in the water, go behind the waterfall and a good hike up 200 steps to view the falls from above!"
"Located 5 miles outside of Hudson, Willow Creek State Park is large park with hiking, camp sites, fishing, canoeing, and the waterfall."
"Close to the Twin Cities yet out in the country. Mostly grass sites. Beautiful pool. Susan and Brad are wonderful hosts and very accommodating. We took our grandkids and they had a blast!"
"Nearby are bike trails, a winery, and a brewery."
GuideThis campground is really beautiful. It's big with over a hundred sites, some with power. No water at the site. Water nearby at stations. Large campsites, most with thick wooded areas between the sites. Most of the trail heads start at the campground. Walked about a mile to the falls area. This was really beautiful and was only a the head was only a couple hundred yards from my site. Unfortunately, I was only able to stay one night as my cross country trip hit this campground on the Thursday before memorial day and the whole weekend was booked. It was cold and a bit muddy (though packed gound) but with some management I was able to keep the inside of the tent clean
GuideI have long overlooked William O’Brien because I thought you had to drive a long way to get away. I was wrong! We planned this weekend with friends to camp in our matching teardrop trailers. We have never really camped with friends before, so the point was to just go, not to really travel far. We loved the trails. It was easy to takes hikes of varying lengths. There were so many different kinds of birds, and the wildflowers were blooming and ferns were unfurling -so many shades of green! This was the first really nice spring weather, and the Savanna Campground was quite full. Several people seemed to be there in groups, but we had no issues with noise. The pit toilets were cleaned and stocked with TP and sanitizer. The shower house needs some paint, but had been cleaned.
The river side of the park had been closed for months for construction, but had just opened two days before our stay. The Riverside campground appeared quite full, too.
All in all, I would visit again. There were lots of people, but it was easy to take a walk and get some space and some nature.
RangerLoved this place. Very private. Gorgeous setting. You can hear the paintball games taking place, but it isn’t a bother. Fire ring with firewood supplied and picnic table are the site amenities. There is a bathroom, but it is a 10 minute walk, so plan to be self-sufficient in that regard. Friendly host.
RangerI bought new camping gear and this campground, given its proximity to our house, made for an easy weekend getaway to give the gear a trial run.
The beach area looks nice but we didn’t use it.
ScoutOne of the few camps open in Mn past Oct 1st. Owners and host were very friendly and accomodating. They visited each camper to say hey and small talk. Will definately revisit
RangerWe have stayed here for business.
Dakotah Meadows is one of the nicer parks in the Twin Cities area. Grounds are mostly well groomed and the roads are maintained. There is some pride reflected in the ownership.
We last stayed in side 25, a back in up on the hill. 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.
Dakotah's website has an incomplete campsite map showing only the lower sites between the pond and road. What the map doesn't show is the three rows of pull-through and additional 10 back-in sites at the top of the hill.
RangerThe site was just fine for what we wanted to do and that was trying out our new trailer. Not much in the way of hiking, but the lake access looked nice.
RangerAs with most State Parks, the campground sites are really close together and you have very little privacy. The hikes were beautiful and the variety of old growth trees was spectacular.
ScoutWe love Lebanon Hills! Close to home and an oasis in the middle of the Twin Cities. Sites with full hookups or more remote sites with electric that are more tucked away in the pines. Great hiking.
Camping near Empire, Minnesota, offers a great mix of outdoor fun and relaxation. With several campgrounds nearby, you can find the perfect spot to enjoy nature and make lasting memories.
Camping near Empire, Minnesota, has something for everyone, whether you're looking for adventure or a peaceful retreat.
Frequently Asked Questions
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Empire, MN is Lebanon Hills Regional Park with a 4.8-star rating from 42 reviews.
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 5 parks near Empire, MN that allow camping, notably Bankhead National Forest and Chugach National Forest.
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