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Best Campgrounds near Esko, MN

492 Reviews

The Esko, Minnesota area provides several established campgrounds within a 30-minute drive, including Knife Island Campground and the nearby Jay Cooke State Park. Camping options range from full-hookup RV sites to primitive tent camping, with a few locations offering cabin rentals and glamping accommodations. Most campgrounds in this region are situated near water features, particularly along Lake Superior's shoreline to the east and the St. Louis River to the south. The Cloquet-Duluth KOA, located just a few miles from Esko, serves as a convenient base for families exploring the region, while Buffalo Valley Camping offers year-round access for both tent and RV campers.

Seasonal considerations significantly impact camping experiences in this northern Minnesota region. Most campgrounds operate from May through October, with only a few locations like Buffalo Valley Camping maintaining year-round operations. Travelers should prepare for mosquitoes, particularly during summer months. Facilities range from rustic to full-service, with many campgrounds offering electric hookups, drinking water, and shower facilities. Cell coverage is generally reliable throughout the region, though it may be spotty in more remote areas of Jay Cooke State Park. As one camper noted about Jay Cooke State Park, "The campground has a nice mix of RV spots out in the open as well as some RV and tent spots back in the trees with water and electric only sites."

Campers report high satisfaction with sites near water features, especially those with views of Lake Superior or river access. Jay Cooke State Park receives consistently positive reviews for its hiking trails, suspension bridge, and waterfalls. Several visitors mentioned that the park offers a good balance of natural attractions and well-maintained facilities. The park's backpacking sites along the St. Louis River provide more secluded experiences for those seeking greater privacy, though highway noise can sometimes be heard. Public campgrounds typically fill quickly during summer weekends and holidays, making advance reservations essential. According to one review, "Sites are mostly level and are some are a bit tight and close to your neighbors. They have recently added some additional RV spots and some other upgrades as well."

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Best Camping Sites Near Esko, Minnesota (115)

    1. Jay Cooke State Park Campground

    66 Reviews
    Carlton, MN
    4 miles
    Website
    +1 (218) 384-4610

    "Jay Cooke is really a must experience state park within easy driving distance to other parks in Minnesota and Wisconsin."

    "North east Minnesota has some very beautiful country. Highly recommend this spot. "

    2. Spirit Mountain Campground

    25 Reviews
    Proctor, MN
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (218) 628-2891

    "We were pleasantly surprised with the campground when we rented one of their walk-in areas. The tent areas are pretty secluded and surrounded by woods with minimal neighbor friends."

    "The downhill mountain biking is awesome (the kids still want to go back) and the Adventure Park was a lot of fun too - and a short walk from camp. "

    3. Buffalo Valley Camping

    10 Reviews
    Esko, MN
    4 miles
    Website
    +1 (218) 624-9901

    "Campground was so clean and nice trails to walk around. The bar & grill had great food and service. 10/10!"

    "Close to downtown Duluth (10 mins.)"

    4. Indian Point City Campground

    14 Reviews
    Proctor, MN
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (218) 628-4977

    "You are so close to the downtown area in this hidden cove. There are walking/biking trails around the grounds. There are few mosquitos and the staff is very friendly."

    "Near city and bike path. Quiet and friendly folks."

    5. Pattison State Park Campground

    30 Reviews
    South Range, WI
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (715) 399-3111

    "The hike-in sites are great, not too far to walk but you have privacy. One thing to note about the hike-in sites is that the trails aren't well marked."

    "Heavy storm and food damaged washed out the main freeway to the park, destroyed the river side trails from Little Manitou to Big Manitou falls and shut down the public beach and campgrounds for some time"

    6. Cloquet-Duluth KOA

    9 Reviews
    Carlton, MN
    4 miles
    Website
    +1 (218) 879-5726

    "Nice campground...a little rural but close to town. Helpful staff, decent size sites and hookups. Pool area was nice but busy on our stay. Great family camping."

    "The camp is close to Duluth but still far enough away to get you completely out of the city and, while exploring, we came across Jay Cook State Park (only about 15 min away) which is beautiful!!"

    7. Fond du Lac City

    9 Reviews
    Wrenshall, MN
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (218) 780-2319

    "Great place.Plenty to do.People that work there are freindly and helpful.Great mountain bike trails across the road,and hiking trails only right down the road about 6 blocks.Lots of Canoe and kayak rentals.Bath"

    "-kind campground hosts with quiet but well-used atvs

    -easy lake access with docks and shoreline

    -free wifi

    -this is a good day-of campsite if you’re looking for an adventure or a fun story to tell!"

    8. Knife Island Campground

    7 Reviews
    Esko, MN
    2 miles
    Website
    +1 (218) 879-6063

    "The campground has an island you can take a wooden bridge over too that offers some fishing spots and a nice little walking trail. Fire ring and picnic table provided. "

    "Kayaking trips are great but sometimes finding a wilderness place to stay and keep yourself submerged, away from civilization can be tricky when traveling."

    9. Red Pine Campground

    10 Reviews
    Proctor, MN
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (218) 481-9210

    "We were traveling with friends and the staff (owners I believe) made it work out for us to have sites next to each other.

    Park felt well cared for and attended too."

    "It’s next to Duluth and looks like a city park. Many permanent residents. Very clean and comfortable. I’d stay again if I’m in the area. Now we’re driving north to find a moose."

    10. Amnicon Falls State Park Campground

    30 Reviews
    South Range, WI
    24 miles
    Website
    +1 (715) 398-3000

    "The campsites are fairly close together and the highway can be heard, but they are tucked away from the main attraction a decent bit. However, you can easily hike to the trails and falls easily."

    "Enjoy a short walk from the camping sites to the water and hiking trails. Bring your camera for sure! Don’t miss this Northern Wisconsin park just Southeast of Duluth Minnesota."

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Recent Camping Photos near Esko, MN

133 Photos of 115 Esko Campgrounds

Recent Reviews near Esko, MN

492 Reviews of 115 Esko Campgrounds

  • GThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 14, 2025

    Penmarallter Campsite

    Nice campground close to Two Harbors

    The campground owner/hosts were very friendly and helpful during our five night stay. Two Harbors is a good provisioning and jumping off point for exploring the North Shore area south of Grand Marais. Some shade but mostly sunny pull through camp sites worked well in the cool Minnesota evenings. You can save $5 a night if you only need 30-Amp electric and water.

  • Christine H.
    Sep. 11, 2025

    North Country Campground

    Expensive but nice

    Owners are very nice, greet you upon arrival, very helpful. Bathroom/shower is very nice. Trampoline & playground on site. Close to the highway so a lot of traffic noise until about midnight. People fly down the road even though the speed limit is 20mph. 3 minutes from Willow River, 45 minutes to Cloquet & Pine City.

  • Cynthia K.
    Sep. 5, 2025

    Burlington Bay Campground

    Good base camp for the area

    Large campground run by the city of Two Harbors.

     It has 4 areas of RV camping & 12 primitive tent sites.

     The tent sites by the David Dill area were shady with trees Willow is near the dump station.

     Burlington sites 1-66 have water & electric. There's a row that has lakeside camping. The sites are mostly sunny with some shade. All are close together. There is a lake view. Apparently there's a path with lake access, but not sure which site this was by. 

    The playground is here. Dumpster, dump station & restrooms with showers.

     Agate sites are 67-91. is a loop with full hookup. 73-75, 77, 79,81-84, have beautiful views of the lake, but difficult lake access. Most of this loop is full sun& very close together sites. 

    We were at site 70 & at first I was bummed out not having a lake view. This is my own fault for dithering about what campground I wanted. I was lucky- this was the last site for my dates. I have later found out that someone must have cancelled for this site & I was lucky enough to get it. Reservations fill up quick a year in advance. 

    This site is narrow, but shady. There's foliage to the left separating it from Site 72 (which has a partial lake view) & the back separating it from the Burlington sites. There was a white tail doe walking thru it the first day we were there.

     Sites 67/68 & 70 are close. Our fire pit was only a few feet from site 68's. There's more shade here though.

    Site 69 is somewhat secluded & has shade & easy access to the bathroom. 

    The site across from us was a long site parallel to the road. It was empty the 2 nights we were here.

    Sites 92 to 102 are a little down the road in rows on both sides of the road. Again close together. Full hookup. Just a few feet away from Hwy 61.

     David Dill sites are 1B to 34B These are full hookup sites terraced on a hill. Big rig friendly. There's a bathhouse by the visitor center for David Dill & the tenters.

    Very close together & sunny. They have a pretty good view of the beach & lake. 

    24B to 34B have the best being lowest on the hill. There's a road- then a rocky beach.

     All parts of this campground were full on a Friday/Saturday night. The office has a small gift shop. Open 8am to 8pm during the season. Check in's at noon- which is great! Check out at 11am.

    We did see police patrol occasionally. Hwy 61 is only a few feet away & is VERY loud. There's no Jake brake ordinance for Two Harbors & the truckers are always doing it. 

    This is a busy town!

  • TexasRed (.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 3, 2025

    Castle Danger

    Great Spot

    Very nice n secluded spot, only had one other person stay there on labor day weekend. There are a couple of designated spots with fire rings, some are harder to get to. The road in is kind of rough but my subie handled it fine. The location on the dirt does take you to a persons property but check out Skips review for a detailed location. Overall great spot and close to a superior hiking trailhead

  • goose10091203 The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 2, 2025

    Afterhours Meadow

    Quiet but rough terrain

    Nice little field. Would be great if the groud wasn't all sticks and thorns. Good place to sleep. Not for extended camping

  • goose10091203 The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 27, 2025

    Carrol Truck Trail

    Secluded! But nothing else

    It's a fine place to go to get away from everything. No reason to drive all the way out unless you're trying to camp. There are 3 campsites at the end of the road where the GPS takes you. There are a few other pull offs along the way. I'm guessing all the forest roads around here have sites so even if this one is occupied, there are others close.

    BRING BUG SPRAY! the mosquitoes are no joke

  • RThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 11, 2025

    Lakehead Boat Basin

    Close to Canal Park area, great facilities

    I enjoyed my urban camping experience at this "campground". You get a double-width parking spot, which is room enough for a trailer and tow vehicle. Each site has a picnic table. There are two groups of sites, the front row and the back row. The front row has better views, and have electric and water hookups. The back row has full hookups.

    The bathroom and shower is part of a hotel which is on the property, and were extremely clean. There are laundry facilities, which worked great and only cost $3 each. 

    The owners are friendly and will enforce quiet hours if asked.

    I had excellent 5G Verizon and T-mobile signals here.

    The main selling point of this campground is the close proximity to the Canal Park area, which has restaurants and shops, as well as the Lakewalk which is a wide, well kept trail that runs along the lake. It's about a 15 minute walk to the Canal Park area. You'll need to cross the lift bridge to get there, which is fun in itself but sometimes you'll need to wait for the bridge to return to operation after letting a ship pass underneath.

    There is a great marine museum in the Canal Park area, and the Great Lakes Aquarium is about 15 minutes further past Canal Park. Downtown is also accessible, probably a 20 minute walk from Canal Park. There are many ramps & stairs linking the Lakewalk to Downtown.

    The urban trails around this area are really great. Plenty of room for walkers and bicyclists.

  • Heather T.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 8, 2025

    Sandy Lake

    Nice place to stay

    This campground has 2 parts, the north section and the south section. The south is on a peninsula with just a few campsites. The north is the bigger part of the campground. The sites in the north are large and very well kept, each with a picnic table, fire ring and level sights. Two campground hosts who are very friendly and accommodating. Just a few vault toilets. If there's anywhere to improve, it is the number of toilets in the bigger campground. The south campground has the shower house and laundry, along with flush toilets. All in all, a very nice place to stay.

  • MThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 8, 2025

    Grace Lake Road Dispersed

    Very quit night

    Stayed a night here on our way up to the boundary waters gate is very narrow had to fold the mirrors on my Tacoma to squeeze through but if you park at the entrance it’s a short walk You’re about 20 foot from the water and fishing is good

Guide to Esko

Camping near Esko, Minnesota, offers a mix of beautiful scenery and outdoor activities. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or an adventure-filled getaway, there are plenty of campgrounds to explore.

What to do

  • Hiking and biking: The trails around Jay Cooke State Park Campground are perfect for both hiking and biking. One visitor mentioned, "The park has excellent mountain bike courses and is linked to the paved Gitchie-gumi bike trail."
  • Water activities: At Gooseberry Falls State Park Campground, you can enjoy the stunning views of the lake and the river. A camper shared, "There were multiple hiking trails accessible by the camping area."
  • Exploring waterfalls: Amnicon Falls State Park Campground is known for its beautiful waterfalls. One reviewer said, "Trails around the Amnicon River and at least three waterfalls make it a must-see."

What campers like

  • Spacious sites: Campers at Split Rock Lighthouse State Park Campground appreciate the large, private sites. A happy camper noted, "All of the sites are large and spacious with interesting rock features and vegetation that adds to the privacy."
  • Clean facilities: Many visitors enjoy the well-maintained facilities at Banning State Park Campground. One reviewer mentioned, "The vault toilets were in great shape."
  • Pet-friendly options: Campers love that several campgrounds, like Burlington Bay Campground, allow pets. A visitor remarked, "Clean showers and located close to Two Harbors."

What you should know

  • Limited amenities: Some campgrounds, like Indian Point City Campground, have limited facilities. A camper pointed out, "The bathrooms and showers are new but poorly designed."
  • Noise levels: Campers at Burlington Bay Campground noted the noise from the nearby highway. One reviewer said, "Very noisy from highway traffic."
  • Seasonal closures: Be aware that some campgrounds, like Gooseberry Falls State Park Campground, may have limited services during the off-season. A visitor mentioned, "Water and restrooms/showers in the campground were shut down for the winter season."

Tips for camping with families

  • Choose spacious sites: Look for campgrounds with larger sites, like Split Rock Lighthouse State Park Campground, where families can spread out. One camper said, "The loop with the '300’s' sites are the most spacious and interesting."
  • Bring bug spray: Mosquitoes can be a nuisance, especially at places like Jay Cooke State Park Campground. A visitor advised, "It was buggy (mosquitoes) but fire and bug spray kept it manageable."
  • Plan for activities: Make sure to have a list of activities to keep everyone entertained. One camper at Gooseberry Falls State Park Campground mentioned, "Hiking trails and walking paths lead to great views of the lake."

Tips from RVers

  • Check site accessibility: Some sites may be tricky for larger RVs. A reviewer at Banning State Park Campground noted, "Some sites (12e) are hard to back a trailer into because the main road is VERY NARROW."
  • Bring your own water: Many campgrounds, like Amnicon Falls State Park Campground, recommend bringing your own drinking water. A camper shared, "You need to bring on drinking water."
  • Look for electric hookups: If you need power, check for campgrounds with electric hookups, such as Spirit Mountain Campground. One visitor mentioned, "The camp site was big enough for our car and our 6 person tent."

Camping near Esko, Minnesota, has something for everyone, from families to RVers. Just be sure to plan ahead and enjoy the great outdoors!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there camping available in Esko, Minnesota?

Yes, there are several camping options near Esko. Jay Cooke State Park Campground offers clean sites with both private and open options for group camping, located just a short drive from Esko. For RV travelers, Spirit Lake RV and Marina provides waterfront sites. Additionally, Knife Island Campground is located very close to Esko with drive-in access, water, toilets, and accommodations for big rigs. These options provide a range of experiences from state park camping to RV-specific facilities within easy reach of Esko.

What outdoor recreational activities are available near Esko?

The Esko area offers abundant outdoor recreation opportunities. At Savanna Portage State Park Campground, you can enjoy fishing, hiking, biking, and nature watching across four lakes with beach access at Loon Lake. Amnicon Falls State Park Campground provides excellent hiking trails and photography opportunities around its picturesque waterfalls. Other popular activities in the region include kayaking, paddleboarding, agate hunting along Lake Superior, golfing at Minnesota National Golf Course, and exploring the extensive trail systems throughout the area's state parks and forests.

When is the best time of year to camp near Esko, MN?

The best time to camp near Esko is from late spring through early fall (May-September) when temperatures are mild and facilities are fully operational. Fall is particularly spectacular at Indian Lake Campground, which offers prime viewing of northern Minnesota's vibrant autumn colors, typically peaking in late September to early October. Burlington Bay Campground provides an excellent Lake Superior experience throughout the summer months. Winter camping is available at some locations but requires preparation for cold conditions. Most campgrounds in the area are seasonal, closing their water systems and some facilities during winter months.

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