Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Fertile, MN

We followed the instructions on the confirmation email across the bridge from Grand Forks to East Grand Forks, MN to check into the campground (CG). After going through the Avenue of Flags and near the Blue Moose Bar& Grill there’s RV parking in front of the little check-in cabin. Check-in was easy and as disabled veterans, we got a free Minnesota State Park Vehicle Pass. We then proceeded to the Sherlock CG, which is the camping area and site 106E. Site 106E is a long pull through with FHUs. Pulling in was super easy and utilities are placed in the middle of the long pad. The utilities worked great with water pressure at about 50 psi. We got two bars on Verizon. There are trees in and around the sites, but we were able to get a clear north shot for Starlink. The sites in our area were well spaced apart, which we really liked. We were on the back row where the cement walking/bike trail is located far enough away that you still have privacy. There are a lot of sites in this CG mostly pull throughs but there are back-ins. They are serious about the vehicle permits and you cannot just lay the pass on your dashboard. It must be adhered to the windshield. We went to the office to clear our ticket, which didn’t cost us anything as we were prompt to respond. The office also has t-shirts, which we purchased. There was not a formal dog park, but plenty of areas to walk. Red River is one of the better CGs we have stayed at in our 5 years of“Most Timing.”

The campground has either electric or water or just electric sites for RVs and there are also tent-only sites.  The tent sites are located across from and adjacent to the RV sites.  The RV sites are pretty close together but, we were there in the middle of the summer and there were a couple of open tent sites on one side of us.  The campground is pet friendly and the management is friendly.  The campground is close to Itasca State Park as well.  Others have mentioned that getting in to the campsites near the circle drive area (closest to the lake parking lot) are a little difficult to get into & this is very true.  We have an 8x17 Ice Castle/RV that we pull behind the truck and backing into our spot without disturbing other campers was not an easy task.  The circle drive is right where the last couple of RV sites are sitting and there is a tree at the point of the circle drive so you have to avoid the tree and maneuver around it when backing in.  The sites that are closer to the entrance & the playground that do not have a good view of the lake are easier to get in to.  We used the dump station which is nicely situated on a slope just outside the entrance so it's easy to completely pump out a tank that might sit lower on your unit.  There was a picnic table and campfire ring at each site.

This is a small campground in the city park in the village of MacIntosh. The city park itself is well manicured and well maintained, with community ball fields and picnic areas and playground. It is clearly a much loved community gathering place. The campground within it, though well maintained, has some drawbacks. The area is very open, with few trees and really no shade. It is also located immediately adjacent to Highway 2, a busy 4-lane highway with truck noise, and risky for kids or pets if they wandered away from the campsite. There are basic hookups for RVs if desired, and a dump station with non-potable water. At present time, due to the Covid pandemic, the bathroom facilities are closed for the duration. There is a gas station adjacent to the park that has public facilities. This would not be a destination campground unless you were coming to McIntosh for a family reunion or other town event. It might also be a quick and easy overnight place to camp if you are travelling some en route somewhere else via Hwy 2.

Nicest city-location RV park I've found in the past few years. Very "green" with mature trees, river and city park with walking trails. And, for a city park, especially nice/clean restrooms and showers.

Both FHU and electric-only sites, 30-amp only. Potable water close by for electric-only sites and free dump location across the street. Weekly pump-out service, if desired.

The electric-only sites on the park's east side are the nicest, most spacious, and most quiet because they back up to the forest and river (see photo). The FHU sites are more crowded.

Small town, so everything is very convenient, literally within 3-4 minutes drive -- Walmart, Ace Hardware, Dairy Queen and fast food.

I stayed at the Thief River Falls Tourist Park for several months while workamping at a walking-distance distribution warehouse. I will certainly stay at the park again if ever in the northwest part of Minnesota. I rated the park only 4-stars because of the electric-only sites and the tight FHU sites. For my style of camping -- mostly boondocking -- it is a 5-star location.

I'm always looking for a campsite late in the afternoon. And this one turned out to be perfect. I pulled into East Grand forks. Got out my phone and started looking, and I said oh, there's a state campground right near here. Here. Right in town in fact. I'm traveling with the dog on this trip so I'm always looking for places that I can run the dog, if possible off leash in the morning. Well, technically you're not supposed to have docs off leash here, there's plenty of space down along the river and trails that go away from the campground where the dog can have a little bit of a free exercise. Because it's October, the place is almost empty. And I got one of the no hookup sites, so it was reasonably priced.

Good state park campground with everything you need. You can make your reservations online once you get there, and it’s nice because there’s no online transaction fee. But watch out that you pay the $7 daily state park entry fee as well as the camping fee, because otherwise you'll get a friendly visit from a ranger! 

 There are two loops, one slightly larger one with 50 and 30 amp power (no water or sewer) for $34, and one smaller one with no power for $24. We stayed in a power site because we couldn’t handle the heat anymore, otherwise the smaller one looked a little nicer and quieter and we would have stayed there. 

Showers were nice and clean and free. Bathrooms were nice. 

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. Good cell reception with Verizon and ATT. Firewood available at office for $8 and ice for $3. 

Group camp is off from the main campground a ways, but connected via a little walking trail. There is a dump station and potable water fill at the campground exit. 

No drinking allowed at any Minnesota State Park campground!