Best Campgrounds near Finlayson, MN

The forested areas surrounding Finlayson, Minnesota feature a mix of state park, private, and county-managed campgrounds within a 30-mile radius. Banning State Park Campground near Askov offers tent, RV, and cabin options along the Kettle River, known for its Class V rapids and rock formations. Closer to town, Banning RV Park and Campground provides full hookup sites with 50-amp service for larger rigs. Robinson Park Camping offers a more intimate riverside experience with basic amenities, while Willow River in General C.C. Andrews State Forest provides year-round primitive camping opportunities. The region balances developed facilities with more secluded options, many situated along rivers or near recreational trails.

Seasonal considerations significantly impact camping experiences in this part of Minnesota. Most campgrounds operate from May through October, with limited winter options. Reservations are essential during summer weekends, particularly at Banning State Park where demand regularly exceeds availability. As one visitor noted, "The problem for campers at this location is that the number of campsites available is exceeded by demand, especially in summer and on weekends. Reserve early if you would like to stay here!" Mosquitoes and mud can be problematic in lowland areas, even during dry periods. Cell service varies considerably throughout the region, with spotty coverage in more remote locations. Winter camping requires four-wheel drive vehicles and additional preparation for snow conditions.

Waterfront sites receive consistently high ratings from campers visiting the area. The Kettle River corridor offers opportunities for whitewater paddling, with Banning State Park serving as a hub for kayakers and rock climbers. According to one reviewer, "This is a beautiful state park along the Kettle River, famous for its rock formations, the whitewater Kettle River, and beautiful oak-ash forests." Fall camping is particularly recommended for hikers, with one visitor reporting, "We decided to try to extend the camping season by staying here in the first weekend of October, and we were rewarded greatly! The colors were near peak and the water was really high." Wildlife sightings are common, including deer, birds, and occasionally bears or wolves in more remote areas. Campers frequently mention the privacy of sites, with vegetation providing natural screening during summer months.

Best Camping Sites Near Finlayson, Minnesota (166)

    1. Banning State Park Campground

    34 Reviews
    Sandstone, MN
    4 miles
    Website
    +1 (320) 245-2668

    $24 - $34 / night

    "Bawning park is a walk through the history of the area the self guided tour is both informative and entertaining and the hike along the river is one to remember featuring the only class 5 rapids in Minnesota"

    "There are miles of trails to hike, including along the river and to a waterfall, all kinds of paddling and rafting possibilities(bring your own, or join a trip sponsored by a local outfitter), or go bouldering"

    2. Banning RV Park and Campground

    8 Reviews
    Finlayson, MN
    3 miles
    Website
    +1 (612) 390-0415

    $25 - $60 / night

    "And, actually, it may be your go-to option even if campsites at Banning are available, because this RV campground is located only½ mile from the Banning State Park entrance, and because it is at a higher"

    "Close to stores and town but surrounded by enough of the outdoors to feel secluded. Would highly recommend this campground."

    3. Willow River

    7 Reviews
    Moose Lake, MN
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (320) 245-2668

    "Kind of off the beaten path. You have to take the Willow River exit and go through the town a little bit. There's a small sign next to the Squirrel Cage restaurant and bar."

    "Located a few miles from the soo line trail.  A little bit smaller of a location and traffic.  Offers outhouses and water.  In town amenities close by."

    4. Robinson Park Camping

    5 Reviews
    Sandstone, MN
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (320) 245-5241

    $10 - $30 / night

    "I wanted to be close to Banning State Park without the reservations. Early spring in Minnesota left us little cover between sites, but we were the only ones there."

    "Ropinion park is a historic walk through time with year around activities your bound to find something to interest you from hiking and rock climbing to fishing and boating this little park has something"

    5. Grand Casino RV Resort

    7 Reviews
    Hinckley, MN
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (800) 468-3517

    "We booked our stay at the RV Resort so we wouldn't have to drive two and a half hours back and forth during the two day Grand RockTember Music Festival."

    "Adjacent to a large casino with hotels and restaurants. Less than two miles from I35. Best thing is that when we arrived at our spot, there was a tree that needed trimming."

    6. Moose Lake State Park Campground

    9 Reviews
    Moose Lake, MN
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (218) 485-5420

    $30 / night

    "The trails are nice walking trails with picturesque views of the lake. Campsite fee was $23, vehicle registration $7 for the day, firewood $6 for the day."

    "Unbelievable AGATE MUSEUM at the main entrance. Men’s bathroom was very clean and showers worked great. Nice well groomed trails, well maintained campsites and campgrounds."

    7. North Country Campground

    1 Review
    Finlayson, MN
    9 miles

    "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."

    8. Dago Lake

    1 Review
    Moose Lake, MN
    12 miles

    "Free dispersed camping off Dago Lake Road between Willow River & Sturgeon Lake. Quiet aside from the occasional car. Pitch black at night."

    9. Snake River Campground

    3 Reviews
    Isle, MN
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (218) 927-7364

    $17 - $22 / night

    "Their are mosquitoes this year and I don't think the four wheeler trails are highly used I was hoping there would be hiking trails we'll probably just stay one night because the limited walking and I won't"

    "Nice calm place, nice trails. Good location"

    10. Father Hennepin State Park Campground

    19 Reviews
    Isle, MN
    27 miles
    Website
    +1 (320) 676-8763

    "Right on Lake Mille Lacs, one of Minnesota’s largest. Walking distance from the bakery and bar! Newer, updated facilities. Boat access. Lake side sites (if you book early enough)."

    "Smaller sites and a little privacy in the lake campground. The ones next to the waters edge have a nice view and are more completely in the shade. The inner sites have more sun."

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Recent Reviews near Finlayson, MN

531 Reviews of 166 Finlayson Campgrounds


  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 19, 2025

    Pattison State Park Campground

    Love the sites, little expensive

    The sites are great, spacious and not to close. They are flat and grassy, which I like. Open sky at our site, so our Starlink worked. Parked with friends at a double site, it was huge! It was off-season so showers were off. And with no electric, $100 for one night at a double site seemed like a lot. The facilities look great though, and the falls was a short (10 minute) walk from our site. And they were beautiful!

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 17, 2025

    Jay Cooke State Park Campground

    Great spot

    Went to a tent site. But our rv fit, wouldn’t take anything big to the sites in the 30s. Little distance between sites, but you can see people. Trails around. Nice staff

  • Sarah D.
    Oct. 17, 2025

    Wild River State Park Campground

    Secluded Backpack/Canoe Site with Sunrise Views

    I was looking for a secluded backpack in site where I could have a peaceful 48 hours of prayer and solitude, and this site was perfect! I also wanted one that wasn't too far remote, since I hadn't been on a proper backpacking trip since the pandemic hit. And as a solo female camper, I wanted a reserved site so that there would be a record of my location for safety reasons. I'm so glad I chose the Deer Creek site, and will almost definitely stay here again at some point!

    This site is accessible by either hiking or canoe. It took me about 30 minutes to hike in from the visitor center parking lot. There is easy access to river water to boil or filter from the canoe landing.

    This site was incredibly spacious. It includes a fire ring and picnic table overlooking the creek and river. It also includes 2 large tent pads (look out for widow makers, one of the tent pads is under a dead tree!). It also has a spot nestled in some pine trees that could fit a smaller tent, canoe storage, or I found it to be the perfect spot to hang my hammock! (This would be a great site for hammock camping.) So if you're camping with a small group of people this would be a great site. It also includes a trail to a fairly private latrine, and a bear box (the park ranger warned me that there are bears in the park although I did not see any.) I also found plenty of dead down and dry wood and birch bark on the ground for building fires.

    This site is great for a one nigjt stay on a longer backpacking or canoeing trip, but also great for camping out at for a couple of nights. I stayed for two, and it connects to all the major trails in the park, so I was able to use it as a great base for hiking and seeing the beautiful changing leaves. In the morning I hiked North to do the Riverside trail and looped back through the woods. Then in the afternoon I did the Deer Creek loop, which is a shared horse and hiking trail. It was so nice to he able to hike out to some of the best trails in the park directly from my site.

    This site felt remarkably remote for being only an hour from the twin cities and a mile from the parking lot! I stayed there Thursday -Saturday, and after leaving the parking lot on Thursday did not see another human being for the rest of the day, and Friday not until I hit the main trails! There was no one else staying within at least a mile of me. I was even able to see fantastic stars Friday night. There was amazing wildlife - a blue heron frequented the site, and I heard all types of owls. Two bald eagles had a nest across the river so I got to see and hear them the whole trip, too- it was absolutely magical!

    This site has a great view of both sunrise and sunset. Thursday night there was a gorgeous sunset over the woods reflected in deer Creek. Both mornings I woke up to watch the sunrise while drinking my coffee next to the fire (it was freezing!!!). Watching the sun rise over the river and fog roll over th water and evaporate while eagles soared was truly magical. Having an easy backpack in site surrounded by water on two sides and with views of the sunrise and sunset like this was so incredible!!!

  • Teresa T.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 30, 2025

    Barnum City Park

    This entire section of the dirt needs to be cleaned up

    There's a sign that says no camping, and there are no rv spots. Or camp spots at this park. Some things in this area are listed twice the g. PS takes you to the wrong place. And something like the city park doesn't allow camping.

  • Teresa T.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 30, 2025

    Carlton County Bear Lake Campground

    Very small park on freeway

    I believe I only saw 3 full R. V electric spots. It is literally right beside the freeway. I would not personally feel comfortable camping here as a female traveler alone. I also think this is listed twice and I will try to correct that.

  • Christine H.
    Sep. 23, 2025

    Dago Lake

    God's Country

    Free dispersed camping off Dago Lake Road between Willow River & Sturgeon Lake. Quiet aside from the occasional car. Pitch black at night.

  • RThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 12, 2025

    Rum River State Forest

    Free parking in solitude.

    No potable water, grey dump, nor trash cans, but it's rugged wilderness along a gravel road with plenty of space to park.

  • 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.

  • 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.


Guide to Finlayson

Camping spots near Finlayson, Minnesota balance riverside environments with forested settings at elevations averaging 1,100 feet above sea level. The region experiences distinct seasonal transitions with summer temperatures typically ranging from 65-85°F, while spring and fall bring cooler temperatures and varying precipitation. Winter camping remains available at select locations, though access often requires four-wheel drive vehicles and additional preparation.

What to do

Explore winter camping options: General C.C. Andrews State Forest's Willow River campground offers year-round camping opportunities with basic facilities. "We spent a weekend at the park and had a great time. Lots of trails for hiking. Cool buildings from the CCC era as well as some signs talking about camp life. There is also a 100' fire tower you can climb up and get an epic view," notes one visitor who enjoyed the historical elements.

Try rock climbing: Robinson Park offers technical climbing routes for experienced climbers. "This campground is really great, the main downside is that in order to pay the fee you have to drive to City Hall which is about 2 miles away," writes one camper, who adds, "Rock climbing including the state's best 12a/b!!! Sigma lives up to the hype."

Visit nearby attractions: Many campgrounds serve as convenient bases for regional exploration. "We discovered this campground while researching the area... If you are planning to explore the Kettle River and Banning State Park nearby, this is a good alternative to camping within the State Park itself. With easy access to both the Twin Cities metro area and Duluth, with desirable whitewater paddling and rockclimbing both available in the area," explains a visitor to Banning RV Park and Campground.

What campers like

Privacy between sites: Moose Lake State Park Campground receives praise for its layout. "Nice campsites not too far from the lake. Not a ton of hiking but the trails that are there are nice. Good fishing right off shore," notes one visitor. Another mentions, "I came out of the BWCA near Grand Marais late in the day and so wanted to stop somewhere to camp as I headed south before dark. There were plenty of spots available online at this little park."

Wildlife viewing opportunities: The natural environment supports diverse wildlife. "We also saw several different Warblers!" notes a visitor to Banning State Park Campground. Another camper at Moose Lake State Park mentioned, "We saw a Baltimore Oriole which is something we don't see often in Northern MN."

Historical sites: Several campgrounds feature preserved historical elements. "There are hiking trails with different points of interest. One leads to Wolf Creek Falls and is challenging and beautiful. Another goes along the Kettle River with beautiful views. You can also explore the sandstone quarry and do a self-guided tour to learn history of the ruins from the mining years," writes a camper who enjoyed the historical aspects of Banning State Park.

What you should know

Site availability challenges: Popular campgrounds fill quickly, especially in peak season. "We would love to come back when the bugs aren't as bad!" notes a visitor to St. Croix State Park's Old Logging Trail, who cautions, "We had a terrible experience last year trying to camp here, BUT it's not the campgrounds fault! Unfortunately we chose the peak of mosquitos season and camping next to slow moving water is a recipe for disaster."

Train noise: Some campgrounds experience noise disruption. "One of the only things that was obnoxious about this park is that there is a frequently used train track nearby—and the trains really lay on whistle. I slept with earplugs in because of this, but I was still woken up around 4 times that night," reports a camper at Jay Cooke State Park.

Water hookup considerations: RV sites may have unconventional water access. "We were quick to learn that water hookups were shared with other sites and required 'y' connections at the spigots. Our host(s) were prepared with the connectors in hand but seemed a bit surprised that we might need them," writes a visitor to Banning RV Park who adds, "Ours source ended up being 75' plus from our RV. Thankfully I just happened to be carrying the extra hose."

Tips for camping with families

Playground access: Father Hennepin State Park Campground offers family-friendly amenities. "They do have playgrounds for children in different places around the campground," notes one visitor. Another mentions, "There is a nice big sandbox for the kids that has sand toys to play with."

Swimming opportunities: Several parks feature swim areas, though water quality varies. "The beach is long and rocky but ample enough to swim in," writes a camper at Father Hennepin State Park. Another visitor notes, "If you take a short walk from the main parking area towards the bathroom, and follow the trail alongside the bluff, you'll find awesome spots."

Educational features: Natural and historical exhibits enhance family experiences. "The park office has a wonderful display of agates set up in an interactive gallery," writes one visitor to Moose Lake State Park, while another calls it an "Unbelievable AGATE MUSEUM at the main entrance."

Tips from RVers

Campsite angles: Grand Casino RV Resort receives mixed reviews for site layouts. "The designers of this park have clearly never spent a night in an RV. This place pushes all of my buttons for things not to do when building an RV park. Virtually every site in the park is a blind back in from the driver seat," notes one experienced RVer who adds, "Number pedestals for all sites are also right against the road, limiting the amount that you can swing your tow vehicle."

Utility arrangements: Several campgrounds have unique utility setups. "Finally, one of my all-time favorites, all of the sewer connections are cut off about 12 inches above the ground. This means that even in a relatively tall fifth wheel, you are going to be trying to make sewage flow uphill," cautions the same reviewer about Grand Casino RV Resort.

Alternative options: Snake River Campground provides a simpler camping experience. "Friday afternoon 5:00 finished out my work day here. I've had great wireless I'm getting 5G Verizon believe it or not. We're the only ones here it is pretty rustic coming in so if your camper is very sensitive you need to take your time," shares one RVer who appreciated the connectivity despite the rustic setting.

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Finlayson, MN?

According to TheDyrt.com, Finlayson, MN offers a wide range of camping options, with 166 campgrounds and RV parks near Finlayson, MN and 9 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Finlayson, MN?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Finlayson, MN is Banning State Park Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 34 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Finlayson, MN?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 9 free dispersed camping spots near Finlayson, MN.

What parks are near Finlayson, MN?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 10 parks near Finlayson, MN that allow camping, notably Saint Croix National Scenic River and St. Croix National Scenic Riverway.