Erin F.
Guide
GuideSpirit Mountain Campground
Great Basecamp
Mountain bikers and hikers will love this beautiful treed campground. Level sites that are spread out enough to offer some privacy. Bath house was old, but adequate.
Glamping near Finlayson, MN
4 campgrounds with availability this weekend
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Banning RV Park and Campground houses upscale glamping accommodations near Finlayson, featuring canvas safari tents with comfortable furnishings and modern amenities. The glamping sites include electricity, comfortable beds, and private outdoor spaces with picnic tables and fire rings for evening relaxation. Located just minutes from Banning State Park, these luxury accommodations provide a perfect balance of wilderness immersion and comfort. Spirit Mountain Campground also offers premium glamping options with heated canvas structures that remain comfortable in all seasons. One guest shared, "The sites are decently spaced with good tree cover, and the star gazing area was great for evening relaxation after a day of exploring."
Visitors at these glamping destinations enjoy direct access to miles of scenic hiking trails, whitewater paddling on the Kettle River, and rock climbing opportunities within Banning State Park. The safari tents and yurt rentals serve as ideal basecamps for exploring the area's natural attractions, including the historic ruins within the park. During winter months, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing trails are accessible directly from some glamping sites. The Cloquet-Duluth KOA, another glamping option in the region, provides luxury canvas accommodations with proximity to Jay Cooke State Park's famous swinging bridge. According to a camper, "The park has an 82-site campground and LOTS of activities to keep adults and kids busy, with hundreds of naturalist programs including nature walks, evening campfire talks, fishing programs, and geocaching."
Best Glamping Campgrounds near Finlayson (19)
1. Banning RV Park and Campground
"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."
"Staff was extremely friendly and helpful. The bathrooms were very clean. The fenced in dog park was a big bonus for our pup. The grounds hosted outdoor games and volleyball/basketball courts."
Check Availabilityfrom $25 - $60 / night
2. Willow River Campground — General C.C. Andrews State Forest
"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."
"There were mosquitoes a plenty due to the lake. Good spacing between sites and wooded enough to almost forget how close you are to i35."
1 Site AvailableAvailable this weekend
from $50 / night
3. Jay Cooke State Park Campground
"I stayed at two sites, the second being 41E, which has electric."
"Another oddity is that some fire pits are on the opposite side of your doors, but no biggie. The bathrooms are wonderfully new and central to all the camping loops."
47 Sites AvailableAvailable this weekend
from $23 - $90 / night
4. Old Logging Trail Campground — St. Croix State Park
"It’s very very secluded from the near by town On days that the moonlight is not out bring flashlights because when the moon is not shining it’s pitch black
Keep in mind the driveway trail is not lit"
"This park has a ton of camping available, particularly if you don't need electricity and have a smaller rig because then you can get into more of the campground loops."
90 Sites AvailableAvailable this weekend
from $25 - $35 / night
5. Paint Rock Springs Campground — St. Croix State Park
"Reserved this site through the Minnesota dnr state park phone line, having been turned away from full camp grounds by two other state parks."
"Felt nice to spend a weekend without cell service about an hour away from home. Forgot to take my usual photos and video of the site all set up but had a few random to share. Nice campground."
Check Availabilityfrom $25 - $35 / night
6. Wild River State Park Campground
"Noise seemed to travel between sites, I had some loud neighbors during the day but they settled down before quiet hours. The grass was easy to get tent stakes into."
"All with trees surrounding your area for a little bit of privacy but the spots are relatively close to each other."
Check AvailabilityCampground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $23 - $90 / night
7. Pardun’s Jack Pine Campground
"They have a beautiful bath and shower house (the shower takes quarters $1.25 for 10 minutes) and sell wood on site for $5 a bundle."
"Lots to do near by Legion 1.3 miles away and a great cafe as well across the street. Ice is in expensive and so is firewood, basic camping, small playground and a basketball court going in. "
8. Spirit Mountain Campground
"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. "
"Nice Campsites mostly secluded in the woods. Campsites are not to close to eachother giving you the privacy you want. Great views by the ski lift of Duluth!"
9. Cloquet-Duluth KOA
"We are KOA members (who stay at a lot of KOAs) - our 1st visit at this Cloquet KOA was Sept 2020: The staff were friendly."
"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."
10. Woodsong Campground
"They strictly enforce the rules on noise and speed. We like that! Our grandkids are safe and enjoying themselves. This is our third year camping at Woodsong."
Drive Time
- 55 min from Duluth, MN
- 1 hr 22 min from Minneapolis, MN
- 1 hr 36 min from St. Cloud, MN
- 2 hrs 29 min from Eau Claire, WI
Recent Glamping Photos near Finlayson, MN
16 Photos of 19 Finlayson Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Glamping Reviews near Finlayson, MN
222 Reviews of 19 Finlayson Campgrounds
- TTanya L.
TravelerJay Cooke State Park Campground
Crowded but lovely stop
A weekend in October...peak color but the campground is crowded and pretty noisy up until 8 pm ish when it does quiet down a bit. Would stay again, just when it's less crowded.
- MMelissa S.
ScoutPardun’s Jack Pine Campground
This is for Pardun’s Tube Rental. Don't give this man your business!
If I could give this company negative stars I would. I would never recommend this company to even my worst enemy. This was our second experience with them. The first time took a long time but we knew it wasn’t their fault because the river was low and that’s out of their control. Our tubes were also good. The owner’s dad(Jerry?) picked us up and was so nice and sweet. We laughed at all our hiccups along the way.
This time around, it was just my friend and I and we were having a wonderful time for the first 2.5-3 hours. Then we realized we weren’t moving and the wind was blowing us upstream. We kept trying to go, waiting to see the landing. By the 5 hour mark we kept trying to call Pardun’s to mention that we were trying to come back and to let them know that we’d probably be later than expected and to see if they had any tips. Since the cell service is almost non existent, the calls would not go through. By that time, we didn’t know what to else to do but call 911. By the time we were able to get a hold of someone to ask for help, we were nearing 6 hours on the river. They called Pardun’s to let them know and the owner(Guy?) and his son were waiting to pick us up. As soon as they saw us, the snarky disrespectful remarks started and they began making fun of us. The owner was relentless. It was one rude remark after another. This was at about 9pm. When I started crying and asking him to stop talking to me, the a-hole dug in even more and had to get the last word in. It kept on until I screamed at him to shut the F up. I couldn’t take it anymore. He then stopped and started trying to kick us off the bus. I was sitting in the seat, sobbing while my friend was nicely asking him to just please go and please stop with the comments. He wouldn’t. Once we got back to Danbury, he stopped the bus and walked away. His son helped us get our stuff out and his wife eventually came out to make sure that we had our keys and let us know she had called the other people involved to let them know we were back. The son was initially being kind of a jerk when we got on the bus but he apologized to us soon after. His waste of a human father didn’t.
Please do not give this man your business. I have never been so humiliated and made to feel as awful as he made me feel. The blatant disrespect and language from the minute he saw was unbelievable. This man is the most awful human I have ever encountered. I sure hope he treats his wife and his mother with a little more compassion and empathy.
- AAnita L.Guide
Spirit Mountain Campground
Spirit Mountain Campground
Private sites, W/E, Close to downtown Duluth. Our site was just big enough for our 38' 5th wheel with slides on both sides. They delivered wood which was $9 for 5 pieces. RR and showers close to this site. Toilets fairly new, but showers paint peeling and could use remodeling.
- JJeremy J.Scout
Old Logging Trail Campground — St. Croix State Park
Nice campground, but…
The campground is nice and has more woods/bushes and more privacy than the other two campgrounds in the park. The bathroom/showers were relatively clean and functioned well with nice hot showers. The electric sites functioned as expected but, they all seem very well used. Not much in the way of grass (bit of a drought at the time) and lots of little bits of garbage all over our campsite. All the electrical sites were occupied while we were there and a lot of the other sites near the modern bathroom were occupied. If you want privacy and a less worn campsite I would suggest booking a non-electrical site further away from modern bathroom. Oh, another plus water from spigots around campground was good.
Cari E.
RangerSpirit Mountain Campground
Convenient when the SP are booked
If you’re hopping between state parks in the north shore area and need something near Duluth, this campground is a solid option if there’s nothing else available. Time has not been overly friendly and the park and campground are somewhat run down, but there are still upsides. It’s close to local stores and the sites are shaded and actually quite lovely, but beware that MANY of the sites on the far west loop (45-70) will not be level. Most also do not have a dedicated space for a tent, but there is usually ample space on the gravel drives (bring extra padding). This loop is also not ideal for larger RVs. Verizon cell service was manageable and if you scout the site images online, you can find spots with northern-facing openings in the trees for Starlink if needed. Water spigots in this loop are also well placed and the water was quite chilly. Now for the ugly…the bathrooms in this loop are serviceable, but if you touch the wall or floor while showering, you might want to star over. If you forgot your shower shoes, you won’t be showering. Older bath houses are acceptable, but this one was plain filthy beyond simple age.
- Cari E.Ranger
Jay Cooke State Park Campground
Everything is convenient
I stayed at two sites, the second being 41E, which has electric. This loop is perhaps the most central to the bath house, but all are conveniently located nearby and the dump station isn’t too far (but far enough to stay out of sight, out of mind). The bath house is fully handicap friendly and the shower heads can all the raised and lowered, and there are wheelchair ramps up to the facility. The dirt roads are miraculously pothole free and the drinking water spigots are blissfully cold if you’re here during a heatwave. Site 41E, like quite a few actually, has the fire pit behind/on the wrong side of your rv door, but no biggie. The biggest downside is that the site is rather unlevel, but if you are able to scoot all the way to the right (closest to the electrical tower), it’s not so bad. The bridge/park office/store is a quick 7 min walk, and the bath house is less than a 2 min walk.
When I was staying, we were hit with hazardous levels of wildfire smoke, and I was so impressed that the park staff opened visitor’s center early so that campers would have a place to escape the smoke. I’ve never stayed at any park where the staff goes so far above and beyond.
- Cari E.Ranger
Jay Cooke State Park Campground
Woodsy Perfection
Every site is nestled into the woods, which is cozy and adds the added benefit of privacy. That said, the extra big rigs wouldn’t be a good fit—one loop only allows for rigs under 25’ in length due to a tight corner. Another oddity is that some fire pits are on the opposite side of your doors, but no biggie.
The bathrooms are wonderfully new and central to all the camping loops. There are men’s and women’s sides for toilets/sinks and independent shower rooms—all handicap friendly. The park really outdid themselves here, even the building is beautifully designed.
Firewood is for sale at the camp office along with your typical camping goods and souvenirs, and the park staff is wonderful to interact with. There are black bears, but no bear boxes, so be smart with your food. I had 1-2 bars of LTE on Verizon, and if you need Starlink access, try to find a site that runs north/south more than east/west because there are obviously trees everywhere.
Site 5 is near a small dumpster, which turned out to be rather convenient—there is a line of trees/brush for privacy, so don’t let that stop you. There is also an ice cold water spigot behind the site, which was even better—again, trees/brush for privacy. Mostly level, with just the smallest tilt toward the fire pit. 2 minute walk to the bathrooms, conveniently located near a walking path to the park office/bridge.
- Stina M.Guide
Paint Rock Springs Campground — St. Croix State Park
Lots for kids to do, big place
Was a nice place. I didn’t see any truly private sites. All are stacked on top of each others. I didn’t look around too much, it was just a quick overnight stop.
Guide to Finlayson
Campgrounds near Finlayson, Minnesota sit in the transition zone between the northern coniferous forests and southern deciduous woodlands, creating diverse habitats for wildlife observation. This area experiences significant seasonal changes, with summer temperatures averaging 70-80°F and winter lows frequently below 0°F. Campsites in this region typically offer more seclusion during weekdays, with Friday and Saturday nights seeing higher occupancy rates.
What to do
Hiking at St. Croix State Park: Explore Minnesota's largest state park with over 34,000 acres and numerous hiking options. "This park has a lot to offer being right on the St. Croix River, plus there are hiking trails, a paved bike path, a fire tower you can climb, an old CCC camp area you can tour, and more," notes one visitor at Old Logging Trail — St. Croix State Park.
Canoeing on the Kettle River: Rent canoes from local outfitters for day trips on the scenic Kettle River. "Canoe outfitters in park during most of the summer. A great way to spend a weekend," shares a camper who stayed at St. Croix State Park.
Rock scrambling at Jay Cooke State Park: Climb on the sculpted rock formations along the river. A visitor at Jay Cooke State Park Campground reports, "I spent a day trip with friends at Jay Cook. The water levels were low, so we clambered around on the sculpted granite rocks that line the river and falls, dipping on and out of pools and up slick rock faces."
Stargazing opportunities: Several parks in the area offer designated stargazing spots away from light pollution. "The star gazing area was great," mentions a reviewer at Wild River State Park, noting the clear night skies in this region.
What campers like
Private wooded sites: Many campgrounds feature secluded sites with natural separation. "The campground was very nice. The sites are private, couldn't see any neighbors as there are a lot of trees," explains a camper at Wild River State Park Campground.
Dog-friendly amenities: Several campgrounds cater specifically to campers with pets. At Banning RV Park and Campground, "The fenced in dog park was a big bonus for our pup. The grounds hosted outdoor games and volleyball/basketball courts," mentions one reviewer who appreciated the pet facilities.
Easy access to Interstate 35: Many camping options provide convenient highway access for weekend trips. "It's very nice with beautiful views of the water. I will say that ticks have been a issue on my dogs. Other then that love it!" notes a camper at Willow River, highlighting both the natural beauty and practical considerations.
Clean shower facilities: Modern bathhouses with hot showers are available at several sites. A visitor at Spirit Mountain Campground explains, "The bathrooms weren't kept up well but were ok. Banning State Park is really close and is very nice. We also drove up to Duluth on two of the days."
What you should know
Mosquito intensity varies seasonally: Bug activity peaks in early summer, especially near water bodies. "It was quite buggy due to a lot of recent rain. Highly recommend fogging your site or having a bug enclosure to help ward of the mosquitos," advises a camper at Paint Rock Springs Campground — St. Croix State Park.
Water hookup logistics: At some RV parks, water connections may require special equipment or extended hoses. A visitor at Banning RV Park explains, "We were quick to learn that water hookups were shared with other sites and required 'y' connections at the spigots. Ours source ended up being 75' plus from our RV."
Train noise at certain locations: Railroad tracks near some campgrounds cause periodic noise disturbances. "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," shares a camper who needed earplugs at night.
Winter camping options: Several parks remain open year-round with plowed sites for winter camping. "We planned on attending their candlelight ski and decided to camp. The campground was fully reserved but was empty, the low was 10 so people must have bowed out. The campsite was plowed out and had a nice spot for the tent," reports a winter visitor at Wild River State Park.
Tips for camping with families
Playground proximity considerations: Some campsites are located very close to playgrounds, affecting noise levels. At Cloquet-Duluth KOA, a visitor reports, "Our site was directly across from the playground and the kids playing at the playground were all pre-teens who screamed non-stop."
Family bathrooms available: Several campgrounds offer private family bathrooms with showers. "Bath building has a large 'family/handicap' bathroom shower room," notes a camper at Paint Rock Springs Campground, highlighting amenities that make family camping more convenient.
Wildlife viewing opportunities for kids: Many campers report frequent deer and bird sightings. "We saw sooooo many deer some even walking right through campsites! You can hear coyotes, raccoons and very loud owls," shares an excited family at Wild River State Park.
Check educational programming schedules: State parks frequently offer ranger-led activities for children. "The park has an 82-site campground and lots of activities to keep adults and kids busy, with hundreds of naturalist programs including nature walks, evening campfire talks, fishing programs, and geocaching."
Tips from RVers
Site leveling challenges: Many campgrounds have uneven terrain requiring additional equipment. "Our sites were grass that was a little long and rutted from what seemed from previous tenants. This made getting leveling a little difficult and out fold out stairs touched the ground before fully being deployed," warns an RV camper at Banning RV Park.
Premium glamping close to Finlayson, Minnesota: Several campgrounds now offer luxury tent accommodations with amenities. "This campground is quite large, geared towards RVs and trailers but also has dozens of tent sites and is currently adding more! There are also several nice new camper cabins available," notes a visitor describing glamping options near Finlayson.
Dump station congestion: Holiday weekends can create long lines at dump stations. An RVer at Spirit Mountain Campground advises, "Dump station is conveniently located on your way out of the grounds but can get backed up at the end of a busy weekend and can make it difficult to exit the campground."
Electric-only sites prevalent: Many RV sites offer electric but no sewer connections. "This KOA offers full hookups in some parts of the campground but our site was only water/electric so they offered a complimentary pump-out with a mobile truck during our stay," explains a camper at Cloquet-Duluth KOA, describing a common setup for glamping accommodations in the Finlayson region.
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Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Finlayson, MN?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Finlayson, MN is Banning RV Park and Campground with a 3.9-star rating from 8 reviews.
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TheDyrt.com has all 19 glamping camping locations near Finlayson, MN, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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