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Best Campgrounds near Fort Ripley, MN

363 Reviews

Campground options around Fort Ripley, Minnesota span a diverse mix of state parks, private facilities, and riverside sites along the Mississippi River. Crow Wing State Park Campground offers tent, RV, cabin, and glamping accommodations with both drive-in and boat-in access. Nearby, Crow Wing Lake Campground provides similar amenities with highly-rated family facilities. Military Park Camp Ripley DeParcq Woods Campground, located within a National Guard installation, presents another option for those seeking camping with river access. Facilities typically include fire pits, picnic tables, and basic amenities, with several campgrounds featuring electric hookups, drinking water, and shower facilities.

The camping season in the region generally runs from early May through October, with most facilities closing for winter. "This is a well kept and very pleasant campground within the compound of the National Guard's Camp Ripley," noted one visitor about DeParcq Woods. Travelers should be prepared for occasional noise from the adjacent military training facility at Fort Ripley, with several reviews mentioning audible firing ranges or mechanical sounds. Weather conditions can change rapidly, particularly during spring and fall, when rainfall may affect access to riverside camping spots. Crow Wing State Park requires advance reservations for standard campsites but maintains some first-come, first-served water trail sites for paddlers.

Mississippi River access represents a defining feature of the Fort Ripley camping landscape. Several visitors highlighted water-based activities as central to their experience. Canoe Landing Campsite at Crow Wing State Park serves paddlers traveling the Mississippi River Headwaters Water Trail and receives positive reviews for its maintenance and riverside location. A review mentioned the site is "beautifully maintained by the state park, and has fire ring, picnic tables, and ample tent space for several tents." Free primitive sites like Baxter Canoe Camp and Overlook Park Canoe Campsite provide alternatives for paddlers seeking minimalist accommodations. Crow Wing Lake Campground earns high marks for family-friendly amenities including a swimming pool, playground, and lakefront sites, though some noted the lake itself can be "mucky and weedy" for swimming.

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Best Camping Sites Near Fort Ripley, Minnesota (145)

    1. Crow Wing State Park Campground

    27 Reviews
    Baxter, MN
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (218) 825-3075

    $21 / night

    "Excellent map signage on the hiking trails too. Clean and tidy vault toilets. There is access to the extended bike path from this state park as well."

    "Tent camp here once and a while, but finally got around to officially doing the hiking club trail."

    2. Crow Wing Lake Campground

    10 Reviews
    Fort Ripley, MN
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (218) 829-6468

    "What a beautiful, peaceful sight in the woods next to the lake. Sit back and relaxing camping at it finest"

    "Only drawback was the lake was too mucky and weedy to swim in but has to be a great fishing lake. The owner's were awesome. Seriously great family rv campground."

    3. Charles A. Lindbergh State Park Campground

    15 Reviews
    Little Falls, MN
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (320) 616-2525

    "Sites are close together compared to some other Minnesota state parks. Lots of trees. Bathroom is older but decent. Hiking trails ok nothing special."

    "There is about a 500yd walk to the restrooms, and you have to go another 500yds to the main campground to find the showers."

    4. Canoe Landing Campsite — Crow Wing State Park

    3 Reviews
    Baxter, MN
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (218) 825-3075

    $22 / night

    "This is a canoe campsite that is part of the Mississippi River Headwaters Water Trail, one stop on the paddle trail which allows canoers and kayakers to paddle from Lake Itasca to to the north, all the"

    "We were bike riding the Paul Bunyon Trail and rode into Crow Wing in the dark. I self registered because the office was closed (wrote in canoe site since you can't reserve it online)."

    5. Gull Lake Recreation Area

    9 Reviews
    Baxter, MN
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (651) 290-5772

    $32 - $50 / night

    "Minnesota in the summer the parks are very full of large RVs. Our teardrop fits inside one. Nice clean campground. Friendly rangers. Nice showers."

    "We stayed in site 29 with electric and it was large but the only down fall is the firewood for purchase is next to the site, so there is a bit more foot traffic walking by."

    6. Military Park Camp Ripley DeParcq Woods Campground

    2 Reviews
    Little Falls, MN
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (320) 616-3140

    $7 - $17 / night

    "It is designed as an MWR location for active duty, retired, and veterans of all the uniformed services, but other guests can stay there with permission."

    "Quiet, not quite remote and with access to enough if you need it. You get a large tent site on the Mississippi River across a road from the RV’s highly recommend."

    7. 37 Acres Campground

    1 Review
    Little Falls, MN
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (320) 360-5093

    $20 - $35 / night

    "This campground definitely caters to seasonal stays although was a convenient location off the highway. Restrooms were nice and they had a compost area too."

    8. Baxter Canoe Camp

    1 Review
    Baxter, MN
    11 miles
    Website

    "There is a trail for maintenance workers to drive in (they come by regularly to empty the trash cans!), but I don't know if it's for drive in traffic as well."

    9. Overlook Park Canoe Campsite

    1 Review
    Baxter, MN
    10 miles
    Website

    "This hidden gem is on the Mississippi water trail around mile 996. It is called "Overlook Park" and owned/maintained by the city of Baxter, but is part of the DNR's state water trail."

    10. Fishtrap Lake Campground

    1 Review
    Fort Ripley, MN
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (218) 575-2603
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Recent Camping Photos near Fort Ripley, MN

93 Photos of 145 Fort Ripley Campgrounds

Recent Reviews near Fort Ripley, MN

363 Reviews of 145 Fort Ripley Campgrounds

  • C
    Oct. 16, 2025

    Cuyuna Range Campground

    We won't stay anywhere else!

    We love camping at Cuyuna Range Campground. We stay at Cuyuna a couple of times each year. It is clean, quiet and so relaxing. There is so much to see and do in the area or just relax at our campsite. Check this campground out you will not be disappointed!

  • Lindsey R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 27, 2025

    Crow Wing State Park Campground

    Beautiful park with so many things to do!

    Set on the Upper Missisippi this was well worth the 8 Mile detour off the main east/west route through MN. History, hiking, biking, fishing and boating here. We grabbed a site just above the river. So peaceful and quiet. The few campers here on a late September day were mostly at the electric site area. There is an old town site with informational plaques along the way that depict what life was like here in the 1890s. Excellent map signage on the hiking trails too. Clean and tidy vault toilets. There is access to the extended bike path from this state park as well.

  • DThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 12, 2025

    Ronald Cloutier - Cross Lake

    Crosslake MN COE campground

    This is a spacious campground with 123 sites, most with electricity, all wooded. The Lake is actually part of a string of lakes friendly to high speed motor boats as well as canoeing/kayaking. Like all other COE campgrounds, it honors campground passes, cutting the fees by half. A COE ranger patrols regularly. It of definitely dog friendly without breed or size restrictions. It is just north of Brainard, MN so civilization is nearby but the turn of Crosslake has All the amenities of city life. As with many other campgrounds, it's not busy Sunday-Thursday but gets much busier on weekend days. I would highly recommend this campground.

  • 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.

  • James R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 10, 2025

    Greer Lake

    Great rustic camp ground

    This my second time here and I love it. It’s on a lake on state forest trail and 2 toilets and water pumps.

  • PThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 9, 2025

    Two Rivers Campground

    Great place to camp.

    Two Rivers Campground is the perfect spot for a fun and relaxing getaway. They have a lazy river, a splash pool for little ones, and another pool for all ages. Kids will love the giant inflatable bouncy house, mini golf, and the many activities offered. The general store has all your camping essentials, plus they make great pizza and other food—delivered right to your campsite along with firewood and ice, just by calling or texting. The campground also features a beautiful beach area on the river that’s perfect for swimming. A few nice spots to shower and restrooms. Quiet beaches one is 1100 to 0900. It’s well maintained and taken care of. We will come back again.

  • Laura P.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 29, 2025

    Boulder Woods RV Park

    Mature trees and park like setting

    Boulder Woods is mostly seasonal camping but does have RV sites for overnight and weekly camping. The park is well maintained with power and water at all sites. There is a view of Ann Lake, however, the RV park is not on the banks of the lake and does not have access to the lake.

  • The Rolling Panda ..
    Jul. 16, 2025

    Charles A. Lindbergh State Park Campground

    Small quiet park

    This park is very small, minimal vegetation between sites. It was buggy, but manageable. Clean facilities, easy to navigate. If you're looking for a quiet small park this is a good place to start.

Guide to Fort Ripley

Camping near Fort Ripley, 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 several campgrounds to choose from.

What to do:

  • Hiking and Biking: Explore the trails at Crow Wing State Park Campground. One visitor mentioned, “Nice trails along the Mississippi River, easy to walk, good signage on trails.” Another camper noted, “Lots of trails for hiking and biking. Bring bug spray in the summer!”
  • Canoeing and Kayaking: Rent a canoe or kayak at Mille Lacs Kathio State Park. A reviewer shared, “Came through on an evening in July to meet a buddy canoeing the Mississippi.”
  • Fishing: The Gull Lake Recreation Area is a great spot for fishing. One camper said, “Good fishing lake,” making it a perfect place to cast a line.

What campers like:

  • Secluded Sites: Campers appreciate the privacy at Crow Wing State Park Campground. A review highlighted, “Sites 40 to 45 are very nice and secluded.”
  • Clean Facilities: Many visitors noted the cleanliness of the bathrooms. One camper at Charles A. Lindbergh State Park Campground mentioned, “Bathrooms/showers were cleanish,” which is always a plus.
  • Family-Friendly Amenities: Crow Wing Lake Campground offers a playground and pool, making it fun for families. A reviewer said, “Fun for the whole family. Amenities include: playground, pool, lake, dog park, and store.”

What you should know:

  • Mosquitoes: Be prepared for bugs, especially in the summer. A visitor at Mille Lacs Kathio State Park warned, “The trails are probably not maintained because it was so wet but they were almost impossible to hike on simply because of the amount of mosquitoes.”
  • Rustic Experience: Some campgrounds, like Birch Lake, offer a more primitive camping experience. A camper noted, “If you like a more primitive campsite you will like this!”
  • Limited Amenities: Not all campgrounds have full amenities. For instance, Ogechie Campground lacks running water and toilets, but it’s a great spot for those who enjoy a rustic experience.

Tips for camping with families:

  • Choose Family-Friendly Campgrounds: Look for places like Crow Wing Lake Campground that have playgrounds and pools. A reviewer said, “This campground is fun for the whole family!”
  • Pack Bug Spray: With the presence of mosquitoes, especially in summer, it’s essential to bring bug spray. One camper advised, “Bring bug spray in the summer!”
  • Plan for Activities: Make sure to have a list of activities to keep everyone entertained. A visitor at True North Basecamp mentioned, “We brought our paddleboard and had a great time on the quiet lake.”

Tips from RVers:

  • Check Site Sizes: Make sure your RV fits the site. A camper at Cuyuna Range Campground noted, “The sites were amazingly large with nice privacy between the lots.”
  • Look for Full Hookups: Campgrounds like Gull Lake Recreation Area offer full hookups, which can make your stay more comfortable. A reviewer said, “Each lot has full hook-ups, that was a huge bonus!!”
  • Book Early: Popular campgrounds can fill up quickly, especially during peak seasons. One visitor at Cuyuna Range Campground recommended, “Book early on Recreation.gov.”

Camping near Fort Ripley, Minnesota, has something for everyone. Whether you’re looking for adventure or relaxation, you’ll find a spot that suits your needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I find camping at Fort Ripley?

While Fort Ripley itself is a military installation, there are several excellent camping options nearby. The Military Park Camp Ripley DeParcq Woods Campground near Little Falls offers drive-in camping with basic amenities. Another option is Charles A. Lindbergh State Park Campground, also near Little Falls, which features wooded sites though they are closer together than some other Minnesota state parks. Both locations provide convenient access to the Fort Ripley area while offering different camping experiences.

What amenities are available at Fort Ripley campgrounds?

Campgrounds near Fort Ripley offer a range of amenities to accommodate different camping preferences. Crow Wing State Park Campground provides basic amenities including water and toilet facilities, making it suitable for a weekend getaway. For more developed facilities, St. Cloud Campground & RV Park offers a swimming pool, lodge, bathhouse, and laundry facilities with well-maintained, clean grounds. Many sites in the area feature electric and water hookups, shower facilities, and access to recreational opportunities including hiking trails, fishing, and boating.

Do I need a reservation for camping at Fort Ripley?

Reservations are highly recommended for campgrounds near Fort Ripley, especially during peak season (late spring through early fall). At Father Hennepin State Park Campground, lakeside sites fill up quickly and should be booked well in advance. Similarly, the popular Mille Lacs Kathio Petaga Campground has spacious, private sites that are best secured through reservations. For most state parks in the area, reservations can be made up to 120 days in advance through the Minnesota DNR website, while private campgrounds often have their own reservation systems and policies.

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