Sacred E.
Guide
GuideAitkin County Campground
This is a sweet and easy spot right on the river. It could be buggy during warmer weather but in late October it was great and we had the place to ourselves.
Dog-Friendly Camping near Fort Ripley, MN
7 campgrounds with availability this weekend
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Crow Wing Lake Campground's spacious tent and RV sites welcome pets throughout the property, with dedicated pet-friendly areas and clean facilities for pet waste disposal. Each campsite includes electrical hookup, picnic table, and fire pit with easy access to the lake for dogs who enjoy swimming. Most campsites offer ample shade from large trees, creating comfortable environments for pets during summer months. Leashed pets are permitted at all times outside of accommodations, with owners responsible for proper cleanup and behavior management. Military Park Camp Ripley DeParcq Woods Campground provides additional pet-friendly options along the Mississippi River, offering large wooded sites suitable for both RVs and tents. Pets must remain leashed at all campsites, with designated walking areas available throughout the grounds. Campground pet policies generally restrict excessive barking during quiet hours from 10 PM to 8 AM. Local campgrounds are searchable through The Dyrt's listings.
The Paul Bunyan Trail passing through Crow Wing State Park offers excellent pet-friendly hiking and biking opportunities with multiple access points near campsites. Dogs particularly enjoy the riverfront trails with water access points for cooling off during warmer months. Gull Lake Recreation Area provides additional pet-friendly camping with lakeside access ideal for dogs who enjoy swimming. Pet owners should note that wildlife encounters are possible in these wooded campgrounds, requiring vigilant leash control, especially at dawn and dusk. Most campgrounds maintain a strict policy requiring proof of current vaccinations for all pets, with some limiting the number of animals per site. Weather conditions can change rapidly, requiring appropriate shelter for pets during storms. The campground store at Crow Wing Lake stocks basic pet supplies including waste bags and treats for emergency needs. Campers report the Crow Wing area offers some of the cleanest and quietest pet-friendly camping options in central Minnesota with consistently well-maintained facilities.
Best Dog-Friendly Campgrounds near Fort Ripley (114)
1. Crow Wing State Park Campground
"We loved the group camp site except for the fact the people would walk through it. There was a main hiking trail and lots of people came through. Our dogs did not care for that surprise."
"Just kidding, our dogs hate camping but we definitely enjoyed Crow Wing. The park ranger was super helpful on our first visit to the park."
58 Sites AvailableAvailable this weekend
from $24 - $80 / night
2. Crow Wing Lake Campground
"Amenities include: playground, pool, lake, dog park, and store. Each site has a table and fire pit. Keep an eye on your account."
"Clean bathrooms, nice sized park for kids, pool (not open in Sept), lake with ample docks for fishing or you can rent boats."
Check Availabilityfrom $24 - $34 / night
3. Charles A. Lindbergh State Park Campground
"There is about a 500yd walk to the restrooms, and you have to go another 500yds to the main campground to find the showers."
"Sites are close together compared to some other Minnesota state parks. Lots of trees. Bathroom is older but decent. Hiking trails ok nothing special."
40 Sites AvailableAvailable this weekend
from $20 - $50 / night
4. Gull Lake Recreation Area
"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."
Check AvailabilityCampground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $32 - $50 / night
5. Military Park Camp Ripley DeParcq Woods Campground
"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."
Check Availabilityfrom $7 - $17 / night
6. Canoe Landing Campsite — Crow Wing State Park
"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)."
7. 37 Acres Campground
"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."
Check Availabilityfrom $20 - $35 / night
8. Baxter Canoe Camp
"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
"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
Drive Time
- 48 min from St. Cloud, MN
- 1 hr 41 min from Minneapolis, MN
- 2 hrs 12 min from Duluth, MN
- 2 hrs 24 min from Fargo, ND
Recent Dog-Friendly Camping Photos near Fort Ripley, MN
29 Photos of 114 Fort Ripley Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
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Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Fort Ripley, MN
386 Reviews of 114 Fort Ripley Campgrounds
- jj
TravelerWealthwood State Forest
Just a forest road, 405th Place. Dirt road that runs into the forest and then dead ends at fairly large roundabout area. Its a very flat and smooth road currently. I would think just about anyone would be able to get in here and find a spot out of the way.
- PPreston R.Guide
Reddington Pass Dispersed
Not accurate
This puts you on a farmers field
- nnancy H.Guide
Lake Carlos State Park Campground
Quiet wooded site in upper campground
We spent 1 night at site #12. Large back in spot completely wooded with fire pit & picnic table (no water or electric) Behind clean restrooms with flush toilets. The sites were less than half occupied on a Monday in Mid September. We arrived after the station was closed so we had to create an online profile to reserve and pay. Thankfully we had adequate cell service. There was also an 800 number to call that was staffed until 8pm (according to the sign). The upper campground is much quieter and shaded compared to the lower loop -which is on the water.
Allen B.GuideSaukinac Campground
Good all around
Campgrounds offer tent sites in the shade most all rv sites offer power water & sewer. Showers & flush toilets were clean. Bar with excellent food & friendly service
- FFue X.Traveler
Atkin County Campground
Easy set up
Pull in and just set up tent. No regulations. Hang out all night if you want.
- ttraveller
LegendLyons park camping
Lovely free camping
Lovely free camping provided by the Lyons community. It has water barbeques bathrooms, power, and 4 spaces. Very generous community effort.
- DDaniel R.Guide
Lake Carlos State Park Campground
Family Friendly Fun
There’s not one but two wonderful bathrooms at each end of the lower level campsites. Our children loved riding their scooters around the loop. If you happen to own a boat, you can park it right on the beach and tie off across from your campsite if you’re lucky enough to have one on the lake side. We stayed at spot 85 but site 102 is on the end and then you will only have one Neighbor.
David L.GuideCrosby Memorial City Park
Convenient to town
The great part about this campground was that it was conveniently located in the attractive town of Crosby. The sites were small and close together. The most negative part was the restrooms. They were very old and used by all the people enjoying the lake & park. It would be nice to have a restroom facility dedicated to campers only. The concept of a campground in the city park is wonderful, but could use just a little more fine tuning.
Guide to Fort Ripley
The Fort Ripley area offers multiple camping options along the Mississippi River, with most sites situated between 1,200-1,300 feet elevation in central Minnesota's mixed hardwood forest ecosystem. Campsites typically provide shade from mature oak and pine trees, creating natural protection during summer months when temperatures average 75-85°F. Several campgrounds offer dedicated pet areas with water access points for dogs.
What to do
Paddle the Mississippi: Access the river directly from Baxter Canoe Camp for day trips or overnight stays. "Hands down, one of the all time best campsites I've ever been to. Not many places you can camp and wake up to the sound of water babbling on the Mississippi River," reports Amy G.
Explore historic sites: The Charles Lindbergh homestead near Charles A. Lindbergh State Park Campground connects to multiple hiking trails. "There are many cool things to see, although some are across the street from the main part of the park and run by the Minnesota Historical Society," notes Jennifer H.
Bike the Paul Bunyan Trail: The 120-mile paved trail passes through several campgrounds in the area. "Great state campground, good hiking trails, Paul Bunyan Bike Trail passes through park (120 miles long). Crow Wing town site interesting," reports Big Craig.
What campers like
Spacious, private sites: Gull Lake Recreation Area provides large, level sites with adequate separation. "The sites are huge and generally well separated. Plenty of room for even the biggest rigs. The sites are flat gravel (class5) no leveling blocks needed," explains Scott G.
River access for pets: Many canine companions enjoy swimming at Military Park Camp Ripley DeParcq Woods Campground, which offers "large wooded campsites for RV's as well as tents, all along the Mississippi River," according to Janet R.
Clean facilities: Campgrounds in the area maintain high standards for restrooms and common areas. "The bathrooms and vault toilets are the cleanest I've ever seen!" writes Jessi about Gull Lake Recreation Area.
What you should know
Wildlife encounters: Bears and other wildlife are present in the area. "We did have a nighttime visitor in the form of something big and black and furry. We didn't see him (her?), but heard the sounds of a bear," reports Amy G. at Baxter Canoe Camp.
Site selection matters: Some campgrounds have significant differences between sites. "Do not book site 30... site 29 and 30 have nothing separating them which is kind of awkward. Also, behind site 30 is a vault toilet that people would occasionally walk directly through our campsite to get to," warns Elisha C. about Charles A. Lindbergh State Park.
Seasonal considerations: Crow Wing Lake Campground operates from May 1 to October 1, with specific amenities available only during peak season. "Only drawback was the lake was too mucky and weedy to swim in but has to be a great fishing lake," notes Laura B.
Frequently Asked Questions
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campsite near Fort Ripley, MN?
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Fort Ripley, MN?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Fort Ripley, MN is Crow Wing State Park Campground with a 3.9-star rating from 27 reviews.
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dog-friendly camping near
Fort Ripley, MN?
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Fort Ripley, MN?
TheDyrt.com has all 114 dog-friendly camping locations near Fort Ripley, MN, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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