Are you in need of a campground near Grand Portage, MN? Grand Portage is an adventure-filled destination for those who love the outdoorsy camper lifestyle. But it's also great for those who prefer to spend time near the city, exploring and sightseeing. You're sure to find the perfect campground for your Grand Portage camping trip.
"We have a great view of the harbor and the lake. The sites are really spaced out. The grounds are not manicured (the grass under our picnic table is knee high)."
"Not very private no trees or shade but I guess it’s not really needed when you’re on Lake Superior. It’s mid June and the high is 60. You get to enjoy all the amenities of the lodge and casino."
"The Cascade River is a great river to hike from its upper falls area to the mouth at Lake Superior. 5 falls or cascades are all visible from the trails along the river."
"Cascade River State Park is a nice (but busy) place, and since I like more secluded spots, this campground cannot come among my favorite places to put a tent."
"Tucked up in the woods is a small tent area that is nice and quiet but a little far from the bathrooms so be prepared to walk."
"Right on Lake Superior with gorgeous views. About 1/3 to 1/2 of the sites are non reservable and the rest are difficult to reserve."
$24 - $86 / night
"The camper cabins at East Bearskin Lake Campground in Superior National Forest are the ideal way to take advantage of northern Minnesota's wilderness."
"Clean sites, several level. Wooded. Unpaved road to access campground is good. Some sites are first come, first serve. Clean vault toilets. Good water supply near campsite #3."
"If you want easy access to Grand Marais, but want to be in a quieter location just up the Gunflint Trail, this campsite will be for you. It is small, quiet, and very rustic."
"Concessionaire is Ravenwood. 10 wooded campsites. Clean. Some set back from campground road. Some privacy between sites. Can hear a little bit of road noise from Gunflint Trail, but not bad."
"There is no cell service so it is time to put the phone down and enjoy the nature. Mosquitos were horrid right when we got here but we packed a couple thermocells that helped a ton!"
$24 / night
"Lots of great hiking within walking distance, and easy access to bwca if you want to do day trips."
"We really, really enjoyed our time at Flour Lake. Our campsite was particularly secluded, which was lovely."
"Stayed at the new ski/snowshoe in cabin. Cute little cabin with everything you need plus whatever you can carry on your back/sled. Cabin is equipped with firewood and a wood burning stove."
"After an hour of back roads north of Grand Marais you'll come upon Esther Lake Campground. It's a primitive campsite located on Esther Lake (obvi) and maintained by the Judge C.R."
$16 - $18 / night
"Very rustic but had some water spigots to get water from which was nice. Facilities were clean. Fairly private campsites so you are not bugged by your neighbors noise too much."
"Went away for some peace and quiet and came up here!!! Campsites were first come first serve and we took site 6 and called it good!"
LegendThe aspect of this campground we liked the best was that we could walk to town. The campground itself is o.k. It was full when we were and definitely felt crowded. There are some tent sites up in a wooded secluded area but most of the park is geared to RVs. Or you can pitch pitching your tent amongst RVs. Tucked up in the woods is a small tent area that is nice and quiet but a little far from the bathrooms so be prepared to walk.
There are 300 campsites of with full hookups, some with electric and water hookups and others no hookups. Some site have great views of Lake Superior, some are sunny and open and others have some large trees. Our site (#104) was very close to our neighbors and the RV right behind us and we had a big tree right in our “patio” which was not conducive to sitting outside. We had a 50 amp full hook-up site which all worked well and well-placed in the site. The campground is county-run and a mix of seasonal people (lots of whom appeared to be there for the fishing) and transients like ourselves. One aspect of seasonal campers that I don’t like is how they junk up their site and this certainly had that.
There are four bathhouses on the property some of which are pretty old and tired whereas others are larger and more updated. The bathroom near us was large but was heavily used (which is an understatement) as four tour-size busloads of college students exiting the boundary waters spent the night in tents near it. It was pretty trashed with that volume of people. Since the park is pretty large they have amenities like baseball fields, playground, group camping sections, a beach with picnic area, fish cleaning station, and nearby boat launch.
A short walk to downtown and you have restaurants, shopping, grocery, fuel, pretty harbor, art galleries, bait shops, and more. One of the most highly touted places in Grand Marais is World’s Best Donuts. Even before we got to Grand Marais, people in other parts of Minnesota told us about it. The donuts were really good but beware their closing hour is when they sell out which is why we went really early. We also ate at The Crooked Spoon Cafe and had an amazing meal. Nearby Grand Marais are a scattering of state parks known for their waterfalls which are worth seeing. Many people come here because it is close to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness but since we just came from the town of Ely we did not go back to the boundary waters. We liked this area and kept busy for the three days we were there but couldn’t see staying long-term.
GuideThe campground is close to everything in Grand Marais which is nice not have to drive. The bathrooms are very clean, but if you want a hot shower good luck. The sites are small for any big rig(s) and you are very close to your neighbor, so if you don’t like close proximity this is not a campground for you. The views are beautiful from the marina. The campground is very family friendly.
LegendDue to COVID, the RR and Showers were not open which was not a problem for the multitude of permanently placed RVers.
We called for a reservation but they did not return our calls. the camp host said not to worry, find a place and settle up in the morning. We found a spot within walking distance to the porta-potty at the marina and set up the popup only to discover that there was no 30 amp plug, only 50 amp.
We understood all this, we needed a place for the night. But in the morning the office insisted we pay $45, "the LEAST we could charge" Again, we had what amounted to primitive camping and for a little more we could have gotten a motel.
The town is nice, touristy without being too much so. Close to Canada and the falls at the Pigeon River (the boundary between US and Canada). Great Hiking on the Historic Grand Portage Trail.
Very nice town, great location on the harbor, RVs packed in like sardines, dirty, old and overpriced, even if the showers were working.
GuideThe Cascade River is a great river to hike from its upper falls area to the mouth at Lake Superior. 5 falls or cascades are all visible from the trails along the river. The campsites are close and most are not level and have only electric hookup. The road in is not big rig friendly with low branches and washboard gravel roads. The hiking trails are well worn so easy to hike safely. This is a perfect camp for small trailer or tent camping as the sites are shaded. Bath houses are fine and water sources are good. There is a free dump and fill station for campers..a bonus!
LegendThe RV park, lodge and casino, and a gas station/store are on a reservation with convenient access to the ferry that takes you to Isle Royale. It is conveniently located three miles away. There are standard and premium sites. The premium sites have a better view of the marina and the lake.
When it is not foggy you can see Isle Royale. The sites and bathrooms are just average. The hookups all work well, but the fire pits and tables are fairly old and the maintenance of the park is just ok.
ScoutThis is an interesting campground and marina. Right on Lake Superior with gorgeous views. About 1/3 to 1/2 of the sites are non reservable and the rest are difficult to reserve. Campers are an interesting mix of long-term “guests”, those who are passing through on their way up to or off of the Gunflint, and folks who are working at or taking classes from the Folk School. We were lucky to get a non-reservable site on the water with full hookups. Cold and windy, but we had a great time!
LegendGrand Portage Lodge and Casino is not what I imagine as a place to pitch a tent, but right next to the marina is an RV park and a bunch of spots for tents. I'm not a gambler so this is not normally a destination for me, but it is the best place to camp to make it to the Ferry by 6:30 a.m. the next morning to be transported to a paradise in Isle Royale National Park.
The nice thing about the campground is that you sit on a hill and look out at lake superior. There is a large gas station next to the marina where you can make phone calls at a pay phone (There is no cell service) and get some last minute treats before you head out on the boat.
This is the place to stay if you are going to Isle Royale National Park from Minnesota.
LegendMost sites have a view of the water, but this campground has a very specific purpose to this area, and it's not for long term camping. I mean, you can, but there isn't much glamour here.
The good part... They have electric, the bathroom is close, you can take a shower and even do laundry! In the summer, my husband says it's fun to people watch here (he's stayed before), but this time of year, it's quieter. The slips and dock are right in front as well as the camp office. The casino is an easy walk, and since you are so close to the border, you can exchange your money as well (Canadian to USD and vice versa).
We didn't know in advance, but paying for the campground allows you free use of the pool inside the casino!
Now, the ugly party.. The price. It was about $45 for an electric site. I think tents were about $20. While it did come with the amenities mentioned above, there is no privacy at any of the sites. The back row sits against the trees, but that's as good as it gets.
Bottom line, it's a good stopping spot near the border where you can plug in and swim, but not great if you want privacy or upscale.
I'd stay here again, but probably opt for a tent site to save some money if I could make do off the grid.
GuideI stayed here in late October. The campground was officially closed at this point in time, but they were still allowing you to stay here at the remarkably low rate of $10 per night. The bathrooms were closed and locked, but there was a single porta potty by the marina. The water was supposed to have been turned off but it wasn't. They're still closing up for the winter. But, the place was essentially empty. I saw one or two other campers in this huge area. So I had lots of space and privacy. It's within walking distance to downtown, which was wonderful. And, on the other side, away from town, there are some hiking trails for your morning stretch. I was able to take my dog off leash in the sledding area for a bit. I'm not sure if that's within the rules, but it didn't bother anybody because there was nobody to bother. The trails take you up to an overlook that allows you to look out over the town and watch the sun come up. You're within a very short driving distance of several ski/hiking areas in the national Forest. Also. I can't speak to how the place would be in the summer when it's busy, but it certainly was a good value for me in October.
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According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular RV campground near Grand Portage, MN is Grand Portgage Lodge & Casino with a 3.3-star rating from 9 reviews.
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