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Best Tent Camping near Grand Portage, MN

230 Reviews
CAMPER SUMMARY PRESENTED BYFord

State parks and national forests near Grand Portage, Minnesota support diverse tent camping options, from established campgrounds to backcountry sites. Judge C.R. Magney State Park Campground, located 25 miles south of Grand Portage on Highway 61, offers 27 wooded tent sites and one dedicated walk-in tent site. For more primitive tent camping experiences, Fort Charlotte Backcountry Campsites in Grand Portage National Monument provide tent-only camping with minimal amenities. Horseshoe Bay Public Trust Fund Land features walk-in tent sites accessible by short hiking trails, offering a more secluded experience for tent campers seeking solitude.

Most tent campgrounds in the region feature dirt or gravel pads with varying degrees of levelness. Judge C.R. Magney sites include fire rings and picnic tables, while backcountry sites often have minimal amenities. Vault toilets are available at most established campgrounds, though backcountry sites may require campers to pack out waste or use designated pit toilets. Cell service is limited throughout the area, particularly at remote sites. The camping season typically runs from mid-May through early October for established campgrounds, though some primitive sites remain accessible year-round, weather permitting. Campers should bring water filtration systems when staying at sites without potable water sources.

In early fall, tent campsites throughout the Grand Portage area offer cooler temperatures and fewer crowds. One camper noted that at Judge C.R. Magney State Park, "big trees throughout" provide ample shade, and you can "hear the roar of surf on Lake Superior" from many tent sites. The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness sites near Grand Portage require permits but reward tent campers with exceptional privacy. According to reviews, sites at Kimball Lake Campground are "wooded and have a fire ring and area to set up tents," making them suitable for tent campers seeking a rustic experience with basic amenities. Backcountry tent camping on Isle Royale National Park, accessible by ferry from Grand Portage, offers pristine lakefront sites where campers can enjoy remarkable solitude.

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Best Tent Sites Near Grand Portage, Minnesota (58)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Grand Portage, MN

66 Photos of 58 Grand Portage Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Grand Portage, MN

230 Reviews of 58 Grand Portage Campgrounds

  • A
    Sep. 28, 2016

    West Chickenbone Campground — Isle Royale National Park

    Quite stay at West Chickenbone Lake

    After getting off the ferry at McCargoe Cove, I hiked a short distance to W Chickenbone Lake. The views along the lake were incredible and you have an awesome view along the lake front campsites. There aren't shelters at this campsite but there is a privy, and the tent sites are really nice with lots of space to set up away from your neighbors. This wasn't my favorite campsite of the ones I stayed at on Isle Royale. The group sites were a little overgrown and there were only a few sites closer to the lake. However, it was a great place to stay, very quiet despite the large crowd, and a short hike away from McCargoe Cove if you're wanting a slow start to your day after the ferry ride over from Grand Portage.

  • Matthew G.
    Jun. 25, 2021

    Washington Creek Campground — Isle Royale National Park

    Isle Royale N.P., Windigo, Washington Creek

    There is not a lot of info out there on this camp site so I thought I'd fill in some of the gaps.  It is not shown on many maps.  It is on Isle Royale and is about 1/3 of a mile walk from the Windogo area where the Ferry boat lands.  The easiest access to the island is via Ferry which is about $150 round trip from Grand Portage MN.  A sea plane is also available for around $320 RT.  There are no motorized vehicles or bicycles at Windigo and the surrounding area.

    Washington Creek is a popular overnight stay for backpackers who are on their way on/way off the island via the ferry as well as a great camp  for people who aren't up to the strenuous activity of backpacking.  Everyone is super-friendly.

    There are 15 individual wooded campsites.  5 are tent/hammock sites and 10 have a shelter that is a wood structure about 10' x 16' with a wood floor, 3 wood walls and a forth wall made of screen with a screen door.  Each campsite has a picnic table, but no fire ring as fires are not allowed, only cook stoves.  There are a few pit toilet "privies" (out houses) which all campers are asked to use.  There is one potable water faucet for the campground and another at the Windigo flag pole.  At the time we were there there was some concern about filtering water from inland water sources, but this might have been just a CYA on the part of the park service.

    There are 4 group campsites each of which consist of a picnic table and more open space than the individual sites - which might supply enough room for a half dozed tents plus or minus.  There are 2 privies in that area. 

    In the nearby Windigo area there is a small store with the basics; Dry and canned food, beer, wine, soda, ice and some souvenirs.  All the basics you would need to survive if you showed up with no food as long as you are not picky.  Looking around there, I actually didn't know there was that many flavors of Romman Noodles. :-). No fresh meat or produce though.  The availability of only 1 kind of potato chips kinda sums it up for me… They do sell a bit of camping gear most notably the iso-butane canisters for cook stoves.  They have a bit of fishing gear too.  The store has an open porch that is a nice place to relax and drink a beer or read a book and mingle with other campers.

    There was a nice new but un-opened store building(6/2021) which should boost the appeal, and perhaps the available merchandise.  I heard tell there was to be a few beer taps too (Woo-Hoo!!!) with indoor seating area.  Lots of outside covered and uncovered seating too.

    In addition to the store there is a Ranger/visitor center with some interesting displays and is staffed with park personnel who are anxious to provide whatever info you may need.

    There at Windigo (again 1/3 mile from the Washington Creek Campground) there is a "bath house".  This has flush toilets and hot/cold sinks, and pay showers and pay laundry facilities.

    I heard there were a few rustic cabins there at Windigo for rent however I did not see them myself. 

    I'll post some pics to provide further info.

  • Matt S.
    Aug. 31, 2018

    McCargoe Cove Campground — Isle Royale National Park

    Our First stop on the Island

    A small group of family and friends left the luxuries of home to backpack thirty miles in Isle Royale National Park. It was an amazing experience and I look forward to taking the rest of my children here as they grow up.

    The first leg of our journey was a boat ride from Grand Portage, Minnesota to McCargoe Cove. We did not do much backpacking the first day. We did hike around the area and set up camp to take it easy our first night. We elected to stay in our own tents, but those who wanted more amenities could take advantage of several small shelters built in each camp.

    Other than Windigo and Rock Harbor, there are no amenities other than some shelters and latrines.

    McCargoe Cove is set in a cove right off Lake superior, so this spot is especially popular with the fishermen since there is a nice dock and ease of access for their boats. This was a nice place to stay but it wasn't my favorite.

    I tried some new food at McCargoe Cove that I highly recommend: NOKA - Mango/Coconut was fantastic.

  • Ari A.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 22, 2021

    Judge C. R. Magney State Park Campground

    Pleasant rustic getaway

    This is a rustic state park with no electric sites, dump station or water source for RV tanks, as well as nearly non-existent cell service, but it's a pleasant getaway spot. It felt like a rustic forest campground but had amenities like a bathroom/shower house. Regarding water, there is drinking water available to fill containers, just no hookup to fill RV tanks. They also have trash and recycling dumpsters available.

    The sites are decent size; privacy depends on the site but most aren't crammed on top of each other. All sites are dirt/gravel and the roads are dirt so be prepared for some dust in dry conditions.

    We saw mostly tents and smaller rigs but that's probably due to no electricity and no water source for RVs to fill from. Still, some sites were large enough for the Class As that were there.

    Bathrooms were decent but be ready for push-button showers for water conservation. They run long enough to essentially do Navy showers, which works fine. Water never really hot but plenty warm enough to not be considered cold.

    Each site has a picnic table and fire ring, plus firewood is available at the front office or at the camp host site (via self-service). Front office rarely staffed but there is a work garage and the DNR staff came through the campground regularly. Little to no cell service on T-Mobile and Verizon, but there is a WiFi spot available near the DNR work garage.

    It's nice that you can hike from the campground to Devil's Kettle and another waterfall (same trail), both of which were great.

    Access is from Highway 61 down a relatively short dirt road We would stay here again.

  • Alli T.
    Aug. 25, 2023

    Cascade River State Park Campground

    BP#2 lovely and secluded

    Loved the two nights spent at backpacking site #2. It was very secluded, couldn’t hear/see anyone at any point during our time at the campsite. It has a covered wooden structure, good sized bear box, picnic table, and fire ring. There is also a pit toilet ~50 feet from the campsite, though was in pretty rough shape so did not use that but didn’t really mind since most backpacking sites don’t have this luxury anyway and was not expecting to have a toilet in the first place. The campsite sits atop Moose “Mountain,” which is about a mile hike in from the group site parking lot. Don’t underestimate this hike in!! We are two people in our 20s and in pretty good shape, but with ~35lbs of gear on your back with a very steady incline up, definitely had to take a couple breaks. It was pretty rainy so there were some muddy spots that were relatively easy to avoid. With that being said, it was definitely worth it given the seclusion and privacy of this campsite. If able and willing to put in the extra effort, I would recommend the backpacking sites over the drive-in sites as I have heard they can be pretty cramped. Overall, very happy with BP#2 will definitely be back!

  • Steph H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 28, 2017

    Clearwater Lake West Campsite

    Open, clean and soft

    There are a couple things I look for when finding a place to set up my tent after a long day of hiking. Clear ground, soft ground and a breathable space. The Clearwater west site on the Border Route Trail in Northern Minnesota had all three. A large open site great for groups with 5 tent sites and plenty of hammock camping trees. Right on Clearwater Lake so you have access to clear filterable drinking water. This was day 2 camp after heading eastbound from the start of the BRT. Day 1 had been 18 miles and day 2 was closer to 12 I think. The trail had been ravaged by winter storms so even while hauling on the trail we didn't get there till around 7pm in the rain. Plenty of great views along the way and overall well worth it but it was a loooong day. So I was happy to find such a hospitable site. Surprisingly there was a group there which ended up being a trail maintnance group so with the 4 of them and the 5 of us we still had plenty of room to spread out.

  • Jessica H.
    May. 10, 2018

    East Bearskin Lake Campground

    East Bearskin Lake Campground Camper Cabins

    The camper cabins at East Bearskin Lake Campground in Superior National Forest are the ideal way to take advantage of northern Minnesota's wilderness. The camper cabins include a picnic style table inside along with bunk bed sleeping areas. Foam sleeping pads are provided, but you're responsible for bringing your own linens. There is no heat or electricity in the cabins, but the structures are sturdy and provide shelter from wind, rain and snow. Each campsite has an outdoor picnic table and fire ring. There are four camper cabins and they can be reserved through the recreation.gov website. They are just under $70/night. There is plenty of space between cabins as well as other campsites to give you the feel of truly being in the middle of nowhere. We were surrounded by pine trees and had a trail located in our campsite that led to East Bearskin Lake. Keep in mind, it's Minnesota and there was still some snow on the ground and ice on the lakes at the end of May. Pit toilets were just a short walk down the road as was access to potable water.

    We saw a moose and had a fox visit our campsite while we were there. We fell asleep to the sound of loons every night. This is also black bear country, so it's important to be bear aware; make sure you store food and water properly and bring bear spray while out hiking. We tried our hand at trout fishing with little luck, but it was still fairly cold, and so not much was biting.

    We hiked the Caribou Rock Trail and hikers are required to fill out a hiking log slip before heading out. The 2 mile trail was moderate with a decent incline. Once at the top of the overlook, you can see East Bearskin Lake. There are several lodges throughout Superior National Forest where you can obtain fishing licenses and rent boats.

    Grand Marais, MN is only about 45 minutes away from East Bearskin Lake. It's a cool, quaint little town located right along Lake Superior. There's a handful of good restaurants, specifically The Angry Trout, which serves up fresh lake trout out of Superior. The Java Moose has great coffee and Lake Superior Trading Post carries lots of outdoor gear and souvenirs.

    We liked it so much, we went back 4 months later in September, and stayed again in the same camper cabin. For a true taste of the North Woods, East Bearskin is hard to beat.

  • Fred S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 15, 2021

    Judge C. R. Magney State Park Campground

    Can Hear Lake Superior Surf

    Nice, clean campground. Big trees throughout. Clean restroom/shower house. Also has vault toilets. Firewood available. Good water supply. Trash dumpsters. No hookups. At least half of the sites are level. Hiking trail. Helpful friendly staff. Can hear some traffic on nearby MN 61, but not bad. Can also hear the roar of surf on Lake Superior. Campsites are separated, but not much growth in between for privacy.

  • Tori K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 1, 2025

    West Chickenbone Campground — Isle Royale National Park

    Lake sites

    Primitive site. Most sites have room for a couple of backpacking tents if you are hiking in a small group. No fire rings or picnic table. There are some lakefront sites here. I believe there was an outhouse in the campground. I believe this is one of the lakes that periodically has algal blooms. When you get to the island off the boat, the ranger goes through everybody’s route and itinerary with them and will let you know what water sources may be dried up and what water sources are going through an algal bloom so you can plan your water sourcing appropriately.

Guide to Grand Portage

Primitive camping options near Grand Portage, Minnesota offer access to the remote Superior Forest landscape where average temperatures range from 36°F in winter to 66°F in summer. Campers in this northeastern tip of Minnesota can reach sites with various levels of accessibility—from roadside pull-offs to paddle-in locations on inland lakes. Weather conditions change rapidly on Lake Superior's North Shore, with fog and temperature drops common even in summer months.

What to do

Waterfall hiking: The Devil's Kettle Falls at Judge C. R. Magney State Park Campground requires climbing many stairs but rewards with unique geology. "The trail to Devil's Kettle was a nice hike. Be warned lots of stairs but excellently maintained," notes Scott G. in his review.

Exploring wilderness lakes: McFarland Lake Campground provides access to both motorized and non-motorized lakes. "There is a Portage for both mcfarland lake and little john lake. Nice clean lakes. McFarland has a boat launch and motorized boats allowed on the lake. All the other lakes are in the boundary waters and boats are not allowed," explains Josh M.

Border exploration: The High Falls at Grand Portage State Forest Devilfish Lake Campsite sit right on the border of Minnesota and Canada. "High falls at grand portage were AMAZING right on boarder of Minnesota and Canada! Easy hike and so worth it!!!" writes Jordan L.

What campers like

Privacy between sites: The tent camping setup at Hungry Hippie Campground offers secluded options. "The campsites are nice, level, reasonably sized, and offer different pros and cons. Site 1 is the most private, but you don't have a view of the lake," reports Krista T.

Peaceful atmosphere: Primitive sites near Grand Portage provide quieter alternatives to busier campgrounds. "The Hungry Hippie was so much better because it's SO QUIET. No screaming children on scooters, no RVs running A/C all night. It was so peaceful and beautiful," shares Kt D.

Night sky viewing: Tent camping in the Grand Portage area offers exceptional stargazing opportunities. "We are stargazers and really enjoyed the night sky, it was nice and dark, no light pollution," one camper notes about their experience at Hungry Hippie Campground.

What you should know

Road conditions: Access to remote tent camping sites can be challenging. "Road up from North Shore was a bit rough in places, but destination is worth it," Elizabeth mentions about her visit to Grand Portage State Forest.

Limited services: Many tent camping sites near Grand Portage have minimal amenities. "There are 5 primitive campsites at this campground. They are all free. They are all nicely spaced apart. There is one outhouse and no running water," explains a camper about McFarland Lake Campground.

Wildlife encounters: Expect animal visitors at your campsite. "The fox trying to steal our shoes in the middle of the night was annoying, but overall, a great experience," shares Matt S. about camping on Isle Royale.

Tips for camping with families

Consider site spacing: Some campgrounds have very close sites that may not work well with active children. "We felt like we were camping with 20 other people we didn't know. Sometimes that is ok, but it can get annoying with no privacy," warns Holly G. about Judge C.R. Magney State Park.

Look for hammock options: Kids enjoy hammock camping when available. "There were a lot of trees for our hammock, though!" notes Sara P. despite other limitations at Judge C.R. Magney State Park.

Consider cabin alternatives: Washington Creek Campground on Isle Royale (accessible by ferry from Grand Portage) offers screened shelters. "There are 15 individual wooded campsites. 5 are tent/hammock sites and 10 have a shelter that is a wood structure about 10' x 16' with a wood floor, 3 wood walls and a forth wall made of screen with a screen door," explains Matthew G.

Tips from RVers

Site size restrictions: Most tent camping areas near Grand Portage have limitations for larger vehicles. "The sites are suitable for tents & small trailers, popups, truck campers, camper vans. We did see one larger trailer, but most sites are short. The road is also very primitive - trees will rip off the air conditioners in your 45 footer!" cautions Cynthia K. about Judge C.R. Magney State Park.

Road clearance considerations: Access roads to remote camping areas require vehicles with adequate clearance. Many tent camping sites near Grand Portage require navigating forest roads with potholes, ruts and low-hanging branches.

Limited hookup options: Most tent camping sites in the Grand Portage area lack RV amenities. "[Judge C.R. Magney State Park] is primitive camping - no electricity. There's water available. No dump," explains a reviewer, making it better suited for tent camping than RV camping.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Grand Portage, MN?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Grand Portage, MN is Judge C. R. Magney State Park Campground with a 4.2-star rating from 28 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Grand Portage, MN?

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