Best Campgrounds near Hastings, MN

Campgrounds near Hastings, Minnesota provide a mix of established sites along the St. Croix River and nearby waterways. Afton State Park Campground and St. Croix Bluffs Regional Park offer developed camping with varied accommodation types including tent sites, RV hookups, and cabin options. Several parks in the area feature amenities such as electric hookups, drinking water, and shower facilities, with most campgrounds open seasonally from spring through fall. The region includes both Washington County park facilities and Minnesota state park properties within a 30-minute drive of Hastings.

Seasonal operations affect most campgrounds, with many sites available from April through October. St. Croix Bluffs Regional Park provides water and electric hookups at most sites, while Afton State Park requires visitors to hike into their campsites, typically about a mile from parking areas. Bathroom facilities vary, with some campgrounds offering modern restrooms and others providing vault toilets. Reservation requirements exist at nearly all established campgrounds, and both Washington County parks (Lake Elmo and St. Croix Bluffs) prohibit pets and alcohol. One visitor noted, "We camped over MEA break in mid-October at site #4 and liked how close it was to the bathroom building. There is a lot of open space behind the parking/tent pad on this site."

Campers consistently rate the St. Croix River access as a significant highlight of the region. St. Croix Bluffs features boat launch facilities and beach areas along the river, making it popular for water activities. Tent and RV sites at several campgrounds provide electrical hookups and picnic tables, with many offering fire rings and access to firewood. The area's trail systems receive positive mentions in user reviews, particularly at Afton State Park where backpacking-style campsites offer more seclusion. A camper described Afton State Park as "a perfect backpacking experience" noting that "the campsites are nicely spaced and diverse. Some are more wooded and others in the open prairie." Several visitors mentioned that campgrounds can become crowded during summer weekends, particularly at waterfront locations.

Best Camping Sites Near Hastings, Minnesota (118)

    1. Afton State Park Campground

    36 Reviews
    Denmark, MN
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (651) 436-5391

    "Minnesota State Parks have just started to build Yurts for 3 campgrounds around the state; Afton, Cuyuna and Glendalough State Parks."

    "It is also next to Afton Ski resort. This park has a lot of beautiful prairie landscape with some temperate forest features. Wildflowers, shrubs, fungi, evergreens, and deciduous trees."

    2. St. Croix Bluffs Regional Park

    20 Reviews
    Denmark, MN
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (651) 430-8240

    "Minnesota is beautiful and there is so much to do here. The bathrooms are spotless and everything is new here."

    "Washington County, which manages campgrounds at both the Lake Elmo Park Reserve and St Croix Bluffs Regional Park, does a great job of maintaining campgrounds, trails, and bathroom facilities at both parks"

    3. Lebanon Hills Regional Park

    43 Reviews
    Apple Valley, MN
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (651) 480-7773

    $24 - $42 / night

    "Professional built mtn bike trails for adventure. Camping in Minnesota suburbs. Miles of hiking, horseback riding, cross country ski trails. . perfect for my family's weekend Stay-cation"

    "We live about 15 mins. away from this campground. We stayed in the East Loop which is for smaller RVs and tents. it has electricity but no water hookups, however there are water pumps."

    4. Lake Elmo County Park Reserve

    37 Reviews
    Lake Elmo, MN
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (651) 430-8370

    $23 - $80 / night

    "For a County Park, Lake Elmo has an impressive list of amenities. Before we even get to the campsite let's mention the filtered swimming pond."

    "Lake Elmo County Park in Washington County Minnesota is a great park for families."

    5. Willow River State Park Campground

    62 Reviews
    Hudson, WI
    21 miles
    Website
    +1 (715) 386-5931

    "Fun to play in the water, go behind the waterfall and a good hike up 200 steps to view the falls from above!"

    "Located 5 miles outside of Hudson, Willow Creek State Park is large park with hiking, camp sites, fishing, canoeing, and the waterfall."

    6. Lake Byllesby Regional Park

    12 Reviews
    Cannon Falls, MN
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (507) 263-4447

    "Near lake and excellent bike path. Great brewery and winery close by."

    "Lakeside sites are close together, with W/E hookups, but they’re right in the lake with a wonderful view. The facilities are very clean and well-kept."

    7. Whitetail Woods Camper Cabins

    4 Reviews
    Empire, MN
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (952) 891-7000

    $85 / night

    "There is a fire ring outside of each cabin, along with a table. No cooking is allowed inside the cabins, which can make things rough if the weather isn't cooperating. "

    "There is no cooking inside the cabin so you have to use the fire ring outside. Shower facilities are really nice and match the cabins. Plan ahead as these are hard to come by."

    8. Lake Byllesby Campground

    7 Reviews
    Cannon Falls, MN
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (651) 480-7770

    $39 - $60 / night

    "We didn’t get to swim at the lake because it was shut down due to a chemical spill at the time, but we did walk over and check it out. The views are great! We stayed in a RV spot next to the lake."

    "Sites were so easy and the bike trails were awesome! Lots of nature paths too."

    9. Greenwood Campground

    1 Review
    Hastings, MN
    4 miles
    Website
    +1 (651) 437-5269

    "Very popular due to location to the Twin Cities. There is a swimming pool. Campground is well maintained."

    10. Tresure Island RV Park

    4 Reviews
    Red Wing, MN
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (651) 267-3060

    "We have dogs so the fact that it’s all asphalt and rock is a bit of a bummer but we are close to the exercise area and they do love little walks."

    "No grassy areas so if you have animals you need to walk a bit to get to the grass"

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Recent Reviews near Hastings, MN

759 Reviews of 118 Hastings Campgrounds


  • Crystal B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 29, 2025

    Whippoorwill Ranch Kampground

    Nice traditional rural campground

    This is in a rural area and has many seasonal sites. Transitional sites too. There is a restaurant/bar on site. The river is behind the property.

  • Crystal B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 29, 2025

    Bailey Park in Wabasha MN

    Small campground in the City of Wabasha MN

    Small basic campground in Wabasha MN. Mostly permanent sites. There is a dog park directly next to the campground.

  • Crystal B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 29, 2025

    Beach Park at Hungry Point

    City of Wabasha campground (seasonal)

    This is the city of Wabasha MN campground. It is only for seasonal camping meaning they DO NOT offer daily/weekly sites. Lots are situated at the end of a Main Street and there is a public bathroom with a shower nearby. There is also a beach (Mississippi River) a marina/docks/slips, and a public park nearby.

  • Crystal B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 29, 2025

    Big River Resort

    Nice camping in the city of Wabasha

    Well maintained campground in Wabasha. They have sites and other accommodations as well.

  • Crystal B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 29, 2025

    Kruger Unit - RJD Memorial Hardwood State Forest

    Great area with a lot of activities in the area.

    This is a nice basic campground near Wabasha/Kellogg area. Mississippi is within a few miles. Lark Toys nearby also. The Zumbro River is at the bottom of the campground on opposite side of the road where you can put kayaks/canoes in. (Or swim or fish). Sites are nice size with some having more privacy than others. Campground is on top of/up the hill. Vault toilets. No showers. Fire rings and picnic tables present.

  • Crystal B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 29, 2025

    Zumbro Bottoms Central — R.J.D. Memorial Hardwood State Forest

    Nice small horse camping

    The campground is down a minimum maintenance road, but the road is pretty good though. Just one circle with 17 sites. There are many miles of horse and hiking trails in the area. 2 Vault toilets. No showers. Some picnic tables/fire rings/tie outs for horses.

  • Sarah D.
    Oct. 17, 2025

    Frontenac State Park Campground

    Secluded Site and Great Views Close to the Twin Cities

    We did a one night camping trip for my birthday at Cart-In Site 1 the second to last weekend of September.

    We loved the hiking at Frontenac State Park - walking along the lake and then walking along the bluffs at sunset was magical! Fantastic views. I imagine if we had gone two weeks later, we would have had a fantastic display of fall color. We went a little too early to catch the changing leaves.

    We loved how easy Frontenac was for a casual weekend getaway. It was an easy, scenic one hour drive from St. Paul that was very enjoyable. The park was also nice with great bathrooms at the main campsite, nice trails, and they even had board games to check out at the front office for a rainy day- a great idea!

    We stayed at Cart-In Site 1. I would rate the site itself a 3. It was very secluded and spacious, which was fantastic! We could not see any other campsites from our site, which was fantastic. We only occasionally saw some hikers on a nearby trail. We could hear some other noisy campers, but it wasn't too much of a disturbance. Very wooded, nice, spacious site. There is not water at the Cart-In parking lot, so be aware that you will have to fill up prior to parking and heading to your site (easiest place to do so is the main office/ visitor center).

    I also slept poorly because of a nearby train that kept going past and honking at least until midnight. So if you're a light sleeper, be aware of persistent train noise at these sites!

    Overall good site and an easy, fun, and relaxing weekend getaway from the twin cities.

  • Lance L.
    Oct. 15, 2025

    Cleary Lake Regional Park

    Large campground with plentyy of activities!

    They have two lots for RV and travel trailer use although the first lot only has two spaces and the second one has a total of five. The five space spot has no water or electric hook up but was a great place for me to test out my new solar set up. Word to the wise, gates ACTUALLY close at 10pm, there's no way to contact anyone and I had to walk about a mile in parked outside the gate 😅. The White Pine lot (5 spaces) has a central bathroom/shower building. The park was jam packed Friday/Saturday but a ghosts town the remains sun/mon/tue I stayed.


Guide to Hastings

Camping spots near Hastings, Minnesota offer a mix of prairie and forest settings along the St. Croix and Mississippi Rivers. The region sits at the confluence of these two major waterways, creating diverse ecosystems for camping at elevations between 675-800 feet. Winter camping options remain available at select parks, with temperatures typically ranging from 10-30°F during colder months.

What to do

Hike to hidden waterfalls: At Willow River State Park Campground, just 30 minutes from Hastings, trails lead to impressive waterfalls not marked on official maps. "There is a beautiful little hidden waterfall that isn't on any of the park maps and you have to go off the trail to find it," notes one visitor.

Explore varied landscapes: Afton State Park Campground offers hiking through multiple terrain types in one visit. A camper shared, "Lots of trails with a wide variety of landscapes. Prairie, forest, river, it's got it all."

Water recreation options: When algae isn't present, lakes near Hastings provide swimming and boating opportunities. Lake Byllesby Regional Park features boat launch facilities for easy water access. During summer months, algae can be problematic as one camper noted, "The lake had a bad smell with blue green algae not recommended to swim."

What campers like

Modern bathroom facilities: St. Croix Bluffs Regional Park receives consistent praise for clean facilities. "Spacious sites and very clean restrooms!" mentioned one reviewer. Another noted it has "fantastic bathrooms zoned showers."

Specialized camper cabins: Whitetail Woods Camper Cabins provides climate-controlled options for off-season camping. "The cabins in the woods are great in winter with snow on the pine trees. I would probably prefer the prairie cabins in the summer, especially with mosquitoes," explains one winter visitor.

Site privacy variations: Privacy between sites varies significantly across parks. At Lebanon Hills Regional Park, a camper observed, "We stayed in the East Loop which is for smaller RVs and tents. We liked that we weren't super close to any campers unlike most RV spots are nowadays."

What you should know

Alcohol and pet restrictions: County parks have different rules regarding pets and alcohol. Washington County parks prohibit both, while Dakota County parks typically allow them. A visitor to St. Croix Bluffs noted, "My only wish is that my little dog could join us and they had full hook ups."

Seasonal water challenges: Some parks face water issues during certain periods. At Afton State Park, a camper warned, "None of the water faucets or water pumps on the trails at Afton State Park are working. The good news is you can fill up on cold drinking water at the visitor center."

Hike-in requirements: Certain campsites require physical effort to reach. At Afton, a reviewer described the experience: "The hike to the campground is short and grueling. A few of the sites are in wooded areas, but we stayed in one of the prairie sites."

Tips for camping with families

Playground access: Lebanon Hills Regional Park offers camping near modern play areas. "The play area was really nice and looked brand new. Our girls loved making new friends to play with," shared a family camper.

Swimming options: Some parks offer swimming alternatives to natural lakes. Lake Elmo County Park Reserve features a chlorinated swimming pond. As one visitor described it, "They have a home made lake that has a sand bottom but it has chlorine like a pool so no weeds. Great for swimming."

Group site availability: For larger family gatherings, look for designated group areas. St. Croix Bluffs has two group sites of different sizes. A visitor explained, "Our site has a large picnic shelter with 6 picnic tables two grills and its own volleyball place."

Tips from RVers

Site leveling: Lake Byllesby Campground provides level sites for easier setup. Recent renovations have improved the campground, with one RVer noting, "Sites were so easy and the bike trails were awesome! Lots of nature paths too."

Full hookup limitations: Many campgrounds offer water and electric but lack sewer connections. Treasure Island RV Park provides full hookups in a more developed setting. A camper observed, "It is basically a parking lot with mostly pull through sites. The last row consists of 'deluxe' back-in sites with a few trees."

Site selection strategy: For RVers seeking more privacy, interior loop sites often offer more space. At Lebanon Hills, a camper advised, "We stayed in site 72 which is at the beginning of the loop. This site isn't as secluded by trees as the other sites."

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Hastings, MN?

According to TheDyrt.com, Hastings, MN offers a wide range of camping options, with 118 campgrounds and RV parks near Hastings, MN and 2 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Hastings, MN?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Hastings, MN is Afton State Park Campground with a 4.6-star rating from 36 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Hastings, MN?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 2 free dispersed camping spots near Hastings, MN.