Lebanon Hills Regional Park offers numerous recreation options near Hastings, Minnesota. Sites at this destination sit on level ground with substantial spacing between camping areas and full hookups for RVs. The park stays open from April 30 through October 12, providing a variety of access types including drive-in and walk-in camping. Visitors can find both RV sites near Hastings and more rustic options throughout the region's campgrounds.
What to do
Kayaking and water activities: Lebanon Hills Regional Park provides a small lake perfect for paddling. "Nice little lake to kayak on," notes one visitor, while others mention rentals available for various watercraft. The park includes "a lake with a beach that rents kayaks (single and double), canoes, and paddle boards."
Hiking nearby trails: Multiple parks in the area feature trail systems for day hiking. "Great hiking," says a Lebanon Hills camper, while another adds, "We did get to check out part of one of the many hiking paths." The extensive trail network connects various areas of the park system.
Visit nearby attractions: Local campgrounds offer good access to regional attractions. "Close to the zoo as well as the city," notes one Lebanon Hills camper about its convenient location. For those seeking entertainment, Treasure Island RV Park operates "a shuttle to the casino and at 7pm folks seemed to clear out to head over."
What campers like
Well-maintained facilities: Cleanliness ranks high among visitor priorities. A camper at Cleary Lake Regional Park raved about the "Amazing bathroom/Showers," while Lebanon Hills received similar praise: "The bathrooms were among some of the nicest I've used at a campground. The shower stall was big enough for a meaty human like myself to shower comfortably."
Spacious, private sites: Many campgrounds provide good separation between sites. At Cleary Lake, "Lots of good trees and space between campgrounds which isn't always the case at the regional parks." One visitor noted, "The hike in sites are super close to the car so it doesn't even require much work." Lebanon Hills offers similar advantages: "The sites are nice and level, with plenty of space between each one."
Quiet environment: Several campgrounds maintain peaceful atmospheres despite their proximity to urban areas. A Lebanon Hills camper shared, "It was honestly one of the quietest campgrounds we've been at on a Friday night." Another noted, "Tent camp sites are far enough from each other that neighbors can't be seen, and we didn't hear them either."
What you should know
Reservation requirements: Most parks in the area require advance planning. A Lebanon Hills visitor advised, "Reserve early online, most weekends were already reserved by mid May." Access procedures also vary by park.
Noise considerations: Despite natural settings, some parks experience urban sounds. A Lebanon Hills camper reported, "The only criticisms we have are that you can hear road noise — and depending on your site you'll hear the alarm of one of the access gates for the Minnesota Zoo."
Site specifications: Lake Byllesby Campground offers different site quality depending on location: "Spots 1-17 have remained the same and are awesome. Spots 18-46 are second best. Even numbered sites on the lake are better than the odd numbered sites but both have a few of the lake. The rest of the sites 'unfinished' - no grass, weeds, and just need more attention."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Several parks feature play equipment for children. Lebanon Hills has "a play area really nice and looked brand new. Our girls loved making new friends to play with," according to one family. Similarly, Lake Byllesby offers "two great playgrounds" that families appreciate.
Site selection for privacy: When camping with children, site location matters. A Lebanon Hills camper advised, "We stayed at site 72 which is at the beginning of the loop. This site isn't as secluded by trees as the other sites." At Cleary Lake Regional Park, "site 13 is the only one right on the water and it's HUGE with lots of trees and absolutely beautiful scenery."
Group camping options: For larger family gatherings, consider designated group areas. "We always stay at the Cleary point group camp and we love it," shares one regular visitor. "It used to have toilets but last year only had a port-a-potty which was less than ideal for a group of 40 people."
Tips from RVers
Site layout variations: RV sites near Hastings vary significantly in arrangement and privacy. At Dakotah Meadows RV Park, "Sites are paved and have well-maintained grass," though some campers note "we were located near the casino road, which has an occasional loud car, even at night." Site arrangements differ across parks, with Treasure Island described as "basically a parking lot with mostly pull through sites."
Utility connections: RV campers should verify specific hookups and connections. Dakotah Meadows offers "full hookup sites," while Town & Country Campground stays "open all year" with various site types. One camper at Dakotah Meadows noted "sites were long enough for our 40ft fifth wheel camper plus the truck and we had a large yard."
Pet accommodations: Many RV parks welcome pets but have specific areas for animal exercise. A Treasure Island visitor noted, "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. It also seems to be controlling some of the normal bad pet parent behavior we see at even parks."
