Looking for an adventure where you can explore Hill City and then fall asleep in your tent? Finding a place to camp in Minnesota with your tent has never been easier. Each tent campsite offers quick access to one or more of Hill City's most popular destinations.
River access only.
If you enjoy getting back to basics… The Chippewa National Forest offers a range of camping opportunities! The Forest has 21 developed campgrounds but for a more rustic experience, there are over 60 maintianed dispersed campsites on the Forest. In addition, most of the Chippewa National Forest is open for primitive camping, which can occur anywhere except in developed sites or where otherwise posted. Dispersed camping is open year round!
There are no fees for dispersed camping; however there are some rules intended to protect the resources. Access is typically by foot, boat or canoe. Dispersed campsites are located along most lakes and rivers, offering the perfect opportunity to explore the many canoe routes on the forest.
The North Country Trail parallels an east-west line along the southern border of the Forest. Hikers wishing an overnight experience will find backcountry campsites next to the lovely small lakes along the trail. Additionally there are more than 20 backcountry campsites on small lakes that are beautiful in the fall and excellent fishing lakes! Some campsites provide fire rings and wilderness latrines.
Boat in canoe campsite on the Pine River
Guide
I came in late October. As are most of the campsites in upper Minnesota this time of year, the owner told me they were closed. But he was happy to let me stay overnight for a reduced off-season fee. There were no hookups at this time of the year. It's a very pleasant lake. A lot of permanent RVs parked here. It's very quiet, although there is a highway that runs right next to the property. For my very small off-season fee, I got a shower included!
TravelerThe website for this RV park is broken
Scout
Was here every summer in the late eighties and early nineties as a kid with my family and it’s still as nice and peaceful as it was then. I’ll continue to keep coming back every summer
Guide
The campground was nicely maintained. Had a nice pool and friendly seasonal campers. The management and reservation process was less than desirable. Very difficult to get ahold of management and upon arrival they had given our reserved site away to someone else and moved us. Paid for a water/ electric site and were moved to an electric only site and no cost difference or refund offered.
Legend
As this was our second time here at Minnesota National, we had no problem finding the course or RV park. The RV navigation in our new Ford 450 was also spot on. When you turn in at the golf course, drive all the way to the club house/lodge parking lot and there’s a road to the right that takes you into the campground (CG). As you check-in online prior to arrival, you simply proceed to your camp site. As you turn down the short road to the CG, there’s a sign to help you identify your site location. We proceeded to back-in site 25 with full hook ups. The utilities are in the back of pad in this CG, so you may need 20+ feet of electric, sewer, or water cord/hose depending on your rig’s configuration. The sewer grade is a bit up hill. We got 3 bars LTE on Verizon and no CG WiFi. There is only a vault toilet/out house in the CG. We came here to golf for two weeks. The 18 hole course is quite challenging where the 9 hole Savannah is shorter and a little bit easier. The golf course restaurant has decent food and a good deal on draft beer during their Sunday to Thursday Happy Hours.There is not much more to do here except golf. McGregor is about 15 minutes away and is where we did laundry and got our groceries.
GuideAn old national forest campsite, rustic with ground fire pits. Good for tent. You will be able to see the drive in spots by the fire pits. About 6 spots. Only two other RV people there mid summer weekday. The spots are spread out decently. Theres a boat ramp and an old outhouse toilet. Be ready to bring bug spray. Dont miss the sign while driving down 6 mile lake rd, the coordinates work better on map directions.
Traveler
We got to the site and we had low branches asked them to cut them. They said they were at there standards so we had hold it up. Them the site next to us had to have rock concrete us and 4 others called several times nothing
Guide
Lovely sites with plenty of trees so most sites are quite private. Mosquitoes are brutal here, especially on the hiking club trail and to a somewhat lesser degree in the campground. We were thankful to have a screen tent for this visit. No Verizon cell service at the campground. Surprisingly good cell service at the Loon Lake area of the park, which also has a beautiful short hike!
Guide
Great campground right on Leech Lake. A quick drive to Walker if you need any supplies. Plenty of options for getting firewood near by.
We were on site 23 and it was a huge site (as were most sites) No issues with neighbors being noisy other than a yapping dog. Site was nice and level.
There are some sites that are definitely less desirable around the main bathroom / shower house.
With the wind off the lake bugs were well managed - but this is MN in the summer - so there were mosquitoes and flies - but that is expected.
Grass was well maintained
Beach was great albeit shallow. But nice soft sand.
Wouldn't have any qualms about going back
FYI - they don't supply a solo stove - but I love mine so I use it instead of the fire ring
Guide
I had the entire park to myself. Beautiful view of the Mississippi River, not far from the headwaters. Enjoyed the sounds of nature as I relaxed in site #6. I took advantage of the on-site fire wood via the Yodel Portal app. Amazed that I had the place to myself.
Guide
Was here last year also. Great place for older people that have a national parks card. $13.00 a night is unbeatable. Park is always clean and well maintained. And free laundry too. Yes, there are skeeters, but this is summer in Minnesota. You learn to deal. Quiet and not packed at all. Site is large and flat and trees galore.
Traveler
Very rustic and quiet. Great beach and fishing Peer is awesome as well. Catch lots of Sunny’s right next to the dock. Great place to teach kiddos how to fish. Highly recommend for a good rustic camping experience.
Ranger
There were a good amount of spots, and I seemed to be the only person. Was a good and secluded. I did hear some weird noises throughout the night, but all was well. It is your average dispersed site. I made it fine with 2wd, just take it slow.
Guide
Base camp for fishing Big Sandy. Stayed here several times in a tent and a trailer. Nice sites but surrounded by swampy areas so mosquitoes are thick.
Very clean, pay attention to north or south entrance. Have to drive on either end can’t cross the dam with a vehicle.
But firewood before hand as well.
Guide
Small and well maintained park as you would expect for a USACE site. Super clean bathrooms. Level sites and great views of the Mississippi.
Road noise from Hwy 2 is a downside.
Guide
We stayed in a cabin for a week of biking. Excellent location with all the trails. It has a great swimming area, though it did get deep fast for little kids. We brought our paddleboard and had a great time on the quiet lake. We did hike up to the top of the camp area and were glad we stayed in the cabins. The shower/bathroom house was nice. Overall, we would stay here again.
RangerYou'll want to come in on 640th lane. The road does a lot of winding, and sections aren't always in the best shape. I wouldn't recommend any trailers unless you have 4x4 and the trailer is set up for offroad. Ideally, this is a better straight vehicle spot. There are numerous spots off the road to camp. I stayed over at the very dead end, which, on Google, is labeled "deer camp." It's quiet and deep in. Good luck. No amenities.
Legend
Nice basic standard USFS campground in the Chippewa NF.
$14/night, self pay, no reservations, no host. There’s a vault toilet on site and a pump-handle water faucet. No trash service here, please pack out. Each site has a picnic table and fire ring.
Mosquitos were brutal here!
Surprised to have ok (not great) verizon and ATT service here.
A little ways from the campground is the day use picnic area and boat ramp. You can walk along the main road or take a little connecting trail to it, but just a heads up that the mosquitoes are lying in wait in this trail. We decided to go for it and try out the trail (instead of walking back out to the main road), quickly regretting it and almost running through the whole thing to come out the other side (entrance to trail is near campsite 21).
Campsites were decent, not very private, and some were oddly shaped where you just pull onto the grass, with no clear driveway or parking area. But they were fine.
Guide
Some sites that are closest to the river are close together but okay view. Vaulted toilet and recycling/dumpster close proximity.
LegendOur RV GPs took us to the golf course, but we called the info phone number, which was the golf course clubhouse, to find out exactly how to get to the campground(CG) area. We were told to take the main road into the clubhouse, and right at the clubhouse, there’s a road to the right with a sign that shows the CG and where the sites are situated. We went in that way, where our other travel partner went past the golf course entrance(on the left side of the road) and took the unmarked RV park entrance less than a 1/4 mile past on the left. Either way works fine. We had registered online so we could go straight to the CG and to site 25 with FHUs. We had no issues backing our 40’ Brinkley TH into the site and still had room to put our patio down and park our F-450. The only problem with site 25 is that the entrance to site 24 comes in at a weird angle right next to the entrance of site 25. If our truck was centered on site 25, someone coming into site 24 might clip our truck. The utilities are in the far back of the site. I needed about 20’ of sewer, electric, and water hose to reach my rig. We got our Starlink maneuvered around the trees to get a good north shot of the sky. The loop we were in had quite a few trees along with the first loop as you come into the CG from the clubhouse area. The 44-50 loop more towards the golf course had fewer trees to block satellite. We got 3 bars LTE on Verizon, and there was no CG WiFi. The water pressure is very good at 60+ psi, so suggest a reducer. The sites were gravel with a picnic table and a nice fire pit. There were three 5th wheels in our group, and we parked in adjacent sites and did not need to use levelers; all the sites here are FHUs, and the CG does not have a dump station. There was one outhouse in the CG, along with a dumpster. The clubhouse has a locker room and shower, but there is no CG information or rules we saw at the clubhouse about the CG or whether you can use the showers, and we did not ask. The workers at the pro shop could answer simple questions about the CG. There is no playground or lake to fish, just golf. We had no issues, so did not need any more info or help. Occasionally, a worker drove a golf cart around checking campsites, and when we stayed, there was no CG host. The registration email stated that they charge 10 dollars a day for each dog. During our 7-night stay, along with the four seasonal campers, only one other camper came in for 2 days. The 27-hole golf course was in good shape and fun to play. McGregor is about 15 minutes away and has grocery, gas, hardware store, and restaurants. We plan to come back to this CG sometime in the future.
ScoutWonderful primitive campsite with all the luxuries of full service spot.
GuideNice clean campground and facilities. A lot of campers with boats for fishing Leech Lake. Verizon 2 bars. Nice clean dump station with drinking water available.
Scout
Lots to do here, very fun, very friendly staff. If you are looking for a good vacation, come here you won’t be disappointed!
Ranger
This campground has large, nicely spaced sites with lots of mature trees. There are also 2 boat landings and plenty of space to moor your own boat if you wish. The shower house is clean, and there’s also laundry facilities available. For the kids there’s a great play area, however there’s no beach.
Scout
Great campground -bear locker, pit toilet, equipment to cut wood.
You have to tie your kayak to the shore - it's quite muddy and there is no place to pull it up (without considerable effort).
Video of site here:
GuideI love the NF campgrounds. My choice always. But it depends on where they are. This was a family outing campground close to a town. Multiple cars, trucks, and campers in spots. Only 4-5 sites by the lake and all the noise from there made me glad I was back in the woods. Like some campgrounds close to a town , its a few days where people have their own lakefront. Smoke also filled the air, but that is true of most state parks and forest campgrounds. This is FCFS sites, so midweek is best and then move on before the weekend. Site on the lake are WAY to close. All dirt and eroded shoreline.
On the other hand for $7 a night (with Golden Eagle Pass) and a boat you would be all set for a week of great fishing.
ScoutCamped here years ago it was quiet. Now it’s after 10:00 pm and some jerk is running the loudest generator I have ever heard!
Tent camping near Hill City, Minnesota offers a chance to immerse yourself in nature while enjoying the serene beauty of the area. With a variety of campgrounds to choose from, outdoor enthusiasts can find the perfect spot to set up their tents and explore.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Hill City, MN?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Hill City, MN is Blackberry Campsite with a 4.5-star rating from 2 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Hill City, MN?
TheDyrt.com has all 20 tent camping locations near Hill City, MN, with real photos and reviews from campers.
