Camping options near Hinckley, Minnesota provide access to the pine forests and river landscapes of east-central Minnesota, where the terrain features a mix of rolling hills and wetlands at around 1,000 feet elevation. The area sits at the transition zone between northern pine forests and southern hardwoods, creating diverse habitats for wildlife. Summer temperatures typically range from 55-85°F with higher humidity levels, while spring and fall camping requires preparation for overnight temperatures that can drop below 40°F.
What to do
Explore the St. Croix River: St. Croix State Park offers extensive river access for paddling adventures. "The park is VERY LARGE, 33,000 acres! The prairie was beautiful this fall with all the native grasses and plants. There is a flat, brand new 5 mile paved bicycle path that goes from the campground to the beach," notes a visitor to Wild River State Park Campground.
Climb the historic fire tower: Get panoramic views of the forest landscape. "There is also a 100' fire tower you can climb up and get an epic view. Campsites were nicely angled for easy parking. Fire ring and table at each site," shares a camper at Old Logging Trail — St. Croix State Park.
Kayak or canoe on calm waters: Multiple campgrounds offer water access for paddling. A visitor at Country Camping Tent & RV Park comments, "Key thing is the river is very clean and sandy bottom. This campground is great for everyone! It's has a heated pool, splash pad area, BIG playground area, indoor game room, HUGE sites!"
What campers like
Private, wooded campsites: Many campgrounds offer sites with good separation and natural screening. A camper at Wild River State Park Campground shares, "The campground was very nice. The sites are private, couldn't see any neighbors as there are a lot of trees. The park rangers were very helpful and informative."
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Local forests support diverse wildlife. "We saw sooooo many deer some even walking right through campsites! You can hear coyotes, raccoons and very loud owls," reports a visitor to Wild River State Park. Another camper noted, "MANY BLACK Squirrels in the park!"
Night sky conditions: The area offers good stargazing away from city lights. "This is a solid state park offering. The sites are decently spaced with good tree cover... The star gazing area was great!" notes a visitor to Wild River State Park Campground.
What you should know
Seasonal bug considerations: Mosquitoes can be intense during certain periods. "St. Croix SP: was quite buggy due to a lot of recent rain. Highly recommend fogging your site or having a bug enclosure to help ward of the mosquitos," advises a visitor to Old Logging Trail.
Water hookup challenges: Some sites have unusual water hookup arrangements. At Banning RV Park and Campground, a camper reported: "We were quick to learn that water hookups were shared with other sites and required 'y' connections at the spigots... Ours source ended up being 75' plus from our RV. Thankfully I just happened to be carrying the extra hose."
Limited cell service: Network coverage can be spotty in many areas. "Cell service was incredibly spotty on Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile. Depending on where you're at, you'll get a low signal, but often it was only enough for texting," reports a camper at Old Logging Trail.
Very dark nights: Many campgrounds have minimal lighting. "On days that the moonlight is not out bring flashlights because when the moon is not shining it's pitch black," advises a camper at Old Logging Trail.
Tips for camping with families
Look for campgrounds with dedicated activities: Some sites offer structured recreation. A visitor to Country Camping Tent & RV Park on the Rum River shares, "I stayed here 3 weeks ago with my wife and 2 young children and it was fantastic great playground and heated pool the spaces were well kept and spaced apart 10-10 would most defiantly go again! A ton for the kids to do!"
Consider glamping options for easier family stays: Glamping in Hinckley, Minnesota offers a comfort-focused alternative to traditional camping. Several campgrounds near Hinckley feature luxury outdoor stays with amenities that work well for families with young children.
Choose sites near modern restrooms: When camping with children, bathroom proximity matters. "The kids always have fun, they have a pool, RC track, mini golf, playground, and community room with board games & such," notes a visitor to Kozy Oaks Kamp.
Tips from RVers
Check site length and leveling: Some sites have challenging leveling conditions. A camper at Banning RV Park and Campground noted: "Our sites were grass that was a little long and rutted from what seemed from previous tenants. This made getting leveling a little difficult and out fold out stairs touched the ground before fully being deployed."
Prepare for limited hookups: Not all campgrounds offer full connections. "Office and store was clean and well cared for... Our site was a fairly level pull through, full hook up site," shares a visitor to Banning RV Park and Campground.
Scout campground layouts beforehand: Some campgrounds have confusing internal layouts. "Directions to the walk in sites were a bit unclear when driving in but I eventually made it there," mentions a solo camper at Old Logging Trail.
