Several campgrounds near Holyoke, Minnesota remain open from May through October, with a few facilities operating year-round. Winter temperatures in this region can drop below zero with seasonal snowfall averaging 70 inches annually, requiring winter campers to prepare for extreme cold. Campground elevation across the area ranges from 600-1,300 feet with varying terrain from lakeside flat spots to wooded sites with moderate slopes.
What to do
Fishing at nearby lakes: Oak Lake Campground provides boat rentals and direct lake access for anglers. "Very few sites to reserve — many many many seasonal spots. The seasonal people were very nice to us 'new comers'. Spots were right by the lake and the lake was awesome," reports one camper at Oak Lake Campground & RV Sales.
Hiking in state parks: Located near Banning State Park with access to the Kettle River, local campgrounds serve as convenient baselines for day hikes. "Great proximity to Banning State Park. Enjoyed a great day of hiking around this state park and enjoying the water and ruins of old buildings," notes a reviewer who stayed at Banning RV Park.
Urban exploration in Duluth: The DECC/Amsoil Arena RV parking offers convenient downtown access. "It's nice to be walking distance to some of these city activities... This is a city environment so you'll definitely have road noise, train noise, and drunken fools on weekend nights. But it's all part of the fun, right?" shares a visitor at DECC/Amsoil Arena RV Parking.
What campers like
Spacious sites at select campgrounds: Some parks offer more distance between sites than others. "Ogston RV Park is a great campground, it's like a little slice of heaven with wide open spaces. The space between campsites is impressive, lots of room to walk, roam, stretch, or whatever strikes your fancy," reports a camper at Red Pine Campground.
Clean facilities: Well-maintained restrooms and shower facilities receive frequent praise. "The bathhouse was clean. The fenced in dog park was a big bonus for our pup. The grounds hosted outdoor games and volleyball/basketball courts," notes a visitor at Banning RV Park and Campground.
Year-round availability: Campers appreciate facilities that remain open during winter months. "Best maintained RV resort ever! Adjacent to a large casino with hotels and restaurants. Less than two miles from I35," shares a reviewer about Grand Casino RV Resort, one of the few campgrounds in the region offering winter camping.
What you should know
Reservation timing: Summer weekends fill quickly, especially at popular locations. "If you are planning to explore the Kettle River and Banning State Park nearby, this is a good alternative to camping within the State Park itself. With easy access to both the Twin Cities metro area and Duluth, with desirable whitewater paddling and rockclimbing both available in the area, Banning State Park campground fills quickly especially in summer and on weekends."
Site quality varies significantly: Even within the same campground, site conditions can differ. "Our site was a fairly level pull through, full hook up site... The grounds hosted outdoor games and volleyball/basketball courts," reports one camper, while another notes, "The sites seemed to vary a lot. We had picked a specific site but when we got there were told that we were in another spot. It was difficult to see where we should actually park on the site."
Water and hookup placement: At some RV parks, water hookups may be positioned inconveniently. "Our water source ended up being 75' plus from our RV. Thankfully I just happened to be carrying the extra hose for several years but never had to use it before," shares a camper at Grand Casino RV Resort.
Tips for camping with families
Dog-friendly options: Several campgrounds offer amenities specifically for pets. "We absolutely loved the dog park. It was not just some small dog area it was top of the line dog park, we are going back again for our 2nd visit," notes a visitor about Banning RV Park and Campground.
Playground access: Some campgrounds feature multiple play areas for children. "Remarkably, in addition to playgrounds for children in different places around the campground, there was a huge dog walking and play area that was grassy and beautifully clean—and, of special interest, included a complete 'dog playground' with all the standards elements of a dog agility course!"
Bug preparation: Depending on the season and location, mosquitoes can be an issue. "This RV campground is an excellent backup alternative for overflow demand. And, actually, it may be your go-to option even if campsites at Banning are available, because this RV campground is located only ½ mile from the Banning State Park entrance, and because it is at a higher elevation further from the river it is remarkably less buggy which Banning State Park can be in springtime or after recent rains."
Tips from RVers
Dump station challenges: Several facilities have awkward dump station positioning. "Dump station was a challenge with RV and a blue boy. To dump RV you most likely need to turn around and back in. Watched several RV'ers had some trouble getting their rigs in a good position to dump," notes a reviewer at Spirit Lake RV and Marina.
Backing difficulty at some sites: Site configuration can make parking challenging. "The designers of this park have clearly never spent a night in an RV. Virtually every site in the park is a blind back in from the driver seat. You're trying to back your trailer into a site on the right side without being able to see anything over there."
Utilities location: The placement of hookups varies by campground. "The utilities are in the far back of the site. I needed about 20' of sewer, electric, and water hose to reach my rig," reports a camper at Minnesota National RV Park, while another notes, "All the sewer connections are cut off about 12 inches above the ground. This means that even in a relatively tall fifth wheel, you are going to be trying to make shit filled water flow uphill."
