RV camping near Hopkins, Minnesota offers easy access to the Twin Cities area with options ranging from riverfront sites to wooded retreats. Most campgrounds within 30 miles maintain crushed gravel or concrete pads with electrical hookups and water connections. Summer temperatures typically range from 70-85°F with higher humidity levels, while spring and fall camping sees temperatures between 50-70°F with less precipitation.
What to do
Tubing on the Rum River: At Country Camping Tent & RV Park on the Rum River, visitors can enjoy river activities with shuttle service. "Nice campground with amenities, pool and water play area for kids. Ability to go tubing down the river. You can even get pizza delivered by the local Chanticlear Pizza!" notes Barbara B.
Fishing at local lakes: Regional parks offer good fishing opportunities for bass and catfish. "Only caught a few catfish and bass there but still a great view fishing," mentions a visitor to Cleary Lake Regional Park, which features a private dock at the group camping area.
Pickleball and recreation: Some parks provide recreational facilities beyond standard camping amenities. "Inground, heated swimming pool; mini golf; pickleball; tennis; arcade room attached to the office," notes Rachel H. about Cokato Lake RV Resort, making it ideal for active campers who want structured recreation.
What campers like
Pool and splash pad facilities: Family-friendly water amenities receive high marks. "The pool was nice and store too. We stayed here to visit the nearby quarry park and that was a blast!" says Teresa about St. Cloud-Clearwater RV Park, which maintains a salt water pool and other amenities for children.
Shuttle service to entertainment: Casino-adjacent campgrounds offer convenient transportation. "Security patrols regularly and there is shuttle if you want to visit casino," mentions Beth B., highlighting an amenity valued by adult campers.
Large, private waterfront sites: Campers appreciate spacious sites with water access. "Site 13 is the only one right on the water and it's HUGE with lots of trees and absolutely beautiful scenery," notes Clare L. about Cleary Lake Regional Park, which offers more secluded camping experiences despite being near the Twin Cities.
What you should know
Reservation requirements: Most parks fill quickly during summer months. "We lucked out and were able to stay 2 nights without reservations...only had to move because they were fully booked for the 4th," reports Beth B., emphasizing the importance of planning ahead.
Cell service considerations: Connectivity varies significantly between parks. "Wifi is not great, less than 1MB download speeds from our site, and our Verizon service was pretty poor in our spot, max 2 bars," notes Chris F. about their stay at a campground near Prior Lake.
Noise levels: Some parks experience noise from nearby roads or attractions. "We would be willing to try the campground again, but would probably chose a site further from one of the main roads into Mystic Lake Casino. We heard a lot of traffic coming and going well into the wee hours of the night," advises Michelle A. about her experience at Dakotah Meadows RV Park.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Baker Park Reserve offers family-friendly amenities close to campsites. "With great fishing, playground, swimming, and biking trails very nearby, the kids were kept as busy as they wanted to be," shares Bryan S., highlighting the park's family appeal.
Heated pools: Temperature-controlled swimming facilities extend the swimming season. "Pool was small but nice. Splash pad was even nice for adults. I recommend this campground. Key thing is the river is very clean and sandy bottom," mentions David G. about Country Camping Tent & RV Park.
Group camping options: Several parks accommodate family reunions or multi-family trips. "We always stay at the Cleary point group camp and we love it. 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," shares one camper about their experience with large group accommodations.
Tips from RVers
Site leveling: Most parks provide relatively level sites, but preparation helps. "Sites are paved and have well-maintained grass. We were located near the casino road, which has an occasional loud car, even at night," notes Chris F. about site conditions.
RV size limitations: Some parks accommodate larger rigs better than others. "Dakotah's website has an incomplete campsite map showing only the lower sites between the pond and road. What the map doesn't show is the three rows of pull-through and additional 10 back-in sites at the top of the hill," advises Tom D. about Town & Country Campground, providing useful insight for those with larger rigs.
Maintenance facilities: Select parks offer additional RV services beyond standard hookups. "There is fuel on site as well as RV wash station. Bath house and laundry and card controlled ($5 card deposit on check in)...well maintained facilities," reports Beth B., noting amenities particularly valuable for extended-stay RV campers.
