Near International Falls, Minnesota, RV campers find a mix of recreational opportunities around Voyageurs National Park, where 40% of the park consists of water. Winter temperatures can drop below -40°F, while summer averages 70°F with high humidity. Most camping facilities operate seasonally from May through October with limited winter access due to extreme cold and snow conditions.
What to do
Kayaking and paddling: Arrowhead Lodge offers kayak and canoe rentals for exploring Voyageurs National Park's waterways. "We kayaked to Bittersweet Island and got out to stretch in a cove. Took a dip and relaxed. There are some leeches in the water so check your feet if your walking around in it," notes one visitor.
Wildlife viewing: Rainy Lake Group Campsite provides excellent opportunities for spotting native wildlife. "Kayaking, sunsets, stunning natural beauty. Excellent way to spend five days with close friends, especially at these prices," according to a camper who gave the site five stars.
Fishing: Lakes around International Falls offer excellent fishing for walleye and northern pike. "Fishing is great we caught Walleye & big Northern Pike. They clean your fish for you if you want them to," reports a camper at Arrowhead Lodge. Area lakes also feature loons and white pelicans.
What campers like
Clean, spacious sites: Headquarters RV Park in Buyck receives consistent praise for site quality. "The campground is clean. The owners are incredibly friendly and accommodating. We were greeted happily when we arrived and directed to our spot which was a spacious, level gravel pad with a well maintained picnic table and fire ring," writes one satisfied visitor.
Privacy between sites: Many campgrounds near International Falls offer good separation between camping spots. "We had a lot of privacy with the trees surrounding the site. The easements were freshly mowed. You can tell the owners take pride in the appearance of the park," notes a camper at Headquarters RV Park.
Evening experiences: Kab-Ash Trail Dispersed Campsites offer free camping with minimal facilities. "Quiet and secluded. Maybe 3 sites. Right off main road. Close to Ash River Visitor Center," reports one camper. Most campgrounds in the region participate in dark sky initiatives, with minimal light pollution for stargazing.
What you should know
Cell service variations: AT&T coverage works well in some areas while Verizon service can be absent in others. "If I would have known AT&T would have been so fast and reliable, we would have easily stayed here a week to work," notes a visitor to Headquarters RV Park.
Weather challenges: Summer storms can be severe with occasional hail. "We mostly had good weather yet we did have some rain & some marble sized hail once. Some big trees came down in Wooden frog with this storm that had hail," reports an Arrowhead Lodge camper.
Tent camping limitations: Arnold's Campground advertises tent sites but may not provide ideal conditions. "Despite advertising sites as 'tent site' this campground, it is definitely not suitable for tents. We booked a tent site that was in a block of other tent sites. When we arrived, we saw a HUGE RV in the site next to ours that took up our space," warns one camper who decided not to stay.
Tips for camping with families
Bathroom quality varies: Some RV parks near International Falls have limited or poorly maintained bathroom facilities. "There was no public potable water source, the bathrooms were dingy and ill stocked, the showers were so moldy and stinky and clearly hadn't been cleaned in ages," reports a visitor to Arnold's Campground.
Food options: Boondocks campground connects to a restaurant with family-friendly food. "The Bar and Grill is next door and has great food, awesome drinks, friendly locals and bingo on Thursday nights," notes a visitor who appreciated the convenience.
Swimming areas: While most RV sites near International Falls offer water access, designated swimming areas provide safer experiences. An Arrowhead Lodge visitor explains: "We found a nice swim area off an Island near the submerged rocks with warnings there was primitive camp sites on the islands some were really nice."
Tips from RVers
Site quality and hookups: RV sites around International Falls vary in quality and hookup availability. Boondocks provides "21 spaces, 50/30 amp electric only sites. Sites 1-14 are good for big rigs," according to one reviewer.
Navigation considerations: Some campgrounds have challenging access roads. At The Pines of Kabetogama Resort, one visitor notes there's "one giant hill to go in or out and they're mitigating problems" by escorting RVs to their sites.
Water hazards: When boating around RV sites near International Falls, Minnesota, be aware of submerged obstacles. "Lake Kabetogama is big with many islands. It can be shallow in places with big rocks submerged out of the water so know where you're going," warns a visitor who appreciated being able to see these hazards from a kayak.
