The Twin Cities metro area of Minnesota sits at the junction of the Minnesota and Mississippi rivers, with Inver Grove Heights located on the east side at around 800 feet elevation. The area experiences four distinct seasons with summer camping temperatures averaging 65-85°F, while spring and fall can bring temperature swings of 30°F in a single day, affecting camping comfort.
What to do
Kayaking and canoeing on the Rum River: Country Camping Tent & RV Park offers river access with rentals available. "Love this place. Close to the Twin Cities, right on the Rum River. Great tent sites right on the river. Tubing! They have a bus that takes you into town float back to the campground, love it," shares Tom D.
Golf near campsites: Cleary Lake Regional Park features a golf course adjacent to camping areas. A visitor notes, "The golfing nearby that seemed reasonably priced for those interested." The park maintains well-kept fairways open from April through October.
Hiking and mountain biking: Lebanon Hills Regional Park offers extensive trail networks. "Lebanon Hills is a great park and has a lot of trails for hiking and mountain biking. Our family selected this camp ground to test out some gear," explains one camper. The park maintains over 15 miles of marked trails with varying difficulty levels.
What campers like
Clean, modern shower facilities: Baker Campground receives praise for its well-maintained facilities. "The bathroom/showers are great. With great fishing, playground, swimming, and biking trails very nearby, the kids were kept as busy as they wanted to be," writes Bryan S.
Private, wooded tent sites: Some campers prefer tent camping with natural separation. "Sites are a little close with little to no privacy in most," notes a Lebanon Hills camper, while another mentions, "Tent camp sites are far enough from each other that neighbors can't be seen, and we didn't hear them either."
Family-friendly amenities: Lake Byllesby Campground offers play areas for children. "This is a great family campground! Camping spots are rather close, but we have two little ones so they made friends quick with other children... The playground is a short walk to the tent only area, which was a big hit with our kids," reports Angela L.
What you should know
Reservation requirements: Many campgrounds book quickly, especially on weekends. A Lebanon Hills visitor advises, "Reserve early online, most weekends were already reserved by mid May." Most popular sites book 3-4 months in advance.
Site layout considerations: At Dakotah Meadows RV Park, "Sites are two pull-thru's to each site. Your door is opposite of your site mate and you each have your own power pedestal w/water. Sites are 60+ feet, concrete and level," explains James and Susan K.
Seasonal water limitations: Early season campers should note potential water restrictions. "The water wasn't turned on yet, but we were able to fill our fresh water tank with a hose from their laundromat," shares a Dakotah Meadows camper in April.
Variable cell service: Cell coverage varies across campgrounds. At Dakotah Meadows, a camper reports, "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."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: When choosing rv sites near Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota with children, consider proximity to play areas. "The campground is nice and clean. Good size spaces. The tubing is a plus... Pool was small but nice. Splash pad was even nice for adults," notes David G. about Country Camping.
Kid-friendly activities: Town & Country Campground offers recreational options. "Game room small pool unfortunately all closed due to COVID but super cute little park," reports Stephanie K. Under normal operations, these amenities provide entertainment for children.
Noise considerations: Some campgrounds experience more activity than others. A Baker Park visitor notes, "It was fairly busy, but we still felt secluded despite a full campground." Campsites further from main amenities typically offer more quiet.
Tips from RVers
RV site locations: For rv camping around Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota, site selection matters. "We last stayed in side 25, a back in up on the hill. We have also stayed in the pull through sites, but not really a fan of those. Still, I would choose this park over others in the area for the access to 494 and 35W," shares Tom D. about Dakotah Meadows.
Hookup variations: RV sites offer different amenity levels. At Lebanon Hills, a visitor explains there are "sites with full hookups or more remote sites with electric that are more tucked away in the pines." Some campgrounds separate RV areas from tent camping sections.
Site dimensions: Check actual site measurements when booking. A Lebanon Hills camper notes, "Reservation system is weird and the sites are much bigger than they say. All rv sites are the listed length plus 16' for your tow vehicle, which you need to call to find out."
