Sacred E.
Guide
GuideAitkin County Campground
This is a sweet and easy spot right on the river. It could be buggy during warmer weather but in late October it was great and we had the place to ourselves.
Tent Camping near Ironton, MN
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Waterways surrounding Ironton, Minnesota provide numerous tent camping opportunities along the Mississippi and Crow Wing Rivers, ranging from primitive riverside campsites to reservable tent sites with full amenities. Baxter Canoe Camp offers primitive tent camping directly on the Mississippi River with level tent pads and basic amenities. Overlook Park Canoe Campsite, maintained by the city of Baxter, features walk-in tent sites with picnic tables, fire rings, and vault toilets. Crow Wing State Park, approximately 15 miles west of Ironton, includes dedicated tent campsites at its Canoe Landing area, which serves as an official stop on the Mississippi River Headwaters Water Trail. For tent campers seeking more established facilities, Ogechie Campground in Mille Lacs Kathio State Park offers reservable tent sites with access to extensive hiking trails.
Most tent campsites in the Ironton area feature basic amenities suited for self-sufficient campers. Fire rings and picnic tables are standard at established sites, while vault toilets are available at most locations. Tent pads vary from flat, cleared dirt areas to grassy spots with minimal grading. Water access is limited at primitive sites, with Crow Wing State Park being one of the few locations offering drinking water near tent camping areas. Seasonal considerations include heavy mosquito activity during summer months, particularly at Ogechie Campground, where campers have reported significant insect pressure. Spring and fall offer more comfortable tent camping conditions with fewer pests and moderate temperatures.
Tent campers frequently note the exceptional river views and wildlife viewing opportunities. According to reviews, Baxter Canoe Camp provides "level tent pads right on the river" with ample space for hammocks and multiple tents. One visitor reported hearing bears in the vicinity but experienced no direct encounters when proper food storage was practiced. At South Bend Watercraft Site, campers enjoy "cleared grassy soft spots great for tents" with views from elevated positions above the Pine River. Walk-in tent sites at Ogechie Campground offer increased seclusion, with one camper noting they "chose a dispersed site away from everyone" that required "walking a ways but worth it" for the privacy. Backcountry tent camping areas throughout the region provide access to hiking trails, fishing spots, and water recreation opportunities.
Best Tent Campgrounds near Ironton (24)
1. Baxter Canoe Camp
"There is a trail for maintenance workers to drive in (they come by regularly to empty the trash cans!), but I don't know if it's for drive in traffic as well."
2. Half Moon Watercraft Campsite
3. Overlook Park Canoe Campsite
"This hidden gem is on the Mississippi water trail around mile 996. It is called "Overlook Park" and owned/maintained by the city of Baxter, but is part of the DNR's state water trail."
4. Ogechie Campground — Mille Lacs Kathio State Park
"We camped in the older Ochegie campground (site #1) near the historic native village site and trail. There were few people camping so it was quiet."
"The trails are wonderful. The campsites and campground are great. Except... I camped here in a 2006 Toyota Tacoma and mice essentially had their way with every part of my vehicle in one night!!!"
from $23 - $46 / night
Check Availability5. Little Pine Watercraft Campsite
6. Canoe Landing Campsite — Crow Wing State Park
"This is a canoe campsite that is part of the Mississippi River Headwaters Water Trail, one stop on the paddle trail which allows canoers and kayakers to paddle from Lake Itasca to to the north, all the"
"We were bike riding the Paul Bunyon Trail and rode into Crow Wing in the dark. I self registered because the office was closed (wrote in canoe site since you can't reserve it online)."
7. Mosquito Ridge Watercraft Campsite
8. South Bend Watercraft Site
"This is a site on Pine River Water Trail - it's tucked just above Rat Lake, and only accessible by boat/waterfcraft."
9. Sullivans Resort and Campground
10. Barneveld's Resort
Drive Time
- 1 hr 19 min from St. Cloud, MN
- 1 hr 42 min from Duluth, MN
- 2 hrs 3 min from Minneapolis, MN
- 2 hrs 29 min from Fargo, ND
Recent Tent Camping Photos near Ironton, MN
5 Photos of 24 Ironton Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Tent Camping Reviews near Ironton, MN
286 Reviews of 24 Ironton Campgrounds
Brian R.
TravelerOuting BLM camp
Fall colors
Vault toilet. Oak lake level on the lake. Across the road up the hill nice spot overlooking lake.
David L.GuideCrosby Memorial City Park
Convenient to town
The great part about this campground was that it was conveniently located in the attractive town of Crosby. The sites were small and close together. The most negative part was the restrooms. They were very old and used by all the people enjoying the lake & park. It would be nice to have a restroom facility dedicated to campers only. The concept of a campground in the city park is wonderful, but could use just a little more fine tuning.
- JJeremy J.
ScoutCrosby Memorial City Park
Ugh, don’t know why I was expecting
In town campground near in a busy park. Wasn’t to bad during the day but was awful at night. More street lights than I had anticipated but the worst was how many people drove through parking area of park late at night with loud music or the police using bright search lights after midnight or pulling people over in the parking lot. Only one shower in a public restroom with prison style equipment. If you want to be in town this is your spot otherwise I would look into other campgrounds.
- KKimysue J.Guide
Cross Lake Recreation Area
Nice developed campground
This is a large and popular developed campground. With camping options for a variety of campers. There are sites with both water and electric, some with just electric, and some without either. Do not expect quiet or solitude. This is a busy place. There are 2 shower houses with restrooms. Only 1 vault toilet. There are water spigots. There was only one boat launch in operation. The only garbage is by the park entrance. The biggest fault is the lack of facilities for the size of the campground. That being said the sites are spacious, shaded, and well maintained. This is a great place for boating and the beaches are nice and one is dog friendly. Staff are friendly and helpful.
- KKat H.Scout
Camp Holiday Resort and Campground
Wonderful Place!
We have been going up to Camp Holiday for about 5 years now and staying in the same campsite. We just love this place. We have the same neighbors every year so it is like having a family reunion each time. It is so clean and quiet and the sunsets are absolutely beautiful. It is so nice just sitting by the lake listening to the loons. It is hard to leave at the end of the week! Thank you Camp Holiday for giving us such a great week every year!
- Crystal R.Guide
Father Hennepin State Park Campground
Cozy little state park right on the water!
I stayed here last summer (2025)and am planning on staying here this summer as well.
The park is smaller than it's sister park Mille Lacs Kathio, but it definitely has some things that are better about it!
I stayed in the Maplewood campground, which I recommend if you like quiet and privacy. The sites are further apart and give you a more "in the woods" feel. The other campground (lake view) is more traditional RV style camping where the sites are fairly close. However they have some sites (small and close together) that have views directly of the lake, if that's your thing.
I stayed at site 96 which was verrrrry deep and felt pretty private. It's backed up to the woods so you don't have anyone behind you. It has a nice tent pad, and plenty of space for canopies or other equipment. It's a short walk down to the water too, where there's a fishing pier really close by, and a large beach a little further down. I went in very early June and the mosquitoes honestly weren't terrible yet, but the caterpillars were everywhere! There were caterpillars all over my tent, in my sandals I left outside my tent, on my car, etc. When I found one I just relocated them to a safer area in the woods. Lots of deer, you can hear owls at night, squirrels etc. It is bear country, but I didn't see any bears. I kept my food locked up in my car.
One night it was kind if windy and you could hear the waves on the lake from the tent, so that was kinda cool.
I have t mobile and had decent service here as well.
- Amanda P.Scout
Lum City Park
Nice stay
Small campground but nice location with it being close to shopping and other activities. City park is just across the parking lot and includes a beach, fishing docks, boat access and the bathroom/shower amenities. Be warned that the map online may not seem quite accurate. They camp spots seem much larger and spaced apart more then they actually are. Even the host agreed with that. We picked a site that seemed like it would be plenty large enough for our camper and truck but in reality it was barely big enough for our camper which is 31 feet long. So be aware of that when booking. My kids enjoyed the beach area when it was nice enough out. Bathrooms are what I would call a typical public bathroom. Could use some updating such as repainting and better mirrors over the sink area and I didn’t see a single trash can in the bathroom either. The shower area is basic but does the job. It’s a single person room basically but there is no interior lock so if someone has a key and you don’t hear them knock they can enter and with it being just a room as soon as that door is open it’s not private. All in all I would stay there again but I would definitely be more prepared and pick a better location for a site.
Erin H.ScoutCamp Holiday Resort and Campground
Lake Resort!
Camp Holiday has many great options for lodging and amenities. The hosts are personable and friendly. There are activities for everyone; kids, teens and adults. The lake is big enough and they have two beach access points. We can't wait to stay again this summer!
Guide to Ironton
Tent camping near Ironton, Minnesota centers around several watercraft-accessible sites along the Pine and Mississippi Rivers. Most sites sit within 20 miles of town at elevations between 1,200-1,300 feet, experiencing summer highs around 80°F and winter lows well below freezing. Many watercraft campsites require paddling to reach, with access points located at designated landings along the established water trails.
What to do
Explore water trails: The Pine River Water Trail offers tent camping opportunities with South Bend Watercraft Site positioned about "an hour and a half - two hours downstream from the Pine River Damn access." South Bend Watercraft Site features "a rustic latrine just off behind the site" and "a couple cleared grassy soft spots great for a tent."
Climb the observation tower: At Mille Lacs Kathio State Park, campers can climb to impressive heights for panoramic views. Ogechie Campground offers "lots of trails, close fishing, and an awesome lookout tower" according to visitors, making it ideal for campers who enjoy hiking combined with tent camping.
Hike historic trails: The area contains significant historical sites along maintained trails. As one camper at Ogechie Campground noted, they "stayed in the older Ochegie campground (site #1) near the historic native village site and trail," allowing exploration of the region's cultural heritage alongside camping.
What campers like
River proximity: Watercraft sites position campers directly on waterways. At Baxter Canoe Camp, campers love waking up "to the sound of water babbling on the Mississippi River" with a site that's "flat as a pancake and right on the river."
Wildlife viewing: The river corridors support diverse wildlife populations. One South Bend visitor reported they "saw so much wildlife on this kayak trip," while a Baxter Canoe Camp camper mentioned nighttime wildlife encounters, noting they "had a nighttime visitor in the form of something big and black and furry."
Secluded sites: Remote locations provide privacy for tent campers. At Crow Wing State Park, the Canoe Landing Campsite is "beautifully maintained by the state park, and has fire ring, picnic tables, and ample tent space for several tents."
What you should know
Seasonal challenges: Insect activity varies dramatically by season. At Ogechie Campground, one camper warned of "WAY too many mosquitos in the summer" with "at least 100 bites after our trip," recommending visits "in the spring or fall months."
Wildlife precautions: Bears inhabit the region, requiring proper food storage. A Baxter Canoe Camp visitor reported, "Fortunately, we had properly hung our food in a tree and left all the Snickers in the bear bag" when encountering a bear.
Water access considerations: Some watercraft sites have challenging landings. At Overlook Park Canoe Campsite, visitors noted "a nice canoe landing area with a few stairs to help give access up and down from the river bank," making entry easier than at some other locations.
Tips for camping with families
Swimming spots: River access provides natural swimming areas. At South Bend Watercraft Site, a camper reported the water is "never super deep or too strong a current, and in front of this site it's sandy and great swimming!"
Small mammal awareness: Mice can be problematic at some sites. One camper at Ogechie Campground warned that "mice essentially had their way with every part of my vehicle in one night" finding "mouse poop EVERYWHERE," suggesting secure food storage even in vehicles.
Educational opportunities: Wildlife viewing provides learning experiences. At Mille Lacs Kathio State Park, a visitor enjoyed watching "several Purple Martin houses near the parking lot of the picnic area" where they observed "the martins coming and going and feeding youngsters."
Tips from RVers
No hookup sites: Most tent sites near Ironton lack RV amenities. Canoe Landing Campsite at Crow Wing State Park offers some facilities but remains primarily tent-focused with "vault toilets nearby" and access to "the park office to get water and firewood if desired."
Access limitations: Most river camping areas have limited vehicle accessibility. One camper at Canoe Landing noted that while it's primarily designed as a "canoe campsite that is part of the Mississippi River Headwaters Water Trail," it does have "park road access into the canoe campsite area which is helpful" for those with support vehicles.
Group camping options: Some areas accommodate larger parties. At Canoe Landing, "if by chance you were having a large group launching from the park for a canoe trip, you could rent the adjacent group campsite instead of or in addition to the small group canoe campsite."
Frequently Asked Questions
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campsite near Ironton, MN?
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Ironton, MN?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Ironton, MN is Baxter Canoe Camp with a 5-star rating from 1 review.
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Ironton, MN?
What is the best site to find tent camping near Ironton, MN?
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