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Fue X.
Traveler
TravelerAtkin County Campground
Easy set up
Pull in and just set up tent. No regulations. Hang out all night if you want.
Camping near Isle, MN
166 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
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Camping opportunities around Isle, Minnesota concentrate along the shores of Lake Mille Lacs, with several developed campgrounds providing various accommodation options. Father Hennepin State Park Campground features both lakeview and maple grove camping areas with tent sites, RV hookups, and wooded surroundings. South Isle Family Campground and Fiddlestix RV and Golf Resort cater to families seeking amenities like heated pools, planned activities, and full hookup sites. Mille Lacs Kathio State Park, located about 20 miles west of Isle, offers year-round camping with cabin accommodations in addition to traditional tent and RV sites.
Seasonal considerations heavily influence camping experiences in the Isle area, with most campgrounds operating from May through October. "The beach is long and rocky but ample enough to swim in. It is a busy place because of its location close to the cities and other areas up there," noted one camper about Father Hennepin State Park. Reservations are required at state parks and strongly recommended at private campgrounds, especially for summer weekends and holiday periods. Weather varies dramatically by season, with pleasant summer temperatures in the 70s-80s°F, while spring can bring significant rainfall and mud. Many campgrounds close or reduce services during winter months, though Mille Lacs Kathio remains open year-round with limited amenities.
Lakefront camping receives consistently high ratings from visitors, with sites along Mille Lacs offering fishing, boating, and swimming opportunities. Several campers mentioned that while sites at Father Hennepin State Park are relatively close together, the abundant tree cover provides some privacy during summer months. Families particularly appreciate the organized activities at South Isle Family Campground, where one visitor commented, "Take the stress out of camping and RV'ing if you are just getting started like we did. Very nice sites and friendly staff!" Wildlife viewing opportunities include deer, raccoons, and various bird species. Campers should be prepared for insects, particularly in early summer, with several reviews mentioning black flies at certain times of year. Hiking trails throughout the region provide additional recreational opportunities, though they are generally rated as easy to moderate rather than challenging.
Best Campgrounds near Isle (166)
1. Father Hennepin State Park Campground
"A nice surprise We had site #50 in Lakeview Campground, this site is located on the rise and had nice breezes, close to showers, lake and playground."
"Right on Lake Mille Lacs, one of Minnesota’s largest. Walking distance from the bakery and bar! Newer, updated facilities. Boat access. Lake side sites (if you book early enough)."
from $24 - $68 / night
Check Availability2. South Isle Family Campground
"Close by one of Minnesota's best fishing lakes MilLacs Lake. Great bike trails! You will be satisfied!!!"
"Beautiful walking trails. Lots of activities for the kids."
3. Mille Lacs Kathio Petaga Campground — Mille Lacs Kathio State Park
"Stayed in Petaga (drive in) spot #52."
"This is one campground in Minnesota that offers a handful of electric hookups for winter camping."
from $25 - $35 / night
Check Availability4. Snake River Campground
"Their are mosquitoes this year and I don't think the four wheeler trails are highly used I was hoping there would be hiking trails we'll probably just stay one night because the limited walking and I won't"
"Nice calm place, nice trails. Good location"
from $17 - $22 / night
Check Availability5. Ogechie Campground — Mille Lacs Kathio State Park
"We chose one of the dispersed sites so had to walk aways but worth it! We had a pretty nice spot on bottom of hill away from everyone. It was nice and secluded."
"They have a lot of hiking trails and a really cool fire tower that you can climb and see all of the surrounding area. Definitely recommend, but in the spring or fall months."
from $23 - $46 / night
Check Availability6. Hidden Bay RV Resort
"I’m talking winter camping on the lake on the Ice in an “Ice castle” catching walleye. Had a great time fishing in the camper (Ice Castle) well plowed roads, nice showers."
7. Camper Cabins — Mille Lacs Kathio State Park
"Early Wednesday morning (around 3am)is where things stopped being peaceful. A really bad storm developed (that I had no idea was coming)."
"Stayed at Mille Lacs Kathio and visited the nearby Father Hennepin State Park in late winter, staying in a camper cabin."
from $90 / night
Check Availability8. Fiddlestix RV and Golf Resort
from $55 - $85 / night
Check Availability9. Banning State Park Campground
"Bawning park is a walk through the history of the area the self guided tour is both informative and entertaining and the hike along the river is one to remember featuring the only class 5 rapids in Minnesota"
"There are miles of trails to hike, including along the river and to a waterfall, all kinds of paddling and rafting possibilities(bring your own, or join a trip sponsored by a local outfitter), or go bouldering"
from $24 - $80 / night
Check Availability10. Rum River State Forest
Drive Time
- 1 hr 11 min from St. Cloud, MN
- 1 hr 29 min from Duluth, MN
- 1 hr 31 min from Minneapolis, MN
- 2 hrs 47 min from Eau Claire, WI
Recent Camping Photos near Isle, MN
132 Photos of 166 Isle Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Fiddlestix RV and Golf Resort
Father Hennepin State Park CampgroundS
South Isle Family Campground
Snake River Campground
Rum River State ForestS
Mille Lacs Kathio Petaga Campground — Mille Lacs Kathio State Park
Ogechie Campground — Mille Lacs Kathio State Park
Boulder Woods RV Park
Grand Casino RV Resort
Robinson Park Camping
Banning RV Park and Campground
Banning State Park Campground
Recent Reviews near Isle, MN
447 Reviews of 166 Isle Campgrounds
- AAndy S.
ScoutDago Lake
Nope
Have to balance out the last review. Right off the road, you can’t drive very far in. Looks like a squatter camping from the road. Also feels like squatting on the corner of someone’s property off the road.
- TTim
GuideSt Croix River Resort
Great Family Campground
Many activities throughout the day for the family. Kids enjoyed the pool. The store has a nice selection of items for sale. Firewood is $8 a bundle.
The campsites are close but there is enough trees between sites to make it seem like you are not so close.
There are atvs and utvs but at night they are not moving around.
- JJose L.Guide
Sandrock Cliffs — Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway
Nice Campsite
Nice campsite. Clean and well maintained. Fire ring picnic table and some tree stumps for processing your firewood. I see several campsites in the area but I'm alone here. A river is several hundred yards away from my site, but you have to hike down a bit.
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.
- KKari T.Scout
Cuyuna Range Campground
Peaceful
Nice big camping spots. Very peaceful area with good tree coverage between sites. FULL HOOK-UP!!!!! Loved the info board with games to play & businesses offering discounts. Crosby is a fun little town with tons of shops & eateries. We made use of the kayak rental in town & it was super convenient. Literally just had to show up & hop in. Kayaking in the middle area was amazing. See frogs, fish, soft shell turtles, beautiful rocks & scenery. I wish I'd brought my bike to ride the trails. Just means I have to go back!
Melody J.GuideRed Fox Campground and RV Park
Very quiet during the week
We stayed here during the week. Host Peggy was very friendly. Had to make our reservation by phone as their website is very outdated. Most sites are for seasonal guests and it most campers were empty so it was very quiet. Our site was great. $40 for electric and water hook ups. Dump station right on the way out. :) would stay again
- JJeremy J.Scout
Crosby 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.
Patrick W.GuideBackpack Campsites — Mille Lacs Kathio State Park
GLAR Glacier Ridge Site
Great site. Has a good fire ring. Has a wilderness toilet off away from the site. Trail into the site is well marked. You’ll get plenty of animal sounds from the beaver dam lake that is right by the site. Has a picnic table. There is only one tent pad. Not a completely level place for a second tent so prepared if you have two tents that one of them will be on a slight angle.
Guide to Isle
Isle, Minnesota camping destinations offer a diverse range of experiences across all four seasons. Located on the southern shore of Lake Mille Lacs, Isle's elevation of approximately 1,250 feet provides campers with shoreline vistas and wooded retreats. Weather shifts dramatically from humid 80°F summer days to below-freezing winter temperatures, making seasonal planning crucial for any campsite near Isle, Minnesota.
What to do
Climb the observation tower: At Mille Lacs Kathio State Park, visitors can access panoramic views from the fire tower. "The park hosts various seminars throughout the week. There are several places to swim and a big playground for the little ones," notes reviewer Liz H.
Explore historic sites: The park offers educational experiences beyond typical camping activities. "The park is also on the national register of historical sites, owing to the large number of archeological digs, revealing human activity in the area that dates back thousands of years," shares Brian C.
Enjoy water recreation: Snake River Campground offers alternatives to Lake Mille Lacs. "There is a pretty stream about 500 feet from the site and some really fun dirt bike trails. The view of the bluffs were amazing," mentions Casie S.
Winter camping options: Unlike many seasonal campgrounds, winter opportunities exist. "Mille Lacs Kathio is a great place for winter camping with electric hookups. The beauty of this campground is that while the campsites available are in a row, there's plenty of space between sites," reports Amy G.
What campers like
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Banning State Park Campground offers diverse wildlife encounters. "We also saw several different Warblers! The real magic of Banning State Park was the beautiful river and the fauna," writes Tori M.
Spacious, private sites: Many campers appreciate site layout. "The campsites were fairly well spaced, wooded and offered some privacy. There were multiple vault toilets in the campsite loops," reports Joanna B.
Historical explorations: "The hiking here is amazing! The Quarry Loop along the Kettle River has a ton of history, allowing you to explore the remains of the 130+ year old sandstone quarry. Seeing the drill holes in the cliffs was really cool," Jennifer H. explains.
Fall colors: The camping season extends beyond summer. "We booked a site in advance and hoped to catch the fall colors. Fall came early in MN and it was just past peak. Most of the leaves were yellow (or on the ground), but it was still pretty," shares Joanna B.
What you should know
Insect preparedness: Biting insects can impact camping experiences. "There isn't anything terrible about this park, but of all the MN options, this doesn't come close to most. One thing to note is this park gets a ton of black flies so beware. They bite and are gross," warns Amber S. about Father Hennepin State Park Campground.
Wildlife encounters: Larger wildlife may visit campsites. "We loved this camp site. Very clean. The only downside depending on your view are the bears. There was a black bear in our camp 15 minutes after we went to sleep. Then the 2nd a little guy was hanging around our site all day," reports Daniel R.
Seasonal access limitations: Many facilities close during winter. "The vault toilet is not easy to find from where the electric openings are in the winter. While these spaces are right next door to a shower house with toilets, this is closed in the winter," notes Amy G.
Frequently Asked Questions
What campgrounds are available near Isle, Minnesota?
What campgrounds are available near Isle, Minnesota?
Isle, Minnesota offers several excellent camping options. Father Hennepin State Park Campground is situated right on Lake Mille Lacs with lakeside sites, updated facilities, and boat access. Mille Lacs Kathio State Park features private, spacious sites with easy access to bathrooms and trails. Other nearby options include South Isle Family Campground, Minnesota National RV Park located inside a golf course, and Rum River State Forest for more primitive dispersed camping. Most campgrounds in the area provide access to Lake Mille Lacs, one of Minnesota's premier fishing destinations, with varying levels of amenities from basic sites to full hookups.
Is there a family-friendly campground in Isle, MN?
Is there a family-friendly campground in Isle, MN?
South Isle Family Campground is an excellent option for families, featuring an in-ground heated pool, great shower facilities, and plenty of shade trees. Many families stay for weekends or longer visits. The campground is close to Mille Lacs Lake for fishing opportunities and has great bike trails nearby. Another family-friendly option is Savanna Portage State Park Campground, which is situated near four lakes with a variety of activities. Loon Lake within the park has a beach area that's perfect for families, and there are ample opportunities for fishing, hiking, biking, and wildlife watching.
Can I rent an RV in Isle, Minnesota?
Can I rent an RV in Isle, Minnesota?
While the reviews don't specifically mention RV rental services in Isle, Minnesota, there are RV-friendly campgrounds in the area that accommodate visitors with their own or rented RVs. Minnesota National RV Park offers full hookup sites with 50-amp service, water, and sewer connections built next to the Minnesota National Golf Course. St. Cloud Campground & RV Park, though slightly farther away, provides well-maintained sites with a pool and various amenities. For RV rentals, you may need to check with rental companies in larger nearby cities like St. Cloud or the Twin Cities area, which offer delivery services to campgrounds in the Isle region.
What activities and attractions are available near Isle campgrounds?
What activities and attractions are available near Isle campgrounds?
The Isle area offers abundant outdoor recreation opportunities centered around Lake Mille Lacs, one of Minnesota's largest lakes. Fishing is a primary attraction, with Mille Lacs known for excellent walleye, northern pike, and smallmouth bass fishing. Crosby Memorial City Park provides easy access to Cuyuna Mountain Bike trails and paved bike paths. Hiking trails abound at Crow Wing State Park, which makes a great weekend getaway. Swimming beaches, boating, and wildlife watching are popular at several parks. The town of Isle offers shopping and dining options, while a casino is located within 30 minutes of the area. Golf enthusiasts can enjoy the Minnesota National Golf Course adjacent to the RV park.
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