Lake Elmo County Park Reserve sits within Washington County, Minnesota, at an elevation of 930 feet in the St. Croix River Valley. The campground operates seasonally from April through October, with most sites providing 50-amp electrical service for RVs. Summer temperatures typically range from 65-85°F, making it a popular destination for water activities during warmer months.
What to do
Tubing on the Rum River: Country Camping RV Park offers river tubing experiences with shuttle service. "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," notes Tom D.
Swimming in filtered ponds: Lake Elmo County Park Reserve features a unique filtered swimming pond rather than natural lake access. "They have a home made lake that has a sand bottom but it has chlorine like a pool so no weeds. Great for swimming," explains Timothy S.
Trail exploration: Willow River State Park Campground offers extensive hiking opportunities with waterfall views. "Beautiful campground and hiking. We loved the falls. Our family spent a week here. Went in town to some great places to eat," shares Keith M. The park features both paved and unpaved trail options throughout its extensive grounds.
Archery practice: Lake Elmo County Park Reserve maintains an archery range among its recreational facilities. "They have an archery range and on Saturday nights they have a campground program for the kids and families to watch," reports Tina H.
What campers like
Spacious campsites: Baker Campground - Baker Park Reserve offers larger-than-average sites for comfortable camping setups. "The sites are good sized, and 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.
Clean facilities: Many campgrounds near Lake Elmo maintain modern restroom facilities. "Facilities are great no complaints," states Ludwig H. about Willow River State Park, while Baker Campground reviews frequently mention "clean bathroom/showers."
River access: Country Camping Tent & RV Park on the Rum River provides direct water access. "Key thing is the river is very clean and sandy bottom," notes David G. The park's riverside location makes it popular for water activities including tubing, canoeing, and kayaking.
Kid-friendly amenities: Several parks feature designated play areas and recreational facilities. "It's has a heated pool, splash pad area, BIG playground area, indoor game room, HUGE sites!" explains Spencer C. about Country Camping.
What you should know
Pet policies vary significantly: While many parks welcome pets, restrictions exist at certain campgrounds. Lake Elmo County Park Reserve prohibits pets entirely, while Dakotah Meadows RV Park provides a dedicated dog park. "Dog park available, watch a few spots in fence near bottom where fencing has risen up...little dogs could easily climb under," cautions Beth B.
Reservation requirements: Advance planning is essential, especially during peak seasons. "It was sold out for the weekend so book ahead," advises Jennifer H. about Town & Country Campground.
Site privacy considerations: Campground layouts vary in terms of seclusion and proximity. "You are less than ten feet from your neighbors," notes Chanel C. about Town & Country Campground, while Baker Campground offers "sites about as private as the typical state park, so not very, but that is offset by all the other positives."
WiFi availability: Internet access can be limited at many campgrounds. "Wifi only works near office. Sadly I needed 4 hours of internet and my cellular data here was spotty. I spent this time right outside the office," reports Jaime N.
Tips for camping with families
Water features for children: Multiple parks offer swimming options beyond natural lakes. "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," shares David G. about Country Camping.
Bike-friendly parks: Town & Country Campground & RV Park connects to paved trail systems ideal for family cycling. Baker Park Reserve offers "a nice 6+mile biking trail that connects to others, so bring the bikes," recommends Jennifer H.
Evening entertainment options: Some parks provide structured activities for children. Lake Elmo County Park Reserve hosts "Saturday nights they have a campground program for the kids and families to watch," according to Tina H.
Playground access: Many campgrounds maintain dedicated play areas. "I stayed here 3 weeks ago with my wife and 2 young children and it was fantastic great playground and heated pool the spaces were well kept and spaced apart 10-10 would most defiantly go again! A ton for the kids to do!" exclaims Beasty B.
Tips from RVers
Hookup variations: RV sites near Lake Elmo offer different utility configurations. "We were in an RV only site with w&e only but they have a dump station," notes Jennifer H., while other parks provide full hookups including sewer connections.
Site leveling: Treasure Island RV Park offers level sites suitable for easy setup. "It is basically a parking lot with mostly pull through sites... it is well maintained, the sites are level, the park was clean, and the utilities were in good working order," explains Jeff C.
Sanitary services: Most RV parks maintain dump stations even when full hookups aren't available. "The sites do not have fire rings but there are some community ones and it appears the other campers brought their own smokeless fire pits to use," notes Ashley K. about Treasure Island RV Park.
Size accommodations: Country Camping RV Park accommodates larger rigs. "Max trailer length that I've seen here is 70'. Anyone can fit in here!" reports Spencer C. about the park's ability to handle substantial recreational vehicles.
