Camping opportunities near Lakeville, Minnesota include several parks within 30-40 minutes of the city. The area sits at approximately 930 feet above sea level in the rolling hills of Dakota County, with parks offering a mix of woodland and prairie landscapes. Summer temperatures typically range from 65-85°F, creating favorable camping conditions from late spring through early fall.
What to do
Hiking trails and water recreation: Lebanon Hills Regional Park offers extensive trail systems for walking and exploring. "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 -- if we had problems or if we forgot something it was a short drive home," notes one camper at Lebanon Hills Regional Park.
Lake activities: McCullough Park provides water access for fishing and boating. "Two boat/fishing docks, playground, pavilion, and hiking trails for things to do. Price is very reasonable for water and electric hookup. Just be prepared for the bugs!" warns a visitor at Rice County McCullough Park.
Golf nearby: Some campgrounds have golf courses adjacent to camping areas. As one camper at Cleary Lake Regional Park observed, "The golfing nearby that seemed reasonably priced for those interested."
What campers like
Clean facilities: Many campers highlight the well-maintained bathroom and shower facilities in the area's campgrounds. "Amazing bathroom/Showers. Quiet, lots of flies, good spot overall," reports a camper at Cleary Lake Regional Park.
Private sites: Some parks offer more secluded camping spots. "Tent camp sites are far enough from each other that neighbors can't be seen, and we didn't hear them either," notes a Lebanon Hills visitor.
Proximity to attractions: The convenience of being near urban amenities while still camping is a frequent highlight. "Very convenient for visiting Minneapolis...25/30 minutes from airport/Mall of America (Aquarium) and Security patrols regularly and there is shuttle if you want to visit casino," explains a camper at Dakotah Meadows RV Park.
What you should know
Cell service quality: Mobile phone reception varies significantly between campgrounds. "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," reports a Dakotah Meadows camper.
Road noise: Some parks have noise from nearby highways. "The only criticisms we have are that you can hear road noise — and depending on your site you'll hear the alarm of one of the access gates for the Minnesota Zoo," notes a Lebanon Hills camper.
Reservation requirements: Advance booking is essential, especially for weekend stays. "Reserve early online, most weekends were already reserved by mid May," advises a visitor at Lebanon Hills.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Look for campgrounds with recreation areas for children. "The play area was really nice and looked brand new. Our girls loved making new friends to play with," shares a visitor at Lebanon Hills.
Site selection: Choose sites strategically based on family needs. "Our spot was spacious, and close to the bathrooms and play area," notes a family staying at Baker Park Reserve.
Wildlife viewing: Some parks offer nature observation opportunities. "We saw deer by the primitive camp areas and had nightly campfires in our fire ring," reports a visitor at Hidden Meadows RV Park.
Tips from RVers
Site levelness: Check reviews for information about parking surfaces. "Sites were long enough for our 40ft fifth wheel camper plus the truck and we had a large yard. Sites have crushed asphalt base and are decently level," notes a camper at Rice County McCullough Park.
RV wash stations: Some parks provide facilities for cleaning vehicles. "There is fuel on site as well as RV wash station. Bath house and laundry and card controlled ($5 card deposit on check in)…well maintained facilities," explains a visitor at Dakotah Meadows.
Site arrangement: RV campers should understand the layout before booking. "The sites are paved and have well-maintained grass. We were located near the casino road, which has an occasional loud car, even at night," reports a camper at Town & Country Campground.
