Best Tent Camping near Lakeville, MN

Tent Camping Reviews near Lakeville, MN

588 Reviews of 18 Lakeville Campgrounds

• 

  Amy G.

  Legend

  Aug. 30, 2021

  Rice Creek Campgrounds

  Spaced out nicely and they have a tent only loop!

  I booked this on a whim since we needed an overnight close to the State Fair.  I loved the look of the "TENT ONLY" loop - you don't see this often - so it was a good fit.  Seemed that the whole campground was booked up and I assumed, for a similar reason.  The State Fair.

  Booking was fairly easy through their website, and you can "hover" over the sites to see a photo of it.  I chose the one I wanted and hoped it would be what we wanted it to be.

  You DO need a park pass to stay at the campground.

  We arrived after dark, but in the dark you could still tell it was lovely.  I couldn't see any neighbor on the one side where there was a campsite (the other was a field...which is why I chose it). So we set up a tent, enjoyed the last of the evening and crawled into our bags.

  In the morning, when I could see everything, I was thoroughly impressed by the space, the maintenance of the property, the size of the campsites.  All of them were impressive and big!  A few were only separated by swathes of grass, but most had enough trees you couldn't see your neighbor.  And the fact that this loop (F LOOP) was "tent only" meant no generators! It was very quiet!   There were port-o-potties (cleaned about every 3 days) and a centrally located water source (potable) that was in the middle of everything for easy access by everyone. The spaces seemed fairly level, lots of mature trees, fire rings at all of them (with cooking grates that flipped out of the way) and picnic tables at most (resin tables, not wood).

  I took a quick look at the other loops.  The tent/small trailer loop didn't appear to have electric either.  And the RV loops obviously did.  All were very nice!  And there is a shower house (didn't go in) that was for all to use if you had a site.

  We'd stay here again in a heartbeat.

  **I've seen the other reviews here which seem to be based on the bugs.  I know that bugs are part of camping, so I don't review based on that, but I'll add details, if needed.  This one didn't have many, but it was raining, so I'm sure that factored in.  When I camp, I come prepared and I try to focus on reviewing the campsite itself, not the bugs, which I can not control.  I can, however, come prepared for them**

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• 

  Jennifer H.

  Guide

  Sep. 21, 2020

  Afton State Park Campground

  New groomed backpack trails

  Site 27. This is a river landscape. Spiders and snakes..oh my. The parking lot is paved and has a dumpster. This is also where the nature center is. There are often music festivals and family events here. It is also next to Afton Ski resort. This park has a lot of beautiful prairie landscape with some temperate forest features. Wildflowers, shrubs, fungi, evergreens, and deciduous trees. Backpacking to the top hill sites has gotten easier as the park has curved the new wide groomed and wood chipped trail to spiral around the hill instead of a straight climb. There is a solar panel generated drinking water pump at the top and a honor system fire wood station. There is a bathroom, but not super close to this site. This site has a fire pit with grate and table but no bear box. This site does have a clear view to the trail and the site next to it, but it is set back a little bit. I can hear the joggers along the trail that wraps around the site. The sites are mapped out on a wide open prairie ground with some sites tucked back in the trees along the trail. There is not a water front view, but there is plenty of wildlife. The dear and flowers are beautiful. There is partial tree covering but we did bring a tarp for the rain.

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• K

  Karen S.

  Traveler

  Sep. 5, 2020

  Hidden Meadows RV Park

  Hidden Gem

  This is very convenient if you have Mayo Clinic appointments. The campground was nice with grassy sites along with electric and water hook ups, there was a dump station also. Portable toilets spaced around and a centralized bath house by the office. There are seasonal guests and everyone was friendly. We saw deer by the primitive camp areas and had nightly campfires in our fire ring. We will return the next time we are up in MN.

• 

  Steph H.

  Legend

  Jul. 17, 2017

  Afton State Park Campground

  Great spot close to but away from the cities

  Love love love this park! We did the backpack site so you hike in almost a mile and you go up on the ridge that's open in the middle but each site is heavily forested and some overlook the river. During the late spring, summer and early fall months you can't really see the river but if you do it after the leaves drop or before they come in then you'll have a great view of the river. Our site is off of the main trail so you have a nice little hike in and it feels very secluded and you have a nice even gravel tent pad that's raised up as well as a fire pit and picnic table. There is not a lot of room to play at your campsite but if you just take your trail up to the main trail then it opens up. Off the main trail you will also find vault toilets and firewood that you just have to saw yourself with the saw that is provided. You are surrounded by excellent hiking trails including some great single track as well as a great beach on the St. Croix River that is also very clean. The raccoons are not messing around so make sure to secure your food inside your tent or in a well fortified cooler otherwise you'll be listening to them ravage your site as you try to sleep at night.

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• 

  Tracy O.

  Guide

  May. 25, 2021

  Sakatah Lake State Park Campground

  Close drive to Minneopa!

  We stayed here while visiting Minneopa state park. The campground was nice. It was mid April so no water at the sites but had electric in ours. We were able to get potable water at the entrance. And firewood. Had great trails to walk and bike on. Sites are spaced out. Our 34’ trailer fit easily. Vault toilets on site. Bathrooms were closed (covid). The loops near the entrance had more shade. Spaces are large and accommodating!

• 

  Alison O.

  Guide

  Jul. 1, 2025

  Baker Campground - Baker Park Reserve

  Campsite C14: Close to perfect, but bring your hiking boots… for the fire pit. 😅

  Loved this site! Super peaceful vibes, nice tree cover, flat tent pad, and plenty of space to spread out. 🌳⛺️ It’s tucked just enough off the path to feel private, but not so far that you feel isolated. Clean facilities, water nearby, and the kind of birdsong that makes you forget your emails exist. 🐦📵

  Now… the only reason this isn’t a full 5-star banger is the fire ring placement. 🔥 That thing is doing its own thing like 30 feet from the tent pad—felt like I needed a shuttle to roast a marshmallow. 😂 Bring extra lanterns, chairs, and a good sense of humor if you want to hang by the fire after dark.

  Still—would camp again in a heartbeat. Great site for anyone who likes a little distance between their tent and their s’mores. 🍫🔥

  #TheDyrt #CampsiteC14 #CampLife #FirePitTooFar #GlampLikeYouMeanIt #MNCamping #SmoreDistanceRequired #NatureTherapy #AlmostPerfect

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• 

  Scott M.

  Legend

  Jun. 17, 2020

  Lebanon Hills Regional Park

  Perfect City Getaway for the Family

  This campground is one of two in the Regional Dakota County Park system. At Lebanon they have two 3 campgrounds rolled into one. East look within the trees has electrical, North Loop in the trees has no electrical, and West look has full hook ups with water, waste, and electrical. It was really a great set up here. The check in was super smooth...they even give you specific bags for recycling and garbage so that is awesome they are doing their part. There are a ton of hiking trails and little ponds near by. This is the ideal place to come to get away from the city even though you can hear the cars a little. Lots of trails, great playgrounds, and perfect paths for kids to ride bikes. 

  The campsites themselves range from simple out in the open to shaded lots. I chose site 78 in the east loop and I could not see my neighbors when back by the fire ring so it was perfect. Other sites in the east loop are similar. There is one shower/bathhouse per loop and each contain 2 showers and 2 stalls with 2 sinks. 

  This was a great stopover on the way up north.

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• 

  Kelly K.

  Traveler

  Aug. 8, 2018

  Afton State Park Campground

  Secluded backpack-in camping on the bluffs

  Afton State Park is just 30 minutes east of the Twin Cities along the St. Croix river, but feels deep in the wilderness. Camping facilities include hike-in individual sites, group camping, canoe/boat-in sites, and horse sites. The hike-in sites are about a mile from the parking lot. The trail is partially paved and then gravel up to the campground, though it is not an easy hike. It is mostly uphill and includes a couple of switchbacks, so packing light is a good idea!

  There are 26 hike-in sites, each with a different feel. Some overlook the valley, some are in a meadow, and some are partially to fully shaded. Each contains a picnic table, fire ring, and designated space for a tent or two. Water is available and wood can be cut yourself for a small daily fee. There are two vault outhouses in the campground that we’re clean and well-stocked with toilet paper and hand sanitizer. Dogs on a 6-foot leash are permitted in all areas of the park.

  There are many trails for all levels of hiker to explore at Afton State Park. There is also a beach for swimming in the St. Croix river, though dogs are not allowed on the beach. The trails go through sunny meadows filled with wildflowers, areas of dense shade with beautifully majestic pines, and everything in between. Watch for wildlife! In addition to squirrels and rabbits, deer and even black bear have been seen regularly in the park.

  Afton State Park is a great choice for camping, hiking, fishing, and skiing!

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• A

  Ariel H.

  Scout

  Jun. 24, 2021

  Rice Creek Campgrounds

  Horsefly Camping Trip From Hell🥺

  My husband and I paid for one night at a non electric drive in tent site with the disabled discount it came to $11.50. When you first pull in to the park there we’re an average amount of annoying bugs, especially for an 85 to 90 degree, summer day in a highly vegetative, woodsy park. Staff was not present due to the COVID-19 but we submitted our cash payment and grabbed the site map and park guide and drove to the left to find our camp site. As we slowly whined down a gravel road the trees became more dense, our site seemed perfect for the two of us! Picnic table and fire pit centered and to our left a designated tent landing area, to the right was just enough space to park our Mercury Sable Sedan. They had shower and restroom facilities within a short walking distance from our site, that is when we started noticing the horseflies were making it known that we were “trespassing on their turf”. We entered the shower and restrooms to bugs, bugs, BUGS!! Nasty 🤢. Neither of us showered there. Walked back to set up our tent, horseflies nonstop attacked us. To not get bite we had to run around like chickens with our heads cut off! No joke. So when our tent was finally set up instead of enjoying marshmallows at our fire pit we watched Netflix on our tablet instead our tent. Next day taking the tent down was even worse hot 90 degree day, horseflies and no breeze.. So my husband and officially nicknamed this campground “Horsefly Hell”. And no we don’t recommend this one.

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