If you want to explore the beauty of Lauderdale, glamping is an excellent option. Glamping near Lauderdale, MN is a great way to go camping with the tastes of home. These scenic and easy to access Minnesota glamping locations are perfect for any adventurer.
Located on the St. Croix River, just 20 miles east of Saint Paul, Afton State Park is great for those looking for camping near Minneapolis and is 1600 acres of rolling prairies, oak woodlands, and limestone river canyons amid an ancient glacial landscape. The land for the park was acquired in 1967, but it took almost 15 years of planning revisions and compromises with local residents before the park finally opened in 1982. Little development has gone into Afton State Park in an effort to maintain its natural characteristics, and former farmland atop the bluffs are continuously being restored to their original state. This makes Afton an ideal destination for campers looking to experience the outdoors in a wilder setting.
Load up your backpack with all you’ll need for your stay, as camping at Afton State Park requires a hearty, 0.75-mile hike in from the parking area. The year-round campground offers 27 rustic sites with picnic tables and fire pits, with options for pitching your tent in either open or wooded areas. There is drinking water, a vault toilet and firewood is supplied within the camp area. There is also three boat-in campsites, and two group campsites that can accommodate up to 60 people each. If you’d rather not rough it, the park also offers four camping cabins and two yurts, some of which are wheelchair accessible. There are also several picnic areas and restrooms within the park. Campsite rates range from $15–$23/night; cabins range from $55–$70/night, and yurts $50–$65/night.
When you’re ready to explore, start at the park’s Nature Store where you can pick up information about the park’s flora and fauna, or join a nature walk. Then choose from more than 20 miles of hiking, biking, and equestrian trails, as well as a short barrier-free path. If you’re visiting in winter, many of these trails are open for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. Bring your GPS and go on a geocaching treasure hunt, or bring your binoculars and go on safari for a variety of migratory birds, waterfowl, and wildlife, including deer, foxes and badgers. And little ones will love becoming Junior Park Naturalists and learning about bugs, birds, plants and other critters. If you’re looking for a real outdoor adventure, Afton State Park has what you’re looking for.
$20 - $75 / night
$20 - $32 / night
$15 - $18 / night
Backpack sites, located on remote lakes and ponds throughout the park, are one to two miles from the trailhead parking. New log camper cabins, located near lakes and ponds, provide bunk beds for six people and a table and benches for campers who want more of the creature comforts.
Cleary Lake Regional Park has 20 sites for tents only and 2 RV sites with full hookups.
$16 - $50 / night
Ham Lake Resort is in Minnesota, just 30 minutes from the Twin Cities. We love that we are close enough to home, but far enough away to escape. We are proud to offer 114 RV sites with some full hook-up options, tent camping, and cabins! We have something for everyone!
Ham Lake offers so many activities including swimming, fishing, a beach, horseshoes, boating, planned activities throughout the weekends, a playground for the kids and so much more. We also feature many great amenities like shower houses, laundry facilities a picnic area, and a dog park!
There are so many things to do and see near our resort; go horseback riding, visit the beautiful state parks, take the kids to Bunker Beach Waterpark, or spend the day sipping wine at Willow Tree Winery.
Whether you want a vacation filled with rest and relaxation or want to add a little adventure, we have something for everyone! We can't wait to see you!
Must be over 25 to reserve a campsite at this campground.
$49 - $999 / night
$85 / night
Guide
I was traveling Eastward through the upper Midwest and had a really hard time in this area finding a place to camp. I finally came across this place. There was some suggestion that there was some drive in sites that were not reservable, that is. They were first come first serve. But I was unaware or unable to find those. I ended up paying a fair amount of money for a full hookup site. The bathrooms were extremely modern and clean.
There were some really nice wide trails around the lake. I think those were basically designed for cross-country skiing in the winter. But they made a perfect opportunity for me to let the dog run off. Leash. Probably was not within the rules, but it was very quiet there and the dog didn't bother anybody with her running.
Scout
Nice river nearby canoeing swimming pool fireplaces and little store for treats.
Scout
RV resort and some lot rentals, Heated pool, lake with beach, boat launch area just block away, tennis/pickle ball, mini golf, resort store with ice cream, goat park, paved roads and much more)!Contact for sales or rentals: 320-583-9711
TravelerThe campground is nice and clean. Good size spaces. The tubing is a plus. Had one issue with power dropping so we had to pull the surge protector off the. It was fine. Also very hot and humid so everyone was running AC to the max. Pool was small but nice. Splash pad was even nice for adults I recommend this campground. Key thing is the river is very clean and sandy bottom.
Guide
I have stayed at Bunker a few times in site 33 and one of the walk in sites. Site 33 is very large and also very wide open. The walk in sites are a lot more secluded but not totally private. Really enjoy camping here, just wish it wasn't so expensive. It costs more than staying at a state park.
ScoutWent early in the season in the afternoon and had no problems getting a good spot with electric hookups. Better for someone with an RV, and more seemingly a weekend spot for the family.
ScoutI 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!
Traveler
If you're looking for a beginner backpack spot, with privacy and not too far from the cities, then this will fit your bill. You can either do a short-hike from the parking lot via the road to B5 or a 1 mile easy hike via the trail. The backpacking sites are very spread out, we could barely tell anyone else was at the park with us ever.
B5 was beautiful, already lots of mosquitos for May (and appeared poison oak/ivy). I'm not sure what this park does differently than most other parks, but our privy was LOADED with spiders. I get it, it's the outdoors. But still, I've used many in-ground toilets and never had dozens of spiders covering the toilet seat/front.
Another reason we chose this park was for birding. The park ranger at check-in was not helpful and then said he's never heard of MN State Parks free birding kits to borrow, though it's clearly listed on several spots on their website. Bummer, but we still enjoyed our time.
Traveler
Good pricing, great trails for all different skill levels and nice staff. Our site was mighty large and for the most part secluded from those near and on the path. $22 for the site, $8 for reservation. $8 for wood (all you can chop) and $7 for the overnight and next day parking pass for one car. Beautiful surroundings and clean bathrooms and grills one mile mostly uphill hike from parking lot but not to difficult and some paved parts. Definitely coming back.
ScoutImpressed with the distance to/from the metro (less than an hour on Highway 12 heading west to Cokato). Inground, heated swimming pool; mini golf; pickleball; tennis; arcade room attached to the office. Ice cream shop has 8 flavors of hand-dipped yum! Freezer pizzas can be cooked at the store or bring one home for later. All the incidentals and condiments you might need. Plenty of fun clothing for sale to bring home and make memories with. And memories: here's the place to start your family fun and lifetime memories! Head on out to the Cokato Lake Experience!
Guide
We stayed here a week. I have been here before. It's a great campground if you can get in. We came late in the season and got the one spot open for a week. BTW Camping Worlds huge store is just north on 35E. Kelly's Bar nearby has a great fish fry on Friday.
The campground is neat and well managed. Aside from that no issues except being so close to a large city (Urban campgrounds are not for wilderness campers) and county airport (noise) occasionally. Close to the Twin Cities it is. Access to anywhere is easy. The Three rivers campgrounds triangulate the northern suburbs. Baker park, Bunker Hills Park, and Rice Creek are all close to the major parts of town.
ScoutThis place had awesome trails and so many deer ! It’s like they were camping with us.
TravelerGreat campground with all the amenities one might need, including showers, nice bathrooms, a park, a beach, trails. Right next to lakes and a nature preserve. Close enough to town in case you forget some things like we did. A county parking pass is required, they don't like people parking on the grass, and they have staff making rounds to enforce the shortest list of rules I've seen in the last couple of years. My only complaint is that the location of the porta-potties didn't match what the maps showed, so my seemingly perfect plan to be somewhat far from them failed and I ended up right next to one; it was clean and didn't smell, but we heard the door close every time. They have the campsites spaced out better than most other places I've camped and have trees and brush between the sites whenever possible. We tent camped and plan to bring our travel trailer next year. Definitely plan to stay here at least once a season.
Scout
Best place and management in this world. Simply beautiful
Guide
We really liked this campground. The paved trail around the area is really nice for walking the pups. Very clean and well kept campground.
The campground gets booked up fast, so book early!
The sites on and close to the water are long, but not very wide. The sites further back have alot more room at each site.
Legend
Lots of good trees and space between campgrounds which isn’t always the case at the regional parks. The access to water is really nice and a couple sites were perfect.
The hike in sites are super close to the car so it doesn’t even require much work. Plan to come here again!
Legend
Super simple camping cabins. They each have 4 spots and have contactless entry as you get sent a code to use. There is no cooking inside the cabin so you have to use the fire ring outside. Shower facilities are really nice and match the cabins. Plan ahead as these are hard to come by.
Guide
Sites are close to each other, but easy access, clean grounds and facilities, friendly staff, and a K9 fenced area for a pet friendly campground.
ScoutWe have lived in the Twin Cities for two decades and have never visited Rice Creek Chain of Lakes before. We will again! It's a lovely park, a reasonable biking distance from the Twin Cities (a lot on dedicated bike path). Sites are good sized with mix of sun and shade. Swimming beach is nice as well. Staff were very helpful.
TravelerI like the primitive sites the best. Nice lake to hike down to as well. I went in August though and the mosquitos were awful.
Guide
Lots of space between campsites. They aren’t very private though. Great playground and green space for the kids, beach is very nice. Bathrooms are clean.
TravelerI really like the hike in sites. Short walk from the car and right by the water yet spaced nicely for privacy.
GuideIt was November but that's when our anniversary lands and dang it we wanted to go camping so we did. Walk in site# BP6 was a hilly 1/4 mile hike one way but worth the view. We were right on the edge looking out over a small lake with towering trees all around us. Each BP site also has it's own private latrine house slightly apart from your site. Nothing fancy but it was clean and private. There are miles of trails at this park. We didn't get to see any of the endangered Blandings turtles but there were trumpeter swans, this is a huge migratory area for the birds.
TravelerDid a camping weekend with a buddy and had so much fun. We hiked and made yummy campfire grub and hammocked and had a generally relaxing time.
TravelerI like that they have some easy drive in spots as well as some more private hike in spots.
GuideWe decided on a whim to camp here for a few days during a long weekend off - we were excited to do a bit of exploring and spend some quality time together, and didn't want to stray too far from home. This campground is perfect! We backpacked in and even took our dog - she loved it!!! Great tenting spots and even better scenery!
TravelerThey’re closing soon, but I caught this campground in their last 2 weeks open for the season! Feels lucky.
It’s right off the highway, and very easy to find. The camp is very well-maintained, the beach is gorgeous, and the staff was extremely nice over the phone when I set my reservation.
10/10
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Lauderdale, MN?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Lauderdale, MN is Afton State Park Campground with a 4.6-star rating from 36 reviews.
What is the best site to find glamping camping near Lauderdale, MN?
TheDyrt.com has all 18 glamping camping locations near Lauderdale, MN, with real photos and reviews from campers.
