Camping sites near Lent, Minnesota feature diverse landscapes along the Rum River corridor in addition to the St. Croix Valley region. Average summer temperatures hover around 80°F with frequent evening thunderstorms during peak camping season from June through August. Winter camping requires preparation for temperatures dropping to single digits, with several campgrounds maintaining year-round operations despite reduced services.
What to do
Explore glacial potholes: At Interstate State Park, the unique rock formations create an intriguing landscape. According to one visitor, "I stayed two nights in the campground and hiked many of the trails in this Minnesota State Park along the St. Croix River. The draw here is the potholes... When the river ran 200' higher than it does today, tornados of water eroded smooth round, massive holes in the rock."
Canoe the Rum River: Country Camping Tent & RV Park offers river recreation with sandy-bottomed water access. A camper notes, "The campground is nice and clean. Good size spaces. The tubing is a plus. Key thing is the river is very clean and sandy bottom."
Star-gazing: Wild River State Park features designated areas for astronomy enthusiasts. One visitor shared, "The star gazing area was great! Intermittently had 1-2 bars of T-Mobile with LTE Internet. Wi-Fi is available at the park entrance."
Winter recreation: The region supports cold-weather camping with seasonal activities. A camper at Wild River explained, "We planned on attending their candlelight ski and decided to camp. The campground was fully reserved but was empty, the low was 10 so people must have bowed out. The campsite was plowed out and had a nice spot for the tent."
What campers like
Spacious sites: William O'Brien State Park offers well-sized camping areas. A visitor mentioned, "Site 117 was level, had decent privacy, and was more spacious than some of the other sites (could have put up a 3-5 person tent and a bug house). The fire pit was clean and had a grate on top. There were trees to hang a hammock."
Privacy between campsites: Vegetation and layout provide seclusion at many campgrounds. A camper at Wild River State Park observed, "The campground was very nice. The sites are private, couldn't see any neighbors as there are a lot of trees. The park rangers were very helpful and informative."
Wildlife viewing: Several campgrounds offer opportunities to observe local fauna. A visitor at William O'Brien noted, "This campground is lovely. You can hear frogs all night and we even saw a turtle laying eggs in a different campsite."
Seasonal amenities: Rice Creek Campgrounds provides varied facilities depending on the time of year. A reviewer shared, "Level private sites, lots of trees, Showers were clean. Would definitely camp again."
What you should know
Bug management: Insect populations vary dramatically by location and season. One Rice Creek camper advised, "My husband and I paid for one night at a non electric drive in tent site. As we slowly whined down a gravel road the trees became more dense, our site seemed perfect for the two of us! That is when we started noticing the horseflies were making it known that we were 'trespassing on their turf'."
Site selection strategy: At Bunker Hills Regional Park, campsite positioning affects privacy levels. A visitor explained, "The lower loops are definitely better for tent campers, even though quite a few spots could support an RV. The campground map does a good job of providing visual indicators of what a site provides."
Trail access proximity: Some campsites offer direct trail connections. At William O'Brien, a visitor noted, "The hiking trail was about 500' away, and you could hear the occasional hiker. When the wind died down, you could also occasionally hear the loud motorcycles on the highway."
Firewood considerations: Quality varies between campgrounds, with some campers recommending outside purchases. One camper at Rice Creek advised, "Many campsites are fantastic with good spacing and shade. Access to lake is great. Firewood at $7 a bundle doesn't burn, it just smokes. I asked for a refund. Buy firewood elsewhere."
Tips for camping with families
Water activities: Willow River State Park provides multiple water recreation options. A visitor reported, "Willow River State Park no longer has a beach or a lake, but they are working on the dam to refill the lake once again. Willow River falls is definitely a beautiful site to see."
Playground access: Many campgrounds feature dedicated children's areas. One camper at Bunker Hills noted, "Something for everyone here! The facilities are well kept, the park is patrolled by rangers and the local sheriff after closing hours. Very safe place to camp. Perfect for kids, they have a water park with a wave pool, a disc golf course."
Educational programming: Visitor centers offer learning opportunities for young campers. A visitor at Interstate State Park shared, "The Park Ranger Theresa is the best ranger I have ever met. She is part of a multigenerational heritage of MN State Park Rangers, and her family has a year-round residence in the park. She is so friendly, thoughtful, inviting and experienced."
Animal interactions: Some campgrounds feature small petting zoos or frequent wildlife sightings. A camper at Rice Creek Campgrounds reported, "We experienced wonderful customer service, tent camping, nature center and waterfalls."
Tips from RVers
Hookup availability: Electric options vary between campgrounds. A visitor at Country Camping noted, "This place does have 30amp and 50amp hook ups and has pull through spots and sewer sites. Max trailer length that I've seen here is 70'. Anyone can fit in here!"
Generator policies: Noise regulations affect equipment use. At William O'Brien, a camper appreciated "being in a no-generator loop, which kept things peaceful—though highway noise was noticeable in the evenings."
Off-season considerations: Winter camping requires additional preparation. A Wild River camper explained, "It's a nice distance from the cities, not too far. We planned on attending their candlelight ski and decided to camp. The campground was fully reserved but was empty, the low was 10 so people must have bowed out."
Water access points: Knowing where to fill tanks is important. A Willow River camper noted, "This campground is really beautiful. It's big with over a hundred sites, some with power. No water at the site. Water nearby at stations. Large campsites, most with thick wooded areas between the sites."
