Campsites near Lent, Minnesota offer year-round outdoor recreation opportunities across the region's diverse landscapes of lakes, rivers, and woodlands. Most campgrounds in the area sit at elevations between 850-950 feet above sea level, with summer temperatures typically ranging from 65-85°F. Winter camping options remain available at several locations, though water systems are typically winterized from October through April.
What to Do
River adventures along the St. Croix: Wild River State Park provides access to 18 miles of St. Croix River frontage with canoe-in sites. "I really enjoyed the snowshoe hike along the St Croix River and watched the full moon rise. The ski trails were groomed and there were miles of trails," notes Joanna B., who visited in winter.
Tubing opportunities: Country Camping Tent & RV Park on the Rum River offers tubing along the Rum River with "very clean and sandy bottom" conditions. A visitor explains, "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."
Winter recreation: Several parks maintain winter activities like snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and winter camping. "We planned on attending their candlelight ski and decided to camp. The campsite was plowed out and had a nice spot for the tent," shares a Wild River State Park visitor who camped when temperatures dropped to 10°F.
What Campers Like
Privacy between sites: Wild River State Park Campground receives consistent praise for site spacing. "The sites are private, couldn't see any neighbors as there are a lot of trees," mentions Stephanie H. Another camper adds, "The campground was very nice. The sites were far enough apart and it looked like it would be more private when the leaves come in."
Stargazing opportunities: Multiple parks offer designated stargazing areas. One visitor to Wild River notes, "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."
Wildlife viewing: Afton State Park Campground features diverse ecosystems that attract wildlife. "Prairie, forest, river, it's got it all," shares Adam P. At Wild River State Park, campers report seeing "sooooo many deer some even walking right through campsites! You can hear coyotes, raccoons and very loud owls."
What You Should Know
Reservations requirements: Most campgrounds fill quickly during summer weekends. "You'll need to book for at least two nights and book as soon as you can. There are 200 sites but on the July weekend we stayed, I'd say almost all of them were booked," advises a visitor to Baker Campground.
Bathroom facilities vary: Bunker Hills Regional Park offers "nice and clean" showers and bathrooms. However, at Wild River State Park, "the primitive toilet smelled so bad it burned!! It needed to be emptied and wasn't the entire time we were there."
Hiking difficulty levels: Some campgrounds require significant hiking to access sites. At Afton State Park, "The hike to the campground is short and grueling. A few of the sites are in wooded areas, but we stayed in one of the prairie sites."
Tips for Camping with Families
Look for splash pads and pools: Country Camping Tent & RV Park offers family-focused water amenities. "I stayed here with my wife and 2 young children and it was fantastic great playground and heated pool the spaces were well kept and spaced apart. A ton for the kids to do!"
Water park access: Multiple campgrounds offer water recreation beyond swimming. "Huge waterpark, miles of bike trails," notes a visitor to Bunker Hills. Another camper adds, "Within the park is large water park and wave pool. There are many paved trails, and an activity center."
Accessible hiking: Choose parks with varied trail difficulties. "This campground is massive! We spent an entire day hiking and it was decent hiking along the river, some of the trails were a little confusing and trying to figure out where we were at, but we made it just hiked a little further than we wanted to!"
Tips from RVers
Full hookup availability: Baker Campground - Baker Park Reserve provides complete amenities for larger rigs. "The sites are Baker Park Reserve are larger than average. This is a big campground with a lot of paved bike trails and a nice lake a short walk away," shares a visitor.
Site sizes and layouts: For RVers seeking more space, Wild River State Park accommodates larger units. "Our campsite was on the farthest loop and was very private! The sites were far enough apart and it looked like it would be more private when the leaves come in."
Year-round accessibility: Check seasonal road conditions and reservations requirements. "I stayed in the campground for two nights. It was cold, rainy, and that turned into 5 inches of snow. Like many MN State Park campgrounds, you are close to your neighbors with no real private offerings."
