The greater Twin Cities area offers multiple RV camping options near Lilydale, Minnesota. Located along the Mississippi River in Dakota County, this region experiences warm summers with temperatures averaging 70-85°F from June through August and occasional thunderstorms. Several parks feature full hookup sites on concrete or asphalt pads, with many requiring advance reservations during peak season.
What to do
Tubing adventures: Country Camping Tent & RV Park offers tubing excursions on the Rum River, where campers can rent equipment directly from the campground. "The tubing is a plus. Key thing is the river is very clean and sandy bottom," notes David G. The park provides transportation upstream, allowing visitors to float back to the campground.
Water recreation: Country Camping Tent & RV Park maintains a heated pool and splash pad area for alternative water activities. "The campground is nice and clean. Good size spaces. The tubing is a plus... Pool was small but nice. Splash pad was even nice for adults," according to one camper.
Hiking opportunities: Cleary Lake Regional Park features lakeside trails and secluded camping areas. "I really like the hike in sites. Short walk from the car and right by the water yet spaced nicely for privacy," shares Jeff C. Most hike-in sites require minimal walking distance from parking areas.
What campers like
Well-maintained facilities: Lebanon Hills Regional Park receives consistent praise for its clean amenities. "The bathrooms were among some of the nicest I've used at a campground. The shower stall was big enough for a meaty human like myself to shower comfortably. And you can tell the staff takes good care of the facilities," reports Joanne M.
Privacy between sites: Campers appreciate the spaciousness at several parks in the region. "The sites are nice and level, with plenty of space between each one. This feels very much like a nice state park," notes one Lebanon Hills visitor. Another camper at Cleary Lake adds, "Lots of good trees and space between campgrounds which isn't always the case at the regional parks."
Family-friendly amenities: Baker Park Reserve offers numerous recreational options for families. "With great fishing, playground, swimming, and biking trails very nearby, the kids were kept as busy as they wanted to be," writes Bryan S. The park maintains paved trails around several lakes for biking and walking.
What you should know
Reservation timing: Most campgrounds in the area fill quickly during summer months. "Reserve early online, most weekends were already reserved by mid May," advises a Lebanon Hills camper. Weekday availability tends to be better than weekends, particularly at popular parks.
Noise considerations: Some campgrounds experience ambient noise despite their natural settings. "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," reports a tent camper at Lebanon Hills.
Site characteristics: Town & Country Campground features more compact spacing than other regional parks. "It's a nice park but very close compact. Everyone is squeezed in like sardines. Very tight quarters on roads and sites," notes Claire M. Other parks like Baker and Lebanon Hills offer more separation between campsites.
Tips for camping with families
Activity planning: Country Camping RV Park features numerous amenities designed specifically for children. "I 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!" shares Beasty B.
Pool facilities: Multiple campgrounds maintain swimming pools or beach access for families. "This campground is great for everyone! It's has a heated pool, splash pad area, BIG playground area, indoor game room, HUGE sites!" explains Spencer C. about Country Camping. Some parks charge additional fees for pool access.
Entertainment options: Several parks provide indoor recreation spaces for rainy days. "You can either relax in the pool or even take a ride down the rum river in a rented canoe, tube, or kayak," says a Country Camping reviewer, highlighting the diverse activities available regardless of weather conditions.
Tips from RVers
Site selection: Dakotah Meadows RV Park offers various site configurations, with some more desirable than others. "We last stayed in side 25, a back in up on the hill. We have also stayed in the pull through sites, but not really a fan of those. Still, I would choose this park over others in the area for the access to 494 and 35W," shares Tom D.
Connectivity considerations: Cell service varies throughout the region. "On Verizon I have full bars so we haven't tried the park WiFi but we've been able to use our chrome cast and two iPads off my cell phone with zero issues," reports a camper about Treasure Island RV Park. At Dakotah Meadows, another visitor notes, "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."
Pad surfaces: Most RV parks near Lilydale feature concrete or asphalt pads. "This is a really nice campground with cement parking pads with full hookups. The grass around the lots is very green, lush and well maintained," writes Jim M. about Dakotah Meadows. These hard surfaces provide stability but may require longer dog-walking trips to reach grassy areas.
