Situated 25 miles west of Minneapolis, Long Lake, Minnesota offers campers a blend of prairie and woodland landscapes with multiple freshwater lakes in the area. The region typically sees warm summers reaching 80°F and cold winters dropping to 0°F. RV camping and tent sites are accessible from approximately May through October, though some camping areas remain open year-round.
What to do
Water recreation access: Country Camping Tent & RV Park on the Rum River provides direct water access with tubing opportunities. "Great tubing and canoeing," notes reviewer Rory T., highlighting the river's recreational value. The river offers a sandy bottom with gentle current ideal for summer floating.
Fishing opportunities: Multiple lakes offer fishing for walleye, pike, and bass within 30 minutes of most campgrounds. "Key thing is the river is very clean and sandy bottom," mentions David G., describing fishing conditions at Country Camping.
Biking trails: Baker Campground - Baker Park Reserve features extensive paved trails connecting to regional routes. "There are nice paved trails around a couple of lakes/ponds for biking," explains ERolf P., describing the trail system that connects multiple water features.
Mini golf and swimming: Family-friendly activities are available at several parks. "It has a 9 hole mini golf, shuffleboard, salt water pool, and a lobby/gift shop," states S L. about St. Cloud-Clearwater RV Park, listing the recreational amenities beyond standard camping.
What campers like
Spacious layouts: RV sites near Long Lake offer varying levels of privacy and space. At Cokato Lake RV Resort Cooperative Association, one camper notes it's "Impressed with the distance to/from the metro (less than an hour on Highway 12 heading west to Cokato)." The resort's 225 sites include various amenities such as an "Inground, heated swimming pool; mini golf; pickleball; tennis; arcade room attached to the office."
Clean facilities: Bathroom and shower buildings receive positive reviews at multiple parks. "Clean bathrooms with hot water, clean laundry room," writes Heidi H. about St. Cloud-Clearwater RV Park, highlighting the maintenance standards.
Natural settings: Some parks offer more secluded, nature-oriented experiences. At Baker Campground, a reviewer appreciated that "It was fairly busy, but we still felt secluded despite a full campground," noting the balance between amenities and natural atmosphere.
What you should know
Seasonal operations: Most campgrounds close from mid-October to early May. The Baker Campground season runs "Apr 30 - Oct 20," while St. Cloud Campground operates "May 1 to Oct 10," according to their listings.
Site types vary widely: St. Cloud-Clearwater RV Park features different site configurations. "We last stayed in side 25, a back in up on the hill. We have also stayed in the pull through sites," explains Tom D., indicating the range of options available.
Reservation needs: Popular parks fill quickly, especially on weekends. "If you want to be close to the city this does it... It appears to be sold out for the weekend so book ahead," advises Jennifer H. about Town & Country Campground, noting the popularity of parks near urban areas.
Cell service: Coverage can be inconsistent between campgrounds. "Verizon cell coverage is good here and OTA TV has a few channels," notes a reviewer at St. Cloud-Clearwater RV Park, providing practical connectivity information.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Town & Country Campground & RV Park offers kid-friendly amenities. "The kids enjoyed the compact playground and pool," states Jennifer H., highlighting facilities specifically designed for children.
Water play areas: Several parks offer dedicated water activities for younger campers. "This campground is great for everyone! It's has a heated pool, splash pad area, BIG playground area," explains Spencer C. about Country Camping, listing family-oriented amenities.
Nature exploration: Parks with wildlife viewing opportunities appeal to families. "Spent a lot of my childhood playing and exploring this park! I love briding here as well," shares Alison O. about Baker Campground, indicating the nature education potential.
Family-friendly scheduling: Weekend activities often cater to children. "They have a bus that takes you into town float back to the campground," Tom D. mentions about Country Camping, describing organized recreational activities suitable for families.
Tips from RVers
Site selection: Dakotah Meadows RV Park offers concrete pads preferred by many RVers. "Sites are 60+ feet, concrete and level. Each site has their own fire pit," explains James and Susan K., describing the physical characteristics important to RV owners.
Hookup variations: Electric service options differ between parks. "We were in a pull through at the north end of the campground and the site itself was nice and had decent spacing between sites," notes Tina about St. Cloud Campground, commenting on site layout considerations.
Accessibility for larger rigs: Some parks accommodate big rigs better than others. "HUGE sites! You can either relax in the pool or even take a ride down the rum river in a rented canoe,tube, or kayak. This place does have 30amp and 50amp hook ups and has pull through spots and sewer sites," Spencer C. details about Country Camping, addressing specific RV requirements.
Road conditions: Interior park roads impact RV parking ease. "Crushed granite streets and drives," mentions Tori K. about RiversEdge RV Park, noting road material relevant to heavier vehicles.
