Are you planning an RV camping trip to Lutsen? We've got you covered. The Dyrt can help you find the best RV campsites for your next trip. The Dyrt can help you find the perfect RV campsites that are scenic and easy to access.
Shipwreck Campground is the newest RV campground (tents welcome too!) inside Split Rock State Park. Although maps show it on the other side of the highway, you have to go into the park first, head toward the "campground" signs and then you'll see a "Shipwreck Campground" sign that will direct you to a road that goes UNDER the highway and across the road. I
Beautiful brand new campground in June of 2022, 42 electric sites big enough for 70ft RVs. There is a full shower house with bathrooms, vault toilets throughout, plenty of space, drinking water and more. A bike trail (paved) takes you in and around the park too!
The campsites at Cascade River Rustic Campground are pull-in and not specifically designed for RVs. Only one of the four sites is longer than 21 feet and may accommodate an RV.
The campsites at Cascade River Rustic Campground are pull-in and not specifically designed for RVs. Only one of the four sites is longer than 21 feet and may accommodate an RV.
Camping Drive-in Sites46 electric sites in Shipwreck Creek Campground Open seasonally, May - October. Most site parking pads are at least 70 feet long. This park does NOT have a dump station or water fill station!
Wheelchair Accessible SitesFive sites Two sites in the cart-in campground and three sites in the Shipwreck Creek Campground. Sites 110 and 203 have elevated tent pads with a ramp. Site 314 does not have an elevated tent pad, but the entire site is packed, crushed gravel - no grass.
Backpack Sites4 sites These sites range from 1/2 to 2 miles from the campground parking lot. Two of the sites are accessible from Lake Superior for use by kayakers.
Cart-in Sites20 sites These beautiful sites are all within 2,000 feet of the parking lot. Wheeled carts are available to haul gear and supplies to your campsite. These are secluded sites.
Carts are not available in the winter. A backpack or sled is recommended to haul gear during the winter months. Please call park office with questions.
Minnesota's arrowhead region is famous for spectacular scenery, pristine Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, rugged Sawtooth Mountain range, Superior National Forest and numerous Minnesota State Parks. A rich history of first nations, explorers, pioneers, artists and adventurers speaks to the special sense of place found with Grand Marais Camping. The Grand Marais municipal campground is the ideal base camp for exploring Minnesota's arrowhead and north shore of Lake Superior. Campers especially enjoy the convenience of set-up and walking to downtown Grand Marais. Our 60 acres of public parkland includes: Sweetheart's Bluff nature area, cobblestone beaches, harbor break wall and public water access, 4 clean bathhouses, ball field, playground, pavilion, Rec Hall, community garden, Gitchi-Gami bike trail connections, and cozy office with free coffee and wi-fi. Here's a few more details: -A full spectrum of camping options across 300 campsites -Pull-thru and 50 AMP RV sites -Lakeside and Wooded tent sites -Nightly, Weekly and Monthly rates -Reservable and Drop-In sites -Open Year Round -Full service bath houses, water at sites & reservations May-October
There are two campgrounds, an upper and a lower campground. Some sites in the lower campground have an excellent view of the lake. Most sites are in a shaded, wooded area.
The Temperance River Campground is a small campground easily reached from the Sawbill Trail (Cook County 2). It provides pine-shaded campsites nestled in a bend of the Temperance River and offers access to trout fishing in the Temperance and mountain biking a large network of Forest Service roads. The roads shown in the map vary in condition and levels of vehicle travel. Bikers should obtain a current Superior National Forest map before setting out.
This small campground has access to trout fishing (trout stamp required on fishing license) in the Temperance River, and is near many Forest Roads which can be used for biking.
Sites are pull-in and not specifically designed for RVs. Most can accommodate a moderately sized vehicle, some may not be suitable for an RV.
We offer a chance to discover the North Country. Explore the area on an ATV, a snowmobile, snowshoes or on foot and return to the warmth of a cozy fire in our lodge. Wildhurst is a private lodge and campground tucked into 40 acres of wilderness located in the Sawtooth Mountains. Bears, moose and grouse are common sightings along the many trails and creeks that surround Wildhurst. With direct access to the ATV/snowmobile trails, the adventure is endless.
Each campsite is located in a private, rustic setting with fire rings and picnic tables. Four RV sites with 40 amp and water, dry lodge rooms and soon to be added Yurts! Our log cabins are rustic with electric, propane heat, mini fridge, microwave and screened porches with a log swing overlooking Wildhurst Creek. All sites and rooms come with 24/7 access to the shower rooms.
Bearskin Lodge operates the East Bearskin Lake Campground on behalf of the US Forest Service. Bearskin Lodge is responsible for all its operations from May 1st through November 1st. The Campground is located on the shores of East Bearskin Lake, with many camping sites right on the water. East Bearskin Lake offers excellent fishing, swimming, boating/canoeing, waterfalls, BWCAW entry points, and world-class scenery.
East Bearskin Lake Campground has 32 campsites offering privacy and comfort. Tent camping and RV camping are permitted. All sites have picnic tables and fire rings. Like most Forest Service campgrounds, this is highly forested. There are no electrical hookups, nor is there an RV dump station at the campground or the resort. There are new vault toilet buildings and access to a solar-driven water pump. Showers are not available, although a refreshing swim in East Bearskin Lake will frequently do the trick.
Many people find this campground to be a good alternative to actual BWCAW camping, especially for people with younger kids or who need to have a vehicle nearby. The campground offers easy daily access to the Boundary Waters, without having to portage everything in.
The staff at nearby Bearskin Lodge will be happy to answer questions for you. Basic groceries, firewood, bait/tackle, ice, gifts, postcards, and boat/canoe rentals are available at Bearskin Lodge. However, the other amenities at Bearskin Lodge are for resort guests only and are not part of the National Forest Service campground facilities.
All campsites at the East Bearskin Lake Campground are $18.00 per night. One vehicle is included; an additional vehicle is $8.00. There is a limit of 8 people and 2 vehicles per site. If you registered online, you have paid your fees; if you are a drive-in camper, register and pay immediately after arrival. Campers who have not paid within 1 hour of arrival, or by 1 PM each day, forfeit their campsites.
Pets are allowed in the campground and the camper cabins, as long as they are quiet, well-behaved, and do not run free. The few campground complaints we get each summer almost always involve dogs in the campground. Be a good neighbor if you camp with your pets.
Scout
This is an interesting campground and marina. Right on Lake Superior with gorgeous views. About 1/3 to 1/2 of the sites are non reservable and the rest are difficult to reserve. Campers are an interesting mix of long-term “guests”, those who are passing through on their way up to or off of the Gunflint, and folks who are working at or taking classes from the Folk School. We were lucky to get a non-reservable site on the water with full hookups. Cold and windy, but we had a great time!
LegendThe aspect of this campground we liked the best was that we could walk to town. The campground itself is o.k. It was full when we were and definitely felt crowded. There are some tent sites up in a wooded secluded area but most of the park is geared to RVs. Or you can pitch pitching your tent amongst RVs. Tucked up in the woods is a small tent area that is nice and quiet but a little far from the bathrooms so be prepared to walk.
There are 300 campsites of with full hookups, some with electric and water hookups and others no hookups. Some site have great views of Lake Superior, some are sunny and open and others have some large trees. Our site (#104) was very close to our neighbors and the RV right behind us and we had a big tree right in our “patio” which was not conducive to sitting outside. We had a 50 amp full hook-up site which all worked well and well-placed in the site. The campground is county-run and a mix of seasonal people (lots of whom appeared to be there for the fishing) and transients like ourselves. One aspect of seasonal campers that I don’t like is how they junk up their site and this certainly had that.
There are four bathhouses on the property some of which are pretty old and tired whereas others are larger and more updated. The bathroom near us was large but was heavily used (which is an understatement) as four tour-size busloads of college students exiting the boundary waters spent the night in tents near it. It was pretty trashed with that volume of people. Since the park is pretty large they have amenities like baseball fields, playground, group camping sections, a beach with picnic area, fish cleaning station, and nearby boat launch.
A short walk to downtown and you have restaurants, shopping, grocery, fuel, pretty harbor, art galleries, bait shops, and more. One of the most highly touted places in Grand Marais is World’s Best Donuts. Even before we got to Grand Marais, people in other parts of Minnesota told us about it. The donuts were really good but beware their closing hour is when they sell out which is why we went really early. We also ate at The Crooked Spoon Cafe and had an amazing meal. Nearby Grand Marais are a scattering of state parks known for their waterfalls which are worth seeing. Many people come here because it is close to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness but since we just came from the town of Ely we did not go back to the boundary waters. We liked this area and kept busy for the three days we were there but couldn’t see staying long-term.
Ranger
This campground was just what we needed for out Nor' Shore adventure. We ended up staying in a basic site without sewer hook up but for 2 nights that was not supposed to be a big deal. The basic sites are right off Hwy 66, the full hook-up sites are further back, and seemed bigger in general. Having lived in Duluth for a few years we had our regular things to do planned but getting snow (in early Oct!) caused us to change it up a bit. One of those changes involved wandering down to Black Beach (right next to the campground) for the first time and it was awesome; cannot believe in all my trip up the shore I had never been. That night the snow moved in and we had an great evening around the fire while the snow fell. We also ended up doing the Alpine Slide at Lutsen and hanging out in Grand Marais the next day. Before heading to Duluth for a day, we had to use the city RV sewer dump area that is just a couple miles into Silver Bay since we did not get a spot with full hook-ups. The problem was when we got up there it was not working. And by "not working" I mean it was flooded with nasty-nasty "brown" water. We didn't want to drive +200 miles with the tanks full so we went back to the campground and dumped in a full hook-up site that was empty.
PROS: Great location for hitting all the North Shore hot spots.
Reasonable rates
Very clean
Full Hook-up sites are available, and are further off the highway and bigger
Right next to the very unique and cool Black Beach
Right in Silver Bay so option for groceries and restaurants
CONS: City RV sewer dump is not a bad alternative to no onsite dump, but only if it works!
The basic sites are right off Hwy 66 (which was not too bad all things considered), smaller and close together
GuideA rare find - clean, level, large RV sites with full hook ups on the North Shore not filled with residents in all the good sites. Strict rules such as no early check in and no late check out. Tents and rvs also allowed in a section next to the highway with electric only. NOTE: no onsite dump station - if you do not stay in a full hookups site you must drive into the town of Silver Bay to use the city dump facility, which may be too awful to use, depending on how many used it first. ATV trails connect to this campground, so it is very popular with them. No one starts before the 8am quiet time end, so we enjoyed watching the different types pass by. A new security code locked bathhouse is clean and nice. We stayed during the Memorial Day weekend, and were pleasantly surprised at the well behaved and polite people here. I recommend this campground as a nice place to explore the North Shore from.
Legend
When traveling long term with the destination of peace and serenity, places like this are necessary. Freedom, silence and a feeling of oneness with nature heighten your intuition and joy for life. Simplicity is key and the mind is free to relax towards thought of beauty and love. Stay here if you appreciate nature and all it’s sustainable power, it’s magic.
GuideGreat location between Duluth and the far North Shore. Close to 2 state parks and land mark Black Beach. Silver Bay has small grocery store and services. The park is a tree dessert with only young saplings...no shade. Facilities are clean but limited in number for number of camp sites. Maintained by the city or county so it is kept pretty clean. We were here 4 days...waiting for next reservation. Easy access from 61. No camp store that we saw. Level gravel sites with various hookup options. Very few are full hook up.
TravelerVery nice campground. We had full hookups and a very level site. Because it is quite new, the trees in the southeastern portion are very young as sparse. There was wifi, but we didn't connect. This location seems to be heavily trafficked by quads/UTVs.
TravelerBeautiful location but not a lot of trees or privacy. Very nice Rv park
Guide
This is a small lot for RV parking on the way to the scenic overlook. There’s a dump station and hose for fresh water down the hill. We stayed the night and ended up meeting another van couple and ate dinner together. If you stay, definitely recommend doing the City/Lake view trail at the top of the hill to learn a little bit about Silver Bay! The video I added is of the trail at the top.
Legend
On the outskirts of Finland, along the Baptism River, in the Finland National Forest. Just a few miles north of Eckbeck Campground, off of MN 1 & County Rd 6. Really nice wooded sites, some can accommodate big rigs. Level sites. Vault toilets. Trash bins. Some privacy between sites. I would recommend staying here overnight if the nearby state parks are full. I do not recommend staying here for peace & quiet. Noise from ATVs, a few with modified mufflers. Since there are no electric hookups, there is some noise from generators for the big RVs. What was really annoying was the noise from a bunch of drunk middle aged folks down at the group site on the night of Oct 8, 2021. I had my own drunken moments at parties, but their behavior was pathetic. Their loud voices carried throughout the campground, including some loud f-bombs. Vault toilets were just okay; not particularly clean but usable. IMO, $17 fee is too high for this particular campground. 4 bars T-Mobile.
GuideSimple campground with full hookups. Pretty close together. Older campers accepted which is not the greatest (the one next was really run down and leaking some sort of stinky liquid). Close to the water which was great!
Guide
What a great place. Clean bathrooms if needed with showers. Many of the RV sites have lake access if not you just use the launch ramp. RV spots can be a little tight getting in and out for hook, but doable. Great supply store open during day. The “sisters” and crew are super hostesses! Mosquitos were horrible, but hey it’s MN in June. You never know.
ScoutThis is a campground that, unless you know it is there, you might just pass it by. It has been around since the late 1960s. While it has its populated moments, there are many days where one practically has the campground to her/himself. It is suitable for RVs and tenters. It has a boat access landing. The beach at the campground, in the last couple of years that we had visited was not very active. The water level at the beach is shallow.
One might say it is an upscale rustic. It has pit toilets and water spigots available. But the campsites are nicely laid out.
Legend
Temperance River State Park campground has always been a favorite of ours! On a recent backpacking trip on the Superior Hiking Trail we utilized the campground and stayed in the upper campground site 10. Formally this would have been right across from the old bath house but they tore that down and are currently getting that area prepped for new camp spots. The campsite #10 is a lovely spot with ample space, a little grove of trees that have a moss carpet beneath them and space to hammock, tent or rv camp.
LegendTemperance River has two really nice campgrounds, each with their own highlights. The Lower Campground sits on the lake and if you’re fast enough you can get lake view sites reserved. We were at camping with family that was RV camping so we chose two sites right next to each other. They were sites 57 and 58. The bathrooms were just vault toilets a little bit down the road so not super convenient as with the shower bathrooms at the Upper Campground but they worked fine for us. Our site did not have a view of the lake but was a fine size for our car and a large tent. A short 3 minute walk brought right to the lake and rocky beach where there were plenty of books and crannies to explore. The Temperance River also comes out in this beach so you can play around that as well. From our location at Temperance we easily explored and enjoyed hiking the Oberg Mtn Loop, trails like Honeymoon Bluff up the Gunflint and visiting other parks like Cascade River.
Legend
After an hour of back roads north of Grand Marais you'll come upon Esther Lake Campground. It's a primitive campsite located on Esther Lake (obvi) and maintained by the Judge C.R. Magney State Park in Grand Portage State Forest. There are 3 sites and all are first come first serve. Only one site is on the lake and it's really the only worth working to stay at as the other two are nothing special. They are spacious though and you can tent or rv camp in all the sites. There is a boat launch and dock as well as a vault toilet which is a bit of a bonus considering the remoteness. The lake is most definitely worth the drive. It's beautiful, pristine and your typical iconic northwoods lake with giant eastern white pine, rock outcrops and islands. In the campground there is a very short trail to a lovely rock outcrop that slides into the lake. Mealtimes here are a must if you don't get that lakefront site. The lake is clear and swimmable.
Legend
Dyrt Ranger Review of Banner and Oak Products at the South Kawishiwi Campground
Campground Review: My husband and his motorcycle buddies love riding on backroads and scenic byways in our state and National Forests in northern Minnesota. The MN State Highway 1 winds through the tall pines of the Chippewa National Forest, to the Bear Island state forest, and the Superior National Forest all the way east to Lake Superior. A nice weekend ride on this route includes a nice campout at the National Forest Service’s South Kawishiwi campground just off Highway 1 between Ely and Isabella. The campground is a typical rustic Forest Service campground, no hookups or plug-ins for RVs though many of the campsites would have room for a camper. All of the sites are great for tent camping, with large sheltered campsites in the pines, picnic tables and great fire rings with grill. There are water pumps for drinking water, and but the bathroom facilities are outhouses. One of the best features of this campground is the waterfront, with a nice beach and picnic area and a good boatlaunch for canoes and fishing boats. The campground is quiet and peaceful and well maintained. You can hike or boat in the area, and its an easy trip into Ely if you need supplies or want to visit the nature centers in town. Well recommended for families and small groups, accessible for motorcycles, cars, trailers and campers who want a quiet and simple camping experience.
Product review: As a Ranger for the Dyrt, I sometimes have the chance to review camping gear and related outdoor products. This review is for Banner and Oak gear, specifically their outdoor tshirts https://bannerandoak.com/collections/shirtsand their camping mugs https://bannerandoak.com/collections/gear-we-love/products/steel-camper-mug-white . My husband tried out these products on his recent camping trip with his motorcycle buddies, and he lived both of them. Our mess kit includes the standard flat sierra cups, which are fine for your instant oatmeal in the morning, but not great for coffee. The Banner and Oak mugs are enameled stainless steel, sturdy enough to be crammed into a tight pack and large enough to hold a good stiff morning coffee—and the “Freedom to Explore” motto on it is great! But most of all, he LOVED the shirts, and said they were the softest he has ever worn, whether hanging around the campsite or, more importantly, under his motorcycle jacket when he is on the road. He felt it was soft and comfy—yes, by comparison, softer even than our little pug dog, which is saying a lot— and its lightweight, and breathes well in addition to preventing chafing under his jacket. He’s a fan! He doesnt usually pay much attention to his tshirts, but Banner and Oaks are remarkable and he will surely be buying more. Its a plus that they are made in the US too!
Guide
The Cascade River is a great river to hike from its upper falls area to the mouth at Lake Superior. 5 falls or cascades are all visible from the trails along the river. The campsites are close and most are not level and have only electric hookup. The road in is not big rig friendly with low branches and washboard gravel roads. The hiking trails are well worn so easy to hike safely. This is a perfect camp for small trailer or tent camping as the sites are shaded. Bath houses are fine and water sources are good. There is a free dump and fill station for campers..a bonus!
Guide
A fire in 2007 hasn’t stopped this lake on the Gunflint Trail from its beauty, and it's thriving. The saplings are dense, but consider this when needing tie-outs for things.
Site 3 is reservable and on water. It is a steep climb down, but the ”lake access” launch is right next door for canoes. Carry down only. Dense saplings divide 3 and 4 as well as 3 from the launch. You cannot see through, but you can hear your neighbors.
Close and convenient drinking water, double pit toilets, and dumpster. The site has a fire pit with a grate and a picnic table. Site 3 has a long driveway for drive-up camping. Site 4 is a short driveway. Site 3 has a fair amount of room of even class 5 for RVs and trucks. It has wood bumpers before the picnic area. There is room on the class 5 for a tent pad, but there is another smaller space for an additional tent. The class 5 is excellent for staking down and draining water for rain. Bring something to hammer in stakes.
Lots of turtles laying eggs, foxes, dragonflies, fireflies, and beavers at work. It is still really full of pest bugs too.
The Trail Center is right down the road if you need anything. Groceries, fuel (double price), bar food, camp gear, and dehydrated meals.
Traveler
Site 20 is the furthest from the parking lot, just under a mile with a decent hill on the way. Worth it for the privacy though. The stone steps prevent the cart from getting all the way into the main area. The site is on the top of a peninsula with steep drop down to Superior. The picture I included with the best view of the water is just about 30 feet along the ridge, on a private path separate from the actual trail. The site has two tent beds, one on a lower level.
Site #11 was too close to the main hiking path, but did have a true lake view.
Site #4 is very close to the showers and parking lot. It has a bench with a direct view of the lighthouse that is very nice.
Overall you can't go wrong at Split Rock. Make sure to hike to Corundum Point, and take the extra little path off to the left for a 180 degree view of the lake.
LegendDo you love camping and Grand Marais a whole lot? If so, then this is the campground for you. You are within easy strolling distance of downtown Grand Marais, and all of the glorious offerings. This is probably the only campground close to Hwy 61 that you do not get highway noise from, thanks to the reduced speed limit through Grand Marais.
There is a wide variety of sites available, and not all of them offer the same amenities. Their campground map does a good job reflecting which sites have electric/water, electric/water/sewer, or nothing beyond the site itself. The campground is overwhelmingly dominated by rvs and trailers(some of which look pretty permanently settled there).
There are a lot of amenities on the propert. You have a picnic shelter, ball field, play ground, clothes lines, a bathhouse AND a community garden. Oh, and you also have Lake Superior RIGHT THERE. This campground is a little more cramped than I would like, but you can’t argue against the premium location for both lake-viewing and access to town.
GuideThis was our last trip in the fall of 2020. It was a bit chilly and perfect hiking weather. We spent most of our time hiking and made it up to the peak of lookout mountain. It was worth the view. The campground itself is well maintained, has a dump station, and was easy enough to get in and out of. I do recall we struggled a bit leveling our motorhome. We did leave a day early due to snow in the forecast. It was the right decision as it did end up snowing 4 inches overnight.
Scout
Excellent litle primitive campground. First come, no reservations, cash or cheque for payment only. Every spot for camping had a very sound fire ring and flat area for tents. No electric hookups. Drinking water available at a central tap. Outhouse style toilets. Very quiet, pretty. Spots by the river are the nicest, but each one is nice. Bring your own firewood, which can be bought locally.
ScoutThis is a primitive campground off of the beaten path. Six campsites along the River give great access to some very nice brook trout water. Clean bathrooms and a portable water pump on site. Room for medium size RV’s, but no hook-ups.
LegendIf you’re looking for a good campsite last minute or are you really really really like the North Shore I want to be right on Lake superior this is a good campground for you. This campground is located in Grand Marais Minnesota right inside the city on the harbor. The RV sites with electric are pretty dang close together which is not my style camping but for most people at RVs they don’t mind that. The tent sites were sent away from the RV sites and we’re pretty secluded from each other which I really really really like.
A lot of people choose this park to park their RV for the summer and pay the summer fee for it. You can also get a daily rate which is not that bad. Check out the picture for info on the rates.
There’s a boat launch into Lake superior in the Grand Marais harbor right inside the city park which is amazing if you’re on a boat and want to go fish or just swim.
All in all this is a great park for families. They also have group camps if you’re interested in that but they were pretty centralized in the the park and were not secluded to anybody.
Inside the city limits you can grab yourself a worlds best donut And for an amazing cup of coffee check out Java Moose For dinner you could do a sit down at The Angry Trout right on the harbor and follow it up with a Voyager Brewing Company beer with amazing views of the sunset.
GuideFantastic state park on Lake Superior! Best bath house ever! Great little camp store and informed staff. Sites are large and most in the upper ground are private. We stayed in 4 sites over 2 weeks. Most have only electric hook up...no water or sewer. The roads are paved so no dust! Easy access to lake via trails. Great hiking al miles and river. Lower campground has access to a more friendly beach area for swimming. We loved our stay here and some sites have fabulous views of the lake.
TravelerWe called a few hours ahead on a Monday and were able to stay for a week at a site with electrical and water hookups. While the sites are close together, we felt like we still had plenty of privacy with how many trees are in the campground, and all of our neighbors were so nice and also quiet. Very kid and dog friendly place. There's a sink for washing dishes by the bathrooms/showers which came in handy and there are multiple bath houses. A quick walk to town too, so we didn't have to ever leave the site with our rig.
Explore the beauty of RV camping near Lutsen, Minnesota, where stunning landscapes and well-equipped campgrounds await outdoor enthusiasts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular RV campsite near Lutsen, MN?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular RV campground near Lutsen, MN is Shipwreck Creek Campground — Split Rock Lighthouse State Park with a 4.8-star rating from 4 reviews.
What is the best site to find RV camping near Lutsen, MN?
TheDyrt.com has all 48 RV camping locations near Lutsen, MN, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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