Campgrounds surrounding Mahtomedi, Minnesota provide a range of options for outdoor stays within easy access of the Twin Cities metropolitan area. Lake Elmo County Park Reserve, located just 15 minutes southwest of Mahtomedi, features spacious tent and RV sites with electric hookups in a forested setting. William O'Brien State Park, situated approximately 20 miles north along the St. Croix River, offers year-round camping with tent, RV, and cabin accommodations. Most campgrounds in the area provide drinking water, fire rings, and picnic tables, with several offering modern amenities like showers and sanitary dump stations.
Seasonal considerations shape the camping experience in this region, with most developed campgrounds operating from April through October. Lake Elmo County Park Reserve, Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Regional Park, and several other nearby facilities close during winter months, while William O'Brien State Park maintains year-round accessibility. Reservations are strongly recommended during summer weekends and holidays, particularly for electric sites and cabins which book quickly. Many campgrounds require entrance or vehicle permits in addition to camping fees. Access roads are generally well-maintained and suitable for most vehicles. A visitor noted, "We stayed 12 nights here in April to May. It was so peaceful and quiet. Saw deer almost every day."
Campers consistently highlight the privacy of sites and abundance of recreational opportunities as key attractions. The area's campgrounds feature extensive trail systems for hiking and biking, with many sites positioned to maximize natural screening between neighbors. Lake Elmo receives praise for its filtered swimming pond and extensive playground facilities. According to reviews from The Dyrt, "Sites are spacious and far enough away from others to feel like there was enough privacy." Another camper mentioned, "For a County Park, Lake Elmo has an impressive list of amenities" including "archery, horse trails, paved and grass trails," and various camping options from modern to primitive. Most campgrounds prohibit alcohol, while pet policies vary by location with several allowing pets in designated areas. Wildlife viewing opportunities abound, with deer sightings common throughout the region.
$23 - $80 / night
"For a County Park, Lake Elmo has an impressive list of amenities. Before we even get to the campsite let's mention the filtered swimming pond."
"Lake Elmo County Park in Washington County Minnesota is a great park for families."
"Fun to play in the water, go behind the waterfall and a good hike up 200 steps to view the falls from above!"
"Located 5 miles outside of Hudson, Willow Creek State Park is large park with hiking, camp sites, fishing, canoeing, and the waterfall."
$25 - $90 / night
"Easy walking trails surround the park which is nice and convenient. Close proximity to Stillwater which made for a nice day trip. Camp sites were very clean and easy to access."
"We O'Brian has some of the best groomed trails that I have been on."
$22 - $85 / night
"Minnesota State Parks have just started to build Yurts for 3 campgrounds around the state; Afton, Cuyuna and Glendalough State Parks."
"It is also next to Afton Ski resort. This park has a lot of beautiful prairie landscape with some temperate forest features. Wildflowers, shrubs, fungi, evergreens, and deciduous trees."
$20 - $75 / night
"Kelly's Bar nearby has a great fish fry on Friday. The campground is neat and well managed."
"We have lived in the Twin Cities for two decades and have never visited Rice Creek Chain of Lakes before. We will again!"
$24 - $42 / night
"Professional built mtn bike trails for adventure. Camping in Minnesota suburbs. Miles of hiking, horseback riding, cross country ski trails. . perfect for my family's weekend Stay-cation"
"We live about 15 mins. away from this campground. We stayed in the East Loop which is for smaller RVs and tents. it has electricity but no water hookups, however there are water pumps."
$20 - $32 / night
"Access to lake is great. Firewood at $7 a bundle doesn't burn, it just smokes. I asked for a refund. Buy firewood elsewhere."
"Beach was closed but we still got some good walks in. Fire ring was a little shallow for my liking so had to get some solid coals going to get dinner on the table."
$24 - $50 / night
"This is a state park on the Wisconsin side of the St Croix River, which is mirrored by a comparable but smaller state park in Minnesota on the wrst side of the river, both being part of the wild and scenic"
"Now that I live in Minnesota, I find myself frequenting the Taylors Falls side. Here you have the amazing "Pot Holes" from glacial waters and some pretty spectacular rock climbing."
$20 - $32 / night
"I was very happy with the trails and accommodations available to me, during my stay."
"It has a golf course, a restaurant is on the grounds, there is a stable with horses/ponies that you can take guided trail rides on, a water park(it is called The Beach, which was very confusing for us"
"Minnesota is beautiful and there is so much to do here. The bathrooms are spotless and everything is new here."
"Washington County, which manages campgrounds at both the Lake Elmo Park Reserve and St Croix Bluffs Regional Park, does a great job of maintaining campgrounds, trails, and bathroom facilities at both parks"
ScoutGot a nice spot by the water, big parking spot, little below the spot is an opening towards water with a fire pit. 2-3 bars of service but never had an issue. Worked well. Very private. Bugs weren’t bad either
TravelerStaying here currently & they have been very accommodating, friendly & flexible. Water & electric hookup but no sewer however there is a dump station, a bathhouse with real toilets & nice showers. Pretty quiet for being so close to the main highway. My cats are able to free roam the property & my dog can be tied up outside. Usually pretty nice neighbors too.
ScoutThis was our first camping experience and it was a great one! I would highly recommend this for anyone’s first or fifth camping adventure!
ScoutI was able to find a campsite not on the road. There was a trail from the parking spot so keep an eye out. Lots of animals saw a turkey and coyote so just be aware. Very pretty and calm. Had to pick up some trash from other campers just a reminder to leave no trace.
TravelerWe stayed here from about 10pm to 6am. There were a ton of people there so it was hard finding somewhere to sleep. Once we did, it was very quiet and we got a good nights rest. There were a couple of cars that passed us in the morning when we left but nothing too crazy. The scenery was very beautiful. This is definitely a great free option if you’re looking for a peaceful spot in the woods to sleep!
TravelerI stayed there with my RV. Most all of the campsites were too small to park it, but I found one at the very end of the park to stay. Although the land itself is beautiful, the locals were reporting me to the DNR officer, who were clearly his friends, and accusing me of things I was not doing. Also, there’s a lot of traffic in and out of there and they fly through there day and night, as well as a lot of gunfire going off a lot of the time. I use T-Mobile service and I was on SOS most of the time. Not very impressed.
GuideClean level campsites, many overlooking Lake Pepin. Sites are short but there are separate areas to park your vehicle if needed. Not many electric sites. Many sites have tent pads and there are frequent pit toilets and well as a new restroom and shower building. Quiet except for the low rumble of frequent trains from both the Wi and MN sides. Lots of great trails! Of varying difficulties.
TravelerWell maintained. Nice beach.
TravelerBeen camping here year round for 20+ years. Free, first come first served rustic hike/cart in sites with steel fire ring/grill. There are 4 official sites and 2 more unofficial sites with no fire ring.
If you camp with animals: Sites all sit directly off walking trail very popular with dog walkers.
Camping spots near Mahtomedi, Minnesota offer diverse terrain across the St. Croix River Valley, with elevations ranging from river-level sites to bluff-top camping areas. The region sits at approximately 900 feet above sea level, with summer temperatures averaging 75-85°F during peak camping season. Most campgrounds in the area operate on a reservation system with booking windows that open 90-120 days in advance.
Swimming in filtered ponds: Lake Elmo County Park Reserve features a unique chlorinated swimming pond with a sand bottom that eliminates weeds while providing a pool-like experience. "They have a home made lake that has a sand bottom but it has chlorine like a pool so no weeds. Great for swimming," notes Timothy S.
Exploring glacial potholes: Interstate State Park offers hiking trails leading to unique geological formations. "The draw here is the world's largest glacial potholes. When the river ran 200' higher than it does today, tornados of water eroded smooth round, massive holes in the rock. Some are so big that they still to this day have no idea how deep they go," shares Erik R.
Horseback riding: Bunker Hills Regional Park provides guided trail rides for all experience levels. "There is a stable with horses/ponies that you can take guided trail rides on," mentions Krista T., who adds that the park offers "archery, frisbee golf" and more activities spread throughout the grounds.
Paddle sports on Rice Creek Chain: The connected waterways provide excellent opportunities for kayaking and canoeing with rental options. "Just east of st. paul - 2000 acres with 2 lakes and a swimming pond," describes Robert G. about the Lake Elmo area water features.
Waterfall hunting: Several parks near Mahtomedi feature seasonal waterfalls. "There is a beautiful little hidden waterfall that isn't on any of the park maps and you have to go off the trail to find it," shares Lindsay S. about St. Croix Bluffs Regional Park.
Privacy between sites: Rice Creek Campgrounds earns praise for its spacious layout. "Level private sites, lots of trees, Showers were clean. Would definitely camp again," notes Corey P. The campground's thoughtful design keeps noise between sites to a minimum.
Proximity to metro with wilderness feel: Lebanon Hills Regional Park offers an urban escape without long travel times. "We love Lebanon Hills! Close to home and an oasis in the middle of the Twin Cities. Sites with full hookups or more remote sites with electric that are more tucked away in the pines," shares Katie C.
Volunteer naturalist programs: Weekend educational activities run at several campgrounds from May through September. "On Saturday nights they have a campgound program for the kids and families to watch. Very organized and clean facilities," reports Tina H.
Walk-in tent sites: William O'Brien State Park provides separate areas for tent campers seeking more seclusion. "Per others' advice, I stayed at Savannah campground because the sites are slightly bigger and more private than Riverway," writes Dani K., noting that visiting on Sundays means "very few people in the campground loop."
River access: Multiple campgrounds feature direct access to the St. Croix River. "Our site was right next to the shower building but remarkably quiet and with timer lights it wasn't too bright all night long. The trails nearby were gorgeous and a good workout," shares Lisa O. about her Interstate State Park experience.
Reservation requirements: Most campsites book quickly, especially on weekends from June through August. "Reserve early online, most weekends were already reserved by mid May," advises Blair about Lebanon Hills Regional Park.
Park entrance fees: Daily vehicle permits cost $6-7 at most regional parks, in addition to camping fees. "Your reservation fee does NOT include the daily parks fee of 7 dollars just FYI," warns Lynsey M.
Seasonal closures: Most shower facilities close in October, even at year-round campgrounds. "When Rice Creek Campground opens up again in April I'd highly recommend going there if all you want is a simple camping experience to get away from the city grind," suggests Roger D.
Insect preparation: Willow River State Park and other locations require good insect protection, particularly in June and July. "We had a battle with mosquitoes. We went through a lot of bug spray and coils. Deer flies were thick around the water filling station," reports Tim from his William O'Brien experience.
Wildlife encounters: "Raccoons will visit your site at night. We had everything secured but they still tried and plenty of racket until we chased them away," warns Tim about William O'Brien State Park. Food storage containers are essential at all camping areas near Mahtomedi.
Water park access: St. Croix Bluffs Regional Park offers family-friendly amenities. "Beach is great. Easy boat launch. Clean facility. The staff is super nice. Great hiking trails, bike trails, nearby horseback riding," notes Rikki I.
Playground facilities: Several parks feature recently updated play areas. "The play area was really nice and looked brand new. Our girls loved making new friends to play with," shares Angela L. about Lebanon Hills Regional Park.
Camper cabins for beginners: Afton State Park offers alternative accommodations for families new to camping. "Camper Cabin (Eastern Bluebird)🏡🐦 Perfect little cabin nestled in the southern half of the park! Screened in porch, heated with electricity, and two double bunk beds!" describes Alison O.
Nature centers: Educational opportunities exist at several parks during daytime hours. "The nature center is nice and a great place to spend some time if it is raining during their open hours," mentions Krista T.
Weekday camping advantages: Sites are more available and quieter Monday through Thursday. "Arriving on a Sunday afternoon was a dream—very few people in the campground loop (especially the non-electric ones), but still able to take advantage of a weekend day," explains Dani K.
Length restrictions: Many campgrounds near Mahtomedi limit RV size to 60 feet or less. "Reservation system is weird and the sites are much bigger than they say. All rv sites are the listed length plus 16' for your tow vehicle, which you need to call to find out," advises Davis D. about Lebanon Hills Regional Park.
Electric hookup availability: Most parks offer limited 30-amp service with few 50-amp options. "Theres alot of hiking trails, the rustic sites are very nice, swim pond, fishing pier," mentions Jeff C. about Lake Elmo County Park Reserve.
Seasonal water access: Water connections are typically available May through mid-October, but water is shut off during freezing temperatures. "We stayed the last night of their camping season and were able to utilize water and electric hookups," reports Robert B.
Dump station locations: Several parks provide on-site sanitary dump stations with limited hours. "Clean facilities... there are water pumps. We stayed at site 72 which is at the beginning of the loop. This site isn't as secluded by trees as the other sites," notes Angela L.
Generator restrictions: Many campgrounds prohibit generator use in specific loops or during evening hours. "We wouldn't want to stay here when the loop is fully reserved," comments Dani K. about the non-electric area at William O'Brien, appreciating that "this loop (F LOOP) was 'tent only' meant no generators! It was very quiet!"
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Mahtomedi, MN?
According to TheDyrt.com, Mahtomedi, MN offers a wide range of camping options, with 123 campgrounds and RV parks near Mahtomedi, MN and 4 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Mahtomedi, MN?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Mahtomedi, MN is Lake Elmo County Park Reserve with a 4.5-star rating from 37 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Mahtomedi, MN?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 4 free dispersed camping spots near Mahtomedi, MN.
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