Camping near Shakopee offers convenient access to both natural settings and Twin Cities attractions. Located in the Minnesota River Valley at 710-800 feet elevation, the area experiences warm summers with highs typically 75-85°F from June through August. Most campgrounds in the region are accessible year-round, though some facilities limit water availability during early spring and late fall.
What to do
Beach swimming: 15-minute drive to Cleary Lake Regional Park where visitors can enjoy "the beach area looks nice" according to Erik R., who visited to test new camping gear. Cleary Lake features "a private dock" where campers can "destress" by "sitting on the dock or the grass and swimming in the water" according to Catherine C. at Lake Auburn Campground.
Biking on paved trails: Baker Park Reserve offers "great paved trails around a couple of lakes/ponds for biking" according to ERolf P. who noted they "still felt secluded despite a full campground." Another reviewer mentioned Lake Auburn has "tons of miles of trails to shred on foot or bike" with UnnamedAdventures noting the trails connect "through prairie lands and to a nature center where you and your kids can learn about the natural surrounding habitats."
Tubing on the Rum River: At Country Camping Tent & RV Park, "Tubing! They have a bus that takes you into town float back to the campground, love it," according to Tom D. The Rum River provides a "very clean and sandy bottom" as noted by David G., making it an excellent option for summer water activities just a short drive from Shakopee.
What campers like
Clean, modern facilities: Baker Park Reserve features "bathroom/showers [that] are great" according to Bryan S., who added they're "some of the best I've seen at a campground!" At Baker Campground, Joe R. reported it was "one of the cleanest camps I've ever stayed at," noting the "shower house was very clean and roomy."
Spacious sites with fire rings: At Cokato Lake RV Resort, Alan V. appreciated the "great resort with outstanding amenities" including "heated pool, lake with beach, boat launch area just block away, tennis/pickle ball, mini golf." At Lebanon Hills Regional Park, Angela L. found that their "spot was spacious" and they "weren't super close to any campers unlike most RV spots are nowadays."
Proximity to city while feeling remote: Just 15 minutes from Minneapolis, Lebanon Hills offers what Blair called "a lot of seclusion" where "tent camp sites are far enough from each other that neighbors can't be seen, and we didn't hear them either." Chris S. noted, "I live right down the road from it so I often camp here for a quick getaway... There are hiking trails all over and a lake with a beach that rents kayaks."
What you should know
Reservation requirements: Many parks fill quickly, especially in summer. Blair observed at Lebanon Hills that most "weekends were already reserved by mid May." Similarly, Jennifer H. noted at Town & Country Campground that "it appears to be sold out for the weekend so book ahead."
Site privacy varies significantly: Town & Country is described as "very close compact. Everyone is squeezed in like sardines," according to Claire M., who added, "Very tight quarters on roads and sites." Similarly, Emily H. found Lake Auburn sites to be "very open and offer little privacy between sites. The only separation is the driveway where you park your car."
Weather and seasonal considerations: Most rv parks near Shakopee, Minnesota open from late April through mid-October. Sam S. visited Lake Auburn "in their last 2 weeks open for the season" and found it "very well-maintained." RV users should note that according to Chris F. at Dakotah Meadows, "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."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Cleary Lake Regional Park offers multiple secluded sites yet remains family-friendly. Teresa O. mentioned using "the Cleary point group camp" which can accommodate "a group of 40 people" with "4 or 5 hookups and a private dock." Lake Auburn Campground provides "awesome" playgrounds that "accommodate something for all ages" according to UnnamedAdventures.
Swimming options: At Country Camping RV Park, Carol H. noted "great variety of things to do for everyone" including a "swimming pool with splash pad." David G. confirmed this was "nice" even "for adults" and praised the river for being "very clean and sandy bottom."
Kid-friendly amenities: Lake Auburn's "beach is very nice" according to Amy K., who praised the "lots of space between campsites" and "great playground and green space for the kids." At Cokato Lake RV Resort, Beasty B. reported staying "with my wife and 2 young children and it was fantastic great playground and heated pool... A ton for the kids to do!"
Tips from RVers
Hookup options: At Dakotah Meadows RV Park, James and Susan K. noted sites are "60+ feet, concrete and level" with "full hookup" capabilities. Their review mentioned "your door is opposite of your site mate and you each have your own power pedestal w/water." The park also offers "fuel on site as well as RV wash station" according to Beth B.
Site selection considerations: Tom D. recommended specific sites at Dakotah Meadows: "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." Dakotah's website "has an incomplete campsite map showing only the lower sites between the pond and road" that doesn't show "the three rows of pull-through and additional 10 back-in sites at the top of the hill."
Seasonal facilities: Town & Country Campground is a year-round option for RVers, though Jennifer H. noted during her visit "the game room small pool unfortunately all closed due to COVID." For those needing to handle waste, Jennifer mentioned the site they stayed in was "w&e only but they have a dump station."
