Baker Campground at Baker Park Reserve and Lake Auburn Campground allow pets in various accommodation types including tents, RVs, and cabins. Both campgrounds maintain well-kept facilities with clean bathrooms and showers, providing comfortable options for campers traveling with dogs. The sites at Baker are spacious with good separation between campsites, particularly in loop C which offers plenty of trees and privacy. Some campers report that Lake Auburn's sites vary in size with site 57 being notably large and surrounded by trees, though generally offering less privacy between neighboring sites. Both locations feature fire rings, picnic tables, and access to hiking and biking trails where dogs can explore on-leash.
Lake Maria State Park Campground offers another pet-friendly option with cabins and year-round availability, making it suitable for camping with dogs in any season. Most campgrounds in the area require pets to remain leashed at all times on designated trails. The beach areas at Baker Park and Lake Auburn provide dogs access to water, though pets must typically be kept away from designated swimming areas. Carver Park Reserve connects to miles of trails through prairie lands where dogs can enjoy outdoor exercise. The parks generally maintain quiet hours when barking should be minimized, and most sites include accessible waste disposal facilities. During peak summer months, early reservations are recommended for pet owners as the pet-friendly sites tend to fill quickly, especially at Lake Auburn which gets particularly busy on weekends.
$21 - $29 / night
"One of our kids & her husband live in Minneapolis, a sister & several nieces & nephews live close by."
"Baker Park near Minneapolis Minnesota was a our camp choice for inexpensive camping on the last leg of our Minnesota vacation in 2017."
$15 - $18 / night
"This campground even has 2 walking/hike-in campsites to give your avid campers a real out-in-the-middle-of-nowhere kind if feel, like you drove hundreds if miles to get away from the hustle and bussle"
"But the Eady walk to the lake, sitting on the dock or the grass and swimming III m the water are a great way to destress."
"Family friendly campground with educational activities. campsites are close together but it is a close drive from the cities and a nice place for families. Nice walking & biking trails."
"We had site 57, which is more expensive but is also very large, surrounded by trees and has a patio, the other campsite sizes vary greatly with some being very small, it's very easy for groups to camp"
"Tons of trails and camping. 🏕"
"Great for birding and walking trails! One of my favorite places to go near home😁"
"When I first pulled in I checked out the single track trail area first and the parking lot was full of mountain bikers. "
$10 / night
"Gulley that a large creek runs through surrounded by trees and large forested hills."
"Very close to other campers, but no one bothered anyone. Dog didn’t go nuts, got a good spot. Would recommend. Tent camping on the way to Alaska and filled all needs. Has a Porta-shitter and trash."
"A couple weeks ago we spent some time at the Northwest koa...that one had private tent sites surrounded on 3 sides by trees, quiet spaces etc."
$22 - $80 / night
"This park is only about 50 minutes away from me, and for hiking/camping I only think it is worth a trip in the fall."
"I chose Lake Maria for a solo camping excursion because it was close to the Cities, but still offered the level of seclusion I wanted."
$40 - $50 / night
"It was a large back in site with plenty of room for our two very large dogs. The water wasn't turned on yet, but we were able to fill our fresh water tank with a hose from their laundromat."
"The grass around the lots is very green, lush and well maintained. Campground is right next to the hotel/casino and very much within walking distance."
$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"
"It has nice clean bathrooms and it's a great place to walk your pets, they do have 3 different areas to camp but we always use the full hook-ups The people at check-in are always so friendly, and very"
TravelerLebanon hills has everything for the family. Schultz Beach for summer fun. 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
GuideI never tire walking the dog park circle along the crow river! Great for birding and tons of beautiful trails!
GuideThis is a nice city campground with lovely views of the Rum River. There is a nice playground with a small climbing wall, benches to sit looking over the river. Picnic tables and a shelter are great for eating at. There is a dog park just across the river, within easy walking distance.
LegendSmall little campground next to large casino. We lucked out and were able to stay 2 nights without reservations….only had to move because they were fully booked for the 4th…large concert event happening across the street. You will need to call early in the day to talk to office staff…who are very friendly. If after hours and there are no spots, you can dry dock in large lot in front of office. There is fuel on site as well as RV wash station. Bath house and laundry and card controlled ($5 card deposit on check in)…well maintained facilities. Dog park available, watch a few spots in fence near bottom where fencing has risen up…little dogs could easily climb under. Very convenient for visiting Minneapolis…25/30 minutes from airport/Mall of America (Aquarium) and Security patrols regularly and there is shuttle if you want to visit casino. Pool at hotel is not included. Golf attraction is being completed next door so there was some construction traffic during day as expected.
GuideSites are close to each other, but easy access, clean grounds and facilities, friendly staff, and a K9 fenced area for a pet friendly campground.
LegendThis was such a great spot! The campground is so nice and quiet!
Located 50 Miles NW of Minneapolis, and only 15 Miles from St. Cloud, MN.
GuideWe stayed here for a weekend in May. The campsites are a little bit on top of each other. There aren't many campsites that you're able to reserve. The majority of the campsites are seasonal campsites. There are a lot of mature trees that help with the shade! The beach area is nice, but the only problem is that boaters and kayaks are in the same general area so you have to be careful so you don't get hit. There is a dock for fishing as well. You can also rent boats, kayaks and paddleboards for a small fee. If you want to walk the whole campground having a golf cart would be nice. Also there is NO petting zoo as stated on the website or on the campground maps. There hasn't been one for a few years but they have yet to edit the website or the campground maps. We went there partly because there was a petting zoo for the little kids. Seems lazy to me that they can't update the website or the campground maps.
TravelerWe just found this campground in September and this year we've been there 3 times and we live in Montana, there's no place I'd rather stay. It has nice clean bathrooms and it's a great place to walk your pets, they do have 3 different areas to camp but we always use the full hook-ups
The people at check-in are always so friendly, and very helpful.
lots of things in the area to do, and the "city" isn't that far to drive to.
ScoutThis is such a great campground for families! So many activities including a water recreation area, petting zoo, shuffleboard, mini golf, pool, toddler water park, multiple playgrounds, basketball and more. The only drawback is they REALLY pack you on like sardines and the roads are really narrow so unless you get there early your camping tip is going to start with the “backing in argument.”
Pet-friendly camping opportunities near Mayer, Minnesota provide options for year-round outdoor recreation with your four-legged companions. Located in Carver County at an elevation of 971 feet, Mayer sits amidst rolling farmland and wooded areas with several lakes and creeks. The continental climate brings warm summers and cold winters with occasional thunderstorms during summer months. Most campgrounds in this area require advance reservations between April and October when temperatures average 55-85°F during peak season.
Kayaking on smaller lakes: Lake Auburn's beach area offers kayaking opportunities with minimal motorboat traffic. "The lake is nice, smaller with not many motor boats so good for kayaking or canoeing, the beach is pretty clean, some weeds floating in the water and very shallow for kids," notes one camper at Carver Park Reserve.
Hiking wooded ravines: High Island Creek Park features trails that descend into scenic ravines alongside a creek. "Beautiful trails leading you down the revenue to a gentle flowing creek. One of me and my hubbies favorite drop in campsites!!" shares a visitor to High Island Creek Park.
Educational programs: Family-oriented nature activities run regularly at campgrounds. "They have programs every Saturday night, some of the ones we've been to were about bugs, raptors, bees, and snakes, there are usually programs during the day at the nature center as well," reports a camper from Carver Park.
Secluded backcountry sites: Lake Maria State Park offers hike-in camping with varying distances. "A mile hike from the parking lot, so be ready to walk if you need to make more than one trip. The hike itself is rather hilly, and the site is about a quarter mile off of the main path," explains one camper at Lake Maria State Park Campground.
Clean facilities: Lebanon Hills maintains exceptionally well-kept bathrooms and shower facilities. "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," notes a visitor at Lebanon Hills Regional Park.
Paved biking trails: Multiple interconnected paved trails offer cycling opportunities. "There is a nice 6+mile biking trail that connects to others, so bring the bikes," recommends a camper who stayed at Baker Campground.
Mosquito and bug seasons: Summer months bring heavy insect activity in wooded areas. "The black flies were dive bombing the car like a scene from Armageddon... First step onto the grassy trail exploded in a cloud of mosquitos," warns a Lake Maria visitor about summer conditions.
Varying site privacy: Campgrounds differ significantly in how secluded sites feel. "While the park is nice and has mature trees, the sites are very open and offer little privacy between sites. The only separation is the driveway where you park your car," explains one Lake Auburn Campground camper.
Water access restrictions: Most lakes have designated swimming areas separate from fishing or boating zones. "The swim area was cool after a hot day and the beach was gently sloping and smooth," notes a Lake Auburn visitor about beach conditions.
Playground proximity: Some sites are strategically located near play areas. "Our spot was spacious, and close to the bathrooms and play area. The play area was really nice and looked brand new. Our girls loved making new friends to play with," shares a visitor at Lebanon Hills.
Nature programs: Schedule around weekend educational offerings. "They have educational activities. Campsites are close together but it is a close drive from the cities and a nice place for families," recommends a camper at Lebanon Hills.
Beach facilities: Lake beaches offer family-friendly amenities. "The beach is very nice. There are 2 swimming beaches: 1 for the campground and one for all of the day visitors. You can rent canoes, paddle boats and SUP boards," notes a Baker Campground visitor.
Concrete parking pads: Some campgrounds offer level, paved surfaces. "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," explains a camper who stayed at Dakotah Meadows RV Park.
RV wash facilities: Dakotah Meadows provides cleaning amenities. "There is a RV wash bay available for a fee and the campground even has gasoline available 24 hours a day using a credit card," notes a visitor.
Loop C recommendation: At Baker Park Reserve, certain loops offer more privacy. "The sites a Baker Park Reserve are larger than average. This is a big campground with a lot of paved bike trails and a nice lake a short walk away," shares a Baker Campground visitor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Mayer, MN?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Mayer, MN is Baker Campground - Baker Park Reserve with a 4.5-star rating from 38 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Mayer, MN?
TheDyrt.com has all 72 dog-friendly camping locations near Mayer, MN, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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