Iron Range RV campgrounds near Virginia, Minnesota offer camping options in the northern Mesabi Range at elevations of 1,400-1,500 feet. Summer temperatures typically range from 45°F at night to 80°F during day with high humidity. Mosquitoes are prevalent from June through August, particularly near water sources, requiring proper repellent and protective clothing.
What to do
Kayaking nearby lakes: Red Pine Campground provides access to several small lakes for kayaking. "Spent a weekend at Red Pine Campground (formally Ogston's RV Park). The small lakes or ponds around the campground were a nice touch. There was some water craft that could be utilized by campers," notes Sam C.
Fishing for bass and walleye: Trout Lake Campground offers excellent fishing opportunities 10 minutes from Grand Rapids. "We spent many hours paddling the lake and had great luck catching bass and walleye. Apparently, the lake is well-known for its fishing in the area," reports Nancy W. who stayed at the campground.
Mountain biking: Use Hillmans RV Park as a base for riding nearby trails. "This campground is near the small town of Waskish. Half the campground is on one side that has water sites, the other half is across the road in what looked like an open field that had been mowed down," notes Scott M., who used the park while exploring local trails.
Frisbee golf: West Two River offers on-site disc golf among its recreational facilities. "Frisbee golf is on site. The campground is surrounded by forest, so wild animals can and do appear. The lake is large enough for some long and interesting kayaking," mentions Frank G. who visited in July 2024.
What campers like
Spacious camping sites: Sherwood Forest Campground provides roomier sites than many area campgrounds. "Love, love, love this campground! It not only has full hook-ups and overlooks a lake, but is right on the Mesabi Bike Trail. The managers were friendly and helpful. The sites were spacious. It was so peaceful!" writes Cindy B.
Lake views: Many campers appreciate waterfront sites at local RV parks. "Got there after sunset met the host and easily found our campsite. The next morning we awoke to a wonderful view of the lake. Friendly people all around and would highly recommend this campground," Michael B. says about Sherwood Forest Campground.
Clean facilities: Campground cleanliness stands out to visitors at Trout Lake Campground. "This is an amazing campground, extremely clean and helpful and friendly staff. Lots of seasonal sites available would recommend," reports Caleb H., highlighting the maintenance standards.
Honor system operations: Several campgrounds use self-service systems for payment and supplies. "The park was $35/night which seems a little high for what you get especially since a weekly rate is listed at $150-200. We did like that everything was on the honor system – self pay, firewood, t-shirts, etc.," notes Nancy W. about Trout Lake Campground.
What you should know
Cell service variations: T-Mobile and Verizon performance differs across campgrounds. "We had strong service on T-mobile and Verizon, so we used our hotspots for media connectivity," reports Frank G. at West Two River, while at Red Pine Campground, "AT&T had 4 bars of LTE and Verizon 3 bars of LTE service. AT&T Fast.com: 1.5 Mbps down, 5.0 Mbps up. Verizon Fast.com: 190 kbps down, 9.5 Mbps up," David B. notes.
Water availability: Most RV campgrounds Virginia, Minnesota don't offer water hookups at each site. "There are no water hookups per site, but there are a few water spigots around the grounds to fill fresh water tanks," explains Frank G. about West Two River campground.
Proximity to roads: Some camping areas sit near busy roadways. "The campground is next to a busy road so if you're looking for peace and quiet you will not get it here," warns Jamie M. about Trout Lake Campground.
Limited shower facilities: Several campgrounds offer minimal shower options. "Two free showers per gender, but they have minimal privacy. The free showers have sufficient pressure to do the job, although you cannot control the temperature," mentions Frank G. about West Two River campground.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: West 40 RV Park provides facilities for children. "Great place to camp quiet and plenty of camp sights," notes Jesse K., while Paul S. adds, "Went over Labor Day. Owners were great and really helpful. Close to the off road vehicle park."
Swimming beaches: Some campgrounds feature dedicated swimming areas. "The campground has a swim beach which is a big attraction for kids. You can also launch a kayak or canoe there or use the concrete public boat launch right next to the campground," reports Nancy W. about Trout Lake.
Kid-friendly water activities: Several parks offer water equipment for families. "Paddle boats and kayaks for use. Well maintained. Easy in and easy out," mentions Paula about Red Pine Campground, describing the family-friendly amenities.
Off-season flexibility: Some RV parks accommodate families during shoulder seasons. "I came in late October. As are most of the campsites in upper Minnesota this time of year, the owner told me they were closed. But he was happy to let me stay overnight for a reduced off-season fee," notes David T. about Trout Lake Campground.
Tips from RVers
Site leveling challenges: RVers report varying experiences with site levelness. "Leveling took me a bit, but I found just the right angle to jack up the front of my RV for leveling," explains Frank G. about West Two River campground, while at Red Pine Campground, "Site was gravel and a little un-level, but nothing extreme," according to Sam C.
Hookup positioning: Some RV campgrounds have unusual utility placements. "The 30 amp electrical and water hookups were nice however they were on the wrong side of the pad which we thought was odd," Jamie M. notes about Trout Lake Campground.
Big rig considerations: Larger RVs require specific sites at certain campgrounds. "Our 35' travel trailer fit well into our back-in site. Full hookups and everything worked as expected," says Sam C. about Red Pine Campground, while at Trout Lake, "we were able to pull right onto the gravel pad and it was level so we didn't need to take extra time to level out the camper."
