Visitors to Melrose, Minnesota find themselves in a region of rolling prairies, glacial lakes, and deciduous forests at approximately 1,300 feet elevation. The area experiences warm summers with temperatures averaging 75-85°F and cold winters dropping well below freezing, creating distinct camping seasons. Campgrounds near Melrose offer year-round opportunities with seasonal restrictions at some locations from October through April.
What to do
Winter snowshoeing and skiing: Lake Carlos State Park Campground offers extensive winter recreation options. According to camper Joanna B., "We headed to Lake Carlos for their candlelight ski... At dark we headed to the candlelight event. We hiked 1.2 miles and then snowshoed 2.4 miles. There are ponds and bogs that they create snowshoe trails on, so there are even more trails to explore in the winter."
Prairie hiking: Glacial Lakes State Park Campground features rolling prairie landscapes with unique vegetation. A camper noted, "Beautiful park with rolling prairies. Oak Ridge campground is prettier, quieter, and more private than the Lower campground. Site 28 and 30 don't have tree cover, but have beautiful views of the rolling hills."
Paddling and fishing: Games Lake County Park provides excellent water access for various activities. Janet R. shared, "This is a nicely forested family-oriented campground on the shores of Games Lake. Though not quite as nice as the nearby Sibley State Park, it has easy access to it as well as the Glacial Lakes bike trail, plus is set on a nice lake with fishing, boating, and swimming available."
Historical exploration: Visit the historic Crow Wing town site within Crow Wing State Park Campground. One visitor mentioned, "Historic signs describing the old town are along the beginning part of the trail near the picnic area. Kinda fun to read about and feel what old settlements were like!" The park offers interpretive displays about 1890s frontier life.
What campers like
Year-round accommodation options: Lake Maria State Park Campground offers glamping alternatives with camper cabins throughout all seasons. One visitor shared, "I would like to come back to this park in late fall and try out a camper cabin. There are three of them all on lakes so if you can get past buggy season it has the potential to be a great experience."
Fall camping experiences: Lake Carlos State Park Campground offers spectacular autumn conditions. Ellen F. noted, "I camped here during an MEA weekend in October and even though we woke up to snow covering our tent, it was a great experience! The campground itself was located very close to the lake and offered nice amenities and privacy between sites."
Off-grid backpacking sites: For a more secluded glamping experience near Melrose, backpackers appreciate Lake Maria's remote sites. One reviewer explained, "Backpack sites only. Love this park as it offers many backpacking sites with some being very short hikes in and some being longer hikes. Some are lake front and some are more woodsy sites."
Well-maintained facilities: Crow Wing Lake Campground receives consistent praise for cleanliness and organization. Carmen W. reported, "Clean bathrooms, nice sized park for kids, pool (not open in Sept), lake with ample docks for fishing or you can rent boats. The 'general store' has everything you need from souvenirs to wood, to marshmallows for s'mores, and all at reasonable prices."
What you should know
Bug preparedness essential: Summer brings heavy insect activity to Lake Maria State Park Campground, especially in wooded areas. A camper described the experience: "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... Even though we'd sprayed everyone down the bugs must have felt safety in numbers because we were covered in welts in no time flat."
Site reservation strategy: For premium lakefront glamping near Melrose, Glacial Lakes State Park offers specific site recommendations. A visitor advised, "Preferred sites in Lower Campground would be 7 for non-electric for privacy and lake views, and 14e, 16e, and 18e for electric."
Winter cabin availability limited: Those interested in winter glamping should note restricted options. Tori K. explained, "I stayed here with a few friends in the winter when the park was doing their lantern-lit snowshoe trail. They have 1 site (electric) available in the winter. We had room for a truck bed camper and a pop-up clam ice fishing tent."
Water levels vary seasonally: Lake conditions can fluctuate throughout the year. One camper at Glacial Lakes noted, "The lake was really high when we visited, which led to a useless campground fishing pier and a boat dock that you had to swim to to use. There was no beach, but there may have been if the water level was normal."
Tips for camping with families
Select forest campgrounds for shade: Games Lake County Park provides tree cover valuable for families with children. Janet shared, "This is a nicely forested family-oriented campground on the shores of Games Lake... it has easy access to it as well as the Glacial Lakes bike trail, plus is set on a nice lake with fishing, boating, and swimming available."
Consider campgrounds with playgrounds: St. Cloud-Clearwater RV Park offers facilities specifically designed for children. A visitor noted, "This a nice family campground. It has a 9 hole mini golf, shuffleboard, salt water pool, and a lobby/gift shop. They also offer a nice seating area for those hot or raining days with free arcade."
Explore campground rental options: Many locations offer equipment to enhance family outings. Kristen B. from Crow Wing Lake Campground mentioned, "They have paddleboards and funyaks to rent, you can bring your boat to fish or fish off the dock. The grounds and bathrooms were clean. Every RV site had a cement pad to use for lawn chairs or a camp picnic table."
Plan around quiet hours: Family schedules should align with campground regulations. As Julie P. noted about one park, "The quiet hours were not enforced, and there was a mechanical thumping audible around the clock." Researching enforcement policies beforehand helps families choose appropriate locations.
Tips from RVers
Site selection for RVs: Lake Ripley County Park Campground offers specific advantages for RV camping. One RVer explained, "Most of the sites here are lakefront. They have you park your vehicle behind a row of bushes to help keep the view clear for everybody."
Dump station availability: Several campgrounds offer sanitary dump facilities but with limitations. At Andes RV Park, a reviewer noted, "Brand new restroom and shower facilities with laundry," but some parks may have seasonal restrictions for these services.
Privacy considerations: RV sites vary significantly in spacing and separation. A visitor at Crow Wing Lake Campground shared, "The lake front sites are small width wise but your view of the lake makes up for it and helps the site feel more spacious."
Electric hookup options: St. Cloud-Clearwater RV Park provides various electrical service options for glamping near Melrose. As one camper mentioned, "RV Site with Sewer was $45/day (had all three water, electricity, sewage) thought this was a little pricey."
