Best RV Parks & Resorts near Midway, MN

Camp Itasca is a nice private park only a few minutes from the north entrance to Itasca State Park and the Mississippi River headwaters. We stayed two nights. Most of the sites are not shaded in the midday, but there are woods and shade nearby. The street is gravel and the sites are dirt. Despite that, I gave the park 4 stars because it is pleasant and the host is super friendly. The park was quiet. Has a lot of permanent/ long-term campers. Stayed in back-in campsite#23 which was not shady and a little unlevel side to side. It was a dirt site with some grass on either side. There was enough parking for my 34 TT and truck. The site included: picnic table on grass and fire ring. Electric, water and sewer were in the rear. 20A/30A/50A electric. Sewer was not threaded. Neighbors are close. AT&T had 2 bars of LTE and Verizon 4 bars of LTE service. AT&T Speedtest: 27.1 Mbps down, 0.64 Mbps up. Verizon Speedtest: 190 kbps down, 12 Mbps up. Free WiFi: 140 kbps down, 2.6 Mbps up. Would stay here again. We camped at Camp Itasca in a Travel Trailer.

We stayed at Balsam Beach Resort & RV Park at the height of summer vacation on Lake Plantagenet in Bemidji. The resort was at full capacity, so it was crowded with no privacy that we prefer to have. (one of the reasons for the lower star rating) We brought our RV and boat, and there was room to park our boat trailer by the boat landing. There are many seasonal sites, cabins for rent, and an open field area for camping in a tent, and 4 RV spots. We stayed in RV spot #1, and the spot came with a picnic table and a fire ring which we did not use because the size of the space put our RV to close to the ring. There is a big fire ring down by the lake that anyone can use (please note you can not bring in your own firewood, they have it available for purchase in the lodge for $5.00 for a small bundle) All RV sites are full hook up with 30 amp electric service, and water and dump. If you bring a boat, it will need to be inspected before you launch it into the lake. There is a big dumpster where you can put your trash in, and they also have bins for aluminum cans, and glass and plastic recycling.

Most of our time was spent fishing on the lake, but we were impressed with the other activities they offered to people staying there including a swimming pool, beach toys, paddle boats, canoes, inflatable rafts, a playground, a baseball field, horse shoes, volley ball sand pit, work out room, and laundry facilities (bring your quarters!! A regular wash and dry is $4.00) They also off cable TV hook up, and have a "general store" that sells sweatshirts, tshirts, ice cream, coffee, and has movie rentals for $4.00 per movie/per day. (Yes, we got the sense that everything is an additional fee) They do allow pets, but at a cost of $5.00 per day. The resort was clean and well maintained by the owners. We just did not feel a sense of welcome from the owners, and will not be making a return trip in the future. It was nice being only a few miles away from the city of Bemidji as we spent a day visiting Paul Bunyan and Babe, and Bemidji State Park to hike the Bog walk (recommended!!) We also spent a day fishing on Lake Bemidji, which is a 10 minute drive from the resort.

The campground has either electric or water or just electric sites for RVs and there are also tent-only sites.  The tent sites are located across from and adjacent to the RV sites.  The RV sites are pretty close together but, we were there in the middle of the summer and there were a couple of open tent sites on one side of us.  The campground is pet friendly and the management is friendly.  The campground is close to Itasca State Park as well.  Others have mentioned that getting in to the campsites near the circle drive area (closest to the lake parking lot) are a little difficult to get into & this is very true.  We have an 8x17 Ice Castle/RV that we pull behind the truck and backing into our spot without disturbing other campers was not an easy task.  The circle drive is right where the last couple of RV sites are sitting and there is a tree at the point of the circle drive so you have to avoid the tree and maneuver around it when backing in.  The sites that are closer to the entrance & the playground that do not have a good view of the lake are easier to get in to.  We used the dump station which is nicely situated on a slope just outside the entrance so it's easy to completely pump out a tank that might sit lower on your unit.  There was a picnic table and campfire ring at each site.

If easy camping is what you're looking for, this is it. Our 15X15 tent fit in their listed 12X12 spot. Built in grill on fire rings with park bench and table. Potable water available to everyone. Perfect cell reception as it's eyesight to the city of Bemidji. Self serve wood and ice when office is closed. Even a vending machine. Amazing showers for a camp ground, bathrooms ok and clean. If you want to get away while still being in easy driving range of city. Hiking trails are quite a walk but easy and cleared. Beach, dock, sand volleyball court. Some outdoor showers also available but they were buggy when we went mid July.

La Salle Lake is the newest Minnesota state recreation ares, in the process of become a state park in its own right but currently administeted under the umbrella of nearby Itasca State Park.

If you are a tent camper, the main campground is rather open and more stark than you might like, but RV campers will like the full hookups and the exceptionally nice campground restrooms and shower facilities. What is special about camping here is not the campground itself, but the exceptional surroundings. Lake La Salle is a small but pristine lake, the second deepest in Minnesota and surrounded but mature forest in an ancient glacial moraine tunnel valley. The unique geology makes for terrific hiking through varied terrain all around the lake itself, and into the nearby state Scientific Natrual Area at the confluence if LaSalle Creek and the fledgling Mississippi River. While mostly wooded, there is also a natural prairie area with rare wildflowers. There is nice canoeing, kayaking anf fishing, a good boat launch and swimming beach, and a beautiful new accessible boardwalk and picnic area. There are also two very beautiful north woods style cabins for rent. There are a couple of paddle-in or hike-in dispersed campsites being developed on the more secluded side of the lake, and for folks who want a primitive camping experience close to Bemidji this would be it! The park is 15 miles from Itasca State Park and also 15 miles from Bemidji for day trips to either, and a family-friendly bar and grill is 5 minutes away at the Becida crossroads. Well recommended for an easy and quiet family getaway in northern Minnesota

I am a tent camper and usually prefer primitive wilderness camping, thus I dont usually consider staying at RV campgrounds or resort type campgrounds. This place would have to be an exception if you wanted a really comfortable camping opportunity on a really beautiful lake! Located not far outside the quaint town of Park Rapids, and great for a variety if day trips to state parks and in state bike and water trails, the campground and the lake it is on is a pleasant destination in and of itself. Most folks are here with RV’s, but there are also camper cabins for glamping, and several tent-only sites that are large and wooded and in great locations near the lake and other campground recreational facilities like the lodge, the beach, the pool, and the game barn. The grounds are heavily wooded and beautifully maintained, the atmosphere is very family friendly, and the lake is great for swimming, fishing and boating. Lots of “resort amenities” without the resort prices, and campers have free access to a fleet if canoes and kayaks. Weekly, monthly and seasonal rates, plus many perennials store their boats and RVs here over the winter. Highly recommended for a northwoods retreat for all kinds of campers!

We stayed for the weekend at Fox Lake and had a great time. This is a very family friendly campground with a lot of entertainment options. The volleyball and basketball courts are nice and well maintained. The park was fun for the kids and the beach was very nice! The seasonal campers are adjacent to the beach and are friendly for the most part. The resort has numerous watercraft to use for free, you just need to check them out at the office. The office has a nice little sitting area along with basic supplies and gift items available for sale. You can also have an ice cream treat! The game room is right next to the office and was a nice option for our kids to enjoy. Overall, this campground is a clean and family friendly spot that is close to Bemidji and a perfect destination for a weekend trip, rain or shine!