Tent camping near Midway, Minnesota provides access to the glacial landscape of northern Minnesota, characterized by hundreds of small lakes formed during the last ice age. Sites are located within the Itasca moraine region, with elevation changes ranging from 1,400 to 1,600 feet and predominantly sandy soil that drains quickly after rainfall. Winter camping options remain available at several backcountry sites, with temperatures often dropping below freezing from November through March.
What to do
Lakeside paddling opportunities: Several backcountry campsites provide direct lake access for canoes and kayaks. At Iron Corner Lake Remote Backpacker Site, campers can "trek in from a small parking area near Josephine Lake, or from a larger parking area at the south entrance of the park" and then "have the chance to hike miles of trails in every direction to dozens of wilderness lakes in the area."
Fishing for northern species: Lake access points near many campsites provide opportunities to catch walleye, northern pike, and panfish. At Polk County Park, there are "easy to access boat ramps and docks to go fishing on" while enjoying Maple Lake.
Wildlife viewing: Early mornings offer prime opportunities for spotting native Minnesota wildlife. At Deer Park Lake Backcountry Campsite, one camper noted they "Woke up to trumpeter swans each day" and enjoyed using "a little trail that brings you down to the lake to view the bird life."
What campers like
Secluded lake views: The backcountry sites offer privacy with water access. At DeSoto Lake Backpacking Sites, "Both campsites are on a bluff on the northeast side of the lake, with a landing and set of stairs up to the sites. The west site has log benches, fire ring, and room for several tents, and the east site also has a picnic table."
Multi-day hiking potential: The North Country Trail provides extended backpacking routes. A recent visitor to Gardner Lake Campsite noted, "It was a 2.5 mile hike of all sorts of terrain. Scenery was perfect. Not much for available tent sites or hammock sites. It could fill up fast."
Dark skies for stargazing: The remote locations offer minimal light pollution. One camper at Iron Corner Lake noted the area provides "Quiet, rustic, pristine, and dark skies at night!" making it ideal for astronomy enthusiasts.
Bear boxes at some sites: Recent improvements include secure food storage. At DeSoto Lake, a camper mentioned, "They have maybe recently added bear boxes to these two sites (3&4), I didn't see that mentioned in any reviews or the MN park website."
What you should know
Seasonal insect considerations: Mosquitoes are particularly intense from late May through August. According to one camper at Old Headquarters Campsite, the site features "No underbrush made it lovely!" which helps reduce mosquito habitat close to the camping area.
Water filtration necessary: Most sites require treating lake water. A visitor to Deer Park Lake noted the "Water is weedy, but is filterable for boiling water."
Limited tent spaces: Many sites accommodate only 1-2 small tents. One camper at Gardner Lake Campsite observed it "would be perfect for a solo hiker or a couple. A few trees, but nothing that seemed terribly easy for hammock camping."
Bear activity management: Food must be properly stored at night. As one experienced camper noted at DeSoto Lake, "You need to bring your own water, or a water filter as there is no potable water."
Tips for camping with families
Choose sites close to trailheads: For younger children, select camps with shorter hikes. At 400th Ave Camp, the site is "literally only about 100 yards, if that, from the parking area at the 400th Ave trailhead in the Laurentian Chapter" making it "perfect for a quick overnight with the kids, if they were itching to camp somewhere other than your back yard."
Look for swimming beaches: Some locations offer kid-friendly water access. At Polk County Park, there's "a fun little Sandy beach for the kids to play on" that's "nice for lakeside playing and swimming."
Prepare for limited facilities: Most sites have basic outhouses only. A visitor to Iron Corner Lake noted the camp comes with "a clean three-sided outhouse with a scenic view toward the lake. (No need for a door—its the wilderness!)"
Consider seasonal wildlife viewing: Spring and fall migrations offer educational opportunities. One camper at Deer Park Lake reported, "Woke up to trumpeter swans each day. Loved it."
Tips from RVers
Park at designated trailheads: RVs must remain at established parking areas near trail access points. For the best tent camping near Midway, Minnesota, most backcountry sites require "either backpacking in in the Nicollet Trail or DeSoto Lake Trail (each a several hour hike in from the Parks Wilderness Drive), or from the Gartner Farm trailhead of the NCT to the west."
Use as base camp: RV campers can stay at developed campgrounds while taking day hikes. Itasca State Park provides traditional campgrounds where, as one visitor noted, "Restroom area was up to date and very clean. Camp sites were nice and clean as well."
Consider seasonal access limitations: Spring thaw (April-May) can make roads impassable. At DeSoto Lake, "the trail was a bit swampy and horrible with mosquitoes but the camp sites themselves were not bad at all."
