Dog friendly camping options dot the Minneapolis area's flat terrain, with most sites situated within 100 to 300 feet above sea level. The region's continental climate brings humid summers where temperatures frequently exceed 85°F and mosquitoes are abundant from June through August. Campgrounds within a 30-minute drive of the city center offer varied terrain from prairie to woodland settings.
What to do
Kayaking on small lakes: Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Regional Park provides access to multiple connected waterways. "Wonderful site! Feels very secluded in spite of being so close to the cities. Great beach & sunrise. Highly recommend!" notes Max P.
Mountain biking on maintained trails: Bunker Hills Regional Park features several miles of dedicated bike paths. "I went to this park for the first time last weekend, and I spent the entire time just saying 'wow'. I had never been here before, despite it only being 20 minutes away," shares Krista T., who adds that the park has "several playgrounds, archery, an event center, frisbee golf" among other amenities.
Winter camping options: Afton State Park Campground remains open year-round for hardier campers and their pets. "Lots of hiking. Nice campsites. Beautiful park," says Chris S. The park provides both wooded and prairie sites with enough terrain variation to create natural privacy barriers between campers.
What campers like
Clean bathroom facilities: The bathrooms at Baker Campground - Baker Park Reserve receive consistent praise from visitors. "The bathroom/showers are great. With great fishing, playground, swimming, and biking trails very nearby, the kids were kept as busy as they wanted to be," notes Bryan S.
Tent-only camping loops: Several campgrounds offer dedicated areas for tent campers where generators are prohibited. Rice Creek Campgrounds stands out for this feature. "I loved the look of the 'TENT ONLY' loop - you don't see this often... The fact that this loop (F LOOP) was 'tent only' meant no generators! It was very quiet!" writes Amy G.
Proximity to attractions: Dakotah Meadows RV Park provides easy access to Minneapolis attractions. "Dakotah Meadows is one of the nicer parks in the Twin Cities area. Grounds are mostly well groomed and the roads are maintained... I would choose this park over others in the area for the access to 494 and 35W," explains Tom D.
What you should know
Reservation requirements: Most dog friendly campgrounds near Minneapolis fill quickly during summer weekends. "Reserve early online, most weekends were already reserved by mid May," advises Blair about Lebanon Hills Regional Park.
Bug intensity varies by location: Mosquitoes and flies can be problematic at certain campgrounds. "The mosquitoes were absolutely nuts!" reports Justin Q. about Rice Creek Campgrounds. Consider camping in more open, less wooded sites to minimize bug issues.
Road noise levels: Proximity to highways affects some campgrounds. At Town & Country Campground & RV Park, "Some road noise, but you are in the city so expected, but yet still quieter then in some areas being close to things," notes David E.
Water supply access: Not all pet-friendly campsites have water hookups. "The site had a nice picnic table, which we used to help sort out our new (to us) trailer storage. We had full hookups, even though we only needed water and electric," explains Joanne M. about their experience at a regional park.
Tips for camping with families
Water park combinations: "Huge waterpark, miles of bike trails," explains Tiffany W. about Minneapolis Northwest KOA, making it perfect for families with children who need entertainment options beyond hiking and swimming.
Look for playground proximity: When booking sites with children, check the distance to playground facilities. "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," notes a camper at a regional park.
Pack extra lighting: Some campgrounds have fire rings placed at considerable distances from tent pads. "The only reason this isn't a full 5-star banger is the fire ring placement. That thing is doing its own thing like 30 feet from the tent pad—felt like I needed a shuttle to roast a marshmallow," shares Alison O. about one site at Baker Park Reserve.
Tips from RVers
Site selection for privacy: RV sites at pet-friendly campgrounds near Minneapolis vary widely in privacy levels. "Sites are a little close with little to no privacy in most. Fun little trails nearby for an afternoon walk. Reservation system is weird and the sites are much bigger than they say. All rv sites are the listed length plus 16' for your tow vehicle," explains Davis D.
Water fill stations: Many campgrounds offer water fill options even when full hookups aren't available. "Water fill stations readily available so we loaded up prior to continuing out west. Easy late check in with campsite hosts," shares Lynsey M.
RV length verification: Call ahead to confirm actual site dimensions for larger rigs. The reservation systems often understate the space available. "You DO need a park pass to stay at the campground," reminds Amy G., an important detail for RVers planning overnight stays.
