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Lebanon Hills Regional Park allows dogs at both tent and RV campsites with electric hookups, clean facilities, and private wooded sites. Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Regional Park provides cabin camping for pet owners, with both glamping and standard cabin options where dogs are welcome. Several campgrounds within 30 minutes of Minneapolis feature full hookup RV sites with pet-friendly policies, including Baker Park Reserve and Bunker Hills Regional Park. Most require pets to be leashed at all times while in camping areas. Minneapolis Northwest KOA accepts pets in cabins, tents, RVs, and even yurts, making it versatile for different camping styles. The bathrooms at Lebanon Hills are exceptionally clean and well-maintained.
Hiking trails throughout these pet-friendly campgrounds provide exercise opportunities for dogs. Lebanon Hills features multiple interconnected lakes where campers can kayak while their leashed pets enjoy shoreline access. The campground's East Loop offers the most privacy for tent camping with pets, with sites well-separated by trees and natural vegetation. Site 72 provides quick access to bath facilities but with less privacy than deeper loop sites. The Minnesota Zoo lies close enough to Lebanon Hills that campers occasionally hear animal sounds at night. Most campgrounds in the region remain open from April through October, with Lebanon Hills operating from April 30 to October 12. Winter camping options for dog owners are limited near Minneapolis, though some year-round facilities exist at Afton State Park.
"Lebanon Hills is a beautiful county park only a few minutes from Minneapolis / St. Paul. We stayed three nights. Most of the sites are not shady, but there are woods and shade nearby."
"Professional built mtn bike trails for adventure. Camping in Minnesota suburbs. Miles of hiking, horseback riding, cross country ski trails. . perfect for my family's weekend Stay-cation"
from $24 - $42 / night
Check Availability"One of our kids & her husband live in Minneapolis, a sister & several nieces & nephews live close by."
"This is just the best campground that is close to Minneapolis! Peaceful, quiet, with spacious sites that are situated in a staggered way, so you never feel like you’re on top of each other."
from $21 - $29 / night
Check Availability"On a trail system that you can ride around the lake (3 miles) or all the way into Minneapolis if you’re adventurous. Fantastic beach."
"Brief visit for a scavenger hunt in Minneapolis"
from $20 - $75 / night
Check Availability"For being in the middle of the northern suburbs of Minneapolis, this park and campground is surprisingly woodsy, secluded and spacious."
"I was very happy with the trails and accommodations available to me, during my stay."
from $20 - $32 / night
Check Availability"A quick trip from Minneapolis will get you there in a half hour. There are a bunch of hiking trails around the campground."
"Campsites are pretty private except to people walking the trails. The falls are gorgeous!! Great for swimming when the water is not too high."
from $25 - $90 / night
Check Availability"Less than an hour drive from Minneapolis this is a good get away. As expected it has many walk trails. Highlight of this location is beach which is nice for swim and sun bath."
"It's a mere 40 minutes or so from Minneapolis-St. Paul and it's a great beginner campground for backpackers."
from $22 - $85 / night
Check Availability"It’s an easy on and off the interstate, super close to a gas station and RV wash bay. Also super close to some very large power lines. The kids enjoyed the compact playground and pool."
"Great spot close to attractions in the twin cities. The family friendly activities are perfect for families with younger kids, playground, swimming, crafts and games."
"Sites are close to each other, but easy access, clean grounds and facilities, friendly staff, and a K9 fenced area for a pet friendly campground."
"The site was spacious and private-surrounded on 3 sides by trees. The bathrooms were clean. The pool area was clean and without issue."
"Nice place to stay to unhook if you want to explore Minneapolis."
"It was a large back in site with plenty of room for our two very large dogs. The water wasn't turned on yet, but we were able to fill our fresh water tank with a hose from their laundromat."
from $40 - $50 / night
Check Availability"Access to lake is great. Firewood at $7 a bundle doesn't burn, it just smokes. I asked for a refund. Buy firewood elsewhere."
"Beach was closed but we still got some good walks in. Fire ring was a little shallow for my liking so had to get some solid coals going to get dinner on the table."
from $20 - $32 / night
Check Availability
TravelerLess than an hour drive from Minneapolis this is a good get away. As expected it has many walk trails. Highlight of this location is beach which is nice for swim and sun bath. But beach isn't motor vehicle accessible so expect 5-10 min walk. Campgrounds are nearby beach and require further walk.
GuideThis campsite was nice. A quick trip from Minneapolis will get you there in a half hour. There are a bunch of hiking trails around the campground.
ScoutSite was great. Good shade cover, room for 4 hammocks and a small tent. Closer to other sites than I was hoping but overall a great oasis less than an hour from Minneapolis.
GuideThe park has two separate areas, that offer two unique experiences. The riverway campground/area is the more popular part along the St. Croix river. We booked a last-minute site at the Savanna Campground, which is more inland, although hikable to the river. This campground is pretty crowded and we dealt with some rowdy neighbors. The Park Rangers monitored the park frequently, so this is definitely not a peaceful, off-the-grid campground. But it's less than an hour from Minneapolis, and offers lots of great (and well-groomed) hiking trails.
RangerLebanon Hills is a beautiful county park only a few minutes from Minneapolis / St. Paul. We stayed three nights. Most of the sites are not shady, but there are woods and shade nearby. The park streets and sites are asphalt. The park was quiet except. The campground is part of a very large county park offering many activities and near the zoo.
Stayed in back-in campsite #13 which was not shady but level. It was an asphalt site with grass on either side. There was just than enough parking for my 34 TT and truck. The site included: picnic table on grass and fire ring. Electric and water were located in the rear. 20A/50A electric. Sewer as located in the middle and had another hookup near the front. Neighbors are close.
AT&T had 2 bars of LTE and Verizon 2 bars of LTE service. AT&T Speedtest: 2.29 Mbps down, 0.3 Mbps up. Verizon Speedtest: 180 kbps down, 6.8 Mbps up. Free WiFi: 1.5 Mbps down, 3.6 Mbps up.
Would stay here again.
ScoutI love Afton. It's a mere 40 minutes or so from Minneapolis-St. Paul and it's a great beginner campground for backpackers. The campground is only a 1-mile hike in, but the last 1/4 mile or so is up a steep hill that has really taught me a lot about pack weight. There is firewood available and a water pump with some of the best tasting well water I have ever drank.
The first time I stayed, there were loud people awake until the wee hours of morning, but I have camped here 2-3 times since then with no issues. This is my go-to hike-in spot when looking for a place closer to the Twin Cities.
This park offers a number of hiking trails on mountainous (well, river valley) terrain and is nestled along the St. Croix River. There is a beach, picnic area, interpretive center and trail, cross-country ski trails, and more.
TravelerLebanon hills has everything for the family. Schultz Beach for summer fun. Professional built mtn bike trails for adventure. Camping in Minnesota suburbs. Miles of hiking, horseback riding, cross country ski trails. . perfect for my family's weekend Stay-cation
LegendSmall little campground next to large casino. We lucked out and were able to stay 2 nights without reservations….only had to move because they were fully booked for the 4th…large concert event happening across the street. You will need to call early in the day to talk to office staff…who are very friendly. If after hours and there are no spots, you can dry dock in large lot in front of office. There is fuel on site as well as RV wash station. Bath house and laundry and card controlled ($5 card deposit on check in)…well maintained facilities. Dog park available, watch a few spots in fence near bottom where fencing has risen up…little dogs could easily climb under. Very convenient for visiting Minneapolis…25/30 minutes from airport/Mall of America (Aquarium) and Security patrols regularly and there is shuttle if you want to visit casino. Pool at hotel is not included. Golf attraction is being completed next door so there was some construction traffic during day as expected.
GuideI never tire walking the dog park circle along the crow river! Great for birding and tons of beautiful trails!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Minneapolis, MN?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Minneapolis, MN is Lebanon Hills Regional Park with a 4.8-star rating from 44 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Minneapolis, MN?
TheDyrt.com has all 85 dog-friendly camping locations near Minneapolis, MN, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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