Best RV Parks & Resorts near Mississippi River Headwaters - Leech Lake, MN

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.

Most of this camp is reserved for seasonal campers but they have 2 extra sites. One Full hook up and one electric site. The full hook up site is a little tight if you bring a big RV, backing up is a skill you must bring.

When I was here, we were very close to Crooked lake which is a beautiful with a great fishery. I mainly came here for fishing and it was great.

They do have cabins that overlook Crooked lake and all I have to say is that it’s beautiful. They do have there own boat launch if you bring any type of water vessel. It cost $5 per day to dock it on their docks. They treat there RV sites and cabins which is a plus because we don’t have many mosquitoes during the day and night.

I would highly recommend this site for fishing and those who just want to get out. Booking was very easy and straight forward!

Full hook up: $50 a day Electric only: $40 a day.

$100 security deposit once booked which goes into your bill.

It's been a couple of years since we stayed here.  It was nice and we had a fun time.  Concrete pads was a nice touch.  The pool was small but ok.  It was a recently developed RV park when we stayed so it was still being developed.  Biggest negative is that the utility hookups are designed for a Class A Motorhome so for my trailer, they were on the wrong side.  Had to get a longer water hose and extension for sewer line....NOT IDEAL.  

The park isn't far from the bike trail so that was the biggest plus for us.

This is primarily a cabin resort, however camping is also offered for both RV's and tenters. Camping rates are a little hard to find on the website, so check them at this link:https://www.thepinesresort.com/camping/camping-rates

There is a nice swimming area and dock on the lake, a camp store, boat rentals, laundry facilities, etc. I think staying in the cabins might be a nicer experience for a long term stay, as the campsites are rather open and close together, but the lake access and amenities are favorable for a short stay. 

For through paddlers on the Mississippi Headwaters Water Trail, this is the most convenient campsite above the Winnie Dam. The tent sites are only $25 per night, you have more amenities than at the COE or Forest campgrounds on the other side of the dam, and your portage around the dam from the campground to the boat launch below is super easy if you have a canoe or kayak cart--just pull out at the resort boat launch dock, cart your craft a short walk on the paved road across the dam, and put in at the COE boat launch below the dam.Much preferable to scaling the dam on the steep rocky portage that is on the east side of the dam, plus you have a decent and reasonably priced place to camp the night before.  So for that type of camping, this spot is ideal!

Lake Bemidji State Park is one of the best places in Bemidji to visit for a day trip, and is also a woodsy economical place to stay if vacationing in the area. The park is an oasis of well preserved old growth northwoods forest, which you can experience on foot or by bike on miles of trails along the lake, into the woods, and on boardwalks into the bogs. There are naturalist programs, boat and bike rentals, and easy access into town. There are good showers and bathrooms, and a nice beach. It is a very family-friendly opportunity. That being said, though the park itself rates 5 out of 5, the camping options only rank a 4 for the most part. As previous reviewers have mentioned, if a high-quality secluded tent camping experience is what you are after, this is not it. The majority of the campsites are extremely small and very close together with no privacy. There is a canopy of tall trees shading the campground, but most sites are open and dont have much vegetation to screen between sites. If experiencing the northwoods is your main goal, the location and access is great, especially if you are rv or trailer camping. However, if you want something a little more secluded, there are several options: reserve campsites in the loop furthest from the lake (sites in the 90's) as they are much larger sites and very wooded compared to the loops closer to the lake, though be aware they are best for tenting, dont have electric hookouts and have a bit of a walk to get water or showers etc. Some additional "off the beaten path" options at the park are their new camper cabins, located off on their own near the trailhead for the bogwalk trail, and also the group camps. There is one large group campsite, the Lavinia group site, that is completely off on its own away from the campground, and would be perfect for scout groups, family reunions etc. It would host quite a large group, but group would have privacy from the rest of the campground. The other older group campsite is also located away from the main campground, though right at the trailhead for the bike path; though the campsite itself is very scenic and beautiful, and a perfect setting for a small group, it would have passing trail traffic during the day which is something to consider.

Our family just returned from a 9 day stay at Leech Lake Receeation Area, and wish we could have stayed 9 more!! The Campground is located in north central Minnesota (Federal Dam) about 30 minutes southeast of Bemidji or a 3 & 1/2 hour drive from Minnneapolis/St. Paul, MN area, and is run by the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers Volunteers. The park is located in the Leech Lake Reservation and Chippewa National Forest.

The park has 77 sites available that you can make reservations online at: https://www.recreation.gov/camping/leech-lake-rec-area/r/campgroundDetails.do?contractCode=NRSO&parkId=73246

**Note: We reserved our spot 6 months in advance as they book up super fast in the short Minnesota summer months.

There are 73 sites with electric hook ups (5 are full hook ups) or if you want to tent in a private setting, they have 4 primitive walk to sites. Each site has a large picnic table and fire ring with adjustable grill.

When you check in they give you a code that allows you access to the comfort building (flush toilets, showers, and laundry facilities) We took advantage of the boat mooring area (just a few steps down from the campground) that includes a plug in area to recharge our boat batteries, and we really appreciated the fish cleaning station building!! (Super clean!!!)**See pics of the awesome fish we caught-Note all Walleye in the 20-26 inch slot size must be released.

We spent the majority of the time enjoying Leech Lake, but we also spent time hiking the trails (Check out the 400 year old Cedar Tree!!), we played horseshoes, and shuffle board (a new game to us!!), and relaxing by the campfire. **NOTE Only certified & approved firewood can be used in the park. There is a general store just outside the park that sells it for $20.00 a wheelbarrow full.

We would give this campground 6 stars if we could, and know you would too!! Enjoy the pics!!

Quiet little place, far enough away from too many things to make you feel like you're in town but anything you need is a hop skip and jump away. Paved walking and biking trails and hundreds of miles of ATV trails connected right to the rv park. Would recommend

Crow Wing Inn and RV Park is exactly what it says it is. There is a small motel, if you need a room with a shower, but there is also space to set your RV up for the night. It's definitely not fancy, by any stretch of the imagination, but it's not a dirt pad. It's kind of pretty, even if it's in the wide open. The grass is green and plentiful, there is a grove of pine trees (I suppose you could hang a hammock here, but I don't know if you could pay to camp if you didn't have an RV). There is a single fire pit near a picnic table. It doesn't look like there are many sites, but this is a tiny town, so I suppose there isn't a high demand for an RV park in this area either.

While not my first choice, if I had an RV, it would serve the purpose if I needed a place to spend the night.

Within easy walking distance, there is a small grocery, two gas stations, a laundry, bar, bank and bakery. As well as a walking trail and a small park. There's even a "do it yourself" car wash next door with a vacuum!

If you like boats and boating and the water, this would be a good place to be, but if you are looking for peace and quiet, I doubt it'll be all that. This is mainly an RV camping park for those that have boats. It has a waterway in the campground with slips that you can rent for your boats. There are, however, a few tent sites that are kinda cool!

Most of the RV camping is pretty cramped. But I suppose if you have a boat, you'll probably be on it most of the time. That said, it would do the job. Maybe most people stay on their boats at night? There is also firewood for sale, which is convenient, but I don't know how much it cost. They seemed to be pretty well closed for the season. They did have electric hookup and sewage drains too. And for those that were feeling a little less outdoors-y, they had a few cabins for rent on the water.

There are only a few tent sites, and they are in an obscure spot, but it'd actually be a pretty cool place to drop a tent if you wanted something unique. The tent site(s) are on a little point near the water. It's actually on the opposite side from the RV camping, and they are separated by a little waterway that is the inlet/outlet for the area where the boat slips are. So boats would be passing in and out all the time. If you are the private type, this might not be ideal. But if you were looking for something different, it might be fun. However, there is no bathroom nearby that I could find. There is a fire ring and picnic table. And the coolest part...there is a small lighthouse type structure that is simply a screened in building with a table and chairs. It's screened in and the windows can be closed. So, essentially a bug free zone in the summer. Love it! Right next to the tent area. Although it's not clear if these sites are for rent for the general public, or just for friends and family of the boat/RV people. I see conflicting information about this.

We stayed at Chlebecek’s Riverview RV Park for 4 nights in July. It is a smaller campground. Most of the units are set up “permanently” for the season. People are friendly and the facilities are clean and well cared for overall. There is recycling/garbage readily available to use as well as a dump station. The only drawback is that, despite the name, it is not on a river. It is near a small creek/tributary to the Pine River. The creek is only a few feet wide and runs through a bunch of reeds. A bridge crosses over the reeds and creek to get to the office for the campground. We used this campground as a place to sleep and eat but spent most of our days out exploring the area. Pine River itself is small but has a nice park on Pine River with a small beach area and playground. There are also docks there for fishing and we took out kayaks there and could leave and return from the same place. You do need to call for a reservation and leave your credit card number to hold your site. At this time it is not possible to book online or by email.

We went on a busy weekend, but the campground itself was in good shape and had several options for individuals who want to tent camp or RV camp. This is the best campground in the area in my opinion as it offers a lot. The hosts were great and very welcoming. The electric sites are not on the water which is fine. Sites are big and offer some privacy. The sites on the water are a little smaller, but that is the price you pay to have the ability to doc your boat at your site. Mostly RVs in the campground but you can easily tent camp and get some peace. It is a popular destination bc of its proximity to other lakes.

This is a quiet friendly neighborhood of Rv’s and small cabins located on Blackduck lake . There is a swimming pool and hot tub. The hot tub wasn’t working when I was there. There is an on site laundry unit. There is a fish cleaning house as well for the fisherman. You can take short drive or walk to the local golf course. A little down the road is a convenience store with all your fishing needs including licenses and bait. Limited availability of houses for sale and there is a waiting list for RVs. It is closed for the winter and everyone has to be out of the houses too.

Nice level site, clean bathroom/shower facilities, park is beautiful!