Best Tent Camping near Mississippi River Headwaters - Sandy Lake in Minnesota

Searching for a tent campsite near Mississippi River Headwaters - Sandy Lake? The Dyrt helps you find campsites with tent camping near Mississippi River Headwaters - Sandy Lake. Each spot offers quick access to one or more of Mississippi River Headwaters - Sandy Lake, Minnesota's most popular destinations.

Best Tent Sites Near Mississippi River Headwaters - Sandy Lake (26)

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Recent Tent Reviews near Mississippi River Headwaters - Sandy Lake

370 Reviews of 26 Mississippi River Headwaters - Sandy Lake Campgrounds


  • Annie C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Spafford City Park
    Apr. 30, 2019

    Spafford City Park

    Busy City Park

    Wedged between the St Louis River, the highway, and a ceiling tile factory, this campground has four tent sites on the edge of the river with the rest of the campground having full hookup sites for RV’s. It is a popular campground as I got the last tent site- the last site in the entire campground- at 2 in the afternoon. There is a snowmobile trail going over the river and into the woods that is a nice walking/hiking trail in the warmer months. The bridge over the river is too high to fish from, but there seemed to be lots of places along the river that you could toss a line from. Watch out for ATV’s and bicyclists as they also use the bridge to access trails. The camp host will get you the code for the really nice, clean bathhouse that has free showers for campers. If you are tent camping you will need to park either at the bathhouse or in the park lot outside the campground as you cannot park in the tent sites, which are essentially walk in. But it is a short walk. There aren’t any hammock appropriate trees in the tent area which is basically a mowed lawn, but there are a few trees to provide some shade.

  • Gunnar C.
    Camper-submitted photo from True North Basecamp
    Jun. 14, 2018

    True North Basecamp

    Always a Good Time

    True North Basecamp is great for those wanting to “camp lite”. You’re enjoying the outdoors & camping in a tent but there’s a bathroom (outhouse style) & fresh cold water near by. Town is close enough you can even skip the cooking if you choose. Heck, the BBQ joint in town (excellent, btw) even delivers to the campground! The heated shower house has modern toilets if needed. The hot shower is nice after riding the trails all day. I wouldn’t call it glamping but it’s definitely not backcountry camping in the least. We go here for Mtb trail riding trips for all these features. Close enough to town to bike in, trail access from the campground, a lake/beach area in camp & clean, quiet campsites makes this a favorite spot.

  • Scott M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Moose Lake City Park
    Dec. 22, 2022

    Moose Lake City Park

    Super relaxing

    Nothing fancy here but a locally run campground that is clean and well kept. Not a lot of privacy but spaces can be big. Being right on the water is a bonus here but watch out for the mosquitos. There are both rv and tent sites available with the tent sites being in the back.

  • Sara S.
    Camper-submitted photo from Jay Cooke State Park Campground
    Jun. 12, 2016

    Jay Cooke State Park Campground

    family time

    We came with our extended family and while they did tent camping we stayed in a camping cabin. The cabins were great! Our family also was pleased with their tent camping site. This park offered some fun hikes. The views are beautiful- great place to take photos! We came into the stay somewhat unaware of the park, as our family had done the reservations and planning, but we were pleasantly surprised at everything this park offers :)

  • Brandon F.
    Camper-submitted photo from Mission Beach Resort
    May. 29, 2019

    Mission Beach Resort

    Great hosts

    This campground is small, but everyone is friendly. No tent sites available on the lake as those are reserved for rv, but the tent area is nice and wooded.

  • J
    Camper-submitted photo from Red Rider Resort
    Aug. 14, 2019

    Red Rider Resort

    Red Rider Resort

    We stayed at tent site #1. It was very clean and the layout was nice for 2 tents. The bathroom / shower house were very clean. Everything was new or very well maintained.

  • Rich B.
    Camper-submitted photo from Diamond Crest Resort
    Jun. 2, 2022

    Diamond Crest Resort

    Family loved it!

    Beautiful place. Non expensive. Not many tent sites but we had one down the hill and it was perfect. Very peaceful and owners are respectful and kind.

  • K
    Camper-submitted photo from True North Basecamp
    Jul. 3, 2018

    True North Basecamp

    Rustic camping close to miles of single track

    Great rustic campground with trail access to Cuyuna MTB trails. Offers hot showers. No water/electric hookups. A couple sites allow for smaller RVs and pop-ups but mainly tent sites.

  • Makayla B.
    Camper-submitted photo from True North Basecamp
    Oct. 7, 2020

    True North Basecamp

    Lake cabins and tent sites

    I've stayed in both the cabins and the camping area. The cabins are my favorite because of the lake views, proximity to the bathhouse, and heat/AC units. Cabin #5 has the best unobstructed views of the lake. Cabins have WiFi. The campground is nice but only has a primitive toilet adjacent to the campsites. There are no electric or sewer hookups, but there are a couple of tent sites than can accommodate small campers. I camped in site #18 and it either isn't very level or I just did a poor job of setting up my tent because we were slanted all night. Great stargazing at both the cabins and the tent sites. 

    Check-in information is shared via email (key codes for the bathhouse and the cabin locks). The emails are very informative and the owners have been prompt to reply when I had questions. They even offer up the option to have firewood delivered to your site (either cabin or tent site) before you arrive.

    This is my favorite place to stay in Crosby because it's so close to both the Rally Center Trailhead and Crosby. My favorite places in town are Red Raven (great coffee shop with good breakfast and lunch food options), Crosby Pub (wide variety of food - burgers, salads, appetizers), Rafferty's Pizza (pizza and beer plus a couple of arcade games in the back), and Iron Range Eatery (a little fancier than Crosby Pub (but not by much) and offers great food as well). All of these restaurants offer outdoor seating.

  • S
    Camper-submitted photo from Bent Trout Lake Campground
    Aug. 21, 2019

    Bent Trout Lake Campground

    We enjoy this place

    Bent Trout Lake Campground is a beauty. They have tent camping with hookups at times. There is a great, well-maintained lake which in turn makes the beach just as nice as the lake itself. Pristine waters with great piece of property surrounding it. Friendly staff and win-win for family’s and others alike.

  • Brandon F.
    Camper-submitted photo from Sandy Lake COE Recreation Area
    May. 29, 2019

    Sandy Lake COE Recreation Area

    Great family campground

    Great place to camp. The dedicated tent sites are limited, but lots of rv sites. Electrical at every site and everyone is friendly. There are even showers and plumbed bathrooms. Only reason not a five star is that the bathrooms tent to get pretty bad and could use more than once a day cleaning on holiday weekends.

  • Scott M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Spafford City Park
    Dec. 22, 2022

    Spafford City Park

    Don’t Get too excited but nice people

    There is a lot to do in the area and this is a busy campground offering a couple tent sites and mostly full time rv folks. Talked to a few people and they are like a community and we’re welcoming!

    Bathhouse is kept clean and can be accessed with help from the camp host.

  • Kellen W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Cuyuna City Campground
    Jul. 19, 2023

    Cuyuna City Campground

    Quiet space, great for MTB riders

    Have stayed at this campground 3x since 2021 and our family loves it. 6 RV sites and a few tent camping sites. Has 30/50 hook up and a water filling station and dump station on site. Pump track is great to warm up on. Shower house with toilets are clean. Trail connector with easy access to Bobsled is right there and you can ride to Cruser's Kettle. Highly recommend.

  • H
    Camper-submitted photo from Mesaba Cooperative Park
    Aug. 29, 2018

    Mesaba Cooperative Park

    Historic Finnish Co-op Park with beautiful grounds, lake, and camping

    The park has a beautiful private lake with swimming beach, a few cabins available for rental, plenty of space for tent camping. A large pavilion with dancehall above and kitchen/dining on the lower level. There are memberships available to the park with sponsorship by a current member. There are fun events held at the park including a midsummer festival.

    Check their website for scheduled events to come in and check out the park.

  • Brad P.
    Camper-submitted photo from Spafford City Park
    Feb. 17, 2023

    Spafford City Park

    Right in Cloquet

    Nice little RV park right in the town of Cloquet. There are a few tent sites right against the river. On the west end of the property is access to a pedestrian bridge where you may find some fisherman in the summer. You can walk to the Northeastern Bar of the coffee shop. Nice little stopping spot if you are headed to the BWCAW or the Range.

  • Faith H.
    Camper-submitted photo from Bent Trout Lake Campground
    Jun. 1, 2018

    Bent Trout Lake Campground

    Family Friendly With Lots to Do

    Absolutely love this campground! They have RV sites and tent sites a private lake with swimming area and fishing/boat/water toy area. There's a little store with all your basic supplies and where you can rent different boats and water things and a rec area with pool table and games. Lots of campground activities to bring everyone together. Their own private firework display the week of the 4th.

  • J
    Camper-submitted photo from Trout Lake RV Park and Campground
    Oct. 5, 2020

    Trout Lake RV Park and Campground

    Highly recommend

    Stayed here for two nights in tents. Used it as a base camp while me and some friends were mountain biking RedHead Mountain and Tioga over the weekend. Beautiful spot, kind of secluded away from the rest of the campers but not tucked away by any means. Right on the lake. Grills are at all the tent sites but we used the fire. The fire wood provided was wet and sappy and didnt light but we iust grabbed some from town. Will be staying here again when I come back to the area.

  • MThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Savanna Portage State Park Campground
    Dec. 28, 2024

    Savanna Portage State Park Campground

    Nice campground - a lot of bugs in the summer

    Savanna Portage State Park is a beautiful and peaceful spot for camping, especially if you enjoy tent camping. The campsites are well-spaced, private, and perfect for tents, offering a great connection to nature.

    The park features a lovely lake that’s ideal for kayaking, fishing, or just relaxing by the water. There are also several great hiking trails, ranging from easy walks to more challenging routes, giving you plenty of opportunities to explore the scenic forest and wetlands.

    One thing to note—there are a lot of bugs in the summer, so make sure to pack plenty of bug spray! Overall, it’s a fantastic place for outdoor lovers looking for a quiet and rustic getaway.

  • c
    Camper-submitted photo from Crosby Memorial City Park
    Aug. 18, 2018

    Crosby Memorial City Park

    Kid Friendly Camping

    A very cool place for the kids! Swimming beach on Serpent lake is nice for the whole family. When they’re tired of swimming, the skate park is always a good time. The playground is modern and very nice. And during summer months, there’s music in the park Thursday evening! Sewer, electric, and water are available. There are tent sites too. it’s a nice laid back municipal park. Walking distance to downtown. And if you’re into mountain biking, there are world class trails just a mile away at Cuyuna mountain bike trails. Well worth a stay!

  • Dave G.
    Camper-submitted photo from Banning State Park Campground
    Jul. 13, 2016

    Banning State Park Campground

    Nice little waterfall in a quiet campground

    Stayed here as a layover en-route to Wisconsin. This park may be right off of the interstate, but it's quaint and the sites are roomy. They're also nicely vegetated so you get a sense of privacy. We stayed in the busy season (July) and even though most sites were full, once it hit the quiet hour, the whole campground went eerily quiet. Not far from the tent sites is Wolf Creek Falls, about a 1.2 mile hike (worth it!). The showers were clean and rangers were laid back and lenient with the camp fee.

  • R
    Camper-submitted photo from Red Rider Resort
    Jul. 20, 2020

    Red Rider Resort

    Wonderful campground

    Myself and some friends spent the weekend here in July. There are 10 tent sites and many cabins. We stayed in tents. The sites are rustic but have fire rings and some have charcoal grills in them. The bathrooms are spotless and come with real flush toilets and sinks. There is even showers in both of them. Most people come here to ride the red dirt mtb trails of Cuyuna so the showers are a great amenity! Beautiful views of the lake (mine pit) and swimming off of the private dock. If you want to fish here you must have a trout stamp. We want to come back and rent a cabin next time. Overall 10/10 would recommend and will return!

  • Lauren
    Camper-submitted photo from Red Rider Resort
    Sep. 15, 2020

    Red Rider Resort

    Campground with charm

    Stopped for a night during our cross country travels. Stayed at RV site 4 which is bordered by trees on one side which was nice for privacy. Overall the tent sites appeared to be pretty private although closer together than I expected from looking at the map. Staff was very friendly and helpful. Firewood is for sale. There is a very nice kitchen with running water and showers were large, private, and clean. Only reason I didn’t give 5 stars is because it is right off highway and you can hear traffic and I was hoping for a bit more space between sites given what I saw on map. Would definitely stay here again!

  • Jake N.
    Camper-submitted photo from Red Rider Resort
    Jul. 30, 2019

    Red Rider Resort

    Tent site review

    Have stayed at True North’s tent sites quite a few times and this is another great option in the area. The site here was nice and wooded. Definitely a bit more private than other Cuyuna options. MTB access to the Yawkey section was nice and will be even better after more trail is added to the zone. Was great to have a community kitchen in the main bath house to clean the dirty dishes from camp and the bathrooms/shower were also very nice. My kids had fun fishing for panfish off there dock and although we never made it, they have a swimming beach that as a bit down the MTB access trail.

  • Janet R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from American Legion Park
    Sep. 11, 2018

    American Legion Park

    Relax at Sand Lake in Warba

    This is a well maintained community campground and community park sponsored by the local Warba American Legion, which actually has its building on the premises. They take good care of the park, which includes playground and picnic shelter for day use, a campground with hookups and large grassy drive-in campsites , and an area of walk-in tent sites right by the shores of Sand Lake. There is a small beach area too, and a really nice DNR fishing pier out into the lake. The lake is really pretty and quiet, and seems to have great fishing. It would be a good place to stop if passing through, or visiting in the area. My two main concerns are 1) proximity to Hwy 2, which generates a fair amount of traffic noise, plus the bathrooms are basic pit toilets which arent in great shape

  • A
    Camper-submitted photo from Pokegama Dam Campground
    Sep. 28, 2020

    Pokegama Dam Campground

    Great parking lot for travel vans. Free hot showers. Clean.

    An extremely safe and pleasant location. You can either use the paid campground or stay in the parking lot, say if you had a sprinter travel van or some such thing. Alternatively if you are tent camping there are a couple nearly hidden campsites that you can use for free right by the canoe landing. A large part of the year clean showers are available and are free! although this fact is not publicized and at certain times of the year they are put under code for campground use only. I find that most the time they are open. A bathroom is attached each shower and can be locked from the inside making it great for a couple to use the facilities efficiently together. This is a one-of-a-kind place that does not exist much anymore. Free shower free camping clean bathroom , great walking trails, Great spot to fish. For a stop alongside the highway it has it all.

  • Scott M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Jay Cooke State Park Campground
    May. 1, 2021

    Jay Cooke State Park Campground

    It was nice, but busy!

    The campground offers a lot of choices. We stayed one night in a non-electric site then were able to move over to an electric site. It was a pretty full campground, but they did not have everything open. We had some great neighbors that were tent camping next to our camper. The showerhouse was clean and they had just turned the water on so we were lucky. The reason you come here tho is the hiking and the views. I can tell you that no matter the weather the parking lot will be full but mid afternoon so best to get up early and hike. I was able to have something…wolf/coyote cross the path in front of me on one of the early morning hikes. This was a really great location and a great campground. This would be a great location for families with kids of all ages. Loads to do and experience here.

  • Janet R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Saginaw Campground
    Jul. 11, 2019

    Saginaw Campground

    Basic RV park outside Duluth

    This is a small, well kept but basic private campground mostly for RVs but it does have some tent sites. The website advertises its location as “minutes from Duluth” but that would be a hood 15 minutes to the outer limits, a good half hour to the harbor. It isnt on a lake or in the woods, doesnt have a view of Lake Superior, isnt near a state park, and is right on a major intersection of two highways. I dont think it is meant as a northwoods vacation destination per se, but it is located adjacent to a rodeo and horse center so I would guess it is best for lodging close to whatever horsey events are happening next door. Since it isnt far from the Duluth airport and the airport has no hotels by it, perhaps this would be a decent place to stay overnight before an early morning departure, if needed. In sum, a well maintained but basic place to camp that might be a good location for select purposes. Daily, weekly, monthly and seasonal rates.


Guide to Mississippi River Headwaters - Sandy Lake

Tent camping near Mississippi River Headwaters - Sandy Lake in Minnesota offers a unique blend of natural beauty and outdoor adventure, perfect for those looking to escape into the wilderness.

Tent campers should check out Blackberry Campsite

  • Blackberry Campsite is a boat-in site that allows for a peaceful retreat, featuring a bear locker and a pit toilet for convenience.
  • This site is well-equipped with tools for cutting wood, making it easy to enjoy a cozy campfire.
  • The muddy shoreline requires some effort to dock your kayak, but the serene environment makes it worthwhile.

Some prices for tent camping range from free to $20

  • At Jacobson County Campground, you can enjoy a quiet atmosphere with access to drinking water and toilets, all at a budget-friendly price.
  • Sal's Campground, now known as Sandy Pines, offers a beautiful lakeside experience with all hookups available, making it a great choice for tent campers.
  • Bear Lake County Park provides a private setting with fishing and canoeing opportunities, perfect for a long weekend getaway.

Explore local attractions near your campsite

  • The Mississippi River offers stunning views and excellent canoeing opportunities, making it a must-visit for outdoor enthusiasts.
  • Nearby hiking trails provide a chance to immerse yourself in the local flora and fauna, enhancing your camping experience.
  • The scenic beauty of the area is perfect for photography, especially during sunrise and sunset, capturing the essence of Minnesota's wilderness.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Which is the most popular tent campsite near Mississippi River Headwaters - Sandy Lake?

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Mississippi River Headwaters - Sandy Lake is Jacobson County Campground with a 4-star rating from 1 review.

  • What is the best site to find tent camping near Mississippi River Headwaters - Sandy Lake?

    TheDyrt.com has all 26 tent camping locations near Mississippi River Headwaters - Sandy Lake, with real photos and reviews from campers.