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, MN (26)

Show More
Showing results 1-10 of 26 campgrounds

Recent Tent Reviews in Mississippi River Headwaters - Sandy Lake

367 Reviews of 26 Mississippi River Headwaters - Sandy Lake Campgrounds


  • Amy G.The Dyrt ADMIN User
    Camper-submitted photo from Mille Lacs Kathio Petaga Campground — Mille Lacs Kathio State Park
    Dec. 17, 2024

    Mille Lacs Kathio Petaga Campground — Mille Lacs Kathio State Park

    Winter camping- very quiet with the electric hookups

    This is one campground in Minnesota that offers a handful of electric hookups for winter camping. The beauty of this campground, is that while the campsites available are in a row, there's plenty of space between sites and some of them are even pulled through. Making it easy for RVs to pull in and hook up.

    The vault toilet is not easy to find from where the electric openings are in the winter. While these spaces are right next door to a shower house with toilets, this is closed in the winter. The vault toilet is several rows over and down, making it hard to find if you don't already know where it is. But it was clean, and it was available.

    The campfire rings seemed clean, and each had a picnic table as well. We loved the pull-through site because then we were a little more protected from the road, although it's not busy this time of year at all. So it was very quiet except for our neighbors, and they didn't make much noise at all.

    There are trails nearby that are easily accessible on foot from the campground, and you can make loops that come back to the campground as well.

    There are two campgrounds at this park, but this is the one that has availability in the winter time. Ironically, they also have a couple of walk-in spots that are also open this time of year. If you're willing to brave the temps without an electric hookup. Not hard to find, not hard to access, but no electric hookups at these sites.

  • Tori K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Jay Cooke State Park Campground
    Nov. 12, 2024

    Jay Cooke State Park Campground

    Great backpack site!

    such a fun backpack site! The hike in was muddy and buggy as there was quite a bit of rain in the weeks prior to our camping trip. Picnic table, fire ring, and bear locker provided. Site offers great vies of a little beaver pond where you may get to see some wildlife! Site was able to fit 4 backpacking tents, most of which were 2 person size tents, so it is good for a small group. Private latrine a short walk into the woods.

    Be sure to check trail conditions as one of the forks that could be taken to the campsite was flooded and closed.

  • David T.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Trout Lake RV Park and Campground
    Oct. 25, 2024

    Trout Lake RV Park and Campground

    Very flexible proprietor

    I came in late October. As are most of the campsites in upper Minnesota this time of year, the owner told me they were closed. But he was happy to let me stay overnight for a reduced off-season fee. There were no hookups at this time of the year. It's a very pleasant lake. A lot of permanent RVs parked here. It's very quiet, although there is a highway that runs right next to the property. For my very small off-season fee, I got a shower included!

  • TThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Moose Lake State Park Campground
    Oct. 7, 2024

    Moose Lake State Park Campground

    Beautiful & Quiet

    Very well laid out campground with large sites. Unbelievable AGATE MUSEUM at the main entrance. Men’s bathroom was very clean and showers worked great. Nice well groomed trails, well maintained campsites and campgrounds. Tall pines trail is beautiful, not real long. Nice picnic area on the trail across the blacktop road.

  • Briana H.
    Camper-submitted photo from Buffalo Valley Camping
    Oct. 6, 2024

    Buffalo Valley Camping

    Clean, amazing staff, great bar & grill!

    We loved this campground! We didn’t have a long enough hose for the water hookup, so Darrel (the manager) brought one out immediately and we could keep it all night. All the staff was so nice and welcoming. Campground was so clean and nice trails to walk around. The bar & grill had great food and service. 10/10!

  • L
    Camper-submitted photo from Clint Converse Campground
    Sep. 14, 2024

    Clint Converse Campground

    Peaceful

    Was here every summer in the late eighties and early nineties as a kid with my family and it’s still as nice and peaceful as it was then. I’ll continue to keep coming back every summer

  • T
    Camper-submitted photo from Wilderness of MN Campground
    Sep. 5, 2024

    Wilderness of MN Campground

    Nice camping near Mille Lacs Lake

    The campground was nicely maintained. Had a nice pool and friendly seasonal campers. The management and reservation process was less than desirable. Very difficult to get ahold of management and upon arrival they had given our reserved site away to someone else and moved us. Paid for a water/ electric site and were moved to an electric only site and no cost difference or refund offered.

  • Wayne W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Knife Island Campground
    Sep. 2, 2024

    Knife Island Campground

    Tight

    Overall a very nice camp for a 4 day. Roads are tight for 30+ rigs. Very rutted. Having a ground guide for the tight parking is a must. Reviews dont mention the 4am horn blowing train. Great time had here.

  • MickandKarla W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Minnesota National RV Park
    Sep. 1, 2024

    Minnesota National RV Park

    Golf is the Thing Here

    As this was our second time here at Minnesota National, we had no problem finding the course or RV park. The RV navigation in our new Ford 450 was also spot on. When you turn in at the golf course, drive all the way to the club house/lodge parking lot and there’s a road to the right that takes you into the campground (CG). As you check-in online prior to arrival, you simply proceed to your camp site. As you turn down the short road to the CG, there’s a sign to help you identify your site location. We proceeded to back-in site 25 with full hook ups. The utilities are in the back of pad in this CG, so you may need 20+ feet of electric, sewer, or water cord/hose depending on your rig’s configuration. The sewer grade is a bit up hill. We got 3 bars LTE on Verizon and no CG WiFi. There is only a vault toilet/out house in the CG. We came here to golf for two weeks. The 18 hole course is quite challenging where the 9 hole Savannah is shorter and a little bit easier. The golf course restaurant has decent food and a good deal on draft beer during their Sunday to Thursday Happy Hours.There is not much more to do here except golf. McGregor is about 15 minutes away and is where we did laundry and got our groceries.

  • B
    Camper-submitted photo from Jay Cooke State Park Campground
    Aug. 10, 2024

    Jay Cooke State Park Campground

    Hike in site: Highland

    The campsite was perfectly good: nice and spacious over looking the river. It is well off the main hiking trail and quite private. The view of the river is heavily obstructed and there really is no easy and safe way down the cliff to the river. Still it is nice to hear the river. You need to bring on drinking water, otherwise you need to go about 1/8 of a mile to a small creek to get filterable water.

    The hike in is easy, but once you are off the main trail (the first mile) the trail is grass—be prepared for lots of ticks.

  • Denny K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Crosslake Campground
    Aug. 7, 2024

    Crosslake Campground

    Bad time

    We got to the site and we had low branches asked them to cut them. They said they were at there standards so we had hold it up. Them the site next to us had to have rock concrete us and 4 others called several times nothing

  • Lindsay T.
    Camper-submitted photo from Savanna Portage State Park Campground
    Aug. 5, 2024

    Savanna Portage State Park Campground

    Savanna Portage Long Weekend

    Lovely sites with plenty of trees so most sites are quite private. Mosquitoes are brutal here, especially on the hiking club trail and to a somewhat lesser degree in the campground. We were thankful to have a screen tent for this visit. No Verizon cell service at the campground. Surprisingly good cell service at the Loon Lake area of the park, which also has a beautiful short hike!

  • Tracy M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Schoolcraft State Park Campground
    Jul. 25, 2024

    Schoolcraft State Park Campground

    Hidden Gem

    I had the entire park to myself. Beautiful view of the Mississippi River, not far from the headwaters. Enjoyed the sounds of nature as I relaxed in site #6. I took advantage of the on-site fire wood via the Yodel Portal app. Amazed that I had the place to myself.

  • samuel C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Hill River State Forest
    Jul. 18, 2024

    Hill River State Forest

    Okay

    There were a good amount of spots, and I seemed to be the only person. Was a good and secluded. I did hear some weird noises throughout the night, but all was well. It is your average dispersed site. I made it fine with 2wd, just take it slow.

  • SThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Sandy Lake
    Jul. 8, 2024

    Sandy Lake

    Small clean park with active host and rangers

    Base camp for fishing Big Sandy. Stayed here several times in a tent and a trailer. Nice sites but surrounded by swampy areas so mosquitoes are thick.

    Very clean, pay attention to north or south entrance. Have to drive on either end can’t cross the dam with a vehicle.

    But firewood before hand as well.

  • SThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Pokegama Dam Campground
    Jul. 8, 2024

    Pokegama Dam Campground

    Pretty little perk right on the water

    Small and well maintained park as you would expect for a USACE site. Super clean bathrooms. Level sites and great views of the Mississippi.

    Road noise from Hwy 2 is a downside.

  • SThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Jay Cooke State Park Campground
    Jun. 25, 2024

    Jay Cooke State Park Campground

    Peaceful corner

    As a tent camper, i prefer quiet and private sights. The circle this site was part of, was just that. The walk to the updated bathrooms (with showers) is pretty pretty. It was buggy (mosquitoes) but fire and bug spray kept it manageable. The pit toilet next to site 18 had an occasional waft of smell but nothing too lingering or bad.

  • Emelia O.
    Camper-submitted photo from Banning State Park Campground
    Jun. 15, 2024

    Banning State Park Campground

    Average State Park

    Nice campground well maintained. The water and subsequently bathrooms were not available but this information was available ahead of time of the state park website. The vault toilets were in great shape

  • Emelia O.
    Camper-submitted photo from Jay Cooke State Park Campground
    Jun. 15, 2024

    Jay Cooke State Park Campground

    Beautiful Hiking

    The site was nice a secluded but still close to water and bathrooms. The downside to this specific site is that it is close to the group camp so it was pretty noisy.

  • Teresa T.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Snake River Campground
    Jun. 7, 2024

    Snake River Campground

    I think this place is great

    Friday afternoon 5:00 finished out my work day here. I've had great wireless I'm getting 5G Verizon believe it or not. We're the only ones here it is pretty rustic coming in so if your camper is very sensitive you need to take your time. But the river is going past it's lazy it's quiet I hope it stays quiet all nice and it's $20. Hi Summer might be hot most of the park spots are in the sun but if you had a tent you can find a shady spot down by the river. Their are mosquitoes this year and I don't think the four wheeler trails are highly used I was hoping there would be hiking trails we'll probably just stay one night because the limited walking and I won't go in the high grass with the ticks in the mosquitoes. But it's beautiful I'll upload some pictures in a video.

  • Teresa T.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Father Hennepin State Park Campground
    Jun. 2, 2024

    Father Hennepin State Park Campground

    This place is great

    Smaller campsite with less spaces but right on the waters edge which provides a breeze and keeps the bugs down. Wet spring so Kathoy was terrible but works here. Trails, town which has a grocery store, place to wash cloths and a place to trade out the books I've ready for a new set. Good connectivity so easy to work from with decent bathrooms.

  • Teresa T.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Mille Lacs Kathio Petaga Campground — Mille Lacs Kathio State Park
    Jun. 2, 2024

    Mille Lacs Kathio Petaga Campground — Mille Lacs Kathio State Park

    Nice enough spots but not my kind of park.

    I came in the spring it was a wet spring there were a lot of bugs. The trails are probably not maintained because it was so wet but they were almost impossible to hike on simply because of the amount of mosquitoes. The bathrooms are nice the camp spots were nice they had good signage for the archaeological stuff. It was just very hard to enjoy it because it was so overwhelmingly buggy.

  • R
    Camper-submitted photo from Father Hennepin State Park Campground
    May. 27, 2024

    Father Hennepin State Park Campground

    Nice weekend spot

    Hiking was great, we saw an albino deer on the hiking club trail! Site was a bit tight for our travel trailer and a tight fit to back up on the pad. Recent rain had the campsites pretty muddy but the paved spaces were well maintained.

  • Stacy M.
    Camper-submitted photo from True North Basecamp
    Mar. 8, 2024

    True North Basecamp

    Great spot

    We stayed in a cabin for a week of biking. Excellent location with all the trails. It has a great swimming area, though it did get deep fast for little kids. We brought our paddleboard and had a great time on the quiet lake. We did hike up to the top of the camp area and were glad we stayed in the cabins. The shower/bathroom house was nice. Overall, we would stay here again.


Drive Time


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.