St. Croix State Park, Minnesota's largest state park at 34,000 acres, offers numerous camping options near Mora. The region features a mix of prairie landscapes and riverfront access with seasonal temperatures ranging from warm summers to cold winters. Camping areas vary widely in tree cover and privacy, with some sites providing dense woodland settings while others offer more open, prairie-style environments.
What to do
Hiking river trails: Wild River State Park Campground has extensive trail networks along the St. Croix River. "The hiking is decent along the river, some of the trails were a little confusing and trying to figure out where we were at, but we made it just hiked a little further than we wanted to," reports Kate H.
Observe wildlife: The region has abundant animal sightings throughout camping areas. "We saw sooooo many deer some even walking right through campsites! You can hear coyotes, raccoons and very loud owls," notes a camper at Wild River State Park.
Winter camping options: Year-round access makes this area unique for seasonal experiences. "I stayed in the campground in late March. This is a big park with diversity of hiking, equestrian, and canoeing options. Since the park runs along the St. Croix, there are beautiful river-side walks," shares Erik R.
Water activities: Country Camping Tent & RV Park offers tubing and kayaking on the Rum River. "Large sites. Great tubing and canoeing," writes Rory T., while David G. adds, "Key thing is the river is very clean and sandy bottom."
What campers like
Private yurt camping: Yurt accommodations near Mora provide secluded experiences with modern amenities. The combination of traditional camping with higher-end facilities creates a unique overnight option.
Spacious campsites: Bunker Hills Regional Park offers surprisingly roomy sites despite being close to the Twin Cities. "For being in the middle of the northern suburbs of Minneapolis, this park and campground is surprisingly woodsy, secluded and spacious," reports Doug B.
Star gazing opportunities: The region's dark skies make for excellent night viewing. "The star gazing area was great! Intermittently had 1-2 bars of T-Mobile with LTE Internet. Wi-Fi is available at the park entrance," notes Katherine T. about Wild River State Park.
Tent-specific areas: Lake Maria State Park Campground specializes in hike-in tent sites. "Backpack sites only. Love this park as it offers many backpacking sites with some being very short hikes in and some being longer hikes. Some are lake front and some are more woodsy sites," explains Tori K.
What you should know
Seasonal bug considerations: Insect activity varies dramatically by season and location. "Unfortunately we chose the peak of mosquitos season and camping next to slow moving water is a recipe for disaster. It was also a very hot weekend," notes Lili R. from Old Logging Trail.
Rustic vs. modern facilities: Campgrounds range from basic to well-equipped. "St. Croix SP: was quite buggy due to a lot of recent rain. Highly recommend fogging your site or having a bug enclosure to help ward of the mosquitos. Multiple restrooms and showers throughout the campgrounds," advises Tori K.
Water access challenges: Water hookups at some campgrounds require planning. "Our water source ended up being 75' plus from our RV. Thankfully I just happened to be carrying the extra hose for several years but never had to use it before," shares Sam C. about Banning RV Park.
Cell service limitations: Most campgrounds have limited connectivity. "Felt nice to spend a weekend without cell service about an hour away from home," notes a camper at Paint Rock Springs Campground.
Tips for camping with families
Look for dedicated children's facilities: Banning RV Park and Campground offers family-friendly amenities. "The office had a camp store inside of it. Staff was extremely friendly and helpful. The bathrooms were very clean. The fenced in dog park was a big bonus for our pup. The grounds hosted outdoor games and volleyball/basketball courts," reports Crystal W.
Consider swimming options: Several campgrounds feature water recreation. "I stayed here 3 weeks ago with my wife and 2 young children and it was fantastic great playground and heated pool the spaces were well kept and spaced apart 10-10 would most defiantly go again! A ton for the kids to do!" shares Beasty B. about Country Camping.
Evaluate site privacy: Family camping requires appropriate spacing. "The campground was very nice. The sites are private, couldn't see any neighbors as there are a lot of trees," notes Stephanie H. about Wild River State Park.
Plan for weather extremes: Temperature swings require preparation. "2/8/20-2/9/20. #91. First time to this park. The campsite was plowed out and had a nice spot for the tent," shares Joanna B. about winter camping at Wild River State Park.
Tips from RVers
Site leveling challenges: Paint Rock Springs Campground requires assessment for RV placement. "The sites are only shaped and hard to place a tent in bc of shape and no designated site edges. There is no shade in most sites and was very hot," explains Amanda R.
Electric availability: Power needs vary across campgrounds. "Had one issue with power dropping so we had to pull the surge protector off then it was fine. Also very hot and humid so everyone was running AC to the max," shares David G. from Country Camping.
Pull-through access: Some sites offer easier RV positioning. "This was our first time out, we stayed with our RV and really enjoyed this place. The staff was great and willing to help with any questions or concerns we as rookies had! They have pull through sites that made our first time that much easier," notes Matt P. about Banning RV Park.
Hookup variations: Facilities differ widely between campgrounds. "We would have preferred more privacy. Hard to idle and brake enough with a high powered vehicle to be slow enough to be under their speed limit," advises a reviewer about Woodsong Campground, highlighting access considerations.
