Dispersed camping near New Brighton, Minnesota offers primitive overnight options approximately 45-60 minutes from the Twin Cities metropolitan area. Most sites are located on sandy soil with pine stands providing natural screening between campsites. The St. Croix River area provides additional riverside camping opportunities with access to water recreation, though seasonal river levels affect site availability.
What to do
Birdwatching opportunities: County Road O Landing at Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway provides excellent birding habitat. "We woke up to amazing bird calls and left before 6am. Pretty campsite with boat ramp to St Croix river," notes one camper at County Road O Landing.
Hammock camping: The pine stands in Sand Dunes State Forest create perfect hammock setups. "I was able to walk in and find an incredible spot to camp and lay in my hammock," shares one visitor at South of Sand Dunes State Forest.
Hiking access: Multiple trail systems connect camping areas throughout the region. A camper reports that Sandy Cove is "along the ice age trail. Well managed gravel trail to the south and single wide footpath to the north," providing access to nearby parks and river views.
What campers like
Complete disconnection: The rustic camping near New Brighton offers a true off-grid experience. "For the proximity to the city and nearby highways, this was a good spot... I parked near the front and closer to numbers, always like to be safer," notes one camper about South of Sand Dunes State Forest.
Quiet atmosphere: Many sites provide peaceful environments despite proximity to urban areas. "Quiet and off the beaten path... there were other branches of the road that could be explored as well," writes a camper about the Sand Dunes area.
Quick access: Sandy Cove on the St. Croix River offers "a crushed gravel path to the south makes travel to the nearby Lions park easy," providing amenities within walking distance while maintaining the rustic camping experience.
What you should know
Vehicle considerations: Most forest roads can accommodate standard vehicles but conditions vary. "The road goes for a long ways, I parked near the front and closer to numbers, always like to be safer," recommends one South of Sand Dunes camper.
Accessibility features: Some river sites have adaptations for different mobility needs. Sandy Cove includes "a pad at the bottom of the path up to the open air vault toilet, a fire ring, and a table. The table has an extra long side for those in a wheelchair."
Enforcement patrols: Regulations are actively monitored by different agencies. "I had a county sheriff person tell me it's not lawful to park a trailer and they kicked me out. I called the dnr and they said that wasn't right but I decided to leave anyway," reports one South of Sand Dunes State Forest camper.
Traffic concerns: Popular forest roads can be busy with fast-moving vehicles. "This road is pretty busy for a dirt forest road and people FLY down it. Almost got hit a few times walking. Even through a Wednesday night cars are flying down the road," warns a camper about Sand Dunes State Forest.
Tips for camping with families
Wildlife awareness: Local birds can be territorial during certain seasons. "Sand storks are very protective. Stay away from them. They attack," cautions a camper at South of Sand Dunes State Forest.
Campsite selection timing: Weekday arrivals may provide better site options. "Came back on a warm weekend. A bit more traffic, but after 12 p.m., not much of anything," notes a repeat visitor at Sand Dunes State Forest.
Insect preparation: County Road O Landing requires significant bug protection during summer. "The spot itself was good and had restrooms. The only problem was the mosquitoes," reports one camper visiting in June.
Tips from RVers
Length restrictions: Trailer camping requires careful site selection. "Great spot. Plenty of parking. Best for straight vehicles or very small trailers," advises a camper with a truck camper at South of Sand Dunes State Forest.
Overhead clearance: Tree canopy can limit some larger rigs. "We did find one we thought we liked, but branches over hung, and rested on our camper (8ft high) and in fact most sites were shaded," reports a camper regarding height restrictions.
Road navigation: Forest roads remain accessible for most RVs despite occasional closures. "I just did an overnight camp one night in a truck camper and it was very easy to navigate and it was cleaned quiet area to spend the night," shares an RV camper at South of Sand Dunes State Forest.
