Baker Park Reserve offers spacious campsites with level tent pads and excellent privacy. Sites at this reserve near New Hope, Minnesota feature clean facilities and well-maintained showers within walking distance of most camping areas. During summer months, temperatures typically range from 65-85°F with evening cooling, making it ideal for campers seeking pet friendly accommodations without the crowding of more developed areas.
What to Do
Hiking and wildlife viewing: Baker Park Reserve provides extensive trails where visitors can observe local wildlife. "The sites are good sized, and the bathroom/showers are great. With great fishing, playground, swimming, and biking trails very nearby, the kids were kept as busy as they wanted to be," notes Bryan S., highlighting the variety of activities.
Water recreation options: The area offers multiple swimming spots throughout warmer months. At Lake Auburn Campground, campers can access "a cute lil beach for swimming" according to Andrea T., who appreciates how the campground offers "a real out-in-the-middle-of-nowhere kind of feel" despite being close to Minneapolis.
Trail exploration: Paved pathways connect multiple camping areas, making them accessible for all ability levels. Melissa H. from Baker Park Reserve mentions, "This is a big campground with a lot of paved bike trails and a nice lake a short walk away," describing their experience during the first camping trip of the season.
What Campers Like
Privacy between sites: Lebanon Hills Regional Park receives praise for its secluded spots. Katie C. describes it as "an oasis in the middle of the Twin Cities" with "sites with full hookups or more remote sites with electric that are more tucked away in the pines."
Shower facilities: Clean bathrooms rate highly among campers near New Hope. Joanne M. found Willow River State Park facilities particularly noteworthy: "The bathrooms were among some of the nicest I've used at a campground. The shower stall was big enough for a meaty human like myself to shower comfortably."
Tent-specific areas: Some campgrounds designate sections exclusively for tent campers. Amy G. appreciated this at Rice Creek Campgrounds: "I loved the look of the 'TENT ONLY' loop - you don't see this often... the fact that this loop (F LOOP) was 'tent only' meant no generators! It was very quiet!"
What You Should Know
Mosquito presence: Some areas have significant insect activity during summer months. Lynsey M. from Bunker Hills Regional Park reports: "Lots of mosquitoes but it's MN so that's to be expected."
Reservation timing: Popular spots fill quickly, especially during peak season. According to Blair at Lebanon Hills Regional Park: "Reserve early online, most weekends were already reserved by mid May."
Firewood quality: Some campers report inconsistent firewood quality at official campground stores. Bruce M. notes: "Firewood at $7 a bundle doesn't burn, it just smokes. I asked for a refund. Buy firewood elsewhere."
Tips for Camping with Families
Playground access: Bunker Hills Regional Park offers multiple play areas. Arielle P. states: "Perfect for kids, they have a water park with a wave pool, a disc golf course, a golf course, several pavilions with grills, a few playgrounds and plenty of trails both paved and unpaved."
Easy first-time experiences: Newcomers to camping find success at certain locations. Heather V. reports: "For our first time camping, this was a great site! It was very clean, had friendly staff, and was close to a really fun park for our kids. We will be back!"
Water activities: Many families value swimming areas during summer visits. Jennifer H. describes Baker Park Reserve: "There are 2 swimming beaches: 1 for the campground and one for all of the day visitors. You can rent canoes, paddle boats and SUP boards, and many people bring their own boats."
Tips from RVers
Site selection: When bringing RVs to pet friendly camping near New Hope, Minnesota, choose locations with appropriate amenities. At Dakotah Meadows RV Park, Tom D. advises: "We last stayed in site 25, a back in up on the hill. We have also stayed in the pull through sites, but not really a fan of those."
Utilities and hookups: Most RV sites offer electric options but water access varies. Chris F. at Dakotah Meadows notes: "The sites are paved and have well-maintained grass. We were located near the casino road, which has an occasional loud car, even at night. Also, wifi is not great, less than 1MB download speeds from our site."
Spacing considerations: RVers often comment on site dimensions. James and Susan K. describe Dakotah Meadows: "Sites are two pull-thru's to each site. Your door is opposite of your site mate and you each have your own power pedestal w/water. Sites are 60+ feet, concrete and level. Each site has their own fire pit."