North Branch camping sites offer diverse outdoor experiences in Minnesota's eastern woodlands and river valleys. Located where the hardwood forests transition to prairie, the area sits around 900 feet above sea level with summer temperatures averaging 80°F and winter lows often below 0°F. Most camping in this region is available from April through October, though several sites offer year-round access with limited winter amenities.
What to do
Canoeing and kayaking on the Rum River: Country Camping Tent & RV Park provides equipment rentals and shuttle service for river trips. "Great tubing and canoeing," notes one camper at Country Camping Tent & RV Park on the Rum River. Another visitor shared, "We went canoeing and kayaking and they provided a shuttle right from their main office."
Explore glacial potholes: The unique geological formations at Interstate State Park offer an unusual hiking experience. According to a visitor, "The draw here is the world's largest glacial potholes. When the river ran 200' higher than it does today, tornados of water eroded smooth round, massive holes in the rock. Some are so big that they still to this day have no idea how deep they go."
Winter recreation: Wild River State Park maintains groomed ski trails throughout the winter months. "We snowshoed and skied. I really enjoyed the snowshoe hike along the St Croix River and watched the full moon rise. The ski trails were groomed and there were miles of trails," reports one winter camper.
Hiking through diverse ecosystems: Trails showcase different Minnesota landscapes from river bottoms to oak savannas. "The park is huge and beautiful," explains a Wild River State Park visitor. "We really enjoyed the snowshoe hike along the St Croix River."
What campers like
Private, wooded sites: Wild River State Park offers campsites with natural barriers between neighbors. "The campground was very nice. The sites are private, couldn't see any neighbors as there are a lot of trees," writes one reviewer. Another adds, "Wild River State Park is my go-to campground since it is within an hour of my home. Love the scenic trails and all the park has to offer."
Star-gazing opportunities: Clear night skies away from city lights provide excellent viewing conditions. "The star gazing area was great," notes a camper at Wild River State Park. "Intermittently had 1-2 bars of T-Mobile with LTE Internet. Wi-Fi is available at the park entrance."
River views and access: Many campsites in the area offer proximity to water. A visitor to Interstate State Park shared, "When we first arrived to Interstate State Park our very first thought was 'that this is awful.' We hoped that our campsite that we had reserved was not as equals to those on the lower end of the northside, very open space more field like then camp ground to us. And then we came upon our site. With a waterfall on the back side and saint croix river on the other."
Well-maintained facilities: Campgrounds in this area typically offer clean, functional amenities. "The facilities were nice and well kept," reports a Wild River State Park camper.
What you should know
Site selection matters: Campground layouts vary significantly, with some loops offering more privacy than others. An Interstate State Park visitor advises, "My site was tiny and my neighbors were right on top of me. Do not pick a site inside the loop (the electrical hookup sites) if you want privacy. A few of the sites along the river have a real nice view and are slightly more secluded."
Seasonal popularity: Book well in advance for summer weekends, especially at state parks. A William O'Brien State Park camper noted, "Weekends have been packed and reservations scarce for months at state parks in Minnesota. Arriving on a Sunday afternoon was a dream—very few people in the campground loop."
Variable cell coverage: Service can be spotty throughout the area, especially in river valleys. "Sadly I needed 4 hours of internet and my cellular data here was spotty. I spent this time right outside the office," reports a visitor to Wildwood RV Park & Campground.
Road conditions: Some campgrounds have challenging access roads. A camper at Camp Waub-O-Jeeg warned, "The roads are rough in spots. A lot of the negative reviews about this campground come from people who encounter issues trying to drive through here with campers, but I didn't expect to have issues driving through here in a sedan. The road to the sites named after birds was rough and I was nervous that I would bottom out going up the hill."
Tips for camping with families
Swimming options: Several campgrounds feature swimming areas for children. At Country Camping, "This campground is great for everyone! It has a heated pool, splash pad area, BIG playground area, indoor game room, HUGE sites!"
Playgrounds and recreation: Kid-friendly amenities make camping with children easier. "There are nice playgrounds on both the A and B hill," notes a camper at Camp Waub-O-Jeeg. Another visitor observed, "It is a kid friendly campground. I often see kids meeting each other from different sites and then hanging out and playing games together."
Animal encounters: Farm stays offer unique experiences for children. A visitor to The Jubilee Homestead shared, "We loved the goats, chickens, geese, and the cats. We are not cat people but they had a newly acquired kitty that stole our hearts and entertained us. We laughed and got some great pictures for our family."
Evening activities: Organized programs extend the camping experience after dark. "The candlelight ski was great and the routes were marked with different colored luminaries - for hiking and skiing. We really enjoyed that," commented a Wild River State Park visitor.
Tips from RVers
Hook-up availability: Electrical options vary between campgrounds in this area. A camper at William O'Brien State Park advised, "Compared to Wild River State Park, the sites at Savannah are pretty cramped with inconsistent vegetation between sites. I wouldn't want to stay here when the loop is fully reserved."
Site sizes: Many campgrounds can accommodate larger rigs, but advance research is important. "Sites are the smallest I have seen anywhere," warned an Interstate State Park visitor, while another camper at Country Camping mentioned, "Max trailer length that I've seen here is 70'. Anyone can fit in here!"
Dump station access: Not all campgrounds offer full hookups. "No full hookups but there is a fantastic group site and the individual sites are spacious," notes a Kozy Oaks Kamp visitor.
