Cabin camping near North Branch is a great way to escape into nature, yet still have all the comforts of home. Cabin camping is an adventurous and unique way to experience the city. Each cabin offers quick access to one or more of North Branch's most popular destinations.
The park provides opportunities for semi-modern camping, group camping, equestrian camping, backpack camping, and canoe camping. Visitors who want modern amenities can reserve the guest house which provides a living room, dining room, kitchen, and fireplace. The park also has six camping cabins which include bunkbeds, a table, and benches.
$35 / night
$16 - $250 / night
$20 - $75 / night
$20 - $32 / night
Located on the St. Croix River, just 20 miles east of Saint Paul, Afton State Park is great for those looking for camping near Minneapolis and is 1600 acres of rolling prairies, oak woodlands, and limestone river canyons amid an ancient glacial landscape. The land for the park was acquired in 1967, but it took almost 15 years of planning revisions and compromises with local residents before the park finally opened in 1982. Little development has gone into Afton State Park in an effort to maintain its natural characteristics, and former farmland atop the bluffs are continuously being restored to their original state. This makes Afton an ideal destination for campers looking to experience the outdoors in a wilder setting.
Load up your backpack with all you’ll need for your stay, as camping at Afton State Park requires a hearty, 0.75-mile hike in from the parking area. The year-round campground offers 27 rustic sites with picnic tables and fire pits, with options for pitching your tent in either open or wooded areas. There is drinking water, a vault toilet and firewood is supplied within the camp area. There is also three boat-in campsites, and two group campsites that can accommodate up to 60 people each. If you’d rather not rough it, the park also offers four camping cabins and two yurts, some of which are wheelchair accessible. There are also several picnic areas and restrooms within the park. Campsite rates range from $15–$23/night; cabins range from $55–$70/night, and yurts $50–$65/night.
When you’re ready to explore, start at the park’s Nature Store where you can pick up information about the park’s flora and fauna, or join a nature walk. Then choose from more than 20 miles of hiking, biking, and equestrian trails, as well as a short barrier-free path. If you’re visiting in winter, many of these trails are open for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. Bring your GPS and go on a geocaching treasure hunt, or bring your binoculars and go on safari for a variety of migratory birds, waterfowl, and wildlife, including deer, foxes and badgers. And little ones will love becoming Junior Park Naturalists and learning about bugs, birds, plants and other critters. If you’re looking for a real outdoor adventure, Afton State Park has what you’re looking for.
$24 - $34 / night
Please note that campsites in F Loop are for tents only and campsites in E Loop can accommodate tents or pop up trailers. Trailers must be less that 2500 pounds dry weight and less than 20 ft in travel length.
The campground offers 80 secluded and shaded sites, ranging from rustic to modern with water and electrical hookups. There is one group site that can accommodate up to 60 people, using tents, with water and electricity hook-ups. The campground also offers 2 camper cabins.
Only 25 minutes from Minneapolis / St. Paul. Biking, fishing, boating, golf, and swimming are just a few of the many activities you will find within the park. Nature programs are held regularly at the campground amphitheater and at nearby Wargo Nature Center (one mile north of the campground). You can also get in a quick round of golf at Chomonix Golf Course, located just a mile down the road. (Long term camping is not permitted. Reservations are allowed for up to 7 consecutive nights and cannot exceed 7 reserved nights in a 30 day period.)
$20 - $32 / night
With more than 200 sites to choose from, you may have trouble picking your favorite spot! Camper cabins and sites with or without electrical hookups are available with shower and restroom facilities nearby.
Located within Baker Park Reserve, which offers miles of biking and hiking trails, swimming beaches, a play area, picnic areas, boat access, watercraft rentals and more.
Baker Campground has 203 sites, including 103 with electricity. Each site can accommodate two tents or one tent and one RV, and a maximum of eight people. Each site has a picnic table and fire ring, with wheelchair accessible showers and flush toilets nearby. There is an RV dump station available.
Baker has five 12’x16’ cabins. Each features a screened-in porch, table, benches and wooden bunk beds with mattresses, electricity, heat, overhead lighting, ceiling fans and outlets. The cabins are near a modern restroom facility that includes showers, changing rooms and dishwashing sinks. Three of the cabins can accommodate up to six people; two cabins are ADA-accessible and can accommodate up to five people.
Baker Campground encourages recycling and composting.
$21 - $29 / night
Big Rock Creek is a massive estate located just north of St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin. Boasting 980 acres this property is a true hidden gem less than 45 minutes from Minneapolis and St. Paul and just 2 miles from the St. Croix River!
Big Rock Creek offers 26 miles of hiking and biking trails, private lake full of Brown, Brooke and Rainbow trout, paddle boards, paddle boats, canoes, kayaks, event barn for rent, camping, glamping, vacation rental cabins, Geo Dome, special events and much, much more!
$225 - $500 / night
Backpack sites, located on remote lakes and ponds throughout the park, are one to two miles from the trailhead parking. New log camper cabins, located near lakes and ponds, provide bunk beds for six people and a table and benches for campers who want more of the creature comforts.
Scout
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Guide
I was traveling Eastward through the upper Midwest and had a really hard time in this area finding a place to camp. I finally came across this place. There was some suggestion that there was some drive in sites that were not reservable, that is. They were first come first serve. But I was unaware or unable to find those. I ended up paying a fair amount of money for a full hookup site. The bathrooms were extremely modern and clean.
There were some really nice wide trails around the lake. I think those were basically designed for cross-country skiing in the winter. But they made a perfect opportunity for me to let the dog run off. Leash. Probably was not within the rules, but it was very quiet there and the dog didn't bother anybody with her running.
Guide
This is a solid state park offering. The sites are decently spaced with good tree cover. Noise seemed to travel between sites, I had some loud neighbors during the day but they settled down before quiet hours. The grass was easy to get tent stakes into. Bathrooms were your basic state park situation. Clean with warm showers so no complaints from me. 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.
Scout
I am writing to you in regards to our recent stay at Big Rock Creek on the weekend of October 4-6 at the Lakeview Family Tent. I am not normally one to write reviews or give feedback, but we were very disappointed with our stay at Big Rock. We spent over$700 for lackluster amenities and customer service. I want to say that your grounds are beautiful and a great idea for a family stay. However, your website is quite deceiving. There was no mention on the website or anywhere in the booking paperwork that the bathroom facilities provided were a porta potty. Paying the amount of money we did- we expected a more permanent, clean bathroom facility with running water. It wasn’t until we arrived that we were informed that it would be a porta potty we would be using all weekend. We made the trek up to the barn to use the bathroom there and to be able to wash out hands only to find the floor to be covered in mud and no paper towels or toilet paper. As far as the firewood, again if we are paying over$700 for a weekend the firewood should be included in the cost of the tent rental. Having to pay extra for pretty much everything on your grounds(including firewood) was ridiculous and we decided to just forgo any extra activities due to the expensive price. We went for a relaxing family weekend, getting to see the Christmas lights everywhere at night was nice- however it was loud and intrusive during the day. The entire evening on Friday and the entire day on Saturday there was a crew of men working right outside our ten with a lift hanging lights. We were parked on the side of the tent and they were right next to our car. Listening to the lift going up and down all day along with the ATVs driving back and forth in front of the tent causing dust to fly up each time was not exactly relaxing. We felt this was quite rude honestly. I am not sure why this work needed to be done during the weekend when you had guests using the tent. We ended up leaving for the last part of the day because of the noise right next to the tent and the constant traffic of workers coming and going. I understand a cleaning charge as you have to wash linens, etc. But to be quite honest, the tent was not exactly clean when we arrived. There were stains all over the couch, leaves and pine needles all over the flooring inside the tent, it appeared it hadn’t been swept or cleaned. The coffee maker had built up grime and grounds left in it. There were no garbage bags to use in the bins. It wasn’t exactly clean and presentable. Overall, our stay was quite disappointing. Up at the Barn, there really wasn’t much to see or do, using a porta potty all weekend was disgusting, and the crew right next to the tent all weekend was noisy and intrusive. This short weekend stay was not worth the money we spent. We really looked forward to our stay there and it was nothing as portrayed on your website.
ScoutThis campground is closed permanently
Guide
The east part of the park was all closed for construction. Everything on the east side of the highway was closed so we could not hike a lot of the trails or use the beach which was a challenge with kids. Constructing is scheduled to the end of 2025.
We stayed in a group site but there was no way 35 people could have camped in W3. Vaulted toilets need help and a good cleaning.
The shower house needed a cleaning as well. There is no adjusting the shower temperature. Push the button and you get what you get.
Wood was $8 bundle. This was steep in my opinion. They do not all any gathering of firewood.
If your vehicle permit is not properly displayed, you will receive a notice on your windshield and have to talk with the office.
The dumpster was overflowing the whole time we were there.
Raccoons will visit your site at night. We had everything secured but they still tried and plenty of racket until we chased them away.
Lastly we had a battle with mosquitoes. We went through a lot of bug spray and coils. Deer flies were thick around the water filling station.
Although we did not stay in the main campground the sites are very close in there and were small.
Traveler
This is just the best campground that is close to Minneapolis! Peaceful, quiet, with spacious sites that are situated in a staggered way, so you never feel like you’re on top of each other. The lake was a bit reedy and silty but overall a fantastic and easy option.
GuideI have been coming to Wild River since I was a kid. Nice park, scenic trails, horses on the way in.
Guide
I have stayed at Bunker a few times in site 33 and one of the walk in sites. Site 33 is very large and also very wide open. The walk in sites are a lot more secluded but not totally private. Really enjoy camping here, just wish it wasn't so expensive. It costs more than staying at a state park.
ScoutI’ve never had any experience here. But ☝🏼 it does look like a beautiful place to test for our anniversary this Fourth of July!!!
Guide
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
ScoutWent early in the season in the afternoon and had no problems getting a good spot with electric hookups. Better for someone with an RV, and more seemingly a weekend spot for the family.
Traveler
If you're looking for a beginner backpack spot, with privacy and not too far from the cities, then this will fit your bill. You can either do a short-hike from the parking lot via the road to B5 or a 1 mile easy hike via the trail. The backpacking sites are very spread out, we could barely tell anyone else was at the park with us ever.
B5 was beautiful, already lots of mosquitos for May (and appeared poison oak/ivy). I'm not sure what this park does differently than most other parks, but our privy was LOADED with spiders. I get it, it's the outdoors. But still, I've used many in-ground toilets and never had dozens of spiders covering the toilet seat/front.
Another reason we chose this park was for birding. The park ranger at check-in was not helpful and then said he's never heard of MN State Parks free birding kits to borrow, though it's clearly listed on several spots on their website. Bummer, but we still enjoyed our time.
Traveler
Good pricing, great trails for all different skill levels and nice staff. Our site was mighty large and for the most part secluded from those near and on the path. $22 for the site, $8 for reservation. $8 for wood (all you can chop) and $7 for the overnight and next day parking pass for one car. Beautiful surroundings and clean bathrooms and grills one mile mostly uphill hike from parking lot but not to difficult and some paved parts. Definitely coming back.
GuideBaker is our favorite campground when visiting family in the Twin Cities. The grounds are absoutely gorgeous, with huge hardwoods that provide lots of shaded sites. RV pads are gravel. Shower facilities are very nice. We enjoy walking the grounds down to the lake.
Lake Independence has occasional bouts of bacteria that can result in beach closings. So if swimming is an important part of your camping getaway, be sure to check whether the beach is open.
I can also say the site D03 is densely shaded, which is great for spreading out on hot summer days, but there is little grass near the pad which can result in muddy conditions after a deluge.
RangerNice well maintained State Park. Some sites (12e) are hard to back a trailer into because the main road is VERY NARROW and not enough radius to back a 24ft trailer using a full size truck, extended cab, with long bed. Nice sized sites and picnic tables.
BRING DRINKING WATER! The water is VERY RUSTY! We even ran the water through a filter and still couldn’t get it cleared up. Sign says better water is by the park office.
Can hear the interstate highway in the park during the night.
Great trails.
We will try site 34 next time, nice location.
Guide
Only tricky part is finding a level spot if you don't have leveling rams or jacks. Otherwise it's relatively well spaced apart sites with 20amp service. Clean modern facilities and beautiful grounds. Came in around $24 for our stay.
TravelerThe "loops" aren't straight so it gives a variety of sizes in the sites. Some loops are electric and some aren't. No water or sewer at any sites. Water and dump station located at the office. Office staff are very helpful. Beautiful park to walk around. Couldn't do anything at the lake due to bacteria in the lake.
ScoutThe designers of this park have clearly never spent a night in an RV. This place pushes all of my buttons for things not to do when building an RV park.
Virtually every site in the park is a blind back in from the driver seat. You’re trying to back your trailer into a site on the right side without being able to see anything over there. Additionally, the site number pedestals for each site are right against the corner of the driveway where you have to back around them without being able to see them. Number pedestals for all sites are also right against the road, limiting the amount that you can swing your tow vehicle to the opposite side of the road to back into the site. I will guarantee that not one person on the design team has ever backed, a travel trailer or fifth wheel into an RV site. The owners should have checked the credentials of the designers they hired. If they did, they were lied to. If they didn’t, then they just didn’t care about their customers.
Finally, one of my all-time favorites, all of the sewer connections are cut off about 12 inches above the ground. This means that even in a relatively tall fifth wheel, you are going to be trying to make shit filled water flow uphill. These things need to be cut off just an inch or two above the ground level so that your sewage can flow downhill.
If you were here to spend an evening gambling at the casino, the place is roomy and well maintained. If you just want to spend the night, and not spend half of it trying to get into your site and set up, there’s got to be someplace close that would be better to go. We won’t be back.
Scout
Being from Alberta my campground standards are high but I also prefer a neat and simple campsite. When Rice Creek Campground opens up again in April I'd highly recommend going there if all you want is a simple camping experience to get away from the city grind. I had my tent, fire and books to read and was the happiest camper in the world. I went there no joke because my driver from tow truck red deer recommended it and I stopped while in the area. So glad I did!
ScoutGreat campground. Clean bathrooms, and friendly at office. Beautiful this time of year! Hiking was awesome
TravelerStayed for two nights at a drive-in double site here and found it ideal for autumn camping. We didn’t think we would get colors, but they came out a little early, adding a few splashes to the hiking and river view.
Site was private enough, the woods surrounding dense enough to obscure others while still feeling open. Also open enough to spot three white-tail deer.
Hike to the Nevers Dam lookout was easy enough for a five year old to walk (most of it) — featuring some very cool fallen trees and a wonderful winding staircase — and the adjacent sandy beach was a pleasant and peaceful surprise.
One complaint is that the nearby vault toilet reeked of amonia and was unusable so we had to walk to the adjacent loop for bathroom. Silver lining is that we discovered the free little library near that bathroom and grabbed a copy of ‘Ramona the Brave’ for the kiddo. We went back and left a copy of ‘Amira’s Picture Day.’
Guide
We stayed here a week. I have been here before. It's a great campground if you can get in. We came late in the season and got the one spot open for a week. BTW Camping Worlds huge store is just north on 35E. Kelly's Bar nearby has a great fish fry on Friday.
The campground is neat and well managed. Aside from that no issues except being so close to a large city (Urban campgrounds are not for wilderness campers) and county airport (noise) occasionally. Close to the Twin Cities it is. Access to anywhere is easy. The Three rivers campgrounds triangulate the northern suburbs. Baker park, Bunker Hills Park, and Rice Creek are all close to the major parts of town.
ScoutThis place had awesome trails and so many deer ! It’s like they were camping with us.
TravelerGreat campground with all the amenities one might need, including showers, nice bathrooms, a park, a beach, trails. Right next to lakes and a nature preserve. Close enough to town in case you forget some things like we did. A county parking pass is required, they don't like people parking on the grass, and they have staff making rounds to enforce the shortest list of rules I've seen in the last couple of years. My only complaint is that the location of the porta-potties didn't match what the maps showed, so my seemingly perfect plan to be somewhat far from them failed and I ended up right next to one; it was clean and didn't smell, but we heard the door close every time. They have the campsites spaced out better than most other places I've camped and have trees and brush between the sites whenever possible. We tent camped and plan to bring our travel trailer next year. Definitely plan to stay here at least once a season.
TravelerI went camping alone on this campground, I brought my smaller 20ft trailer and had the most peaceful experience
ScoutWe had a fun time staying at the state park. Easy walking trails surround the park which is nice and convenient. Close proximity to Stillwater which made for a nice day trip. Camp sites were very clean and easy to access. Didn't feel like you were camping right next to others despite a lot of spots surrounding us.
Frequently Asked Questions
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According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular cabin campground near North Branch, MN is Wild River State Park Campground with a 4.3-star rating from 43 reviews.
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