P
Preston R.
Guide
GuideSouth of Sand Dunes State Forest
Got multiple spots to stop on the side of the road. Plenty of down wood to have a fire.
Tent Camping near North Branch, MN
6 campgrounds with availability next weekend
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Tent campsites in the North Branch, Minnesota region range from hike-in backcountry sites to primitive campgrounds along the St. Croix River. William O'Brien State Park Campground and Afton State Park offer dedicated tent camping areas within an hour's drive, making them among the best tent campgrounds accessible from North Branch. Several sites in the area, including Sunrise Ferry Landing in the Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway, provide primitive tent camping options with varying levels of amenities and accessibility.
Most tent-only sites feature basic amenities including fire rings and picnic tables, with limited access to potable water. Walk-in tent sites at Afton State Park require approximately a mile hike, with some routes involving moderate elevation gain and switchbacks. Vault toilets are available near clusters of campsites, though campers should bring their own toilet paper as supplies may be limited. A camper noted, "Each site had a fire ring with grate and table but no bear box," highlighting the need to properly secure food. Sites typically include designated tent pads that accommodate 1-2 tents, with some offering partial tree cover for shade and protection from elements.
The backcountry tent camping near North Branch provides notable seclusion despite proximity to the Twin Cities. Many sites are positioned to maximize privacy, with adequate spacing between neighboring campsites. The terrain varies from wooded settings to open prairie landscapes overlooking bodies of water. As one visitor commented, "It's secluded and you don't see any other campers here but easy enough to get to." Tent campers particularly appreciate the riverside sites at William O'Brien State Park, where cool breezes off the St. Croix River can be refreshing during summer months but potentially chilling during spring and fall camping. Wildlife sightings are common, with reports of deer, various bird species, and occasional bear activity, making proper food storage essential for tent campers in the area.
Best Tent Campgrounds near North Branch (35)
1. William O'Brien State Park Campground
"I camped here in April and got a camping spot on the edge of the River Campground facing the woods. I loved this spot and it was plenty big for parking two cars, tent, hammock, chairs, you name it!"
"Our site was a non-electric site on the outside ring, with just a thin slip of woods and a hiking trail between us and the St. Croix river."
6 Sites AvailableAvailable next weekend
from $25 - $90 / night
2. Trade River Equestrian Camp — Governor Knowles State Forest
"Lots of hiking and close to the river for some kayaking etc."
Check Availabilityfrom $20 - $35 / night
3. Old Railroad Bridge
"Includes a few picnic tables, and a pit toilet. It's a beautiful open area not far from the parking lot with a gorgeous view of the St. Croix River."
4. Spring Creek
5. Goose Creek
6. Sunrise Ferry Landing — Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway
7. Cedar Point Resort and Campground
8. Nevers Dam — Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway
9. Afton State Park Campground
"Backpacking to the top hill sites has gotten easier as the park has curved the new wide groomed and wood chipped trail to spiral around the hill instead of a straight climb."
"We did the backpack site so you hike in almost a mile and you go up on the ridge that's open in the middle but each site is heavily forested and some overlook the river."
Check AvailabilityCampground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $22 - $85 / night
10. Lily Springs Regenerative Farm
"Both the White Pine Meadow and the Lakeside Serenity sites are amazing and large. We wound up staying at the Lakeside site, which has a nice view of Mud Lake and one of the herds of goats."
Check Availabilityfrom $70 / night
Drive Time
- 38 min from Minneapolis, MN
- 1 hr 12 min from St. Cloud, MN
- 1 hr 27 min from Duluth, MN
- 1 hr 45 min from Eau Claire, WI
Recent Tent Camping Photos near North Branch, MN
56 Photos of 35 North Branch Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Tent Camping Reviews near North Branch, MN
708 Reviews of 35 North Branch Campgrounds
- AAnders H.
ScoutBaker Campground - Baker Park Reserve
First time
We stayed at Baker as a family for our first camping trip, and it was great. Fire pit with swivel grate for cooking, bathrooms, and plenty to explore.
Mindy B.GuideApple River County Park Campground
Peaceful, hidden gem for simple campers, wonderful water
There are surprisingly few campgrounds in this area with overnight camping - most are just giant trailer parks for people who stay the entire season. We were pleased to find this "real" campground close enough for segment hikes on the Ice Age Trail, 12 miles away at the closest. Some sites do have electricity, but pit toilets, no showers. I took advantage of the Apple River instead - it's just a short walk away, wonderful for wading, has some deeper pools for a cool dip. The water from the hand pump is cold and delicious. We noticed several cars, probably local, stop and fill jugs to take home.
- TTimGuide
St Croix River Resort
Great Family Campground
Many activities throughout the day for the family. Kids enjoyed the pool. The store has a nice selection of items for sale. Firewood is $8 a bundle.
The campsites are close but there is enough trees between sites to make it seem like you are not so close.
There are atvs and utvs but at night they are not moving around.
Tori K.
LegendLake Rebecca Park Reserve
Great Trails!
Great trails and close to home! Always a good spot for a last-minute trip for me or a place to test out new gear since it is so close to home!
Gail G.GuideRiver Terrace Park
love the river views and shade
Needs alot of updates, old facility with no amenities. Shower water, barely warm, sign on mens bathroom says, bring your own toilet paper. For most part the park is quiet, shady, but again could use some improvements. There are 3 long pull-thru sites for overnight stops
FrosTWorX P.ScoutWillow River State Park Campground
Now this camping
Pretty much in the middle of nowhere surrounded by small towns.
- MMelissa S.Scout
Pardun’s Jack Pine Campground
This is for Pardun’s Tube Rental. Don't give this man your business!
If I could give this company negative stars I would. I would never recommend this company to even my worst enemy. This was our second experience with them. The first time took a long time but we knew it wasn’t their fault because the river was low and that’s out of their control. Our tubes were also good. The owner’s dad(Jerry?) picked us up and was so nice and sweet. We laughed at all our hiccups along the way.
This time around, it was just my friend and I and we were having a wonderful time for the first 2.5-3 hours. Then we realized we weren’t moving and the wind was blowing us upstream. We kept trying to go, waiting to see the landing. By the 5 hour mark we kept trying to call Pardun’s to mention that we were trying to come back and to let them know that we’d probably be later than expected and to see if they had any tips. Since the cell service is almost non existent, the calls would not go through. By that time, we didn’t know what to else to do but call 911. By the time we were able to get a hold of someone to ask for help, we were nearing 6 hours on the river. They called Pardun’s to let them know and the owner(Guy?) and his son were waiting to pick us up. As soon as they saw us, the snarky disrespectful remarks started and they began making fun of us. The owner was relentless. It was one rude remark after another. This was at about 9pm. When I started crying and asking him to stop talking to me, the a-hole dug in even more and had to get the last word in. It kept on until I screamed at him to shut the F up. I couldn’t take it anymore. He then stopped and started trying to kick us off the bus. I was sitting in the seat, sobbing while my friend was nicely asking him to just please go and please stop with the comments. He wouldn’t. Once we got back to Danbury, he stopped the bus and walked away. His son helped us get our stuff out and his wife eventually came out to make sure that we had our keys and let us know she had called the other people involved to let them know we were back. The son was initially being kind of a jerk when we got on the bus but he apologized to us soon after. His waste of a human father didn’t.
Please do not give this man your business. I have never been so humiliated and made to feel as awful as he made me feel. The blatant disrespect and language from the minute he saw was unbelievable. This man is the most awful human I have ever encountered. I sure hope he treats his wife and his mother with a little more compassion and empathy.
Dana D.GuideEagles Landing Campground
Clean and pretty. But some traffic noise.
This is a well taken care of and pretty campground. The staff in the office is very nice. It's very small. Nice view of a running creek with wildlife. But there is traffic noise, you are very near the road. There is a nice little laundromat, clean showers and good drinking water here also. Great T-Mobile access.
Guide to North Branch
Tent camping in the North Branch, Minnesota area offers direct access to the St. Croix River Valley ecosystem with its unique mix of hardwood forests and prairie landscapes. The region sits at elevations between 850-950 feet above sea level and experiences summer temperatures averaging 70-85°F with cool nighttime temperatures often dropping into the 50s. Several campgrounds within a 30-minute drive provide both walk-in and drive-in tent camping options near the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway.
What to do
Trail running on varied terrain: Afton State Park Campground features elevation changes that challenge runners and hikers. "Lots of elevation. Great park with lots of trails," notes Timothy S., who appreciates the park's river proximity.
Goat watching at regenerative farms: Unique camping experiences at Lily Springs Regenerative Farm include watching farm animals. "You park your car where the gravel driveway ends, and you have the choice to set up your tent down by the lake or in the upper area which is more by the goats," explains a camper who enjoyed this permaculture-focused property.
Biking from the Twin Cities: For cyclists wanting a car-free camping trip, William O'Brien State Park offers accessibility via bike trails. "We bike from St. Paul to William O. It is a nice 40 mile ride mostly on paved or limestone trails," shares Bryan W., highlighting the park's accessibility for cycle-tourists.
What campers like
Private sites in prairie settings: Tent campers appreciate the natural screening at some sites. At Afton State Park, "The terrain is just hilly enough - and in August - the grass long enough to give the sites a sense of privacy and seclusion," according to Andrew C., who found the prairie camping experience surprisingly private.
Reduced crowds on weekdays: To avoid busy campgrounds, timing matters. At William O'Brien State Park Campground, one camper notes, "Arriving on a Sunday afternoon was a dream—very few people in the campground loop (especially the non-electric ones), but still able to take advantage of a weekend day."
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Campers frequently mention animal sightings as a highlight. "You can hear frogs all night and we even saw a turtle laying eggs in a different campsite," shares Laura E. about her experience at William O'Brien's Savanna Campground.
What you should know
Cell service limitations: Connectivity varies significantly across campgrounds. One camper at William O'Brien reports, "Cell reception for T-Mobile was minimal to non-existent. Wifi is available in the visitor center parking lot."
Challenging hikes to campsites: Be prepared for effort when accessing walk-in sites. At Afton State Park, "The hike to the campground is short and grueling," warns a camper. Another advises, "Would strongly discourage big coolers or lots of weight."
Seasonal water access concerns: Water availability can be inconsistent. At Trade River Equestrian Camp in Governor Knowles State Forest, water sources can be unreliable: "You might be able to get enough to filter but don't count on it in later summer months."
Tips for camping with families
Wildlife education opportunities: Use wildlife encounters as teaching moments. William O'Brien's camper Laura E. mentioned turtle egg-laying, while another noted, "There were so many different kinds of birds, and the wildflowers were blooming and ferns were unfurling."
Pack appropriate firewood tools: When firewood requires processing, bring appropriate tools. A camper at Afton State Park notes, "They do have firewood available however it is long slab wood, so you do need to cut it yourself. Hand hacksaws are provided, but we're not great quality which made cutting the wood difficult."
Consider camper cabins for shoulder seasons: For tent camping alternatives during unpredictable weather, Old Railroad Bridge and several nearby parks offer cabin options. "Camper Cabin (Eastern Bluebird) - Perfect little cabin nestled in the southern half of the park! Screened in porch, heated with electricity, and two double bunk beds!" shares an Afton State Park visitor.
Tips from RVers
Parking logistics for tent campers with vehicles: Even tent campers should note parking situations. At Lily Springs Farm, a visitor explains, "You park your car where the gravel driveway ends... Be prepared to make multiple trips back and forth between your car and your campsite."
Shower facilities vary widely: Bathroom and shower amenities differ between campgrounds near North Branch. A William O'Brien camper notes, "The shower house needs some paint, but had been cleaned," while at other campgrounds like Trade River, facilities may be completely absent.
Site spacing considerations: Campsite proximity affects the tent camping experience. At William O'Brien, a camper observes, "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."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent
campsite near North Branch, MN?
Which is the most popular tent campsite near North Branch, MN?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near North Branch, MN is William O'Brien State Park Campground with a 4.3-star rating from 40 reviews.
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tent camping near
North Branch, MN?
What is the best site to find tent camping near North Branch, MN?
TheDyrt.com has all 35 tent camping locations near North Branch, MN, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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