Oak Grove, Minnesota and the surrounding area feature a mix of established campgrounds and dispersed camping opportunities within an hour of the Twin Cities metro. Country Camping Tent & RV Park on the Rum River offers tent and RV sites with riverfront access, while Bunker Hills Regional Park in Coon Rapids provides wooded campsites with electric hookups. Several campgrounds in the region accommodate various camping styles including tent camping, RV sites with full hookups, and cabin rentals. Ham Lake Resort and Minneapolis Northwest KOA round out the established camping options with amenities for different camping preferences.
Seasonal operations affect most campgrounds in the Oak Grove area, with many facilities open from May through October. Bunker Hills Regional Park typically operates from May to mid-October, while Country Camping RV Park generally welcomes campers from May 1 to October 1. Reservations are recommended at most established campgrounds, especially during summer weekends and holidays. Dispersed camping options like areas south of Sand Dunes State Forest provide more primitive experiences with few amenities but greater privacy and flexibility. A camper noted, "You can camp for free for 21 days at a time if you're a rock hound. Great place for it - got stuck in a ditch last year for the whole weekend, not one person came by, that's how private it is."
Riverside camping represents a popular option in the area, particularly along the Rum River. Visitors frequently mention water activities as highlights of their stay. "Love this place. Close to the Twin Cities, right on the Rum River. Great tent sites right on the river. Tubing! They have a bus that takes you into town, float back to the campground," one camper wrote about Country Camping. Bunker Hills Regional Park receives praise for its wooded setting despite being in a suburban area. A visitor remarked, "Heavily wooded with oak trees, lots of privacy, campsites are spaced out well. Nice trails, facilities down the road, many biking trails, and cool on a hot summer day." Most developed campgrounds in the region offer amenities like showers, flush toilets, and electric hookups, while dispersed sites provide a more rustic experience.
$20 - $32 / night
"I was very happy with the trails and accommodations available to me, during my stay."
"It has a golf course, a restaurant is on the grounds, there is a stable with horses/ponies that you can take guided trail rides on, a water park(it is called The Beach, which was very confusing for us"
"For the proximity to the city and nearby highways, this was a good spot. Didn’t expect to see as many campers as I did, but all seemed to be friendly."
"I love that it's so close to home. I was able to walk in and find an incredible spot to camp and lay in my hammock."
$40 - $75 / night
"Nice river nearby canoeing swimming pool fireplaces and little store for treats."
$50 / night
"Lots of close camp sites for larger groups near the entrance. The further back you go on the road, the more spread out sites get. There are a few walk-in sites that I absolutely love."
"Just a quick one night trip but a perfect getaway close to home. Very quiet. Camp host was nice . Found a tucked away site that we could park Infront of for more privacy"
$20 - $75 / night
"Kelly's Bar nearby has a great fish fry on Friday. The campground is neat and well managed."
"It was very easy to find, close to the twin cities, and clean. There was good access to kindling for a fire in the nice fire pit that has a grill."
$54 - $999 / night
"The map provided was accurate which made locating the cruiser a breeze. There were further instructions inside as well. The RV was immaculate."
"The site was spacious and private-surrounded on 3 sides by trees. The bathrooms were clean. The pool area was clean and without issue."
"Sites are close to each other, but easy access, clean grounds and facilities, friendly staff, and a K9 fenced area for a pet friendly campground."
$21 - $29 / night
"Baker Park near Minneapolis Minnesota was a our camp choice for inexpensive camping on the last leg of our Minnesota vacation in 2017."
"The beaches are some of the best in Minnesota. The bike trails are nearby and plentiful."
"Close to the Twin Cities, right on the Rum River. Great tent sites right on the river.
Tubing! They have a bus that takes you into town float back to the campground, love it."
$25 - $90 / night
"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."
"We O'Brian has some of the best groomed trails that I have been on."
ScoutGot a nice spot by the water, big parking spot, little below the spot is an opening towards water with a fire pit. 2-3 bars of service but never had an issue. Worked well. Very private. Bugs weren’t bad either
ScoutI was able to find a campsite not on the road. There was a trail from the parking spot so keep an eye out. Lots of animals saw a turkey and coyote so just be aware. Very pretty and calm. Had to pick up some trash from other campers just a reminder to leave no trace.
TravelerWe stayed here from about 10pm to 6am. There were a ton of people there so it was hard finding somewhere to sleep. Once we did, it was very quiet and we got a good nights rest. There were a couple of cars that passed us in the morning when we left but nothing too crazy. The scenery was very beautiful. This is definitely a great free option if you’re looking for a peaceful spot in the woods to sleep!
TravelerI stayed there with my RV. Most all of the campsites were too small to park it, but I found one at the very end of the park to stay. Although the land itself is beautiful, the locals were reporting me to the DNR officer, who were clearly his friends, and accusing me of things I was not doing. Also, there’s a lot of traffic in and out of there and they fly through there day and night, as well as a lot of gunfire going off a lot of the time. I use T-Mobile service and I was on SOS most of the time. Not very impressed.
GuideSmall pullout area on state forest land. Can walk trail back to tent.
LegendInterstate Park in Wisconsin is just south of HWY 8 on HWY 35. The entrance is located on the west side of HWY 35 in the town of St. Croix Falls. St Croix Falls is a small town with a nice downtown on the river with plenty of restaurants (Dalles House Restaurant and Lounge is a favorite) and places for necessities. There are coffee shops, hotels and even a Wal-Mart nearby. There is also a casino in the town of Turtle Lake about 30 mins away.
The park is home to the western terminus of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail that covers 1200 miles through Wisconsin. The park also offers a Ice Age Interpretive Center which boasts interactive activities and displays of the last Ice Age. The park is also home to several other trails worth discovering.
There are two campgrounds in the park, a North and South campground as well as two group campsites. The South is a bit more rustic. The showers are located at the North campground.
For amenities there are flush toilets and showers. There is a sandy swimming area available as well as boat launch and other water activities.
This park is beautiful especially being on the cliffs of the St. Croix River offering spectacular views through out the park and the area. You can even take the bridge over to Taylor Falls Park Minnesota for more spectacular views as well as other shopping options. If you take this trip, Taylor Falls Park will be on the South and your shopping options will be to your North.
Even being in such a wonderful location with plenty of activities and amenities, I find the camping hard to enjoy at this park for all the noise that generates from the hwy crossing over the river. The sound especially of the semi trucks and their brakes that go all night long. This is the big reason for the average rating for this campground.
GuideNice spot right on the lake. Lots of animal noises! Pretty sunrise/sunset.
GuideGot in late on a Sunday night and there was plenty of space. Most sites are right along the gravel road so not super private. Wouldn’t recommend for large trailers/RVs as sites are small. Found a couple sets of deer bones right next to my site, not sure if it’s from hunters dumping their waste or coyotes but keep an eye out either way.
GuideKind of confusing for first time. Was not sure where I could camp. But then found out it's the spots right along road. Beautiful. Some good spots. Ended up in a pull thru around w view.
Oak Grove camping options provide convenient access to outdoor recreation within an hour of Minneapolis-Saint Paul. Located on gently rolling terrain at elevations between 870-920 feet, this area features a mix of oak savanna, sandy soil forests, and water features including the Rum River watershed. Sites in this region typically open from April through October, with summertime temperatures averaging 78-83°F and frequent evening thunderstorms during peak camping months.
Biking through varied terrain: Baker Park Reserve features over 6 miles of paved trails connecting to wider networks. "There are nice paved trails around a couple of lakes/ponds for biking, and easy access to the shower and bathroom facilities (which were very nice)," notes one camper at Baker Campground.
Water activities on multiple lakes: Swimming, fishing and boating opportunities abound across several campgrounds. At Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Regional Park, campers appreciate the beach access. "Great beach & sunrise. Highly recommend!" one visitor mentioned. The park also offers multiple fishing spots within walking distance of campsites.
Tubing adventures: Float down the Rum River for a relaxing summer activity. "The tubing is a plus. Key thing is the river is very clean and sandy bottom," reports a camper at Country Camping Tent & RV Park, which provides transportation services for tubers.
Wildlife observation: Sand Dunes State Forest area offers excellent wildlife viewing opportunities. "Very beautiful and lots of deer on the trails," reports a visitor who noted frequent animal sightings during morning and evening walks.
Spacious, secluded sites: Many campgrounds in the region offer sites with good separation. At Ann Lake, "Sites are large with varying degrees of privacy. Well spaced out, just some have less undergrowth."
Water features: The rivers and lakes remain a major draw. "The campground is nice and clean. Good size spaces. The tubing is a plus," explains a camper at Country Camping Tent & RV Park on the Rum River, who appreciates the "very clean and sandy bottom" of the river.
Amenities for children: Many campgrounds feature facilities specifically for younger campers. At Country Camping, one visitor noted: "I stayed here 3 weeks ago with my wife and 2 young children and it was fantastic great playground and heated pool the spaces were well kept and spaced apart 10-10 would most definitely go again! A ton for the kids to do!"
Urban wilderness proximity: Despite being close to metropolitan areas, several parks maintain a natural feel. "For being in the middle of the northern suburbs of Minneapolis, this park and campground is surprisingly woodsy, secluded and spacious," notes a camper at Bunker Hills Regional Park.
Seasonal considerations: Most campgrounds operate from May through October. At Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Regional Park, the season runs May to September with limited late-fall options.
Poison ivy prevalence: Several campgrounds have significant poison ivy. At Ann Lake, "Be aware that the undergrowth is at least 25% poison ivy. Sites are large so they are clear. If you're susceptible, not for you."
Reservation requirements: First-come-first-served camping exists but remains limited. "This campground is on a first come, first serve basis. There are no reservations for the regular sites (although I do think they might take reservations for the equestrian and group sites)," notes a camper about Ann Lake.
Wildlife encounters: Prepare for nighttime visitors at campsites. "Raccoons will visit your site at night. We had everything secured but they still tried and plenty of racket until we chased them away," reports a William O'Brien State Park camper.
Select campgrounds with amenities: Bunker Hills Regional Park offers numerous family-friendly features. "Something for everyone here! The facilities are well kept, the park is patrolled by rangers and the local sheriff after closing hours. Very safe place to camp. 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."
Combine water activities with camping: Several campgrounds feature swimming options near camping areas. "We spent two nights in the campground. It was fairly busy, but we still felt secluded despite a full campground. There are nice paved trails around a couple of lakes/ponds for biking, and easy access to the shower and bathroom facilities (which were very nice)," notes a Baker Park Reserve visitor.
Choose less busy weekdays: For quieter family experiences, consider non-weekend visits. "My first time solo camping was at William O'Brien State Park on a Sunday evening. 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."
Site selection considerations: At Minneapolis Northwest KOA, site placement varies significantly. "We tent camped here for a night while passing through. It's a basic KOA with a few amenities. The lots were really big and we had no one near us, so it was nice and private. Most of the lots near the front were occupied but the back was almost empty, which is where the more wooded lots are."
Facility access: Water and electricity availability differs between campgrounds. "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," notes a William O'Brien visitor.
Road conditions for larger vehicles: Some campgrounds have accessibility challenges. "30' class C motor home. Some overhanging branches on the road in scrape the top and sides. Campsites are nice, mowed, gravel parking. Fire rings and picnic tables at each site. Sites range from open and flat to secluded and a little hilly."
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Oak Grove, MN?
According to TheDyrt.com, Oak Grove, MN offers a wide range of camping options, with 127 campgrounds and RV parks near Oak Grove, MN and 7 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Oak Grove, MN?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Oak Grove, MN is Bunker Hills Regional Park with a 4.6-star rating from 16 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Oak Grove, MN?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 7 free dispersed camping spots near Oak Grove, MN.
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