Oak Grove camping options provide varied camping experiences within a one-hour radius of the Twin Cities. The area sits at approximately 900 feet elevation in Minnesota's central hardwood forest zone, where summer temperatures average 70-85°F with frequent evening thunderstorms. Wildlife viewing opportunities include white-tailed deer, pileated woodpeckers, and various migratory birds along the St. Croix River watershed.
What to do
Seasonal water activities: Country Camping on the Rum River offers tubing opportunities with clean water conditions. According to one visitor, "The river is very clean with a sandy bottom. The tubing is a plus."
Disc golf excursions: Bunker Hills Regional Park has excellent disc golf facilities that draw enthusiasts. A camper mentioned, "Close to a top 10 disc golf course if that's your thing (it's ours)."
Trail exploration: Wild River State Park features extensive riverside trails with wildlife viewing. One visitor noted, "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."
Horse riding opportunities: For equestrian enthusiasts, Crow Hassan Park Reserve provides dedicated facilities. A regular visitor shared, "This is my all-time favorite park to bring my horse to, and it's her favorite trail too."
What campers like
Secluded backpacking sites: Lake Maria State Park offers hike-in sites that provide genuine seclusion. A camper stated, "Only about a mile from the parking lot. This site was nearly surrounded by a lake which lended to a lot of bugs, but was absolutely gorgeous!"
Spacious woodland camping: Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Regional Park provides wooded sites with ample space. A visitor observed, "This is a beautiful park and the campsites for the most part all seem spacious, and the loop we were in all had decent tree cover."
Yurt camping options: For those interested in yurt camping near Oak Grove, Minnesota, Minneapolis Northwest KOA offers these structures with modern amenities. One camper described them as having "good hookups" and being "well maintained."
Private tent areas: Several campgrounds feature secluded tent sites. A visitor to Bunker Hills Regional Park shared, "The lower loops are definitely better for tent campers, even though quite a few spots could support an RV."
What you should know
Seasonal bug considerations: Mosquitoes and black flies can be intense, particularly at Lake Maria. A camper warned, "The black flies were dive bombing the car like a scene from Armageddon... Walking along the kids all looked like Pig-Pen from Peanuts."
Water park adjacent camping: Baker Campground offers water recreation facilities nearby. A visitor noted, "The lake is nice. There are 2 swimming beaches: 1 for the campground and one for all of the day visitors."
Reservation requirements: Most parks require advance booking, especially for specialized accommodations like yurts. Weekend reservations should be made 2-3 months in advance during summer.
Alternative glamping structures: Several parks offer cabin options beyond traditional yurt camping in Oak Grove vicinity. One visitor mentioned, "The camper cabins are a great option for people who don't have camping equipment."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Kozy Oaks Kamp provides extensive children's recreation areas. A visitor reported, "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!"
Indoor activities for rain days: Country Camping includes indoor options when weather doesn't cooperate. One visitor mentioned they have "an indoor game room for entertainment."
Swimming options: Multiple campgrounds feature pools or swimming areas. A visitor to Kozy Oaks Kamp shared, "They have a pool, splash pad area, BIG playground area, indoor game room, HUGE sites!"
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Several parks provide chances to see animals. A camper at Wild River State Park reported, "We saw sooooo many deer some even walking right through campsites! You can hear coyotes, raccoons and very loud owls."
Tips from RVers
Site selection considerations: At Minneapolis Northwest KOA, location matters significantly. A visitor advised, "If you wanted one with trees I needed to put a note on my reservation."
Utility connections: Electric service quality varies between parks. At Country Camping, one visitor mentioned, "Had one issue with power dropping so we had to pull the surge protector off then it was fine."
Size limitations: Different parks accommodate various RV sizes. At Wild River State Park, large RVs may struggle with access roads, while other parks like Country Camping can handle larger units: "Max trailer length that I've seen here is 70'. Anyone can fit in here!"
