Tent camping in Oakdale, Minnesota offers varied terrain across a 40-mile radius, with elevation ranging from river valleys to prairie highlands. Most campgrounds in the area remain open from April through late October, though winter camping is available at select parks with seasonal facilities. The region's deciduous forest provides different camping experiences as foliage changes throughout the season.
What to do
Swimming at natural beaches: Afton State Park Campground provides a beach area popular during summer months. One camper noted, "Less than an hour drive from Minneapolis this is a good get away. Highlight of this location is beach which is nice for swim and sun bath. But beach isn't motor vehicle accessible so expect 5-10 min walk."
Hiking varied terrain: William O'Brien State Park Campground features trails across multiple landscapes. A visitor mentioned, "We love this park!! very friendly and well kept! Two campgrounds to chose from. Tons of hiking, fishing, and great picnic area next to the river!"
Wildlife observation: The prairie sections at Crow Hassan Park Reserve offer excellent bird watching. According to one visitor, "I never tire walking the dog park circle along the crow river! Great for birding and tons of beautiful trails!"
Seasonal color viewing: Fall camping provides distinctive experiences with changing foliage. A camper at Nerstrand Big Woods State Park shared, "This is a great campground for Fall camping. The color's are amazing. Nice hiking trails. Little area to get wet but not swimming."
What campers like
Diverse site locations: Campers appreciate the range of tent sites from prairie to wooded settings. One visitor to Afton State Park Campground commented, "The hike to the campground is short and grueling. A few of the sites are in wooded areas, but we stayed in one of the prairie sites. The terrain is just hilly enough - and in August - the grass long enough to give the sites a sense of privacy and seclusion."
Quick access from urban areas: The proximity to the Twin Cities makes Oakdale tent camping convenient for weekend trips. A camper noted, "I have long overlooked William O'Brien because I thought you had to drive a long way to get away. I was wrong! The point was to just go, not to really travel far."
Variety of water features: From lakes to rivers, water access enhances camping experiences. One review stated, "Great park with lots of elevation. Right on the river," describing the setting at Afton State Park.
Trail connections: Many tent sites connect directly to hiking networks. A reviewer at Nerstrand Big Woods State Park Campground observed, "The color's are amazing. Nice hiking trails. Little area to get wet but not swimming. Sites are good and some can handle bigger RVs."
What you should know
Water availability varies: Access to drinking water can be inconsistent at some locations. One camper warned about Afton State Park, "This may be an ongoing issue but none of the water faucets or water pumps on the trails at Afton State Park are working. The good news is you can fill up on cold drinking water at the visitor center before trekking around the park's beautiful hiking trails!"
Cell service limitations: Connectivity can be spotty throughout the Oakdale camping region. A camper at William O'Brien noted, "Cell reception for T-Mobile was minimal to non-existent. Wifi is available in the visitor center parking lot."
Wildlife encounters: Nocturnal animals frequently visit campsites. A review mentioned, "Raccoons will visit your site at night. We had everything secured but they still tried and plenty of racket until we chased them away."
Construction closures: Some parks have ongoing improvement projects. A recent visitor to William O'Brien State Park reported, "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."
Tips for camping with families
Cabin options for transitional camping: For families new to tent camping, cabins provide a middle ground. A visitor to Afton State Park shared, "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!"
Noise considerations: Weekend crowds affect the camping experience. One camper advised, "Good location for peace and quiet if you avoid the weekends. 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."
Pack for insects: Mosquitoes and deer flies require preparation, especially near water sources. A visitor reported, "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."
Firewood logistics: Campgrounds have different firewood policies and availability. At Afton State Park, "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."
Tips from RVers
Site spacing awareness: RV campers should research site dimensions carefully. A visitor noted, "The sites have quite a few trees separating them, but most of the sites on the C loop back up almost into the sites on the right side of the B loop, so we basically had the back our neighbor's trailer hanging almost into our site."
Backing challenges: Some campgrounds have sites difficult for trailers. A camper explained, "There's some sites that are tricky to back a trailer into, which would have been helped by some maintenance - there were LOTS of branches that needed to be trimmed back."
Winter camping considerations: Year-round tent camping requires specialized facilities. A visitor to William O'Brien noted, "The cabin we stayed in felt very welcoming. Unknown at the time I booked it, the cabin offered Wi-Fi access that ended up not working for us anyway, so that at least allowed for a bit more of a rustic experience in the end."
