Otsego's riverside location along the Mississippi River creates unique camping opportunities with mostly flat terrain at elevations around 900 feet. Most campgrounds in the region remain open from early May to mid-October, with seasonal weather patterns bringing humid summers that can reach the mid-80s and cool autumn nights that drop into the 40s by late September. Several campgrounds feature specific riverfront sites with direct water access.
What to do
Tubing on the Rum River: Country Camping Tent & RV Park on the Rum River offers tubing trips with shuttle service. "We have a heated pool, splash pad area, BIG playground area, indoor game room, HUGE sites! You can either relax in the pool or even take a ride down the rum river in a rented canoe,tube, or kayak," shares Spencer C.
Visiting Quarry Park: Located near St. Cloud-Clearwater RV Park, this unique attraction features swimming quarries and hiking trails. "We stayed here to visit the nearby quarry park and that was a blast!" mentions Teresa O., highlighting this popular day trip option.
Wildlife watching: Baker Campground - Baker Park Reserve offers excellent bird watching opportunities along its trails. "I love birding here as well," notes Alison O., while another camper mentions the "rain garden... with its lush greenery and vibrant blooms attracting local wildlife for a truly immersive nature experience."
Mini-golf and recreation: Multiple rv parks near Otsego, Minnesota offer family recreation facilities. "It has a 9 hole mini golf, shuffleboard, salt water pool, and a lobby/gift shop. They also offer a nice seating area for those hot or raining days with free arcade," explains a visitor to St. Cloud-Clearwater RV Park.
What campers like
Spacious campsites: Many RV parks in the Otsego area feature larger-than-average sites. "Large sites. Great tubing and canoeing," writes Rory T. about Country Camping, while another visitor describes the "HUGE sites" that accommodate larger vehicles.
Water features: Campgrounds with river access and pools rank highly. "The key thing is the river is very clean and sandy bottom," David G. notes about Country Camping Tent & RV Park, highlighting the swimming opportunities beyond the "heated pool, splash pad area."
Mature trees and natural settings: Campers appreciate the wooded environments at several parks. A visitor to St. Cloud-Clearwater describes "absolutely beautiful campground with mature trees. Cedars, white oaks, hickory's and more. The birds are singing and so are the kids because this place has so much to do for them."
Clean facilities: Consistently mentioned across reviews is the quality of bathrooms and showers. At Baker Campground, visitors note the "bathroom/showers are great" and describe them as "nice and clean, some of the best I've seen at a campground!"
What you should know
Reservation timing: Summer weekends fill quickly at popular campgrounds. "We arrived at Country Camping on a Friday afternoon and were shocked to find just two open spots," reports a visitor, highlighting the need to book well in advance during peak season.
Connectivity issues: WiFi quality varies significantly between RV parks in the Otsego region. At St. Cloud Campground & RV Park, one camper noted it was "the worst wifi of about 15 campgrounds we've been to on our trip this year. They warned us it was slow, but we couldn't even connect to it from our site."
Site differences: Within the same campground, site quality and privacy can vary significantly. A visitor to Baker Park explains: "The sites are about as private as the typical state park, so not very, but that is offset by all the other positives this campground has to offer."
Seasonal limitations: Most RV parks near Otsego close by mid-October. According to posted information, St. Cloud Campground operates "May 1 to Oct 10" while Baker Park Reserve runs "Apr 30 - Oct 20," providing slightly more extended season options.
Tips for camping with families
Playground proximity: Select sites near recreational areas for convenience. At Bertram Chain of Lakes Regional Park Campground, one visitor notes the "awesome trails and so many deer! It's like they were camping with us," creating natural wildlife viewing opportunities for children.
Kid-friendly amenities: Campgrounds with dedicated children's areas receive high marks from families. Beasty B. shares about Country Camping: "I stayed here with my wife and 2 young children and it was fantastic great playground and heated pool the spaces were well kept and spaced apart. A ton for the kids to do!"
Beach access considerations: Baker Park offers two separate swimming beaches. "There are 2 swimming beaches: 1 for the campground and one for all of the day visitors," explains Jennifer H., noting that this separation helps manage crowds during busy periods.
Weather preparedness: Summertime stays often feature high humidity and occasional storms. One visitor reported experiencing "a TERRIBLE storm with nickel to quarter size hail" that damaged roof vent covers, highlighting the importance of weather awareness when camping with families in this region.
Tips from RVers
Leveling requirements: Many campgrounds feature relatively level sites but may have specific areas requiring adjustments. An RVer at RiversEdge RV Park notes the "concrete patios on every lot" and "crushed granite streets and drives" which facilitate easier setup.
Electric limitations: During peak summer heat, electrical systems can become strained. "We had one issue with power dropping so we had to pull the surge protector off. It was fine. Also very hot and humid so everyone was running AC to the max," reported David G., suggesting surge protection equipment for summertime RV camping.
Dump station access: Multiple facilities offer sanitary dump stations, but specific operating hours may apply. Love's RV Hookup provides convenient dump facilities for travelers along I-94, with a camper noting it's "still open in the winter! Convenient location right off I94 and HWY 23."
Off-peak advantages: Shoulder season camping offers better availability and quieter experiences. "The campground is nice and clean. Good size spaces. The tubing is a plus," noted a late-season camper, while another mentioned "during the week and busy on the weekends" as the typical pattern for occupancy.
