Pine City, Minnesota sits in the transition zone between hardwood forests and prairie lands, offering diverse terrain for camping within an hour's drive of the Twin Cities. Seasonal changes impact cabin availability, with summer months bringing peak occupancy while spring and fall offer greater selection. The region's proximity to the St. Croix River system provides both recreational opportunities and natural barriers against urban sprawl.
What to do
Hiking along riverside trails: Wild River State Park Campground offers extensive hiking options with varied terrain and wildlife viewing. "The hiking trails were well marked and clean and the bathrooms were also nice! The real magic of Banning State Park was the beautiful river and the fauna. It was so so incredibly beautiful. Tall and lush trees in every direction! We also saw several different Warblers!" according to a visitor at Banning State Park Campground.
Paddling opportunities: The St. Croix River system provides multiple watercraft options with varying difficulty levels. A camper at Old Logging Trail — St. Croix State Park noted, "Clean, fairly private sites. Easy to get in and out. Walk in sites available. Canoe outfitters in park during most of the summer. A great way to spend a weekend."
Historical exploration: The region offers several historic sites including abandoned quarries and CCC-era structures. "The hiking here is amazing! The Quarry Loop along the Kettle River has a ton of history, allowing you to explore the remains of the 130+ year old sandstone quarry. Seeing the drill holes in the cliffs was really cool and the remains of the old buildings were a highlight even to our small children," shared a visitor who explored the historic features.
What campers like
Private sites for solitude: Many cabin campers appreciate the secluded options available in the region. As one camper at Wild River State Park Campground described, "The campground was very nice. The sites are private, couldn't see any neighbors as there are a lot of trees. The park rangers were very helpful and informative. The facilities were nice and we'll kept."
Star-gazing opportunities: Several campgrounds offer minimal light pollution for astronomical viewing. "This is a solid state park offering. The sites are decently spaced with good tree cover. The star gazing area was great! Intermittently had 1-2 bars of T-Mobile with LTE Internet. Wi-Fi is available at the park entrance," noted a visitor.
Abundant wildlife: Many campers report diverse wildlife sightings near their cabins. A visitor at Paint Rock Springs Campground mentioned, "The park is VERY LARGE, 33,000 acres! The prairie was beautiful this fall with all the native grasses and plants. The campgrounds, trails, and bathrooms are all well maintained. MANY BLACK Squirrels in the park!"
What you should know
Cell service limitations: Many cabin sites have limited or no connectivity. "St. Croix SP: was quite buggy due to a lot of recent rain. Highly recommend fogging your site or having a bug enclosure to help ward of the mosquitos. Multiple restrooms and showers throughout the campgrounds. Cell service is fairly spotty here so come with podcasts or shows downloaded ahead of time!" reported a camper at Paint Rock Springs Campground — St. Croix State Park.
Seasonal insect challenges: Spring and early summer bring increased mosquito activity, especially near water. "We had a terrible experience last year trying to camp here, BUT it's not the campgrounds fault! Unfortunately we chose the peak of mosquitos season and camping next to slow moving water is a recipe for disaster. It was also a very hot weekend."
Reservation requirements: Most cabin sites require advance booking, especially during summer months. A camper noted, "We decided to try an extend the camping season by staying here in the first weekend of October, and we were rewarded greatly! The colors were near peak and the water was really high, so there were many kayakers going down the river as we hiked along the parallel trails."
Tips for camping with families
Playgrounds and recreational amenities: Several campgrounds offer child-friendly facilities. At Grand Casino RV Resort, a visitor shared, "Best maintained RV resort ever! Adjacent to a large casino with hotels and restaurants. Less than two miles from I35. Everything is clean. There is a great pool. Beautiful grounds. All very well maintained."
Educational programming: Some parks provide nature-focused learning opportunities. "We spent a weekend here. It is nice and wooded. The pool is indoors which is nice and has drawbacks. It is a good sized pool. There is a nice playground for the kids and there are some nice trails. You are able to go tubing down the river when the water is low enough," explained a family that stayed at St. Croix River Resort.
Safety considerations: Parents should note specific hazards at different locations. "The beach is on the river and is very slimy bc of years of artificial beach making. Some of the other parts of the river are nicer and enjoyable. This would make a nice day trip but not great for an extended weekend," cautioned a visitor about beach conditions at one location.
Tips from RVers
Site layout challenges: Some cabin and RV sites have awkward configurations. "The designers of this park have clearly never spent a night in an RV. Virtually every site in the park is a blind back in from the driver seat. You're trying to back your trailer into a site on the right side without being able to see anything over there," noted a visitor at Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Regional Park.
Hookup variations: Water and electric availability varies significantly between camping cabins near Pine City. "We booked our stay at the RV Resort so we wouldn't have to drive two and a half hours back and forth during the two day Grand RockTember Music Festival. This RV Resort has 271 RV/Camping full hook up sites that include a picnic table and fire pit. The sites are very close together with little to no privacy."
All-season considerations: Some cabins offer year-round accessibility with varying amenities. "This is a great place for winter camping! The campsites are large enough (despite the snow) to set up suitable winter tents, and each site has a picnic table and fire pit. In the park, there's a lot of ice climbing and cross country skiing."
