P
Preston R.
Guide
GuideSouth of Sand Dunes State Forest
Got multiple spots to stop on the side of the road. Plenty of down wood to have a fire.
Tent Camping near Pine City, MN
44 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
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The St. Croix River valley near Pine City, Minnesota offers tent campers several primitive and developed campground options within a short drive. Robinson Park Camping provides riverside tent sites with picnic tables, fire rings, and designated tent pads, while William O'Brien State Park Campground features two distinct tent camping areas—Riverway and Savanna—about 35 miles south near Scandia. Both locations provide access to trails and water recreation along the St. Croix River, making them popular tent campgrounds for weekend trips from the Twin Cities.
Most tent campsites in the Pine City region include basic amenities like fire rings and picnic tables, though campers should bring their own water or filtration systems as drinking water access varies between locations. Robinson Park offers primitive tent-only sites that are first-come, first-served, with payment required via an honor system at the nearby Sandstone village office. Vault toilets are available at most locations, though shower facilities are limited to the larger established campgrounds like William O'Brien State Park. Tent campers should be prepared for varying site conditions, with many locations having uneven terrain and limited flat areas for setting up larger tents.
Areas farther from main campground loops typically offer more seclusion for backcountry tent camping experiences. A camper noted that at Robinson Park, "I enjoyed this little spot in early April. We camped at spot 4 right along the river. Picnic tables, fire rings, and a tent pad at every spot. Realistically, each site was only big enough for one tent." Tent-only sites in both parks tend to be smaller but often provide better privacy than the mixed-use camping areas. The region's tent campgrounds fill quickly during summer weekends, especially those closest to the Twin Cities, but mid-week visits often allow tent campers to enjoy peaceful sites with fewer neighbors. Fall and spring shoulder seasons provide excellent tent camping opportunities with reduced crowds and comfortable temperatures, though early spring can bring wet conditions and mosquitoes at riverside locations.
Best Tent Campgrounds near Pine City (44)
1. Old Railroad Bridge
"Includes a few picnic tables, and a pit toilet. It's a beautiful open area not far from the parking lot with a gorgeous view of the St. Croix River."
2. Robinson Park Camping
"I wanted to be close to Banning State Park without the reservations. Early spring in Minnesota left us little cover between sites, but we were the only ones there."
"Ropinion park is a historic walk through time with year around activities your bound to find something to interest you from hiking and rock climbing to fishing and boating this little park has something"
from $10 - $30 / night
Check Availability3. Trade River Equestrian Camp — Governor Knowles State Forest
"Lots of hiking and close to the river for some kayaking etc."
from $20 - $35 / night
Check Availability4. William O'Brien State Park Campground
"I camped here in April and got a camping spot on the edge of the River Campground facing the woods. I loved this spot and it was plenty big for parking two cars, tent, hammock, chairs, you name it!"
"Our site was a non-electric site on the outside ring, with just a thin slip of woods and a hiking trail between us and the St. Croix river."
from $25 - $90 / night
Check Availability5. Middle St. Croix — Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway
6. Cedar Point Resort and Campground
7. Governor Knowles State Forest Remote Camping — Governor Knowles State Forest
8. Rushmore Campgrounds
9. Head Of The Rapids
10. Nelsons Landing
Drive Time
- 56 min from Minneapolis, MN
- 1 hr 10 min from Duluth, MN
- 1 hr 19 min from St. Cloud, MN
- 2 hrs 3 min from Eau Claire, WI
Recent Tent Camping Photos near Pine City, MN
26 Photos of 44 Pine City Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Tent Camping Reviews near Pine City, MN
536 Reviews of 44 Pine City Campgrounds
Mindy B.GuideApple River County Park Campground
Peaceful, hidden gem for simple campers, wonderful water
There are surprisingly few campgrounds in this area with overnight camping - most are just giant trailer parks for people who stay the entire season. We were pleased to find this "real" campground close enough for segment hikes on the Ice Age Trail, 12 miles away at the closest. Some sites do have electricity, but pit toilets, no showers. I took advantage of the Apple River instead - it's just a short walk away, wonderful for wading, has some deeper pools for a cool dip. The water from the hand pump is cold and delicious. We noticed several cars, probably local, stop and fill jugs to take home.
- AAndy S.
ScoutDago Lake
Nope
Have to balance out the last review. Right off the road, you can’t drive very far in. Looks like a squatter camping from the road. Also feels like squatting on the corner of someone’s property off the road.
- TTimGuide
St Croix River Resort
Great Family Campground
Many activities throughout the day for the family. Kids enjoyed the pool. The store has a nice selection of items for sale. Firewood is $8 a bundle.
The campsites are close but there is enough trees between sites to make it seem like you are not so close.
There are atvs and utvs but at night they are not moving around.
- MMelissa S.Scout
Pardun’s Jack Pine Campground
This is for Pardun’s Tube Rental. Don't give this man your business!
If I could give this company negative stars I would. I would never recommend this company to even my worst enemy. This was our second experience with them. The first time took a long time but we knew it wasn’t their fault because the river was low and that’s out of their control. Our tubes were also good. The owner’s dad(Jerry?) picked us up and was so nice and sweet. We laughed at all our hiccups along the way.
This time around, it was just my friend and I and we were having a wonderful time for the first 2.5-3 hours. Then we realized we weren’t moving and the wind was blowing us upstream. We kept trying to go, waiting to see the landing. By the 5 hour mark we kept trying to call Pardun’s to mention that we were trying to come back and to let them know that we’d probably be later than expected and to see if they had any tips. Since the cell service is almost non existent, the calls would not go through. By that time, we didn’t know what to else to do but call 911. By the time we were able to get a hold of someone to ask for help, we were nearing 6 hours on the river. They called Pardun’s to let them know and the owner(Guy?) and his son were waiting to pick us up. As soon as they saw us, the snarky disrespectful remarks started and they began making fun of us. The owner was relentless. It was one rude remark after another. This was at about 9pm. When I started crying and asking him to stop talking to me, the a-hole dug in even more and had to get the last word in. It kept on until I screamed at him to shut the F up. I couldn’t take it anymore. He then stopped and started trying to kick us off the bus. I was sitting in the seat, sobbing while my friend was nicely asking him to just please go and please stop with the comments. He wouldn’t. Once we got back to Danbury, he stopped the bus and walked away. His son helped us get our stuff out and his wife eventually came out to make sure that we had our keys and let us know she had called the other people involved to let them know we were back. The son was initially being kind of a jerk when we got on the bus but he apologized to us soon after. His waste of a human father didn’t.
Please do not give this man your business. I have never been so humiliated and made to feel as awful as he made me feel. The blatant disrespect and language from the minute he saw was unbelievable. This man is the most awful human I have ever encountered. I sure hope he treats his wife and his mother with a little more compassion and empathy.
Dana D.GuideEagles Landing Campground
Clean and pretty. But some traffic noise.
This is a well taken care of and pretty campground. The staff in the office is very nice. It's very small. Nice view of a running creek with wildlife. But there is traffic noise, you are very near the road. There is a nice little laundromat, clean showers and good drinking water here also. Great T-Mobile access.
Melody J.GuideRed Fox Campground and RV Park
Very quiet during the week
We stayed here during the week. Host Peggy was very friendly. Had to make our reservation by phone as their website is very outdated. Most sites are for seasonal guests and it most campers were empty so it was very quiet. Our site was great. $40 for electric and water hook ups. Dump station right on the way out. :) would stay again
A S.
TravelerBunker Hills Regional Park
Welcoming
I arrived after the campgrounds closed I was welcomed and was very happy to be accepted
- A S.Traveler
Bunker Hills Regional Park
Bunker hills
A ranger does nightly rounds of the camps
Guide to Pine City
Tent camping options near Pine City, Minnesota extend beyond the main parks, with secluded backpacking opportunities in the surrounding state forests and along the St. Croix River. The area sits at approximately 930 feet above sea level and features a transitional landscape where northern pine forests meet hardwood stands. Summer temperatures typically range from 58°F to 84°F, with higher humidity levels during July and August creating prime conditions for mosquitoes near water sites.
What to do
Rock climbing access: Robinson Park Camping offers unique recreational opportunities beyond standard camping activities. A camper noted, "Robinson Park encompasses much of what was once a sandstone quarry and is now a primo rock climbing destination for folks from throughout the Midwest." The park includes a hiking trail connecting to Banning State Park and routes to scenic Wolf Falls.
Paddling routes: The St. Croix River provides excellent kayaking and canoeing opportunities with multiple access points. At William O'Brien State Park Campground, campers can enjoy "tons of hiking, fishing, and great picnic area next to the river!" The park maintains boat launches with convenient parking.
Winter activities: Several campgrounds in the region offer year-round access. While summer remains the peak season, winter camping provides unique experiences. One winter camper at William O'Brien recalled, "We walked some trail through a frozen marsh landscape and happened upon a railroad that passed above our trail with a beautiful tunnel-overpass."
What campers like
Seclusion opportunities: The Trade River Equestrian Camp in Governor Knowles State Forest provides true backcountry experiences. One camper described it as "Just a nice quiet campground and the sites are fairly private. Lots of hiking and close to the river for some kayaking etc."
Spacious group sites: For larger camping parties, Robinson Park offers dedicated group areas. A camper noted, "There are two group campsites that are very nice, very well maintained, and very conveniently located to both rock climbing areas and water access, and are reasonably priced at $30 a night."
Wildlife viewing: Campers frequently report wildlife encounters throughout the region. At William O'Brien State Park, one visitor to the Savanna Campground mentioned, "You can hear frogs all night and we even saw a turtle laying eggs in a different campsite."
What you should know
Reservation challenges: The best tent camping near Pine City becomes difficult to secure during peak season. At William O'Brien, one camper observed, "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."
Campsite variation: Site quality varies significantly between and within campgrounds. At Cedar Point Resort and Campground, campers find "easy access sites" with a shuttle service to nearby parks, though some note it can be "kind of pricey."
Payment systems: Several campgrounds use self-service payment methods. At Robinson Park, "payment required for camping here, but it is on the honor system and has to be delivered to an office in the village of Sandstone nearby."
Wildlife concerns: Raccoons frequently visit campsites in the region. At William O'Brien, a camper reported, "Raccoons will visit your site at night. We had everything secured but they still tried and plenty of racket until we chased them away."
Tips for camping with families
Best timing: For families seeking quieter camping experiences near Pine City, mid-week visits offer significant advantages. As one camper at William O'Brien noted, "On a Sunday evening with only one other site reserved, it felt like I had the place to myself."
Site selection: When camping with children at Robinson Park Camping, choose locations carefully. A camper advised, "As you enter, coming down the hill into the park towards the picnic and boat launch area, you actually have to make a U-turn and go to the far east end of the parking lot to see the campsite sign and access road into the official camping area."
Bug preparation: Families should pack sufficient insect protection, especially for riverside camping. One camper at William O'Brien reported, "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."
Tips from RVers
Site limitations: While tent camping options abound near Pine City, RV sites are more restricted. At Robinson Park, RV spaces are limited as "Realistically, each site was only big enough for one tent," making it better suited for small vehicles or tent camping.
Seasonal considerations: The camping season varies by location, with some areas restricting RV access during spring thaw when roads are muddy. Trade River Equestrian Camp operates seasonally from "April 15 to November 15," though early spring conditions can be challenging for larger vehicles.
Frequently Asked Questions
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campsite near Pine City, MN?
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Pine City, MN?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Pine City, MN is Old Railroad Bridge with a 5-star rating from 1 review.
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Pine City, MN?
What is the best site to find tent camping near Pine City, MN?
TheDyrt.com has all 44 tent camping locations near Pine City, MN, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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