The area around Glencoe, Minnesota features gently rolling farmland with elevations ranging between 980-1,050 feet above sea level. Winters can be severe with temperatures dropping below -20°F, while summers offer pleasant camping conditions with average highs in the 80s. Glencoe's central location makes it a convenient base for exploring both prairie landscapes and Minnesota lake country within a short drive.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: Cokato Lake RV Resort provides access to Cokato Lake, though campers should note the layout requires crossing a county road to reach the water. "It's okay. Small. Gotta cross a county road to get to lake," notes camper Sade C.
Biking trails: Baker Campground offers extensive paved trails around multiple lakes for cycling enthusiasts. "There are nice paved trails around a couple of lakes/ponds for biking, and easy access to the shower and bathroom facilities," mentions ERolf P., while another camper adds there are "6+ mile biking trail that connects to others, so bring the bikes."
Playground access: Multiple parks provide play areas for children. At Masonic West River Park, you'll find "wide open grass and play area for kids and adults" according to Kay T. The park's riverfront location also makes it ideal for kayaking and other water activities.
Disc golf course: Oak Leaf Park in Glencoe features a disc golf course among its recreational options. A recent visitor noted the park has "13 rv sites with 30/50amp and water, four tent sites. Fishing pond, two baseball fields, basket ball court, playground, disk golf, and aquatic center/swimming pool."
What campers like
Riverfront sites: Masonic West River Park receives praise for its waterfront locations. "Sites are large and grassy! We had a lakeview site right off the paved walking/biking trail with room for a large tent and the pop-up camper," reports Tori K. Another camper adds, "The camp is well kept and right on the river. Plenty of well developed trees and you are within city limits for activities."
Clean facilities: Campers consistently mention the cleanliness of facilities at campgrounds in the region. At Baker Park Reserve, visitors appreciate that "the bathroom/showers are great" and describe them as "nice and clean, some of the best I've seen at a campground!" One camper calls the facilities "very nice and an easy walk from the camp sites."
Family-friendly amenities: St. Cloud-Clearwater RV Park receives high marks for its range of activities. "This a nice family campground. 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," writes S L. Another visitor calls it "absolutely beautiful campground with mature trees" and highlights the "pool, pool table, soccer table, mini golf, swing set, clubhouse, 3 wheel bike racing."
Convenient location: Multiple RV campgrounds near Glencoe offer easy access to Twin Cities attractions. Dakotah Meadows RV Park is described as "one of the nicer parks in the Twin Cities area" with "grounds are mostly well groomed and the roads are maintained."
What you should know
Reservation practices: While some parks require advance booking, others have more flexible policies. "My photo shows our row with 5 empty spots and they said they were full," notes Lisa D. about Dakotah Meadows RV Park, explaining "they don't make you pay to make a reservation so people reserve a spot and don't show up."
Campsite maintenance: Cleanliness varies across parks. One camper at Dakotah Meadows reported: "I had to clean up exorbitant amounts of dog poop before I could even put our outdoor rug down. I spent the rest of the weekend picking up other dogs' poo all over our campsite."
Site privacy levels: Parks in the region offer varying degrees of privacy. Baker Park Reserve provides a balance where visitors felt "secluded despite a full campground," while Town & Country Campground receives criticism for sites being "on top of one another. You are less than ten feet from your neighbors."
Code access for facilities: Some parks use code-protected bathroom facilities. At Masonic West River Park, a visitor advised: "Be on the lookout for the code for the doors during your reservation process. We had missed it and had to ask a neighbor if they knew the codes so we could shower."
Tips for camping with families
Swimming options: Several campgrounds provide swimming facilities for children. Town & Country Campground offers "a compact playground and pool" according to Jennifer H., though another camper noted the pool was "close to the size of a large jacuzzi more than anything."
Noise considerations: Urban-adjacent campgrounds may have noise issues. Oak Leaf Park visitors report: "When I got there (8pm), there was a group having a cookout in the park and playing very loud music. They were gone by 10 though. There were street lamps throughout the campground (one right above my site) and I could hear highway noise all night long."
Wildlife viewing: Some parks double as nature areas. At Masonic West River Park, it's a "Wild life Refuge so you have ducks and geese around often," says Kay T. Another visitor simply noted "Lots of geese!"
Park activities: Baker Park Reserve provides diverse recreation options beyond camping. "With great fishing, playground, swimming, and biking trails very nearby, the kids were kept as busy as they wanted to be," explains Bryan S., making it "great for the active family, not those wanting privacy."
Tips from RVers
Site selection: Many RV campgrounds near Glencoe offer different site configurations. At Dakotah Meadows, an RVer advises: "We last stayed in site 25, a back in up on the hill. We have also stayed in the pull through sites, but not really a fan of those."
Hookup availability: RiversEdge RV Park provides "full hook-ups, with 30 or 50 amp service" and features "concrete patios on every lot" according to a recent visitor. Multiple parks in the region offer similar amenities with water and electric at minimum.
Price considerations: RV parks in the area have varying rate structures. Codgers Cove RV Resort charges premium rates, with one camper noting "$80 daily for non-seasonal" and another commenting "Expensive and Crowded, $70 minimum."
Dump station access: For RVers without full hookup sites, dump stations are available at most parks. Town & Country Campground provides water and electric sites with a dump station nearby, and a visitor notes it's "an easy on and off the interstate, super close to a gas station and RV wash bay."
