RV camping near Prior Lake, Minnesota puts travelers within 25-30 minutes of the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area. Located in Scott County at an elevation of 930 feet, Prior Lake sits amidst rolling glacial terrain with numerous lakes and ponds. The camping season typically runs April through October with summer temperatures averaging 70-85°F during peak months.
What to do
Kayaking and canoeing: Cleary Lake Regional Park offers a small lake perfect for paddlers. "The views are great! We stayed in a RV spot next to the lake," notes a visitor to nearby Lake Byllesby Campground. For more paddling options, campers can visit the beach at Lake Auburn where "sitting on the dock or the grass and swimming in the water are a great way to destress."
Hiking trail networks: Baker Park Reserve features extensive paved trails ideal for walking and biking. "There are nice paved trails around a couple of lakes/ponds for biking, and easy access to the shower and bathroom facilities," according to one camper. Lake Auburn Campground connects to "miles of trails that lead through prairie lands and to a nature center where you and your kids can learn about the natural surrounding habitats."
Recreational activities: Multiple parks offer playground facilities and swimming areas. At Cleary Lake Regional Park, visitors enjoy "a golf course and is very well kept!" One camper mentions, "We really want to use one of the large group camp sites for a weekend party!" The park also offers fishing opportunities, with campers reporting catching "a few catfish and bass there."
What campers like
Well-maintained facilities: Cleanliness ranks high for campers visiting parks near Prior Lake. At Lebanon Hills Regional Park, "The bathrooms were among some of the nicest I've used at a campground. The shower stall was big enough for a meaty human like myself to shower comfortably." Another camper noted, "You can tell the staff takes good care of the facilities."
Privacy at select sites: While some campgrounds offer limited privacy, certain sites stand out. At Cleary Lake Regional Park, a camper noted: "site 13 is the only one right on the water and it's HUGE with lots of trees and absolutely beautiful scenery." Lebanon Hills campers appreciate that "the sites are nice and level, with plenty of space between each one. This feels very much like a nice state park."
Family amenities: Multiple campgrounds cater to families with children. At Baker Park Reserve, "With great fishing, playground, swimming, and biking trails very nearby, the kids were kept as busy as they wanted to be." Lake Auburn Campground features "a cute lil beach for swimming" and "a traditional playground set for the younger ones, volleyball net and concrete bag toss boards."
What you should know
Seasonal variations: Campgrounds have limited operational seasons. Lebanon Hills Regional Park operates "April 30 to October 12," while Baker Park operates "Apr 30 - Oct 20." Plan accordingly for shoulder season visits when facilities may have reduced services.
Limited privacy at some parks: Several campgrounds feature open layouts with minimal screening between sites. At Town & Country Campground, one camper observed it's "a nice park but very close compact. Everyone is squeezed in like sardines. Very tight quarters on roads and sites." Similarly, at Lake Auburn, "the sites are very open and offer little privacy between sites."
Reservation requirements: Popular campgrounds fill quickly, especially on weekends. A Lebanon Hills camper advised, "Reserve early online, most weekends were already reserved by mid May." For Baker Park, "You'll need to book for at least two nights and book as soon as you can. There are 200 sites but on the July weekend we stayed, I'd say almost all of them were booked."
Tips for camping with families
Playgrounds and beaches: Baker Park Reserve offers excellent recreational options. "The bathrooms and showers are nice and clean, some of the best I've seen at a campground! The lake is nice. There are 2 swimming beaches: 1 for the campground and one for all of the day visitors." Another camper notes it's "a great place to spend a weekend close to home, but feel like you are getting away!"
Kid-friendly activities: Consider Lake Auburn for its youth amenities. "Great playground and green space for the kids, beach is very nice. Bathrooms are clean," writes one visitor. Another mentions it's "Accessible, Affordable, Beautiful" and "the beach is gorgeous." The campground also features "a playground, volleyball court and tons of miles of trails to shred on foot or bike."
Noise considerations: Choose sites away from busy areas for better sleep. At Cokato Lake RV Resort, a camper noted the resort includes an "Inground, heated swimming pool; mini golf; pickleball; tennis; arcade room attached to the office." While these amenities entertain children, consider your site location relative to these potentially noisy areas.
Tips from RVers
Site access and leveling: Lebanon Hills offers good RV accommodations. "We stayed in the East Loop which is for smaller RVs and tents. It has electricity but no water hookups, however there are water pumps," notes one visitor. Another mentioned, "The sites are nice and level, with plenty of space between each one."
Service connections: Multiple parks offer various hookup options. At Lake Byllesby Campground, RVers find "spots 1-17 have remained the same and are awesome. Spots 18-46 are second best. Even numbered sites on the lake are better than the odd numbered sites but both have a few of the lake." Another camper appreciated that the campground had "water fill ups near toilets."
Accessibility to metro areas: Campgrounds provide convenient access to Minneapolis-Saint Paul attractions. Lebanon Hills is "a great park and has a lot of trails for hiking and mountain biking. Our family selected this camp ground to test out some gear -- if we had problems or if we forgot something it was a short drive home." Town & Country Campground is "an easy on and off the interstate, super close to a gas station and RV wash bay."
