Campgrounds near Ramsey, Minnesota range from full-service RV parks to rustic tent sites, with several options within a 30-minute drive. The region includes established campgrounds like Bunker Hills Regional Park in nearby Coon Rapids, offering cabin camping alongside traditional tent and RV sites, while dispersed camping opportunities exist at South of Sand Dunes State Forest for those seeking more primitive experiences. Campground amenities vary significantly across the area, with some locations like Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Regional Park providing electric hookups, showers, and reservable sites, while others maintain a more rustic setting with minimal facilities.
Seasonal considerations greatly impact camping in the region, with most campgrounds operating from May through October. Winter camping options are limited, though some parks like Lake Maria State Park remain open year-round. Reservations are strongly recommended during summer weekends and holidays when campgrounds frequently reach capacity. Most established campgrounds require advance bookings through county or state reservation systems, while dispersed camping areas have stay limits between 14-21 days. Cell coverage varies significantly throughout the area, especially in more remote locations. One camper noted, "South of Sand Dunes State Forest feels like claiming a slice of untamed wilderness just an hour from the Cities with zero amenities as per MN DNR guidelines."
Campers consistently praise the region's water recreation opportunities, with several campgrounds situated near lakes or rivers. Baker Park Reserve near Medina receives positive reviews for its lake access, with one visitor describing it as "a good getaway for the weekend that's close" to the Twin Cities. Mixed-use campgrounds throughout the area balance family-friendly amenities with natural settings, though privacy between sites varies considerably. Ham Lake Resort offers 122 sites with full hookups but receives mentions of being "usually pretty crowded." For those seeking more seclusion, the walking trails and quieter surroundings of Ann Lake campground provide alternatives to busier locations. Wildlife viewing opportunities exist throughout the camping areas, with deer sightings common in less developed campgrounds and hiking trails accessible from many camping locations.
$20 - $32 / night
"I was very happy with the trails and accommodations available to me, during my stay."
"It has a golf course, a restaurant is on the grounds, there is a stable with horses/ponies that you can take guided trail rides on, a water park(it is called The Beach, which was very confusing for us"
$21 - $29 / night
"Baker Park near Minneapolis Minnesota was a our camp choice for inexpensive camping on the last leg of our Minnesota vacation in 2017."
"The beaches are some of the best in Minnesota. The bike trails are nearby and plentiful."
"The site was spacious and private-surrounded on 3 sides by trees. The bathrooms were clean. The pool area was clean and without issue."
"Sites are close to each other, but easy access, clean grounds and facilities, friendly staff, and a K9 fenced area for a pet friendly campground."
"Lots of close camp sites for larger groups near the entrance. The further back you go on the road, the more spread out sites get. There are a few walk-in sites that I absolutely love."
"Just a quick one night trip but a perfect getaway close to home. Very quiet. Camp host was nice . Found a tucked away site that we could park Infront of for more privacy"
"For the proximity to the city and nearby highways, this was a good spot. Didn’t expect to see as many campers as I did, but all seemed to be friendly."
"I love that it's so close to home. I was able to walk in and find an incredible spot to camp and lay in my hammock."
$20 - $75 / night
"Kelly's Bar nearby has a great fish fry on Friday. The campground is neat and well managed."
"We have lived in the Twin Cities for two decades and have never visited Rice Creek Chain of Lakes before. We will again!"
$22 - $80 / night
"This park is only about 50 minutes away from me, and for hiking/camping I only think it is worth a trip in the fall."
"I chose Lake Maria for a solo camping excursion because it was close to the Cities, but still offered the level of seclusion I wanted."
$54 - $999 / night
"The map provided was accurate which made locating the cruiser a breeze. There were further instructions inside as well. The RV was immaculate."
$40 - $75 / night
"Nice river nearby canoeing swimming pool fireplaces and little store for treats."
$15 / night
"Do a 180 on the trail and she is happy to trot away from the trailer."
"I never tire walking the dog park circle along the crow river! Great for birding and tons of beautiful trails!"
TravelerWe stayed here with a group of hot tent campers in early January. The site is large and had a couple of fire pits. 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.
ScoutWe visited Avatan Nudist Campground last July with our two kids (ages 8 and 11) for what was supposed to be a wholesome, body-positive family getaway. The website and brochures paint a perfect picture: serene woods, a sparkling pool, family activities, and a "welcoming community" vibe. And on the surface? Yeah, the grounds are stunning—pristine trails, a well-maintained pool. The facilities are clean, the staff (mostly) polite, and the natural setting is genuinely relaxing. If you're just looking for a quiet spot to shed your clothes and unwind in nature, it checks those boxes.
But dig a little deeper, and Avatan reveals itself as something else entirely—a place that's quietly optimized for adult fun, with kids as an inconvenient footnote they have to tolerate to keep the "family" label. From the moment we arrived, it was clear the real energy was elsewhere. Evenings around the fire pits and at the "Squirrel's" (code for the bar area) had this unmistakable swinger-party undercurrent. Lots of lingering glances, couples disappearing into the woods or private cabins, and a vibe that felt more like a discreet resort for the lifestyle crowd than a spot for building sandcastles with the little ones. Our kids picked up on it fast—whispers about "grown-up games" and awkward questions we had to deflect. The camp "tolerates" families, sure, but it's obvious the core membership would prefer a child-free zone. Activities for kids are minimal: a basic playground and the occasional nature hike, while the adults get themed nights, "sensual yoga," and late-night mixers that go until dawn.
What really soured the experience was the toxic underbelly of the community itself. This place is a powder keg of power struggles, with a small cadre of long-time board members and "elders" locked in a perpetual cold war. Gossip flows like the creek itself—endless whispers about who's sleeping with whom, who's "stealing" prime cabin spots, or who's cozying up to the President for favors. We overheard more drama in one week than in a season of reality TV. Cliques form fast: the "party crew" vs. the "purists," the swingers vs. the swingers-who-pretend-they're-not. As newcomers (and parents, no less), we felt like outsiders crashing a private club. Smiles were surface-level; the second you stepped away, the backstabbing started.
And then there's the elephant in the (clothing-optional) room: the camp's ugly history with sexual predators. We didn't know it going in, but after a few days, the stories trickled out from sympathetic members—multiple incidents over the years involving members who turned out to be registered offenders or worse, preying on the vulnerable in this "trust-based" environment. The rules around anonymity are ironclad: no photos, no last names, "what happens at Avatan stays at Avatan." It's sold as protecting privacy in a nudist space, which sounds noble until you realize it shields the creeps. Anyone who dares speak up—whether it's a parent noticing a sketchy guy lingering too long near the kids' area or a survivor sharing a red flag—is immediately branded a "troublemaker," "paranoid," or "anti-community." We've heard of families getting shamed in group meetings, then quietly asked to leave for "disrupting the harmony." Evictions happen fast if you rock the boat, all in the name of keeping the peace and the paying members happy.
Look, we're no prudes. Nudism can be liberating, and we've been to other resorts where it felt truly inclusive and safe. But Avatan? It's a divided house built on denial. The adult-party atmosphere thrives because the kids are an afterthought, and the predator problem festers because calling it out gets you exiled. If you're a child-free couple into the full swinger scene, this might be your paradise—plenty of like-minded folks and zero judgment. But if you're a family hoping for that advertised "safe, empowering space"? Steer clear. Your kids deserve better than being tolerated in a place where silence is golden and the wrong questions get you blacklisted. We won't be back, and I hope this review saves someone else the regret.
RangerSo, I think you know what you are signing up for here when you stay camp at the backpacking site at Afton, but let me fill in some of the blanks. #1 yes, the hill climb is as big of an effort as other people have said. You will feel like you earned your dinner. I may have found a hack for this, but more in that later. #2 the site are mostly private. I stayed on site #12. I could see (and they could have seen me) site #9, but thankfully no one was there. That would have been a bummer to have other looking into my site. There is even a semi-worn path between 12 and 9. They would make a good combo if you have a group. Other than that, totally secluded. As far space at #12, you could build as big of a tent structure there as you would need, easily room for a massive 16’x24’ palace (if you would dare to carry it) or anything smaller. An Eagle Scout project built hammock posts at this site, so it is ideal for that set up. #3 the campground amenities are very nice. The solar powered water works great year round, the two pits toilets (if you can even call them that) are very new and nice. And the coolest campground feature is the cut your own firewood station. I went a little overboard since it was so nice and had a way bigger fire than I needed. Bring your own saw and you will love it too. #4 After walking around the park, I discovered a possible hack. There is an unmarked entrance to the park on the north side. Instead of walking all my gear back to the parking lot, I walked the .5 miles to the service entrance, dropped my pack, and then walked the 1.8 miles back to the parking lot. I tend to carry too much. The flat short walk to drop my gear was worth it. Then I drop around the park and picked up my stuff. Probably not MN DNR endorsed way to do it, but I was proud of my discovery. All in, this is a unique and wonderful camping experience. Highly recommend.
TravelerIf you’re just passing through especially in the off-season, this is an extremely convenient location. Propane run out in the middle of the night? They got you. Need more beer? They got you. 10/10 if you just need a place to sleep. View is irrelevant
GuideNice spot with plenty of space between sites, which gives you some privacy. It’s right off a busy road, so you’ll hear some traffic noise. The hunters were out during my stay, so there were gunshots throughout the day, but that’s to be expected this time of year. Overall, a good spot for a quick overnight stay and it’s conveniently close to the cities.
RangerI was looking for a secluded backpack in site where I could have a peaceful 48 hours of prayer and solitude, and this site was perfect! I also wanted one that wasn't too far remote, since I hadn't been on a proper backpacking trip since the pandemic hit. And as a solo female camper, I wanted a reserved site so that there would be a record of my location for safety reasons. I'm so glad I chose the Deer Creek site, and will almost definitely stay here again at some point!
This site is accessible by either hiking or canoe. It took me about 30 minutes to hike in from the visitor center parking lot. There is easy access to river water to boil or filter from the canoe landing.
This site was incredibly spacious. It includes a fire ring and picnic table overlooking the creek and river. It also includes 2 large tent pads (look out for widow makers, one of the tent pads is under a dead tree!). It also has a spot nestled in some pine trees that could fit a smaller tent, canoe storage, or I found it to be the perfect spot to hang my hammock! (This would be a great site for hammock camping.) So if you're camping with a small group of people this would be a great site. It also includes a trail to a fairly private latrine, and a bear box (the park ranger warned me that there are bears in the park although I did not see any.) I also found plenty of dead down and dry wood and birch bark on the ground for building fires.
This site is great for a one nigjt stay on a longer backpacking or canoeing trip, but also great for camping out at for a couple of nights. I stayed for two, and it connects to all the major trails in the park, so I was able to use it as a great base for hiking and seeing the beautiful changing leaves. In the morning I hiked North to do the Riverside trail and looped back through the woods. Then in the afternoon I did the Deer Creek loop, which is a shared horse and hiking trail. It was so nice to he able to hike out to some of the best trails in the park directly from my site.
This site felt remarkably remote for being only an hour from the twin cities and a mile from the parking lot! I stayed there Thursday -Saturday, and after leaving the parking lot on Thursday did not see another human being for the rest of the day, and Friday not until I hit the main trails! There was no one else staying within at least a mile of me. I was even able to see fantastic stars Friday night. There was amazing wildlife - a blue heron frequented the site, and I heard all types of owls. Two bald eagles had a nest across the river so I got to see and hear them the whole trip, too- it was absolutely magical!
This site has a great view of both sunrise and sunset. Thursday night there was a gorgeous sunset over the woods reflected in deer Creek. Both mornings I woke up to watch the sunrise while drinking my coffee next to the fire (it was freezing!!!). Watching the sun rise over the river and fog roll over th water and evaporate while eagles soared was truly magical. Having an easy backpack in site surrounded by water on two sides and with views of the sunrise and sunset like this was so incredible!!!
GuideThey have two lots for RV and travel trailer use although the first lot only has two spaces and the second one has a total of five. The five space spot has no water or electric hook up but was a great place for me to test out my new solar set up. Word to the wise, gates ACTUALLY close at 10pm, there's no way to contact anyone and I had to walk about a mile in parked outside the gate 😅. The White Pine lot (5 spaces) has a central bathroom/shower building. The park was jam packed Friday/Saturday but a ghosts town the remains sun/mon/tue I stayed.
ScoutFor our first time camping, this was a great site! It was very clean, had friendly staff, and was close to a really fun park for our kids. We will be back!
TravelerNever again, $81 for an electric only site. Come on Wisconsin let's jab the out of .staters. Entry fee to parks, extra for out of staters. The site was secluded but not close to level. Not close to the facilities. I am going back to SD. They don't add fees because you are from out of town, they actually encourage out of state tourists. Last trip to a Wisconsin state park . And the showers were closed for the season, this is 10/9/25. But still full price and just an electric only site. No thanks Wisconsin
Camping near Ramsey, Minnesota offers year-round opportunities with varied terrain across the Mississippi River watershed. The area features sandy soil in many locations, particularly in the eastern sections near Sand Dunes State Forest, creating distinct camping environments across seasons. Winter temperatures frequently drop below 0°F while summer humidity levels often exceed 80% in July and August.
Disc golf excursions: At Bunker Hills Regional Park, campers can access a top-rated disc golf course. "Close to a top 10 disc golf course if that's your thing (it's ours)," notes Lynsey M., who visited during a quick Minnesota trip.
Watercraft rentals: Explore lakes and rivers using rental equipment at many campgrounds. Country Camping on the Rum River provides multiple options as one visitor explains: "You can either relax in the pool or even take a ride down the rum river in a rented canoe, tube, or kayak."
Wildlife observation: The region hosts diverse bird populations and mammals throughout the year. "I love briding here as well," mentions one visitor at Baker Campground, while others note regular deer sightings across multiple parks, particularly at dusk and dawn.
Equestrian trails: For campers traveling with horses, dedicated facilities exist. "This is an all-time favorite park to bring my horse to, and it's her favorite trail too," shares a rider about Crow Hassan Park Reserve, which features hitching posts and dedicated equestrian campsites.
Lake access sites: Many campers seek waterfront locations. "The site was nearly surrounded by a lake which lended to a lot of bugs, but was absolutely gorgeous!" explains Lydia N. about her experience at Lake Maria State Park.
Heated amenities: Some campgrounds offer extended season comfort. At Country Camping, visitors appreciate that "It has a heated pool, splash pad area, BIG playground area, indoor game room, HUGE sites!" according to Spencer C.
Secluded walk-in sites: For those seeking privacy, backcountry-style camping exists close to the metro area. "For being in the middle of the northern suburbs of Minneapolis, this park and campground is surprisingly woodsy, secluded and spacious," notes Doug B. about Bunker Hills Regional Park.
Varied terrain: The region offers significant diversity in camping environments. "You'll access pull-off dispersed sites along gravel roads south of Ann Lake. The sites are spaced for solitude, nestled between pine stands and open sandy stretches," reports a camper at South of Sand Dunes State Forest.
Seasonal insect conditions: Bug populations vary significantly by location and season. At Lake Maria, one camper warns: "The black flies were dive bombing the car like a scene from Armageddon... First step onto the grassy trail exploded in a cloud of mosquitos."
Poison ivy prevalence: Several natural areas contain significant amounts of this irritating plant. "Be aware that the undergrowth is at least 25% poison ivy. Sites are large so they are clear. If you're susceptible, not for you," cautions Kari P. about Ann Lake campground.
Cell service limitations: Connectivity varies widely across the region. In South of Sand Dunes State Forest, visitors note "Zero Bars, Zero Interruptions" and recommend to "Bring a journal and some good company—your phone's chances are slim."
Reservation systems vary: Some campgrounds require advance booking while others operate first-come, first-served. "This campground is on a first come, first serve basis. There are no reservations for the regular sites (although I do think they might take reservations for the equestrian and group sites)," explains Emily H. about Ann Lake.
Playground proximity: Select sites near play areas for convenience with small children. At Baker Campground, a visitor notes there's "a really fun park for our kids" and that "It was very clean, had friendly staff, and was close to a really fun park for our kids."
Swimming options: Water recreation varies from natural beaches to constructed facilities. Minneapolis Northwest KOA offers "a small pool and game room but not much else for kids," according to Zach H., who adds that bugs can be "aggressive here, especially near the tent sites which are located near a swampy area."
Multi-generational activities: Look for campgrounds with diverse recreation options. Bryan S. explains that Bunker Hills Regional Park is "a nice, quiet campground with activities nearby" and "the waterpark is a blast and we were able to find discount passes online."
Educational opportunities: Some parks offer nature programming for younger campers. "The nature center is nice and a great place to spend some time if it is raining during their open hours," shares a visitor about Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Regional Park.
Campsite privacy levels: RV sites vary significantly in spacing and separation. Jennifer H. notes about Baker Campground: "The sites are fairly large, but very open (which was OK with a group of us, not our style when it's just us though)."
Access road conditions: Some campgrounds have challenging entry roads. Andy L. warns about Ann Lake: "Some overhanging branches on the road in scrape the top and sides. Campsites are nice, mowed, gravel parking."
Site selection strategy: When booking, be specific about preferences. One RVer at Minneapolis Northwest KOA advises: "Be sure to call the office ahead and let them know that you want a site with trees and not one backing up to the road."
Utility reliability: During peak periods, power systems may be stressed. A camper at Country Camping mentions: "Had one issue with power dropping so we had to pull the surge protector off then it was fine. Also very hot and humid so everyone was running AC to the max."
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Ramsey, MN?
According to TheDyrt.com, Ramsey, MN offers a wide range of camping options, with 120 campgrounds and RV parks near Ramsey, MN and 7 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Ramsey, MN?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Ramsey, MN is Bunker Hills Regional Park with a 4.6-star rating from 16 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Ramsey, MN?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 7 free dispersed camping spots near Ramsey, MN.
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