Campgrounds near Richfield, Minnesota range from full-service RV parks to rustic tent sites, with most facilities located within a 30-minute drive of the metropolitan area. Lebanon Hills Regional Park in Eagan serves as one of the most popular developed campgrounds in the region, offering both tent and RV sites with various hookup options. Lake Elmo County Park Reserve provides another option for both tent and RV camping. Several properties in the area also accommodate cabin camping and glamping experiences, including Afton State Park, which features yurts alongside traditional tent sites.
Camping season in the area typically runs from April through October, with most facilities closing for the winter months. "This is a great campground for families, first time campers, or anyone having a 'staycation' while keeping hotel costs down," noted one Lebanon Hills visitor. Many campgrounds require reservations, especially during peak summer weekends when sites fill quickly. The urban location creates a unique camping experience where visitors can access outdoor recreation while remaining close to metropolitan amenities. Temperatures can vary significantly throughout the camping season, with spring and fall nights often dropping to near freezing while summer days frequently reach the 80s or 90s.
Several campgrounds in the Twin Cities metro area feature water access, with paddle sports being particularly popular. Lebanon Hills provides multiple lakes for recreation, while other properties like Baker Park Reserve offer boat-in camping options. Based on visitor feedback, privacy between campsites varies considerably across the region's campgrounds. "The sites are nice and level, with plenty of space between each one. This feels very much like a nice state park," reported a camper at Lebanon Hills. Despite being located near urban areas, many campgrounds maintain wooded settings that create a sense of seclusion. Facilities generally include clean restrooms and showers, with many campgrounds also providing playgrounds, hiking trails, and picnic areas for day use.
$24 - $42 / night
"Professional built mtn bike trails for adventure. Camping in Minnesota suburbs. Miles of hiking, horseback riding, cross country ski trails. . perfect for my family's weekend Stay-cation"
"We live about 15 mins. away from this campground. 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."
$23 - $80 / night
"For a County Park, Lake Elmo has an impressive list of amenities. Before we even get to the campsite let's mention the filtered swimming pond."
"Lake Elmo County Park in Washington County Minnesota is a great park for families."
$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."
$40 - $50 / night
"The grass around the lots is very green, lush and well maintained. Campground is right next to the hotel/casino and very much within walking distance."
"Shuttle bus comes through the camp if you want to go to the casino and play- it’s also within walking distance."
"It’s an easy on and off the interstate, super close to a gas station and RV wash bay. Also super close to some very large power lines. The kids enjoyed the compact playground and pool."
"Some road noise, but you are in the city so expected, but yet still quieter then in some areas being close to things. I recommend this park."
$22 - $85 / night
"Minnesota State Parks have just started to build Yurts for 3 campgrounds around the state; Afton, Cuyuna and Glendalough State Parks."
"It is also next to Afton Ski resort. This park has a lot of beautiful prairie landscape with some temperate forest features. Wildflowers, shrubs, fungi, evergreens, and deciduous trees."
$16 - $50 / night
"I imagine in the middle of summer, it might feel slightly less secluded as there are 3 other sites relatively close by, one of which you have to walk through to get to this one, but in early September,"
"The access to water is really nice and a couple sites were perfect. The hike in sites are super close to the car so it doesn’t even require much work. Plan to come here again!"
"Fun to play in the water, go behind the waterfall and a good hike up 200 steps to view the falls from above!"
"Located 5 miles outside of Hudson, Willow Creek State Park is large park with hiking, camp sites, fishing, canoeing, and the waterfall."
$20 - $75 / night
"Kelly's Bar nearby has a great fish fry on Friday. The campground is neat and well managed."
"It was very easy to find, close to the twin cities, and clean. There was good access to kindling for a fire in the nice fire pit that has a grill."
ScoutGot a nice spot by the water, big parking spot, little below the spot is an opening towards water with a fire pit. 2-3 bars of service but never had an issue. Worked well. Very private. Bugs weren’t bad either
ScoutThis was our first camping experience and it was a great one! I would highly recommend this for anyone’s first or fifth camping adventure!
ScoutI was able to find a campsite not on the road. There was a trail from the parking spot so keep an eye out. Lots of animals saw a turkey and coyote so just be aware. Very pretty and calm. Had to pick up some trash from other campers just a reminder to leave no trace.
GuideThis place is spectacular,u have to walk down to the creek. God's work. Beautiful
TravelerWe stayed here from about 10pm to 6am. There were a ton of people there so it was hard finding somewhere to sleep. Once we did, it was very quiet and we got a good nights rest. There were a couple of cars that passed us in the morning when we left but nothing too crazy. The scenery was very beautiful. This is definitely a great free option if you’re looking for a peaceful spot in the woods to sleep!
TravelerI stayed there with my RV. Most all of the campsites were too small to park it, but I found one at the very end of the park to stay. Although the land itself is beautiful, the locals were reporting me to the DNR officer, who were clearly his friends, and accusing me of things I was not doing. Also, there’s a lot of traffic in and out of there and they fly through there day and night, as well as a lot of gunfire going off a lot of the time. I use T-Mobile service and I was on SOS most of the time. Not very impressed.
TravelerWell maintained. Nice beach.
TravelerBeen camping here year round for 20+ years. Free, first come first served rustic hike/cart in sites with steel fire ring/grill. There are 4 official sites and 2 more unofficial sites with no fire ring.
If you camp with animals: Sites all sit directly off walking trail very popular with dog walkers.
GuideSmall pullout area on state forest land. Can walk trail back to tent.
Campgrounds within 30 miles of Richfield, Minnesota range from rustic tent sites to full-service RV parks. The region contains both small county parks and large state park preserves that offer varying levels of amenities and terrain types. Camping season typically runs from late April through mid-October, with some facilities remaining open year-round for winter camping opportunities.
Hiking trails at multiple difficulty levels: At Afton State Park, visitors can access diverse terrain within a single location. "Lots of trails with a wide variety of landscapes. Prairie, forest, river, it's got it all," notes one camper about Afton State Park Campground. The park maintains both challenging and beginner-friendly trails.
Paddling on small lakes: Lake Auburn Campground provides water recreation without motorboat traffic. A visitor mentions the enjoyment of "sitting on the dock or the grass and swimming in the water are a great way to destress." The paddling areas at Lake Auburn Campground remain relatively uncrowded even during summer weekends.
Beach swimming: Several parks offer swimming beaches with varying amenities. "They have a home made lake that has a sand bottom but it has chlorine like a pool so no weeds. Great for swimming," explains a Lake Elmo visitor. The swimming areas typically open Memorial Day weekend and close after Labor Day.
Secluded tent sites: Despite urban proximity, some parks maintain secluded tent camping areas. "The sites are nice and level, with plenty of space between each one. This feels very much like a nice state park," reports a Lebanon Hills camper. Many tent sites require short walks from parking areas, creating buffer zones from other campers.
Clean facilities: Bathroom cleanliness remains a consistent positive in reviews across multiple parks. At Baker Campground, visitors appreciate the "nice clean bathrooms and showers" that are "some of the best I've seen at a campground." Most facilities include flush toilets and hot showers during peak season.
Urban convenience with nature setting: The campgrounds maintain natural settings while offering urban amenities nearby. "We love Lebanon Hills! Close to home and an oasis in the middle of the Twin Cities," explains a camper at Lebanon Hills Regional Park. Most campsites sit within 15-20 minutes of shopping, restaurants, and medical facilities.
Reservation requirements: Most campgrounds fill quickly during summer weekends. "Reserve early online, most weekends were already reserved by mid May," advises a Lebanon Hills visitor. Weekday availability remains much better throughout the season, with Sunday-Thursday nights often available even during peak summer months.
Varying levels of privacy: Site privacy differs significantly between campgrounds and specific sites. At Cleary Lake Regional Park, a camper notes, "Lots of good trees and space between campgrounds which isn't always the case at the regional parks." Research specific site numbers before booking for maximum privacy.
Highway noise at some locations: Some campgrounds experience road noise due to urban proximity. One Willow River State Park visitor mentions "highway noise was noticeable in the evenings," though it generally doesn't significantly impact the camping experience. Sites furthest from park entrances typically offer the quietest settings.
Playground access: Many parks feature modern playground equipment for different age groups. "Very organized and clean facilities. Reasonably priced," notes a visitor to Lake Elmo County Park Reserve. Most playgrounds include equipment for both toddlers and older children, with safety surfacing underneath.
Educational opportunities: Several parks offer interpretive centers with family programming. "On Saturday nights they have a campground program for the kids and families to watch," mentions a Lake Elmo camper. Programs typically run 45-60 minutes and cover local wildlife, plant identification, and conservation topics.
Multiple recreation options: Parks often feature diverse activities within walking distance of campsites. At Baker Campground, "With great fishing, playground, swimming, and biking trails very nearby, the kids were kept as busy as they wanted to be." Most locations offer at least three different recreational options within the park boundaries.
Hookup variations: RV sites offer different hookup combinations depending on the campground. "Sites are paved and have well-maintained grass. We were located near the casino road," explains a visitor to Dakotah Meadows RV Park. Most parks offer at minimum electric hookups, while full-service sites with water and sewer remain more limited.
Size restrictions: Larger RVs face limitations at some parks. "They 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," explains a Cleary Lake visitor. RV length restrictions typically range from 30 feet at smaller parks to 45+ feet at larger facilities.
Reservation confusion: Several campgrounds have specific rules regarding RV site reservations. "Reservation system is weird and the sites are much bigger than they say. All RV sites are the listed length plus 16' for your tow vehicle, which you need to call to find out," advises a Lebanon Hills camper. Contact campground offices directly when questions about vehicle specifications arise.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Richfield, MN?
According to TheDyrt.com, Richfield, MN offers a wide range of camping options, with 110 campgrounds and RV parks near Richfield, MN and 3 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Richfield, MN?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Richfield, MN is Lebanon Hills Regional Park with a 4.8-star rating from 43 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Richfield, MN?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 3 free dispersed camping spots near Richfield, MN.
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