Campgrounds near Roseville, Minnesota primarily consist of established park-managed sites within a 30-minute drive of the metropolitan area. Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Regional Park and Lake Elmo County Park Reserve provide accessible options for tent and RV camping, with several parks also offering cabin accommodations. Most camping areas maintain a seasonal operation schedule, typically from April through October, though a few facilities like William O'Brien State Park and St. Croix Bluffs Regional Park remain open year-round.
Advance reservations are strongly recommended for all developed campgrounds in the region, particularly during summer weekends when sites fill quickly. "This is a nice and family friendly campground. We've camped in loops E and F and both are good. Most sides have some shade and trees and the picnic tables are in great condition!" noted one visitor about Rice Creek Chain of Lakes. Campground amenities vary significantly, with most offering drinking water, electric hookups, and fire rings, while shower availability differs between locations. Road noise from nearby highways can be noticeable at some campgrounds, particularly those closest to the interstate corridors, though many sites maintain reasonable tree buffers for privacy.
Regional parks provide a convenient escape from urban environments without requiring extensive travel. Several campers mentioned the surprising amount of privacy at Rice Creek despite its proximity to the Twin Cities. "We have lived in the Twin Cities for two decades and have never visited Rice Creek Chain of Lakes before. We will again! It's a lovely park, a reasonable biking distance from the Twin Cities," shared one camper. Many campgrounds in the area feature lake or water access, with swimming beaches and hiking trails available for day use. Lebanon Hills Regional Park and Baker Campground maintain some of the highest visitor ratings, while urban parking lot options in commercial areas like Costco and Home Depot serve as convenient overnight spots for travelers passing through the region with self-contained vehicles.
$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."
$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."
$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!"
"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."
$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."
$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."
$25 - $90 / night
"Easy walking trails surround the park which is nice and convenient. Close proximity to Stillwater which made for a nice day trip. Camp sites were very clean and easy to access."
"We O'Brian has some of the best groomed trails that I have been on."
$20 - $32 / night
"Access to lake is great. Firewood at $7 a bundle doesn't burn, it just smokes. I asked for a refund. Buy firewood elsewhere."
"Beach was closed but we still got some good walks in. Fire ring was a little shallow for my liking so had to get some solid coals going to get dinner on the table."
"Minnesota is beautiful and there is so much to do here. The bathrooms are spotless and everything is new here."
"Washington County, which manages campgrounds at both the Lake Elmo Park Reserve and St Croix Bluffs Regional Park, does a great job of maintaining campgrounds, trails, and bathroom facilities at both parks"
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.
Several established campgrounds dot the landscape within a 30-minute drive of Roseville, Minnesota. Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Regional Park in Centerville offers tent and RV sites, cabin camping, and glamping options in a natural setting close to the Twin Cities metro area. Other nearby options include Lebanon Hills Regional Park in Eagan, Lake Elmo County Park Reserve, and William O'Brien State Park in Scandia, all providing a range of accommodation types from basic tent sites to more developed areas with hookups.
Most campgrounds in the Roseville area operate seasonally, typically from April or May through September or October, though a few like Afton State Park and St. Croix Bluffs Regional Park remain open year-round. "This is a beautiful park and the campsites for the most part all seem spacious, and the loop we were in all had decent tree cover," noted one camper about Rice Creek. Reservations are generally required and often fill quickly, especially for summer weekends. The camping areas are well-maintained with varying levels of amenities - most offer drinking water, picnic tables, and fire rings, while developed sites typically provide electric hookups, showers, and sanitary dump stations.
The proximity to the Twin Cities makes these campgrounds particularly appealing for quick getaways. Several reviews highlight the convenience factor combined with a natural setting. "We took a 30 minute drive north of the cities for a quick get away, and were rewarded with a very nice campground," one visitor remarked about Rice Creek Chain of Lakes. Campers frequently mention the paved trail systems, lakes, and beaches as recreational highlights. While most sites provide some level of privacy with trees and vegetation between campsites, some visitors note occasional traffic noise from nearby highways. Many campgrounds feature water access, with opportunities for swimming, fishing, and boating, complemented by extensive hiking trails, playgrounds, and nature centers that enhance the outdoor experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Roseville, MN?
According to TheDyrt.com, Roseville, MN offers a wide range of camping options, with 121 campgrounds and RV parks near Roseville, MN and 4 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Roseville, MN?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Roseville, MN is Lake Elmo County Park Reserve with a 4.5-star rating from 37 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Roseville, MN?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 4 free dispersed camping spots near Roseville, MN.
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