Camping opportunities near Saint Cloud, Minnesota span both developed campgrounds and rustic sites within 30 miles of the city. Winter camping is available at select locations like Lake Maria State Park, while most campgrounds operate seasonally from May through October. Saint Cloud's location at the junction of the Mississippi and Sauk Rivers creates diverse camping environments with riverside, forested, and lake access options throughout the region.
What to do
Swimming and water recreation: Lake Maria State Park Campground offers multiple water activities, with some campsites situated near lakes. "Only about a mile from the parking lot. This site was nearly surrounded by a lake which lended to a lot of bugs, but was absolutely gorgeous!" notes one visitor about their experience at a lakefront site.
Mini golf and pool access: Families enjoy the recreational amenities at St. Cloud-Clearwater RV Park, which features "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," according to a recent review.
Hiking forest trails: Sand Dunes State Forest offers extensive trail networks through unique forest terrain. A visitor comments, "The trails are a lot of fun.. lots to see. The outhouses are kept up well and pump water road side." Many trails connect camping areas to beaches and scenic overlooks.
What campers like
River tubing and water activities: Two Rivers Campground receives high marks for its water access and amenities. As one reviewer describes, "They have a lazy river, a splash pool for little ones, and another pool for all ages. The campground also features a beautiful beach area on the river that's perfect for swimming."
Secluded backpacking sites: Campers appreciate Lake Maria State Park's backpacking-focused layout. "Backpack sites only. Love this park as it offers many backpacking sites with some being very short hikes in and some being longer hikes. Some are lake front and some are more woodsy sites," writes a regular visitor who particularly enjoys sites 1, 2, and 3.
Well-maintained facilities: St. Cloud Campground & RV Park earns consistent praise for cleanliness. "This campground is well maintained. The staff was very friendly and helpful. The shower house was clean. We enjoyed our stay here and will return," notes one camper. Another mentions the park is "very well maintained and clean. They have a pool, lodge, bath house and laundry facilities."
What you should know
Cell service limitations: Connectivity varies greatly between campgrounds. At St. Cloud Campground & RV Park, "It was the worst wifi of about 15 campgrounds we've been to on our trip this year. They warned us it was slow, but we couldn't even connect to it from our site." Another campground notes, "Host stated that the wifi was weak but since there were not a lot of campers we should be alright. We were unable to even get a signal!"
Poison ivy prevalence: Ann Lake campsites have significant poison ivy growth. "Sites are large with varying degrees of privacy. Well spaced out, just some have less undergrowth. Be aware that the undergrowth is at least 25% poison ivy," warns a recent visitor. Another camper adds, "TONS of poison ivy. Sand fleas."
Seasonal price increases: Several campgrounds have instituted significant price increases. One Two Rivers Campground reviewer notes, "New owner as of 2022- huge jump in prices! Extra fees added everywhere-more than two children fee, guest fees, pet fees, river view fees, holiday fees. One year difference our bill went from $235 up to $347 for a 3 night stay."
Tips for camping with families
Look for activity-rich campgrounds: Families appreciate campgrounds with multiple recreation options. St. Cloud-Clearwater RV Park offers "Pool, pool table, soccer table, mini golf, swing set, clubhouse, 3 wheel bike racing, and water balloons wars," according to one family's review.
Consider cabin options for beginners: Creekwood Acres provides a comfortable introduction to outdoor experiences. "The cabin has a full working kitchen including microwave, stove, fridge and sink, so you can bring all you need for your own meal prep. There is one open bedroom with a comfy double bed on the main floor, and two more double beds in the sunny loft above," describes a visitor.
Check site spacing for noise control: Some campgrounds place sites very close together, which can impact family experiences. One reviewer of Benton Beach Campground warns, "This is a nice campground with beautiful tall pine trees....but the sites are wayyyyy too close together. We had noisy neighbors with lots of tiny yappy dogs that never stopped barking."
Tips from RVers
Plan for tree clearance: RV sites at some campgrounds require careful navigation. At A J Acres Campground, "Navigating around trees was not so fun with our 5th wheel. We got the slideouts to fit in between the trees," reports one RVer.
Note road conditions: Access roads to certain campgrounds may present challenges. At Ann Lake, "Some overhanging branches on the road in scrape the top and sides. Campsites are nice, mowed, gravel parking," warns a camper with a 30-foot Class C motorhome.
Consider campground elevation for connectivity: Higher elevation campsites may offer better signal reception. "Higher elevation sites for air tv reception. 2 bars of 4g service made it a little difficult to pay online over the phone. No reception in lower elevation sites," notes an RVer at Ann Lake.
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