RV camping options near St. Joseph, Minnesota range from seasonal parks operating May through October to year-round facilities. Located in Stearns County where summer temperatures average 70-85°F, this area features a mix of prairie landscapes and wooded terrain. Most campgrounds in this region sit within 30 minutes of downtown St. Joseph, with several positioned along rivers or small lakes.
What to do
Swimming activities: Country Camping Tent & RV Park on the Rum River offers both a heated pool and river access for water recreation. "This campground is great for everyone! It has a heated pool, splash pad area, BIG playground area, indoor game room, HUGE sites! You can either relax in the pool or even take a ride down the rum river in a rented canoe, tube, or kayak," notes one visitor.
Tubing experiences: River tubing remains popular at several campgrounds with shuttle services available. "Tubing! They have a bus that takes you into town float back to the campground, love it," reports a camper about Country Camping RV Park's river access.
Family recreation: St. Cloud-Clearwater RV Park provides multiple recreational options within the grounds. "It has 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 rainy days with free arcade," says one reviewer.
What campers like
Spacious sites: Campgrounds near St. Joseph typically offer larger-than-average sites. "We have a pop up so we parked on a grassy spot next to the cabins that backed up to a field. It was nice to be there instead of in the thick of the big camper section," mentions a visitor to St. Cloud-Clearwater RV Park.
Clean facilities: Hardy's Lake in the Woods RV Resort maintains well-kept grounds and amenities. "The sites are very large and it is nicely wooded. The owners are very nice and were great to work with. They even delivered firewood to our site," according to a guest review.
Walking paths: Many parks feature natural trails for exercise and dog walking. "There were some walking paths right behind our site, which was great for those of us with dogs!" notes a visitor to Westrich RV Park.
What you should know
Seasonal operations: Most RV sites near St. Joseph operate from early May through mid-October. "Open in the winter! Convenient location right off I94 and HWY 23. Close to Waite Park for entertainment and food," notes a reviewer about Love's RV Hookup in Rockville, one of few winter-accessible options.
WiFi limitations: Several campgrounds struggle with internet connectivity during peak periods. "Campground is very nice, with shade and open areas. Hosts are friendly and helpful. Sites are well maintained as are the showers and restrooms. 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!" shares a visitor to St. Cloud Campground & RV Park.
Road conditions: Internal campground roads vary in quality and surface type. "Road through the campground is dirt," mentions a Westrich RV Park visitor, while others note crushed granite or paved surfaces at different facilities.
Tips for camping with families
Pool considerations: Cokato Lake RV Resort offers family-friendly water amenities. "Inground, heated swimming pool; mini golf; pickleball; tennis; arcade room attached to the office. Ice cream shop has 8 flavors of hand-dipped yum!" reports a family camper.
Activity planning: Family-oriented campgrounds typically schedule regular events. "Group sites, tent sites, covered wagon sites! Floating on the Rum River, swimming pool with splash pad, little camp store, Golf cart rentals! Our grandkids love it too!" shares a multi-generational visitor.
Weather preparation: Summer storms can develop quickly in central Minnesota. "We got hit with a TERRIBLE storm with nickel to quarter size hail, the hail ended up busting out our roof vent covers and likely will need roof repairs," warns one camper about severe weather incidents.
Tips from RVers
Big rig access: Most parks accommodate larger RVs, but entry points vary. "Large wooded lots, most facing the river or wildlife pond. Full hook-ups, with 30 or 50 amp service. Concrete Patios on every lot. Crushed granite streets and drives," notes a visitor to RiversEdge RV Park.
Electrical reliability: During peak summer heat, power systems may be strained. "Had one issue with power dropping so we had to pull the surge protector off. It was fine. Also very hot and humid so everyone was running AC to the max," reports an RVer about electrical performance.
Site selection: Different campground sections offer varying experiences. "We were in a pull through at the north end of the campground and the site itself was nice and had decent spacing between sites, but I noticed some of the other sites were quite close," advises a St. Cloud Campground visitor.
