Camping near St. Louis Park, MN

Camping spots near St. Louis Park, Minnesota range from primitive sites to full-hookup RV parks, with most operating from April through October. Winter temperatures typically drop below freezing, with summer averages around 80°F. Many campgrounds in the region maintain dedicated swimming areas with filtered water or natural lake access, creating family-friendly environments within 30 minutes of the metropolitan area.

What to do

Hiking trail networks: Bunker Hills Regional Park offers miles of both paved and unpaved trails throughout its 1,600-acre property. "There are park pavilions and a water park connected to the campsite, a gold course nearby, and shops, too - but the actual campsite, bike/walking/horse trails make you forget all of that," notes one camper.

Water recreation: Lake Auburn Campground provides a swimming beach with shade umbrellas and a fishing dock on its namesake lake. A visitor reports, "The beach area looks nice" and "Lake Auburn's sites are all along a one way road that loops through the campground."

Mountain biking: Lebanon Hills Regional Park features purpose-built mountain biking trails separate from hiking paths. "Great biking and hiking trails. Great amenities. Close to the zoo as well as the city," writes one reviewer who gave the park five stars.

What campers like

Site privacy levels: Campsites at Baker Campground offer varying degrees of seclusion. "The sites are good sized, and the bathroom/showers are great. With great fishing, playground, swimming, and biking trails very nearby, the kids were kept as busy as they wanted to be," explains one reviewer.

Proximity to attractions: Many campgrounds provide easy access to metropolitan amenities while maintaining natural settings. A camper at Dakotah Meadows RV Park notes, "Very convenient for visiting Minneapolis—25/30 minutes from airport/Mall of America (Aquarium) and Security patrols regularly."

Clean facilities: Regional parks maintain high standards for bathroom and shower facilities. At Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Regional Park, "The check in staff was friendly, helpful and efficient. She gave us the info we needed for wood and other campgrounds in the area. Our site was clear, flat and grassy, and had an established fire pit."

What you should know

Reservation requirements: Most campgrounds fill quickly during summer months, especially on weekends. A Lake Auburn visitor advises, "I bought new camping gear and this campground, given its proximity to our house, made for an easy weekend getaway to give the gear a trial run."

Site spacing considerations: Some private campgrounds place units close together. A Minneapolis Northwest KOA camper notes, "The KOA was nice and clean but you're packed in on top of each other like sardines in a can."

Seasonal limitations: Lake Elmo County Park Reserve and similar parks typically operate with defined seasons. "We stayed the last night of their camping season and were able to utilize water and electric hookups," reports one visitor who appreciated the "really well maintained" facilities.

Tips for camping with families

Swimming options: Several parks feature dedicated swimming areas with enhanced facilities. Lake Elmo provides "a home made lake that has a sand bottom but it has chlorine like a pool so no weeds. Great for swimming."

Playground access: County parks invest in quality play equipment. At Bunker Hills, one visitor reports the park is "perfect for kids, they have a water park with a wave pool, a disc golf course, a golf course, several pavilions with grills, a few playgrounds and plenty of trails both paved and unpaved."

Weekend programming: Some parks offer scheduled activities for children. According to one Lake Elmo camper, "On Saturday nights they have a campground program for the kids and families to watch. Very organized and clean facilities."

Tips from RVers

Hookup availability: Most county and regional parks offer electric service but limited water and sewer connections. Town & Country Campground visitor noted, "The site we're in is w&e only but they have a dump station. It appears to be sold out for the weekend so book ahead."

Site dimensions: Consider rig size when booking. At Lebanon Hills, "Sites with full hookups or more remote sites with electric that are more tucked away in the pines" allow for different camping experiences, according to one reviewer.

Leveling requirements: Several campgrounds feature uneven terrain. Baker Park campers advise checking site details before booking, with one reporting that site C14 has "super peaceful vibes, nice tree cover, flat tent pad, and plenty of space to spread out."