Best Campgrounds near St. Louis Park, MN

Campgrounds surrounding St. Louis Park, Minnesota provide a range of developed facilities within a short drive of the Twin Cities metropolitan area. Lebanon Hills Regional Park in Eagan and Baker Park Reserve in Medina represent the primary established campgrounds, offering amenities for tent camping, RV sites, and cabin accommodations. Most developed sites feature electric hookups, drinking water, and modern restroom facilities. Lake Elmo County Park Reserve and Bunker Hills Regional Park expand the mixed-use campground options with additional recreational opportunities including swimming areas, hiking trails, and boat access points.

Seasonal considerations affect campground availability throughout the region, with most facilities operating from late April through mid-October. Reservations are strongly recommended, particularly for weekend stays during summer months when campgrounds frequently reach capacity. Many county and regional parks require advance booking through their respective reservation systems, with sites becoming available 3-6 months ahead of arrival dates. Winter camping options are limited, though some parks offer year-round cabin rentals. Road access to campgrounds remains well-maintained throughout the camping season, with paved entrances and gravel interior roads suitable for most vehicles. One camper noted, "Baker Park near Minneapolis was our camp choice for inexpensive camping on the last leg of our Minnesota vacation. This is one of the cleanest camps I've ever stayed at."

Campers consistently highlight the proximity of natural features despite being near urban areas. Lake access represents a significant draw at several campgrounds, with swimming beaches, boat launches, and fishing opportunities available. Lebanon Hills receives praise for its trail system and recreational amenities, with one visitor commenting that it "has everything for the family. Schultz Beach for summer fun. Professional built mtn bike trails for adventure. Camping in Minnesota suburbs." Privacy levels vary considerably between campgrounds, with some offering more secluded sites than others. Lake Elmo Park Reserve features both drive-in sites and more private hike-in camping areas. Most developed campgrounds provide standard amenities including picnic tables, fire rings, and access to firewood purchases. Noise levels remain relatively low at most locations despite their proximity to the metropolitan area, though weekend occupancy tends to be high during peak summer months.

Best Camping Sites Near St. Louis Park, Minnesota (111)

    1. Lebanon Hills Regional Park

    43 Reviews
    Apple Valley, MN
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (651) 480-7773

    $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."

    2. Baker Campground - Baker Park Reserve

    38 Reviews
    Maple Plain, MN
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (763) 694-7662

    $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."

    3. Lake Elmo County Park Reserve

    37 Reviews
    Lake Elmo, MN
    23 miles
    Website
    +1 (651) 430-8370

    $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."

    4. Dakotah Meadows RV Park

    13 Reviews
    Prior Lake, MN
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (952) 445-8800

    $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."

    5. Bunker Hills Regional Park

    16 Reviews
    Coon Rapids, MN
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (763) 862-4970

    $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"

    6. Lake Auburn Campground

    12 Reviews
    Victoria, MN
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (952) 443-2911

    $15 - $18 / night

    "This campground even has 2 walking/hike-in campsites to give your avid campers a real out-in-the-middle-of-nowhere kind if feel, like you drove hundreds if miles to get away from the hustle and bussle"

    "But the Eady walk to the lake, sitting on the dock or the grass and swimming III m the water are a great way to destress."

    7. Minneapolis Northwest KOA

    11 Reviews
    Maple Grove, MN
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (763) 420-2255

    "The site was spacious and private-surrounded on 3 sides by trees. The bathrooms were clean. The pool area was clean and without issue."

    "Sites are close to each other, but easy access, clean grounds and facilities, friendly staff, and a K9 fenced area for a pet friendly campground."

    8. Town & Country Campground & RV Park

    7 Reviews
    Savage, MN
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (952) 445-1756

    "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."

    9. Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Regional Park

    17 Reviews
    Lino Lakes, MN
    21 miles
    Website
    +1 (763) 324-3340

    $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."

    10. Tony’s Backyard

    2 Reviews
    Bloomington, MN
    9 miles
    +1 (612) 751-0908

    $45 - $60 / night

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Recent Reviews near St. Louis Park, MN

729 Reviews of 111 St. Louis Park Campgrounds


  • David R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 1, 2025

    South of Sand Dunes State Forest

    Quick overnight

    Nice spot with plenty of space between sites, which gives you some privacy. It’s right off a busy road, so you’ll hear some traffic noise. The hunters were out during my stay, so there were gunshots throughout the day, but that’s to be expected this time of year. Overall, a good spot for a quick overnight stay and it’s conveniently close to the cities.

  • Lance L.
    Oct. 15, 2025

    Cleary Lake Regional Park

    Large campground with plentyy of activities!

    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. The five space spot has no water or electric hook up but was a great place for me to test out my new solar set up. Word to the wise, gates ACTUALLY close at 10pm, there's no way to contact anyone and I had to walk about a mile in parked outside the gate 😅. The White Pine lot (5 spaces) has a central bathroom/shower building. The park was jam packed Friday/Saturday but a ghosts town the remains sun/mon/tue I stayed.

  • Joel S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 12, 2025

    Lake Byllesby Regional Park

    Very nice campground

    This is a good campground. Very well kept. Fishing from shore and there is a boat launch. Nice playground for kids. Sites are fairly close. Many have no privacy from others, but some do. No water at the sites and pit toilets are the biggest weaknesses. Nice paths for walking and biking.

  • H
    Oct. 10, 2025

    Baker Campground - Baker Park Reserve

    First time camping!

    For our first time camping, this was a great site! It was very clean, had friendly staff, and was close to a really fun park for our kids. We will be back!

  • Larry K.
    Oct. 9, 2025

    Willow River State Park Campground

    Never again

    Never again, $81 for an electric only site. Come on Wisconsin let's jab the out of .staters. Entry fee to parks, extra for out of staters. The site was secluded but not close to level. Not close to the facilities. I am going back to SD. They don't add fees because you are from out of town, they actually encourage out of state tourists. Last trip to a Wisconsin state park . And the showers were closed for the season, this is 10/9/25. But still full price and just an electric only site. No thanks Wisconsin

  • Maria D.
    Sep. 28, 2025

    Interstate State Park — Interstate State Park

    Lovely River, Too Much Hustle

    Interstate State Park has some nice features, but overall it wasn’t my favorite. Many of the exterior loop sites have river access, which was a highlight, and we didn’t have to deal with mosquitoes thanks to being right on the water. The nearby towns are also very charming and worth exploring.

    That said, the campground is small and very crowded, likely because it’s so close to the Cities and popular with canoe rentals. Expect a lot of traffic noise, and in the fall, migrating geese can be very loud (which didn’t bother me, but might for some). The ranger office had limited hours, and since firewood is locked up, there’s no self-serve option. Another downside: a riverboat cruises by frequently, blasting music in the evenings and giving tours during the day.

    The sites are close together, with RVs and tents mixed on one loop, so generator noise is common. It wasn’t a terrible stay, but just too small and busy for my preference—I don’t think I’d return.

    Best sites seemed to be 21 (great river views, less private), 23 (fun detached tent pad), and 18 (most private). Sites 4–5 were also lovely but close to the bathrooms and camp host, so expect more foot traffic.

  • CThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 27, 2025

    Ann Lake

    Quite camping just out of town

    Just a quick one night trip but a perfect getaway close to home. Very quiet. Camp host was nice . Found a tucked away site that we could park Infront of for more privacy

  • DThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 26, 2025

    Lebanon Hills Regional Park

    Not a bad stay

    Sites are a little close with little to no privacy in most. Fun little trails nearby for an afternoon walk. 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.

  • Krista T.
    Sep. 9, 2025

    Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Regional Park

    Nice metro get away

    This is a beautiful park and the campsites for the most part all seem spacious, and the loop we were in (whichever one site 52 is in) all had decent tree cover.

    The bathroom facility has seen better days. The nature center is nice and a great place to spend some time if it is raining during their open hours.


Guide to St. Louis Park

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."

Frequently Asked Questions

Where are the best campgrounds in St. Louis Park?

While St. Louis Park itself has limited camping options, several excellent campgrounds are located within a short drive. Lebanon Hills Regional Park offers a family-friendly experience with miles of hiking trails, mountain biking, and a beach—perfect for weekend getaways. Baker Campground - Baker Park Reserve is another top choice, providing clean facilities and affordable rates near Minneapolis. Both offer convenient suburban camping experiences with various recreational activities. Other highly-rated options in the greater Twin Cities area include William O'Brien State Park and Lake Elmo County Park Reserve, each providing unique outdoor experiences within easy driving distance of St. Louis Park.

What are the most affordable camping options in St. Louis Park?

Budget-conscious campers near St. Louis Park have several affordable options. Cannon River Wilderness Area offers free camping in a beautiful riverside setting. Sites are accessible via a short 10-minute walk from parking, perfect for hammock camping along the water. High Island Creek Park provides another economical option with sites nestled in a scenic forested gulley. For those with RVs looking to save money, Cabela's in Rogers allows overnight parking, though it's worth noting the location experiences highway noise. Budget travelers might also consider Nerstrand Big Woods State Park Campground, which offers reasonable rates with access to numerous walking trails. These options provide cost-effective alternatives without sacrificing natural beauty or basic amenities.

Are there any lakefront camping options in St. Louis Park?

Lake Elmo County Park Reserve offers excellent lakefront camping with impressive amenities including a filtered swimming pond with a sandy beach and built-in umbrellas. The park features modern campsites with partial shade and easy access to boating, swimming, and hiking. Another excellent option is Minneapolis Northwest KOA, which provides waterfront sites with convenient access for both boats and RVs. For those willing to venture slightly further, Lake Auburn Campground near Victoria offers beautiful lakeside camping with drive-in, boat-in, and walk-in access options. These locations provide the perfect mix of water recreation and comfortable camping experiences within reasonable driving distance of St. Louis Park.