Located about 10 miles west of Minneapolis, St. Louis Park offers convenient access to multiple camping options within a 30-minute drive. The area features a mix of suburban parks and larger regional preserves with elevations ranging from 880-950 feet above sea level. Summer temperatures typically reach 83°F during July and August, while nighttime temperatures drop to around 63°F.
What to do
Kayaking on small lakes: Lebanon Hills Regional Park offers a peaceful paddling experience on its small lake system. As Chris S. notes, "Nice little lake to kayak on," making it perfect for beginners or those seeking calm waters.
Hiking interconnected trails: Bunker Hills Regional Park features miles of paved and unpaved trails through wooded areas. One camper describes it as feeling "like a state park, and it's definitely bigger than some of them... truly felt like a hidden paradise."
Family-friendly waterpark: Take a break from traditional camping activities and visit the waterpark at Bunker Hills. "Huge waterpark, miles of bike trails," mentions Tiffany W., highlighting this unique feature that sets it apart from standard campgrounds.
Biking dedicated paths: Carver Park Reserve connects to an extensive trail system ideal for cyclists. "There are nice paved trails around a couple of lakes/ponds for biking," notes ERolf P., making this an excellent option for active campers.
What campers like
Spacious sites: Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Regional Park receives praise for its well-designed campsites. "The site was large and flat with a nice fire pit," says Mackenzie G., while another camper mentions "there is ample room to park a car and put up a large tent."
Urban accessibility: Many campgrounds provide a feeling of seclusion despite proximity to the Twin Cities. At Lebanon Hills, Angela L. shares, "We live about 15 mins away from this campground... We liked that we weren't super close to any campers unlike most RV spots are nowadays."
Educational activities: Carver Park Reserve offers regular nature programs. Missy B. explains, "They have programs every Saturday night, some of the ones we've been to were about bugs, raptors, bees, and snakes, there are usually programs during the day at the nature center as well."
Clean facilities: Dakotah Meadows RV Park maintains high standards for their amenities. "Grounds are mostly well groomed and the roads are maintained. There is some pride reflected in the ownership," according to Tom D., indicating attention to detail throughout the property.
What you should know
Variable site privacy: Privacy levels differ significantly between campgrounds and specific sites. At Baker Campground, Alison O. mentions site C14 is "tucked just enough off the path to feel private, but not so far that you feel isolated."
Fire pit placement: Consider fire ring location when selecting sites at some campgrounds. At Baker Park Reserve, Alison O. notes her site's fire ring was "doing its own thing like 30 feet from the tent pad—felt like I needed a shuttle to roast a marshmallow."
Reservation timing: Popular campgrounds fill quickly during summer months. At Carver Park, one reviewer advises, "Reserve early online, most weekends were already reserved by mid May."
Road noise: Some campgrounds have sites near busy roads. At Dakotah Meadows, a camper suggests selecting "a site further from one of the main roads into Mystic Lake Casino. We heard a lot of traffic coming and going well into the wee hours of the night."
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly activities: Multiple dog friendly campgrounds near St. Louis Park offer dedicated children's areas. At Baker Park, Bryan S. shares, "With great fishing, playground, swimming, and biking trails very nearby, the kids were kept as busy as they wanted to be."
Playground access: Lake Auburn Campground features excellent play areas. Amy K. confirms it has "lots of space between campsites... Great playground and green space for the kids, beach is very nice."
Nature programs: Look for campgrounds with scheduled educational activities. At Carver Park, "the playground is good for kids and they have programs every Saturday night" according to one reviewer, providing structured learning opportunities.
Swimming options: Many campgrounds offer beach access for cooling off. William S. says Lake Auburn is "nice, well-maintained campground... the beach was lovely," giving families a place to relax during hot summer days.
Tips from RVers
Concrete pads: Dakotah Meadows provides stable, level surfaces for larger rigs. "Large campground with cement parking pads with full hookups. The grass around the lots is very green, lush and well maintained," notes Jim M., highlighting the quality infrastructure.
Site selection strategy: When booking pet-friendly campgrounds around St. Louis Park, be specific about your needs. At Minneapolis Northwest KOA, one camper advises, "if you wanted one with trees I needed to put a note on my reservation" since site assignment uses an automated system.
Hook-up locations: Pay attention to utility placement when setting up. At Lebanon Hills, one camper mentions site 72 "isn't as secluded by trees as the other sites and we weren't able to position our pop up to face into the camping spot," indicating the importance of understanding your site layout before arrival.