103 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Campgrounds near St. Michael, Minnesota range from developed parks with modern amenities to more rustic options within an hour's drive. Baker Park Reserve in Medina provides tent, RV, and cabin camping with access to Lake Independence, while Lake Maria State Park in Monticello offers year-round camping including cabins and walk-in tent sites. The Minneapolis Northwest KOA in Maple Grove features full hookups and glamping options, making it popular for families seeking convenience approximately 15 miles southeast of St. Michael.
Seasonal considerations affect camping availability throughout the region, with most developed campgrounds operating from April through October. Baker Park Reserve typically opens from late April to mid-October, while Lake Maria State Park remains accessible year-round. "Baker Park near Minneapolis Minnesota was our camp choice for inexpensive camping on the last leg of our Minnesota vacation," noted one visitor, highlighting its cleanliness and family-friendly amenities. Cell service varies across the area, with more remote locations like Sand Dunes State Forest reporting limited connectivity. Reservations are strongly recommended for weekend stays during summer months, as sites at popular parks fill quickly, especially those with water access or electrical hookups.
Campers report high satisfaction with the balance of natural settings and proximity to urban amenities. Several campgrounds feature swimming beaches, hiking trails, and fishing opportunities while remaining within 30-45 minutes of Minneapolis. The region includes both heavily wooded sites offering privacy and more open camping areas with playground access. According to reviews from The Dyrt, Baker Park is "one of the cleanest camps" with sites that never seemed "loud or cramped" despite being popular. For those seeking more seclusion, the dispersed camping areas south of Sand Dunes State Forest provide free, primitive camping with fewer amenities but greater privacy. Visitors should be prepared for mosquitoes and ticks during summer months, particularly in wooded areas near lakes and wetlands.
"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."
from $21 - $29 / night
Check Availability"This park is only about 50 minutes away from me, and for hiking/camping I only think it is worth a trip in the fall."
"I chose Lake Maria for a solo camping excursion because it was close to the Cities, but still offered the level of seclusion I wanted."
from $22 - $80 / night
Check Availability"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."
"For the proximity to the city and nearby highways, this was a good spot. Didn’t expect to see as many campers as I did, but all seemed to be friendly."
"I love that it's so close to home. I was able to walk in and find an incredible spot to camp and lay in my hammock."
"Lots of close camp sites for larger groups near the entrance. The further back you go on the road, the more spread out sites get. There are a few walk-in sites that I absolutely love."
"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"
from $50 / night
Check Availability"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"
from $20 - $32 / night
Check Availability"Do a 180 on the trail and she is happy to trot away from the trailer."
"I never tire walking the dog park circle along the crow river! Great for birding and tons of beautiful trails!"
from $15 / night
Check Availability"Meadow setting where the campsites are, but then TONS of hiking trails with significant trees& shade. Really beautiful. Nice people staying in adjacent sites. We would return."
"There was some suggestion that there was some drive in sites that were not reservable, that is. They were first come first serve. But I was unaware or unable to find those."
"Great for birding and walking trails! One of my favorite places to go near home😁"
"When I first pulled in I checked out the single track trail area first and the parking lot was full of mountain bikers. "
ScoutVery clean and level sites. Small park close to lovely historic towns. Sites feel very private . There is road noise and possibly a shooting range near by so it is not quiet in the day.
RangerI’m still a little miffed that this was a county campground—it’s better than some state (non-MN) campgrounds I’ve been to. Unfortunately I only had one quick night here, but it was a quiet, relaxing stay.
There is a dump station and playground, but I didn’t come across a bathhouse when walking the inner campground loop—it’s likely I just missed it. I had poor cell service with Verizon, but it was good enough to text although web browsing was a bit slow. Be aware there is also an additional $7/day vehicle fee required upon entry, which is not included in the price of your campsite. It can be paid at the visitors center and I believe there is a kiosk if you arrive after hours.
My only complaint was the 5 piles of very large dog excrement in my campsite, which says more about the previous campers, but it was prevalent enough that I found myself wishing the park staff had cleaned it up.
ScoutMe and my nephew came to camp at Bertram Park in Monticello and the boss came up to him and was being an ass telling him that he can’t ride his dirtbike that has the battery in it and he said it in a mean way and he said if he catches him again, he will kick us out of the park. I don’t recommend coming here. The bus could’ve been a lot nicer about it.
ScoutGreat place if you have tents but no rv or pull behind parking
GuideVery small, very few sites. There’s a water park but you have to pay extra as it’s not part of the campground. It’s ok. I won’t stay there again.
GuideNo hookups. No privacy at sites. Nice and clean, beautiful beach area. Nice pier for fishing. You can rent kayaks, canoes, paddle boards. Many miles of bike paths on site. Great family campground. FYI, 10 sites are dedicated for generator usage, however you cannot use them overnight.
GuideStayed for two nights when I worked at concerts in Somerset. Was very impressed with how private the sites are. There is Good tree cover in between each site. There is nothing to do for kids, if that’s important for you….I didn’t look around too much, just a walk around the loops. But I want to go back again. Beautiful and clean is how I’d describe in 2 words.
ScoutLarge sites. NO sewer hookups but there is a dump station.
ScoutThere are NO sewer hookups and they charge you$40 per dump fee. Should be included when you pay$600 a month to stay here. Theres no laundry on site. You have to drive 20 mins one way to do laundry. There is only ONE restroom and shower house there are porta potties placed all around to use instead. They also CLOSED the only shower house on a FRIDAY for remodeling the counter tops. If they charged less to stay here I’d say it’s ok but for what they charge and saying they are non-profit makes it suspiciously convenient to slap a veteran camp on their sign to make you feel special. Meanwhile everything is a fee. Extra charge. Won’t be staying again.
Camping sites near St. Michael, Minnesota range from rustic walk-in tent sites to fully equipped RV parks, with most located within a 30-mile radius. The region features glacial moraine topography with sandy soil and scattered wetlands, creating diverse wildlife habitats throughout the camping areas. Mosquito activity peaks from June through August, especially at dusk near wooded campsites and wetland areas.
Hiking through pine stands: Sand Dunes State Forest offers miles of trails through unique sandy terrain. "I've been camping here since I was a little kid. The trails are a lot of fun... lots to see. The outhouses are kept up well and pump water road side," notes a camper who visits annually.
Mountain biking single track: Lake Rebecca Park Reserve features 13.25 miles of newly developed mountain biking trails with varying difficulty levels. "Sweet single track for mountain biking. The best kids park at any campground I've been to," reports one visitor.
Hammock camping: The mature trees at many campgrounds create ideal hammock setups. At Sand Dunes State Forest, a visitor highlighted the appeal: "I was able to walk in and find an incredible spot to camp and lay in my hammock." Most dispersed sites require 100-300 feet of walking from parking areas.
Bird watching: The wetlands and forests attract diverse bird species. "Big park! Great for birding and walking trails! One of my favorite places to go near home," mentions a regular visitor to Lake Rebecca.
Privacy between sites: Baker Campground offers well-spaced sites. "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," notes one camper.
Clean facilities: Many campgrounds maintain high standards for bathrooms and showers. One camper at Bunker Hills Regional Park shared: "The facilities are well kept, the park is patrolled by rangers and the local sheriff after closing hours. Very safe place to camp."
Walk-in sites for seclusion: Several campgrounds offer sites away from parking areas. At Lake Maria State Park, a visitor appreciated "backpack sites only...sites 1, 2, and 3 as they are a little more secluded from other sites, however 1 is fairly close to the county road so you will hear some vehicle noise overnight."
Proximity to Twin Cities: Locations allow quick escapes from urban areas. "This campground is a gem so very close to the Twin Cities. The sites are good sized, and the bathroom/showers are great," reports a Baker Campground visitor.
Cell service limitations: Many campgrounds have spotty connectivity. At South of Sand Dunes State Forest, expect "weak cell service but manageable." Visitors recommend downloading maps before arrival.
Reservation policies vary: Some campgrounds require advance booking while others operate first-come, first-served. Sand Dunes State Forest "is on a first come, first serve basis. There are no reservations for the regular sites (although I do think they might take reservations for the equestrian and group sites)."
Bug protection essential: Prepare for insects, especially during summer months. A Lake Maria visitor warned: "The black flies were dive bombing the car like a scene from Armageddon... First step onto the grassy trail exploded in a cloud of mosquitos."
Poison ivy awareness: Several campgrounds have significant poison ivy growth. At Sand Dunes State Forest, a camper noted "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."
Beach access for swimming: Minneapolis Northwest KOA and several other campgrounds provide water recreation. "The hosts at this campground were very nice. We had a tent site with no hook ups. The site was spacious and private-surrounded on 3 sides by trees. The bathrooms were clean. The pool area was clean and without issue."
Playground facilities: Many campgrounds feature play areas. At Bunker Hills Regional Park, "Something for everyone here! 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."
Short hiking options: Look for trails suitable for younger children. Crow Hassan Park Reserve provides "great for birding and tons of beautiful trails!" Most trails under 2 miles can be completed in under an hour with children.
Off-peak camping: Weekdays offer quieter experiences. At Sand Dunes State Forest, a visitor noted: "Took my son on his first overnight camp outside of backyard. During the week so not as many people and not busy at all. Plenty of sites to choose from and the sites have a decent separation between them."
Site selection for hookups: Baker Campground provides different levels of services. "We spent two nights in the campground. It was fairly busy, but we still felt secluded despite a full campground. There are nice paved trails around a couple of lakes/ponds for biking, and easy access to the shower and bathroom facilities."
Road conditions to dispersed sites: Access roads vary greatly in quality. In South of Sand Dunes State Forest, "For the proximity to the city and nearby highways, this was a good spot. Didn't expect to see as many campers as I did, but all seemed to be friendly. I stayed here for one night and roads were totally fine for any vehicle."
Dump station availability: Plan waste management accordingly. Most developed campgrounds like Baker Campground provide sanitary dump stations, while dispersed camping areas require pack-in, pack-out practices and have no waste facilities.
Tree clearance for larger rigs: Watch for low branches at some campgrounds. At Sand Dunes State Forest, one RVer noted "30' class C motor home. Some overhanging branches on the road in scrape the top and sides. Campsites are nice, mowed, gravel parking."
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does camping cost in St. Michael?
Camping costs near St. Michael vary based on amenities and location. At Ham Lake Resort, expect modest fees for car camping with access to a small lake, boat launch, and basic bathrooms. This makes it an economical option for quick getaways from the metro area. For those seeking free alternatives, South of Sand Dunes State Forest offers dispersed camping without fees, though be prepared for zero amenities (no toilets, water, or trash facilities) following MN DNR guidelines. County parks like High Island Creek Park typically charge $15-30 per night, while state parks add a daily or annual vehicle permit fee ($7-35) on top of camping fees ($15-35 per night). Most campgrounds offer discounts for Minnesota residents and off-season stays.
Where are the best campgrounds in St. Michael?
The St. Michael area boasts several exceptional campgrounds within a short drive. William O'Brien State Park Campground stands out with its beautifully maintained hiking trails, clean campsites, and convenient access to the charming town of Stillwater for day trips. The park offers spacious sites that provide a sense of privacy despite being in a popular location. Another excellent option is Baker Campground - Baker Park Reserve, which provides inexpensive camping with well-maintained facilities and is managed by Three Rivers Parks. For families seeking recreational variety, Lebanon Hills Regional Park offers a comprehensive outdoor experience with mountain bike trails, beaches, and extensive hiking paths all within the suburban setting.
What camping amenities are available at St. Michael campgrounds?
Campgrounds near St. Michael offer diverse amenities to suit different camping styles. Lake Elmo County Park Reserve provides exceptional facilities including a filtered swimming pond with sandy beaches, built-in umbrellas, concessions, hiking trails, horseback riding options, and a playground that's perfect for families. Most sites include electrical hookups with water pumps available throughout the grounds. For those seeking overnight parking options, Cabela's Rogers, MN provides basic overnight accommodation for RVs, though it's located near I94 so expect some highway noise. Other nearby campgrounds typically offer water access, modern restrooms, shower facilities, and picnic tables. Many also feature recreational trails, fishing opportunities, and boat launches for a complete outdoor experience.
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