Recreational vehicle camping near Shevlin, Minnesota offers access to the headwaters of the Mississippi River and the pine forests of north-central Minnesota. Average summer temperatures range from 55-80°F with humidity levels typically between 65-75%. Most campgrounds in the region operate seasonally from May through October, with private facilities offering more amenities than public options.
What to do
Explore Itasca State Park: Camp Itasca provides convenient access just minutes from the state park's north entrance where visitors can see the Mississippi River headwaters. "Itasca State Park is two minutes away. A great bar for dinner is Lobos which is about three miles away," notes a camper at Camp Itasca.
Fishing opportunities: Lake Plantagenet near Bemidji offers good fishing conditions with boat inspection required before launch. A visitor reported, "Most of our time was spent fishing on the lake, but we were impressed with the other activities they offered to people staying there including a swimming pool, beach toys, paddle boats, canoes, inflatable rafts, a playground, a baseball field, horse shoes, volley ball sand pit, work out room, and laundry facilities."
Bike trail access: Multiple paved trails connect campgrounds to nearby towns. "Walker is a cute little town - only 4 miles away by bike on the trails," mentions one visitor at Trails RV Park, which sits at the junction of the Heartland and Paul Bunyan Bike Trails.
What campers like
Clean facilities: Campers frequently mention well-maintained bathrooms as a highlight. "Bathrooms were immaculate! Staff helpful and friendly. Will definitely come again!" wrote one visitor at Royal Oaks RV Park, which maintains 90 full-hookup sites.
Swimming options: Several campgrounds offer swimming pools as alternatives to lake swimming. "The pool was warm. Everyone at the park seemed nice. It's not on the lake but there is a boat landing with 2 ramps about a mile away," noted a camper at Trails RV Park.
Casino proximity: Some campers appreciate RV sites near gaming facilities. "There are quite a few RV sites at Shooting Star Casino in Mahnomen and they offer full hookups! Although the sites are close together, there were quite a few empty sites so we felt like it was semi-private," reported one visitor.
What you should know
Seasonal operation: Most campgrounds close for winter. "It's definitely not fancy, by any stretch of the imagination, but it's not a dirt pad. It's kind of pretty, even if it's in the wide open," notes a camper about Crow Wing Inn Motel and RV Park, which has limited sites available.
Variable campsite privacy: Sites at resort-style campgrounds often lack privacy. "The daily sites are wide open and close together but this seems typical at this style of campground/resort. Most places that offer the same amenities, I don't expect privacy," reported a visitor at Balsam Beach Resort.
Additional fees: Many campgrounds charge extra for services. "They do allow pets, but at a cost of $5.00 per day," mentioned a camper. Another noted, "They also have cable TV hook up, and have a 'general store' that sells sweatshirts, tshirts, ice cream, coffee, and movie rentals for $4.00 per movie/per day."
Tips for camping with families
Look for playgrounds and games: Several campgrounds offer dedicated children's activities. "The playground and outdoor game area was perfect for our family of four kids. On top of the pool, they have a ton of cool water toys and floating play areas," wrote one family at Balsam Beach Resort.
Check for seasonal camper interactions: Long-term campers can enhance the camping experience. "The owners were very nice but the 'locals' or seasonal campers were even nicer. Everyone was very welcoming and friendly," reported a family with children.
Consider bike-friendly locations: Paved trails provide safe family recreation options. "The Heartland Trail is a few blocks away, downtown is also close by, but yet, it didn't feel like we were in town," noted a visitor at Big Pines RV Park in Park Rapids.
Tips from RVers
Inspect site leveling: Some sites require equipment for leveling. "Our spot was in the trees with electricity. The spot was big enough for or 21' trailer, my pickup, and my inlaws van," reported a camper at Camp Itasca, noting the forested sites sometimes have uneven terrain.
Verify cell service: Coverage varies by provider. "AT&T had 2 bars of LTE and Verizon 4 bars of LTE service. AT&T Speedtest: 27.1 Mbps down, 0.64 Mbps up. Verizon Speedtest: 190 kbps down, 12 Mbps up," detailed a visitor tracking connectivity.
Check hookup specifications: Not all sites offer full hookups. "Stayed in back-in campsite#23 which was not shady and a little unlevel side to side. It was a dirt site with some grass on either side. Electric, water and sewer were in the rear. 20A/30A/50A electric. Sewer was not threaded," noted an RVer with specific details about site conditions.
