Best Campgrounds near Silver Bay, MN

Silver Bay, MN is a great camping destination for adventurers of all types. There are tons of hikes and other fun activities to partake in, as well as sights to see and explore. Get the dirt on all the best camping near Silver Bay. Browse campgrounds by amenities, site types, and more.

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Best Camping Sites Near Silver Bay, Minnesota (138)

    1. Split Rock Lighthouse State Park Campground

    70 Reviews
    Beaver Bay, MN
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (218) 595-7625

    "The shower house is a lengthy walk; not a problem but consider driving up to it if you have little with. Clean vault toilets throughout the campground are convenient."

    "There are plenty of trees to cool things down and the lake is in sight of all parts of the campground. Trees for hammocks and fire pit for s'mores."

    2. Baptism River Campground — Tettegouche State Park

    53 Reviews
    Illgen City, MN
    5 miles
    Website

    $25 / night

    "You fill with water near the restroom in the campground next to the bath house across from the dumpsters. From our site you can here the river flowing it’s so peaceful."

    "This is one of the most beautiful campgrounds in northern Minnesota along the glorious shores of Lake Superior.  The campsites are surrounded by plenty of wilderness to allow some privacy. "

    3. Gooseberry Falls State Park Campground

    67 Reviews
    Beaver Bay, MN
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (218) 595-7100

    "Well-spaced, secluded sites with convenient access to restrooms, water access, and hiking trails Steps away from the magnificent lake."

    "Stopped at Gooseberry on our way up the coast of Lake Superior on a long weekend."

    4. Eckbeck Finland State Forest

    19 Reviews
    Illgen City, MN
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (218) 353-8800

    $17 / night

    "Baptism river runs along the campground and has limited camping sites near it. First come first serve. There was a group playing music late and a few drunk campers who visited my site unannounced."

    "The sites on the outside are more secluded but the ones in the middle are also nice. There is also a picnic area on the river and trails behind schedule some of the sites that lead to the river."

    5. Lake Superior Cart-in Campground — Tettegouche State Park

    16 Reviews
    Illgen City, MN
    5 miles
    Website

    "Tettegouche is beautiful right next to Lake Superior. 23 miles of hiking trails, 34 modern campsites (With Flush toilets and showers) and 13 cart-in campsites."

    "Aside from the popular hikes to Shovel Point, High Falls or Bean and Bear Lake - there are miles and miles of other beautiful hiking trails in this state park!"

    6. Bean and Bear Lakes Hike-In — Tettegouche State Park

    12 Reviews
    Silver Bay, MN
    2 miles
    Website

    "This site sits directly on Bear Lake near Silver Bay, MN. There are 2 relatively close sites here and this review is for the further back one."

    "One- the location can’t be beat, anywhere along the North Shore is guaranteed to be beautiful but this campsite is set right on the shore of a pristine lake surrounded by forest covered hills."

    7. Black Beach Campground

    13 Reviews
    Silver Bay, MN
    2 miles
    Website
    +1 (218) 226-1825

    $30 - $45 / night

    "One of those changes involved wandering down to Black Beach (right next to the campground) for the first time and it was awesome; cannot believe in all my trip up the shore I had never been. "

    "Tents and rvs also allowed in a section next to the highway with electric only."

    8. George H. Crosby Manitou State Park Campground

    23 Reviews
    Finland, MN
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (218) 226-6365

    $20 / night

    "This is one of the few state parks in Minnesota where you can winter camp! The trails are absolutely beautiful in the fall, the scenery changes often."

    "We stayed a site 22 on the small lake in early June and loved it! There were other campers nearby for only 1 night, and we never much from them."

    9. Finland State Forest Campground

    10 Reviews
    Finland, MN
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (218) 226-6365

    $17 - $50 / night

    "Nice little campground just off of highway 61 heading up the north shore. We were able to find a walk in campsite on a Friday night which was nice. Bathrooms were in decent condition. "

    "This is a state forest campground high on a ridge overlooking Lake Superior, just south of the Wolf Ridge ELC."

    10. Shipwreck Creek Campground — Split Rock Lighthouse State Park

    6 Reviews
    Beaver Bay, MN
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (218) 595-7625

    "We have camped there a few times and love the accessibility to Mtn. Bike Trails and bicycle riding on the Gitche Gami State aBike Trail."

    "Plenty of trails and activities nearby."

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Recent Reviews near Silver Bay, MN

752 Reviews of 138 Silver Bay Campgrounds


  • Cynthia K.
    Sep. 5, 2025

    Burlington Bay Campground

    Good base camp for the area

    Large campground run by the city of Two Harbors.

     It has 4 areas of RV camping & 12 primitive tent sites.

     The tent sites by the David Dill area were shady with trees Willow is near the dump station.

     Burlington sites 1-66 have water & electric. There's a row that has lakeside camping. The sites are mostly sunny with some shade. All are close together. There is a lake view. Apparently there's a path with lake access, but not sure which site this was by. 

    The playground is here. Dumpster, dump station & restrooms with showers.

     Agate sites are 67-91. is a loop with full hookup. 73-75, 77, 79,81-84, have beautiful views of the lake, but difficult lake access. Most of this loop is full sun& very close together sites. 

    We were at site 70 & at first I was bummed out not having a lake view. This is my own fault for dithering about what campground I wanted. I was lucky- this was the last site for my dates. I have later found out that someone must have cancelled for this site & I was lucky enough to get it. Reservations fill up quick a year in advance. 

    This site is narrow, but shady. There's foliage to the left separating it from Site 72 (which has a partial lake view) & the back separating it from the Burlington sites. There was a white tail doe walking thru it the first day we were there.

     Sites 67/68 & 70 are close. Our fire pit was only a few feet from site 68's. There's more shade here though.

    Site 69 is somewhat secluded & has shade & easy access to the bathroom. 

    The site across from us was a long site parallel to the road. It was empty the 2 nights we were here.

    Sites 92 to 102 are a little down the road in rows on both sides of the road. Again close together. Full hookup. Just a few feet away from Hwy 61.

     David Dill sites are 1B to 34B These are full hookup sites terraced on a hill. Big rig friendly. There's a bathhouse by the visitor center for David Dill & the tenters.

    Very close together & sunny. They have a pretty good view of the beach & lake. 

    24B to 34B have the best being lowest on the hill. There's a road- then a rocky beach.

     All parts of this campground were full on a Friday/Saturday night. The office has a small gift shop. Open 8am to 8pm during the season. Check in's at noon- which is great! Check out at 11am.

    We did see police patrol occasionally. Hwy 61 is only a few feet away & is VERY loud. There's no Jake brake ordinance for Two Harbors & the truckers are always doing it. 

    This is a busy town!

  • NThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 4, 2025

    Apostle Islands Area RV park and Camping

    Nice place for a day or two

    This is a nice enough campground but I am honestly disappointed. The website describes lots of amenities, which is why I booked this campground, however, everything is extra cost in addition to nightly rate— including mini-golf. The entire campground is in the side of a mountain and there are no flat roads, which makes biking and walking a workout rather than leisure. We will check out Buffalo Bay next time.

  • TexasRed (.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 3, 2025

    Castle Danger

    Great Spot

    Very nice n secluded spot, only had one other person stay there on labor day weekend. There are a couple of designated spots with fire rings, some are harder to get to. The road in is kind of rough but my subie handled it fine. The location on the dirt does take you to a persons property but check out Skips review for a detailed location. Overall great spot and close to a superior hiking trailhead

  • NThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 31, 2025

    Apostle Islands Area Campground

    Cute Campground

    Great campground with swimming hole & great access to Bayside for island ferry’s! Complaints: Park is located on the side of a hill—Spots are small but level, roads are all at a slope. Not a great campground for kiddos to ride their bikes, and not super fun to walk uphill in every direction. The campground also charges you $5-7 per person to play mini-golf… which is odd, since it is advertised as a campground amenity on the website.

  • m
    Aug. 31, 2025

    Eckbeck Finland State Forest

    Just fine

    I thought the campground itself was nice. It’s on a very busy road tho and I personally thought the sites in the middle were very close together. We also had a group of very rowdy college aged kids across from us that made our stay less enjoyable. If you can bet a site on the outer edge of the campground, it would be great.

  • goose10091203 The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 27, 2025

    Carrol Truck Trail

    Secluded! But nothing else

    It's a fine place to go to get away from everything. No reason to drive all the way out unless you're trying to camp. There are 3 campsites at the end of the road where the GPS takes you. There are a few other pull offs along the way. I'm guessing all the forest roads around here have sites so even if this one is occupied, there are others close.

    BRING BUG SPRAY! the mosquitoes are no joke

  • H
    Aug. 25, 2025

    Black Beach Campground

    Tight spaces, expensive

    We stayed here for 3 nights, 4 days and while the location is great, the camping was awful. The spots are one on top of each other, so much so that we spent our nights inside the RV because we were so on top of our neighbors. We could hear EVERYTHING, even when in our trailer and our neighbors were in theirs. Very clean facility, but not worth the price and unfortunate setup.

  • Kay K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 24, 2025

    Ninemile Lake Campground

    Beach on site

    Huge site with many trees for our hammocks. The mosquitoes were ravenous but we had a screen tent. The toilets were really clean. It was a delight to have a beach right at our site. This campground is off the beaten path so was extra dark and quiet.


Guide to Silver Bay

Camping near Silver Bay, Minnesota, offers a fantastic mix of natural beauty and outdoor activities. With stunning views of Lake Superior and plenty of campgrounds to choose from, it’s a great spot for families, solo adventurers, and RV enthusiasts alike.

What to do:

  • Hiking: Explore the trails around Gooseberry Falls State Park Campground. One camper mentioned, "There were plenty of trails to hike and waterfalls!" This park is known for its beautiful views and well-maintained paths.
  • Fishing: Try your luck at Bear Head Lake State Park Campground. A visitor shared, "The view from this campsite was absolutely incredible... I have caught a lot of Northern and Small Mouth just north of the boat ramp."
  • Sightseeing: Don’t miss the iconic Split Rock Lighthouse. Campers at Split Rock Lighthouse State Park Campground rave about the views, with one saying, "The campground is brand new and wonderful."

What campers like:

  • Spacious Sites: Campers appreciate the roomy sites at Shipwreck Creek Campground. One review noted, "All of the sites are large and spacious with interesting rock features and vegetation that adds to the privacy."
  • Clean Facilities: Many visitors highlight the cleanliness of the facilities. A camper at Temperance River State Park Campground said, "The pit toilets were clean and did not smell, and the shower house was so clean and nice it felt like home."
  • Pet-Friendly Options: If you’re traveling with pets, Gooseberry Falls State Park Campground allows pets, making it a great choice for families with furry friends. One camper mentioned, "It was so nice to not worry about bears!"

What you should know:

  • Mosquitoes: Be prepared for bugs, especially in the summer. A visitor at Temperance River State Park Campground warned, "The mosquitos were pretty bad when I was here in June, so be prepared with insect repellant."
  • Limited Amenities: Some campgrounds, like Cascade River State Park Campground, don’t have water hookups at the sites. A camper noted, "You must fill your fresh tanks for RV near the dump station."
  • Crowded During Peak Season: Popular spots can fill up quickly. A camper at Gooseberry Falls State Park Campground mentioned, "Hard to get a site during peak season, but so worth it if you snag one!"

Tips for camping with families:

  • Choose Campgrounds with Activities: Look for campgrounds like Baptism River Campground that offer hiking trails and nearby waterfalls. One family shared, "We spent more time on trails than on campgrounds but wouldn’t want it any other way!"
  • Pack for Comfort: Bring bug spray and other essentials. A camper at Bear Head Lake State Park Campground advised, "Bring plenty of bug spray… the hike to get to this campsite was rough."
  • Plan for Privacy: Some sites are closer together, so consider booking a more secluded site. A visitor at Fall Lake Campground mentioned, "We didn’t really have anyone next to us on either side."

Tips from RVers:

  • Check Site Sizes: RV sites can vary in size. A camper at Fall Lake Campground noted, "Be mindful of your camping equipment and the size of the sites - it varies widely."
  • Electric Hookups: Many campgrounds, like Burlington Bay Campground, offer electric hookups, which can be a big plus for RVers. One camper said, "Burlington Bay is one of the cleanest, most easily accessible campgrounds in Minnesota."
  • Plan for Dump Stations: Some campgrounds don’t have dump stations on-site. A visitor at Gooseberry Falls State Park Campground mentioned, "Only bummer is the lack of dump/fill station onsite."

Camping near Silver Bay, Minnesota, is a great way to enjoy the outdoors, with plenty of options for everyone. Whether you're hiking, fishing, or just soaking in the views, there's something for every camper.

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Silver Bay, MN?

According to TheDyrt.com, Silver Bay, MN offers a wide range of camping options, with 138 campgrounds and RV parks near Silver Bay, MN and 10 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Silver Bay, MN?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Silver Bay, MN is Split Rock Lighthouse State Park Campground with a 4.8-star rating from 70 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Silver Bay, MN?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 10 free dispersed camping spots near Silver Bay, MN.

What parks are near Silver Bay, MN?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 12 parks near Silver Bay, MN that allow camping, notably Apostle Islands National Lakeshore and Superior National Forest.