RV camping near Silver Creek, Minnesota offers travelers easy access to the Elk River and nearby lakes within central Minnesota's hardwood forest region. Most campgrounds in this area sit at elevations between 1,000-1,100 feet above sea level, with summer high temperatures averaging 80°F and winter lows often reaching below 0°F. The region's glacial terrain creates a mix of wetlands, small lakes and rolling hills that define the camping landscape.
What to do
Tubing adventures on the Rum River: Country Camping Tent & RV Park on the Rum River offers river tubing with shuttle service. "Love this place. Close to the Twin Cities, right on the Rum River. Great tent sites right on the river. Tubing! They have a bus that takes you into town float back to the campground, love it," shares one camper about this experience.
Visit Quarry Park: Located near Clearwater, this unique park features swimming quarries and hiking trails. "We stayed here to visit the nearby quarry park and that was a blast!" notes a visitor at St. Cloud-Clearwater RV Park, highlighting a popular day trip option from area campgrounds.
Mini golf and games: Several campgrounds offer on-site recreation beyond swimming. "This campground is great for everyone! It has a heated pool, splash pad area, BIG playground area, indoor game room, HUGE sites! You can either relax in the pool or even take a ride down the rum river in a rented canoe, tube, or kayak," reports a camper at Country Camping RV Park.
What campers like
Heated pools and splash pads: Family-friendly water amenities are popular during Minnesota summers. At Cokato Lake RV Resort, "Impressed with the distance to/from the metro (less than an hour on Highway 12 heading west to Cokato). Inground, heated swimming pool; mini golf; pickleball; tennis; arcade room attached to the office," notes one visitor.
Spacious sites with privacy: Many campers appreciate the generous spacing at certain parks. "We have a pop up so we parked on a grassy spot next to the cabins that backed up to a field. It was nice to be there instead of in the thick of the big camper section," reports a St. Cloud-Clearwater RV Park visitor.
Recreation for children: Family activities keep younger campers entertained. A visitor at Westrich RV Park mentions, "There is a playground, pool, volleyball area, basketball court, and shower/bath house. The owners are onsite and very friendly people."
What you should know
Seasonal closures impact availability: Most RV parks operate from May through October with limited winter options. Love's RV Hookup provides year-round availability: "Still open in the winter! Convenient location right off I94 and HWY 23. Close to Waite Park for entertainment and food. Love's is open 24 hours and has most things you would need."
WiFi quality varies significantly: Many campgrounds advertise WiFi but actual performance differs. As one camper at St. Cloud Campground & RV Park notes, "It was the worst wifi of about 15 campgrounds we've been to on our trip this year. They warned us it was slow, but we couldn't even connect to it from our site."
Rental policies differ for privately-owned lots: Some RV parks have complex ownership structures. At Mississippi Riverwood RV Park, "This hidden gem is a PRIVATE RV Park where each lot is individually owned and most owners live South in the winter. Individual owners can rent their lot with restrictions and those rentals are between the owner and the renter."
Tips for camping with families
Pool and water features: Younger campers enjoy dedicated water play areas. "This place is wonderful!! Owners & staff are so friendly! Pool is clean, everything is so well marked, lots of shade/grass. LOVE IT, COMING BACK!!" says a visitor about St. Cloud-Clearwater RV Park.
Playground access: Campgrounds with play structures provide added entertainment. "Absolutely beautiful campground with mature trees. Cedars, white oaks, hickory's and more. The birds are singing and so are the kids because this place has so much to do for them. Pool, pool table, soccer table, mini golf, swing set, clubhouse, 3 wheel bike racing, and water balloons wars," notes a camper about amenities at St. Cloud-Clearwater RV Park.
Budget for activities: Some campgrounds charge for amenities. At Codgers Cover RV Resort, rates start high: "Just passing through, great lake location but $80 was kind of high," mentions one reviewer, indicating families should factor in both site fees and activity costs.
Tips from RVers
Overnight convenience stops: Strategic overnight locations save time. At Love's RV Hookup, "I love that Love's has RV spots that are big rig friendly! These are a great option for a stop halfway through a trip. You have clean bathrooms in Love's, Hardee's for food, Love's for snacks and drinks, and gas is right there."
Power considerations: During peak season, electrical stability can be an issue. One camper notes about St. Cloud Campground & RV Park: "We were in a pull through at the north end of the campground and the site itself was nice and had decent spacing between sites, but I noticed some of the other sites were quite close."
Group camping options: For RVers traveling together, some parks offer specialized group sites. "Stayed here with a large group of family and had a site big enough for all of our rigs. We brought our own firepits due to the size of the site we had," reports a visitor to Westrich RV Park.
