Lebanon Hills Regional Park offers multiple tent and RV camping options between April 30 and October 12. The 2,000-acre park contains several lakes and miles of trails. Many sites fill quickly on summer weekends due to the park's convenient location just 15-20 minutes from Minneapolis, making it popular for pet friendly camping near South Saint Paul, Minnesota.
What to Do
Kayaking on multiple lakes: At William O'Brien State Park, visitors can experience the St. Croix River Valley landscapes. "This is a great place to see all the various landscapes of the St. Croix River Valley," notes Jason S. The park remains open year-round with hiking trails throughout.
Trail running through diverse terrain: Afton State Park features prairie, forest and river landscapes on its numerous trails. "We will definitely be back for trail running!" states Emily G. The park's elevation changes create varied trail experiences, with some steep climbs to reach certain campsites.
Swimming in accessible lakes: Several area parks offer swimming options, though conditions vary seasonally. At Willow River State Park, Jessica B. notes that while "Willow River State Park no longer has a beach or a lake, they are working on the dam to refill the lake once again. Willow River falls is definitely a beautiful site to see."
What Campers Like
Clean, well-maintained facilities: Baker Park Reserve receives consistent praise for its maintenance. "The bathrooms and showers are nice and clean, some of the best I've seen at a campground!" reports Jennifer H. The campground operates seasonally from April 30 to October 20.
Proximity to Twin Cities: Many campers value locations that feel remote while remaining accessible. As Natalia J. notes about Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Regional Park, "We love to camp here as it's so close to home. Decent amenities, however NOT the feel of a State Park. Think suburbia meets nature." This park operates from May through September.
Varied site options: Campgrounds near South Saint Paul offer different levels of privacy and amenities. One camper at William O'Brien noted, "Weekends have been packed and reservations scarce for months at state parks in Minnesota. Arriving on a Sunday afternoon was a dream—very few people in the campground loop."
What You Should Know
Reservation requirements: Most parks fill quickly, especially during summer months. At Afton State Park, Adam P. advises, "These sites do require a hike from parking. Would strongly discourage big coolers or lots of weight."
Trail access considerations: Many pet-friendly camping areas near South Saint Paul require planning for trail usage. Blair from Willow River State Park notes, "Most of the trail heads start at the campground. Walked about a mile to the falls area."
Bug preparation: Minnesota's warm months bring insects. Ariel H. warns about Rice Creek Campgrounds: "When our tent was finally set up instead of enjoying marshmallows at our fire pit we watched Netflix on our tablet instead our tent. Next day taking the tent down was even worse hot 90 degree day, horseflies and no breeze."
Tips for Camping with Families
Accessible playgrounds: Multiple parks feature play areas for children. Angela L. observed at Lebanon Hills, "Our spot was spacious, and close to the bathrooms and play area. The play area was really nice and looked brand new. Our girls loved making new friends to play with."
Water recreation options: Bunker Hills Regional Park offers extensive water activities. "Within the park is large water park and wave pool. There are many paved trails, and an activity center," reports Doug B. The park operates from May through October 15.
Educational opportunities: Several parks provide nature programming. Owen H. states about Lebanon Hills, "I like this campground because there are some fun hiking trails and there is a lot to do!"
Tips from RVers
Full hookup availability: Campgrounds vary in their RV accommodations. At Town & Country Campground, Jennifer H. notes, "The site were in is w&e only but they have a dump station. It appears to be sold out for the weekend so book ahead."
Navigating campground roads: Some parks have challenging access for larger rigs. Maria D. cautions about Willow River State Park, "While the walk to the running water bathroom was a bit longer than we preferred, the facilities themselves were clean and nicely updated."
Electric hookup options: Most parks offer electric sites, but amperage varies. Joanne M. found at Lebanon Hills that "The site had a nice picnic table, which we used to help sort out our new (to us) trailer storage. We didn't use the fire ring, but it would have made for a nice campfire. We had full hookups, even though we only needed water and electric."