RV camping near South Saint Paul, Minnesota offers year-round options with diverse natural settings and varied site layouts. Beyond the popular parks along the Mississippi River, many campgrounds provide access to inland waterways like the Rum River and St. Croix River system. Winter temperatures often drop below zero, making year-round camping facilities particularly valuable for visitors requiring extended stays during colder months.
What to do
Kayaking on Cleary Lake: At Cleary Lake Regional Park, paddlers enjoy a secluded lake experience with minimal motorboat traffic. "Cleary Lake is a good size and a kayakers delight! The park also has a golf course and is very well kept," notes one camper who appreciated the diverse recreation options.
Tubing adventures: Country Camping Tent & RV Park offers river recreation on the Rum River. "Great tubing and canoeing," reports one visitor, while another mentions, "The tubing is a plus... Key thing is the river is very clean and sandy bottom." The campground provides rentals and shuttle service for river activities.
Biking trails: Baker Park Reserve offers extensive paved biking paths around multiple lakes. "There is a nice 6+mile biking trail that connects to others, so bring the bikes," advises one camper. The park's well-maintained trail system accommodates riders of all ages and connects to larger regional networks.
What campers like
Secluded campsites: Lebanon Hills Regional Park offers private camping spots with natural screening. "We liked that we weren't super close to any campers unlike most RV spots are nowadays," one visitor observed. Another camper mentioned the variety of options: "Sites with full hookups or more remote sites with electric that are more tucked away in the pines."
Clean facilities: Baker Campground earns consistent praise for its well-maintained amenities. One camper noted, "The bathroom/showers are nice and clean, some of the best I've seen at a campground!" This attention to cleanliness extends throughout the park facilities, including public areas and swimming beaches.
Casino convenience: Dakotah Meadows RV Park provides direct access to Mystic Lake Casino via their shuttle service. "Shuttle takes you to casino, but sometime we don't even go there and just enjoy the area," reported one visitor. Another added, "The Casino operates a round trip Shuttle that picks you up and drops you at your site."
What you should know
Reservation policies: Campgrounds near South Saint Paul have varying booking requirements. For Dakotah Meadows RV Park, one camper observed a potential issue: "Bad thing is they don't make you pay to make a reservation so people reserve a spot and don't show up." This can affect availability despite sites appearing empty.
Winter accommodations: Unlike many seasonal operations, some parks remain accessible during Minnesota winters. Town & Country Campground stands out as one reviewer noted: "If you want to be close to the city this does it. It's an easy on and off the interstate, super close to a gas station and RV wash bay."
Site spacing varies significantly: Layout and privacy differ dramatically between parks. At Town & Country Campground, one camper found it "very close compact. Everyone is squeezed in like sardines. Very tight quarters on roads and sites."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Country Camping Tent & RV Park receives high marks for children's amenities. "It has a heated pool, splash pad area, BIG playground area, indoor game room, HUGE sites!" reports one satisfied parent. Another visitor confirmed: "Fantastic great playground and heated pool... A ton for the kids to do!"
Swimming options: Multiple campgrounds offer water recreation for different age groups. "The park features both back-in and pull-through options with level asphalt pads and well-maintained grassy areas between sites," one camper mentioned at Lebanon Hills, while another noted that Baker Park has "2 swimming beaches: 1 for the campground and one for all of the day visitors."
Multi-generational activities: Wildwood RV Park & Campground caters to varied interests. "Fantastic clean campground with a ton of things to do at the campground and in the local area. We went canoeing and kayaking and they provided a shuttle right from their main office," wrote one family camper.
Tips from RVers
Connectivity considerations: Cell service and WiFi quality vary by location. At Dakotah Meadows RV Park, a camper reported: "Wifi is not great, less than 1MB download speeds from our site, and our Verizon service was pretty poor in our spot, max 2 bars." This information helps remote workers plan accordingly.
Site selection guidance: For Treasure Island RV Park, one RVer advised: "It is basically a parking lot with mostly pull through sites. The last row consists of 'deluxe' back-in sites with a few trees." Another noted the practical benefits: "It was quite and easy to get in and out of."
Utilities and hookups: RV campers should verify specific hookup availability. "This place has everything and it's in great as new condition. Sites are two pull-thru's to each site. Your door is opposite of your site mate and you each have your own power pedestal w/water," reported one visitor at Dakotah Meadows.