St. Croix National Scenic Riverway supports a mix of established and primitive camping options along the Minnesota-Wisconsin border. Boulder Campground in St. Croix State Forest offers secluded tent and RV sites with vault toilets but no hookups, operating from May through November. Grace Lake Road Dispersed camping area provides free primitive sites for self-sufficient campers seeking a more natural experience. Several developed campgrounds like St. Croix River Resort feature cabin accommodations alongside traditional camping sites, with full hookups available for RVs at locations including Dongola Campground and Norman's Landing on the Wisconsin side.
Campground accessibility varies seasonally with many sites operating primarily from May to November due to Minnesota's northern climate. Most established campgrounds provide drinking water and toilets, though amenities differ significantly between locations. Several campgrounds offer electric hookups for RVs, while others maintain a more rustic atmosphere with basic facilities. St. Croix State Forest requires campers to be self-sufficient as sites operate on a first-come, first-served basis without reservations. As noted by a visitor, "For $17 a night you can't beat a state forest campground. This is real camping for the kids. Get there early in the day because there are no reservations and it's first come first served."
Wooded, private campsites receive consistent praise from visitors exploring the St. Croix area. The region's campgrounds typically feature fire rings and picnic tables, with many sites situated in forested settings that provide natural privacy between camping areas. Wildlife viewing opportunities enhance the camping experience, with one camper reporting bear, wolf and coyote sightings in the state forest. Water access ranks high in importance for many visitors, with several campgrounds offering proximity to the St. Croix River or nearby lakes. Boulder Campground earns positive reviews for its secluded sites and lakefront location, while St. Croix River Resort appeals to families seeking more amenities including an indoor pool, playground and organized activities. Mosquitoes can be problematic during summer months, particularly in wooded and waterfront locations.
"My only complaint was how bad the mosquitos were... but it's Minnesota."
"We had an all around great time. The campsites were all pretty secluded. We got there around 10am on a Friday and there were a couple sites taken but the rest were up for grabs."
$25 - $35 / night
"Site 207 was especially tucked in but it's a tight spot, so probably best for a van or tent. The park itself has a lot to offer being right on the St."
"This is Minnesota’s largest state park and has over 200 camp sites. But where we were, we were secluded from most people. Not from the mosquitos. You had to defend against them. But clean park."
$25 - $95 / night
"This is one of my favorite state parks for last minute camping trips due to its proximity to home."
"There is a modern restroom and shower, it is also located near a nature store."
$65 - $999 / night
"We stayed at the Resort for 3 nights nice and shady huge playground for kids indoor pool volleyball net lots of water near by getting in and out is easy nice wide roads Wi-Fi was pretty poor at are spot"
"There are atvs and utvs but at night they are not moving around."
"There are groomed/mowed trails that wind through the beautiful 40 acre property, great for walking, bicycling, or golf carts. We even saw a bald eagle during our stay here."
"Give it a try, I can promise you that you'll love it, sunny spots, shady spots & just an all around beautiful spot! I wouldn't stay anywhere else! Thank you Rachel,you are top notch in your field!"
$25 - $35 / night
"Reserved this site through the Minnesota dnr state park phone line, having been turned away from full camp grounds by two other state parks."
"Felt nice to spend a weekend without cell service about an hour away from home. Forgot to take my usual photos and video of the site all set up but had a few random to share. Nice campground."
"It is just over the MN border and about a mile from the St Croix River. ATV trails are accessible from the campground.
Pardun’s also offers canoe and tube rentals in town and also at St.""Lots to do near by Legion 1.3 miles away and a great cafe as well across the street. Ice is in expensive and so is firewood, basic camping, small playground and a basketball court going in. "
"Stayed a night here on our way up to the boundary waters gate is very narrow had to fold the mirrors on my Tacoma to squeeze through but if you park at the entrance it’s a short walk You’re about 20 foot"
"Go down Tamarack Forest Road, which is a little further than the location on here."
$17 / night
"The sites are spaced out and although it is a long drive in from the tar and gravel, it's worth the trip. A beautiful lake and lots of trails."
GuideMany activities throughout the day for the family. Kids enjoyed the pool. The store has a nice selection of items for sale. Firewood is $8 a bundle.
The campsites are close but there is enough trees between sites to make it seem like you are not so close.
There are atvs and utvs but at night they are not moving around.
GuideNice campsite. Clean and well maintained. Fire ring picnic table and some tree stumps for processing your firewood. I see several campsites in the area but I'm alone here. A river is several hundred yards away from my site, but you have to hike down a bit.
ScoutBack in 2020 I did about 3 months camping along here ! Good spot !
TravelerNice campground. We were passing thru to visit a friend. Stayed one night. Very clean bathrooms. The Pizza at the Bear Den (next door) was excellent.
ScoutIf I could give this company negative stars I would. I would never recommend this company to even my worst enemy. This was our second experience with them. The first time took a long time but we knew it wasn’t their fault because the river was low and that’s out of their control. Our tubes were also good. The owner’s dad(Jerry?) picked us up and was so nice and sweet. We laughed at all our hiccups along the way.
This time around, it was just my friend and I and we were having a wonderful time for the first 2.5-3 hours. Then we realized we weren’t moving and the wind was blowing us upstream. We kept trying to go, waiting to see the landing. By the 5 hour mark we kept trying to call Pardun’s to mention that we were trying to come back and to let them know that we’d probably be later than expected and to see if they had any tips. Since the cell service is almost non existent, the calls would not go through. By that time, we didn’t know what to else to do but call 911. By the time we were able to get a hold of someone to ask for help, we were nearing 6 hours on the river. They called Pardun’s to let them know and the owner(Guy?) and his son were waiting to pick us up. As soon as they saw us, the snarky disrespectful remarks started and they began making fun of us. The owner was relentless. It was one rude remark after another. This was at about 9pm. When I started crying and asking him to stop talking to me, the a-hole dug in even more and had to get the last word in. It kept on until I screamed at him to shut the F up. I couldn’t take it anymore. He then stopped and started trying to kick us off the bus. I was sitting in the seat, sobbing while my friend was nicely asking him to just please go and please stop with the comments. He wouldn’t. Once we got back to Danbury, he stopped the bus and walked away. His son helped us get our stuff out and his wife eventually came out to make sure that we had our keys and let us know she had called the other people involved to let them know we were back. The son was initially being kind of a jerk when we got on the bus but he apologized to us soon after. His waste of a human father didn’t.
Please do not give this man your business. I have never been so humiliated and made to feel as awful as he made me feel. The blatant disrespect and language from the minute he saw was unbelievable. This man is the most awful human I have ever encountered. I sure hope he treats his wife and his mother with a little more compassion and empathy.
GuideThis is a well taken care of and pretty campground. The staff in the office is very nice. It's very small. Nice view of a running creek with wildlife. But there is traffic noise, you are very near the road. There is a nice little laundromat, clean showers and good drinking water here also. Great T-Mobile access.
ScoutSweet spot, with about 10 campsites all next to each other, one by the water. There’s seasonal campground hosts(who were fabulous) and a canoe launch all right here. Walk in campsites and free 3 night! Was just what i needed
GuideWe stayed here during the week. Host Peggy was very friendly. Had to make our reservation by phone as their website is very outdated. Most sites are for seasonal guests and it most campers were empty so it was very quiet. Our site was great. $40 for electric and water hook ups. Dump station right on the way out. :) would stay again
TravelerBig open gravel lot for parking and grassy area for tent camping near the river. I stayed in the gravel lot in my van. However, a ranger came the next day and said it wasn't allowed. I could only stay if I pitched a tent so I left.
St. Croix National Scenic Riverway encompasses 252 miles of riverway across pine forests and glacial terrain in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Seasonal access to many campgrounds typically runs May through November, with summer temperatures averaging 70-85°F during peak camping months. Camping options in this region range from first-come, first-served primitive sites to developed campgrounds with varying amenities and reservation requirements.
Hiking the fire tower: At St. Croix State Park, visitors can climb the 100-foot fire tower for panoramic views of the forest landscape. "The park itself has a lot to offer being right on the St. Croix River, plus there are hiking trails, a paved bike path, a fire tower you can climb, an old CCC camp area you can tour, and more," notes a visitor at Old Logging Trail Campground.
Water activities: The riverfront location offers excellent fishing opportunities for families. At Paint Rock Springs Campground, one camper reported, "We fished right off the shore and were catching very small catfish and river chub faster than we could set our reels which was great for the kids!" Canoe rentals are available on weekends during summer months.
ATV trail access: Several campgrounds provide direct access to ATV trail systems. "This is a great ATV campground," reports a seasonal camper at Pardun's Jack Pine Campground. "Lots to do near by Legion 1.3 miles away and a great cafe as well across the street."
Privacy between sites: Campers consistently appreciate secluded spots at Boulder Campground in St. Croix State Forest. "The sites were big and felt fairly secluded. We had a great time here," reports one visitor. Another notes that "there are some great secluded spots and the campground is always empty."
Wildlife viewing: The forest setting provides opportunities to observe diverse wildlife. "We seen Bear, Wolf, and plenty of Coyote's. This is nature at its finest," reports a visitor to Saint Croix State Forest Boulder Campground. Multiple trails through the forest increase chances for wildlife encounters.
Clean facilities: Many campgrounds maintain well-kept restrooms and shower facilities. "Can't stress enough how CLEAN the restrooms and showers are. Cleaned 3x daily due to COVID. Site drained VERY well during and after heavy rain," notes a camper at St. Croix River Resort.
Mosquito preparedness: Insects can be problematic throughout summer months, particularly near water. "It was very buggy, so be prepared for that," warns a camper at Old Logging Trail. Another advises, "We used 40% deet spray and fogged our campsite 3x over the 3 days so we could reduce the bites."
First-come, first-served limitations: Several campgrounds including Boulder operate without reservations. "Get there early in the day because there are no reservations and it's first come first served," advises a camper at Saint Croix State Forest Boulder Campground. Arriving mid-week increases chances of securing a site.
Limited cell service: Many campgrounds have poor or non-existent connectivity. "Cell service is incredibly spotty on Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile. Depending on where you're at, you'll get a low signal, but often it was only enough for texting," reports a visitor to Old Logging Trail Campground.
Beach access considerations: The swimming areas vary in quality throughout the riverway. At Riverview Campground, a visitor notes "The swimming beach is a couple mile drive but the water was nice and cool. There is a playground but we didn't use it." Some beaches are described as "slimy" due to years of artificial beach maintenance.
Indoor options for rainy days: St. Croix River Resort offers amenities that work regardless of weather. "We stayed here with my extended family in a couple of cabins. It is nice and wooded. The pool is indoors which is nice and has drawbacks. It is a good sized pool. There is a nice playground for the kids."
Ranger programs: Educational activities enhance family camping experiences. One visitor reported, "We DID have fun doing some of the activities like hunting for insects/animals in the pond with the ranger, hiking to the ranger tower, playing at the playground, and trying to catch butterflies with the ranger."
Site selection factors: RV campers should consider shade availability when choosing sites. "There is very little shade in most sites and was very hot in a tent," notes a camper at Paint Rock Springs Campground, an issue that affects RVs as well. Sites around the outer edges often provide more tree coverage.
Dump station access: While some campgrounds offer full hookups, others provide more limited services. At Dongola Campground, all 60 sites feature full hookups including sewer connections, while at Norman's Landing Campground, electric, water and sewer hookups are available despite the small size of the facility with just 6 sites.
Road conditions: Access roads to some campgrounds can present challenges. A camper at Grace Lake Road Dispersed notes, "Gate is very narrow had to fold the mirrors on my Tacoma to squeeze through but if you park at the entrance it's a short walk." Many forest roads are unpaved but generally passable for most vehicles.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near St. Croix National Scenic Riverway?
According to TheDyrt.com, St. Croix National Scenic Riverway offers a wide range of camping options, with 195 campgrounds and RV parks near St. Croix National Scenic Riverway and 10 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near St. Croix National Scenic Riverway?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near St. Croix National Scenic Riverway is Boulder with a 4.5-star rating from 11 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near St. Croix National Scenic Riverway?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 10 free dispersed camping spots near St. Croix National Scenic Riverway.
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