The Dyrt is here to help plan your best camping near Staples. Enjoy the scenic camping, fun activities, and sights and sounds of Staples. Get the dirt on all the best camping near Staples. Browse campgrounds by amenities, site types, and more.
$21 / night
Gull Lake Recreation Area offers something for everyone with boating, hiking, fishing and swimming at Minnesota's famous Gull Lake, the largest of the 10 lakes on the Gull Chain of Lakes. Visitors have the opportunity to see and hear an abundance of watchable wildlife like bald eagles, white-tailed deer, river otters, a variety of songbirds, and the legendary call of the loon.
Anglers will delight in the large population of fish including stocked walleye, northern pike, bass and a variety of panfish. Boaters can access crystal clear waters throughout the chain of lakes and enjoy the peaceful sunsets overlooking the woods. Hit the self-guided interpretive trail for a short hike with wildlife watching and scenic overlooks along the lake. Hop on your bike on the City of East Gull Lake's paved multi-use trail that starts by the dam, or head out to join up with the Paul Bunyan State Trail with trailheads located in Baxter and Nisswa. Got a kayak, canoe, or intertube? Try heading down the Gull River from the lower canoe launch. Ask the Park Rangers about river safety with current water flow and check-out a life jacket before you go.
The campground sits on the Gull River at the outlet of Gull Lake. The area was formed by a receding glacier that moved southward from Canada and carved the landscape. Gull Lake is one of the six Mississippi Headwaters Projects of the Mississippi River Watershed operated by The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Gull Lake is located minutes from 520 holes of golf, the 100-mile Paul Bunyan State Trail, amusement parks, a zoo, and numerous shopping opportunities in Brainerd, Baxter, and Nisswa.
$40 / night
Family memories to be made just 2 hours from the Twin Cities! It is located just 10 miles south of Brainerd/Baxter, and 20 miles north of Little Falls on Highway 371. Crow Wing Lake Campground lies on 30 wooded acres of mature trees, on the shores of 400 acre - Crow Wing Lake. We have 80 full hook up sites (some seasonal) and 20 electric/water sites. Each site comes with its own picnic table and fire ring. Our full hook up and electrical sites also have a 7’ X 20’ cement patio for a more enjoyable camping adventure. Most of our sites offer shade for those hot summer days. The campground also offers full service restrooms, laundry facilities, fish cleaning house, boat launch, docks, slips and an on-site store. Our camp store has a variety of things that you might need, or forgot to pack! We have groceries and bait, a variety of beverages, snacks, pizzas, souvenirs, camping equipment and a whole slew of other things! You can also rent pontoons, canoes, funyaks, paddleboat, and paddleboards here.
$15 / night
McGivern Park marks the end of the designated Crow Wing River Canoe Trail that winds its way through Wadena County. This quaint little park with its mix of hardwoods and pine is also the home of the Staples Sportsmen’s Club and Shooting Range. With its close proximity to the City of Staples, McGivern Park is used often for picnicking and other small gatherings.
Camper/RV Usage Smaller camper units but limited campsites available - no hookups provided
$14 / night
$15 / night
$21 / night
Gull Lake Recreation Area offers something for everyone with boating, hiking, fishing and swimming at Minnesota's famous Gull Lake, the largest of the 10 lakes on the Gull Chain of Lakes. Visitors have the opportunity to see and hear an abundance of watchable wildlife like bald eagles, white-tailed deer, river otters, a variety of songbirds, and the legendary call of the loon.
Anglers will delight in the large population of fish including stocked walleye, northern pike, bass and a variety of panfish. Boaters can access crystal clear waters throughout the chain of lakes and enjoy the peaceful sunsets overlooking the woods. Hit the self-guided interpretive trail for a short hike with wildlife watching and scenic overlooks along the lake. Hop on your bike on the City of East Gull Lake's paved multi-use trail that starts by the dam, or head out to join up with the Paul Bunyan State Trail with trailheads located in Baxter and Nisswa. Got a kayak, canoe, or intertube? Try heading down the Gull River from the lower canoe launch. Ask the Park Rangers about river safety with current water flow and check-out a life jacket before you go.
The campground sits on the Gull River at the outlet of Gull Lake. The area was formed by a receding glacier that moved southward from Canada and carved the landscape. Gull Lake is one of the six Mississippi Headwaters Projects of the Mississippi River Watershed operated by The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Gull Lake is located minutes from 520 holes of golf, the 100-mile Paul Bunyan State Trail, amusement parks, a zoo, and numerous shopping opportunities in Brainerd, Baxter, and Nisswa.
$40 / night
Family memories to be made just 2 hours from the Twin Cities! It is located just 10 miles south of Brainerd/Baxter, and 20 miles north of Little Falls on Highway 371. Crow Wing Lake Campground lies on 30 wooded acres of mature trees, on the shores of 400 acre - Crow Wing Lake. We have 80 full hook up sites (some seasonal) and 20 electric/water sites. Each site comes with its own picnic table and fire ring. Our full hook up and electrical sites also have a 7’ X 20’ cement patio for a more enjoyable camping adventure. Most of our sites offer shade for those hot summer days. The campground also offers full service restrooms, laundry facilities, fish cleaning house, boat launch, docks, slips and an on-site store. Our camp store has a variety of things that you might need, or forgot to pack! We have groceries and bait, a variety of beverages, snacks, pizzas, souvenirs, camping equipment and a whole slew of other things! You can also rent pontoons, canoes, funyaks, paddleboat, and paddleboards here.
Legend
My extended family has gatherings here a couple times a year as it is close to everybody and a great location! The campground is open for the season from May 1st to October 1st each year, weather permitting.
Reasons we like this campground: lakefront sites are available, the town is small so pretty quiet but there are gas stations, restaurants, and stores (including Walmart), it is close to home for everybody so this tends to be the first trip of the year to get water in everything and make sure there are no fun surprises after wintering the campers for 5 to 6 months, has bathrooms, there is a walking trail close to the campground that goes around part of the lake.
Additional details and amenities: 80 sites, 52 sites with full hookup which include water, sewer and electricity and 24 sites with water and electricity only and 4 primitive sites. All campsites contain a fire pit. Three sets of restrooms are contained within the campground with showers. Other amenities include: picnic tables, storm shelter, dump station, fish cleaning house, kayak rental, lake access with boat ramp and docks. Public beach, splash pad, bike trail, and playground adjacent.
Legend
Amenities I remember when we had a seasonal spot here: cabins with beautiful lake view, boathouse lodge and game room, sunbathing dock on the water, large picnic grounds, sand-filled playground, paddleboard &kayak rentals, boat ramp and launching service, boat & pontoon rental, boatlifts, gas, oil, tackle and live bait, screened-in fish cleaning house, sand volleyball, mini golf, laundry.
The nearby town of Osakis has convenience stores, grocery, liquor stores, gas, bars and restaurants, etc. Lake osakis is usually pretty good for fishing.
LegendWe stay every year typically for the legion's annual beer run! Great lake views and close to town. Boat launch is close by, bathrooms, showers, fish cleaning house provided.
Traveler
Rolled up in the middle of the night. $10 cash in the box for a tent site. Clean bathroom with shower. Felt safe and fell asleep quickly with the sound of the creek next to our site. Would definitely stay again.
Scout
This is a beautiful quiet place to park it for a while. There is everything here from 43 ft Class A rigs to tents. We were the only ones for about four days when we got here and now the campground is completely full. It’s the middle of September, and you wouldn’t know you were practically in the middle of the city with all the foliage. The only downfall is you have to unhook to go dump every so often. Thankfully the dump site is inside the campground
Traveler
This is our second year and starting into our third. This campground has been great for our family. Everyone in the campground is very friendly, pool is amazing and the lake is great for fishing. It is a seasonal campground so it is awesome to be able to leave our camper here year-round.
Guide
The campground was nicely maintained. Had a nice pool and friendly seasonal campers. The management and reservation process was less than desirable. Very difficult to get ahold of management and upon arrival they had given our reserved site away to someone else and moved us. Paid for a water/ electric site and were moved to an electric only site and no cost difference or refund offered.
Scout
Lots of amenities, $60+ /night, guest fees. More open with less “trees and camping” feel so not for everyone but we liked it.
Traveler
We got to the site and we had low branches asked them to cut them. They said they were at there standards so we had hold it up. Them the site next to us had to have rock concrete us and 4 others called several times nothing
Traveler
Came through on an evening in July to meet a buddy canoeing the misssissippi. This was easily the buggiest site we stayed in all summer. Mosquitos so thick we had to wear nets over our faces. Maybe we’re just sensitive about it, but it was hard to get anything done.
Scout
We were scheduled for 5 nights, but extended to 8 because it was such a great spot. Don and his wife were very nice, and super helpful. We checked in late, and Don even helped us set up camp. Nice pool too. Showers and bathrooms are very clean. Laundry is nice. Highly recommend if you can snag a spot.
Scout
We stayed for a few nights during the State High School Trap Shoot. Crowds were expected and it was a busy area. Surprisingly quiet in the evening given how many people were there. Facilities were clean. Will stay there again for sure.
Ranger
Nice trails along the Mississippi River, easy to walk, good signage on trails, and good information signs with history of each site along the trail.
Very Clean men’s bathroom. One shower needs a new shower head.
Sites 40 to 45 are very nice and secluded. Sites 58 and 59 are prime secluded sites.
TravelerWe arrived, checked it out and decided to leave. The grassy sites had recently been mowed, but were very muddy and right on top of each other. Lots of people fishing. We just felt exposed. Drive to Birch Lake State Forest instead.
Scout
This is a great state park. Group camping comes with its own bathroom building and shelter building with wood stove. The water is quite clean. Also there's even hot water in the bathroom.
GuideThe campsite was pretty wooded on most sides. I visited in the late spring so there were quite a few mosquitos since the campground is near the river. Bathrooms/showers were cleanish, water was mid from the outdoor taps but not horrible
Traveler
Very large easy to access camping area. Could easily get 4-5 campers in this one. It is a bit rocky and not extremely level but open and better for less bugs. ATV trail leads right off camping area.
LegendSmall, well spaced out camp spots and very quiet. This was a wet spring and under the trees, the bugs were overwhelming so keep that in mind. Few nice trails, several museums right across the street, really nice parks in little falls and neat views of the dam on the river
LegendThis is a more rustic State Park. There's lots of history here most of it is just a plaque not actually something to see. The river was really high and there was a fair amount of mosquitoes outside but a lot of trails and a lot of signs and a lot of history in the park.
RangerNice wooded campground. Gravel sites, fairly level. Water fill and firewood available at the registration building. The water was high in iron.
Canoe and kayak rentals available. Lots of trails for hiking and biking. Bring bug spray in the summer!
Historical sites along hiking path.
Bathrooms and showers were decent. Dump station on site.
LegendCamped here on Oct 9, 2023. Large wooded campground on the lakefront. Easy access to the beach. Hiking trail. Very clean restroom/shower house. Level gravel campsite with metal fire ring and table. Water spigot short walk from campsite. Campground can accomodate all sorts of camping rigs. Paved campground loop road. Nice hosts and park ranger. Need to reserve online. Quiet. peaceful evening.
LegendCamped at Site #21 on Oct 8, 2023. Nice city park. Clean campsites along Sauk Lake. Fishing pier nearby. The office was closed for the season with the water & electric turned off, and the campground restroom closed. I don't mind this except that the $25 camping fee was high for the shut-offs & closures. (The was an open restroom down by the boat ramp.) There was trash service. Close to town, the campground was well maintained. There was a table & hookups pedestal. Good place for an overnight stay.
ScoutThe linked website says this is a year round park. Called to make sure payment could be done after 5, which is when I found out that it’s in fact not open year round, even without hookups.
LegendLakefront sites are available. Picnic table and fire ring provided at each site. In town campground so it can be a little noisy at times. There is a boat launch right next to the campground. A fish cleaning house is provided at the campground. Bathrooms are also located within the campground. There is a public beach, skate park, splash pad, and bike trail all located within walking distance of the campground. Site are easy to back into and decent sized.
Guide
We stayed in a cabin for a week of biking. Excellent location with all the trails. It has a great swimming area, though it did get deep fast for little kids. We brought our paddleboard and had a great time on the quiet lake. We did hike up to the top of the camp area and were glad we stayed in the cabins. The shower/bathroom house was nice. Overall, we would stay here again.
Legend
Jake from the Dyrt here! We're excited to have this campground on the Dyrt and ready for you to book, check them out and make sure to leave a review!
Legend
While I did not actually stay, I drove through for future reference. It looks very private and lots of tree cover (maybe a tree farm?) All pine. Each sie has tons of space and lots of trees between sites. No looking into your neighbors site. Plenty of space for hammocks! Each side has a plentiful pile of pine to burn. Nice addition and offering!
Appeared to have a dump station and port o lets scattered all over for ease of access.
I should mention (and maybe this will be improved in the future) the road was very bumpy. This time of year it is fairly frozen, but could be messy in wet weather. Class 5 or gravel would be an awesome addition. The current road is primitive and might be difficult with RVs.
I would absolutely consider this for the price if I needed something in this area.
Camping near Staples, Minnesota, offers a mix of beautiful nature and fun activities for everyone. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or an adventure-filled getaway, there are plenty of campgrounds to choose from.
Camping near Staples, Minnesota, has something for everyone, from families to RVers. Just remember to plan ahead and enjoy the great outdoors!
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Staples, MN?
According to TheDyrt.com, Staples, MN offers a wide range of camping options, with 169 campgrounds and RV parks near Staples, MN and 7 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Staples, MN?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Staples, MN is Crow Wing State Park Campground with a 3.9-star rating from 25 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Staples, MN?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 7 free dispersed camping spots near Staples, MN.
What parks are near Staples, MN?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 6 parks near Staples, MN that allow camping, notably Mississippi River Headwaters - Cross Lake and Mississippi River Headwaters - Leech Lake.
