Looking for an adventure where you can explore Staples and then fall asleep in your tent? The Dyrt helps you find campsites with tent camping near Staples. Whether you're looking for a quiet, dispersed site or an established camgpround with amenities, The Dyrt makes it easy to find the perfect place to pitch your tent.
$22 / night
Canoe in camp site, but can hike in as well. On the Mississippi River.
Boat in canoe campsite on the Pine River
Legend
This is a well kept and well run campground tucked in between the Mississippi River and the outlet of the Platte River. The emphasis is on RV camping, and a large percentage of the sites are for full season May to October rentals. However there are nightly and weekly rates with both full and partial hookups, and some basic tent sites in a nice location right on the river. Daily and weekly campsite rentals are a bit expensive, however the campground offers many resort amenities that arent part of usual campgrounds such as a full service lodge, large beautiful pool as well as a beach on the river, mini golf, canoes and kayaks, and their specialty: river tubing. The pluses at this location include nice river setting, great amenties, secure family-friendly grounds, and a variety of on site services. The monthly RV site rental is about $800 a month for a bluff side site which might be a nice retreat for families or retirees. The minuses are primarily that the nightly rental is not cheap, especially if you want to tent camp, but fir some folks the amenities might be worthwhile. Summer is peak season if course, it is quieter and cheaper in the fall and spring.
Scout
True North Basecamp is great for those wanting to “camp lite”. You’re enjoying the outdoors & camping in a tent but there’s a bathroom (outhouse style) & fresh cold water near by. Town is close enough you can even skip the cooking if you choose. Heck, the BBQ joint in town (excellent, btw) even delivers to the campground! The heated shower house has modern toilets if needed. The hot shower is nice after riding the trails all day. I wouldn’t call it glamping but it’s definitely not backcountry camping in the least. We go here for Mtb trail riding trips for all these features. Close enough to town to bike in, trail access from the campground, a lake/beach area in camp & clean, quiet campsites makes this a favorite spot.
Traveler
This campground is small, but everyone is friendly. No tent sites available on the lake as those are reserved for rv, but the tent area is nice and wooded.
Traveler
We stayed at tent site #1. It was very clean and the layout was nice for 2 tents. The bathroom / shower house were very clean. Everything was new or very well maintained.
Scout
Beautiful place. Non expensive. Not many tent sites but we had one down the hill and it was perfect. Very peaceful and owners are respectful and kind.
Traveler
Quiet, not quite remote and with access to enough if you need it. You get a large tent site on the Mississippi River across a road from the RV’s highly recommend.
GuideGreat rustic campground with trail access to Cuyuna MTB trails. Offers hot showers. No water/electric hookups. A couple sites allow for smaller RVs and pop-ups but mainly tent sites.
Legend
This campground offers tent camping and RV camping, but really appears to be more for campers and RVs than tents. It's a little out of the way, and isn't terribly comfortable, although it does offer all the things you need to camp. There is a shower house, bathroom, playground and little beach. There are hookups and lake views. So it's not a bad spot, but appears to be more suited to those that are RV camping. There were a lot of 4 wheelers and ATVs. It also appeared as if most campers were there for more "longer term" than a simple overnight.
There was/were a picnic shelter, vending machine, fire rings, electric hookups etc. A dock at the beach allowed for fishing etc.
If you need an RV camp, this might be right up your alley, but as far as tent camping (and that is what I like to do), I wouldn't recommend it.
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.
GuideI've stayed in both the cabins and the camping area. The cabins are my favorite because of the lake views, proximity to the bathhouse, and heat/AC units. Cabin #5 has the best unobstructed views of the lake. Cabins have WiFi. The campground is nice but only has a primitive toilet adjacent to the campsites. There are no electric or sewer hookups, but there are a couple of tent sites than can accommodate small campers. I camped in site #18 and it either isn't very level or I just did a poor job of setting up my tent because we were slanted all night. Great stargazing at both the cabins and the tent sites.
Check-in information is shared via email (key codes for the bathhouse and the cabin locks). The emails are very informative and the owners have been prompt to reply when I had questions. They even offer up the option to have firewood delivered to your site (either cabin or tent site) before you arrive.
This is my favorite place to stay in Crosby because it's so close to both the Rally Center Trailhead and Crosby. My favorite places in town are Red Raven (great coffee shop with good breakfast and lunch food options), Crosby Pub (wide variety of food - burgers, salads, appetizers), Rafferty's Pizza (pizza and beer plus a couple of arcade games in the back), and Iron Range Eatery (a little fancier than Crosby Pub (but not by much) and offers great food as well). All of these restaurants offer outdoor seating.
Traveler
I was needing a place to camp for the night and found this gem. The host was very kind and helpful. I stayed at a primitive tent site and easy to find and close to a bathroom. Very well maintained and has alot to do. I honestly have no cons about this campsite!!
Scout
Tent site is an open area with tall trees. It also offered an open view of the night sky & enjoyed watching the full moon! Next to the shower house which makes it a convenient trip to the bathroom. Stayed one night but will stay longer when bringing the kayaks. Price for this spot made my trip super cheap!
Traveler
Have stayed at this campground 3x since 2021 and our family loves it. 6 RV sites and a few tent camping sites. Has 30/50 hook up and a water filling station and dump station on site. Pump track is great to warm up on. Shower house with toilets are clean. Trail connector with easy access to Bobsled is right there and you can ride to Cruser's Kettle. Highly recommend.
Legend
Granted, I visited on a gray rainy day when a campground might not appear to be its best. However, having checked it out, I might hesitate to camp here, although clearly it has its fans as there are seasonal RV site renters, and proximity to lake and woods for hunting and fishing. A dominant feature is the bar, and there are signs up suggesting caution and driving slow because of "adults at play." There is a basic playground, but not a lot of other signs of being kid-friendly. There are daily tent sites and daily RV sites in addition to seasonal rentals, and the RV sites seem to have the basic hookups RVers would need. Much of the campground is open with few shade trees. The location is near a lake and lake access, but not actually on the lake though you can see it in the distance. The prices for site rental ($25 a night for tent sites, and $35 a night for RV’s) are probably lower than many area RV campgrounds, so that might appeal to some folks
Legend
While this seems to be mainly an "RV" campground, but there were a few cabins on the lake and two gorgeous tent sites that would be the envy of many other camps. They were ideal, especially for the family that wanted the "tent" experience without having to huff it through the woods with toddlers in tow.
Sleeping Fawn is very clearly marked from the road, and although they don't say "campground" on the sign, there are a few tent sites available. It's about a 3/4 mile drive off the main road, but signage is apparent the entire way, and it's super easy to find once you get there. There is an office for check in, cabins to rent and lots of RV sites available too. Even though RV's seem to dominate here, the roadway through the woods and past them is peaceful and serene. Pine needles cover the ground and create a softness to the scenery. The posts that mark each site are wooden, tall, and are clearly numbered. Close to the entrance is a "tent parking" area, a cart for hauling your things, and 2 tent pads, just across the drive and down a little path about 20 yards. Perfect!
The tent sites are far enough apart to be "separate", but close enough that if you had family or friends, they are close by. Garbage cans are at the split in the path between #1 and #2 and each site has a fire ring, picnic table, gorgeous, flat tent pad and a view of the lake. And again, if you needed something from the car, it's a 50 yard walk. Not a 3 mile trudge through the woods.
Camping in tents May 18 - Oct 1
Camping rates were a bit steep for my liking, but I like primitive sites in the woods. So if you were a family trying to introduce wee ones to camping, it would still be worth it. $28 for a site as of 2018. Or a weekly rate of $170. Showers and laundry available, as well as free coffee in the morning. They also have a beach, nature trail, small store and other amenities.
NOTE: Pets are not allowed at this resort
Traveler
This was a cute place and it was clean and nice. There are no designated tent spaces or directions as to where to set up your tent. That was confusing. I just ended up parking it by one of the shelters. Overall it was a great day and it was mostly quiet. The other RVr’s were quiet, you could only hear a little bit of rumbling from the nearby highway. The bathrooms were nice with all things considered. There were two bathrooms and one shower stall. The price is no longer $10 for tent camping, it is now $15. Full hook ups was $30 now.
Legend
This park features fishing in Whiskey Creek, (stocked with rainbow trout, crappies, and sunfish), picnic area, children's playground, semi-enclosed shelters, campground area with full hook-up and tent sites, two camping cabins, softball fields, frisbee golf, volleyball area and a children's zoo, which includes buffalo, whitetail deer, peacocks, and golden pheasants. Site had picnic table and fire ring.
Camping with the whole family so there may be some familiar rigs from other reviews of mine.
Scout
I pulled in at like 11pm and went straight to find an open spot, which was pretty easy.
I had decent privacy but was in eye-shot ( through trees ) of 2 other occupied camps.
Registration is easy & self service. They have envelopes at the entrance you just fill out, so you can use any payment method including card if you’re comfortable with that.
I was only solo tent camping and got there way late & had to leave way early, so I can’t speak to much else.
Traveler
A very cool place for the kids! Swimming beach on Serpent lake is nice for the whole family. When they’re tired of swimming, the skate park is always a good time. The playground is modern and very nice. And during summer months, there’s music in the park Thursday evening! Sewer, electric, and water are available. There are tent sites too. it’s a nice laid back municipal park. Walking distance to downtown. And if you’re into mountain biking, there are world class trails just a mile away at Cuyuna mountain bike trails. Well worth a stay!
Scout
The tent sites are all cart in, making the scenery the main focus. You don't have to stare at vehicles while you are enjoying a fire, which I love. They also have sites that you can canoe in to as well as cabins and yurts. The trails are well kept, the river clean and the lakes are motor free. You would never know that you are as close to the town as you are. And they have plenty of activities to do on the water like canoeing, paddle boarding, paddle boating, kayaking or just swimming.
GuideThis is one of the few state parks where they have canoe-in sites. It's right in the heart of lake country so there's always water around you. They have cabins as well as tent sites so its pretty easy to get around. They have a few of the new yurts that the Mn State Park system put in. These are very nice.
There's also an old house/museum where the former owner of the land lived. Apparently a few presidents visited there during the turn of the century.
RangerTent camp here once and a while, but finally got around to officially doing the hiking club trail. Love doing a sunset hike, this trail is just over two miles, all along the river, with pretty much continual sunset views if you take the trail East to West. It's a loop, which is always preferred I think. Nice picnic area by the river. Historic signs describing the old town are along the beginning part of the trail near the picnic area. Kinda fun to read about and feel what old settlements were like!
Easy and pretty trail, took just half an hour, went with the kids. Just an awesome sunset walk and a bit of moonlight!
ScoutMyself and some friends spent the weekend here in July. There are 10 tent sites and many cabins. We stayed in tents. The sites are rustic but have fire rings and some have charcoal grills in them. The bathrooms are spotless and come with real flush toilets and sinks. There is even showers in both of them. Most people come here to ride the red dirt mtb trails of Cuyuna so the showers are a great amenity! Beautiful views of the lake (mine pit) and swimming off of the private dock. If you want to fish here you must have a trout stamp. We want to come back and rent a cabin next time. Overall 10/10 would recommend and will return!
GuideStopped for a night during our cross country travels. Stayed at RV site 4 which is bordered by trees on one side which was nice for privacy. Overall the tent sites appeared to be pretty private although closer together than I expected from looking at the map. Staff was very friendly and helpful. Firewood is for sale. There is a very nice kitchen with running water and showers were large, private, and clean. Only reason I didn’t give 5 stars is because it is right off highway and you can hear traffic and I was hoping for a bit more space between sites given what I saw on map. Would definitely stay here again!
TravelerHave stayed at True North’s tent sites quite a few times and this is another great option in the area. The site here was nice and wooded. Definitely a bit more private than other Cuyuna options. MTB access to the Yawkey section was nice and will be even better after more trail is added to the zone. Was great to have a community kitchen in the main bath house to clean the dirty dishes from camp and the bathrooms/shower were also very nice. My kids had fun fishing for panfish off there dock and although we never made it, they have a swimming beach that as a bit down the MTB access trail.
Ranger
This hidden gem is on the Mississippi water trail around mile 996. It is called "Overlook Park" and owned/maintained by the city of Baxter, but is part of the DNR's state water trail. There is even signage for those on the river to inform them about their whereabouts on the trail when they pass this park.
So although this is a little private city park, there is a specific spot RIGHT on the river with a picnic table, fire ring, and nice high ground soft space for a tent. But really you could tent it anywhere in the park, but this space is set aside a bit from the rest, as it is a city park although very little traffic. There is garbage and a vaulted toilet. There are three picnic tables throughout including the tent site, and two fire rings. There is a nice canoe landing area with a few stairs to help give access up and down from the river bank. Very pretty spot on the river! The opposite land bordering this city park is part of Crow Wing State Park, so even though it's close to town, it does feel fairly remote.
Such a well maintained park! Pretty views and some rugged trails along the river for some hiking as well.
Legend
For someone who likes to do it all Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area is the place to be!!!
From Rv Camping and tent camping to amazing secluded Yurts on a trout pond there are more than enough options to camp and stay.
The campground itself isn’t anything to rave about, and is mostly open and pretty close together but the yurts, those are a different story!
The yurts are set on a beautiful only mine pit that is stocked with all kinds of trout. The have a wood burning stove, bunk beds, table, chairs, bear locker, fire ring and picnic table. There is a pergola style shelter with a full roof for outdoor cooking.
The view of the trout pond is absolutely stunning and fishing isn’t bad either if you know how to fish trout. There is a shop in town that will deliver kayaks and pick them up when you are done for a small fee, like 50$ for the day?
The old mine pits around and in the park are pristine and literally crystal clear! You can see hundreds of feet down through crystal clear water making it an amazing place to canoe and kayak.
If you are into mountain biking, this is definitely the park for you! Some of the best mountain biking red dirt trails are located in this recreation area! Shops in town rent bikes too! The views from the trails are breathtaking!
Overall, one of my favorite places to hike, bike, camp and, paddle!
Tent camping near Staples, Minnesota offers a variety of scenic locations for outdoor enthusiasts looking to immerse themselves in nature. With options ranging from serene riverfront sites to secluded wooded areas, there's something for everyone.
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