Best Tent Camping near Staples, MN

Tent campsites along the Crow Wing River Water Trail offer primitive camping experiences near Staples, Minnesota. Several established tent camping areas, including Knob Hill, Bullard Bluff, and Frames Landing, provide access points for paddlers and walk-in campers. These riverside tent sites are part of a larger network of campgrounds managed by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, with most sites situated within a 15-mile radius of Staples.

Most tent sites in the area feature basic amenities including fire rings and picnic tables, though facilities vary significantly between locations. Bullard Bluff and Frames Landing campgrounds provide drinking water and vault toilets, while Knob Hill offers more primitive conditions with no drinking water or toilets on site. Access to these tent campgrounds typically involves either boat-in approaches via canoe or kayak, or drive-in access on dirt roads that may require high clearance vehicles in some locations. A recent review noted that Knob Hill "is off the beaten path for sure. It's more of a trail than a road for the last part," highlighting the remote access conditions tent campers should anticipate.

The tent camping experience near Staples centers primarily around river access and paddling opportunities. Many sites serve as waypoints for multi-day paddling trips along the Crow Wing River Water Trail. Sites typically offer spacious tent pads with forest cover providing shade and privacy between camping spots. The river setting creates opportunities for swimming, fishing, and wildlife viewing. According to one visitor, the Frames Landing campsite features "rustic" facilities but "large" campsites with "pit toilets in good shape." Though some sites show evidence of maintenance needs, most remain well-maintained with adequate firewood provided. Tent campers should be prepared for occasional wildlife encounters, including bears, particularly at riverside locations where proper food storage is essential.

Best Tent Sites Near Staples, Minnesota (24)

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Tent Camping Reviews near Staples, MN

318 Reviews of 24 Staples Campgrounds


  • L
    Nov. 2, 2022

    Lake Carlos State Park Campground

    Beautiful and quiet

    End of October, Stopped for just one night, probably about a 20ish minute drive from 94. Was able to purchase firewood after closing, and the campsite were easy to find after (7$)entry to the park. Campsites are reserved through an online system. We found the top campsite completely empty and plenty of sites had good tree coverage for privacy/ way no protection. Nice level sites with soft ground. Each site had a fire ring and picnic table. The only bathroom in walking distance to the upper campsites was a vault toilet located amongst the cabins. Seems like a great place to stay any season.

  • Amy G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 27, 2020

    Mantrap Lake Campground and Day-Use Area

    Right price, easy access, off the road

    This is a State Forest Campground, and for the price of only $14 a night, you can't go wrong. Although you may get some noise from RVs with generators, we visited in late september, and there were enough sites to choose from that we could be away from that noise. Almost every site had a fair amount of space, and some privacy from neighboring sites with brush and foliage. There seemed to be pathways back to little vault toilet houses, and when we visited, they were very clean! They must have been recently cleaned, and there was no smell at all. Perhaps the cooler weather had something to do with that as well.

    We had a fire ring that was tall, and deep. With a grate so you could grill. A picnic table, and again, plenty of space for our teardrop trailer. The property had a few small, short trails through the woods, and also boat access.

    It's far enough off the main road that you won't hear road noise. You will, however, see and hear deer, and possibly black bear.

    There's no electricity, because it's a State Forest campground, but if the price of $14, it's exactly what we wanted for this time of year.

    One more bonus is that motorized two-wheel vehicles and off-road vehicles are not allowed past the entrance. That doesn't mean they can't be carried on the back of a truck, but you will not find them riding around this campground. Made things a little bit quieter!

  • Tori K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Feb. 9, 2025

    Dower Lake Recreation Area

    Swimming!

    offers sites with no hookups and sites with electric (no water, but potable water station is provided to fill up prior to parking) bathrooms and showers in the campground. Fire ring and picnic table provide for each site. Firewood and sewage dump station also provided for free to registered campers. There is a dock, sand swimming beach, horseshoe pits, disc golf, basketball court, and softball field.

  • ERolf P.
    Sep. 23, 2016

    Charles A. Lindbergh State Park Campground

    Canoe Camp

    This is one of the most beautiful campsites we have stayed at in the midwest. The canoe campsite (also accessible through cart-in) is located on a small creek just off of the Mississippi river. There is a fire ring, picnic table, and ample tent space. There is about a 500yd walk to the restrooms, and you have to go another 500yds to the main campground to find the showers. We camped in mid-September, and the water to the main campground had already been turned off for the winter, so no shower review. The bathrooms near the cart-in sites were well maintained and clean, flush toilets. There was drinking water access near the old WPA water tower (but the water came from the city, not the well and water tower). We had some rain, but the sandy soil mean things drained quickly and were nearly dry in the morning. Lots of neat hiking trails within this small park, and a Minnesota Historical Society Site across the road at the Charles A. Lindbergh historic site (his boyhood home).

  • HollyRose M.
    Dec. 14, 2020

    Overlook Park Canoe Campsite

    Watercraft Site on the Mississippi - Spacious & Maintained!

    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.

  • Makayla B.
    Oct. 7, 2020

    True North Basecamp

    Lake cabins and tent sites

    I'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.

  • Joanna B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Mar. 1, 2020

    Lake Carlos State Park Campground

    Beautiful camper cabin

    Leap Day 2/29/20-3/1/20 Frog Pond

    We headed to Lake Carlos for their candlelight ski, this was our first visit to this state park. Tent camping wasn’t available and we were able to reserve a camper cabin - Frog Pond. It was a nice change and a warmer option, the cabin is gorgeous! Frog Pond sleeps 6 with heat and electricity. There are 4 cabins that share 2 vault toilets.

    It was a beautiful 38 degree Leap Day and we took advantage of it. They offer a large number of ski trails so we xcountry skied before dark. The trails were icy, but still enjoyable. At dark we headed to the candlelight event. It was very busy and a huge turnout. We hiked 1.2 miles and then snowshoed 2.4 miles. There are ponds and bogs that they create snowshoe trails on, so there are even more trails to explore in the winter. It was a beautiful night and we enjoyed the wooded trails and starry skies. We had a fire and enjoyed a normal outdoor cookout before bed.

    We did more skiing on Sunday and checked out the 2 campgrounds as they were on the ski route. One campground is on Lake Carlos and very open. Sites have beautiful lake views. You can apparently drive your boat right into a sandy shore and dock it. They also have a swimming beach. The other campground is a bit more wooded and more suited for tents. This campground is near the camper cabins. The trails are very wooded and pretty. We enjoyed skiing the hiking club trail and ended up hitting almost every trail in our stay. I assume this park would be equally beautiful in the summer. What a beautiful state park!

  • Janet R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 20, 2018

    Rock Lake

    Hidden gem for rustic camping!

    This campground is really a hidden gem that i never knew about even though it is within an hour drive of my home. It is a rustic state forest campground with great campsites located in a gorgeous oak-birch-pine forest and right on a pretty lake. Although the campsites are karge enough to accomodate RVs, there are no hookups and no amenities like a bath house, so the campground favors tent campers. Many of the sites are right on the lake, including oarking space, tent pad, fire ring and picnic table, and each of these have a small lake access for swimming or launching a canoe or kayak. There is also a day use area with beach and boat launch, plus a nice nature trail. You can enjoy a quiet family weekend in the deep woods here, but still pop into the town of Pillager which is only 10 miles away. Well kept, quiet and peaceful

  • Russell S.
    Sep. 13, 2021

    Crow Wing State Park Campground

    Family fun!!

    We introduced our youngest to camping at this campground. It’s a crazy story. In summary you couldn’t ask for a better first time family campground as far as my sons first camping experience lol well I’m surprised he doesn’t deeply hate camping. Everything that could of went wrong did including rain on a clear forecast and we didn’t equip the rain fly.


Guide to Staples

Tent camping areas near Staples, Minnesota offer paddlers access to the Crow Wing River Water Trail network. The region sits at the transition zone between northern Minnesota pine forests and central Minnesota deciduous woodlands, creating diverse riverside ecosystems. Most tent sites require either water access via canoe or kayak, or navigation on remote dirt roads where high clearance vehicles provide an advantage during wet conditions.

What to do

Canoe the Mississippi River: The Mississippi River Headwaters Water Trail connects to the Crow Wing system, allowing paddlers to explore connected waterways. At Baxter Canoe Camp, one camper reported "Wake up to the sound of water babbling on the Mississippi River. This site was not only easy to get in and out of, but had more amenities that most campgrounds I've paid to stay in."

Fish in motor-free lakes: Several lakes near Staples prohibit motorized watercraft, creating peaceful fishing environments. At Glendalough State Park, "No motors allowed on the lakes, so canoeing, kayaking and fishing are great," notes one visitor.

Wildlife viewing: The riverside environments support diverse wildlife populations. One Baxter Canoe Camp visitor mentioned, "We did have a nighttime visitor in the form of something big and black and furry... It never approached the tent, we never had to yell, and it never threatened. Simply grunted and 'barked' a few times, and then wandered away."

Explore historic sites: Some camping areas contain preserved historical features. At Glendalough State Park, visitors can see "an old house/museum where the former owner of the land lived. Apparently a few presidents visited there during the turn of the century."

What campers like

Private, secluded tent sites: Many campgrounds offer sites with natural separation. At Knob Hill, one camper noted the area is "surrounded by trees" creating a natural buffer, though they also mentioned "if you don't know the others camping there you will because it's close quarters."

Cart-in camping convenience: Some campgrounds provide equipment to help transport gear. Glendalough State Park offers "carts available to haul your gear" and sites that are "cart in, making the scenery the main focus. You don't have to stare at vehicles while you are enjoying a fire."

Water-based recreation options: Multiple watercraft rental opportunities exist throughout the region. As one camper at Glendalough mentioned, they have "plenty of activities to do on the water like canoeing, paddle boarding, paddle boating, kayaking or just swimming."

Firewood availability: Several sites provide wood for campfires. At Frames Landing Campsite, a visitor mentioned "plenty of fire wood provided as part of your campsite fee," reducing what campers need to pack.

What you should know

Access challenges: Many sites require planning for remote entry points. One Knob Hill camper warned "it's more of a trail than a road for the last part and I was riding my Victory Motorcycle. 4 wheels is advised or a dirt bike."

Limited facilities: Toilet and water facilities vary significantly between sites. A visitor to Bullard Bluff Campsite noted that "though there are picnic tables and outhouses at the campground, maintenance is needed and appears to be a bit lacking."

Wildlife precautions required: Bears are present in the area. A Baxter Canoe Camp visitor advised, "we had properly hung our food in a tree and left all the Snickers in the bear bag," demonstrating proper food storage practices.

Seasonal access variations: Some sites become difficult to reach during certain weather conditions. Bullard Bluff Campsite is "remote but accessible on back roads which has pluses and minuses," according to a recent visitor.

Tips for camping with families

Tent camping alternatives: For families new to camping, consider alternative shelters. At Glendalough State Park, a visitor recommended "yurts if you're not 100% comfortable with/enjoy staying in a tent," noting they stayed in the "Osprey yurt, and it was perfect for our first camping trip together."

Child-friendly water areas: Look for designated swimming areas with gradual entry points. Glendalough features "clear and calm lakes, sandy, and the little creeks/rivers betwixt them are just begging to be canoed or kayaked" with "great swimming areas."

Beginner-friendly locations: Some sites specifically cater to new campers. According to one visitor, Glendalough is a "perfect State Park for a Family Visit" and "wonderful park for families and first time campers" where "the trip from the (assigned) parking spot to your site is very short and very flat."

Wildlife viewing opportunities: Schedule time for wildlife observation with children. At Glendalough, one family "saw many deer, caught many pan fish and observed an eagle in it's nest."

Tips from RVers

Limited RV access: Most tent camping areas near Staples have restrictions for larger vehicles. At Andersons Crossing, "this was a great campsite for the 7 of us," but RV access is limited as most sites are designed primarily for tent camping.

Temporary RV parking options: Some tent camping areas permit limited RV access as launching points. Frames Landing Campsite features sites where "in dry weather you could get an RV into the campground if you dont mind no hookups. It would be a good place to stay before launching a canoe trip."

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Staples, MN?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Staples, MN is Knob Hill with a 4-star rating from 2 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Staples, MN?

TheDyrt.com has all 24 tent camping locations near Staples, MN, with real photos and reviews from campers.