Camping near Stillwater, Minnesota ranges across diverse terrains where the St. Croix River Valley meets eastern Minnesota's hardwood forests. The area sits at elevations between 682 and 1,050 feet, experiencing significant seasonal temperature variations from summer highs in the 80s to winter lows well below freezing. Winter camping options remain limited to a handful of year-round facilities where snow accumulation can reach 45-50 inches annually.
What to do
Hiking to waterfalls: At Willow River State Park Campground, trails lead to impressive cascades just 12 miles east of Stillwater. "Willow River falls is definitely a beautiful site to see. Definitely a place to camp if you like to be active and explore the trails. Winter, summer or fall!" notes Jessica B.
Kayaking and canoeing: Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Regional Park offers rentals during summer months with easy water access. A camper shared, "This is a beautiful park and the campsites for the most part all seem spacious, and the loop we were in (whichever one site 52 is in) all had decent tree cover."
Swimming in unique facilities: Several parks offer swimming beyond natural lakes. At Rice Creek, "Level private sites, lots of trees, showers were clean," reports Corey P. The campground provides access to swimming beaches from late May through early September, weather permitting.
What campers like
Privacy between sites: Afton State Park Campground features prairie camping with natural barriers. "The terrain is just hilly enough - and in August - the grass long enough to give the sites a sense of privacy and seclusion," explains Andrew C.
Natural diversity: William O'Brien State Park Campground showcases varied ecosystems. "This campground is lovely. You can hear frogs all night and we even saw a turtle laying eggs in a different campsite," writes Laura E. about the Savanna Campground section.
Urban accessibility: Most campgrounds sit within 30 miles of Stillwater, making supply runs practical. "We booked this on a whim since we needed an overnight close to the State Fair," one camper said about Rice Creek Campgrounds, highlighting its convenience to city attractions while maintaining a natural setting.
What you should know
Reservation requirements: The best places to camp near Stillwater, Minnesota fill quickly, especially on weekends. For St. Croix Bluffs Regional Park, advance planning is essential. "Spacious sites and very clean restrooms!" notes Daryl L., but the park's popularity means last-minute availability is rare.
Seasonal facilities: Most campground water systems operate from April through October. At Interstate State Park, "Winter camping is available, but with limited facilities," according to park materials.
Terrain challenges: Many campgrounds feature significant elevation changes. At Afton State Park, "The hike to the campground is short and grueling," explains a reviewer, important information for those with mobility issues or heavy equipment.
Wildlife encounters: Prepare for wildlife interactions beyond standard mosquitoes. "Raccoons will visit your site at night. We had everything secured but they still tried and plenty of racket until we chased them away," reports one camper at William O'Brien State Park.
Tips for camping with families
Playgrounds and kid-friendly features: Lake Elmo County Park Reserve offers extensive recreation. "Great campground, sites are spacious and spread out, electric hookups at all sites, swim pond is great for kids, and other amenities like an archery range and hiking trails are fantastic for kids," shares John H.
Educational opportunities: Several campgrounds offer ranger programs during summer. "On Saturday nights they have a campground program for the kids and families to watch," mentions a visitor to Lake Elmo.
Swimming options: Water features vary significantly between parks. "They have a home made lake that has a sand bottom but it has chlorine like a pool so no weeds," explains Timothy S. about Lake Elmo's unique swimming facility.
Site selection for families: Choose sites with natural play areas. At William O'Brien, "Site 117 was level, had decent privacy, and was more spacious than some of the other sites (could have put up a 3-5 person tent and a bug house)," notes Dani K.
Tips from RVers
Hookup availability: Lebanon Hills Regional Park offers full-service sites. "Sites with full hookups or more remote sites with electric that are more tucked away in the pines," mentions Katie C.
Site length accuracy: Verify actual dimensions when booking. "Reservation system is weird and the sites are much bigger than they say. All rv sites are the listed length plus 16' for your tow vehicle, which you need to call to find out," warns Davis D. about Lebanon Hills.
Level sites: Most campgrounds around Stillwater feature relatively level pads. "The sites are nice and level, with plenty of space between each one. This feels very much like a nice state park," confirms a reviewer at Lebanon Hills.
Road conditions: Access roads vary in quality. At Willow River State Park, "The road to get to our water view site (69) was narrow and tricky with the camper but it was worth it for that peaceful view!" reports Amber C., highlighting the tradeoff between prime locations and accessibility.
