Best RV Parks & Resorts near Tower, MN

When traveling long term with the destination of peace and serenity, places like this are necessary. Freedom, silence and a feeling of oneness with nature heighten your intuition and joy for life. Simplicity is key and the mind is free to relax towards thought of beauty and love. Stay here if you appreciate nature and all it’s sustainable power, it’s magic.

Love, love, love this campground! It not only has full hook-ups and overlooks a lake, but is right on the Mesabi Bike Trail. The managers were friendly and helpful. The sites were spacious. It was so peaceful!

Bear Head Lake is an established, full service state park that has something for everyone. There are a variety of camping opportunities, from camper cabins to guesthouse to tent campsites with lake access to RV sites. Though you have to hike to the beach, the beach is really lovely and has boat rental. There is an extensive network of trails for both hiking and cross country skiing, with a really great indoor Trail Center that serves as winter warming house, indoor meeting place for rainy days, and classroom for park naturalist events. The lake is great for boating, fishing and paddling. though part of the lake shore is privately owned, the lake is quiet and peaceful overall, nestled in tall pines with easy access to the town of Ely if desired. The vicinity is known for bears and is part of a long term bear research study; visit the American Bear Center nearby if interested! https://www.bear.org/website/

A really nice place with lots of fun stuff do to right in the campground including a beach and boat ramp on Pelican Lake. There is a nice playground area for kids. The place caters mostly to seasonal folks more than overnight roadies. I stumbled on it by accident when I was heading to Voyageurs NP but just wanted to get off the road for the night.

 Some of the seasonal sites have extensive decking and screened porches. The sites for the temp folks had full hookups but were gravel that was not well maintained and not level. The bathrooms were ok, maybe a C+. There was no soap at the men’s bathroom sink. There are only six daily/weekly RV/tent sites.  The rest are seasonal rentals.  It got 4 stars instead of 3 because it is so pretty and peaceful.

Our Family stayed at Headquarters RV Park in Buyck (just outside of Orr, MN) for 4 days over the Memorial Day weekend, and we were so impressed!! This is a new, family owned and operated park situated on 30 acres of beautiful pines. The hosts Brad and Koreen are so welcoming, and have put their hearts into making this Park a refuge from the hustle and busle of our hetic work week.

The one thing we appreciated the most is how close they are to Crane Lake, Namakan Lake, Voyageurs National Park, and the Superior National Forest. We spent our time fishing and checking out visitor destinations like the I. W. Stevens Resort (a historical jem!!) After a long day of fun it was so nice to sit out in the screen tent listening to the ruffled grouse drum and the peace and quiet of nature. There are only 13 spacious sites in this park with plenty of room to fit your RV, boat or 4 wheelers and trailer, screen tent with plenty of room to spare, and beautiful pines between you and your neighbor for privacy.

When you arrive you will find your site ready with a picnic table and fire pit. The full service hook ups are easy to access, and make set up a breeze!! They offer 20, 30, and 50 amp service, and make note that they also offer a potable water station too. Firewood is available for purchase, but don’t be surprised if the Sokoloski’s invite you to their host site for a campfire:) The walking paths are beautiful too!! We brought our dog Max, and he loved it too!! We’ll be back for sure!!

Nice little campground that isn’t overly luxurious. Mostly built for RVs with hookups as there isn’t much shade and it would be very hot come July/August. So why stay...the fishing. Campers all had boats to get out on The lake. There is some great walleye fishing here, which is why I stopped. Nothing too fancy but they have almost 60 sites that range. Some are able to be near water and others are just in the sun. Everyone I saw had air conditioners are going.

It’s all about the fishing here tho.

This will now be one of our new favorite campgrounds. It’s the perfect mix of modern (lots of nicely spaced electric sites, well maintained shower/bathrooms, on-site store, canoe rentals and more) and rustic. (Wildlife, birds, a stones throw from the BWCA, and gorgeous sunsets.) Be mindful of your camping equipment and the size of the sites - it varies widely. There’s no dump station (closest is in Ely), but there’s a spigot to fill your RV’s water tank. AT&T service was good (2 bars, fast internet and streaming), T-Mobile not so good. (1 bar, slow internet and no streaming) Thanks to the great campground hosts for tips and info too!

By far this was our favorite campground of the summer. The campground is fairly small, has plenty of towering trees for shade and privacy, and sits right on Fall Lake. Fall Lake is a popular place for anglers and those looking to adventure into the boundary waters. The park will accommodate anything from tents to large RVs and is well worth a visit in our opinions. In fact, plan on staying the maximum two weeks … pretty sure you will like it as much as we did.

About half of the sites are reservable with the others being walk-ups. We booked three nights because we didn’t want to drive the RV all the way up into the northwoods of Minnesota and not get a campsite. Especially, since we were there in August during the busy summer season. While we liked our first site (which was a pull-thru), it was booked after our stay so we started scouting other sites. Walk-up site #39 caught our eyes and as luck was on our side it was going to be vacant the morning we were due to check out. That morning we headed to the office fifteen minutes before they opened to get in line hoping to book the sites. We scored the site and booked it for the maximum two weeks.

In our opinions, the walk-up sites are the most desirable because they have direct access to the water. Our site had steps that led down to the lake where we kept our kayaks on the bank so we didn’t have to rack them on the car every time we used them. Even if you don’t have one of these sites there are other public pathways leading to the lake for easy access. Our site was pretty close to the boat ramp which is a busy place so it was a big noisy – especially in the early morning hours but we didn’t mind.

The bathrooms and showers (which are free) are some of the cleanest we have found. They were cleaned daily and the camp hosts returned many times during the day to check for cleanliness and make sure they were stocked with paper products. You have to use a keypad to enter the bathroom which ensures only campers are allowed in. Water pressure in the shower was great and the water was hot. There was no dial to adjust how hot you wanted the water and our shower was almost too hot to use but that was better than being cold. There was a potable water spigot outside which made it easy to fill up our water jugs.

The park has two group camp areas that are ideal for multiple campers and are very private. They have their own bathhouse, pavilion, large grassy common area, grills, and water access. We would definitely rent one of these sites if we came back with three or four friends.

One day, I walked the Stub Lake Trail that left from the campground but was really disappointed. It is in an area with lots of blow down so there was not much shade or interesting scenery. More interesting trails are located about 15 minutes away at Bass Lake which are longer and more scenic with water access. We loved the town of Ely especially the Tuesday Farmers Market and the restaurant Insula. If you are interested in renting outdoor gear there are many outfitters in town ready to assist or you can also rent canoes for $20/day at the campground office. Don't miss the International Wolf Center, the North American Bear Center and the Dorthy Molter Museum. All are really interesting and definitely worth the price of admission.

We camped here in an RV and the only thing that could have made our experience better is if there were full hook-ups. But, since the bathrooms were clean we didn't mind. There is a water fill-up station by the camp office and a dump station in town at the Chamber of Commerce.

Exceptionally maintained campsites with well wooded sites. Raised cement fire pits, level tent pads, and large sites for campers and RVs. Many of the lake-side sites are nestled into the hillside with stairs going down to the water. The Fall Lake campground is very well managed and has clean shower/toilet buildings, and a store with firewood, canoe rentals, and other miscellaneous items. If there is one drawback, it is that this campground is a popular place for RVs and large campers. For those tent campers wishing to get away and have some solace, it can be busy and noisy at times - depending on who your closest neighbors are. Overall, I give it four stars because we had an RV near us with screaming children that dampened our experience. I would give it five stars due to the beautiful location, the access to the north woods/BWCA, and the care that is taken to keep it maintained.

This is a campground that, unless you know it is there, you might just pass it by. It has been around since the late 1960s. While it has its populated moments, there are many days where one practically has the campground to her/himself. It is suitable for RVs and tenters. It has a boat access landing. The beach at the campground, in the last couple of years that we had visited was not very active. The water level at the beach is shallow.

One might say it is an upscale rustic. It has pit toilets and water spigots available. But the campsites are nicely laid out.

This campground has well spaced, well foliaged camping spaces. Great for both tent and RV Camping. The bathrooms are immaculately clean as well. Plenty of options for hiking or getting on the lake and it is close to more attractions in Ely!

Campground Review:

****This campground is located on beautiful Whitewater Lake in Hoyt Lakes, MN. The fall colors are absolutely gorgeous right now, and my pictures don’t even come close to doing them justice!! We have lived just 5 miles down the road from this campground for over 20 years, and regret not camping here sooner!! This campground is very family and pet friendly with so many activities to choose from. We spent the bulk of our time hiking the paved trails, and fishing the lake. You can reserve a spot online at http://www.fishermanspointmn.com/ , or it’s a first come first served campground. There were plenty of spots available when we camped there, but recommend reserving during the busy summer months.

There are 93 spacious and wooded sites divided into separate loops. If you are driving a bigger RV or 5th Wheel some corners can be tight, but they are currently upgrading and widening the traffic areas. Some of the campsites are right on the waterfront which was nice for mooring our boat close to us. They have some 50/30/20 amp spots, but none of the spots are a full hook up with dump capabilities. The campground hosts were super friendly and the showerhouses/restrooms were super clean and smelled freshJ There is no bringing in outside wood for campfires, but they have a nice little general store where you can purchase bundles. Each spot comes with a nice picnic table and a fire ring. One of the things we liked most is the shelters and grill pits they have right on the lakeshore. They have 2 separate boat ramp areas so there is no congestion or waiting in line to get in the water, and the fish cleaning house is just a few steps off the boat ramp. Quiet hours are from 11:00pm to 7:00am, but we noticed there is no enforcement of that rule, hence the 4 Star rating.

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Product Review:

As a Ranger for The Dyrt, I have the privilege of receiving products to test from time to time. I tested the PARASHEET Beach Blanket from Grand Trunk. https://www.grandtrunk.com/collections/goods-for-the-campsite/products/parasheet-beach-blanket-new-colors Navigating their website is easy and very user friendly!! The thing I appreciated the most is that they are in constant contact with you from the minute you place the order to when it arrives on your doorstep. The shipping time is super speedy from this company!! All items were packed well, and they included a free can cozy and decal sticker (it went on our 5th Wheel!!)

When I took Parasheet, my first thought was that I would not have used the word blanket in the description, it is so much more!! (on their website they use the sentence “The Best Beach Blanket Ever.” With that being said, the parachute nylon fabric is very lightweight, but super durable. This sheet is a packing/carrying dream!! They have a nice variety of colors available, and I ordered the Parasheet in the color Berry Bronzed. The contrast between the deep blue/tan colors is absolutely stunning!! The one feature I liked right away is that the sheet has it’s own drawcorded carrying/storage bag for easy packing and storing. We had a chance to take the sheet out on a windy day, and the sand pockets helped keep it in place while we staked it down. There are an endless amount of uses for this sheet while camping, and at home too!! (my son of course tested and gave a “thumbs up” on the Superman cape tryout lol) The parasheet stood up very well on different types of terrain (we tested sand, gravel rock, and pine needles) Overall, I think the Grand Trunk Parasheet is well priced at $39.99, and would recommend it to all!!

Fenske Lake Campground, MN: (Scale 1- bad, 5-Very good (70 yr olds in 17’ trailer) Overall Rating: 4 - Great place for a canoe trip, I am told. Also access close by to the boundary waters Price 2023: $10 / night w lifetime senior pass. Usage during visit: During mid week it was pretty busy. Site Privacy: pretty nice Site Spacing: pretty nice Site surface: Gravel Reservations: Yes Campground Noise: Quiet Road Noise: There may be occasional road noise in the few sites closer to the entry.
Through Traffic in campground: None Electric Hookup: No Sewer Hookup: No Dump Station: No Potable Water Available: Yes Generators: Allowed Bathroom: Pit Toilets Showers: No Pull Throughs: There are ‘some pullovers’, no separation from cg road. Those in use only had a van or used as tent sites Cell Service (AT&T). We didn’t check at the campground. But, down the road we accessed via a new AT&T tower.
Setting: In the woods Weather: 70’s with a storm in the forecast Bugs: Mosquitoes are moderate. Solar: Not great for fixed panels Rig size: Some sites take large rigs. Check rec.gov for each site before making your reservation. Sites:

First off, and most appealing to me is the fact that there is no cell service. All 12 campsites are first come first serve and you can’t jump a line by going on a website to reserve a spot.  there are no water or electric hook ups but there are hand pumps for pumping water and you could bring a generator or not.
Located north of Grand Rapids Minnesota about 60 miles or 35 miles from Nashwauk Minnesota which is the closest gas station, grocery store or post office. All the sites are back in no pull through sites, generally level however there’s a few that are on an angle

Stayed at a camper cabin- had the park to ourselves! Absolutely gorgeous. The drive off the main highway is a few miles, so you really end up out in the wilderness! We also appreciated that this park doesn’t allow hunting so you know you are safe during that season. 

The campground is along a series of winding lakes, with multiple access points to the water. Very spaced out and easy access to vaulted toilets and water. A couple of different fishing piers and docks right near the campground itself. Has electric and non-electric sites. Definitely impressed with the campground itself. Very pretty no matter where you camp. 

Park has:

- fishing pier

- hiking trails

- fish cleaning building

- stocked backcountry fishing lakes

- canoe rental

- a trail center with a community fire ring and comfy chairs

- dump station

- RV sanitation station

- camper cabins

- group camp

- swimming beach

- trailer access

- watercraft and backpack sites 

We enjoyed night walks and star gazing- we decided it was the best stars we had ever seen! Even saw shooting stars. Cooked some great meals, and enjoyed the hiking club walk through the woods to some super-secret small lakes. 

Checked out the group site- so cool. Right on the water with a personal dock and toilets.

This park is truly in the wilderness, felt like actually being in the Boundary Waters! Crystal clear water, thick gorgeous forests, and an amazing sky. 

Head into Ely, maybe 20 mins, if you need supplies or a break from the woods. Also can access the BWCAW there too. 

We appreciated that this park is open year-round, but can’t wait to go back in the summer!

We have enjoyed staying here. Minnesota does a nice job with their state parks. The campsites are varied in types, sizes and layouts. Ours works great for our 26’ travel trailer and truck, and includes electrical. Main restroom has showers. Nice canoeing lake adjacent to the campground. The Taconite State Trail is nearby. Only complaints are campsites are close to each other and only one bar of service on T-Mobile phone.

Lake Vermilion is a large multi-purpose recreational lake at the edge of the Superior National Forest and the Boundary Waters Canoe Area wilderness. It is a very popular lake for fishermen, but until now there was no State Park campground available on its shores. This is a new state park campground, which just had its Grand Opening in June 2018. It is located on land adjacent to the historic Soudan Mine state park, which was a park for history tours and day use only until the park expanded and developed this campground for campers interested in lake recreation, especially a fishing-oriented vacation. With the exception of a handful or remote hike-in and boat-in dispersed campsites which are currently free of charge, the majority of campsites are drive-in and have electric hook-ups. There are also three group campsites, one hike-in with simpler facilities perfect for scout troups etc, and two others with both tent and RV sites and picnic shelters and their own bath houses.

For tent campers, the sites are large but newly cleared so still a bit rough. For RV campers or fishermen with boats and trailers, there is ample room for your vehicle and trailer. All of the sites are carved out of the woods and, though near the lake, are not within viewing distance of it. You do have to drive a bit to get to the boat landing, but it isnt far and has a great brand new ramp and docks. If you want a place to camp that is conveniently located for fishing Lake Vermilion, this is it. It is also a good place to camp if you want to bike on the Mesabi Bike trail, which goes through the park and runs from Ely to Grand Rapids. BWCA trippers will also find this to be a convenient stopove the night before or after a BWCA trip, and no doubt the brand new bathrooms and showers will be very welcome. There are a sporadic park naturalist programs here, but fewer than a lot of other state parks. There are a lot of activities and things to do in the nearby town of Ely though, https://www.ely.org/ and basic supplies located next door to the park in the village of Soudan. A visit to the historic Soudan Mine in the west of the park is quite an experience too.

Note: I visited in mid June, just as summer campers were coming to try out the park. Apparently a big wind storm camp through at the end of June causing some treefall and damage to some areas of the park. check here for updates:

https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/park.html?id=spk00285#homepage

Quiet Campground with plenty of wooded area between campsites for privacy. Mix of RV/Travel Trailers and Tent campers. Vault toilets and drinking water available. Our site did not have direct clear access to the water, but we walked past other sites that did. Boat launch available right at the entrance to the campground. Our site fit our 30’ travel trailer with left slide just fine and plenty of room for the truck. Overflow parking available near the campground entrance for a small fee. Clean and well kept! Would definitely recommend

There were no problems getting to this state park. We pulled into the dump station just before entering the campground(CG) area to get fresh water. While we were there, a park ranger stopped to check us in, including processing us for a free annual MN state park pass for disabled veterans. We followed the site signage to electric(50/30/20 AMP) only site 110, which was an easy back-in. The site was long enough for our 40’ toy hauler to include putting our back patio down and parking our F-450. We especially liked how ample trees and bushes were separating the sites, and you are well away from your neighbors. The site gave us plenty of space to set up our chairs around a nice fire pit and one fine picnic table. Get water as you come into the CG, as the spigots throughout the park do not have threads. The 300 loop has pull-throughs that will handle large rigs, with 312 being the best. We got 5 bars 4G. on Verizon. We put Starlink on the roof and got a decent signal. There was a nice shower house/restrooms where the park also sold firewood. Formal trail systems are throughout the CG and park, and we enjoyed walking our dogs. We really like the variety of RV sites for all sizes of RVs, but it's too bad the CG area has no water views.