Campgrounds near Vadnais Heights, Minnesota provide convenient access to outdoor experiences within close proximity to the Twin Cities metropolitan area. Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Regional Park stands out as a popular option, offering tent sites, RV hookups, and cabins just minutes from urban amenities. Several developed campgrounds within a 30-minute drive feature electrical hookups, water access, and fire rings, with many sites nestled among mature trees providing natural privacy. The campground landscape includes county parks, state parks, and regional facilities, with most offering reservable sites and basic amenities like picnic tables and designated tent pads.
Camping season in this area typically runs from April through October, with limited winter availability at select parks like William O'Brien State Park. A park pass is required at most campgrounds, including Rice Creek, which maintains several camping loops with varying levels of amenities. "This is a nice and family friendly campground. Most sides have some shade and trees and the picnic tables are in great condition," noted one camper about Rice Creek. Road access is generally excellent with paved entrances to most campgrounds, though some tent-only sites require short walks from parking areas. Weather conditions can be variable, with summer months bringing occasional storms and significant mosquito activity, particularly in wooded areas near lakes and wetlands.
Campers consistently highlight the balance of natural settings with urban convenience as a key attraction of the Vadnais Heights area. The tent-only loops at Rice Creek receive particular praise for spacious sites and separation from generator noise. While some campgrounds experience road noise from nearby highways, many visitors appreciate the surprising level of privacy despite proximity to suburban areas. "Just a beautiful campground. Lots of privacy, plenty of space. On a trail system that you can ride around the lake or all the way into Minneapolis if you're adventurous," one review mentioned. Beach access at several parks, including Rice Creek and Lake Elmo County Park Reserve, provides swimming opportunities during summer months. Most campgrounds in the region maintain clean restrooms and shower facilities, though amenities vary by location with some offering only vault toilets or portable facilities.
$23 - $80 / night
"For a County Park, Lake Elmo has an impressive list of amenities. Before we even get to the campsite let's mention the filtered swimming pond."
"Lake Elmo County Park in Washington County Minnesota is a great park for families."
"Fun to play in the water, go behind the waterfall and a good hike up 200 steps to view the falls from above!"
"Located 5 miles outside of Hudson, Willow Creek State Park is large park with hiking, camp sites, fishing, canoeing, and the waterfall."
$20 - $75 / night
"Kelly's Bar nearby has a great fish fry on Friday. The campground is neat and well managed."
"We have lived in the Twin Cities for two decades and have never visited Rice Creek Chain of Lakes before. We will again!"
$25 - $90 / night
"Easy walking trails surround the park which is nice and convenient. Close proximity to Stillwater which made for a nice day trip. Camp sites were very clean and easy to access."
"We O'Brian has some of the best groomed trails that I have been on."
$24 - $42 / night
"Professional built mtn bike trails for adventure. Camping in Minnesota suburbs. Miles of hiking, horseback riding, cross country ski trails. . perfect for my family's weekend Stay-cation"
"We live about 15 mins. away from this campground. We stayed in the East Loop which is for smaller RVs and tents. it has electricity but no water hookups, however there are water pumps."
$22 - $85 / night
"Minnesota State Parks have just started to build Yurts for 3 campgrounds around the state; Afton, Cuyuna and Glendalough State Parks."
"It is also next to Afton Ski resort. This park has a lot of beautiful prairie landscape with some temperate forest features. Wildflowers, shrubs, fungi, evergreens, and deciduous trees."
$20 - $32 / night
"I was very happy with the trails and accommodations available to me, during my stay."
"It has a golf course, a restaurant is on the grounds, there is a stable with horses/ponies that you can take guided trail rides on, a water park(it is called The Beach, which was very confusing for us"
$20 - $32 / night
"Access to lake is great. Firewood at $7 a bundle doesn't burn, it just smokes. I asked for a refund. Buy firewood elsewhere."
"When Rice Creek Campground opens up again in April I'd highly recommend going there if all you want is a simple camping experience to get away from the city grind."
"Washington County, which manages campgrounds at both the Lake Elmo Park Reserve and St Croix Bluffs Regional Park, does a great job of maintaining campgrounds, trails, and bathroom facilities at both parks"
"Minnesota is beautiful and there is so much to do here. The bathrooms are spotless and everything is new here."
$24 - $50 / night
"This is a state park on the Wisconsin side of the St Croix River, which is mirrored by a comparable but smaller state park in Minnesota on the wrst side of the river, both being part of the wild and scenic"
"Interstate State Park is situated along the St Croix River just outside the small town of Taylor Falls, MN."
TravelerWe stayed here with a group of hot tent campers in early January. The site is large and had a couple of fire pits. Includes a few picnic tables, and a pit toilet. It's a beautiful open area not far from the parking lot with a gorgeous view of the St. Croix River.
ScoutWe visited Avatan Nudist Campground last July with our two kids (ages 8 and 11) for what was supposed to be a wholesome, body-positive family getaway. The website and brochures paint a perfect picture: serene woods, a sparkling pool, family activities, and a "welcoming community" vibe. And on the surface? Yeah, the grounds are stunning—pristine trails, a well-maintained pool. The facilities are clean, the staff (mostly) polite, and the natural setting is genuinely relaxing. If you're just looking for a quiet spot to shed your clothes and unwind in nature, it checks those boxes.
But dig a little deeper, and Avatan reveals itself as something else entirely—a place that's quietly optimized for adult fun, with kids as an inconvenient footnote they have to tolerate to keep the "family" label. From the moment we arrived, it was clear the real energy was elsewhere. Evenings around the fire pits and at the "Squirrel's" (code for the bar area) had this unmistakable swinger-party undercurrent. Lots of lingering glances, couples disappearing into the woods or private cabins, and a vibe that felt more like a discreet resort for the lifestyle crowd than a spot for building sandcastles with the little ones. Our kids picked up on it fast—whispers about "grown-up games" and awkward questions we had to deflect. The camp "tolerates" families, sure, but it's obvious the core membership would prefer a child-free zone. Activities for kids are minimal: a basic playground and the occasional nature hike, while the adults get themed nights, "sensual yoga," and late-night mixers that go until dawn.
What really soured the experience was the toxic underbelly of the community itself. This place is a powder keg of power struggles, with a small cadre of long-time board members and "elders" locked in a perpetual cold war. Gossip flows like the creek itself—endless whispers about who's sleeping with whom, who's "stealing" prime cabin spots, or who's cozying up to the President for favors. We overheard more drama in one week than in a season of reality TV. Cliques form fast: the "party crew" vs. the "purists," the swingers vs. the swingers-who-pretend-they're-not. As newcomers (and parents, no less), we felt like outsiders crashing a private club. Smiles were surface-level; the second you stepped away, the backstabbing started.
And then there's the elephant in the (clothing-optional) room: the camp's ugly history with sexual predators. We didn't know it going in, but after a few days, the stories trickled out from sympathetic members—multiple incidents over the years involving members who turned out to be registered offenders or worse, preying on the vulnerable in this "trust-based" environment. The rules around anonymity are ironclad: no photos, no last names, "what happens at Avatan stays at Avatan." It's sold as protecting privacy in a nudist space, which sounds noble until you realize it shields the creeps. Anyone who dares speak up—whether it's a parent noticing a sketchy guy lingering too long near the kids' area or a survivor sharing a red flag—is immediately branded a "troublemaker," "paranoid," or "anti-community." We've heard of families getting shamed in group meetings, then quietly asked to leave for "disrupting the harmony." Evictions happen fast if you rock the boat, all in the name of keeping the peace and the paying members happy.
Look, we're no prudes. Nudism can be liberating, and we've been to other resorts where it felt truly inclusive and safe. But Avatan? It's a divided house built on denial. The adult-party atmosphere thrives because the kids are an afterthought, and the predator problem festers because calling it out gets you exiled. If you're a child-free couple into the full swinger scene, this might be your paradise—plenty of like-minded folks and zero judgment. But if you're a family hoping for that advertised "safe, empowering space"? Steer clear. Your kids deserve better than being tolerated in a place where silence is golden and the wrong questions get you blacklisted. We won't be back, and I hope this review saves someone else the regret.
RangerSo, I think you know what you are signing up for here when you stay camp at the backpacking site at Afton, but let me fill in some of the blanks. #1 yes, the hill climb is as big of an effort as other people have said. You will feel like you earned your dinner. I may have found a hack for this, but more in that later. #2 the site are mostly private. I stayed on site #12. I could see (and they could have seen me) site #9, but thankfully no one was there. That would have been a bummer to have other looking into my site. There is even a semi-worn path between 12 and 9. They would make a good combo if you have a group. Other than that, totally secluded. As far space at #12, you could build as big of a tent structure there as you would need, easily room for a massive 16’x24’ palace (if you would dare to carry it) or anything smaller. An Eagle Scout project built hammock posts at this site, so it is ideal for that set up. #3 the campground amenities are very nice. The solar powered water works great year round, the two pits toilets (if you can even call them that) are very new and nice. And the coolest campground feature is the cut your own firewood station. I went a little overboard since it was so nice and had a way bigger fire than I needed. Bring your own saw and you will love it too. #4 After walking around the park, I discovered a possible hack. There is an unmarked entrance to the park on the north side. Instead of walking all my gear back to the parking lot, I walked the .5 miles to the service entrance, dropped my pack, and then walked the 1.8 miles back to the parking lot. I tend to carry too much. The flat short walk to drop my gear was worth it. Then I drop around the park and picked up my stuff. Probably not MN DNR endorsed way to do it, but I was proud of my discovery. All in, this is a unique and wonderful camping experience. Highly recommend.
GuideNerstrand is so lovely in October. We reserved sites 2 and 4. Though they were right next to each other, they felt very secluded. Site 4 felt a bit more private from the main road because the campsite slightly slopes downward. There is also a log bench positioned close to the fire which some may think is nice but was a bit inconveniently placed for our bigger group to gather around the fire. Plenty of trees to set up multiple hammocks at site 4.
The bathrooms were updated and clean. Unfortunately on our last day, the campground lost running water so only the vault toilets were usable. As someone who doesn’t prefer this option, the vault toilet near the ranger station was actually pretty clean and updated too.
GuideNice spot with plenty of space between sites, which gives you some privacy. It’s right off a busy road, so you’ll hear some traffic noise. The hunters were out during my stay, so there were gunshots throughout the day, but that’s to be expected this time of year. Overall, a good spot for a quick overnight stay and it’s conveniently close to the cities.
RangerI was looking for a secluded backpack in site where I could have a peaceful 48 hours of prayer and solitude, and this site was perfect! I also wanted one that wasn't too far remote, since I hadn't been on a proper backpacking trip since the pandemic hit. And as a solo female camper, I wanted a reserved site so that there would be a record of my location for safety reasons. I'm so glad I chose the Deer Creek site, and will almost definitely stay here again at some point!
This site is accessible by either hiking or canoe. It took me about 30 minutes to hike in from the visitor center parking lot. There is easy access to river water to boil or filter from the canoe landing.
This site was incredibly spacious. It includes a fire ring and picnic table overlooking the creek and river. It also includes 2 large tent pads (look out for widow makers, one of the tent pads is under a dead tree!). It also has a spot nestled in some pine trees that could fit a smaller tent, canoe storage, or I found it to be the perfect spot to hang my hammock! (This would be a great site for hammock camping.) So if you're camping with a small group of people this would be a great site. It also includes a trail to a fairly private latrine, and a bear box (the park ranger warned me that there are bears in the park although I did not see any.) I also found plenty of dead down and dry wood and birch bark on the ground for building fires.
This site is great for a one nigjt stay on a longer backpacking or canoeing trip, but also great for camping out at for a couple of nights. I stayed for two, and it connects to all the major trails in the park, so I was able to use it as a great base for hiking and seeing the beautiful changing leaves. In the morning I hiked North to do the Riverside trail and looped back through the woods. Then in the afternoon I did the Deer Creek loop, which is a shared horse and hiking trail. It was so nice to he able to hike out to some of the best trails in the park directly from my site.
This site felt remarkably remote for being only an hour from the twin cities and a mile from the parking lot! I stayed there Thursday -Saturday, and after leaving the parking lot on Thursday did not see another human being for the rest of the day, and Friday not until I hit the main trails! There was no one else staying within at least a mile of me. I was even able to see fantastic stars Friday night. There was amazing wildlife - a blue heron frequented the site, and I heard all types of owls. Two bald eagles had a nest across the river so I got to see and hear them the whole trip, too- it was absolutely magical!
This site has a great view of both sunrise and sunset. Thursday night there was a gorgeous sunset over the woods reflected in deer Creek. Both mornings I woke up to watch the sunrise while drinking my coffee next to the fire (it was freezing!!!). Watching the sun rise over the river and fog roll over th water and evaporate while eagles soared was truly magical. Having an easy backpack in site surrounded by water on two sides and with views of the sunrise and sunset like this was so incredible!!!
GuideThey have two lots for RV and travel trailer use although the first lot only has two spaces and the second one has a total of five. The five space spot has no water or electric hook up but was a great place for me to test out my new solar set up. Word to the wise, gates ACTUALLY close at 10pm, there's no way to contact anyone and I had to walk about a mile in parked outside the gate 😅. The White Pine lot (5 spaces) has a central bathroom/shower building. The park was jam packed Friday/Saturday but a ghosts town the remains sun/mon/tue I stayed.
GuideThis is a good campground. Very well kept. Fishing from shore and there is a boat launch. Nice playground for kids. Sites are fairly close. Many have no privacy from others, but some do. No water at the sites and pit toilets are the biggest weaknesses. Nice paths for walking and biking.
ScoutFor our first time camping, this was a great site! It was very clean, had friendly staff, and was close to a really fun park for our kids. We will be back!
Camping options near Vadnais Heights, Minnesota range from rustic tent-only areas to full-hookup RV sites within a 30-mile radius of this suburban community. The terrain consists primarily of glacial moraine with numerous small lakes, wetlands, and second-growth hardwood forests at elevations between 900-1,100 feet. Most campgrounds in the area feature sandy soil with good drainage, though sites near shorelines can remain damp following the region's frequent summer thunderstorms.
Hiking trails year-round: William O'Brien State Park Campground offers diverse trail options even in winter months. "My site 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). The fire pit was clean and had a grate on top. There were trees to hang a hammock. The hiking trail was about 500' away," notes one camper who visited during off-season.
Archery activities: Lake Elmo County Park Reserve maintains an archery range alongside other recreational options. A visitor mentioned, "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."
Disc golf courses: Several area parks feature dedicated disc golf facilities, including Bunker Hills Regional Park. "Stayed here for an overnight stop through MN. Close to downtown which was nice for us coming through. Close to a top 10 disc golf course if that's your thing (it's ours)," reports a reviewer who appreciated the accessibility.
Private sites at budget prices: Rice Creek Campgrounds offers economical camping with good separation between sites. "I booked this on a whim since we needed an overnight close to the State Fair. I loved the look of the 'TENT ONLY' loop - you don't see this often - so it was a good fit. In the morning, when I could see everything, I was thoroughly impressed by the space, the maintenance of the property, the size of the campsites."
Waterfront access: Willow River State Park Campground provides water-based recreation options. A visitor noted, "I've camped here a few times. You can't even tell you're in Hudson. Nice hiking trails, nice lake that rents kayaks and canoes, and a beautiful waterfall at the end of the hiking trail. They do empty out the lake every so often, so be aware of that."
Clean facilities: Most campers comment positively on facility maintenance. "Facilities are great no complains, the beach is a bit over run by goose so is a little dirty, there is a great spot below the dam to cool off if needed," shared a tent camper at Willow River State Park, highlighting the attention to cleanliness despite some wildlife challenges.
Noise considerations: Highway proximity affects some camping areas. At Interstate State Park, "The east part of the park was all closed for construction. Everything on the east side of the highway was closed so we could not hike a lot of the trails or use the beach which was a challenge with kids. Construction is scheduled to the end of 2025."
Reservation timing: Weekend spots fill quickly, especially during summer months. "Reserve early online, most weekends were already reserved by mid May," advised a camper at Lebanon Hills Regional Park.
Insect conditions: Lebanon Hills Regional Park and other area campgrounds experience significant mosquito and tick populations in summer. "The family had an absolute blast! Fire ring was a little shallow for my liking so had to get some solid coals going to get dinner on the table. Nice clean site, community water pump worked great! The mosquitoes were absolutely nuts!" reported a camper who stayed at a drive-in site.
Nature center activities: Bunker Hills Regional Park provides educational resources. "The bathroom facility has seen better days. The nature center is nice and a great place to spend some time if it is raining during their open hours," explained a camper who found indoor alternatives during inclement weather.
Swimming options: Many area campgrounds feature swimming beaches or constructed pools. "They have a home made lake that has a sand bottom but it has chlorine like a pool so no weeds. Great for swimming," commented a visitor to Lake Elmo County Park Reserve about their unique swimming facility.
Kid-friendly loops: Select camping areas with playground access and safety features. "We stayed in the East Loop which is for smaller RVs and tents. It has electricity but no water hookups, however there are water pumps. Our spot was spacious, and close to the bathrooms and play area. The play area was really nice and looked brand new. Our girls loved making new friends to play with."
Site selection strategies: Choose appropriate loops based on RV size requirements. "The campground map does a good job of providing visual indicators of what a site provides. The upper loop (sites 45-64) is definitely more geared towards RVs, so not what I would consider an ideal tent site," noted a visitor to Bunker Hills Regional Park.
Generator restrictions: St. Croix Bluffs Regional Park and other campgrounds have designated quiet areas. "And the fact that this loop (F LOOP) was 'tent only' meant no generators! It was very quiet!" appreciated a camper who valued the peaceful environment at Rice Creek Campgrounds.
Hookup limitations: Even at RV-friendly parks, full hookups may be limited. "This is a nice, quiet campground with activities nearby. The sites are decently private and there are nice bathrooms/showers. We camped here while our friends used a camper cabin and they loved it too," mentioned a visitor to Bunker Hills Regional Park, highlighting the amenities available despite hookup restrictions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What parks in Vadnais Heights offer camping facilities?
While Vadnais Heights itself doesn't have camping facilities within city limits, there are excellent options in the surrounding area. William O'Brien State Park Campground is a popular choice northeast of Vadnais Heights, featuring clean campsites, easy walking trails, and proximity to Stillwater for day trips. Another option is Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Regional Park, which offers both drive-in and walk-in camping with water and toilet facilities just a short drive from Vadnais Heights.
Where can I find camping near Vadnais Heights, Minnesota?
Vadnais Heights is conveniently located near several excellent camping options. Lake Elmo County Park Reserve is one of the closest options, offering family-friendly amenities including a filtered swimming pond with a sandy beach, hiking trails, and modern campsites. Lebanon Hills Regional Park is another nearby option perfect for families seeking a suburban camping experience with miles of hiking trails, mountain biking, and water activities at Schultz Beach. Both parks provide a great weekend getaway without traveling far from the Twin Cities metro area.
Are there any RV camping sites available in Vadnais Heights?
Vadnais Heights doesn't have RV camping within the city itself, but several nearby options accommodate RVs. Baker Campground - Baker Park Reserve offers inexpensive RV camping with clean facilities managed by Three Rivers Parks. Highland Ridge is another option that accommodates many RV campers with spotless shower and bathroom facilities, though T-mobile service can be limited. For those who prefer basic overnight parking, Cabela's Rogers, MN allows RVs to stay in their lot, though it is located near I-94 and can be noisy.
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