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Best Tent Camping near Voyageurs National Park

105 Reviews

Tent camping at Voyageurs National Park requires boat access for most sites, creating a unique wilderness experience not found at typical campgrounds. The majority of established tent sites within the park are only accessible by water, including the highly-rated Voyageurs National Park Backcountry Camping areas and specialty sites like Johnson Bay, which features tent pads, fire rings, and picnic tables. Kabetogama State Forest's Ash River Campground, located just outside the park boundary, offers tent sites with direct road access for those without watercraft.

Most tent campgrounds within Voyageurs feature primitive amenities and require proper planning. Front-country sites typically provide fire rings, picnic tables, bear-proof storage boxes, and pit toilets, but campers must bring their own toilet paper. Boat-in sites on Rainy Lake, Namakan Lake, and Kabetogama Lake have designated tent pads, while backcountry areas like Brown Lake require additional hiking after a boat taxi to the trailhead. Permits are required for camping within the national park, and reservations are strongly recommended during the summer months when sites fill quickly. The main season runs May through October, with early spring and late fall bringing colder temperatures but fewer crowds.

The park's tent campsites offer exceptional solitude and immersion in nature. Many sites are situated on small islands or remote shorelines with minimal neighboring campsites, providing privacy even during peak season. Camping locations throughout the park provide opportunities for wildlife viewing, with campers frequently spotting deer, otters, eagles, and hearing wolves and loons at night. Water access is crucial for transportation between sites and visitor centers, with detailed navigation charts strongly recommended. A camper described the experience as "beautiful, gorgeous scenery, eagles, bear...real is the best end of the trail camping." The primitive nature of these sites allows for a deeper connection with the wilderness, though proper preparation is essential as most locations have no drinking water sources and limited emergency services.

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Best Tent Sites Near Voyageurs National Park (17)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Voyageurs National Park

16 Photos of 17 Voyageurs National Park Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Voyageurs National Park

105 Reviews of 17 Voyageurs National Park Campgrounds

  • Sethen E.
    Aug. 31, 2020

    Voyageurs National Park Backcountry Camping — Voyageurs National Park

    Boat in

    A very unique park. All sites are boat in. Many houseboat sites for private and rented houseboats and many many family sites for tent camping. Sites are a mix of dock, beach, and rock access and are labeled on the Voyageur National Park Camping map. Sites are located on all lakes in the park: and a few back country too. Houseboat sites have tie off rings and are quiet large- they offer a fire ring and many have a picnic table. Tent sites have one or two tent pads and a fire ring and picnic table and a vault toilet usually. No electric. No water. Remember you can in fact camp anywhere you wish as long as you are 200 meters (I think) from another established site.

  • Rico R.
    Jun. 15, 2019

    Woodenfrog Campground

    Great camping

    No showers but that’s ok this site is just a shirt row away from Voyageurs national park islands. Boat docks available. Private sites and great views

  • Shari G.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 23, 2017

    Ash River — Kabetogama State Forest

    Perfect campground to stage your Voyageurs paddling journey

    Located just outside of Voyageurs National Park and a quick drive to the Ash River Visitor Center and boat launch, this campground is a perfect spot to get set-up for a long distance paddle/canoe trip. We stayed the night before we launched on a 6 day trip and had the place to ourselves just after the season opened in early May. Shade trees are scattered throughout the campground, but not much privacy. Can be hot, muggy, and buggy in the summer months; spring and fall can be chilly, but gorgeous and uncrowded.

    Nothing fancy and no electricity available, but large sites with picnic tables, firepits, and clean pit toilets. Water is available via the well pump, but was very rusty at the beginning of the season. Could improve with time, but we chose not to drink it -- would suggest bringing your own just in case. First come, first served – pay onsite with cash/check. Fee $14.

  • Tori K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Feb. 10, 2025

    Woodenfrog Campground

    Close to Voyageurs

    No showers. Outhouses and potable water spickets throughout the campground. All sites are offered on a first come first served basis and the entrance has envelopes to pay by check or you can pay online at your arrival. Sites that are occupied will have a small white card clipped to the site number marker sign, just pick an open one, pay, and fill our your place holder card. Fire ring and picnic table at each site. Most were flat, but some were a little hilly. Might be harder to navigate the roads in the campground and back in if you have a larger rig. Very close to voyageurs visitor centers and local boat rental places.

  • Sethen E.
    Aug. 31, 2020

    Woodenfrog Campground

    Roomy, shaded, by the water.

    61 sites. Multiple loops. All Boondocking- No electric or septic or water hookups. No showers. Very quiet. Two are marked as accessory. Far from the highway- the final turn can sneak up on you. Sights are spacious and most are a far distance apart (50 feet). Lots and lots of trees between sights. Sites are a mix of deep and shallow. Some are one car wide, others are two cars wide. Most 30 foot trailers would do okay. We saw a dozen travel trailers, one fifth wheel, a couple shorter motor homes, and lots of tents. A fire ring and picnic table are located at each site and water fountains/down spouts and vault toilets are located throughout. (Not all spigots have hose attachments.) Bathrooms were clean with a good amount of TP. There is a fair amount of sticks and firewood among the downed trees. A couple of public docks are located along the edge of the campground for guests to dock their boats. The boat launch, beach, and picnic area is very nice and nearby. No weeds when swimming. Dogs are not allowed at the primary beach, but there is a hidden rock beach at the end of the campground by one of the docks were they could swim. There are hiking trails that weave behind sites and between roads. Some sites are closer to the road (shallow) and some are surprisingly deep. A few sites are closer together, but would work well if you had multiple families camping together. $15.00 per night. Dogs are allowed. Unfortunately there are no reservations. We came on a Saturday morning in the end of August and one third of the sights were open, by midday half of the sights were open. We enjoyed our time.

  • D
    Sep. 11, 2020

    Woodenfrog Campground

    Cute walk up only campsite

    No prior reservations taken here, but easily found a spot on a Thursday afternoon in late August. Good privacy between sites, trees everywhere. Water was available and seemed to be just fine. 

    Primitive site, so fire ring, picnic table, vault toilets, trash cans provided. Also a nice day use area boat dock right on Lake Kabetogama with plenty of parking for your boat trailer.

  • Janet R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 28, 2021

    Wakemup Bay — Kabetogama State Forest

    Off the beaten path and great for fishermen

    This is a small state forest campground on a small bay of the larger Vermilion Lake.  There is a nice beach, group picnic shelter, docks, and an adjacent public boat landing. For folks who are looking for a quiet place to stay while on a fishing trip at Vermilion, this wold be a good location, though more rustic than a state park. There are 5 fairly open sites close to the shelter and beach where RV's and trailers could easily park, but there are no hook-ups so be prepared. There is drinking water available in several locations throughout the campground, though this is shut off by mid September. There are  latrine toilets, and garbage collection.  There are also a group of 5 tent sites located close together that would work well as a group camp area, also cloe to the beach and docks. Further back in the woods, however, at sites 12-19, there  are larger more private sites spaced much further apart and set beautifully in among shady woods. Further along the campground loop road goes up a hill with more quiet sites, and two REALLY  exceptional hike-in sites at #20 and 21.  Site # 20 is a true gem, beautiful tall pines, picnic table, fire ring and tent pad in a very secluded setting but still just a short hike from where you park your car. There is a path down the hill to the beach and dock area. Really a primo campsite if you can get it, though all the sites are First Come-First Served and not reserveable.

  • Janet R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 28, 2021

    Mukooda Lake Campground — Voyageurs National Park

    Mukooda Lake expedition

    Note: the cost for the campsite is $20.00 per night, and there is also a $10.0 fee for reserving online, which you have to do before arriving. There are discounts if you have a national park senior or military pass, or free for veterans. 

    Mukooda Lake is an ecologically unique inland lake within Voyageurs Natioanl Park. Access is best via the crane Lake entrance on the southeast part of the park. Getting to the campground involves a bit of an expedition! You need use a small motorboat or  paddle a canoe or kayak from Crane Lake to SandPoint Lake, then turn  west into a small bay and dock at the Mukooda Access (no houseboats allowed!). If you don't have a boat, you can hire a water taxi from Crane Lake, they can drive you to the Mukooda access and arrange to pick you up again some days hence. Then you need to hike west across the Sand Point Narrows into Mukooda Lake, where you will find a day use area with beach and picnic area, trailhead for several hiking trails, and 5 separate small campgrounds spread like a string of pearls along a trail north of the day use area.  Each campsite has a tent pad, fire ring, picnic table, and bear box, and there is a central solar outhouse in the day use area. The campsites are beautiful, and secluded, the hiking is great, and the fishing is exceptional. There is a unique subspecies of lake trout found here that is found nowhere else in the world; also, the lake has a unique substrate and hydrology and is very pristine. For those reasons, to protect the ake ecosystem ad the fishery, no outside boats may be portaged into Mukooda, even if you paddled your own canoe or kayak into the access. If you want to get out onto Mukooda Lake itself, there are boats already located there which you can reserve and rent for day use.  That is a great idea for fishing, or for exploring the lake and its several islands! Some of the vendors for that option include:

    https://scottspeacefulvalley.com/mukooda-lake/

    https://www.voyagaire.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/2019-Optional-Equipment-Rentals.pdf

    Boat rentals to get up to SandPoint before you hike into Mukooda can be arranged at one of these outfitters: https://www.visitcranelake.com/outdoor-activities/boat-rentals/

    Hiking trail at Mukooda: https://www.voyageurs.org/mukoodatrail

    General info about Voyageurs National Park: https://www.nps.gov/voya/index.htm

    Latest news about Mukooda lake: https://www.nps.gov/search/?affiliate=nps&query=mukooda&sitelimit=www.nps.gov%2Fvoya

  • K
    Jul. 6, 2017

    Voyageurs National Park Backcountry Camping — Voyageurs National Park

    Scenic Voyagers

    Just returned from a week camping in Voyagers National Park. Camping at its finest! 4 large lakes encompass the park.Boating is allowed . The sites have picnic tables, fire rings, pit toilets and bear boxes to store your goods. Our site had a dock. Lots of granite rock outcropping make for beautiful scenery.You are truly in the wilderness. Bring a VHF marine radio in case of problems.

Guide to Voyageurs National Park

Tent camping near Voyageurs National Park in Minnesota offers a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in nature, with stunning views and a variety of outdoor activities.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Voyageurs National Park?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Voyageurs National Park is Voyageurs National Park Backcountry Camping — Voyageurs National Park with a 4.9-star rating from 18 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Voyageurs National Park?

TheDyrt.com has all 17 tent camping locations near Voyageurs National Park, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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