Best Dispersed Camping near Wayzata, MN
South of Sand Dunes State Forest provides free dispersed camping opportunities approximately an hour from the Twin Cities and Wayzata, Minnesota. This Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) managed area features primitive camping along gravel county roads south of Ann Lake, primarily on County Roads 233-237. Campers can access multiple pull-off sites situated between pine stands and open sandy areas, with most spots spaced for privacy and minimal development.
Access routes consist primarily of gravel forest roads that accommodate standard vehicles, though some sections may benefit from all-wheel drive depending on conditions. No amenities exist at these primitive sitesāno toilets, water sources, trash receptacles, or designated fire rings are provided. Camping is permitted for up to 14 days during summer months and 21 days in cooler seasons per DNR regulations. Cell service is notably unreliable throughout the area, with most carriers providing minimal coverage, requiring visitors to plan accordingly.
The camping experience features quiet, secluded sites with diverse bird populations and opportunities for hammock camping among the pines. Visitors should prepare for prevalent poison ivy throughout the area and significant mosquito activity, especially at dusk. Wildlife encounters include protective sandhill cranes that should be given distance. Campers report varying traffic levels on the main forest roads. "This is a nice quiet area. Some younger people coming through sporadically playing with their trucks but nothing serious and not often," notes one reviewer, while another mentions "plenty of spots" though cautioning that "this road is pretty busy for a dirt forest road and people fly down it."
