Best Campgrounds near West St. Paul, MN
The Twin Cities metro area surrounding West St. Paul, Minnesota features a surprising variety of camping options within a 30-minute drive. Lebanon Hills Regional Park in nearby Eagan offers wooded campsites with electrical hookups operating from late April through mid-October. Lake Elmo County Park Reserve, located northeast of the city, provides both drive-in and hike-in camping with modern amenities including a filtered swimming pond. Afton State Park, situated along the St. Croix River valley, stands out with year-round availability and diverse accommodation options including yurts and cabins. These county and state-managed properties provide a convenient escape from urban surroundings while remaining close to city amenities.
Most campgrounds in the region require reservations, particularly during summer weekends when sites fill quickly. The camping season generally runs from late April through October, though select parks like Afton and William O'Brien remain open year-round with limited winter facilities. Cell service is generally reliable throughout the area, with spotty coverage only in deeper ravines or river valleys. As one camper noted about Lebanon Hills: "It has everything for the family. Schultz Beach for summer fun, professional built mountain bike trails for adventure, camping in Minnesota suburbs." Mosquitoes and ticks are common from May through September, with poison ivy present in less maintained areas, particularly along trail edges.
Family-friendly amenities distinguish many campgrounds near West St. Paul. Lake Elmo County Park Reserve receives consistent praise for its facilities. According to one visitor: "For a County Park, Lake Elmo has an impressive list of amenities including a filtered swimming pond with a sandy bottom surrounded by a nice sand beach." William O'Brien State Park, located along the St. Croix River, offers "some of the best groomed trails" according to regular visitors. Site privacy varies considerably between parks, with Lebanon Hills providing more secluded spots while Baker Park Reserve tends toward more open layouts. Campers frequently mention the convenience of having urban amenities nearby while still enjoying a natural setting, making these locations popular for weekend getaways without extensive travel time.
