Near West St. Paul, Minnesota, camping options span several county parks and private RV parks within a 30-mile radius. Most campgrounds operate seasonally from April through October with a few year-round exceptions. The region features a mix of wooded sites and open RV areas, with elevations ranging from 700 to 900 feet above sea level. Minnesota's seasonal temperature fluctuations greatly impact camping conditions, with summer highs averaging 83°F and frequent humidity.
What to do
Tubing on the Rum River: Country Camping Tent & RV Park on the Rum River offers river recreation just 30 miles from West St. Paul. "The tubing is a plus... Key thing is the river is very clean and sandy bottom," writes David G. The campground provides tube rentals and shuttle service upriver.
Hiking extensive trail networks: Baker Campground - Baker Park Reserve features multiple interconnected trail systems for day hiking. "There are nice paved trails around a couple of lakes/ponds for biking, and easy access to the shower and bathroom facilities," notes ERolf P. The park's trails connect to longer routes throughout the Three Rivers Park system.
Swimming in filtered ponds: Lake Elmo County Park Reserve maintains a unique swimming facility. "They have a home made lake that has a sand bottom but it has chlorine like a pool so no weeds. Great for swimming," says Timothy S. This offers a cleaner alternative to natural lake swimming, especially appealing to families with children.
What campers like
Private riverside sites: Country Camping Tent & RV Park on the Rum River receives praise for its spacious waterfront options. "Large sites. Great tubing and canoeing," writes Rory T. The campground offers both wooded and open sites with easy water access.
Secluded tent camping: Lebanon Hills Regional Park provides tent sites with significant privacy despite being in the suburbs. "Tent camp sites are far enough from each other that neighbors can't be seen, and we didn't hear them either," reports Blair. The park's design creates natural buffers between sites using terrain and vegetation.
Clean facilities: Cleary Lake Regional Park maintains high standards for amenities. "Amazing bathroom/Showers. Quiet, lots of flies, good spot overall," notes Truly W. Campers consistently mention the well-maintained shower buildings and restrooms at most Dakota County campgrounds.
What you should know
Reservation requirements: Weekends fill quickly at metropolitan campgrounds, particularly in summer. "Reserve early online, most weekends were already reserved by mid May," advises Blair about Lebanon Hills Regional Park. Most county parks open their reservation systems 90-120 days in advance.
Noise considerations: Despite wooded settings, some campgrounds experience urban noise. "The only criticisms we have are that you can hear road noise — and depending on your site you'll hear the alarm of one of the access gates for the Minnesota Zoo," reports a Lebanon Hills camper. Sites further from main roads typically offer quieter conditions.
Pet policies vary: Town & Country Campground & RV Park accommodates pets but with space limitations. "Very tight quarters on roads and sites... Bugs were terrible though. Wood bugs and ants!" mentions Claire M. Several campgrounds require leashes and have designated pet exercise areas.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Cleary Lake Regional Park offers waterfront recreation combined with play areas. "I really like the hike in sites. Short walk from the car and right by the water yet spaced nicely for privacy," writes Jeff C. These walk-in sites average 50-100 feet from parking, making them manageable even with children.
Splash pads and pools: Country Camping RV Park features water amenities beyond natural swimming. "It has a heated pool, splash pad area, BIG playground area, indoor game room, HUGE sites!" explains Spencer C. These features provide entertainment options during inclement weather or for children who prefer controlled swimming environments.
Educational opportunities: Baker Park provides naturalist programs for families. "On Saturday nights they have a campground program for the kids and families to watch," shares Tina H. about Lake Elmo's similar offerings. These free programs typically run 30-60 minutes and cover local wildlife and environmental topics.
Tips from RVers
Utility reliability: Dakotah Meadows RV Park provides consistent power service for RV sites near West St. Paul, Minnesota. "The sites are paved and have well-maintained grass. We were located near the casino road, which has an occasional loud car, even at night," notes Chris F. Full-hookup sites include water, sewer, and 50-amp service.
Site configuration: Diverse pad options exist throughout the metro area. "Sites were big enough for our two very large dogs... Each campsite has their own trash receptacle, which was great," mentions Michelle A. about Dakotah Meadows. Many RV sites in the region feature concrete pads with grassy areas between sites.
Wintertime availability: Town & Country Campground remains open year-round unlike most seasonal rv sites near West St. Paul. "Super nice RV Park," writes Stephanie K. This provides options for winter camping when many county parks close, though water services may be limited during freezing temperatures.
