Campgrounds near White Bear Lake, Minnesota provide recreational options for campers throughout the April-October season, with extended availability at select locations. White Bear Lake sits 20 miles northeast of Minneapolis at an elevation of 945 feet, offering a convenient escape for city dwellers seeking outdoor experiences. Summer temperatures typically range from 70-85°F during peak camping months, with cooler evenings perfect for campfires.
What to do
River activities: At Country Camping Tent & RV Park on the Rum River, tubing and canoeing are popular. "Large sites. Great tubing and canoeing," notes reviewer Rory T. Another camper mentions, "The river is very clean and sandy bottom," highlighting the appeal of water recreation.
Hiking trails: Baker Campground features multiple trail systems for walkers and cyclists. "There are nice paved trails around a couple of lakes/ponds for biking, and easy access to the shower and bathroom facilities," shares ERolf P. The park offers over 6 miles of connected biking trails that link to regional networks.
Archery range: Lake Elmo County Park Reserve offers specialized recreational facilities beyond standard camping. "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," explains John H. The park maintains this unique amenity for campers interested in target sports.
What campers like
Swim facilities: Lake Elmo County Park Reserve features a chlorinated swimming pond. "They have a home made lake that has a sand bottom but it has chlorine like a pool so no weeds. Great for swimming," explains Timothy S. This unique swimming option combines natural sand with pool-like cleanliness.
Family-friendly activities: Wildwood RV Park & Campground offers multiple recreation options. "Through a short weekend trip the camp site was a great size for us. Everyone was nice and friendly especially camp staff. The kayaking/canoeing was an amazing adventure that everyone should try. It was even great for kids 3 and 6," shares dominick C., highlighting activities suitable for young children.
Spacious sites: Country Camping RV Park provides room to spread out. "Large sites," notes one reviewer simply. Another camper elaborates, "We've stayed at Country Camping for years! Great variety of things to do for everyone. Group sites, tent sites, covered wagon sites! Floating on the Rum River, swimming pool with splash pad, little camp store, Golf cart rentals!"
What you should know
Reservation timing: Campgrounds in the region can fill quickly during summer months. At Baker Campground - Baker Park Reserve, "You'll need to book for at least two nights and book as soon as you can. There are 200 sites but on the July weekend we stayed, I'd say almost all of them were booked," explains Joe R.
Internet connectivity: Wifi access varies significantly between rv parks White Bear Lake, Minnesota area. "Sadly I needed 4 hours of internet and my cellular data here was spotty. I spent this time right outside the office," reports Jaime N. about Wildwood RV Park & Campground.
Site privacy: Open layouts are common at some campgrounds. "The sites are about as private as the typical state park, so not very, but that is offset by all the other positives this campground has to offer," notes Bryan S. about Baker Campground.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Ham Lake Resort offers multiple entertainment options for children. "I stayed here 3 weeks ago with my wife and 2 young children and it was fantastic great playground and heated pool the spaces were well kept and spaced apart 10-10 would most defiantly go again! A ton for the kids to do!" reports Beasty B.
Evening activities: Some parks provide scheduled entertainment. "On Saturday nights they have a campground program for the kids and families to watch," mentions Tina H. about Lake Elmo County Park Reserve, describing one of the organized activities available.
Bug protection: Insect repellent is essential, especially in summer months. "One note: We visited in August and needed gallons of bug spray," warns kristin C., highlighting the mosquito presence common to Minnesota camping areas.
Tips from RVers
Site configurations: Dakotah Meadows RV Park offers multiple setup options for different rig types. "Dakotah's website has an incomplete campsite map showing only the lower sites between the pond and road. What the map doesn't show is the three rows of pull-through and additional 10 back-in sites at the top of the hill," explains Tom D., providing valuable insight for new visitors with larger rigs.
Seasonal considerations: Most rv parks White Bear Lake, Minnesota area operate from spring through fall. Town & Country Campground operates year-round, offering a solution for winter camping needs when most parks close. According to David E., "This RV park is clean, friendly, and convenient to the cities. Some road noise, but you are in the city so expected, but yet still quieter than in some areas being close to things."
Check-in procedures: Arrival timing matters at some campgrounds. "You'll need to get checked in before 9pm I believe because they close it off to paid guests after that," advises Joe R. about Baker Campground, an important detail for late arrivals.
