Glamping in Woodrow, Minnesota offers year-round camping options with temperatures ranging from below freezing in winter to highs in the 80s during summer months. The region sits on the edge of Minnesota's iron range, where former mining operations have created unique water features not found elsewhere in the state. Seasonal mosquitoes are intense during summer months, especially near wooded campsites.
What to do
Hiking club trails: Crow Wing State Park features accessible hiking paths directly from the campground area. "You can join the hiking club trail straight from the campground, which was nice- I went on a few beautiful sunset walks to watch the sunset over the river," reports Sarah D. at Crow Wing State Park Campground.
Fishing from docks: Several campgrounds offer dock fishing access for those without boats. At Camp Holiday Resort and Campground, "You can also bring your own boat and rent dock space. There are several docks you can fish from if you want," notes Nick K. The campground provides options for anglers without watercraft.
Historical exploration: Learn about early Minnesota settlements through interpretive displays. According to HollyRose M., "Historic signs describing the old town are along the beginning part of the trail near the picnic area. Kinda fun to read about and feel what old settlements were like!" The history trail takes approximately 30 minutes to complete.
What campers like
Clean bathroom facilities: Multiple campgrounds maintain well-serviced shower facilities. A visitor to Cuyuna Country State Rec Area commented, "The showers were hot and outhouse was fairly clean. We had sites 5 and 6, so we had our own area on top of the hill, which was really nice for our group of nine."
Private waterfront sites: Waterfront camping spots offer direct lake access. At Crow Wing Lake Campground, "The lake front sites are small width wise but your view of the lake makes up for it and helps the site feel more spacious," explains Melissa H. Sites with lake views tend to book quickly during peak season.
Playground access: Family-oriented campgrounds feature play areas for children. "The campground is very nice but only has a primitive toilet adjacent to the campsites," reports Makayla B. about True North Basecamp. Multiple campgrounds offer recreational facilities specifically for families with younger children.
What you should know
Limited hook-up options: Some campgrounds have restricted utility access. At Crosslake Campground, "We stopped for one night on our way to a teardrop camper rally. Feels more like a city/county park. No foliage between the many, many sites. Lots of big RVs and boats crowded in a small space," reports Lori.
Site privacy variations: Campsite seclusion differs significantly between locations. "If you want privacy, this is not the campground for you. The outer ring has some foliage but the central ring is wide open with very few trees," explains Liz H. about Cuyuna Country State Rec Area.
Seasonal traffic patterns: Weekends bring increased visitor numbers and potentially more noise. Gregory J. notes about Pierz Park, "The campsites are too small and too crowded. The adults let their young kids drive their cold carts and atvs back and forth from the campground to the beach all day long. I wouldn't suggest weekends here unless you're into hearing every conversation your neighbors have."
Tips for camping with families
Beach access options: Several campgrounds feature swimming areas specifically for children. "We tent camped and appreciated the clean facilities, activities for kids to do, and close to great fishing lakes (Bay Lake & Borden Lake)," writes Kylie M. about Camp Holiday Resort and Campground.
Recreation facilities: Look for campgrounds with dedicated playgrounds and activities. A visitor to Sunset Pines Campground shared, "The sites are clean and level. They have a pool and playground for kids among other activities." On-site recreational options reduce the need for off-site travel with children.
Water safety considerations: Lakes in the area can have unexpected depth changes. Dave T. noted of Cuyuna Country State Rec Area: "The lake was super clear and the small beach was wonderful. The fishing was productive for small mouth bass and rock bass, but snorkelers told of huge pike in the nearby drop off."
Tips from RVers
Leveling requirements: Prepare for potentially uneven sites at some campgrounds. Angela J. advises about Pine Mountain Campground, "We had site 4, lake side access. The site was amazing, with a dock to the lake. Most of the lake side sites were pretty uneven, bring plenty of leveling blocks."
Check-in procedures: Some campgrounds use digital systems for site access. "Check-in information is shared via email (key codes for the bathhouse and the cabin locks). The emails are very informative and the owners have been prompt to reply when I had questions," explains a visitor to True North Basecamp.
Site accessibility: Some campgrounds have challenging terrain for larger rigs. At Crosslake Campground, "Sites are large although not alway easy for bigger rigs to get into due to trees. But trees are part of the beauty," reports mary F. Advance research about specific site dimensions helps ensure compatibility with your RV.
