Campgrounds near Wyoming, Minnesota offer accessible camping options within an hour of the Twin Cities. The area sits at around 900 feet elevation in the St. Croix River Valley, creating a mix of wooded terrain and river access points. Fall camping features colorful foliage from mid-September through October, while summer temperatures typically range from 70-85°F with higher humidity.
What to do
Hiking along glacial formations: Interstate State Park features unique geological formations known as potholes. "The draw here is the world's largest glacial potholes. When the river ran 200' higher than it does today, tornados of water eroded smooth round, massive holes in the rock," explains Erik R. from Interstate State Park.
Kayaking and canoeing: Wildwood Campground provides direct water access with rental services. "The kayaking/canoeing was an amazing adventure that everyone should try. It was even great for kids 3 and 6," notes Dominick C. from Wildwood RV Park & Campground.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Wild River State Park offers excellent wildlife watching, particularly for bird enthusiasts. "There was amazing wildlife - a blue heron frequented the site, and I heard all types of owls. Two bald eagles had a nest across the river so I got to see and hear them the whole trip," shares Sarah D., who stayed at one of the backpack sites.
Mountain biking and paved trails: Regional parks offer accessible biking options for all skill levels. "Huge park, you can climb the cliffs surrounding the falls and there are plenty of trail both paved and unpaved," notes Arielle P. about the trail system at Willow River State Park.
What campers like
Privacy and spacing between sites: Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Regional Park offers well-spaced campsites. "This is a beautiful park and the campsites for the most part all seem spacious, and the loop we were in all had decent tree cover," reports Krista T. from Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Regional Park.
Night sky viewing opportunities: Wild River State Park has designated star-gazing areas. "The star gazing area was great! Intermittently had 1-2 bars of T-Mobile with LTE Internet. Wi-Fi is available at the park entrance," notes Katherine T. from Wild River State Park.
River access from campsites: Some sites offer direct views of the St. Croix River. "When we first arrived to Interstate State Park our very first thought was 'that this is awful'. We hoped that our campsite that we had reserved was not as equals to those on the lower end of the northside, very open space more field like then camp ground to us. And then we came upon our site. With a waterfall on the back side and saint croix river on the other. I could not asked for a better site," shares Nina T.
Year-round camping options: William O'Brien State Park offers winter camping experiences. "I visited William O'Brien in the middle of February with two college roommates. The cabin we stayed in felt very welcoming," says David K. who enjoyed the winter camping experience.
What you should know
Weekday reservations recommended: Most campgrounds fill quickly on summer weekends. "Weekends have been packed and reservations scarce for months at state parks in Minnesota. Arriving on a Sunday afternoon was a dream—very few people in the campground loop," advises Dani K. about William O'Brien State Park.
Seasonal insect considerations: Mosquitoes and horseflies can be prevalent in summer months. "Horseflies nonstop attacked us. To not get bite we had to run around like chickens with our heads cut off!" warns Ariel H. from Rice Creek Campgrounds.
Firewood availability varies: Several campgrounds sell firewood onsite, but quality can vary. "Firewood at $7 a bundle doesn't burn, it just smokes. I asked for a refund. Buy firewood elsewhere," advises Bruce M. from Rice Creek Campgrounds.
Shower and bathroom facilities: Facilities vary widely between parks. "The shower house needs some paint, but had been cleaned," notes Karla J.B. at William O'Brien State Park, while Lake Elmo Park Reserve receives praise for "facilities modern and clean" according to MalibuDave42 L.
Tips for camping with families
Water recreation options: Bunker Hills Regional Park offers unique swimming facilities. "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. from Lake Elmo County Park Reserve.
Playgrounds and recreational amenities: Many campgrounds offer family-friendly activities. "Something for everyone here! The facilities are well kept, the park is patrolled by rangers and the local sheriff after closing hours. Very safe place to camp. Perfect for kids, they have a water park with a wave pool, a disc golf course, a golf course, several pavilions with grills, a few playgrounds and plenty of trails," describes Arielle P. about Bunker Hills Regional Park.
Educational programs: Look for parks with nature centers and programs. "On Saturday nights they have a campground program for the kids and families to watch," mentions Tina H. about Lake Elmo Park Reserve.
Selecting family-friendly sites: Some campgrounds have specific family-oriented sites. "Family friendly getaway for a quick camping fix. Nice pool and a lake. Room between campsites and some tree coverage," shares Kelly E. about Kozy Oaks Kamp.
Tips from RVers
Electric service considerations: Available amperage varies between parks. "No full hookups but there is a fantastic group site and the individual sites are spacious," notes Nate M. about Kozy Oaks Kamp.
Site size and access: Some parks accommodate larger RVs better than others. "For being in the middle of the northern suburbs of Minneapolis, this park and campground is surprisingly woodsy, secluded and spacious. There are both primitive (tent) non-electric sites, and sites with electricity, even some 50 amp," explains Doug B. about Bunker Hills Regional Park.
Dump station locations: Not all parks offer full hookups. "Easy late check in with campsite hosts. Lots of site options from open field options to pretty tree covered areas. Water fill stations readily available so we loaded up prior to continuing out west," explains Lynsey M. from Bunker Hills Regional Park.
Cell reception and WiFi: Connectivity varies significantly between parks. "Sadly I needed 4 hours of internet and my cellular data here was spotty. I spent this time right outside the office," shares Jaime N. about Wildwood Campground.
