G
Glen B.
Ranger
RangerCounty Road O Landing Dispersed River Camp — Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway
Not much to offer
Geared towards fishing and tent camping. Space in the lot for my rig and a few cars.
Camping near Dresser, WI
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The St. Croix River valley surrounding Dresser, Wisconsin features a diverse range of camping experiences within a short drive. Interstate State Park, straddling both Wisconsin and Minnesota sides of the river, serves as the region's centerpiece with dramatic river gorges and glacial potholes. Within 30 minutes of Dresser, campers can access established campgrounds like Willow River State Park with its waterfall views and Wild River State Park offering riverfront sites. The area balances developed facilities with more rustic options, including private campgrounds along the Apple River and farm-based camping experiences at places like Lily Springs Regenerative Farm. Most campgrounds accommodate both tent and RV camping, with electrical hookups widely available at state park campgrounds.
Reservations are essential during summer weekends, particularly for waterfront sites at Interstate and William O'Brien State Parks. As one camper noted, "The hiking there is by far my favorite within an hour from the Twin Cities. Lots of cliffs and great views." Seasonal considerations affect the camping experience significantly, with mosquitoes becoming prevalent in summer months. According to visitor reviews, "The amount of mosquitos seemed higher than other Wisconsin locations." Cell service varies throughout the region, with T-Mobile coverage particularly spotty in some campgrounds. Many campgrounds maintain year-round operations, though amenities like showers may close during winter months. Firewood is typically available for purchase at campground offices or from roadside stands near park entrances.
River access represents a major draw for campers in the Dresser area. Several reviewers highlight the value of securing sites with direct river access, particularly at Interstate State Park's South Campground where sites 65 and 67 offer convenient kayak launching. One visitor observed that "the setting is spectacular in terms of breathtaking scenery, and myriad outdoor activities from rock climbing in the river gorge, paddling the river, hiking miles of trails." Site privacy varies considerably between campgrounds and even within loops. While some campgrounds feature spacious, well-separated sites, others have been described as "cramped" with limited screening between neighbors. Family-friendly amenities are common throughout the region, with clean facilities and well-maintained trails consistently mentioned in positive reviews.
Best Campgrounds near Dresser (148)
1. Interstate State Park Campground
"This is a state park on the Wisconsin side of the St Croix River, which is mirrored by a comparable but smaller state park in Minnesota on the wrst side of the river, both being part of the wild and scenic"
"Interstate State Park is situated along the St Croix River just outside the small town of Taylor Falls, MN."
from $24 - $50 / night
Check Availability2. Wild River State Park Campground
"Stayed for two nights at a drive-in double site here and found it ideal for autumn camping."
"We stayed in campsite 29 in the drive in campsite over Labor Day weekend."
from $23 - $90 / night
Check Availability3. William O'Brien State Park Campground
"Easy walking trails surround the park which is nice and convenient. Close proximity to Stillwater which made for a nice day trip. Camp sites were very clean and easy to access."
"Our site was a non-electric site on the outside ring, with just a thin slip of woods and a hiking trail between us and the St. Croix river."
from $25 - $90 / night
Check Availability4. Willow River State Park Campground
"There is a newly filled lake after the reconstruction of the dam. This is a non motorized lake for paddling, swimming and fishing."
"Fun to play in the water, go behind the waterfall and a good hike up 200 steps to view the falls from above!"
5. Wildwood RV Park & Campground
"These primitive sites are down a small dirt road away from the main RV camping area and are nicely wooded, but you can still see neighboring sites."
"The kids tried the bike trail that they could access right from the campground.
Plenty of space to social distance. We never felt uncomfortable and everything was really clean!"from $44 - $75 / night
Check Availability6. Interstate State Park — Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway
"I had read somewhere that sites 65 and 67 had direct access to the river--true! But the path does come off the camp road and it really does serve the entire campground, so anyone can use it. "
"Beautiful sites but be careful when booking as some sites are very close to others. North campground is about 1/2 mile from downtown Taylor Falls via a bridge. So a quick walk to town is possible."
from $15 - $28 / night
Check Availability7. Camp Waub-O-Jeeg
"We live in Minneapolis and love having this camp close to home, yet far enough to feel like we are up north. We come here a lot during the summer! The camp is rustic, in a good way."
"This is an awesome campground in a wooded setting just outside of the nearby town. Can't wait to come back!"
from $35 - $65 / night
Check Availability8. Big Rock Creek
from $225 - $500 / night
Check Availability9. Lily Springs Regenerative Farm
"Both the White Pine Meadow and the Lakeside Serenity sites are amazing and large. We wound up staying at the Lakeside site, which has a nice view of Mud Lake and one of the herds of goats."
from $70 / night
Check Availability10. Apple River Family Campground
"This this is an amazing Campground with two heated pools one up top and one down below they're also campsites located right alongside the river the campground offers tubing disc golf and many other activities"
from $30 - $150 / night
Check Availability
Drive Time
- 54 min from Minneapolis, MN
- 1 hr 31 min from Eau Claire, WI
- 1 hr 31 min from St. Cloud, MN
- 1 hr 57 min from Rochester, MN
Recent Camping Photos near Dresser, WI
208 Photos of 148 Dresser Campgrounds
Matt B.
Northern Detour RV Site on Poplar Lake
Beth D.
Interstate State Park — Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway
Stacy S.
Wildwood RV Park & Campground
Janet R.
Interstate State Park Campground
Danielle S.
Stone Creek Farm
Krista T.
Camp Waub-O-Jeeg
Krista T.
Lily Springs Regenerative Farm
Josh H.
Big Rock Creek
Brian C.
William O'Brien State Park Campground
Janet R.
Apple River County Park Campground
Jeff L.
Wild River State Park Campground
Janet R.
D N Campground
Recent Reviews near Dresser, WI
624 Reviews of 148 Dresser Campgrounds
- Crystal R.
GuideLebanon Hills Regional Park
Close to the cities and reasonably priced
It's definitely not my favorite campground because it doesn't feel like you are in the woods. But I like it because it's close to the cities and I love the regional park for hiking, swimming, boating, etc.
There are three sections... First is the main rv section. The sites are very close together, like a lot of rv parks. Then there is the primitive camping loop which is where I stay. The sites are further apart and separated by trees and bushes. I don't love that recently they added a ton of mulch to each site, basically like a playground. It just doesn't fit the camping vibe.
There's another loop that's for both tents and rvs that also has a little more space and a playground in the center.
The staff is generally very friendly but they do have a lot of rules so beware.
- AAshley C.
ScoutVeterans Campground On Big Marine Lake
Veterans Campground
The Veterans Campground is by far the best campground we have ever been to! The people are amazing The grounds are well kept, very clean. This is our home away from home. It's the perfect place for your kids to be kids like we did in the 90's home by the time the street lights come on. Us parents can finally relax!
Christine H.
TravelerSt Croix Casino and Hotel RV Park
Amazing
Staying here currently & they have been very accommodating, friendly & flexible. Water & electric hookup but no sewer however there is a dump station, a bathhouse with real toilets & nice showers. Pretty quiet for being so close to the main highway. My cats are able to free roam the property & my dog can be tied up outside. Usually pretty nice neighbors too.
- Christine H.Traveler
Turtle Lake City Park
Not free
Electric hookup, dump station on site. Sites are a little close together. $25/night with a 7 day max stay.
Jay W.
LegendInterstate State Park — Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway
Great park, plenty around the area...BUT THE NOISE!!!
Interstate Park in Wisconsin is just south of HWY 8 on HWY 35. The entrance is located on the west side of HWY 35 in the town of St. Croix Falls. St Croix Falls is a small town with a nice downtown on the river with plenty of restaurants (Dalles House Restaurant and Lounge is a favorite) and places for necessities. There are coffee shops, hotels and even a Wal-Mart nearby. There is also a casino in the town of Turtle Lake about 30 mins away.
The park is home to the western terminus of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail that covers 1200 miles through Wisconsin. The park also offers a Ice Age Interpretive Center which boasts interactive activities and displays of the last Ice Age. The park is also home to several other trails worth discovering.
There are two campgrounds in the park, a North and South campground as well as two group campsites. The South is a bit more rustic. The showers are located at the North campground.
For amenities there are flush toilets and showers. There is a sandy swimming area available as well as boat launch and other water activities.
This park is beautiful especially being on the cliffs of the St. Croix River offering spectacular views through out the park and the area. You can even take the bridge over to Taylor Falls Park Minnesota for more spectacular views as well as other shopping options. If you take this trip, Taylor Falls Park will be on the South and your shopping options will be to your North.
Even being in such a wonderful location with plenty of activities and amenities, I find the camping hard to enjoy at this park for all the noise that generates from the hwy crossing over the river. The sound especially of the semi trucks and their brakes that go all night long. This is the big reason for the average rating for this campground.
Corinna Y.TravelerOld Railroad Bridge
Great little getaway spot for winter camping!
We stayed here with a group of hot tent campers in early January. The site is large and had a couple of fire pits. Includes a few picnic tables, and a pit toilet. It's a beautiful open area not far from the parking lot with a gorgeous view of the St. Croix River.
CindyTravelerAvatan Family Nudist Campground
"Family-Friendly" in Name Only: A Cautionary Tale from a Disillusioned Par
We visited Avatan Nudist Campground last July with our two kids (ages 8 and 11) for what was supposed to be a wholesome, body-positive family getaway. The website and brochures paint a perfect picture: serene woods, a sparkling pool, family activities, and a "welcoming community" vibe. And on the surface? Yeah, the grounds are stunning—pristine trails, a well-maintained pool. The facilities are clean, the staff (mostly) polite, and the natural setting is genuinely relaxing. If you're just looking for a quiet spot to shed your clothes and unwind in nature, it checks those boxes.
But dig a little deeper, and Avatan reveals itself as something else entirely—a place that's quietly optimized for adult fun, with kids as an inconvenient footnote they have to tolerate to keep the "family" label. From the moment we arrived, it was clear the real energy was elsewhere. Evenings around the fire pits and at the "Squirrel's" (code for the bar area) had this unmistakable swinger-party undercurrent. Lots of lingering glances, couples disappearing into the woods or private cabins, and a vibe that felt more like a discreet resort for the lifestyle crowd than a spot for building sandcastles with the little ones. Our kids picked up on it fast—whispers about "grown-up games" and awkward questions we had to deflect. The camp "tolerates" families, sure, but it's obvious the core membership would prefer a child-free zone. Activities for kids are minimal: a basic playground and the occasional nature hike, while the adults get themed nights, "sensual yoga," and late-night mixers that go until dawn.
What really soured the experience was the toxic underbelly of the community itself. This place is a powder keg of power struggles, with a small cadre of long-time board members and "elders" locked in a perpetual cold war. Gossip flows like the creek itself—endless whispers about who's sleeping with whom, who's "stealing" prime cabin spots, or who's cozying up to the President for favors. We overheard more drama in one week than in a season of reality TV. Cliques form fast: the "party crew" vs. the "purists," the swingers vs. the swingers-who-pretend-they're-not. As newcomers (and parents, no less), we felt like outsiders crashing a private club. Smiles were surface-level; the second you stepped away, the backstabbing started.
And then there's the elephant in the (clothing-optional) room: the camp's ugly history with sexual predators. We didn't know it going in, but after a few days, the stories trickled out from sympathetic members—multiple incidents over the years involving members who turned out to be registered offenders or worse, preying on the vulnerable in this "trust-based" environment. The rules around anonymity are ironclad: no photos, no last names, "what happens at Avatan stays at Avatan." It's sold as protecting privacy in a nudist space, which sounds noble until you realize it shields the creeps. Anyone who dares speak up—whether it's a parent noticing a sketchy guy lingering too long near the kids' area or a survivor sharing a red flag—is immediately branded a "troublemaker," "paranoid," or "anti-community." We've heard of families getting shamed in group meetings, then quietly asked to leave for "disrupting the harmony." Evictions happen fast if you rock the boat, all in the name of keeping the peace and the paying members happy.
Look, we're no prudes. Nudism can be liberating, and we've been to other resorts where it felt truly inclusive and safe. But Avatan? It's a divided house built on denial. The adult-party atmosphere thrives because the kids are an afterthought, and the predator problem festers because calling it out gets you exiled. If you're a child-free couple into the full swinger scene, this might be your paradise—plenty of like-minded folks and zero judgment. But if you're a family hoping for that advertised "safe, empowering space"? Steer clear. Your kids deserve better than being tolerated in a place where silence is golden and the wrong questions get you blacklisted. We won't be back, and I hope this review saves someone else the regret.
- Erik R.Ranger
Afton State Park Campground
A true year-round backpack camping experience
So, I think you know what you are signing up for here when you stay camp at the backpacking site at Afton, but let me fill in some of the blanks. #1 yes, the hill climb is as big of an effort as other people have said. You will feel like you earned your dinner. I may have found a hack for this, but more in that later. #2 the site are mostly private. I stayed on site #12. I could see (and they could have seen me) site #9, but thankfully no one was there. That would have been a bummer to have other looking into my site. There is even a semi-worn path between 12 and 9. They would make a good combo if you have a group. Other than that, totally secluded. As far space at #12, you could build as big of a tent structure there as you would need, easily room for a massive 16’x24’ palace (if you would dare to carry it) or anything smaller. An Eagle Scout project built hammock posts at this site, so it is ideal for that set up. #3 the campground amenities are very nice. The solar powered water works great year round, the two pits toilets (if you can even call them that) are very new and nice. And the coolest campground feature is the cut your own firewood station. I went a little overboard since it was so nice and had a way bigger fire than I needed. Bring your own saw and you will love it too. #4 After walking around the park, I discovered a possible hack. There is an unmarked entrance to the park on the north side. Instead of walking all my gear back to the parking lot, I walked the .5 miles to the service entrance, dropped my pack, and then walked the 1.8 miles back to the parking lot. I tend to carry too much. The flat short walk to drop my gear was worth it. Then I drop around the park and picked up my stuff. Probably not MN DNR endorsed way to do it, but I was proud of my discovery. All in, this is a unique and wonderful camping experience. Highly recommend.
Guide to Dresser
Interstate State Park straddles both sides of the St. Croix River at the Wisconsin-Minnesota border near Dresser, Wisconsin, with the Wisconsin side featuring glacial potholes and basalt rock formations formed 1.1 billion years ago. The camping area sits at approximately 740 feet above sea level, with two distinct campgrounds on the Wisconsin side - North Campground near town and South Campground closer to the river. River access points vary throughout the region with specific launches designated for kayaks and canoes.
What to do
Rock climbing and bouldering: The dramatic rock walls at Interstate State Park provide climbing opportunities unique to this region. One visitor noted, "The draw here is the potholes, but we will get to that... Very cool to take the quick hike through the maze of small trails that show off these crazy formations. Some are so big that they still to this day have no idea how deep they go."
Paddling the St. Croix: Several access points allow for kayak and canoe launching, particularly at South Campground. A camper reported, "Sites 65 and 67 had direct access to the river--true! But the path does come off the camp road and it really does serve the entire campground. It's about 350' from the camp road to the small beach, which provides a perfect launch point for kayaks onto the St. Croix."
Winter camping and activities: Cold weather camping options exist at Wild River State Park, where winter activities include snowshoeing and skiing on groomed trails. One winter camper shared, "The campsite was plowed out and had a nice spot for the tent. The park is huge and beautiful. We snowshoed and skied. The candlelight ski was great and the routes were marked with different colored luminaries - for hiking and skiing."
What campers like
Secluded walk-in sites: For those seeking greater privacy, certain campgrounds offer walk-in or backpacking options. At Wild River State Park, a camper described their experience: "I was looking for a secluded backpack in site where I could have a peaceful 48 hours of prayer and solitude, and this site was perfect! This site was incredibly spacious. It includes a fire ring and picnic table overlooking the creek and river."
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Many campers report frequent wildlife encounters throughout the area. One visitor at Wild River State Park shared: "We saw sooooo many deer some even walking right through campsites! You can hear coyotes, raccoons and very loud owls. 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."
Fall colors and changing seasons: The hardwood forests surrounding Dresser provide exceptional fall color viewing. A camper at William O'Brien State Park mentioned: "There were so many different kinds of birds, and the wildflowers were blooming and ferns were unfurling -so many shades of green! This was the first really nice spring weather, and the Savanna Campground was quite full."
What you should know
Campsite size and privacy vary significantly: Sites at many campgrounds near Dresser have limited separation. One camper at William O'Brien State Park observed: "Compared to Wild River State Park, the sites at Savannah are pretty cramped with inconsistent vegetation between sites. I wouldn't want to stay here when the loop is fully reserved."
Traffic and noise considerations: Proximity to highways affects some camping experiences. A reviewer of Interstate Park noted: "This site is on the overpass side so there was vehicle noise or varying volume the whole time." Another camper mentioned: "The power loop runs right along a 4-lane highway, which you can't really see but for sure will hear."
Midweek availability advantages: Sunday through Thursday bookings offer better availability and quieter camping. A visitor shared: "My first time solo camping was at William O'Brien State Park on a Sunday evening. 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."
Tips for camping with families
Playgrounds and kid-friendly facilities: Several campgrounds offer dedicated recreation areas for children. At Camp Waub-O-Jeeg, a camper reported: "It is a kid friendly campground. I often see kids meeting each other from different sites and then hanging out and playing games together. There are nice playgrounds on both the A and B hill."
Water activities for various ages: Accessible water recreation options appeal to families with children of different ages. A visitor to Wildwood RV Park & Campground shared: "We went canoeing and kayaking and they provided a shuttle right from their main office. The kayaking/canoeing was an amazing adventure that everyone should try. It was even great for kids 3 and 6."
Site selection for family needs: Consider specific site features when camping with children. One family noted at Wild River State Park: "Our campsite was on the farthest loop and was very private! This seems to be the hot spot for horses and if we go back I definitely want to do the horseback riding right outside the park!"
Tips from RVers
Electric sites and hookup challenges: RVers should verify the specific amperage available before arrival. A camper at Big Rock Creek shared this experience: "The electricity was not for a 30 amp hook up. It's 50 amp or use an adapter. We used the adapter and blew a circuit breaker when we used the A/C and the microwave at the same time."
Road conditions within campgrounds: Several campgrounds have challenging access roads. One camper cautioned: "The roads are rough in spots. A lot of the negative reviews about this campground come from people who encounter issues trying to drive through here with campers. The road to the sites named after birds was rough and I was nervous that I would bottom out going up the hill."
Dump station and water fill options: Not all campgrounds offer full hookups or convenient dump stations. A visitor noted: "Water nearby at stations. Large campsites, most with thick wooded areas between the sites." Another camper mentioned, "Clean facilities are mediocre, but passable."
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Dresser, WI?
What camping is available near Dresser, WI?
According to TheDyrt.com, Dresser, WI offers a wide range of camping options, with 148 campgrounds and RV parks near Dresser, WI and 7 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Dresser, WI?
Which is the most popular campground near Dresser, WI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Dresser, WI is Interstate State Park Campground with a 4.3-star rating from 52 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Dresser, WI?
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Dresser, WI?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 7 free dispersed camping spots near Dresser, WI.
What parks are near Dresser, WI?
What parks are near Dresser, WI?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 8 parks near Dresser, WI that allow camping, notably Saint Croix National Scenic River and Eau Galle Lake.
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