Tent campsites near River Falls, Wisconsin provide access to the St. Croix River Valley's diverse landscapes, with campgrounds extending across both Minnesota and Wisconsin. The region experiences cold winters with average January temperatures of 10°F and warm summers reaching 80°F, creating a distinct camping season from late April through October. Most sites require advance planning during summer weekends when regional campgrounds reach capacity.
What to do
Hiking trails: William O'Brien State Park Campground offers extensive trail systems with diverse ecosystems. "Lots of hiking. Nice campsites. Beautiful park," notes one camper, while another mentions that "lots of elevation" makes for challenging and rewarding hikes.
Swimming: The beach at Hok-Si-La City Park & Campground provides direct access to Lake Pepin. A visitor explains: "There is great lake access for swimming and shower houses (bring your quarters though, showers cost 50 cents for 3 minutes)." Swimming areas are typically open from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
Wildlife viewing: Seasonal wildlife sightings include deer, eagles, and smaller forest creatures. "On our last stay, we were able to watch eagles from our campsite, which was amazing," reports a visitor to Hok-Si-La. Another camper at William O'Brien noted: "You can hear frogs all night and we even saw a turtle laying eggs in a different campsite."
What campers like
Privacy between sites: At Nerstrand Big Woods State Park Campground, the layout provides good separation between campers. "The tent pad was very spacious and flat, great for sleeping! The bathrooms and showers were clean and well lit," one camper reports. The walk-in sites receive particular praise for added seclusion.
Vehicle-free camping areas: Some campgrounds restrict vehicle access to enhance the outdoor experience. A Hok-Si-La camper explains: "The sites are semi-walk-in sites, where your car stays in the main parking lot, but they do allow for drive-up loading and unloading... It limits traffic driving through the campground, and is really nice to not have vehicles driving through at all hours."
Campsite features: Many sites include additional amenities beyond the standard fire ring. "Our site was perfect. The woods made it very secluded. It was close enough to water and bathrooms so it wasn't bad if you planned," writes a visitor to Afton State Park Campground, adding that "they do have firewood available however it is long slab wood, so you do need to cut it yourself."
What you should know
Water access limitations: Water availability varies significantly between locations. A William O'Brien visitor cautions: "This may be an ongoing issue but none of the water faucets or water pumps on the trails at Afton State Park are working. The good news is you can fill up on cold drinking water at the visitor center before trekking around the park's beautiful hiking trails!"
Timing your visit: Weekends during summer see high occupancy rates. A camper suggests: "Arriving on a Sunday afternoon was a dream—very few people in the campground loop (especially the non-electric ones), but still able to take advantage of a weekend day."
Insects and wildlife: Prepare for seasonal pest encounters. "Raccoons will visit your site at night. We had everything secured but they still tried and plenty of racket until we chased them away. Lastly we had a battle with mosquitoes. We went through a lot of bug spray and coils. Deer flies were thick around the water filling station."
Tips for camping with families
Beginner-friendly options: Lily Springs Regenerative Farm provides an educational camping experience with farm animals. "You can buy fresh or frozen produce off of their site, as well as CBD infused products that they make with hemp that they grow themselves," notes a visitor. The farm also offers two distinct camping areas with different experiences.
Alternative accommodations: For families not ready for tent camping, consider cabin options. "Camper Cabin (Eastern Bluebird) - Perfect little cabin nestled in the southern half of the park! Screened in porch, heated with electricity, and two double bunk beds!" writes an Afton State Park visitor.
Year-round potential: Some sites offer off-season opportunities for family outings. A winter visitor to William O'Brien recalls: "I visited William O'Brien in the middle of February with two college roommates. As you can imagine, this meant snow was everywhere in the heart of winter in Minnesota. We decided to take a night trek through the park. The moon was very bright that night so visibility was excellent."
Tips from RVers
Site selection considerations: When choosing a site, check accessibility details closely. A Nerstrand Big Woods camper notes: "There's some sites that are tricky to back a trailer into, which would have been helped by some maintenance - there were LOTS of branches that needed to be trimmed back."
Facility access: RV campers rely on campground amenities. "The bathroom/shower building was new and clean, the camp host was friendly and helpful," reports a visitor to Nerstrand Big Woods. Shower facilities typically operate from May through September at most campgrounds.
Connectivity challenges: Cell service is variable throughout the region. "Cell reception for T-Mobile was minimal to non-existent. Wifi is available in the visitor center parking lot," advises a William O'Brien visitor, while another adds: "Through no fault of the park, cell service (both AT&T and TMobile) was terrible."
