Minneapolis is in the heart of the “Land of 10,000 Lakes”! One of the best ways to enjoy all the lakes is by settling in to one of the fine campgrounds located near Minneapolis, Minnesota. Enjoy the best of both worlds by shopping at the Mall of America, visiting Valleyfair Amusement Park, enjoying the restaurants/sporting events of downtown Minneapolis and staying in one of the nearby campgrounds. Read on to find out about the absolute best camping near Minneapolis.
1. Baker Park Reserve Campground
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For a traditional lake-side camping experience Baker Park is one of the absolute best places to camp near Minneapolis. Located about a half-hour west of downtown on the SE shore of Lake Independence is a large campground with everything you need to enjoy the lake life. You can rent kayaks, stand-up paddle boards, canoes and paddle boats, swim from the beach and fish off one of the docks. Fish for some good-sized muskie, walleye and yellow perch. Rent a bike to spend an afternoon exploring the miles of bike trails throughout the park then settle in back at your campsite.
There are 203 sites to choose from for RV’s and tents as well as 5 Camper Cabins with bunk beds, electricity and a nice screened in porch (to keep the mosquitoes away!). The campsites are just a short walk to the sandy beach so bring your beach towel, sunscreen and a good book!
| Baker Park Reserve Campground | |
|---|---|
| Location | Maple Plain, MN, west of Minneapolis |
| Distance from downtown Minneapolis | 28 min (22 miles) |
| RV/Tent sites | 203 sites (103 of those have electricity) |
| Camper Cabins | 5 cabins, with electricity, mattresses, screened porch, ceiling fan |
| Picnic Tables at each site | Yes |
| Fire Pit at each site | Yes |
| Amenities | Restrooms, showers, swimming beach, boat rental, bike rental, playground |
| Pet Friendly | Yes |
| Reservations | Yes |
| What makes it one of the absolute best | Camping on one of the best lakes in Minnesota! |
2. Minneapolis Southwest KOA Holiday
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For a resort-like camping experience near Minneapolis head southwest to the KOA Holiday near Shakopee. Besides being only 30 miles from downtown it is close to Valleyfair Amusement and Water Park, Canterbury Downs and Mystic Lake Casino. Sounds like a lot of fun options! The Campground itself has plenty to do including a large indoor swimming pool, mini-golf, playground and bike rentals. If you don’t want to “rough-it” at one of their RV or tent sites you can rent one of the air-conditioned cabins. There are also planned activities, arts and crafts and a hayride every Saturday night.
| Minneapolis Southwest KOA Holiday | |
|---|---|
| Location | SW of Minneapolis, near Shakopee |
| Distance from downtown Minneapolis | 33 min (32 miles) |
| RV sites | Yes, pull through and back-in, some with full hookups |
| Tent sites | Yes, water and electric, or no hookups |
| Picnic Tables at each site | Yes |
| Fire Pit at each site | Yes |
| Amenities | Restrooms, showers, laundry, indoor swimming pool, mini-golf, playground |
| Pet Friendly | Yes, check out the dog park! |
| Reservations | Yes |
| What makes it one of the best | Close to Valleyfair, Canterbury Downs and Mystic Lake Casino. |
3. Elm Creek Park Reserve Campground
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Northwest of downtown Minneapolis is Elm Creek Park Reserve and Campground. The park is a popular place to visit in the summer for the swimming pond, mountain bike single track trails and enormous playground. Besides the swim pond there are 4 lakes in the park, great for fishing and the Eastman Nature Center where you can learn about the wildlife in the park like sandhill cranes, trumpeter swans, beavers and loons.
For camping there are 2 Camper Cabins, 5 campsites that can accommodate horse trailers and a group campsite that can accommodate 50 campers. The camper cabins have a restroom and drinking water nearby as well as a picnic table and fire ring. The campsites have the same. There is so much to do all in one park you may want to stay for a whole week!
| Elm Creek Park Reserve Campground | |
|---|---|
| Location | Maple Grove, NW of Minneapolis |
| Distance from downtown Minneapolis | 22 min (18 miles) |
| RV/Tent Sites | Yes, with area for horse trailers |
| Camper Cabins | Yes, 2 |
| Picnic Tables at each site | Yes |
| Fire Pit at each site | Yes |
| Amenities | Restrooms, drinking water, swim pond, mountain bike trails, Nature Center |
| Pet Friendly | Yes, large off-leash dog park |
| Reservations | Yes |
| What makes it one of the best | Swim, bike, hike…all in one park! |
4. William O’Brian State Park
©iStock.com/Dmytro Aslanian
A little further away, but worth the drive is William O’Brian State Park, right on the St. Croix River. The park has a river-side trail loop that is 1.6 miles (the Riverside Trail) that takes you along the river, next to Lake Alice and through a pine forest that is more than 100 years old! You are sure to see some chipmunks, hawks and maybe even a bald eagle. Fishing and canoeing are popular on the St. Croix as well as taking a swim at the swimming beach. The St. Croix has walleye, northerns (pike), trout and bass, maybe if you catch a big one you can fry it up over your campfire!
The campground has both drive-in sites and electric sites for RV’s and tents. There are also 4 camper cabins for rent including three that are heated for year-round use. You can see why William O’Brian is one of the absolute best places to camp near Minneapolis!
| William O’Brian State Park | |
|---|---|
| Location | Marine of St. Croix, NE of Minneapolis |
| Distance from downtown Minneapolis | 48 min (42 miles) |
| Drive-in sites | 114 sites |
| Electric Sites | 71 sites |
| Camper Cabins | 4 (3 are available year-round) |
| Picnic Tables at each site | Yes |
| Fire Pit at each site | Yes |
| Amenities | Restrooms, showers, swimming beach |
| Pet Friendly | Yes (exception: no pets allowed in the cabins) |
| Reservations | Yes |
| What makes it one of the best | Camping right along the river! |
5. Lebanon Hills Regional Park
©iStock.com/jferrer
If you want to visit some of the popular attractions south of Minneapolis like the Mall of America in Bloomington and the Minnesota Zoo in Apple Valley, then camping at Lebanon Hills Regional Park is a great place to stay. Spend an afternoon at the Zoo watching African Penguins, Snow Monkeys and the Prairie Dog town then head back to the campground nestled in 2,000 acres of woods and lakes at Lebanon Hills.
The campground has three loops with a total of 93 sites for RV’s and tents. The North Loop is right next to Gerhardt Lake with access to trails throughout the park. There are restrooms, showers and laundry on site as well as a playground for the kids. Being so close to Minneapolis and having the wooded/camping feel is why this is one of the absolute best places to camp near Minneapolis!
| Location | Apple Valley, SE of Minneapolis |
| Distance from downtown Minneapolis | 32 min (18 miles) |
| RV sites | 58 sites (sites #1-58), Full hookup, no tents |
| RV or Tent sites non-electric | 11 sites (sites 59-69) |
| RV or Tent sites electric | 23 sites (sites 70-93) |
| Picnic Tables at each site | Yes |
| Fire Pit at each site | Yes |
| Amenities | Restrooms, showers, laundry, playground |
| Pet Friendly | Yes |
| Reservations | Yes |
| What makes it one of the best | So close to Minneapolis but feels like you are in the wilderness! |
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Sources
- Three Rivers Park, Available here: https://www.threeriversparks.org/location/baker-campground
- KOA, Available here: https://koa.com/campgrounds/minneapolis-southwest/
- Three Rivers Park, Available here: https://www.threeriversparks.org/location/elm-creek-park-reserve
- DNR MN, Available here: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/park.html?id=spk00283#overnight_facilities
