The best dog-friendly campgrounds in Minnesota

Minnesota's gleaming lakes and sweeping woodlands make the North Star State a firm favorite for campers, and many of the state’s outdoor adventurers are pet-friendly. Whether enjoying fall foliage walks through Afton State Park, hiking to waterfalls at Tettegouche State Park, or backcountry camping in Voyageurs National Park or the Superior National Forest, there’s no reason your dog can’t come along for the ride. Pets are permitted at all Minnesota state park campgrounds (cabins, yurts, and beaches are off-limits), so you could also admire the views in Blue Mounds State Park, swim and paddle at Bear Head Lake State Park, or camp by the riverside at Itasca State Park. Just don’t forget the leash―pets must be on a six-foot leash at all times. Spring and fall provide the most dog-friendly weather, but if your pooch needs to cool off, there are dog beaches at White Bear Lake and Minnesota Point.

95% (7.5K) • 1,471 campsites

Top-rated campgrounds near Minnesota

Minnesota's gleaming lakes and sweeping woodlands make the North Star State a firm favorite for campers, and many of the state’s outdoor adventurers are pet-friendly. Whether enjoying fall foliage walks through Afton State Park, hiking to waterfalls at Tettegouche State Park, or backcountry camping in Voyageurs National Park or the Superior National Forest, there’s no reason your dog can’t come along for the ride. Pets are permitted at all Minnesota state park campgrounds (cabins, yurts, and beaches are off-limits), so you could also admire the views in Blue Mounds State Park, swim and paddle at Bear Head Lake State Park, or camp by the riverside at Itasca State Park. Just don’t forget the leash―pets must be on a six-foot leash at all times. Spring and fall provide the most dog-friendly weather, but if your pooch needs to cool off, there are dog beaches at White Bear Lake and Minnesota Point.

95% (7.5K) • 1,471 campsites

Top-rated campgrounds near Minnesota

1. Pearsons Century Farm

98%

(132)

16 sites · Tents, RVs · Grove City, MN

Homesteaded more than 100 years ago this farm is somewhat stuck in time. Once this was a prosperous dairy operation. Location location location, this place is my slice of heaven on earth. Located in the corner of 4 townships on an extremely quiet road. Our farm now raises grass fed beef and wooly pigs pastured along driveway along with the usual cast of a farm, dogs, cats, chickens, guineas and goats

2. Swan Lake Resort & Campground

98%

(52)

21 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging · Fergus Falls, MN

⛺️ Since 1949, we've been a family-operated resort & campground on Swan Lake in Fergus Falls, MN. We offer lakeside cabins, tent camping, and full hook-up, pull-through RV sites. Here, there is time to slow down, room to breathe, and lots to explore. 🏖️ Soak up the sun on the sandy beach, hike through the hidden trails, and take the pontoon out for a cruise. Be sure to turn the tech off and challenge a rival to ping pong, crack a cold one, and explore the water on stand-up paddleboard. 🍦 Bring the little ones and get messy at the arts & crafts table, catch a sunfish off the docks, and indulge in s’mores around the campfire. Don’t forget to show us what you got on the volleyball court and savor an ice cream at the camp store. Curl up in a hammock and get lost in a good book, smile at the flowers and gaze in awe at the night sky. Just be.

3. Private Lutsen Forest Camp

100%

(6)

1 site · Tent, RV · Lutsen, MN

Property is 5 acres on private shared road. Use of well and wood-burning sauna, and deck and furniture of our tiny home included. Outhouse on site. Centrally located on the North Shore and surrounded by Superior National Forest - - 20 minutes from both Grand Marais and Tofte. Near snowmobile trails, Superior Hiking Trail, Lutsen town, Fika Coffee shop, grocery store, two maple syrup properties, mountain bike and fat bike trails, hiking and xc ski trails. Minutes from Caribou and Ward Lakes. Check out the new world class Jackpot MTB single-track trails!

4. Vaddu's Nature Reserve

1 site · Lodging · Iron, MN

Named in honor of a late great nature enthusiast from the owners' family, Vaddu's Nature Reserve offers a cute cabin for rent in 40 acres of picturesque North Minnesota hunting/birdwatching territory, 10 minutes from Bob Dylan's home town of Hibbing, 45 minutes from Duluth, and 3 hours from the Twin Cities. Barely 10 minutes north of the Sax-Zim Bog, one often hears a veritable symphony of birds while at the site. The glampsite is ideal for folks who want to enjoy nature, find tranquility, and access nearby attractions in north Minnesota. A driveway provides easy access from Gerzin Road for people who might have a hard time walking long distances, with driveway parking right by the campsite; The location provides birding, hiking, bogging, and snow-shoeing possibilities for people of various abilities, both in the property and at nearby attractions like Washington State Forest or Cloquet Valley. Property is about half wetland and half forest, so ensure you safely prepare for expeditionary activities you might undertake...but you already knew that :-) A map is attached with the photos, where the light green is bog/wetland and the darker green is forest, with the campsite shown in a white pin drop and some other markers like deer stands and feed lots in red/blue pin drops. The trails are marked in teal lines on the map (some blaze orange ribbons on trees irl) but not state-park-level by any measure (goals!) My buddy who has leased the hunting rights this year maintains the trails from time to time, but be aware of both, overgrowth and marshland. Dress in bright colors. The campsite has a campfire setup, picnic table, firewood pile, other seating areas, space to play games/sports (some equipment provided), grills, propane stoves (propane not provided), an outhouse, borewell water (not drinkable without boiling/treatment but can be used for dishes, washing etc.). The cabin has heat by way of a propane heater. Solar-powered lantern in the cabin can charge cell phones. NOT ON THE GRID, but a generator takes care of any electronic or electrical appliances you might want to run. Bring drinking-water/TP/food/layers/sleeping-bags/blankets/trash-bags/repellant/etc.

5. Raspberry Bramble Homestead

100%

(8)

4 sites · Tents, RVs · Ogilvie, MN

A growing homestead with chickens, a rabbit, wild raspberry bushes, apple trees, cherry bushes, hazelnut trees, and a small man-made pond.

Recent reviews from the Hipcamp community

D

Derek

September 2025

32 ft Class A

With pets

Weekend Trip to Swan Lake Resort & Campground

Swan Lake Resort and Campground was the perfect escape for our family. From the moment we arrived, the peaceful atmosphere wrapped around us — quiet mornings with birdsong, calm lake breezes, and spacious campsites that gave everyone room to breathe. One of the best parts was the uninterrupted stillness during the day and especially in the evenings. Thanks to the thoughtful layout and generously sized slots, there was very little noise or commotion from neighboring campers, which made it easy to truly relax. The staff were incredibly kind and attentive — when my son crashed his bike, they didn’t hesitate to help with his wounds, showing genuine care that meant a lot to us. Their flexibility with boat rentals was also a gift; they rolled with our shifting plans and even a last-minute cancellation when the kids hit a moody streak on our final day. We loved the honor-system store, where you could grab a snack or drink from the fridge or shelves and simply jot it down for later billing. It felt like a place built on trust and community. And scattered throughout the grounds were these amazing tree carvings — almost like totem poles — that added a touch of rustic artistry and whimsy to the landscape. This wasn’t just a campground — it was a place where we felt cared for, connected, and free to enjoy the simple joy. We will definitely be going back.

Mary and Dan

September 2025

17 ft travel trailer

1 night at Swan Lake Resort & Campground

Wonderful campground with amazing amenity and game room.

Jessi

September 2025

28 ft campervan

14 nights at Raspberry Bramble Homestead

I love this spot. It is absolutely beautiful and the property owners are wonderful!

M

Manda

September 2025

20 ft campervan

With pets

1 night at Raspberry Bramble Homestead

Amazing place! Outstanding people! Very Friendly and accommodating, would highly recommend

M

Manda

September 2025

20 ft campervan

With pets

2 nights at Raspberry Bramble Homestead

Daniel and Jaide are easy to talk to have great communication and are friendly. It’s a very peaceful and private place , if you need anything they’re more then accommodating

N

Nickolis

September 2025

20 ft pop-up camper

Weekend Trip to Swan Lake Resort & Campground

It was nice and quite had a couple of very relaxing days. The bathrooms where always clean and plenty of activities to keep you busy if you wanted to be!

Catherine

August 2025

25 ft Class C

With pets

1 night at Swan Lake Resort & Campground

Don't attempt to stay here for one night. Stay for AT LEAST a week! It is a beautiful spot, so much attention to detail has been put into this place. A game room, a fitness path, a BEAUTIFUL beach! So much to do for everyone!

J

Julia

August 2025

30 ft Class A

1 night at Pearsons Century Farm

We had a wonderful experience. Enjoyed the goats and the scenic view. They were friendly and helpful and accommodating on our visit.

View of Grasslands 3 Primitive Tent Camping Site

Z

Zackeriah

August 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to Swan Lake Resort & Campground

Absolutely beautiful place and cant wait to return. Lagos is very friendly and charismatic with an easy going attitude. We maintain and highly recommend

A

Amanda

August 2025

Tent

With kids

2 nights at Swan Lake Resort & Campground

Amazing resort! Owners are very friendly, kind, and accommodating. I was nervous booking the renting locations as photos looks like it’s far away and very primitive. However, they are in such a great location. Close to activities and the beach. Dog friendly was a plus for us and the amenities the resort had. I love how it has something for everyone- hikinf, natural gym, gaming room, bikes, water play. It’s all there! My son and I are looking forward to and already talking about our next camping trip back! Would HIGHLY recommend.

View from Area 51 Electric Tent Camping Site

Tiffany

July 2025

Tent

With kids

1 night at Swan Lake Resort & Campground

We are driving cross country and last minute booked a stay for one night - extremely accommodating for our late arrival. Wish we could have stayed longer - so many activities and everything was clean and in great shape. Thanks for hosting us! 🫶🏻

R

Richard

July 2025

Tent

With kids

Weekend Trip to Swan Lake Resort & Campground

We loved the campsite very much it was lots of activities for the family. The host were very friendly and nice they answered all of our questions and made us feel very welcome. The site was very clean and family friendly the sites were very beautiful. My family loved it so much we are going planning on visiting the site again soon. Highly recommended spot

M

Marissa

July 2025

Tent

2 nights at Pearsons Century Farm

They were so kind and it was a great place to stay with beautiful views and funny goats!

B

Brooke

July 2025

Tent

Group trip

5 nights at Swan Lake Resort & Campground

Swan Lake Campground & Resort was lovely! It’s perfect for families with a beach & swimming area, free canoe, kayak, and paddle board usage, an arcade area, bikes to borrow, hiking path, and more. We rented a pontoon from them for a very reasonable price and had two great days on the lake. They have bathrooms & a shower, but the water does have a sulfuric smell that grossed out our teenagers. 😉 There was a hiccup between our Hipcamp booking and their computer, but the campground managers were super accommodating trying to find another site we approved of. The staff are very friendly and they have a stocked store, with reasonable prices, in case you forgot something or just need an ice cream cone on a hot day. We were there the week leading up to Independence Day and they had a great list of activities to participate in—my kids had a blast at the kickball tournament! Finally, Fergus Falls is nearby if you need a day in town or a Walmart. You can’t go wrong with Swan Lake!

A

Alyssa

July 2025

Tent

2 nights at Swan Lake Resort & Campground

Super cute, they have anything you could need, and lots of fun stuff to do!

T

Trevor

June 2025

41 ft Class A

With kids

1 night at Pearsons Century Farm

Great spot, well off the beaten path. Travis was very informative and we had a great time. We will definitely camp here again if we're nearby.

T

Tammy

June 2025

30 ft travel trailer

With pets

Weekend Trip to Pearsons Century Farm

What a great place to unplug from electronics. The animals were so cute and peaceful. Travis was very accommodating and answered any questions we had. Many acres to roam, weather was amazing as was our site that we had. Many to choose from. Goats were so funny and donkeys were cute and sweet, we wanted to take one home. My one pup thought she was a baby goat I think, she fit right in their pen and hung out several times. Brought home some farm fresh eggs and hamburger for a very inexpensive price. Thank you Travis! We enjoyed our relaxing weekend on your farm. Tammy, Makenna, Tootsie, and Duke

G

Gregg

May 2025

Tent

With pets

1 night at Swan Lake Resort & Campground

Great Campground with lots of amenities. Supplies are stocked in Camp store to keep you from running to town for forgotten supplies. Great Showers and Bathroom. Host was great.

A

Allie

May 2025

Tent

Group trip

1 night at Swan Lake Resort & Campground

We booked our stay on the worst weather day imaginable, but the hosts went above and beyond to ensure we had a wonderful experience. This campground is incredibly charming and offers a large amount of exciting activities. We will definitely be returning in the future!

C

Cassie

May 2025

17 ft travel trailer

With kids

1 night at Swan Lake Resort & Campground

This place has amenities galore! So many fun spots for the kids, welcoming, tidy and clean. Would love to stay here again, as we had to sadly get on the road.