Waterside camping in Minnesota

Four seasons of outdoor adventures await campers in the Land o' Lakes.

94% (3891 reviews)

United States
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Minnesota

94% (3891 reviews)

Popular camping styles for Minnesota

Public campgrounds in Minnesota

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(5)

Stories from the community

Bonni

1 week ago

With pets

Weekend Trip to Woods and Meadows Farm

An amazing experience all around! Ann’s property is amazing with many trails to meander through. The cabin is beautiful with a lot of attention to detail. There is even a photo album with the Cabin’s history to look through. It is obvious the land and space are well cared for. We stopped for a night on our way to Madeline Island, Wisconsin and it was the perfect halfway point. Ann is very kind and attentive. Even providing extras for our dog. Her dog, Daisy, joined us for the evening and checked in the next morning. Daisy was the cherry on the Sunday! We appreciated being given some farm fresh eggs to cook while camping! We will definitely be back.

5 nights at Woods and Meadows Farm

Raven Watch was the perfect place for our getaway! Beautiful cozy cabin, perfect spot in the woods, so convenient to many parks and attractions, and Ann was an incredible host, checking in with us about all the details and making sure we had what we needed! Thank you!

2 nights at Nóatún Community Wooden Boat Works

We absolutely loved tent camping on John’s land! He was extremely friendly and accommodating even when we had some rough weather. John was willing to lend us any tools and gear that we needed to have a great time. Plus, the resident goats were adorable :) We would love to camp here again.

6 top waterside campgrounds in Minnesota

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Shady Rest Acres

4 sites · Lodging, Tents23 acres · Brownsville, MN

Once the site of the historic V.J. Fetzner Brewery from the late 19th Century. The land is now used as a hobby farm, honey bee sanctuary and nursery to a unique tree species normally not found in Southeastern Minnesota. Remnants of the brewery are still visible. Foundation walls outline the massive structure of the brewery. Nestled in the center of the foundation is the entrance to the sixty-seven foot deep cave that once held barrels of beer and can be accessed by canoe only. Hops have been located on the property and are believed to be ancestors of those raised to make the beer once stored in the cave. The pond that provides access to the cave was dug out in the early 1990's to create a fish out for the Spring Falls Trout Farm that used to exist across the highway. Some of the original brood stock still exist and continue to naturally stock the pond. It is not uncommon to see fish that are five to ten pounds in size. We do not allow fishing from our pond. The residents house is built to scale to the original brew master's house. While the house is only twenty-four years old it looks as though you have taken a step back in time. The name Shady Rest was given to the house by the Brew Master's wife. We thought it was appropriate to keep the name alive. Shady Rest Acres is comprised of twenty-three acres of beautiful woodlands and pasture that are protected forever in the Minnesota Land Trust. The pasture is home to Scottish Highlander cows, two miniature donkeys, five sheep, four goats, honey bees and a flock of chickens. Scottish Highlanders were selected for both their grazing and browsing abilities. They are very docile and make excellent pasture mates to the smaller species sharing the pasture. The cows are excellent forest managers. They clear out invasive species such as Honey Suckle, Buckthorn, and Barberry which can often be difficult to manage. A guided tour with the host can be taken to meet the pasture animals. The forest is comprised of many tree species. Some are unique in that they normally do not grow in this region of Minnesota. The yellow birch is a species normally found in Northern Minnesota. It's bark is golden in color and glistens when the sun hits it just right. We have a cluster of several yellow birch including one that is so big that the bark no longer looks golden but instead is grey and very rough. Years ago the largest of these trees made excellent wood for turning bowls. Blue Beech (musclewood) can also be found on the property. As the name indicates the bark is shaped like muscles. Songbirds and some other species will use different parts of the tree as a food source. Towering white pines also speckle the landscape. Mother pine requires at least two humans arm lengths to encircle the whole tree. She is a favorite resting spot for the barred owl. There is oak, elm, maple, ceders, poplars and numerous other species. Honey bees are an integral part of the landscape. We partnered with a friend and started raising honey bees two years ago in order to do our part to keep pollinators thriving. Their hives are located in the pasture where it has the perfect amount of early morning sun to get them moving and afternoon shade to balance out the summer heat. It is not uncommon to see them pollinating garden plants, trees and wild flowers around the property. One of their favorite feeding spots is the acre and a half prairie which offers a range of plants including big blue stem, wild indigo and baby blue stem, to name a few. Not only are honey bees essential to the food chain but they also provide a very enriching experience when they are observed moving about their hives. There is nothing more relaxing and fascinating than watching these amazing creatures.

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Woods and Meadows Farm

3 sites · Lodging40 acres · Wrenshall, MN

"All are welcome here." We love sharing our beautiful space, and want you to feel safe and secure. Explore woods, trails, meadows. Peaceful, private, close to bike trails, Jay Cooke State Park and Duluth. Each cabin has its own special ambiance. These are comfortable, rustic cabins with no running water (water supplied). -Not "ADA" however! *Well behaved, house broken dogs welcome, and supervised older children. ;) It helps us to know your ETA in advance and to update us so that we can plan our day as well! Once you are in the area, message us a bit before your arrival so we can meet you and set you up properly! We enjoy hosting, plus we enjoy hearing about your travels and adventures if you feel like sharing. Ask about local destinations/events! *We have free range chickens and friendly border collie. Sometimes there's a dog staying at the other cabin. Wildlife is also in the area, so we require that dogs be supervised and leashed, for their safety, and our wild animal neighbors. No dogs may be left unattended in our cabins while you go out! Take your canine pal with you! Quiet hours are dusk to 7am. Also consider your dog's inclination for barking. We keep the peace and quiet of all of our guests in mind. DRAGON LOFT has one double bed in a loft with a ladder. Great for two people. Room for a dog bed or kennel below the loft. Has a nice reading/coffee room, fridge, oil radiator, WiFi, deck with table and chairs and patio with fire ring. You can cook on a grill outside. You have full use of the trails in our woods! RAVEN WATCH is larger and comfortable for up to four people. Solar power, off grid (no WiFi). Double bed upstairs overlooking the pond, and downstairs by the cozy wood stove. A cute little kitchen with a nice gas stove and wash area. Fire ring outside. Wood supply. Price based on two adults. Small fee for up to two more people +pets. Farther from the house, closer to the creek and woods! Park next to the cabin. We raised our children here, and over 45 yrs have planted trees and pollinator acres. We always enjoy meeting other travelers. While living and teaching internationally we looked for adventure, staying in a wide range of hostels in developing countries around the globe. We are now retired but still traveling and exploring off-season.

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Nóatún Community Wooden Boat Works

1 site · Tent2 acres · Knife River, MN

Wooden Boat Building shop site with camping property very near Lake Superior beach-

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Northland Paradise

2 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents6 acres · Park Rapids, MN

Welcome to the north woods! Camper available 150 meters from a large public beach, two fishing piers, and a boat access onto Long Lake! Very close to a nice little restaurant. You'll have access to paddle boards and kayaks and assorted water toys for your stay. The camper is a no frills 37 foot '97 Dutchmen Royal that has been updated, it features a queen bed and a full size futon. Sleeps 4. There is cold water and air conditioning, simple pots and pans for cooking and a fire pit with outdoor furniture. It's a pretty nice spot!

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Sunset Pines MN

71 sites · Lodging, RVs50 acres · Backus, MN

Mike and Loellen discovered Ruttger’s Camping Resort in the winter of 2005 while driving around the area and scanning websites for trailers. We bought a trailer on a seasonal site and have thoroughly enjoyed our summers here ever since! Our sons grew up on the lake, boating and fishing and exploring the area and we have developed a wonderful lake-family. We have watched Bill and Candy Ruttger build the resort into the beautiful property that it is today and feel privileged to have the opportunity to now share it with you. Under our new ownership and with a new name, Sunset Pines MN in January 2023, we are eager to carry on the legacy created by our friends and mentors. We welcome you to enjoy our piece of “Up North” Minnesota lake-life with your family and friends, and don’t forget to enjoy a sunset or two! Mike & Loellen

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Hoodoo Valley Farm

3 sites · RVs98 acres · Tower, MN

Our farm was originally a homestead at the turn of the last century. We purchased 65 acres of the property with its original house completed in 1905. Later we purchased an additional 33 acres from the grandchildren of the original owners. We have lived here since 1984 and are raising the youngest of 12 adopted children. We also raise Shetland Sheep, chickens, guinea fowl, ducks and grow an acre garden. Our land is very diverse, borders a river and is bisected by a spring fed stream. We are two miles from a town of 500. We have several options for tent campers with varying degrees of isolation from our family life. If you have an rv and want to plug in, you will be close to our house or sauna and in the midst of our family life which includes children, grandchildren, dogs and cats. We are a farm, so there are farm animals in pens and pastures. Our plug ins include an adaptor but we do not have a dedicated 30 amp hook up, a permanent water hook up or a dump station. The plug ins available will run your air conditioner without a problem or a microwave, but not both at the same time. There is a hose available to fill your tank. If our sauna is hot you are welcome to take a sauna after our family bathes. The sauna is not lit every night and takes several hours to heat. Because of Covid 19 we do not allow campers in our house to use our kitchen or shower.Learn more about this land:We have 100 acres. A small part of it is a sustainable organic farm and 65 acres is wild land with great diversity. We have both a river and a creek that run through our land, a cedar swamp, giant white and Norway pine, a beaver dam, 2 miles of cross country running trails, a traditional Ojibwe longhouse, two meadows, a spring fed pond and miles of public trails bordering our property. We live 4 miles from Lake Vermilion State Park and 3 miles from a public beach on the same lake. An old railroad grade bisects our property and is a good hiking and mountain bike trail.

Nearby parks

Explore the area’s public lands.

Tettegouche State Park

Silver Bay, Minnesota

100%

(15)

Itasca State Park

Lake George, Minnesota

100%

(5)

Cascade River State Park

Lutsen, Minnesota

100%

(7)

Whitewater State Park MN

Split Rock Creek State Park

Kabetogama State Forest

Orr, Minnesota

100%

(2)

Buffalo River State Park

Glyndon, Minnesota

Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field

Waterside camping in Minnesota guide

Overview

The land of 10,000 lakes―11,842 to be exact—is a water-logged paradise for anglers, paddlers, and campers. From the shores of Lake Superior to the banks of the Mississippi, you'll never be more than a short drive from a lake campground or a forest hiking trail. Minnesota's distinct seasons afford plenty of opportunities to get outdoors, whether you're hiking or horseback riding through autumnal woodlands, wild swimming in the lakes in summer, or snowshoeing and cross-country skiing through the long winter months. The best weather for a camping trip is from May through October, but you'll find many Minnesota campgrounds open year-round.

Where to go

Northwest Minnesota

Bordered by Canada to the north, and South Dakota and the Red River Valley to the west, northwest Minnesota is home to some of the state's biggest lakes. Grand Rapids and Bemidji are the gateways to the Leech Lake Recreation Area and the Chippewa National Forest, while nearby Itasca State Park lies at the headwaters of the Mississippi River. To the north, two Minnesota state parks border the Lake of the Woods, known for its walleye fishing and winter snowmobiling.

Northeast Minnesota

Lush state forests, wetlands, and island-studded lakes blanket the northeastern tip of Minnesota, stretching down from the Canadian border to the north shore of Lake Superior. Minnesota camping is at its wildest out here, whether paddling out to island campsites in Voyageurs National Park, RV camping with full hookups in Superior National Forest, or seeking out a tranquil lake campground in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.

Central Minnesota

On the banks of the mighty Mississippi River, the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul are launchpads for outdoor adventures in central Minnesota. Some of the region's best campgrounds are just a short drive from the city at Mille Lacs Lake, while Frontenac State Park has a mix of drive-in RV sites and cart-in tent sites along the Mississippi. Further north, there's kayak and canoe camping along the St. Croix River at Wild River State Park, or yurt and camper cabin rentals at Afton State Park.

Southern Minnesota

Glacial plains and scenic river valleys give way to the wooded bluffs of the Mississippi River in southern Minnesota. Rochester, Mankato, and Winona provide easy access to the south, where highlights include aptly named Great River Bluffs State Park, Whitewater State Park, and Minneopa State Park, home of Minnesota's tallest waterfall. In the far southwestern corner, Blue Mounds State Park is known for its soaring cliffs—a hotspot for rock climbing—and free-roaming bison.