The best campgrounds near Silver Bay, Minnesota with swimming

Welcome to Hipcamp, your go-to website for camping in the United States! If you're looking for a camping experience near Silver Bay, Minnesota, with a preference for swimming, we've got you covered. With over 100 options available in the Silver Bay area, you'll have plenty to choose from. Whether you're looking for a secluded retreat or a campground with all the amenities, we've got something for everyone. Check out some of our top campsites, like Balsam Ridge Retreat (506 reviews), Bad River Wilderness (158 reviews), and Woods and Meadows Farm (88 reviews). With popular amenities like campfires, toilets, and pet-friendly options, you'll have everything you need for a comfortable stay. And if you're looking to do more than just swim, popular activities like biking, fishing, and boating are also available. So pack your bags and get ready for an unforgettable camping adventure!

100% (89)

Top-rated campgrounds

Welcome to Hipcamp, your go-to website for camping in the United States! If you're looking for a camping experience near Silver Bay, Minnesota, with a preference for swimming, we've got you covered. With over 100 options available in the Silver Bay area, you'll have plenty to choose from. Whether you're looking for a secluded retreat or a campground with all the amenities, we've got something for everyone. Check out some of our top campsites, like Balsam Ridge Retreat (506 reviews), Bad River Wilderness (158 reviews), and Woods and Meadows Farm (88 reviews). With popular amenities like campfires, toilets, and pet-friendly options, you'll have everything you need for a comfortable stay. And if you're looking to do more than just swim, popular activities like biking, fishing, and boating are also available. So pack your bags and get ready for an unforgettable camping adventure!

100% (89)

Top-rated campgrounds

1. Amnicon Adventures & Retreats

91%

(95)

50mi from Silver Bay · 11 sites · Tents, Lodging · South Range, WI

At Amnicon you'll find the perfect blend of far-enough-away and easy-enough-to-get-to. We're located at the end of a 5-mile-long dirt road, just 30 minutes outside of Duluth, MN. Our site features 600 acres of protected forests along the Amnicon River on the South Shore of Lake Superior. The wildlife is abundant, and we even have an eagle's nest on site. You'll enjoy falling asleep to the sound of the waves on Lake Superior, and waking up to 118+ species of birdsongs. We have an enormous sandy beach on Lake Superior that's a great place to watch the sunset and have a SMALL campfire. You're going to love it here.

2. Twisting Twig Gardens and Orchard

99%

(70)

33mi from Silver Bay · 3 sites · Lodging · Bayfield, WI

My husband Rob and I own a 40 acre property approximately 10 miles from Bayfield, Wi. We have a micro organic farm with hundreds of wild apple trees and believe in leaving the land better than we found it. Rob loves permaculture, managing soils, pruning apple trees and feeding his community nutrient dense food. I work as a hospice nurse and help out on the farm when I am able and we have 2 boys, Arlo and Owen. We keep busy! We offer 3 rustic rentals onsite, but each is very private and secluded. Consider all 3 for a larger gathering! We look forward to hosting you for a farm visit.

3. Kick Back Tiny Shack

100%

(11)

35mi from Silver Bay · 1 site · Lodging · Duluth, MN

About this space The "Kick Back Tiny Shack" has a queen size bed, small futon bed (for a child) along with two single camp cots. This tiny house can sleep up to four people (2-3 most comfortably) depending on your needs. There is a mini fridge with mini freezer along with a mini gas range/oven, microwave, coffee pot and toaster. There is a TV with only local channels available. Wi-Fi is available at nearby restaurants. AT&T works well here; all others are very sketchy. The cabin has a freestanding gas fireplace to keep you cozy and warm. Come prepared to relax. This is a rustic cabin with all amenities so no need to pack up dishes, bedding, towels, etc. (bring sleeping bag and pillow for anything other than the queen size bed.) The kitchen is fully stocked with your basic cooking and dining essentials. If you don't want to do dishes you are welcome to bring your own paper plates, etc. Coffee, Salt, pepper, dish soap and hand soap, toilet paper and one roll of paper towels provided. There is no running water, but you will be supplied with an electric pump faucet with 10 gallons of water for the kitchen sink for doing dishes, etc. There is also a pump faucet for the outhouse sink. You can heat water on the stove with the pot supplied. In addition, 1 gallon of drinking water will be supplied also. There is a heated outhouse next to the cabin which has a shower stall in which you can shower with an electric pump shower, 120 gallons of water and on demand water heater. Towels are provided and if you need more water, you can contact us, and we can refill at our home which is located next door. Please allow notice in case we are not home at the time. The contact information will be provided with your booking confirmation. You have your own private yard on our 6 acres with a BBQ pit in the summer months, firepit and grill off of the back deck year-round. If you chose to bring a four-wheeler, canoe, boat or snowmobile there is plenty of parking space depending on the quantity. Snowmobiles & side by sides are available for rent 3 miles up the road from the cabin. Come and unwind or explore the many wonders that the Northwoods has to offer! The interior of the cabin is newly refinished. The exterior will be improved as time goes by.

4. Gooseberry Falls State Park

98%

(25)

69 sites · Beaver Bay, Minnesota

Next time you find yourself on Minnesota’s scenic Highway 61, do everything you can to pull over for the stunning views at Gooseberry Falls State Park. The region has been a seat of human activity on the north shore of Lake Superior since at least 1670, and it’s no wonder—the river gorge carved out of ancient rock and five many-tiered waterfalls will literally take your breath away, and developed modern camp sites provide comfort and ease so you can spend more time exploring.Bike the paved Gitchi-Gami trail, or hike any of the connector paths to the Superior Hiking Trail system. Pack some sammies and enjoy the Picnic Flow area, situated on an ancient lava flow that provides great views of Lake Superior. Check out the historic rustic granite structures built by the Civilian Conservation Corps, whose design was overseen by Italian stonemasons and is very colorful. With so much to do, it’s worth it to invest in the year pass if you live nearby—for Minnesotans, the first time at Gooseberry is never the last.

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Toilets

5. George H. Crosby Manitou State Park

100%

(2)

21 sites · Finland, Minnesota

Discover the rugged beauty of George H. Crosby Manitou State Park.

Pets

Potable water

Toilets

6. Sunset Bay Getaway

100%

(16)

31mi from Silver Bay · 3 sites · RVs · Duluth, MN

Please Note: This is an Adults Only Hipcamp Location. Enjoy your stay at Sunset Bay Getaway in your own self contained RV or camper and enjoy the views of our beautiful lake. Relax in the evening around the firepit. We do offer firewood for sale. Just enjoy being in nature, listening to the sounds of the frogs and birds. Grab a bite to eat at a local bar/restaurant 1 mile away. ATV trails, fishing, hunting and nature walks all available close by. Dogs allowed but must be leashed and cleaned up after. Adults only. We do not have hookups for water, sewer or electric. We do not have restrooms or any facilities for hipcampers to use. All Hipcampers must have self contained RV's/Campers. The driveway to the camping/parking spots is a tad of a slope so keep that in mind when booking. The max length we allow is 34 Feet long due to the road to the camping spots. You might drag your bumper or hitch on your way down the hill to the spot. It's not hard to drive, it just is a bit steep and only gravel. We are always here to help if need be when you arrive. Bring bug dope, the bugs can be very hungry right about dusk time til about 30 min after the sun goes down. If you have kayaks or paddleboards you are welcome to bring them and enjoy the lake. Watercraft (boats/jet ski's) not allowed. This is a primitive camping spot, meaning no hook ups or WiFi. (no water/sewer/electric/wifi)

7. Private Lutsen Forest Camp

100%

(6)

39mi from Silver Bay · 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!

8. Superior National Forest

87%

(41)

569 sites · Winton, Minnesota

With all this prime natural beauty, there is one thing the Superior National Forest should not have: an inferiority complex. The area boasts Minnesota’s finest, including canoeing, kayaking, hiking, snowshoeing, and being a respite of many an angler. Visitors can choose from camping at classic RV and car camping sites or venturing in the far secluded wilderness. Set up your tent, start a fire, and come witness what these Northern skies are all about.

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9. Apostle Islands National Lakeshore

96%

(12)

2 sites · Bayfield, Wisconsin

Shipwrecks, sea caves, and sandy beaches provide a spectacular setting for an island camping experience.

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Toilets

10. Chequamegon National Forest

75%

(4)

351 sites · Rhinelander, Wisconsin

Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, what a unique name and deservedly so as the forest itself is as diverse and attention getting as it’s namesake! The deep northwoods of Wisconsin offers a ton of hiking, biking, and camping to get stoked about; there’s 800 miles of hiking trails alone. But if you’re looking for a truly unique outdoor experience, try offroading or cross country skiing old military roads in the winter. There’s stunning Lake Superior views from St. Peter’s Dome and 70 foot Morgan Falls is sure to cool you off on a hot summer day. We dig the Quartz Trail where you can see giant quartz deposits discovered by the Native Americans who used to inhabit the area. There’s plenty of camping options to make this a wilderness weekend (or more) and with over 1.5 million acres to explore, we doubt you’ll be running out of rad things to discover!

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11. Big Bay State Park

100%

(6)

61 sites · Bayfield, Wisconsin

Discover Big Bay State Park's scenic shores and lush campgrounds.

Potable water

Toilets

Campfires

Public campgrounds near Silver Bay

98%

(25)

Gooseberry Falls Campground

14mi from Silver Bay · 69 sites · Tents, RVs · in Gooseberry Falls State Park

100%

(2)

Backpack Campsites

15mi from Silver Bay · 21 sites · in George H. Crosby Manitou State Park

Ninemile Lake Campground

22mi from Silver Bay · 24 sites · Tents, RVs · in Superior National Forest

Divide Lake Campground

22mi from Silver Bay · 3 sites · Tents, RVs · in Superior National Forest

Eighteen Lake Rustic Campground

24mi from Silver Bay · 3 sites · Tents, RVs · in Superior National Forest

Hogback Lake Rustic Campground

25mi from Silver Bay · 3 sites · Tents, RVs · in Superior National Forest

Little Isabella River Campground

25mi from Silver Bay · 11 sites · Tents, RVs · in Superior National Forest

Harriet Lake Rustic Campground

26mi from Silver Bay · 6 sites · Tents, RVs · in Superior National Forest

McDougal Lake Campground

27mi from Silver Bay · 21 sites · Tents, RVs · in Superior National Forest

Sand Lake Rustic Campground

27mi from Silver Bay · 2 sites · Tents, RVs · in Superior National Forest

100%

(1)

Wilson Lake Rustic Campground

27mi from Silver Bay · 4 sites · Tents, RVs · in Superior National Forest

100%

(2)

Cadotte Lake Campground

31mi from Silver Bay · 10 sites · Tents, RVs · in Superior National Forest

Stories from the community

c

chris

October 2025

Tent

3 nights at Amnicon Adventures & Retreats

Balsam site is a little bit of a hike. It was worth it for us to be right by Lake Superior and the beach. Having the main lodge available to you with hot showers and flush toilets is very nice. Site was really nice. We got our 6p north face down nice and level. It felt really private and the only vehicles we heard at night was planes. Had a really good time and will go back. Only thing that would have made it better would have been a pit bathroom at the site or closer.

C

Cal

October 2025

3 nights at Twisting Twig Gardens and Orchard

We had so much fun at the dome! It's incredibly cozy, the wood stove kept us very warm, and the amenities were perfect for a birthday glamping trip. The sink/stove is very easy to use, porto was clean upon arrival, and meandering through the orchards bird watching made for a lovely morning routine. I'd just point out two things to future travelers to be aware of: flies. Holy guacamole. More flies than I've ever seen or dealt with in my life. There were hundreds, no exaggeration. They mostly left us alone and the hosts had fly paper up that captured most of them but they get inside the dome constantly somehow. Just something to be aware of. The buzzing may keep you up at night without other noise. Secondly, the dome windows and roof are some sort of plastic that are not the most see through. I'm sure that's no fault of the owners but don't expect to stargaze at night. Otherwise though it was a wonderful stay and we would certainly come back again.

J

Joseph

September 2025

Weekend Trip to Twisting Twig Gardens and Orchard

Great getaway. Accurate description and very cozy. No cell service but not an issue.

M

Mitchell

September 2025

Weekend Trip to Twisting Twig Gardens and Orchard

Cozy location, full of nature, plenty of essentials included.

R

Robin

September 2025

12 ft campervan

With pets

2 nights at Sunset Bay Getaway

Sheila is an amazing host. The location and privacy were perfect for us- a couple and two dogs. Hopefully we’ll make it back to this part of the country again and if we do, we’re going to spend more than a couple of nights. Thanks Sheila!

K

Kristie

August 2025

34 ft Class A

Weekend Trip to Sunset Bay Getaway

A nice private getaway. We heard loons and other wildlife. We enjoyed a camp fire both evening and morning We plan to visit again.

E

Emma

August 2025

Tent

Group trip

Weekend Trip to Amnicon Adventures & Retreats

Beautiful and nostalgic stay at Camp Amnicon. The campsites are a bit of a walk in, but it's worth it for the seclusion and peace. The lakeshore is lovely (walk to the west to find some red clay!) and the camp itself had everything we needed. Excellent retreat not too far from the cities.

N

Nathan

August 2025

2 nights at Kick Back Tiny Shack

The cabin was very cozy, easily accessible, and had a great outdoor area to hang out. The stars are so bright here that you could see the Milky Way! There is running water but it comes out slow and cold, so I wouldn’t recommend doing a ton of dishes there but it wasn’t a problem at all for us.

Yana

August 2025

Tent

3 nights at Amnicon Adventures & Retreats

I loved camping in the Balsam camp site, it is right on the lake trail and far from people as well. At night you can hear the waves from the shoreline and we had no frights of bears or porcupines. The walk in is about half a mile so be prepared for a little trek with all your gear. This campsite had no bear box so we had to hang up our food in the tree overnights. Amazing star gazing on the shore. The showers were clean, the bathrooms were clean, it was an overall great experience :) Will be coming back!

J

Jillian

August 2025

With kids

Weekend Trip to Twisting Twig Gardens and Orchard

Beautiful little getaway away from the business of town. So peaceful and relaxing with all needed amenities!! We had a great time!

E

Eli

August 2025

1 night at Twisting Twig Gardens and Orchard

This is my second time staying here. I really like the location and the yurt itself is nice and open. I hope to come back next year!

T

Troy

August 2025

29 ft Class A

Weekend Trip to Sunset Bay Getaway

If you want the lake to yourself, you found the right place! Beautiful setting, flat ground, grass and great people!

Liza

August 2025

1 night at Twisting Twig Gardens and Orchard

We didnt want to leave! The tent was so peaceful, comfortable, and clean. Perfect for a mom/daughter last adventure before heading to college.

Derrick

August 2025

2 nights at Kick Back Tiny Shack

This is what me and my lady needed a break from the world it was great. I loved the place and I plan on coming back.

B

Beth

August 2025

2 nights at Kick Back Tiny Shack

We decided to unconnect from the world and just get away from our daily hustle and bustle living in the city. This cabin is absolutely adorable, clean and has everything you need for a glamping experience. NO internet or WiFi and didn’t find any close by. We could connect to satellite and text but even that is spotty. Our host was super attentive, had all sorts of things in the cabin that made our stay even better that we would have never thought to pack. Kitchen set up was perfect, bed was comfy, and the outhouse was as modernized as they come. Definitely recommend.

K

Kayla

August 2025

With kids

Weekend Trip to Twisting Twig Gardens and Orchard

Loved our quick stay at the yurt. Plan on booking again in the fall. The land is just beautiful and the yurt has everything you need to feel comfortable. Very secluded as well. And clean! I was excited about all the solar and composting toliet. Highly recommend!

E

Edwin

July 2025

30 ft travel trailer

With pets

Weekend Trip to Sunset Bay Getaway

Our recent Hipcamp stay on the lake was nothing short of magical, and I can't recommend it highly enough! From the moment we arrived, we were enchanted by the stunning natural beauty and the incredible peacefulness of the location. The campsite itself was impeccably maintained, offering ample space and all the amenities we could have wished for, while still feeling wonderfully secluded. Waking up to the gentle sounds of the lake and enjoying our morning coffee with such a breathtaking view was truly unforgettable. We spent our days enjoying the lake and Loons simply soaking in the tranquility. Our hosts were exceptionally welcoming and thoughtful, going above and beyond to ensure our comfort and enjoyment. If you're looking for an idyllic retreat that combines the beauty of nature with fantastic hospitality, look no further than Hipcamp on this lake. We're already counting down the days until we can return!

B

Ben

July 2025

Tent

Group trip

2 nights at Amnicon Adventures & Retreats

The place was super welcoming. Firewood and the carts being available were a super nice and the beach was amazing.

S

Stephanie

July 2025

1 night at Twisting Twig Gardens and Orchard

Great spot for a summer retreat! The kitchen came in handy, as did the wood burning fire places (both inside and outside). Great for star gazing!

a

ashley

July 2025

32 ft travel trailer

3 nights at Sunset Bay Getaway

Absolutely beautiful spot right on the lake. We loved the privacy and easy access to the lake for kayaking. Even for the 4th of July weekend it was quiet overnight. It's only 45 minutes from the North Shore so we took a couple of sightseeing day trips. The Pequaywan Inn is just down the road and has a wonderful restaurant. The hosts Shelia and her husband were friendly and helpful. I'll definitely be back!