The best camping near Voyageurs National Park

Discover the most magical spots to pitch your tent or park your rig on your next Voyageurs National Park adventure.

Welcome to a land where dense forests meet pristine waters.

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Top-rated campgrounds near Voyageurs National Park

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Cook's Country Connection

5 sites · RVs, Tents120 acres · Cook, MN

This land was homesteaded by my great grandparents in 1900 as part of the Homestead Act of 1862. After losing my store to fire in 2013, I took the leap, and decided to open the farm to the public. I have a menagerie of animals, many rescued or adopted, that love all the attention. My friends' kids love camping in the pasture with the animals and when I saw an ad for Hipcamp, I thought maybe others would want the experience, too!Learn more about this land:Yoga with goats meets camping with alpacas! We offer camping in the small animal pasture of our family petting farm. (We also offer campsites away from the critters if your not too sure about sharing your space with livestock!). The options are limitless!

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16 Squared Cabin

2 sites · Lodging160 acres · Nett Lake, MN

Learn more about this land:"Glamp" on 160 acres of private property surrounded by pine forest, a field, and a pond. There are several miles of trails on the property that are perfect for hiking, biking, four wheeling and horseback riding! The trails also connect to several hundred miles of trail systems in the surrounding area. The cabin can be heated by the wood stove during the winter months, so it is a great place to stay for snowmobiling! Inside the cabin there are a wood stove, 2 sets of bunkbeds, a table and chairs, and a counter top with cupboards. Outside, there is an outhouse and a campfire area with a picnic table.

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Beautiful Waterfront Adventure

2 sites · RVs, Tents7 acres · Littlefork, MN

Set up camp on the banks of The Bigfork River, the largest tributary that feeds into Rainy River. Get ready to go kayaking or canoeing, fishing, swimming, hiking, biking, exploring or just relaxing with amazing views. My wife and I purchased the property a couple of years ago and have been working to renovate the buildings onsite to bring one of the oldest homesteads in the area back to life. There is a house, a small cabin and several outbuildings onsite that are at different stages of the updating process. Some of the structures are not the prettiest, but the land and river are beautiful. The Bigfork is great for canoes and kayaks or even small fishing boats with several launches located every 5-10 miles along the river. We have great access to the water right from our property. Fishing is usually good and often fantastic with plenty of smallmouth bass, northern pike, walleye, musky and even huge sturgeon depending on the time of year. The river is also great for swimming as it’s fairly slow moving and not too deep . There is a great swimming hole right in front of the property. Bring water shoes or an old pair of shoes that you don’t mind getting wet as the river bottom is rocky. The property is located on a dead end road at the end of which is the entry point to Lindford Ditch Grades which is home to endless trails for offroad vehicles such as atvs and utvs. State land is across the river from the property and the vast majority of the land that the river zigzags through in the 50 miles upstream from the property is secluded state land as well with only a couple hidden cabins along the way. It’s very rare to see others on the river, just you and the company you bring along. You are likely to see abundant wildlife. The area is home to whitetail deer, pelicans, black bear, swans, numerous duck species, wolves, coyotes, beavers, porcupines, and bald eagles to name a few. The area also has other awesome destinations to visit nearby including Rainy River (15 minutes), the Littlefork River (15 minutes), Rainy Lake and International Falls (30 minutes), Big Falls (30 minutes), Voyaguers National Park (45 minutes), Lake Kabetogama (45 minutes), and Lake of the Woods (60 minutes) for day trips for hikes, sightseeing, more boating and fishing. International Falls has a hospital, a full grocery store for your needs, restaurants and a border crossing to Canada. There are two neighbors on the road who are fairly private and we appreciate campers respecting their space and maintaining the tranquility of the area. This summer I will be working on updates to the structures so there is a decent chance that I will be onsite working. I will do my best to be quiet and out of your way to not interrupt your visit. See map in the pictures if you are having trouble finding the place. Town Road is also known as UT 94 so try that if your map app isn’t finding the correct destination.

The best camping near Voyageurs National Park guide

Overview

About

With forested hills and crystal waters as far as the eye can see, Voyageurs National Park offers 218,000 acres to explore on land and water. Straddling the border between northern Minnesota and Canada, this remote park is a place to immerse yourself in the natural world, with few reminders of civilization. Campers will find both frontcountry campsites, with minimal development, and backcountry camping, which requires a hike to reach. RVing and car camping are not possible since a boat is required to reach these campsite locations.

Notable campgrounds

Best for a classic tent-camping trip: The frontcountry campsites at Voyageurs National Park are easier to reach, while still providing a natural retreat.
Best for adventure: The remote backcountry campsites at Voyageurs National Park are far removed from civilization.
Best for amenities: For car campers and RVers, private RV parks offer camping, mainly along the shores of Kabetogama Lake and the Ash River.

Tips for snagging a campsite

Campers should first decide whether they want to camp in the frontcountry or backcountry.
Frontcountry campsites are for tent camping only and may include a picnic table, tent pad, and fire ring.
Backcountry campsites require backpacking for miles to reach them. Plan accordingly.
Campsite reservations are released in a block on the first day of each month for several months in advance on the Recreation.gov website.
Recreation.gov will help you plan your camping trip by listing details about how to reach each campsite and what amenities are available.
Some backcountry campsites also have canoe rentals that can be booked to explore the interior lakes.

When to go

Though Voyageurs National Park is open year-round, the waterways may be frozen much of the year due to its northern location. June through September generally offer warmer temperatures and rippling waters. Highs generally reach the 60s and 70s, dropping to lows in the 40s and 50s overnight. Winter brings conditions that require extra preparation. Snow and freezing temperatures, dropping below zero, may be regularly encountered October through February. Winter campers can reach campsites on foot or snowmobile when the ice and snowpack are thick enough. Winter offers the best chance to see the northern lights.

Know before you go

Campers must properly store food to avoid attracting bears.
A number of outfitters offer houseboat rentals for a unique way to explore this park.
Campers are allowed to park their vehicles for free overnight at the visitor centers.
The visitor centers offer boat launches; if traveling without your own watercraft, water taxis are also available.