Camping in Minneapolis/St. Paul Area

[DaveAlb]

Hey folks-

Any campgrounds you like just outside of the Twin Cities? Thinking of doing it this next year when it warms up a bit. Thanks!

[WFD]

Lebanon Hills regional park campground. It's a County Park and you can make online reservations...It's close to the Zoo. Also Town and Country c/g in Savage, MN. Very close to Valley Fair. It's privately owned, very clean, although we have not been there in about 3 yrs. It's a smaller c/g and tends to book up.

[cmac7203]

Originally Posted by WFD

Lebanon Hills regional park campground. It's a County Park and you can make online reservations...It's close to the Zoo. Also Town and Country c/g in Savage, MN. Very close to Valley Fair. It's privately owned, very clean, although we have not been there in about 3 yrs. It's a smaller c/g and tends to book up.

X2. Camped there last year. Well maintained, staff very friendly. Reliable power and water. I plan on going again this summer. I live here and it’s my go to local site.

[WFD]

Originally Posted by cmac7203

X2. Camped there last year. Well maintained, staff very friendly. Reliable power and water. I plan on going again this summer. I live here and it’s my go to local site.

Which one? Lebanon Hills or Town and Country?

[DaveAlb]

Thanks for the info. This gives me two nice places to go to.

[cmac7203]

Originally Posted by WFD

Which one? Lebanon Hills or Town and Country?

Sorry...Lebanon Hills

[IsleDog]

Originally Posted by cmac7203

Sorry...Lebanon Hills

this is simply one of the BEST parks i have ever been to. and they have improved it a lot since i was there last. and while you are there, go to the zoo.

there is also a nice looking KOA in Jordan. I have not been there, but am looking at it for next year.

[MillMitch]

We live about 10 mins from Lebanon Hills, so couple pointers. Dakota County (Lebanon Hills is a Dakota county park) uses an online reservation system that opens up in Mar/Apr (?), so check the website for the reservation opening date. Weekends get booked fast, weekdays aren't bad. Lebanon Hills is close to one of the Zoo's, and within 20 min of downtown St Paul or Minneapolis. Depending on your plans while visiting the Twin Cities, you might also check out MN state parks for something within an hour. MN state parks also use an online booking system, but it's a rolling 12 months out, and the farther out you are, the better luck you'll have getting an electric site. State Park campgrounds tend to be electric only, with water and dumpsite available at park (not all parks have a dump station, but most do). You will need a state park sticker for the MN state park campgrounds.
My apologies if you live in MN and already know all this

[DaveAlb]

This is all great info to me. Being from SD, I don't know the MN State Park System, so this will help me out. Any State Parks an hour or so from the Cities that you like?

[MillMitch]

William O'Brien is about an hour NE of twin cities on St Croix river north of Stillwater, and we liked that one. AFton State park is slightly SE of twin cities and looks closer, but we haven't been yet. Frontenac State park is about 1.5 hours SE of twin cities down by Red Wing and we liked that one as well. Dakota County has another campground down in Canon Falls (45 min south of twin cities) - Lake Byllesby, that looks nice but we haven't made it down yet. The sites back up right on the lake, and has a beach. Dakota county parks are more suburban, sites closer together; State parks tend to be rural, larger more private sites, w/ electric only. With the state parks online system, pay attention to the comments and site lengths; there are sites with no right or left slides because of trees or large rocks. I'm towing a 28.5 ft TT, so length is rarely an issue; although we did reserve a 'better suited for smaller trailers and popups' site that i could get in but had to unhook the TV because it stuck out in the road about 5'.
Good luck and have fun.

[IsleDog]

Originally Posted by MillMitch

William O'Brien is about an hour NE of twin cities on St Croix river north of Stillwater, and we liked that one. AFton State park is slightly SE of twin cities and looks closer, but we haven't been yet. Frontenac State park is about 1.5 hours SE of twin cities down by Red Wing and we liked that one as well. Dakota County has another campground down in Canon Falls (45 min south of twin cities) - Lake Byllesby, that looks nice but we haven't made it down yet. The sites back up right on the lake, and has a beach. Dakota county parks are more suburban, sites closer together; State parks tend to be rural, larger more private sites, w/ electric only. With the state parks online system, pay attention to the comments and site lengths; there are sites with no right or left slides because of trees or large rocks. I'm towing a 28.5 ft TT, so length is rarely an issue; although we did reserve a 'better suited for smaller trailers and popups' site that i could get in but had to unhook the TV because it stuck out in the road about 5'.
Good luck and have fun.

William O'Brien is a great park, sites are fairly small. I have not been to Frontenac in forever, but it is a gorgeous park. I HIGHLY recommend Interstate State Park. It is by far my favorite one so far, only about 50 minutes or so from Minneapolis. MN state parks have pictures of most of the sites, so when you book you can look at them and make sure it will work for you. its pretty handy.

[DaveAlb]

Thanks all for the help!

[rvrobocop]

Timely information for myself as well. I will be heading out to Coon Rapids from MD in a couple months. Bunker Hills will be my obvious choice regarding proximity. But having these reviews also helps if something should go awry.

[BigH]

Originally Posted by DaveAlb

This is all great info to me. Being from SD, I don't know the MN State Park System, so this will help me out. Any State Parks an hour or so from the Cities that you like?

The wife and I like St. Croix state park (about 1 hour, 15 minutes north of the outerloop -694). Good hiking, kayaking and atv trails are nearby. A couple casinos near by...I can't tell you how they are though as we've never been inside either of them.

I've heard this park gets very busy but we go early or late in the year and only had neighbors on one side for a couple days last time we went.

[cmac7203]

Originally Posted by BigH

The wife and I like St. Croix state park (about 1 hour, 15 minutes north of the outerloop -694). Good hiking, kayaking and atv trails are nearby. A couple casinos near by...I can't tell you how they are though as we've never been inside either of them.



I've heard this park gets very busy but we go early or late in the year and only had neighbors on one side for a couple days last time we went.

FYI Washington County parks don’t allow pets. Bummer.

[BigH]

Originally Posted by cmac7203

FYI Washington County parks don’t allow pets. Bummer.

St Croix state park does...
We talked with a park ranger while walking the dog.

[MillMitch]

Looks like there is a Washington County park called St Croix Bluffs

[cmac7203]

Originally Posted by MillMitch

Looks like there is a Washington County park called St Croix Bluffs

Yep! That’s it. Geez...my feeble mind.