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Campgrounds in Minnesota

All the words in the world cannot describe the experiences you will have in our campgrounds in Minnesota.

Many of our favorite campgrounds are in Minnesota state parks. I would love to be able to transmit the feel of the breeze from the lake, the aroma of a campfire and dinner cooking on an outdoor grill. Plan a camping vacation in Minnesota and experience it yourself!

I love the quiet time just at dusk when, away from the lights of the city, the stars come out. I always forget how many there really are! We often sit on the beach and count shooting stars late into the evening. Better than TV for sure!

Then there is the cozy time of crawling into our sleeping bags, chatting a bit about the day--and tomorrow's adventures. For me, there is always a short time of reading by flashlight, then drowsiness takes over.....

The sound of a light rain may awaken me briefly in the night and I luxuriate in being that close to the out-of-doors yet protected in my tent.

Morning comes and I smell the coffee that my husband already has perking over the campfire. Ahhhh.....Minnesota camping at it's best!

Where to find campgrounds in Minnesota:

If you check any guidebook to camping in Minnesota, you will be amazed at the number of campgrounds in our state.

Hundreds of scenic campgrounds can be found in Minnesota's State Parks and in Minnesota's National Parks and Forests.

There are also many, many privately owned campgrounds to choose from.

When we go camping we want to experience nature up close. There are nearly 4,500 camp sites throughout the state park system. Depending on the park, some of your options are drive-in, walk in, canoe in, backpack in, cart in or bike in. Some of these options allow access to the more remote sites if you are looking for tranquility and seclusion.

Some of our family’s favorite Minnesota state parks include: Frontenac, Gooseberry Falls, Itasca, Split Rock Lighthouse, Temperance River, Tettegouche, Wild River, William O'Brien and Zippel Bay.

Share stories and photos of your favorite Minnesota State Parks

We love to check out other park campgrounds in Minnesota from time to time but these are the Minnesota campgrounds that are where our family has created so many memories and are the special places we return to again and again.

If you are ready for an amazing and unforgettable Minnesota adventure, you can't beat a Boundary Waters Minnesota canoeing and camping trip.

A great camping item you can pack for the Boundary Waters is a 4 season tent.

Minnesota tent camping is one of life's simple pleasures. However when we first began to take our young family "out in wilds" we made some mistakes and had a lot of questions like:

What gear do we need to get?
How should we pack?
How do we start a campfire?
What food should we bring?
How do we cook the food?
What kind of wild animals could we run into?
What sort of activities can we do while camping?

We realized we were not alone in having questions about how to have the most fun possible yet be sure to stay safe. It soon became clear to us that the best guarantee of a great camping trip was having a detailed guidebook and checklist.

And even if you are an experienced camper, we know you will love trying some new mouth-watering camping recipes.

Not everyone wants to camp in a tent or "rough it." Minnesota RV campgrounds are a wonderful choice for those who want to explore Minnesota campgrounds while enjoying most of the comforts of home.

Campgrounds in Minnesota are busy from early spring through late fall. And, there are lots of hardy Minnesota visitors and residents who even camp in winter.

Minnesota camping trips provide an excellent way to see the natural beauties of the state and enjoy plenty of fun activites as well.

Minnesota State Park Fees

There is probably no better bargain for those of us who live in Minnesota than our annual state park sticker for the windshield of our car. Once purchased---and affixed---the permit gives us access to all of our state parks, over and over for a whole year.

Here are the vehicle permit fees:

Annual regular permit: $25.00
Second permit: $18.00
Annual motorcycle permit: $20.00
Annual permit for persons with disabilities: $12.00 (with handicap license plate or certificate)
Daily permit: $5.00 (for all vehicles, including motorcycles.)
Horse annual pass: $21.00

Find all you need to know about annual and daily fees for state park campgrounds in Minnesota as well as campsite fees at the Minnesota DNR website.

There has been a recent improvement to the reservations system for camping in Minnesota. We used to have to wait until spring and then try to jump on the phone to get our reservation in for our favorite campsite. Now reservations can be made year round which really helps in planning your camping in Minnesota adventure!

You can find information about reservations at all of our state parks at the DNR website.