In the month of July we were featured in MN Parent Magazine! Ruth’s S’more filled face made for a great cover photo and we were happy to share our top 5 family friendly campgrounds with their readers.
Here Is The List & Why We Love Them
Ham Lake Campground is a place where you can relax and take in a few on site activities. Our kids love the petting zoo which has goats, a horse, a couple pet ostriches and more! What I love most is the natural zero-depth beach area. We were just out there last weekend and it was a blast toting around random kids on the Bullfrog Lily Pad! The staff is easy going, friendly and it always feels like home when we visit. Ham Lake Campground is by far all about the kids.
2400 Constance Blvd., Ham Lake, 30 minutes North of Downtown Minneapolis
Baker Park is a large campground and is neat and clean every time. It can get full quickly, so it is best to plan on setting your campground vacation early. The kids enjoy playing the afternoon away at the playground. There is a zip line ride that has us racing to the end. There is also a great beach area on Lake Independence with rentals in case you want to try out a paddleboard! I really look forward to riding the bike trails when we visit Baker Park. This campground is a part of the Three Rivers District and it a favorite location for many in the surround areas.
2309 Baker Park Road, Maple Plain, 30 miles West of Minneapolis
If you have mini fish for kids you would appreciate Rice Creek Chain Of Lakes Campground. It is attached to Peltier Lake where they have a water station set up for the kids to pour water and sand through. My kids don’t want to leave this beach when we stay at this campground. I don’t blame them, either. I find myself wanting to stick around because they are so into playing in the water that they don’t seem to need anything from me, which gives me time to enjoy the sunshine. There is also a play set that is the perfect size for toddlers and preschool aged children sitting on the hill right next to the water.
7401 Main Street, Lino Lakes, 25 minutes North of the Twin Cities
If you want to see the best of Minnesota you should go to one of our beautiful State Parks. In my option you can’t go wrong staying at any one of them. My favorite one we stayed at last year was Wild River State Park. The drive into the park is really serene. If you are a nature lover this place gets your heart pumping! I had the pleasure of having a raccoon sneak up on me during our stay. I ended up jumping onto the picnic table and he ended up not caring one bit that I thought I was going to die. I have wonderful memories of us walking the trails and hanging out around our campfire. I also picked this State Park over some others because it isn’t too far of a reach from the cities.
39797 Park Trail, Center City, about an hour Northeast of the Twin Cities
Kamp Dels is known for their family fun amenities. If you can’t make a trip over to WI Dells you could get a similar vacation experience from staying at Kamp Dels. You can choose from riding horses, playing on the water slides, miniature golf, 3 large playgrounds, bike trails, fishing, themed out weekends and more! The hard part about going here is convincing the kids it’s time to go home.
14842 Sakatah Lake Road, Waterville, about an hour South of the Cities – East of Mankato
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Hey there, I’m Ryan, the face behind Beyond The Tent.
With decades of camping experiences, my journey into the wilderness began on the rustic trails of a farm in southern Minnesota, where my childhood was filled with explorations and camping by a picturesque river.
My family’s adventures across the United States, from the majestic Colorado mountains to the serene national parks and the pristine Boundary Waters Canoe Area of Northern Minnesota have given me a broad perspective. With each journey, whether in state parks or private encampments, and through the homely comfort of our camping trailers, we’ve amassed a trove of stories, experiences, and invaluable camping wisdom.