Canoeing/Kayaking

Split Rock Park Campground

7 RV Sites, 20 Tent Sites

Split Rock Park Campground in Garretson, South Dakota, offers seven RV sites with 30-amp electric service and 20 tent sites on the banks of Split Rock Creek, sized for rigs to 40 feet with fire pits and picnic tables. A boat ramp and playground sit beside a natural waterfall where the creek cuts through pink Sioux quartzite. Seven back-in sites carry 30-amp electric only, sized to 40 feet, with fire pits and picnic tables — there are no water or sewer hookups, so arrive self-contained. Twenty tent sites cover simpler camping. Restrooms and portable toilets serve the grounds. This is a community park rather than a commercial campground, and the infrastructure reflects that honestly. Pets are welcome. The geology is the reason to come. Split Rock Creek cuts through exposed pink Sioux quartzite to form a natural waterfall and narrow gorge — a landscape of ancient bedrock and clear spring-fed water that contrasts sharply with the flat agricultural plains surrounding Garretson. A boat ramp gives paddlers direct launch access, with fishing, canoeing, and kayaking from the creek, and a playground for families. The combination of geological uniqueness, creek fishing, and paddling launch infrastructure gives this small park genuine regional draw well beyond its size. Garretson sits on the northwestern edge of town in eastern South Dakota, within easy reach of Sioux Falls. The campground serves the short northern plains season, with summer paddling and fishing carrying the demand and fall bringing quieter conditions along the creek. With seven RV sites, reserve ahead for summer weekends.

from $20/night

Wilder Park

52 RV Sites, 6 Tent Sites

Wilder Park in Allison, Iowa, offers 51 RV sites and six tent sites across 88 acres, with 30 and 50-amp service and rigs accepted to 50 feet. Full-hookup and water-and-electric categories in both back-in and pull-through join two fishing ponds, a disc golf course, mini-golf, and a storm shelter. Fifty-one sites run in 30/50-amp water-and-electric back-in, water-electric-and-sewer back-in, and water-electric-and-sewer pull-through categories, sized to 50 feet, with fire pits and site WiFi. Six tent sites round out the accommodations. A dump station, restrooms, showers, and firewood handle the practical side, and a storm shelter sits on the grounds — a genuine safety feature in Iowa. The recreational range is unusually broad for a park this size. Two fishing ponds support angling and paddle boats, with a boat ramp for canoeing and kayaking. A disc golf course, mini-golf, ball field, sports courts, volleyball, basketball, pickleball, walking trails, hiking, biking, a playground, dog park, library, and community fire pit fill the 88 acres, with planned activities through the season. Off-roading is nearby. Pets are welcome. Allison sits on Iowa Highway 3 in Butler County, and the park works as both a genuine destination and a practical overnight for travelers crossing the state. The J&C Grocery, Allison Variety Store, and municipal swimming pool are in town, with Waverly 25 minutes away, Cedar Falls 35, Mason City 60, and five golf courses in the area. Summer is peak. Reserve ahead for warm-weather weekends.

from $16/night

Camping 109

40 RV Sites, 1 Cabin

Camping 109 is a quiet, family-run campground on the eastern shore of Big Stone Lake in Big Stone City, South Dakota—40 full hookup sites positioned next to a boat launch on one of the state's most northeasterly bodies of water, at a point where the South Dakota-Minnesota border runs directly through the lake and the Whetstone River enters from the north. The campground's lakefront simplicity, clean facilities, and direct boat access make it an unpretentious and practical choice for anglers, paddlers, and families who want lake access without resort-scale pricing or crowds. Forty sites with full hookups in both pull-through and back-in configurations offer 30 and 50-amp electric service, water, sewer, and WiFi, each with a picnic table and fire ring. A playground, laundry room, dump station, and amenities block with clean restrooms and showers round out the infrastructure. The boat launch is immediately adjacent to the campground, eliminating the drive to a public ramp that many lake campgrounds require, and the lake itself provides the primary recreation draw for the cabins and campsites that the property maintains. Big Stone Lake straddles the South Dakota-Minnesota state line in the Minnesota River watershed, occupying the northernmost point of the Coteau des Prairies—the elevated plateau that divides the Missouri River and Red River drainage systems across the northern Great Plains. The lake's 26 miles of length give it enough water to provide meaningful boating recreation in a region where large natural lakes are not abundant, and the fishing for walleye, northern pike, perch, and bass sustains the local angling community through the open-water season. Big Stone Lake State Park, about five miles north on the Minnesota side, provides the public boat launch, camping, and shoreline access infrastructure that makes the lake a destination for visitors from both states. Big Stone City is a small community of under 500 people at the lake's southern end, providing the basic commercial services that a summer lake destination requires without the development pressure that has transformed many comparable lake towns. Ortonville, Minnesota, four and a half miles east across the state line, provides a somewhat larger commercial center and the Brown County Museum, which interprets the history of the upper Minnesota River valley and the glacial geology that carved Big Stone Lake from the Quaternary ice sheet. Wine and craft beverage tasting options in the area provide an additional local draw for the summer evening after a day on the water. Camping 109 operates through the South Dakota lake season, typically from spring ice-out through fall, with fishing season demand concentrated in the spring walleye runs and the fall feeding activity that precede ice-up. The campground's small scale and family management give it the personal character that larger commercial properties lose, and the adjacent boat launch means that early morning fishing departures require nothing more complicated than backing a trailer down a ramp from a campsite. The North Dakota border is a short drive north, and the vastness of the northern Great Plains landscape surrounding the lake makes Big Stone one of those genuinely out-of-the-way destinations where the primary reward is the absence of the crowds that accumulate at more accessible recreation sites.

from $35/night

Ham Lake Resort

5 RV Sites

Ham Lake Resort offers an authentic Minnesota lakefront getaway just 30 minutes north of the Twin Cities. With more than 100 RV sites, tent sites, and cabin accommodations, the resort combines peaceful lake-country surroundings with convenient access to Minneapolis–St. Paul attractions. Resort amenities include: More than 100 RV and tent sites Full-hookup RV sites Cabin accommodations Swimming and fishing on Ham Lake Kayaking, canoeing, and paddle boating Boat dock and lake access Playground and horseshoe area Dedicated dog park Planned activities and themed events Peaceful grounds surrounded by birch and pine trees One of the resort’s most memorable features is its small farmyard, where children can meet goats, alpacas, a miniature horse, a donkey, and a peacock. These hands-on animal encounters, combined with days on the lake and evenings around the campfire, create a unique family camping experience. The surrounding Anoka County area provides additional opportunities for hiking, biking, fishing, and exploring Minnesota’s parks and trails. Guests can enjoy the quiet atmosphere of lake country while remaining close to shopping, dining, entertainment, and major attractions. Nearby destinations include: Bunker Beach Water Park National Sports Center in Blaine Como Park Zoo and Conservatory Minnesota State Fair Minneapolis museums and cultural attractions Mill District dining and the Mississippi River Twin Cities sporting and entertainment events Ham Lake Resort is open during the spring, summer, and fall, with late spring through early fall offering the best conditions for swimming, paddling, fishing, and other lake activities. July, August, and holiday weekends fill quickly, so early reservations are recommended. Guests should also ask about themed events and planned summer activities when booking.

from $65/night

Canary Beach Resort

6 RV Sites, 12 Cabins, 10 Tent Sites

Canary Beach Resort on Lake Villard in Villard, Minnesota, has been crafting family vacations since 1920, making it one of the longer-operating lake resorts in central Minnesota's vast lake country and bringing more than a century of accumulated hospitality knowledge to the combination of RV camping, lakefront cabins, and vacation homes that form its current accommodation mix. Recognized by regional travel publications as a Reader's Choice award-winning property, the resort's longevity reflects the consistent quality and the genuine lake culture that keeps families returning to Lake Villard across generations. The resort's accommodation variety spans the full spectrum of lake vacation preferences, from RV sites with full hookup connections for self-contained campers to lakefront cabins with direct water views and vacation homes for groups and extended family gatherings that need more space and privacy. A waterpark adds aquatic programming beyond the lake itself, and a mini-golf course, boat rentals, and paddle boats provide recreational infrastructure for guests at every age and activity level. A general store, laundry, clubhouse, shuffleboard, and volleyball round out a facility profile that has been built over decades to serve the full range of needs that multi-day lake resort guests bring. Lake Villard occupies a position in the Leaf Hills region of west-central Minnesota, a glacially created landscape of rolling moraines, scattered wetlands, and the chain of interconnected lakes that has made this part of the state synonymous with Minnesota's iconic lake country identity. The lake's clear water and wooded shoreline support populations of walleye, northern pike, bass, and panfish that attract anglers to this corner of Stearns and Pope counties, and the surrounding agricultural countryside gives the landscape a pastoral character that softens the natural wilderness of the surrounding lakes and wetlands. Glenwood, the Pope County seat approximately 12 miles east of Villard on Lake Minnewaska, provides the nearest full-service commercial amenities including grocery stores, hardware, and dining for guests making resupply runs during lake vacation stays. The Glacial Lakes State Trail and Lake Minnewaska's public recreation infrastructure provide additional outdoor recreation options in the immediate vicinity, and the broader central Minnesota lake district extending from Alexandria to Willmar encompasses hundreds of accessible lakes within easy driving range of Villard. Alexandria, approximately 25 miles north, anchors a regional tourism hub with additional dining, shopping, and the iconic Big Ole Viking statue that marks the community's Scandinavian heritage celebrations. Canary Beach Resort operates seasonally from late spring through early fall in the central Minnesota climate where the lake swimming and fishing season is concentrated in the warmest months. July and August represent the highest demand, when Minnesota's lake vacation culture reaches its annual intensity and multi-generational family groups fill the cabins and vacation homes for week-long stays that are the resort's traditional booking pattern. The property's century-plus operating history, lakefront cabin inventory, and the accumulated tradition of families who return annually give Canary Beach a community character that newer properties cannot easily replicate.

from $42/night

Golden Acres Park

1 RV Site

On the crystal-clear shores of Square Lake in Washington County, just a short drive from the historic St. Croix River town of Stillwater, Golden Acres Park provides an intimate lakeside camping experience anchored by one of Minnesota's most celebrated natural swimming waters. Square Lake consistently earns recognition as one of the Twin Cities metro area's clearest recreational lakes—a deep kettle lake of exceptional water quality where the sandy bottom is visible well into the depths and the summer swimming ranks among the most refreshing in the state. Nine nightly RV sites with full hookups bring modern camping infrastructure to a serene lakeside setting that has attracted water-loving visitors to this Washington County property for decades. All nine nightly RV sites feature full hookup service with 50/30/20-amp electrical connections, water, and sewer on gravel pads, and high-speed Wi-Fi has been added for the current camping season throughout the park. Pontoon boat, paddleboard, and canoe rentals enable non-motorized exploration of Square Lake's pristine waters without requiring guests to arrive with watercraft, and swimming, boating, and fishing from the park's lakefront give the campground a full recreational identity. The park's small-scale, boutique character creates an atmosphere significantly more intimate than the large commercial campgrounds of the suburban Twin Cities, and returning guests often cite the combination of lake quality and personal service as what brings them back each season. Square Lake's exceptional clarity makes it one of the region's preferred destinations for swimming and stand-up paddleboarding—activities where water quality is visible and immediately appreciable rather than abstractly measured. Washington County's Square Lake Park adjoins the property and provides additional beach access and picnic facilities on the same remarkable lake, giving guests a combined recreational footprint that extends shoreline enjoyment across the full summer day. Fishing for bass, panfish, and northern pike in the clear water provides a rewarding angling experience in conditions where sight-fishing is possible during the calm morning hours when the surface lies undisturbed. Stillwater, one of Minnesota's most historic and charming river towns, lies a short drive west along the St. Croix valley and anchors a downtown district of Victorian architecture, independent bookshops, wine bars, and galleries that serve as the Twin Cities metro area's most beloved small-town getaway. The St. Croix River, a National Wild and Scenic corridor that forms the Minnesota-Wisconsin state line, supports canoeing, kayaking, and riverboat excursions through a bluff-lined valley that remains one of the upper Midwest's most scenic waterway corridors. William O'Brien State Park, along the St. Croix just north of Stillwater, provides hiking, camping, and river access in a protected state land setting easily reached for a half-day outing. The swimming and paddling season on Square Lake runs from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, with the clearest and warmest water conditions arriving in July and August. Fall brings spectacular color to the surrounding Washington County hardwood forests, and the Stillwater district's shops and dining remain active through October for guests who want the lake and the town at a quieter pace. Reserve early for summer weekends—the park's nine nightly sites fill quickly given the exceptional lake quality and the ease of Stillwater and Twin Cities access from this excellent Washington County address.

from $70/night

Hidden Bluffs Resort

Hidden Bluffs Resort near Spring Grove, Minnesota, offers a peaceful family camping experience in the scenic Driftless Area. This distinctive region of southeastern Minnesota is known for its limestone bluffs, wooded valleys, spring-fed trout streams, and rolling terrain—creating a landscape unlike anywhere else in the Upper Midwest. Accommodation options include: - Full-hookup RV sites - Comfortable cabin rentals - Traditional tent camping areas - Clean restrooms and showers - Laundry facilities - General store and on-site firewood - Wi-Fi connectivity Guests can enjoy plenty of recreation without leaving the property. More than four miles of groomed hiking trails wind through hardwood forests and limestone bluff terrain, while a spring-fed trout stream provides convenient on-site fishing access. Resort amenities include: - Outdoor swimming pool - Mini-golf course - Children’s playground - Four miles of groomed hiking trails - Spring-fed trout stream - Scenic wooded surroundings - Family-friendly recreation areas The surrounding Bluff Country offers additional opportunities for hiking, cycling, fishing, cave exploration, and sightseeing. Nearby attractions include: - Niagara Cave near Harmony - Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park - Root River State Trail - Lanesboro’s arts, shopping, and dining - Scenic towns along the Root River - Mississippi River day trips and excursions Hidden Bluffs Resort is open during Minnesota’s warm-weather camping season. Summer is ideal for family recreation, while fall brings spectacular foliage to the hardwood-covered bluffs and valleys. Advance reservations are recommended for summer holiday weekends and the popular fall color season.

Big Rock Creek

15 RV Sites, 3 Glamping Sites, 1 Yurt

Big Rock Creek in Saint Croix Falls, Wisconsin, provides a natural, river-centered camping retreat on the banks of the St. Croix River in Polk County, where the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway's protected corridor delivers one of the Midwest's most pristine paddling and fishing environments in a landscape that has been federally protected since 1968 as one of the original components of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. Positioned at the gateway to the St. Croix River's upper segment, the campground serves paddlers, anglers, hikers, and nature-oriented travelers who prioritize the authentic river experience over resort-scale amenities. The campground accommodates guests in cabin rentals alongside tent and RV sites, with amenities calibrated to the outdoor recreation lifestyle the St. Croix River corridor demands: a general store for resupply, showers, bathrooms, Wi-Fi, firewood, and access to the river and a pond for fishing and non-motorized watercraft. Walking trails through the surrounding woodland and a playground serve guests whose camping agendas include both structured outdoor activity and the unhurried pace that river-adjacent camping encourages when the current of the St. Croix itself provides the day's primary entertainment. Pet-friendly policies welcome the outdoor recreation dogs that Wisconsin river camping characteristically attracts. The St. Croix River flows through a glaciated landscape of sandstone bluffs, clear cold water, and dense conifer and mixed hardwood forest that defines the visual character of the upper Midwest's most celebrated river corridor. The river's exceptional water quality—maintained by the restricted development that National Scenic Riverway designation enforces along both the Wisconsin and Minnesota shorelines—supports wild trout populations in the cold upper reaches, walleye and smallmouth bass in the middle river sections near Saint Croix Falls, and the canoe camping culture that has made the St. Croix one of the Midwest's most beloved paddling destinations for multi-day river trips. Interstate State Park in Saint Croix Falls, the oldest state park in Wisconsin, protects the dramatic Dalles of the St. Croix where the river carved a spectacular basalt gorge with glacial potholes carved by swirling boulders in the receding glacial meltwater—a geological display accessible from the park's trail system directly above the river. The Gandy Dancer Trail, a 98-mile multi-use rail-trail extending from Saint Croix Falls north to Superior along a converted railroad grade, provides biking and hiking access through the wooded Polk and Burnett county lake country. Minneapolis and Saint Paul are accessible approximately 60 miles southwest. Big Rock Creek operates seasonally from spring through fall in northwestern Wisconsin's four-season continental climate, with the St. Croix River's paddling season typically running from May through October and the best water levels for canoe and kayak descents occurring in May and June when snowmelt sustains the river's flow. Summer's warmth drives peak demand for river swimming and family camping in the clear St. Croix waters, and fall's hardwood foliage transforms the river corridor into one of the upper Midwest's most scenic landscapes through October. The campground's riverside character and proximity to Saint Croix Falls' outdoor recreation amenities make it a natural choice for paddlers planning St. Croix River multi-day descents.

from $35/night

Swan Lake Resort & Campground

11 RV Sites, 5 Cabins, 5 Tent Sites

Swan Lake Resort & Campground in Fergus Falls, Minnesota, offers 11 RV sites, five cabins, and five tent sites on Swan Lake in Otter Tail County, with 20, 30, and 50-amp full hookups and rigs accepted to 80 feet on a big-rig-friendly layout. Lakeside and woodside pull-through categories, a disc golf course, boat rentals, and an outdoor pool anchor a resort with more than 70 years of family history. Eleven sites run in lakeside pull-through, woodside pull-through, and Northlands full-hookup configurations, carrying water, sewer, and electric on 20, 30, and 50-amp, sized to 80 feet, with fire pits, picnic tables, and BBQ pits. Five cabins and five tent sites round out the accommodations. A general store, laundry, dump station, restrooms, showers, and firewood handle the practical side, with WiFi and recycling throughout. The resort is cannabis friendly. The lake carries the recreation. A boat ramp, boat docks, and boat rentals put guests on the water, with a beach for swimming and fishing, canoeing, kayaking, paddle boarding, paddle boats, and water sports from the property. An outdoor pool, disc golf course, recreation center, game room, craft room, billiards, ping pong, basketball, volleyball, bocce ball, horseshoes, corn hole, and gaga ball fill the grounds, with walking trails, a playground, and on-site dining besides. Pets are welcome. Fergus Falls sits on I-94 and US-59 in Otter Tail County, which holds over 1,000 lakes — Minnesota's densest lake country and a resort tradition dating to the 1890s railroad tourism era. A state park is nearby. Summer is peak. With 11 RV sites, reserve well ahead.

from $35/night

Red Barn Campground & Restaurant

33 RV Sites, 2 Cabins, 10 Tent Sites, 3 Onsite RV/Trailers

On the bluffs above the Mississippi River in the northeastern Iowa town of Lansing, Red Barn Campground and Restaurant brings together a genuine camping experience and a working restaurant operation in a setting that takes full advantage of the scenic drama of the Great River Road. The campground's signature feature is a beautifully converted early-1900s barn that houses the office, arcade, and bar alongside the on-site restaurant—open Thursday through Sunday—serving as a social focal point for guests who find that a good meal at the end of a river day is worth something. With over 100 sites and easy access to the Mississippi just two miles down the road, this is one of the Upper Midwest's more distinctive camping destinations. Sites at Red Barn are primarily grass pull-throughs on level gravel access roads with modern full hookups suited to rigs of most sizes. Mini golf, a playground, and a spacious pavilion give families on-site options, while a trout stream threading through the property provides immediate fishing access without a drive. Sports courts covering basketball, volleyball, foursquare, and dodgeball supply an athletic outlet, and the barn's arcade keeps younger campers occupied on slower afternoons. Boat rentals are available for those who want to make the short trip to the river itself. Walking trails wind through the wooded grounds, and cabins offer a comfortable alternative to tents or rigs for guests who prefer a roof overhead. The Mississippi River bluff country of northeastern Iowa is among the most scenic river landscapes in the Midwest. Lansing sits at the base of dramatic bluffs that rise steeply from the floodplain, and the views from the heights above town extend across the river into Wisconsin. Effigy Mounds National Monument—preserving the earthwork mounds built by Indigenous people along the river corridor over two thousand years—is a short drive north and among the most quietly moving historic sites in the region. The riverfront is excellent for birding, particularly during spring and fall migration when bald eagles, American white pelicans, and waterfowl concentrate along the Mississippi in large numbers. The town of Lansing has the honest character of a small Mississippi River community—local bars, bait shops, and riverside restaurants without the polish of a tourist destination. The wider region stretches toward the Iowa wine and craft beer trail, where small-scale wineries and breweries have established themselves in the Driftless Area's hills. The Great River Road scenic byway—one of the country's oldest designated scenic routes—runs directly through Lansing and connects to river towns in both directions for leisurely day-drive exploration. Wisconsin's river towns and the bluff country of Minnesota's Hiawatha Valley are reachable for those who want to follow the river further. Red Barn operates seasonally and draws a strong local following that supplements destination campers who come specifically for the Mississippi River setting. Weekend reservations are recommended, and summer weekends fill well in advance. Whether you're driving the Great River Road, chasing the Mississippi bass and walleye fishery, or looking for a campground with a genuinely good burger at the end of the day, Red Barn in Lansing makes a strong case for stopping and staying. Book a site and see the river country at its best.

from $31/night

Lakeside Casino Resort RV Park

38 RV Sites

Lakeside Casino Resort RV Park in Osceola, Iowa, offers 47 fully equipped campsites with water, sewage, electrical hookups, and Wi-Fi steps from the Lakeside Casino in Clarke County — a campground that combines the practical overnight infrastructure of a full-hookup RV park with the immediate access to the Lakeside Casino Resort's gaming, dining, entertainment, and hotel facilities in the southern Iowa plains community that the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska's Lakeside Casino has sustained as the primary commercial and entertainment hub for the Clarke County region since the casino's opening. Osceola's Clarke County position on Interstate 35 between Des Moines and Kansas City gives the campground the practical interstate convenience that I-35 through-travelers specifically value alongside the casino resort's entertainment programming. Forty-seven fully equipped sites with water, sewer, electrical hookups, and complimentary Wi-Fi adjacent to the casino give guests the complete RV living infrastructure in the most convenient possible relationship to the casino's programming — the walking-distance proximity to the Lakeside Casino eliminates the designated driver logistics that off-site campground guests require for evening casino visits, and the resort's dining options give campground residents the immediate restaurant access that extends the campground's meal planning flexibility. Pets are welcome. The Lakeside Casino, operated by the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska in Clarke County, sustains the gaming floor, multiple dining venues, entertainment programming, and the hotel accommodations that make Osceola's Clarke County position on I-35 a destination stop rather than a pass-through for the Des Moines-to-Kansas City corridor's leisure traveler. The casino's poker room, slots, and table game floor give guests the full Iowa gaming experience in a casino resort setting that the state's river and tribal gaming licenses distribute across the state's commercial recreation landscape. Nine Eagles State Park, 12 miles south of Osceola in Decatur County, provides the natural recreation complement to the casino entertainment programming — a 1,874-acre state park with a 85-acre lake, beach, fishing, camping, and hiking through the southern Iowa rolling timber land that the state park preserves as one of Iowa's most complete south-central state parks. Lake Rathbun, 50 miles east of Osceola in Appanoose County, is the largest lake in Iowa — an 11,000-acre Army Corps of Engineers reservoir that sustains the walleye, bass, and catfish fisheries that Iowa's most productive freshwater lake provides. Lakeside Casino Resort RV Park serves guests year-round in Clarke County's continental Iowa climate, where the year-round casino resort programming sustains visitor demand across all seasons independent of the outdoor recreation calendar. Des Moines, 60 miles north of Osceola on I-35 in Polk County, provides the Iowa State Fair (the largest state fair in the United States by attendance, held annually in late August), the Pappajohn Sculpture Park, and the Drake University campus that give the Clarke County campground's day-trip range into the Iowa capital city's cultural programming. Reserve sites ahead for the Iowa State Fair week and the summer casino entertainment programming peak when the I-35 south Iowa corridor's campground inventory fills from the regional market.

from $45/night