Pet Friendly

Lake View Lodge

9 Cabins

Lake View Lodge sits on the shores of Shagawa Lake in Ely, Minnesota — a lakeside cabin resort in the Boundary Waters gateway community that has provided fishing, boating, and wilderness vacation experiences for over 18 years in a setting where the Shagawa's 2,000-plus acres of walleye, northern pike, bass, crappie, perch, and bluegill habitat provide the kind of multi-species fishing variety that sustains a full week of angling without returning to the same spot twice. Ely's position at the edge of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness gives the lodge a dual character — a fully comfortable lakeside fishing retreat in its own right, and the most practical staging base for the BWCAW wilderness canoe travel that draws paddlers from across the upper Midwest. Each cabin at Lake View Lodge comes fully equipped with a complete kitchen, a contemporary bathroom with shower, and air conditioning — the amenity set that ensures guests can focus on the lake and the wilderness rather than the management of basic lodging logistics. The pontoon boat furnished with each cabin unit gives guests immediate and highly accessible watercraft from the moment of arrival, removing the equipment-sourcing step that typically requires a separate marina transaction. The combination of full kitchen, A/C, and included pontoon boat gives Lake View Lodge a practical self-sufficiency particularly suited to multi-generational fishing groups and families with children who benefit from the lodge's comfort infrastructure alongside the lake's recreational depth. Shagawa Lake's fishery reflects the productivity of the Canadian Shield lake environment — clear, cold, oligotrophic water over a granite and glacial till basin that supports the forage base for healthy year-round populations of walleye, northern pike, bass, perch, and bluegill. The lake's connectivity to the broader BWCAW watershed means the fish populations benefit from the wild corridor of protected lakes and streams extending north from Shagawa into the Boundary Waters, maintaining the wild character of the fishery in a lake immediately accessible from town. The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, the most visited wilderness area in the United States, encompasses over one million acres of lake-and-portage canoe country along the Minnesota-Ontario border — a network of over 1,000 lakes connected by portage trails where motor travel is restricted or prohibited and the experience of extended paddling travel through a genuinely intact subarctic wilderness ecosystem is available within paddling distance of Ely's outfitter row. The International Wolf Center in Ely provides the most comprehensive public wolf biology education program in North America, with live ambassador wolves and interpretive exhibits that connect the lodge's wilderness location to the ecological significance of the species that defines the BWCAW's predator community. Lake View Lodge operates through the northern Minnesota outdoor season, with ice-out in May launching the open-water fishing season that runs through freeze-up in November. The BWCAW canoe season peaks from June through early September, and the fall fishing calendar for walleye and northern pike provides particularly productive angling as the water cools and fish activity increases ahead of winter. Reserve cabins well ahead for the prime summer and fall fishing windows, when Ely's lodging inventory fills from the BWCAW outfitter and fishing tourism market that defines the community's visitor economy.

from $220/night

Royal Oaks RV Park

89 RV Sites

Royal Oaks RV Park in Bemidji, Minnesota, offers 89 full-hookup RV sites with 20, 30, and 50-amp service, cable TV, and rigs accepted to 48 feet on a big-rig-friendly layout. Premium and buddy pull-through categories join back-in tiers at each amperage, with a recreation center, playground, dog park, and bike and pedal cart rentals. Eighty-nine sites span 30-amp back-in full hookup, 50-amp back-in full hookup, 30/50-amp back-in full hookup, 30/50-amp pull-thru full hookup, 30/50-amp pull-thru full hookup buddy, and premium 30/50-amp back-in full hookup categories, all carrying water, sewer, and electric with cable TV and site WiFi, sized to 48 feet, with fire pits and picnic tables. The buddy pull-through suits two rigs traveling together. A recreation center, firewood, and complimentary WiFi handle the practical side. A playground and dog park fill the grounds, with boating and a river nearby, planned activities through the season, and productive birding across the lake country. Wine and beer tasting and a state park are close. Pets are welcome. Bemidji sits in Beltrami County at the headwaters region of the Mississippi, where pine forest, spruce bog, and hundreds of kettle lakes make the character of northern Minnesota's most historically significant river country. Itasca State Park and the Mississippi headwaters are a day trip, the Paul Bunyan and Babe statues stand at the visitor center, and the Loop the Lake trail circles Lake Bemidji. Summer is the short, intense Minnesota season. Reserve well ahead for June through August.

from $53/night

Mont du Lac Resort

20 RV Sites, 16 Cabins, 14 Tent Sites

On the Wisconsin side of the St. Louis River overlooking the Duluth-Superior harbor, Mont du Lac Resort delivers year-round outdoor adventure from a single hillside property — transitioning from a downhill ski and snowboard hub through the winter months to a mountain biking and disc golf retreat across the warmer season. Few resorts in the Upper Midwest match Mont du Lac for the breadth of activities available in one place across every season, making it equally compelling for a ski-weekend booking in January and a mountain biking trip in July. Accommodations range from Trophy Suites and deluxe cabins to RV sites and tent camping, giving guests a full spectrum of lodging options within the resort's wooded grounds. A full-service chalet with a bar and restaurant anchors the social side of the property and handles post-activity recovery with the kind of comfortable informality that active outdoor resorts do best. The staff brings genuine enthusiasm for the activities that define the Mont du Lac experience — particularly useful for first-time skiers or riders navigating the hill's layout. Pets are welcome throughout the resort. The hillside setting overlooking the St. Louis River is striking in every season. Winter transforms the slope into snow-covered ski terrain with runs suited to all ability levels, from beginner-friendly pitches to steeper runs that challenge intermediate skiers. When the snow melts, nine kilometers of dedicated mountain biking trails wind through the same wooded hillside, and an 18-hole mountain disc golf course adds a year-round low-key option that attracts a different demographic from the downhill crowd. The river views below the hill change character across seasons as dramatically as the hillside activities above. Duluth, Minnesota, sits just across the St. Louis River and adds one of the Upper Midwest's most interesting small cities to the resort's regional draw. The Aerial Lift Bridge — one of the most recognizable pieces of engineering in Minnesota — spans the ship canal at Canal Park, where the Great Lakes Aquarium, the waterfront Lakewalk, and a concentration of breweries and restaurants create a lively lakeside district. The Skyline Parkway above Duluth provides panoramic views over Lake Superior that rank among the finest urban overlooks in the region. Pattison State Park, home to Big Manitou Falls — the highest waterfall in Wisconsin — and Jay Cooke State Park's dramatic gorge and suspension bridge are both within easy driving range. Mont du Lac Resort shines brightest during ski season, typically running December through early March depending on snowfall, and again in summer when mountain biking and disc golf replace the chairlifts. Book lodging well ahead of winter holiday weekends and Martin Luther King Jr. weekend, when the ski hill and resort facilities fill to capacity. Summer stays offer a quieter, more relaxed version of the resort — ideal for families and individuals who want outdoor recreation with more room to breathe than peak-season crowds allow.

from $20/night

Pine Mountain Campground

4 Tent Sites

Pine Mountain Campground on Devil Track Lake, ten minutes east of Grand Marais, Minnesota, offers lakeside tent and RV sites with water hookups, a dump station, a marina, and a fishing pier on Cook County's North Shore. Fire pits and picnic tables sit at the sites, with swimming and boating directly from the lake. Back-in sites carry water hookups with fire pits and picnic tables. This is a modest, lake-focused campground rather than a full-service resort — there are no sewer hookups, and a dump station serves RV guests. Restrooms are on site. Guests should arrive prepared for simpler infrastructure than a commercial park offers, which is much of the point here. Pets are welcome. The lake carries everything. A marina and fishing pier give direct access to Devil Track Lake for boating and fishing, with swimming from the shoreline. The setting is the amenity — quiet water ten minutes off the North Shore's main corridor. The surrounding geography is exceptional. Grand Marais sits on Lake Superior, where the Sawtooth Mountains' basalt ridges descend to the world's largest freshwater lake by surface area. The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness begins its million-acre lake-and-portage interior nearby, and the Gunflint Trail's 57-mile corridor reaches into the most remote accessible wilderness in Minnesota at the Ontario border. Grand Marais itself holds an established art colony, the North House Folk School, and southern trailheads for the Superior Hiking Trail. The campground runs the short North Shore season. Summer is the peak by a wide margin, with fall color drawing a second wave — reserve ahead for both.

Wheelers RV Park

15 RV Sites

Wheelers RV Park in Wascott, Wisconsin, offers 15 full-hookup RV sites on spacious oversized lots with 20, 30, and 50-amp service and rigs accepted to 70 feet on a big-rig-friendly layout, positioned directly on one of Douglas County's top ATV and UTV trail systems. Weekly, monthly, and seasonal stays are the park's core business. Fifteen sites carry water, sewer, and electric on 20, 30, and 50-amp in back-in and pull-through configurations, sized to 70 feet. The lots are genuinely oversized, which is the configuration extended-stay guests in northern Wisconsin look for — room for the rig, the trailer, and the machines without crowding a neighbor. Weekly, monthly, and seasonal rates are available. Pets are welcome. Trail access is the reason to book. The park sits directly on one of the best ATV and UTV trail systems in the county, so riders can leave from their site rather than trailering out. Volleyball, biking, and birding fill the rest, with a golf course nearby. Wascott sits in Douglas County in the Northwoods lake district, where jack pine and red pine forest, hundreds of miles of managed forest road trails, and the drumlin lakes and cold-water streams of the St. Croix-Lake Superior divide define the outdoor recreation character that the region's seasonal camping and year-round resident population is built around. Riding season runs spring through fall, with fall color weekends drawing the heaviest traffic and winter bringing snowmobile riders. With 15 sites weighted toward extended stays, call ahead for short-stay availability.

from $45/night

St. Croix River Resort

17 RV Sites, 3 Cabins

St. Croix River Resort near Hinckley, Minnesota, offers a full-service family camping experience within the scenic St. Croix River region. Located approximately 75 miles north of the Twin Cities along Interstate 35, the resort is convenient for weekend getaways, extended stays, and travelers heading between Minneapolis–St. Paul and Duluth. Accommodation options include: - Full-hookup RV sites - Comfortable cabin rentals - Pet-friendly accommodations - Seasonal and extended-stay options The resort’s indoor and outdoor pools provide swimming opportunities throughout the camping season, including cooler spring and fall days. Resort amenities include: - Indoor and outdoor swimming pools - Clubhouse and gathering spaces - Children’s playground - Sports courts - Family recreation areas - Planned activities - Convenient access from Interstate 35 The resort is surrounded by the mixed pine and hardwood forests of Pine County and is close to the federally protected St. Croix National Scenic Riverway. The river corridor offers opportunities for paddling, fishing, hiking, wildlife viewing, and exploring the natural boundary between Minnesota and Wisconsin. Nearby attractions include: - St. Croix State Park - St. Croix National Scenic Riverway - Kettle River - Grand Casino Hinckley - Mille Lacs Lake - Regional hiking and paddling trails - Hinckley-area restaurants and entertainment Located approximately 15 miles east of Hinckley, St. Croix State Park is Minnesota’s largest state park, covering more than 34,000 acres where the St. Croix and Kettle rivers meet. Visitors can explore an extensive trail system with hiking and horseback-riding routes or enjoy canoeing, fishing, and multi-day river adventures. Grand Casino Hinckley offers restaurants, concerts, gaming, lodging, and year-round entertainment. Approximately 35 miles west of Hinckley, Mille Lacs Lake is one of Minnesota’s best-known destinations for walleye and bass fishing. St. Croix River Resort welcomes guests during the spring, summer, and fall camping seasons. Memorial Day through Labor Day is the busiest period, while late September through mid-October brings colorful fall foliage. Advance reservations are recommended for summer weekends, holidays, cabins, and extended stays.

from $65/night

Two Rivers Campground & Tubing

112 RV Sites, 1 House

Two Rivers Campground and Tubing in Royalton, Minnesota, offers 112 full-hookup RV sites and a house rental at the Mississippi and Platte River confluence, with 20, 30, and 50-amp service and rigs accepted to 50 feet behind a gated entrance. A Paw Pen pull-through category for guests with dogs joins patio back-in and deluxe pull-through tiers, with an outdoor pool, mini-golf, jumping pillow, and river tubing. One hundred twelve sites span back-in full hookup 30/50-amp, back-in full hookup patio 30/50-amp, deluxe pull-thru full hookup patio 30/50-amp, Paw Pen pull-thru full hookup 30/50-amp, and pull-thru full hookup 30/50-amp categories, all carrying water, sewer, and electric with site WiFi, sized to 50 feet, with fire pits, picnic tables, and BBQ pits. A Paw Pen — a private fenced run at the site — is genuinely uncommon. A house rental and cabins round out the lodging. A general store, dump station, restrooms, showers, and firewood handle the practical side. Rates cover one RV or two tent units with two adults and two children; children under two are free, an additional tent is $30 a night, and holiday rates apply. An outdoor pool anchors the summer, with river tubing as the property's defining activity — the Platte's gentle current and accessible float corridor are what most guests come for. Mini-golf, a jumping pillow, gaga ball, sports courts, volleyball, basketball, shuffleboard, horseshoes, corn hole, walking trails, biking, a beach, playground, pavilion, and dog park fill the rest. The address is 5116 145th Street Northwest in Morrison County. Summer is the tubing season. Reserve well ahead.

from $36/night