Swimming

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

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

Big Foot Resort

23 RV Sites, 9 Cabins

Big Foot Resort in Alexandria, Minnesota, sits in the heart of Douglas County's lake district — a region of over 300 lakes in west-central Minnesota where the prairie meets the lakes country and the walleye fishing, boating culture, and lakeshore cabin tradition of the Minnesota resort industry reach a concentrated expression along the highway corridors surrounding Alexandria. The resort's proximity to Lake Darling and its clean, family-friendly atmosphere give guests the foundational lake country experience that drives Alexandria's strong year-round visitor economy, with RV sites, cabin rentals, and vacation rental accommodations covering the range of overnight preferences for Minnesota lake country guests. RV camping sites with full hookups and comfortable Alexandria cabin accommodations serve the primary accommodation needs in a resort environment oriented toward the relaxed, lake-centered pace that Douglas County campground guests consistently come for. The combination of on-site comfort infrastructure and immediate proximity to the area's extensive trail and lake network gives guests the flexibility to spend days in either direction — active on the lakes and trails or stationary in the lawn chairs watching the Douglas County sky transition from afternoon blue to the deep orange of a Minnesota lake country sunset. Pets are welcome. Lake Darling, immediately accessible from the resort, provides the fishing and boating access that motivates many Big Foot stays — walleye are the regional trophy species and the Douglas County lake system supports a fishery that draws both casual family anglers and serious walleye pursuers through the full open-water season from ice-out in April through freeze-up in November. The Central Lakes Trail, a paved multi-use path crossing Douglas County, provides excellent cycling and walking infrastructure through the lake country landscape that connects multiple Alexandria-area communities in a 55-mile trail corridor. The Runestone Museum in Alexandria preserves the controversial Kensington Runestone — a runic inscription discovered in 1898 that some interpret as evidence of Norse exploration in Minnesota centuries before Columbus, and whose authenticity has been debated by scholars for over a century. The museum's collection extends beyond the runestone to cover the region's Norse heritage claim and the broader European settlement history of Douglas County. The Big Ole statue — a 28-foot Viking figure on the Alexandria waterfront — makes the community's Norse heritage claim visible from the highway, and the charming Alexandria downtown with its independent shops, breweries, and restaurants provides the evening destination infrastructure that makes Alexandria more than a pass-through lake country stop. Big Foot Resort operates through the Minnesota outdoor season with ice-out fishing in May and June representing the prime early-season window and the fall walleye run in September and October providing a second peak period of exceptional fishing quality. Summer brings peak lake recreation demand for the Douglas County lake system, with boating, tubing, and lake swimming supplementing the fishing activity and extending the resort's appeal beyond the pure angling audience. The winter season offers ice fishing on Douglas County lakes that sustains a dedicated local and visiting fishing community through the Minnesota winter months. Reserve cabin and vacation rental accommodations ahead for the summer peak season and fall fishing season, when Alexandria's lake country lodging is competitively booked from the Minneapolis-St. Paul market.

Ham Lake Resort

5 RV Sites

Ham Lake Resort delivers an authentic lakeside Minnesota escape just thirty minutes north of the Twin Cities — close enough for a spontaneous weekend getaway, far enough that the loons calling at dusk genuinely remind you that you have left the metro behind. With over 100 RV sites, tent sites, and a lake-centered activity lineup that spans water sports, farm animals, and on-site playgrounds, Ham Lake Resort has earned its place as one of Anoka County's most beloved camping destinations for families who return the same week every summer. Full-hookup RV sites, tent camping, and cabin accommodations give guests multiple pathways into the same exceptional lakeside location. Swimming, fishing, kayaking, canoeing, and paddle boating on Ham Lake form the water recreation core of any stay, with a boat dock, horseshoes, a playground, and a dedicated dog park rounding out the social spaces across the grounds. One of Ham Lake Resort's most distinctive features is the small farmyard on the property — home to goats, alpacas, a miniature horse, a donkey, and a peacock — giving young guests hands-on animal encounters rarely found at a campground and creating the kind of memory that children carry into adulthood alongside the lake swimming and firepit evenings. The landscape surrounding Ham Lake is classic Minnesota lake country — gently rolling terrain, birch and pine forest, and the reflective surface of the lake at the center of everything. Anoka County's network of parks and trails extends the outdoor recreation well beyond the resort's boundaries for guests who want to explore on foot or by bike through the surrounding countryside, and the quality of the fishing on Ham Lake keeps dedicated anglers returning regardless of the season. Bunker Beach Water Park, one of the largest outdoor water parks in the Twin Cities metro area, is a natural family day-trip destination from camp. The National Sports Center in nearby Blaine — one of the world's largest amateur sports complexes — hosts major soccer, hockey, and athletic events year-round and is just a short drive away. Como Zoo and Conservatory in St. Paul offers free admission to animal exhibits and a historic domed greenhouse that is particularly appealing for families with young children. The Twin Cities' full metropolitan cultural calendar — including the Minnesota State Fair, Minneapolis art museums, and the Mill District's dining scene along the Mississippi — puts genuine urban depth within easy reach throughout the camping season. Ham Lake Resort operates through the spring, summer, and fall season, with late spring through early fall delivering the full lake recreation experience at its best. Summer weekends fill consistently at this well-loved campground, so booking early for any July or August stay is essential — particularly for holiday weekends when the combination of lake access, farm animal visits, and the relaxed Anoka County atmosphere makes it one of the most popular family destinations in the northern Twin Cities corridor. Ask about themed events and activities scheduled through the summer when you reserve your site.

from $65/night

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

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

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

St. Croix River Resort

17 RV Sites, 3 Cabins

St. Croix River Resort in Hinckley, Minnesota, is a full-amenity camping resort with indoor and outdoor pools, a clubhouse, sports courts, a playground, cabins, and full-hookup RV sites in Pine County — a destination campground on the upper St. Croix River corridor in east-central Minnesota, 75 miles north of the Twin Cities on Interstate 35, that gives the Minneapolis-Saint Paul metropolitan market its most accessible and most comprehensively amenitied camping resort in the mixed pine and hardwood lake country that the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway protects as the boundary waterway between Minnesota and Wisconsin. The resort's Hinckley position on I-35 gives it the practical highway access that makes it the natural first-night or last-night campground for travelers routing between the Twin Cities and the Duluth-Superior corridor. Indoor and outdoor pools, a clubhouse, sports courts, and a playground alongside cabins and full-hookup RV sites give the resort the complete family camping amenity set for Pine County stays — the indoor pool specifically extends the aquatic recreation option into the shoulder-season weather that the Upper Midwest's variable spring and fall conditions create, ensuring that the pool amenity delivers value across the full camping season rather than only in the July-August peak. The campground's full-hookup RV sites with clubhouse access serve the extended-stay market from the Twin Cities that Pine County's I-35 location specifically attracts. Pets are welcome. St. Croix State Park, 15 miles east of Hinckley in Pine County, is the largest state park in Minnesota — a 34,037-acre park where the St. Croix and Kettle Rivers converge in the most extensive state park trail system in the upper Midwest, with 127 miles of hiking, 75 miles of horse trails, and the St. Croix River's canoe camping that gives the park's river recreation the multi-day paddling quality that a large northern river park specifically enables. The St. Croix National Scenic Riverway, federally protected from its northern headwaters to its confluence with the Mississippi, sustains the wild river character that makes the Hinckley corridor's river recreation specifically distinct from the developed recreational lakes of the Minnesota lake district. Grand Casino Hinckley, adjacent to the resort in Hinckley, is one of Minnesota's largest tribal gaming facilities — the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe's casino and resort complex with hotel, restaurants, concerts, and the entertainment infrastructure that gives the Hinckley corridor the overnight economic activity that sustains the town's campground and lodging market year-round. The casino's concert venue and event programming extend the Hinckley area's visitor activities beyond the outdoor recreation calendar. St. Croix River Resort serves guests through Pine County's camping season from spring through fall, with the summer peak from Memorial Day through Labor Day capturing the Twin Cities weekend camping market on I-35 and the fall color from late September through mid-October delivering the aspen, birch, and maple canopy transition in the Pine County mixed forest. Mille Lacs Lake, 35 miles west of Hinckley in Mille Lacs County, is one of Minnesota's premier walleye and bass fishing lakes — an 132,516-acre Anishinaabe homeland lake whose Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe's historic cultural connection and the Department of Natural Resources' walleye management make it the most closely watched and most heavily contested fishery resource in Minnesota conservation history. Reserve sites and cabins well ahead for the summer I-35 travel season and Twin Cities holiday weekends.

from $65/night

Lakeshore RV Park - Ortonville

6 RV Sites, 2 Cabins, 4 Tent Sites

Lakeshore RV Park in Ortonville, Minnesota, offers six full-hookup RV sites, two cabins, and four tent sites on Big Stone Lake, with 20, 30, and 50-amp service and rigs accepted to 60 feet. An outdoor pool, a hot tub, boat docks and rentals, and a game room round out a compact lakeside resort two miles from downtown. Six full-hookup sites carry water, sewer, and electric on 20, 30, and 50-amp, in both back-in and pull-through configurations, with fire pits and picnic tables at the sites. Two cabins serve guests traveling without a rig, and four tent sites cover simpler camping. WiFi reaches the property, and laundry and a general store handle longer stays. Note that all RV sites and cabins carry a two-night minimum. On-site recreation centers on the lake. Boat docks and boat rentals put guests on Big Stone Lake directly, and fishing, boating, and swimming run from the property. An outdoor pool and a hot tub cover the non-lake hours, a game room and arcade handle rainy afternoons, and a pavilion hosts planned activities. Golf cart rentals make the grounds easy to cross. Pets are welcome. Big Stone Lake sits on the Minnesota–South Dakota line at the headwaters of the Minnesota River. The Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge protects the surrounding wetland, making this a strong stop for birders on the prairie pothole flyway, and Ortonville's walkable downtown is two miles from the sites. The park operates through the Minnesota lake season, with summer fishing and boating driving peak demand. Reserve ahead for summer weekends — six RV sites go quickly, and the two-night minimum applies throughout.

from $35/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

River's Edge Campground - Birchwood

River's Edge Campground in Birchwood, Wisconsin, offers full-hookup RV sites with water, sewer, and electric, cabins, and tent camping on the Brill River in Washburn County, with pull-through and back-in sites, fire pits, and picnic tables. A man-made swim pond with a beach supplements the river access, and site WiFi reaches the campground. Full-hookup sites carry water, sewer, and electric in both pull-through and back-in configurations, with fire pits and picnic tables. Cabins serve guests traveling without a rig. A dump station, restrooms, showers, and laundry cover the practical side, a general store stocks basics and firewood, and WiFi reaches the sites. A pet washing station is on site — a genuinely useful detail after a day in the river. The Brill River frontage defines the campground. Swimming holes, tubing runs through clear northwoods water, and kayak launches give guests direct river access, while the swim pond and beach provide shallow, managed water for younger children. A dog park, playground, walking trails, sports courts, and basketball spread across the wooded grounds, with a jumping pillow, gaga ball, inflatable water toys, and planned activities filling the family calendar. Boating, canoeing, kayaking, and picnicking round it out. Pets are welcome. Birchwood sits in the northern Wisconsin lakes country between Spooner and Rice Lake, where the Namekagon and Brill rivers and a chain of glacial lakes define the landscape. Long Lake, the area UTV and ATV trails, and historic Hayward are the main draws nearby. The campground runs the northern Wisconsin summer season, with river swimming and tubing driving peak demand from June through August. Reserve ahead for summer weekends.

from $20/night

Split Ridge Campground

10 RV Sites

Set in the lake and forest landscape east of Lake Holcombe in Chippewa County, Wisconsin, Split Ridge Campground offers a wooded retreat built for guests who want a quiet, well-maintained northern Wisconsin camping experience with direct access to some of the region's most productive fresh water fishing and paddling resources. Shaded sites with gravel driveways provide a stable and comfortable surface across multiple site types, and the campground's relaxed and community-oriented atmosphere gives it a character that rewards repeat visitors who return season after season for the combination of wooded solitude and water access. The campground's signature amenity is the Turtle Club—an open-air shelter constructed over a small pond with turtles, providing an informal gathering space with a distinctly Wisconsin character. A horseshoe pit, fire rings at each site, and additional outdoor game areas give guests recreational programming without leaving the campground grounds, while full hookups, Wi-Fi, laundry facilities, and clean restrooms and showers handle the practical infrastructure of a comfortable multi-night stay. Firewood is available on-site, and the general campground character favors a relaxed outdoor pace appropriate to a northern Wisconsin forest setting. Lake Holcombe, the primary water body in the immediate area, is a reservoir on the Chippewa River formed by a hydroelectric dam that creates a productive freshwater fishery for walleye, muskie, largemouth and smallmouth bass, crappie, and bluegill. The lake's connected bays and wooded shoreline offer excellent kayaking and canoeing conditions for paddle-oriented guests, and the boat launch infrastructure on Lake Holcombe provides straightforward water access for guests arriving with their own vessels. The adjacent Chippewa Flowage—one of Wisconsin's largest and most productive natural lakes—is accessible within a short drive and represents one of the premier muskie fishing destinations in the upper Midwest. The forested landscape of Chippewa County surrounding the campground is characteristic of northern Wisconsin's mixed pine and hardwood lake country—a terrain of glacially deposited ridges, kettle lakes, and river systems that defines the outdoor character of this portion of the state and provides habitat for white-tailed deer, black bears, eagles, loons, and an exceptionally diverse freshwater fishing community. The Tuscobia State Trail, a converted railroad grade extending through the region, provides a long-distance hiking, cycling, and snowmobile corridor for guests seeking off-water recreation in the surrounding forest landscape. Split Ridge Campground is open through the northern Wisconsin warm-weather season, with the lake and forest environment most accessible from late spring through early fall. Fishing season on Lake Holcombe and the Chippewa Flowage drives consistent weekend demand from opening in early May through the fall walleye and muskie peaks of September and October. The fall color season in Chippewa County's mixed forest landscape is particularly beautiful, and leaf-change weekends in late September and early October represent a popular shoulder-season reservation window. Advance booking for summer holiday weekends and the peak muskie fishing season is recommended for guests with preferred site locations in mind.

from $30/night