
RV Camping - All The Comforts Away From Home
Minnesota has an abundance of RV camping sites located along beautiful lakes and in deep forest locations. From the shores of Lake Superior, to deep woods remote campsites, you should have no trouble finding a great RV camping location just right for you and your family. Below are links to official federal, state, and community public RV camping information, private RV parks, official state tourism information, and free camping locations in Minnesota.
Minnesota has seemingly unlimited free public camping opportunities. Minnesota state and national forests allow free dispersed camping, and the US Forest Service has free developed campground locations. Many towns have free RV camping locations as well. The following are only a few examples of the many free RV camping locations available in Minnesota.
SUPERIOR NATIONAL FOREST 
Superior Rustic Campgrounds - This link takes you to the official map and camping information page for rustic
US Forest Service campgrounds. 17 campgrounds listed. Not suitable for large RVs.
BLUE EARTH
Located at the fairgrounds, electric, water, and RV dump. I-90 at SH-169, Blue Earth exit, go 0.3 mi to
Fairgrounds Rd (Wal-Mart), West past 60' Jolly Green Giant, follow camping signs. 48 hrs free camping, then donation.
BROWNS VALLEY
Free city park, 4 graveled sites, electric., water, dump station, rest rooms(may be locked). From Hwy 28 going
SE, turn right at Park St. Go past the maintenance garage/ recycling center. Park is on right.
Traverse Co. Park has 3 free sites with electric, unlimited primitive sites, water, boat dock, pit toilets, dump station in town. Take 27
north; at 6-mi marker, turn left into park.
MAHNOMEN
At the Shooting Star Casino on US-59 there are long pull-thru camp sites with full hookups. There is a charge
of $15.98 per day, each adult occupant of the rig is given a coupon good for $10 in the casino.
McINTOSH
The city park is located close to the Hwy and offers showers and electric. $5/day for electric honor system.
MINNEAPOLIS/BLOOMINGTON
The Mall of America. Use the parking lot on the north side of the mall. No facilities. Located 1 mile west of
International Airport on I-494.
ORTONVILLE
Free city park. From Hwy 7 (Second St.) turn west on Madison Ave. Park is on left before bridge. Some electric
sites, water, picnic tables, dump station, grassy un-designated sites, fishing.
ROTHSAY
Off I-94, exit 38. City park with water & electric. Limit 3 days. Stop at I-94 truck stop for directions & check in
with local police.
SLEEPY EYE
In southern MN. Half mile N of US-14, W side of SH-4 at Sleepy Eye Lake. Open all year. No time limit. No size
limit.
TRUMAN
Truman is north of I90 on Highway 16. Free parking in city park for 3 days, $3 day next five days, $10/day
thereafter. Water and electric hookups, dump at entrance (key at city office). Park is behind high school and next to swimming pool.
Library in same building as city office is open weekday afternoons and has one Internet terminal.
ZUMBROTA
About 20 miles north of Rochester, Covered Bridge Park is on MN-58, 1.1 mile north of US-52. Water and
electric (20 amps) for 6 rigs. Plenty of dry RV camping. Dump station, restrooms, showers, pool. Donation. Clean, maintained.
Public lands offer great RV camping opportunities in Minnesota. State, Federal, and community campgrounds have basic service campsites with picnic tables and fire rings, to full hookup RV resorts. The following are just a sample of the great public RV camping locations available in Minnesota.
BRAINERD
CALEDONIA
Fishing, hiking, and the "Big Spring" make Beaver Creek Valley State Park
a great RV camping destination. 42 campsites, 16 with electricity.
INTERNATIONAL FALLS
Voyageurs National Park offers primitive
boat only camping. RV camping is permitted outside the park, and since many folks with RV's living in Minnesota have a boat or
canoe, we've included the link here.
JASPER
Water based recreation and 28 campsites are available at Split Rock Creek State Park. The
largest lake in southeastern Minnesota offers boating, fishing, water skiing, and more.
LAKE BRONSON
Swimming, fishing, boating, great RV camping, and more await you at Lake Bronson State Park. Experience
forest and prairie at this popular park. Hiking and biking are popular activities.
STARBUCK
Glacial Lakes State
Park offers great scenery, and is a wonderful RV camping destination. 39 campsites, 14 with electricity are available.
WALKER
The USDA Mable Lake Campground is located 26 miles east of Walker on Highway 200. Mable Lake is a secluded
campground with a beautiful, sandy beach. There are 22 campsites available.
WASHKISH
The largest peat bog in the lower 48 states is located at Big Bog Campground. 26 of 30 campsites
have electricity at this interesting state park.
WIRT
The USDA Chippewa National Forest offers RV camping at Norma Lake Campground.
14 campsites with a boat ramp and fish cleaning station.
USFS (US Forest Service) - Describes USFS policies and rules about RV camping. Information about dispersed camping, and tips on how to find great free RV camping sites.
NPS (National Park Service) - General information about RV camping and campgrounds in US National Parks. With campgrounds in the most historic and scenic places in the country, the NPS offers some of the best places for RV camping.
USACE/COE (US Army Corp of Engineers) - USACE (perhaps better know as COE) manages water recreation areas throughout the USA. Information about finding USACE lakes, RV camping possibilities, and rules and policies for use of these water based recreation areas is included.
BLM (Bureau of Land Management) - Located throughout the western USA, BLM managed lands offer great camping locations. Developed campgrounds, and almost unlimited dispersed camping opportunites await you.
Here's a list of places to consider when looking for a free overnight RV camping or parking location in Minnesota. We always recommend asking for overnight RV parking permission when looking for a free spot to spend the night. The smaller your RV, the better chances you will have finding places to stay if you choose not to ask permission. If you don't ask permission, you end up "sneaking" into places and hoping nobody bothers you or issues you a trespassing ticket before you move on.
Be smart and Be Safe...Ask Permission.
As you can see, there are a lot of free RV camping and parking possibilities in Minnesota. If you are not asking permission, it's best to keep a very low profile. If your RV has slide outs, jacks and TV antennas, don't use them so as not to draw attention to yourself. Consider your surroundings carefully and if you feel uncomfortable with the area, move somewhere else.