Camping

Depending on what facilities are available, state park campsite prices range $12–24, plus $4 each for electricity and water/sewer. Camper cabins cost $50 with electricity and $45 without. You can make reservations or check availability online at www.stayatmnparks.com [1] or call 866/857-2757 (TDD 866/290-2267) from the United States or Canada or 605/718-3030 from anywhere else in the world. Phone lines are open 7 a.m.–10 p.m. daily.

Campsites can be reserved 2–90 days in advance when paying by credit card, and 10–90 days in advance when paying by check. The $8.50 reservation fee is nonrefundable.

Campgrounds in Minnesota [2]’s national forests are generally smaller and quieter than those in the state parks. An added bonus is that most campgrounds generally only fill up on Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends, so reservations are rarely necessary, though always still a good idea.

Only two of the 23 “developed” campgrounds in the Superior National Forest [3] have electricity: Fall Lake near Ely [4] and Whiteface Reservoir near Aurora. Prices range $10–20. An additional 17 rustic campgrounds with pit toilets, none with more than six sites, are free.

Most of the developed campgrounds in the Chippewa National Forest are also small, quiet, and rustic. Only three, Stony Point near Walker, O-Ne-Gum-E near Deer River, and the Norway Beach Recreation Area near Cass Lake, have showers and electrical hookups. Rates range $14–20. Reservations for all national forest campgrounds can be made online at www.reserveusa.com [5] or by calling 518/855-3639 or 877/444-6777 (TDD 877/833-6777).

If you don’t know exactly where you want to camp, it is easiest to book by phone. The lines are open 7 a.m.–11 p.m. weekdays and 7 a.m.–8 p.m. weekends April 1 through Labor Day and 9 a.m.–6 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m.–4 p.m. weekends the rest of the year. Reservations are accepted up to eight months in advance, and there is a $9 fee. It costs $10 to change or cancel a reservation.