The Twin Cities in Minnesota offer multiple sports teams along with the Mall of America, which has several floors and hundreds of stores you can explore. St. Paul and Minneapolis aren’t the only big cities in the state though. You may want to head to Duluth or St. Cloud to experience both big-city attractions and small-town living. No matter where you stay, urban camping is an alternative to hotel rooms. With urban camping, Minnesota visitors can enjoy some of their favorite outdoor activities with tons of indoor fun.
Urban RV Parks in Minnesota
St. Cloud Campground & RV Park
St. Cloud Campground & RV Park in St. Cloud offers tons of peace and quiet with more than 100 sites, including both pull-through and back-in sites for RV visitors. You get wireless internet on your site and can choose wooded sites with more privacy. The park also has a swimming pool and a lodge with a camp store.
St. Cloud/Clearwater RV Park
Open from April to October, the St. Cloud/Clearwater RV Park in Clearwater caters to visitors of that city and St. Cloud. The park hosts special events and activities during the season such as magic shows and a summer carnival. You’ll find shuffleboard and horseshoe courts as well as a clubhouse with a book and game library.
Indian Point Campground
For urban RV camping in Minnesota close to the water, consider Indian Point Campground in Duluth. This campground offers primitive camping in the heart of the city and gives you internet access in all areas. You can choose a spot that overlooks Spirit Bay and is close to the St. Louis River and Spirit Mountain for kayaking and hiking.
Lakehead Boat Basin
Also in Duluth is the Lakehead Boat Basin, which has a marina and an RV park with 30 sites. All sites have power hookups and are close to both the dump station and laundry room. This RV park offers docking in the marina if you reserve a spot before you arrive.
Minneapolis Northwest KOA
The Minneapolis Northwest KOA in Maple Grove is close to Minneapolis. You can stay in a rental cabin or book an RV site with full hookups and lots of space. This KOA has a miniature golf course that is close to a dog park and hosts movie nights and other activities in the summer.
Minneapolis Southwest KOA
Staying in the Minneapolis Southwest KOA in Jordan puts you close to the excitement of Minneapolis. Guests can take a hay wagon ride every Saturday night and sign up for arts and crafts classes in the office. This Minnesota KOA also has a dog park and a swimming pool.
Where to Urban Camp in Minnesota
With more than 60,000 residents, St. Cloud combines elements of both small towns and big cities. Staying in a St. Cloud campground lets you explore the Quarry Park and Nature Preserve and Munsinger Gardens on your trip. The Stearns History Museum offers a fun look at the history of the county and city. There’s also the Summerland Family Fun Park that has go-karts and a miniature golf course.
Duluth offers things that you can do during any season. Spirit Mountain Recreation Area has tons of trails that you can race down in the winter and lets you take a horse-drawn sleigh ride. Glensheen Mansion is a historic former home built in 1908 that is open to the public and has some beautiful gardens. You can also take a ride on the North Shore Scenic Railroad or walk across the swinging bridge in Jay Cooke State Park.
There are several urban RV parks in Minnesota that are close to Minneapolis and St. Paul, too. You can spend a day walking around the Mall of America and still not see every floor. Nickelodeon Universe is an amusement park on the first floor of the mall that has a small roller coaster and other rides. If you like sports, get tickets to see the Twins play at Target Field or the Vikings play at US Bank Stadium. Minneapolis also boasts the Walker Art Center and Minneapolis Sculpture Garden.
Urban Camping in Minnesota
When looking at where to urban camp in Minnesota, think about the size of the city, which gives you an idea of the things that you’ll find to do. The Twin Cities are larger than any other city in the state and have a public transportation system that can take you anywhere for a small fee. Duluth and St. Cloud are smaller and may not offer as many things to do as you expect.
You should make sure that you bring a comfy pair of walking shoes, too. Whether you plan on spending one or more days in the Mall of America or checking out some of the county parks, you need shoes that can keep up with you. It’s also helpful to look for reservations you can make before your trip. This ensures that you get a spot in the right RV park and that you can see the shows and games you planned on seeing.
If you need help planning your urban RV camping trip in Minnesota, our blog has dozens of RV travel tips that can help you plan for anything that you might see in Minneapolis or another big city.
With an RV rental, your urban vacation will be a little more comfortable! After you’ve spent a long day exploring the city, you can relax around the fire at your campsite. Then, retire inside to enjoy all the comforts of home onboard your RV. Plan your perfect urban getaway with an RV rental from RVshare.
