Camping
Washington County offers two beautiful campgrounds for a relaxing getaway, one located within Lake Elmo Park Reserve and the other within St Croix Bluffs Regional Park. Find a campsite that suits your needs, from sites with electric and water hook-ups, to group sites, to rustic hike-in sites. You can also enjoy all the other amenities the parks have to offer including campfire programs, hiking, fishing, boating, swimming, and more. You will feel like you are far away but close to modern conveniences if needed, both parks are within an hour of the Twin Cities.
Group Campground Features
- Please call 651-430-8370 for reservations
- Three sites available for groups of up to 50 people
- Wheeled cart available for check-out at park office
- Group Site #2 includes a small picnic shelter
- Picnic table and fire ring/grill provided at each site
- Vault or portable toilets available
- One-day reservations allowed
- Pets are not allowed
Hike-In Campground Features
- Five hike-in tent sites - one tent per site
- Hiking distance from parking lot is approximately 100 to 300 yards
- Wheeled cart available for check-out at park office
- Modern bathrooms and water available at the Nordic Center
- Pets are not allowed
Modern Campground Features
- Eighty campsites, suited for tents, trailers, or motor homes. Most sites are back-in
- Electrical hook-ups at all sites with 20 or 30 amp; 50 amp at one site only
- Camp Host/Work Camper sites include sewer hookup
- Picnic table and fire ring/grill provided at each site
- Modern bathroom facilities with flush toilets and hot showers
- Trailer/RV dump station
- Play area
- Handicap accessible
- Pets are not allowed
- One camping unit per site
Rustic Campground Features
- Twenty spacious non-electric back-in sites. One camping unit per site
- Picnic table and fire ring/grill provided at each site
- Horses allowed at each campsite
- Pets are not allowed
- Portable toilets available
The entrance gate closes at 10 p.m. A gate card is required for after hour entrance, available with deposit from the park office.
Group Campground Features
- Please call 651-430-8240 for reservations
- Group Site 1 is adjacent to the modern campground, accommodates up to 30 people
- Birch Hollow Group Site includes a picnic shelter, electricity, water, and a portable toilet, accommodating up to 20 people
- Pets are not allowed
Modern Campground Features
- 26 pull-through campsites with water and 20/30/50 amp electric hook-ups
- Camp Host/Work Camper sites include sewer hookup
- 36 back-in campsite with 20 or 30 amp electric hookups, #1-36
- 11 back-in campsites without electricity
- Handicap accessible. Sites include handicapped picnic table and raised fire ring
- Picnic table and fire ring at each site
- Modern bathroom with flush toilets and private hot shower rooms
- Trailer/RV dump station
- Children's play area
- Pets are not allowed
The entrance gate closes at 10 p.m. A gate card is required for after hour entrance, available with deposit from the park office.
- All campers must register at the Park Office
- Washington County Parks vehicle permits are required on all vehicles entering the park. Daily permits are $7 and annual permits are $30
- Pets are not allowed in the campground
- No Alcohol is allowed in Washington County Parks Campgrounds
- Maximum of 8 people per site (except group sites)
- Only one camping unit (tent or camper), and one vehicle is allowed per site (except Group Camp sites). One additional unit may be allowed for minor children under the age of 18
- Quiet Hours: 10pm-8am
- Check-in is 3pm; check-out is 1pm. Please re-register at the Park Office by 11am
- Campers under 18 years of age must be accompanied by a parent or guardian
- Only approved firewood is allowed in Washington County Parks (examples: wood sold at the park, bought from a MN DNR approved vendor within Washington County, or kiln-dried, untreated, unpainted lumber free of metal and other foreign objects. NOT pallet wood)
- There is a 14 consecutive night maximum stay limit in Washington County Campgrounds.
- Park gates close overnight, registered campers may obtain a gate card from the Park Office for after-hours access
- Weekend reservations have a 2-night minimum stay requirement.
- Cancellations must be made at least 48 hours in advance of scheduled check-in to receive a refund of your camping fee (the $8.00 reservation fee is non-refundable)
- Washington County reserves the right to move campers to different sites than requested due to unforeseen circumstances
- Washington County Ordinance #199 governs activities in County Parks. A copy is available to review in the Park Office
Campsite Rates (sales tax and vehicle permit not included)
| SITE TYPE | PRICE |
|---|---|
| Rustic Campsites (No electrical hookup) | $23 per night |
| 20 or 30 amp Campsites | $29 per night |
| 50 amp Campsites | $31 per night |
| 50 amp Campsites w/water | $37 per night |
| 50 amp Campsites w/water & sewer | $43 per night |
| Group Campsites | $50 per night (Mon-Thur) |
| $65 per night (Fri-Sun) | |
| Group Campsite w/shelter (Lake Elmo site 2) | $65 per night (Mon-Thur) |
| $80 per night (Fri-Sun) | |
| Group Campsite w/shelter & electricity | $73 per night (Mon-Thur) |
| $88 per night (Fri-Sun) | |
| Hike-in Campsites | $24 per night |
| Reservation Fee (per site, non-refundable) | $8 |
| Dump Station (included with camping reservation) | $15 |
| Gate Card Deposit | $10 |