Camping

Lake Elmo Camping

Washington County offers two beautiful campgrounds for a relaxing getaway located within Lake Elmo Park Reserve and 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. Enjoy all the other amenities the parks have to offer, including hiking, fishing, boating, and more.

2024 Campground Season

The 2024 campground season will tentatively open in late April 2024. Check back often for specific dates. 

The 2023 campground season closed October 23, 2023.
Washington County Campgrounds are closed annually between the end of October to the end of April.

Reserve a Campground

Book a site online or call the Parks office at 651-430-8370.

Camp Hosts

Washington County Parks welcomes camp hosts in the campgrounds at Lake Elmo Park Reserve and St. Croix Bluffs Regional Park

Camp hosts are volunteers who live in the campground, in their own camping unit, for a portion of the summer. In exchange for a free campsite, they are responsible for providing information to campers, registering campers in the spring and fall, cleaning restrooms as necessary (between staff cleanings), and other related tasks. 

If you are interested in being a camp host, read on for more information and the online application.

Group Campground Features

  • 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 with a refundable deposit
  • 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
  • Sites 1-58 have 20/30/50 amp with water. Site 59 is 50 amp only (no water).
  • Sites 60-80 are 20/30 amp
  • 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
  • One camping unit per site
  • Pets are not allowed

The entrance gate closes at 10 p.m. A gate code is required for after hour entry, available from the park office.

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
  • Portable toilets available
  • Pets are not allowed

The entrance gate closes at 10 p.m. A gate code is required for after hour entry, available from the park office.