Camping

Fall asleep to the sound of crickets and wake up with the sunrise. Camping is the stuff memories are made of. At Three Rivers, you’ll find all the fun of camping without the long car trip. Campgrounds at Baker Park Reserve, Carver Park Reserve and Cleary Lake Regional Park offer amenities for campers seeking a more rustic experience and those who want to maintain some of the creature comforts.

Reserve a Campsite

Reserve a Campsite Online

Campsites and camper cabins may be reserved up to one year in advance of your first night's stay. To reserve by phone, call 763-559-6700. A $7.50 (sales tax not included) non-refundable reservation fee applies.

Campgrounds:

Three Rivers is a year-round destination for group camping. Sites for larger groups are tucked into secluded areas within the parks, including some you can only reach by hiking, biking or horseback. 

Want to camp but don't have a tent or an RV? Try camper cabins at Baker Campground or Elm Creek Park Reserve. Reservations required.

Camping tent and fire

Bike-in Camping 

The bike-in campsite at Lake Auburn Campground in Victoria is accessed by the Lake Minnetonka Regional Trail.

Campsite amenities include:

  • Space for up to 10 tents
  • A common area with a fire ring 
  • Picnic tables
  • Bike racks
  • Hammock poles
  • All the other nearby facilities of Carver Park Reserve

Cost: $10 per night

Two people ride horses on a trail.

Elm Creek Horse Camp

The Elm Creek Horse Camp is located in Dayton on the north end of Elm Creek Park Reserve near the archery range. The horse camp has five sites. Each campsite can hold up to eight people and two sleeping units (two tents or one tent and one camper; two campers not allowed). Self-contained RVs are not allowed. Reservations are required. 

Availability: May 10–October 13, 2024
Cost: $17 per site, plus a $7.50 non-refundable reservation fee (sales tax not included)

Reserve a site.

Camping Policies

Review camping and firewood policies. Be sure to camp in a way that is environmentally friendly by following basic green camping guidelines!

See What It's Like to Go Camping at Three Rivers

Three Rivers no longer accepts plastic bags in recycling bins.

Related Blog Posts

May 02, 2023

Learn how outdoor recreation has helped nurture healing in victims of gun violence in this Q&A with Farji Shaheer, founder and director of Three Rivers’ partner organization Innovative SOULutions.

June 30, 2020

Fourth of July weekend is almost here! Whether you are going camping, staying in a cabin or planning an adventure at home in your own backyard, try one of these basic campfire cooking techniques and recipes for a tasty meal.

August 05, 2019

Saturday is National S'mores Day! Read on to find fun takes on the classic camping dessert, alternatives for dietary restrictions and ways to celebrate with Three Rivers. 

Other Things To Do

Bike Trail

Biking

Two women bike over a bridge.

Biking in Three Rivers is a great way to get the whole family outside. Whether you’re the casual rider or a cyclist in training, you’ll appreciate more than 240 miles of off-roadway bike/hike trails that wind through woodlands and grasslands and rim the shorelines of lakes and ponds at our parks.

Boat Launch

Boating

two men fishing in a small motor boat.

Three Rivers offers plenty of boating opportunities with over 30 lakes, rivers and streams. With lake access points and trailer parking sites, it’s easy to get the family out on the water to enjoy the ultimate Minnesota pastime.

Paddling

Paddling

Three people kayaking on a lake.

Recreate on the water with canoeing, kayaking or stand-up paddleboarding. Get exercise and fresh air while you explore the shorelines and bays where motorized boats can’t go. Need a boat? Three Rivers offers canoe, kayak, rowboat, paddleboat and stand-up paddleboard rentals at several parks.

Fishing / Fishing Pier

Fishing

A man and his son fish from the shore of a lake.

Throw a line for your own catch of the day. In Three Rivers, you might reel in muskie, northern pike, sunfish, bass or even walleye.

Swimming

Swimming

two girls swimming

Swimming beaches in Three Rivers are located near play areas, trails, visitor centers and campgrounds, so you can make a day of it. Or try the swim ponds at Lake Minnetonka Regional Park and Elm Creek Park Reserve for the perfect mix of pool and lake.