Last minute camping options

[Evenflow]

As a nearly last second decision, I'm going to take my almost 4 year old son camping/fishing this weekend. Father Hennepin looks nice since there is a nice beach we can spend time on if for some reason the boating/fishing aspect doesn't work out. My concern is that all the reservable sites are gone for this Friday/Saturday. Does anyone have any idea whether we'll be able to roll into one of the Father Hennepin campgrounds between 7-9pm on Friday and get a non-reservable spot this weekend? If there is a chance we'll try it, with some sort of back up plan. But if it's very unlikely, then we'll just head straight somewhere else.

With that in mind, is there another camping option in the area that doesn't have tents packed like sardines? It doesn't have to be Mille Lacs, but I would like it to be within roughly 2 hours of the cities and preferably would have a beach to swim at.

Thanks,

Erik

[Evenflow]

Lots of lookers but no replies, so here is what I learned...

I called the park and they said there's almost no chance of that working, they usually fill up on Thursday. She mentioned I could always call them on Friday to see if someone canceled though...

As far as campsites in the area, I haven't found much on the lake.

[Kyhl]

Are the reservable sites booked?

[ASMOLEY]

There is also Kathio State Park down the road... You could still use the day use areas at Father Hennepin. Not sure how the beach on the Rum is.

Interstate State Park both the MN and WI is a nice place to stay. There is a water park in Taylor Falls, the St. Croix should provide some great cat fishing. WI side has a nice beach not sure on MN side.

I showed up at Itasca State Park on Memorial weekend a few years ago and got a non-reservable site for the weekend. Tired it again late July and they were full. You just never know if there will be spots.

[Pontoonfishing]

I would give Mark Mohwak at North Star Resort a call. The resort is located about a mile north of the casino on the west side of the lake. Most of the time he has openings, but I cant recall his policy on tents. I think I have seen them in the past I just cant fully remember. The number is 320.532.4568.

Happy Camping!

[gregg52]

they probably have sites availalbe but i'm not positive

i'd try appledorns just up the road from there i'm pretty sure he allows camping not positive on that either

[Stick in Mud]

From my experience, those state parks fill up quick on Thursday night/Friday morning. I wouldn't count on finding an available site if you're not going to make it up until Friday night.

Kathio might work, but...it's also a state park.

There's a campground just went of Garrison called Camp Holiday. It's a nice place. I don't know what they've got for availability, but it might be worth a shot.

[tom fellegy]

due to the flooding north of here, jay cooke and savana portage state parks have closed. the company that takes the reservations has put campers in the non-reserveable sites. the park workers have no control over this.

[Stick in Mud]

Yeah, I was up in the area most of last week, and the rivers are NUTS. Pretty awesome to see...just sad to know about all the damage they're causing.