Fire ban in effectVoyageurs National Park has a parkwide campfire ban due to high fire danger and active wildfires across northeast Minnesota — no campfires, including in designated fire rings, and no charcoal fires or grills. The ban stays in effect until rescinded, so any fire-ring amenities listed below may be unavailable right now.
Increased bear activity and Dryweed Island area closuresDue to unsafe bear‑human interactions, all of the Dryweed Island area’s campsites, houseboat sites, and day use sites are closed. See below for a full list of sites covered by the closure. This time of year typically brings increased bear activity throughout the park. Visitors should remain bear aware and follow all food‑storage requirements.
Rainy Lake · Voyageurs · Koochiching County
Camping around International Falls
Every place to pitch a tent, back in an RV, or moor a houseboat
Start with how you like to camp — we’ll help you sort 400 sites within ~50 miles (and 661 across the wider region) down to yours. Tap any site for photos, amenities, and how to reserve.
How do you camp?
Browse every site
Campgrounds & resorts
Curated facts for the campgrounds we’ve verified. Details from the MN DNR.
State (DNR)
Woodenfrog Campground and Day Use Area
On a pine-covered point on Lake Kabetogama near Voyageurs National Park — swimming beach, hiking trail, and scenic picnic area.
61 (59 drive-in + 2 accessible, non-electric; most fit large RVs) · $17–$22/night (state forest rate — see DNR) · first-come, first-served (no reservations; same-day payment online or at a ranger station) · seasonal (spring–fall; dates vary)
State (DNR)
Big Bog Campground
At Big Bog State Recreation Area on the Tamarac River — gateway to Minnesota's 500-square-mile peat bog.
31 drive-in (26 electric, 30/50A) · $20–$35/night + $10 electric (state park rate — see DNR) · reservation required (reservemn; same-day OK, no fee at arrival) · open year-round
State (DNR)
Franz Jevne Campground
Secluded and peaceful on the Rainy River — 18 drive-in sites, 3 walk-in, 2 electric (sites 1 and 5), 30-ft RV limit.
18 drive-in + 3 walk-in · $20–$35/night + $10 electric (state park rate — see DNR) · reservation required (reservemn; same-day OK) · seasonal campground (check DNR status)
State (DNR)
Wakemup Bay Campground and Day Use Area
On Wakemup Bay of Lake Vermilion — fishing pier, swimming beach, hiking trail, and picnic pavilion.
21–22 (15 fit RVs, 1 accessible) · $17–$22/night (state forest rate — see DNR) · first-come, first-served (campsite card at the site post) · seasonal (spring–fall; dates vary)
State (DNR)
Ash River Campground and Day Use Area
Near Voyageurs National Park and the Ash River Visitor Center — river access, whitewater paddling, adjacent public landing.
8 (1 accessible) · $17–$22/night (state forest rate — see DNR) · first-come, first-served (same-day payment only) · seasonal (spring–fall; dates vary)
State (DNR)
Hinsdale Island
Boat-in island camping on Lake Vermilion — quiet, secluded sites with fire ring, picnic table, and bear box; beach your watercraft (no docks).
$17–$22/night (state forest rate — see DNR) · first-come, first-served (same-day payment only) · seasonal (spring–fall; dates vary)
State (DNR)
Chase Point Campground
Scenic State Park's larger campground in red pine and white cedar near Coon Lake, with a lakeside boardwalk and boat and canoe rentals.
63 (25 non-electric + 38 electric, 20 pull-through; accessible sites) · $20–$35/night + $10 electric (state park rate — see DNR) · reservation required / reservable (ReserveMN; same-day OK) · modern facilities from fishing opener to early October; some vault toilets year-round
State (DNR)
Lodge Campground
Scenic State Park's smaller, more open campground — closer to the beach and fishing pier than Chase Point.
25 (23 non-electric + 2 electric; 1 accessible) · $20–$35/night + $10 electric (state park rate — see DNR) · reservation required / reservable (ReserveMN; same-day OK) · flush toilets & showers Memorial Day through Labor Day; some vault toilets year-round
State (DNR)
Scenic State Park
Secluded backpack and canoe-in backcountry sites (accessed on foot or from Coon–Sandwick Lake) with tables, fire rings, and wilderness toilets; bring your own water.
7 backcountry (2 backpack ~1.5 mi in + 5 canoe-in) · $20–$23/night (state park backcountry rate) · reservation required / reservable (ReserveMN; same-day OK) · seasonal
State (DNR)
Beatrice Lake Campground
McCarthy Beach State Park's rustic campground on a peninsula jutting into Beatrice Lake, seven miles from the main use area; most sites have a lake view.
30 (27 drive-in + 3 walk-in; non-electric) · $20–$35/night (state park rate) · reservation required / reservable (ReserveMN; same-day OK) · seasonal; rustic — hand-pump water, vault toilets
State (DNR)
Button Box Lake Campground and Day Use Area
Primitive George Washington State Forest campground with boat access; panfish and bass on Button Box Lake. Managed by Scenic State Park.
12 (10 drive-in + 2 walk-in; 1 accessible; non-electric) · $17–$22/night (state forest rate — see DNR) · first-come, first-served (same-day payment online via Yodel or at a ranger station) · seasonal (see DNR)
State (DNR)
Larson Lake Campground
Primitive George Washington State Forest campground with nature trails on Larson Lake, a designated trout lake. Managed by Scenic State Park.
12 drive-in (1 accessible; non-electric) · $17–$22/night (state forest rate — see DNR) · first-come, first-served (same-day payment online via Yodel or at a ranger station) · seasonal (see DNR)
State (DNR)
Thistledew Lake Campground and Day Use Area
Primitive George Washington State Forest campground with a swimming beach and water access to a walleye and crappie lake, beside the Thistledew ATV Trail. Managed by Scenic State Park.
21 drive-in (2 accessible; non-electric) · $17–$22/night (state forest rate — see DNR) · first-come, first-served (same-day payment online via Yodel or at a ranger station) · seasonal (see DNR)
State (DNR)
Togo Horse Campground
Primitive equestrian campground on 19 miles of signed multi-use trails; 13 miles by trail to Stony Brook. Pull-throughs, picket lines, manure bunkers. Managed by Scenic State Park.
12 equestrian (non-electric) · $17–$22/night (state forest equestrian rate) · first-come, first-served (same-day payment online via Yodel or at a ranger station) · seasonal (see DNR)
State (DNR)
Stony Brook Horse Campground
Primitive equestrian campground on 30 miles of trails that connect into McCarthy Beach State Park; 13 miles by trail to Togo. Managed by McCarthy Beach State Park.
17 equestrian (non-electric) · $17–$22/night (state forest equestrian rate) · first-come, first-served (same-day payment online via Yodel or at a ranger station) · seasonal (see DNR)
State (DNR)
Big Fork River State Water Trail
Designated free watercraft campsites along ~170 miles of river running north to the Rainy River through wild state and national forest; camp only at the marked water-access sites.
designated watercraft campsites along the route · free — no fee at this time (primitive, water-access only) · first-come, first-served; no reservation · paddling season (flow-dependent)
State (DNR)
Little Fork River State Water Trail
The smaller of the Rainy River's two Fork tributaries — rapids separated by long quiet stretches; low water (USGS gauge ≤3 ft) leaves the rapids too shallow.
designated watercraft campsites along the route · free — no fee at this time (primitive, water-access only) · first-come, first-served; no reservation · paddling season; flow peaks late April
State (DNR)
Vermilion River State Water Trail
Runs 42 miles north from Lake Vermilion to Crane Lake through Kabetogama State Forest past bedrock and bluffs; for experienced paddlers (few accesses, numerous rapids).
designated watercraft campsites along the route · free — no fee at this time (primitive, water-access only) · first-come, first-served; no reservation · paddling season; canoeable well into autumn
Nonprofit
Camping & Education Foundation
The Camping & Education Foundation is dedicated to fostering a deep appreciation for nature and personal growth through transformative wilderness experiences.
View listing →Private / resort
Noma Lake Campground
A free Chippewa National Forest campground two miles northwest of Wirt, with drive-in sites among birch and white pine and carry-in access…
View listing →Private / resort
Rat Root Picnic Site
The Rat Root Picnic Site is a Koochiching County water-access picnic and camping site on the lower Rat Root River, with a…
View listing →Private / resort
Fish Camp Campsite, Rat Root River
The Fish Camp Campsite (#2693) is a Koochiching County public water-access campsite on the lower Rat Root River, with a picnic table,…
View listing →Private / resort
Bass Lake County Park and Campground
Bass Lake County Park and Campground is a 663-acre Itasca County park with 43 campsites, four lakes, a swimming beach, and miles…
View listing →Private / resort
Togo Horse Camp
Togo Horse Camp is a DNR equestrian campground in George Washington State Forest with 12 pull-through campsites, picket lines, and 19 miles…
View listing →Private / resort
Thistledew Lake Campground
Thistledew Lake Campground is a DNR state-forest campground with 21 drive-in campsites, a swimming beach, and first-rate walleye fishing on a clear…
View listing →
Houseboating the border lakes
A houseboat turns the big water of Voyageurs into your campsite — sleep, cook, and travel Rainy, Kabetogama, Namakan, and Sand Point lakes with your beds and galley aboard. You captain your own trip; local outfitters supply the boat.
How permits work
Any houseboat spending a night in Voyageurs National Park between May 1 and October 31 needs an overnight permit, reserved in advance on Recreation.gov. Permits aren’t tied to one spot — you reserve for a lake zone (the Rainy Lake zone, or the Kabetogama–Namakan–Sand Point zone) and moor at designated or undesignated sites within it. Day use needs no permit.
Reserve a houseboat permit →Where to rent
- Rainy Lake Houseboats — Rainy Lake
- Northernaire Houseboats — Rainy Lake
- Ebel’s Houseboats — Ash River
- Voyagaire Houseboats — Crane Lake
Before you go
Voyageurs National Park
Every VNP campsite — boat-in, backcountry, and houseboat — requires an advance permit reserved through Recreation.gov. Sites are water- or trail-access only.
Reserve a VNP permit →State forests (MN DNR)
State-forest and water-trail campgrounds are first-come or reservable through the MN DNR. Fees and seasons vary by site.
MN DNR camping →Conditions
Check lake levels and the forecast before a water-access trip.
Rainy Lake water levels →Local weather →
Leave No Trace
Pack out everything, use established sites and fire rings, keep food secured, and respect quiet hours.
Camping stories & guides
Noma Lake Campground
Rat Root Picnic Site
Fish Camp Campsite, Rat Root River
Bass Lake County Park and Campground
Togo Horse Camp
Thistledew Lake CampgroundStep 1 of 3
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