Kenyan in Minnesota here, continuing my adventure of trying outdoor things I've never done. This time: I rented a motorhome and took it up the North Shore corridor for four days, Sep 29 to Oct 2. I'd never RV'd before, never slept in one, never hooked one up to anything. Part of the trip was work, I was meeting outdoor vendors up north for our startup, but I wanted the full beginner RV experience too, so I lived in the thing the whole time.

Fun facts:

1. The size stopped being scary fast. I'd driven the same chassis in a Ford 250 U-Haul, so I knew the drill in theory, but a motorhome is a different animal: the pivot point on turns, the length, the height, bridge clearances, threading into gas stations. The first morning was nerve-wracking. Then I just started driving and it melted away. The surprise was how quickly "this thing is huge" turned into "this is just driving."

2. I locked myself out of the RV on the first day within an of hour of parking and getting ready to set up for the night in Duluth. Classic beginner move. Funny then, funny now.

3. The split personality of the trip. Nights one and two I "camped" in the DECC parking lot in downtown Duluth. $80 a night for an electrical hookup, no water, convention center on one side, downtown Duluth on the other. Not glamorous, but helpful when you've never done this.

Then day three I got the actual campground experience at Canoe Country Campground outside of Ely, woke up to the view, and it was kind of magical. Oh, THIS is what people mean.

Honest takeaway: the driving fear evaporates fast, the unglamorous nights are half the story, and four days was the right length for a first run. Happy to answer anything, routes, costs, what I'd pack differently, whatever.

October 8, 2026 Grand Marais Recreation Area.

Tood county near by fun etc

I’m planning to take my family (wife, boys 13, 11, and 5) camping this weekend for MEA. We’re driving to the Wisconsin Dells area, where the forecast is rain all-day Thursday and a low of 28 on Friday night. Otherwise the weekend looks nice.

I’ve camped as low as 35 with my two older boys but not with rain. I’m concerned about ruining the weekend by pushing camping and it being miserable.

Folks who go car camping with their kiddos, what are your limits for weather, and at/near that limit, what are your tips to make it go smoothly?

I’m looking for a nice secluded place to go camping with my dog. I’d ideally like for him to be able to be legally off leash (he is highly trained and is not a concern for wildlife, but I definitely want to respect leash laws). Any recommendations?

Does anyone know of any decent campgrounds that have electric sites and bathroom facilities in mid October in Minnesota?

Nice night exploring Fort Ridgely State Park.

Beautiful contrasts I thought. Hope you enjoy.

I usually go to Afton state park when I backpack, but I didn’t reserve a spot soon enough. I’m looking for something similar; hike in, some sort of accessible drinking water, and some sort of outhouse. I also really like either being on a prairie or next to a lake or river. I’m hoping to not have to driver too far. For me Afton is maybe a 35-40 drive.
Thanks in advance!

Hi! As the heading says: I’m from out of town, staying in Minneapolis for work. I’d like to go camping this weekend up towards Duluth. I’d like to keep the drive less than 3.5 hours.
My primary objectives are :
-epic stargazing
-scenic gravel/mountain bike trails
-low traffic

I’ll be leaving from work at 2pm in Minneapolis on Friday and driving back on Sunday.

Open to suggestions. From the northeast and have never been to that part of the country before.
Thanks for your help!

Reporting back in - My first camping night was super great. Friday was awesome weather. I’m 51 and have been camping one time when I was a kid. I decided I wanted to get out there. My wife said she was worried, but I had a great night’s sleep and made a few nice meals and generally had fun. Can’t wait to go again and again and try other spots!!

This park is quickly becoming a favorite. Earlier in the spring I was at site 3 and it was very nice but I tried out site 6 on a rainy evening in October. The walk is about a mile on easy trails and I wouldn’t even call it a hike. Finding a flat spot for anything bigger than a 2 person tent would be difficult. There is a proper bear box, table and fire ring, along with a walled in pit toilet a short hop back up the trail. The beavers were a bit noisy in the small lake which is right there. There is a steep little trail down to the water if needed. This park is close enough to the twin cities for a quick excursion but faint traffic can be heard at night.
Overall, 10/10, would recommend.

Site 14 FCFS. Neat little park! Walking path into Granite Falls from the park.

Undisclosed locations in Northern MN IYKYK

I'm pretty excited. I got the bug to go camp a while ago and have amassed what I think I need. I live up the road from Baker Park so I thought for my first outing I would just head over there. I have a sleeping bag rated to 30 degrees and always have a wool blanket in my trunk. I got a tarp and bug net combo from Sea to Summit and have cooking stuff and a cooler. Any recommendations, it looks like it will be dry Friday but on the cooler side? I have been camping once in my life when I was like 7.

Im doing the north shore this weekend, will be my first time.

I have Palisade Head, Black Beach, Split Rock Lighthouse State Park, Iona's Beach, Gooseberry Falls State Park on my to do list.

At the parks, which dog friendly hikes would i get the most bang for my time? Hoping to see waterfalls and fall colors. Open to longer hikes if they are not all steep elevation gain the entire way.

Anything not on my list that is a must do?

I will be car camping with my big dogs so any food reccs would need to have a dog patio. I plan to bring food more than eat out. Mostly looking for outdoor things since I will have my dogs rather than a duluth city type visit.

Edit: made it up for one full day, had to cut it short so will have to go back another weekend for the next things on the list!

It was certainly busy but everyone was pretty nice and patient about parking chaos. Leaves are nearing peak, still have time to go back and still see color.

Fit in fifth falls, black beach, agate beach, lighthouse, palisades head.

Next trip will do Oberg and Leveaux Mountain!

I’m camping in the north shore area this weekend and planning to sleep in my car. Is it alright to also store my food in my car? I’ve always stored food in my car before for bear safety, but should it be somewhere other than where I’m sleeping? Thank you!

Curious have any of you camped on Lake Vermillion before on one of the island sites? Always wondered if it’s a pain trying to get one of those sites or if they don’t fill up real fast?

I can't figure out how to purchase an additional pass for my husband's vehicle with non-park license plates.

I have the state park plates and the FAQ on the park pass website says you can purchase an additional pass for the discounted rate, but when I try to add that to my cart on the website, it states I need to add a regular pass to my cart first. Does anyone know how to accomplish this?

I'm looking for a nice loop trail for an overnight or 2-day trip in mid-October. I've mapped out a route that seems like it will be a fun one, planning to leverage dispersed camping in the national forest (starting in the state park on day one, hiking into Savanna Portage State Forest where I'll camp the first night. Anyone backpacked in this park before? Curious for any thoughts or insights!

https://webmap.onxmaps.com/backcountry/share/content?share_id=01M3FM4G8722QMN9GZQ4FYD5N8

Hello! My husband and I are driving up to Itasca for the weekend and unfortunately it looks like it's gonna rain all day Saturday and we are tent camping.

Anyone have recommendations on things to do around the park or nearby cities that are indoors so we could get some relief from the rain?

Thanks!