9 Best Places for Camping in Two Harbors, MN Near Lake Superior (2023)
Are you on the hunt for some of the best places to go camping in Two Harbors, MN to spend some time outdoors this summer?
Nestled on the shores of Lake Superior, Two Harbors offers stunning natural scenery, abundant wildlife, and a wide range of fun activities for everyone.
Camping along the North Shore provides an excellent opportunity to disconnect from the hustle and bustle of regular life and immerse yourself in nature.
I’ve spent plenty of time exploring the shoreline of Superior and rustling through the north woods, and have lots of experience camping up north.
Here are some of the best places to pull up your RV or pitch your tent, within a short distance of the beautiful Two Harbors.
Best Places to Go Camping in Two Harbors, MN
Being just 45 minutes from Duluth makes Two Harbors the perfect getaway for those looking to escape city life!
Here are some of the best places to get out and enjoy the sights and sounds of nature within Two Harbors.
1. Burlington Bay Campground
Distance from Two Harbors: In Town
Open Season: May-October
Location
If you’re looking for the closest place to camp near the small city of Two Harbors, then Burlington Bay Campground is going to be your place!
Found right as you leave town, this beautiful campground is located along the shores of Lake Superior, and offers some pretty epic views.
Whether you’re looking to go tent camping or you’re pulling in your RV, Burlington Bay Campground will have you covered for sites.
In total, there are nearly 150 sites to choose from, with a variety of them having water, sewer, and electric hookups, and some being primitive tent sites.
Along with these features, the campground also has flush toilets and showers, a dump station, and each site has its own picnic table and fire ring.
Take a dip in chilly Lake Superior from Burlington Bay Beach, or rent a kayak from local outfitters to take out onto the water.
No matter what you do, your time spent at this Minnesota campground will be worthwhile!
2. Penmarallter Campground
Distance from Two Harbors: 10 minutes
Open Season: May-September
Location
This unique campground was first opened back in 1968 and was named after the original owners’ four children, Pennie, Marilyn, Allen, and Terry. Hence, Penmarallter.
You’ll find a large variety of spacious campsites, each with its own grassy area to enjoy, as well as a campfire ring and a picnic table.
Whether you’re coming in with a tent or an RV, you’ll be able to find a great site to accommodate your needs.
Many of the sites have features like sewer, water, and electric hookups, that allow you to bring the basic essentials of everyday life with you.
And also be sure to take advantage of their on-site sanitary dump station, hot showers, and flush toilets, as you won’t find that at every Two Harbors campground!
It’s located just a short distance down the road from Two Harbors and is easily accessible from Highway 61. It’s also just a short 30-minute drive to Duluth!
Enjoy the nearby hiking trails, close proximity to the shore’s best waterfalls, and of course, fantastic views of the world’s largest freshwater lake, Lake Superior.
More Campgrounds Near Two Harbors
While there are only two of these campgrounds located actually within city limits, there are several others nearby that still offer great camping, all within an hour!
3. Gooseberry Falls State Park
Distance from Two Harbors: 15 minutes
Open Season: Year-Round
Location
While actually located a short distance outside of town, Gooseberry State Park is one of the most popular places to visit and go camping in Two Harbors, MN.
From fantastic hiking trails to waterfalls and of course, camping, there’s a reason that Gooseberry Falls is so popular amongst locals and visitors!
Choose from 69 sites, many of which are surrounded by trees and secluded from others, and enjoy your time in up north.
You’ll get to fully disconnect from the world, as there aren’t any electric sites here, and often times service can be spotty.
This isn’t anything to panic about though, because there are plenty of places to explore on the North Shore, and you’ll never be bored!
You can still enjoy hot showers and use the flush toilets throughout the summer season. Vault toilets are available year-round, as well as a seasonal sanitary dump station.
One of the best parts about camping at Gooseberry Falls is that it’s available year-round, so if you want to avoid the crowds, you can visit during the off-season!
4. Lax Lake Resort
Distance from Two Harbors: 40 minutes
Open Season: June-October
Location
Although a bit further away, this Two Harbors campground puts you in the perfect location for all that the North Shore has to offer.
At Lax Lake Resort, there are both cabins and lodge rooms, as well as a few campsites available for campers!
There are 15 sites available, and there are electric hookups available for almost all of them.
You can fit RVs and campers up to 32 feet in two of the sites, while the rest accommodate smaller equipment like tents or pop-up campers.
Flush toilets and coin-operated showers are available in the lodge for all guests to use during their stay.
You can also enjoy the beautiful surroundings, as the Sawtooth Mountains wind all around you, and be sure to take advantage of their rentals, such as kayaks and canoes!
This campground near Two Harbors, MN is located on Lax Lake, so you’ll get to escape some of the crowds that flock to Lake Superior.
5. Black Beach Municipal Campground
Distance from Two Harbors: 30 minutes
Open Season: May-October
Location
Nothing is better than falling asleep and waking up to the sounds of waves crashing into the shore, especially on Lake Superior.
At Black Beach Municipal Campground, you can do that, with their beautiful lakeside camping, which puts you right on the shoreline.
There are 49 different sites available, with some offering only electric hookups, and others offering electric, water, and sewer hookups.
You can also choose just a tent site, and go without any of those extra amenities.
Every camper will have access to a potable water station, shower rooms, flush toilets, and fire rings at each individual campsite.
Along with all of these great features, you’ll also be close to one of the top attractions on the shore, Black Beach. This unique place is so worth the visit!
Being in the perfect location, within a short distance of all of the best things to do, a stay at Black Beach Municipal Campground will have you wanting to come back again and again!
6. North Shore Camping Co.
Distance from Two Harbors: 30 minutes
Open Season: Year-Round
Location
Want to experience one of the newest and most epic places for camping along Lake Superior? Then you have to check out North Shore Camping Co.
This isn’t your average camping, and you don’t even need to bring any of your own gear!
Here, you’ll find glamping. Aka, glamourous camping. Aka, the newest and next best way to get out and enjoy the wilderness.
Plan a stay in one of the canvas tents, and you’ll be all set up with everything you need, from blankets to cookware to a heater to lanterns and flashlights.
You’ll also have access to some of the best activities on the shore, for both winter and summer.
Miles of beautiful land surround you, and North Shore Camping Co. will be somewhere that you plan a visit back to, year after year.
7. Split Rock Lighthouse State Park
Distance from Two Harbors: 25 minutes
Open Season: May-October (Backpack sites available year-round)
Location
Depending on what type of campground you’re looking for, Split Rock Lighthouse State Park Campground offers a wide range of sites!
Just 25 minutes from Two Harbors, you can stay near one of the state’s most iconic destinations, the Split Rock Lighthouse.
If you’re visiting with an RV, you can plan to rent one of their drive-in sites at the Shipwreck Creek Campground.
And if you have a tent, perhaps you’ll want to stay at one of their cart-in sites, which are just 2,000 feet from the parking lot, and right on the water.
While there aren’t any hookups for electricity or anything here, there are flush and vault toilets, as well as shower buildings which are available seasonally.
Plus, you can enjoy exploring the state park, as it’ll be just a short distance from where your ‘home away from home’ is parked.
8. Tettegouche State Park
Distance from Two Harbors: 35 minutes
Open Season: May-October (Some available year-round)
Location
Tettegouche State Park is home to the tallest waterfall in the state, and has some of the best hiking on the shore.
So booking a stay here when you’re wanting to go camping in Two Harbors, MN is a no-brainer!
With 28 drive-in sites located along the Baptism River and 13 cart-in sites located along Lake Superior’s shoreline, there are plenty of places for every type of camper.
Of those 28 sites, 22 of them have electric hookups, if you’re hoping to stay connected to your normal everyday amenities, you can do that!
Eight are available year-round, and you can camp year-round at any of the backpack or cart-in sites around the park!
Other campsites within the park include 6 walk-in sites in the Baptism River Campground, a group camp, and 5 backpack sites on the Superior Hiking Trail.
During your stay, take advantage of visiting High Falls, get out and wander the other trails, and enjoy the views of Lake Superior.
9. Eckbeck Campground
Distance from Two Harbors: 40 minutes
Open Season: Year-Round
Location
This primitive campsite doesn’t offer many amenities, but it gives you easy access to some of the best places on the North Shore.
Plus, you can escape the crowds that tend to gather at some of the more popular state park campgrounds near Two Harbors, MN.
Eckbeck Campground is located along the Baptism River, which flows down into Tettegouche State Park, within the Finland State Forest.
You can bring in either a tent or an RV, and campers can use basic amenities like a fire ring, picnic table, and vault toilets. Drinking water is also available seasonally.
This is a great place to go if you haven’t been able to snag any of the other sites, as it’s available on a first-come, first-served basis for just a small fee.
Free Camping Near Two Harbors
If you’re looking to save some money and don’t want to camp within these Two Harbors campgrounds, then consider disperse camping along the shore.
In Minnesota, you can disperse camp in Minnesota State Forests.
In order to safely and responsibly do this, follow these tips.
- Camp in locations that are already established. Don’t trample plants, dig, or tear down anything natural.
- Set up your campsite at least one mile outside of designated campsites and be sure not to park your car in the way of any roads.
- Pack out all trash or anything that you bring in, and bury human waste.
- All dispersed camping is first-come, first-served, and there is no fee.
Best Time to Go Camping on the North Shore
The North Shore really is beautiful year-round, and there are several campsites that you can use throughout all seasons!
But if you’re looking for the best weather and conditions, then you should camp near Two Harbors between the months of May and October.
These months have warmer temperatures, no snow (unless it’s later in October), and most campgrounds are open.
I would personally recommend going between September and October since you’ll have fewer crowds and beautiful changing leaves along the shore.
But, if you’d like to swim in Lake Superior, then you should visit in July or August!
FAQs
The price to camp at Minnesota State Park can vary by park, but typically it costs around $20-30 per night.
There are a few places to camp on Lake Superior, including at the Black Beach Municipal Campground, Tettegouche Cart-In Campground, and Split Rock Lighthouse Cart-In Campground.
No, you can’t camp anywhere. You should camp in a designated campground, but you can also disperse camp on state forest land.
Wrap-Up: Camping in Two Harbors
With such close proximity to Duluth and the fantastic North Shore, Two Harbors makes for a great place to make your home base.
Whether you’re hoping to get some hiking in, just admire the incredible Sawtooth Mountains, or get out on Lake Superior, camping in Two Harbors, MN is a great choice.
These locations make for some of the best places to go, and provide you with some of the best opportunities for adventure in Northern Minnesota!
