Camping at Stearns County, Minnesota

It's hard to find a more central outdoors destination in Minnesota than Stearns County, located right in the middle of the state and only half a dozen miles from Interstate 94. Along or near the shores of the region's lakes, such as Big Birch Lake, are a handful of campgrounds, supporting a range of camping styles. Campers can pursue a real wilderness experience or enjoy the luxuries of an RV around Stearns County.

Campgrounds
The Sterns County area has a mix of public and privately owned campgrounds. On the public side, the state of Minnesota operates a campground and day-use area near the lake's public boat landing, the Birch Lake Campground and Day Use Area. Privately owned campgrounds include the Birch Lake RV Park and the Birch Lakes Resort.

Camping around Stearns County runs the gamut of camping styles. Birch Lake Campground is a car-camping area with basic facilities, and the campsites are all located in wooded areas, with some situated by the lake. The two private campgrounds in the lake area are primarily RV campgrounds, but both are open to tent campers, as well. Despite being primarily an RV park, the campsites at Birch Lake RV Park are secluded by the woods, and some are located at lakeside.

Amenities
As a rule, the public campsites in Stearns County have the fewest amenities, and the privately owned campgrounds have the most. Birch Lake Campground has campsites in wooded areas with drinking water from hand-pumps, fire rings, picnic tables and garbage cans. Birch Lake RV Park also offers wooded campsites, but with full hookups, fires rings and picnic tables, as well as bathhouses. Birch Lakes Resort has the least forested campsites but the most amenities. In addition to full hookups, the resort offers its campers its own dock, a swimming pool and a bar.

Reservations and Fire Rules
Birch Lake Campground operates on a first-come, first-served basis. The private campgrounds both accept reservations. As a general rule, fires are only permitted in designated areas at all Big Birch Lake area campgrounds. Furthermore, Minnesota's Birch Lake Campground limits firewood purchases to a set list of vendors to prevent the importation of out-of-state tree pests into the area's forests.