Summber 2020

Pat and I enjoy the Duluth - North Shore area.  This was our second trip with the new rig and still kind of in our shake down or familiarization of the rig and setting up and taking it down.  Its a nice campground with plenty of things for the kids to do.  Full hook ups on most sites.  We were there in late spring so it wasn't very crowded yet and it was nice and quiet.  As we are finding out with our stays at KOA's  it was a little tight for a 39 foot RV.   We got in, but had to be careful making some turns on the way in and out.  Many of the KOA's were established when a 30' rig was a long one so with the larger units you have to be more selective on campgrounds and sites.  

KOA Cloquet

Grand Marais, MN

Some friends invited us up to this campground and we jumped at the chance.  They had pre-booked several sites for a church group and there were cancellations.  Its a pretty good size campground. The sites are a bit close to one another but we had no problem getting our rig into our site.   They have seasonal and short term sites.   Its right on Lake Superior and right on the edge of town.  You can walk to anywhere in town in just a few minutes.  No pool and the lake is to cold to swim in.  You are just a few miles from the Canadian border so real hot days are rare.  Sites are full hook up, 50/30.

We already have plans to go back in July of 2022.   Book early and call back if full to check for cancellations as this place normally is full all season.    Grand Marais Campground

We ran into the owners of this site at the camping show.  They had a really nice presentation of the amenities of their campground.  They were very personable as was their staff when we visited.  Our experience there didn't start well.  Once we checked in and were given our site number we drove there and found it occupied.  We stopped and asked the people if they were leaving and they told us they were not leaving till the next day.  After an hour of talking with the staff they told us that the people were supposed to leave but they couldn't for them to leave. They found us another site that was difficult to get into, but once in it was a better location.  I wasn't really impressed with how they handled the situation, and have no respect for the people that refused to vacate the site they hadn't paid for until confronted by management.  We had one of daughters and her family put up a tent on the site as well so we truly made the best of it. There is a pool, game room, shop, golf and bar/restaurant.  Weekends are full here.  Not sure if we would go back or not, but the area has lots to offer so I wouldn't rule it out.  

The sites were tight for larger rigs and it felt crowded with all of the people.   The Old Barn Resort

This location was picked as a bit of a test.  Rather than being our primary destination it was our second stop on a long weekend trip.  Our first year, we wanted to see how long it would take to pack up and move to a new site and get set up again.  We had heard there was some very scenic vistas here so gave it a shot.  Its a nice park, especially for the nature minded.  No real amenities other than bird watching and hiking, but the views are spectacular.  We got one of two sites that could handle a 39 foot trailer.  Very quiet campground and if you want to get away to be with nature this is a good spot.  

A note about Minnesota State Parks.  If your rig is over 30 feet make sure an check with the park to see how easy access is.  I made a sheet that lists the state parks in Minnesota and has their maximum length listed.  Minnesota State Park RV size limits and available hood ups. 

Frontenac State Park