Pat and I have always enjoyed the Duluth and North Shore area. This was our second trip with the new RV, so we were still in the “shake down” phase, learning the rig and becoming comfortable with setting it up and taking it down.

It is a nice campground with plenty of activities for kids and full hookups on most sites. We were there in late spring, so it wasn’t very crowded, which made for a quiet and relaxing stay.

As we’ve discovered with many KOA campgrounds, sites can be a little tight for a 39 foot fifth wheel. We had no trouble getting in, but we did have to be careful navigating some of the turns entering and leaving the campground. Many KOA campgrounds were built when a 30 foot RV was considered large. Today’s longer rigs require a little more planning when selecting both the campground and the individual campsite. Clouquet KOA

Some friends invited us to this campground, and we jumped at the chance to join them. They had reserved several sites for a church group, and after a few cancellations there was room for us.

It is a fairly large campground with a mix of seasonal and overnight sites. The campsites are a little close together, but we had no trouble getting our 39 foot fifth wheel into our site.

One of the campground’s biggest attractions is its location. It sits right on the shore of Lake Superior and is within easy walking distance of downtown Grand Marais. You can leave your vehicle behind and stroll to the shops, restaurants, and harbor in just a few minutes.

There is no swimming pool, and Lake Superior is usually too cold for swimming anyway. Being only a few miles from the Canadian border, truly hot summer days are fairly uncommon. Most sites offer full hookups with 50 and 30 amp service.

We enjoyed our stay so much that we immediately made plans to return in July 2022. If you’re thinking about camping here, book as early as possible. If the campground is full, don’t give up. Call back periodically, as cancellations do happen and may open up a site.

Grand Marais Campground

We first learned about this campground at a local RV show, where the owners had an impressive display highlighting everything the campground had to offer. They were very friendly and personable, and we found the staff to be the same during our visit.

Unfortunately, our stay didn’t get off to the best start. After checking in and receiving our site assignment, we drove over only to find it already occupied. When we asked the campers if they were leaving, they told us they weren’t planning to depart until the following day.

After spending about an hour working with the campground staff, we were told the campers should have vacated the site but refused to leave. The staff eventually found us another campsite. It was more difficult to get our 39 foot fifth wheel into, but once we were set up, we actually liked the location better.

I wasn’t particularly impressed with how the situation was handled, and I have even less respect for campers who refuse to leave a site they haven’t paid for, especially when it creates problems for the next guests. Fortunately, one of our daughters and her family joined us with a tent, and we made the best of the weekend.

The campground offers a nice selection of amenities, including a swimming pool, game room, camp store, golf course, and a bar and restaurant. It is a very popular destination, especially on weekends.

The campsites were a little tight for larger RVs, and with the campground full, it did feel somewhat crowded. Even so, the surrounding area has plenty to offer, so while we haven’t decided if we’ll return, I wouldn’t rule it out. Old Barn Resort