• Camping in the Midwestcamping image by BOOJOO from Fotolia.com
  
  Monticello, Minn., is on the Mississippi River and is located equidistant, about 40 miles, between the Twin Cities and St. Cloud on Interstate 94. The city is known for being the home to more than 1,000 trumpeter swans each winter. Several campgrounds are in, or near, the town.
  
  

River Terrace Park

• River Terrace Park is located within the city limits of Monticello on the Mississippi River. It offers 13 tent and 87 full pull-through camp sites. Amenities include electric and water hookups, full bathrooms with showers, boat ramp, camp store, sanitary dump, laundry facility and fire pits at each site. Activities include fishing, boating, swimming, biking and hiking. Golfing, antique shops and Sunday flea market are located nearby.
  
  River Terrace Park
  1335 River St. W.
  PO Box 366
  Monticello, MN 55362
  (763) 295-2264
  woodalls.com/a/03304_RiverTerracePark.html
  
  

Lake Maria State Park

• Lake Maria State Park is located about five miles straight west on Monticello on County Road 39 NW. The campground sits next to Maria Lake. There are no camper or RV sites available; only tent sites and three cabins for rent. The campground offers some unique environmental features, including waste reduction/reuse/recycling program, energy efficiency/conservation, eco-friendly landscape/facility design,and solar-powered lighting and water pumping facilities at the Visitor Center. Activities include hiking and horseback trails, fishing, swimming and interpretive activities.
  
  Lake Maria State Park
  11411 Clementa Ave. NW.
  Monticello, MN 55362
  (763) 878-2325
  www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/lake_maria/index.html
  
  

Shady River Campground

• The Shady River Campground is located near Big Lake and Lake Mitchell, about six miles north of Monticello. A total of 102 RV sites are available with full water and electric hookups, plus bathroom facilities with showers. Local activities include golfing at the nearby Monticello Country Club and water activities at Lake Mitchell.
  
  Shady River Campground
  21353 County Road 5 NW
  Big Lake, MN 55309
  (763) 263-3705