Camping in Minnesota: Best Months, Booking and Fire Rules
Across Minnesota's 3 NOAA reference stations, camping weather is mild from May to September, with average highs of 67 to 80 F and lows of 46 to 61 F. Nights at or below freezing show up from October to May, most often in January, when they average 30.7 a month. State park sites are booked through Minnesota State Parks reservation system, up to 120 days ahead.
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The best months for camping in Minnesota
By NOAA's 1991 to 2020 normals, camping weather in Minnesota is mild May to September. Pick the station nearest your campground below; high ground runs colder than any station.
- Jan22° / 6°Freezing nights
- Feb27° / 10°Freezing nights
- Mar39° / 22°Freezing nights
- Apr54° / 34°Freezing nights
- May67° / 46°Freezing nights
- Jun76° / 56°Mild
- Jul80° / 61°Mild
- Aug78° / 59°Mild
- Sep71° / 50°Mild
- Oct56° / 38°Freezing nights
- Nov40° / 26°Freezing nights
- Dec27° / 13°Freezing nights
Each month shows the average high and low across the state’s reference stations, in F. Mild means an average high of 60 to 85 F with lows of 40 F or more. Freezing nights means the stations average one or more nights a month at or below 32 F.
Duluthelevation 1,428 ft
| Month | Average high | Average low | Nights at or below 32 F |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 20 F | 2 F | 30.8 |
| February | 25 F | 6 F | 27.5 |
| March | 36 F | 18 F | 27.9 |
| April | 49 F | 30 F | 19 |
| May (mild) | 63 F | 41 F | 3.6 |
| June (mild) | 72 F | 50 F | 0.1 |
| July (mild) | 78 F | 56 F | 0 |
| August (mild) | 76 F | 55 F | 0 |
| September (mild) | 67 F | 47 F | 1.1 |
| October | 53 F | 36 F | 11.1 |
| November | 37 F | 23 F | 25 |
| December | 25 F | 10 F | 30.5 |
Minneapoliselevation 872 ft
| Month | Average high | Average low | Nights at or below 32 F |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 24 F | 9 F | 30.5 |
| February | 29 F | 13 F | 26.8 |
| March | 42 F | 25 F | 23.8 |
| April | 57 F | 38 F | 9 |
| May (mild) | 69 F | 50 F | 0.5 |
| June (mild) | 79 F | 60 F | 0 |
| July (mild) | 83 F | 65 F | 0 |
| August (mild) | 81 F | 63 F | 0 |
| September (mild) | 73 F | 54 F | 0.2 |
| October | 58 F | 41 F | 5.8 |
| November | 42 F | 28 F | 20.9 |
| December | 29 F | 15 F | 29.7 |
Rochesterelevation 1,304 ft
| Month | Average high | Average low | Nights at or below 32 F |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 23 F | 7 F | 30.7 |
| February | 27 F | 11 F | 27 |
| March | 40 F | 23 F | 24.4 |
| April | 55 F | 35 F | 10.7 |
| May (mild) | 68 F | 47 F | 1.1 |
| June (mild) | 78 F | 58 F | 0 |
| July (mild) | 80 F | 61 F | 0 |
| August (mild) | 78 F | 58 F | 0 |
| September (mild) | 72 F | 50 F | 0.6 |
| October | 58 F | 38 F | 9.1 |
| November | 42 F | 26 F | 22.7 |
| December | 28 F | 14 F | 29.6 |
How to book a state park campsite in Minnesota
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources takes reservations through Minnesota State Parks reservation system. The longest advance booking its page states is 120 days.
How far ahead you can book
Online reservations can be made up to 120 days in advance, 24 hours a day, except for the first day a reservation becomes available.Minnesota DNR, read October 18, 2026. Read it at the source
When the campgrounds are open
Over 3,000 drive-in campsites are available in Minnesota's state parks from late spring through mid-autumn, with some staying open year-round.Minnesota DNR, read October 18, 2026. Read it at the source
How many sites
Over 3,000 drive-in campsites are available in Minnesota's state parks from late spring through mid-autumn, with some staying open year-round.Minnesota DNR, read October 18, 2026. Read it at the source
Quoted from Minnesota Department of Natural Resources pages read October 18, 2026. Windows and fees change, so confirm on the booking site.
Camping outside a campground in Minnesota
Dispersed camping with no amenities is allowed at least one mile outside of designated campgrounds on state forest land. No fee.Minnesota DNR, read October 18, 2026. Read it at the source
Campfires when you camp in Minnesota
Campfires in state parks and forests
All sites have a picnic table, tent or RV pad, and fire ring with grill for cooking, and have access to water and toilet facilities.Minnesota DNR, read October 18, 2026. Read it at the source
Whether you need a permit
for a "campfire"—a fire set for cooking, warming, or ceremonial purposes, which is not more than 3 feet in diameter by 3 feet high, and has had the ground 5 feet from the base of the fire cleared of all combustible materialMinnesota DNR, read October 18, 2026. Read it at the source
What the quote says: a permit is required in some places or seasons.
Campfires on national forest and BLM land
Be aware of fire restrictions that apply to campfires outside of developed campsites. In dry conditions, campfires may be banned in the general forest, but still allowed in campgrounds.USFS, read October 18, 2026. Read it at the source
Where fire restrictions are posted
The fire danger and burning restrictions map automatically refreshes every 5 minutes.Minnesota DNR, read October 18, 2026. Read it at the source
Current restrictions: Minnesota DNR Forestry.
Minnesota camping questions
Camping in other states
Where this page’s facts come from
- State park, forestry and federal land pages (read October 18, 2026). Booking windows, reservation systems, campfire rules, fire restriction sources and rules for camping outside a campground, each quoted word for word with a link to the page it came from.
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991 to 2020 (read October 18, 2026). Average monthly high, low and nights at or below 32 F at 150 reference stations, the same stations the heat season and heating season pages use.
- National Weather Service alerts (live, read in your browser when the page loads). Red Flag Warnings, Fire Weather Watches, Fire Warnings, Freeze Warnings and High Wind Warnings, read live from api.weather.gov.
- National Weather Service 7 day forecast (live, read in your browser when the page loads). The weekend forecast for the ZIP code a visitor enters, read live from api.weather.gov.
Climate figures are NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals at 3 reference stations in Minnesota. Rules are quoted from agency pages and can change.