Camping at Afton State Park: What To Know

Hastings, Washington County • Daily or annual state vehicle permit required

Afton State Park is one of the Minnesota state parks within easy distance of the Twin Cities metro. There are no drive-in or RV campsites. Instead, Afton offers us backpack-in sites, canoe campsites, group camping, camper cabins, yurts and wall tents.

backpacking campsite in afton state park with picnic table and fire grate — *One of Afton State Park’s backpack-in tent sites*

The backpack sites are up to a mile from the parking lot. So you’ll leave your car, then pack your gear to your site—mostly uphill!

It’s also the most rustic campground in the 7-county metro area. There are no flush toilets except in the Visitor’s Center (which isn’t close to any of the campsites), no showers and no electricity. There are water spigots throughout the area with drinkable water, though.

Just 20 miles from Saint Paul, though, Afton is especially convenient for anyone who wants to try some of these rustic experiences for the first time. No need to drive several hours north. And it’s location on the St. Croix River makes this park extra beautiful.

Afton’s summer map gives you a good overview of the area and where the various campsites are located.

Camping at Afton State Park at a Glance

Location: Near Hastings, Minnesota along the St. Croix River
Drive-in/RV camping? No
Backpack camping? Yes
Canoe camping? Yes
Group camping? Yes
Camper cabins? Yes
Yurts and wall tents? Yes
Winter camping? Yes
Showers? No
Electricity? Only in the cabins
Heat? In the camper cabins and yurts
Hiking? Excellent
Biking? Very limited, no singletrack
Swimming? Yes, in the river
Reservations? Required, even same-day
Minnesota State Park Vehicle Permit? Definitely

Afton is a Great Place to Try Backpacking

Afton would be a great place for an introduction to backpacking—whether it’s yourself, your kids or new campers.

It doesn’t feel exactly like wilderness since it’s so close to the Cities. And it’s a very popular place, especially during the summer months. But the backpacking sites definitely give you the feel for what it’s like to carry all your gear on your back for a fair bit, including up some pretty steep terrain.

If you’re thinking of a backpacking trip with your family or some newbie friends somewhere, this would be a great way to get some experience before driving hours away. The hiking trails are easily accessed right from the campground for lots of exploring opportunities.

The backpacking campsites include fire rings and picnic tables. Firewood is available for purchase nearby (it’s against Minnesota law to bring firewood from home) and vault toilets are available. And these sites are available year-round.

part of the backpack-in trail in Afton State Park — *This beautiful trail is steeper than it looks! It leads to the hike-in campsites.*

Does Afton State Park Have Canoe Campsites?

Are you a paddler? Afton has three canoe campsites. Two of them are right along the shore with, of course, great views of the river. Then the third is up a steep hill a little ways off the river.

(I’m not sure why that one is considered a canoe-in site, except maybe popularity demanded a third site and there wasn’t another spot left on the river. It’s quite a climb, especially if you were to haul your canoe or kayak up there!)

NOTE: The DNR website says Afton only has one canoe camping site, but the map shows three.

canoe campsite sign at Afton State Park — *One perk: the campsites—including this canoe site—are reservable so you’re guaranteed a spot*

Does Afton Have Yurts and Cabins?

If tents aren’t your thing, yes, Afton has two yurts, a wall tent and four camper cabins for rent, too. These are set up for year-round use with heat. The yurts and wall tents don’t have electricity, but the cabins do.

I can already imagine renting one of these for a couple of days when we have plenty of snow for some quiet camping. Snowshoers or cross-country skiers would especially enjoy it.

rental yurt at afton state park — *One of the yurts, available for rental all year round*

Are There Group Camping Options at Afton?

There are a couple of group campsites for tents and one that accommodates small trailers. It’s rustic camping with no showers, electricity or indoor plumbing (vault toilets available).

How about Winter Camping at Afton State Park?

Yes, there’s winter camping at Afton! Whether you’re a pro or have always wanted to try it, Afton is beautiful and very, very quiet in the winter. You’ll probably see some cross-country skiers out and about on the trails. Pack your snowshoes and explore while you’re there.

The only thing to disturb your camping experience is the unaffiliated Afton Alps ski area nearby. Light pollution from the slopes can be seen from some of the campsites, so make your choice of site with that in mind.

Other Activities at Afton

Your best bets for outdoor activities while you’re camping here are the miles of trails for hiking and the swimming beach. Unfortunately, there isn’t a good place to launch a canoe or kayak within the park itself, that we could see. So you’ll have is to launch a canoe or kayak from another location and paddle over to use one of the canoe sites.

two women and a dog hike a wooded trail in Afton State Park — *Take advantage of the many miles of great hiking in Afton*

There are no playgrounds, stores or other fancy city stuff like some of the regional parks and private campgrounds have. But there’s a small educational nature display in the Visitor Center. And a couple of the trails allow biking along with hiking so that’s another option.

If you’re a birder or love wildflowers, you’ll find plenty of that here.

The first thing Renee said when we walked down to the beach was, “What a great place for a hammock!” There are several mature trees right on the water’s edge at perfect hammock-stringing distance from each other. So bring a book and your hammock and relax awhile!

swimming beach on the st croix river at afton state park — *This gorgeous shady area is the swimming beach—the St. Croix River with Wisconsin on the far shore.*

Reservations and Fees

Like all our state parks, the camping fees are cheap. At the time of this writing, tent sites are just $20-23 per night (2026 prices). Yurts are $80/night, wall tents $35-40, cabins $80-90. However, these fees may change over time, so click here to verify current prices and for reservation info.

All Minnesota state parks require reservations year-round for their campsites and lodging now. Even the walk-in sites are no longer first-come, first-served.

How Do I Get to Afton State Park?

Ready to go camping at Afton State Park? It’s in southeast Washington County right on the scenic St Croix River, about halfway between Interstate 94 to the north and Hastings to the south. The main entrance and park office are off 70th Street and St. Croix Trail South.

[This blog post was first published in 2018 and is updated occasionally.]

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Sharon Brodin

Founder & Publisher of Twin Cities Outdoors at Brodin Press LLC

Sharon loves to hike, paddle, camp, snowshoe and cross country ski...and she bikes sometimes, too! Besides maintaining Twin Cities Outdoors and her other blog, Heaven and Nature, Sharon works on client writing and design projects. She also loves to draw and paint on her iPad using Procreate.