Sandy Lake Campground Docks
Sandy Lake Dam Downstream
Winter Sunrise at Sandy Lake
Tent Campsite
Winter at the Sandy Lake Dam

Featured amenities

Playground Playground

Available sites

60 total sites

About Sandy Lake

The Sandy Lake Dam and Recreation Area is situated at the outlet of Big Sandy Lake in northern Minnesota, 13 mi north of McGregor, MN. The dam is a part of the Mississippi Headwaters Project, one of the first reservoir systems in the country, and the Sandy Lake Dam structure dates back to 1895. Today the grounds have been developed into a park and campground that is noted for its clean, family-friendly environment and access to fishing and boating on both the lake and nearby Mississippi River. It offers the only public campground and beach on Big Sandy Lake. The area is also a part of the historic canoe route that connected the Mississippi River to Lake Superior and major fur trading companies. Artifacts from the area's long history are kept in a small museum located near the dam.

Seasonal information

2026 (Current year)

2026 Season availability

Current season
Upcoming seasons
Past seasons
Closed periods
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Currently closed

Campground Amenities

Most popular amenities

Playground Playground
RV Utilities and Hookups

RV Utilities and Hookups

  • Dump station on site
On Site Services

On Site Services

  • Playground
Missing information?

Rates, Sites & Availability

Select check-in and check-out dates to see real-time availability for each site.

60 Sites Available

Site
Price
🚐 01, Loop: SPOI RV
Pet Friendly · 52 × 35 ft · Gravel
🚐 02, Loop: SPOI RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 44 × 37 ft
🚐 03, Loop: SPOI RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 40 × 34 ft
🚐 04, Loop: SPOI RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 31 × 27 ft
🚐 05, Loop: SPOI RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 35 × 29 ft
🚐 06, Loop: SPOI RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 32 × 26 ft
🚐 07, Loop: SPOI RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 27 ft long
🚐 08, Loop: SPOI RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 24 ft long
🚐 09, Loop: SPOI RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 19 ft long
🚐 10, Loop: SPOI RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 25 × 36 ft
🚐 11, Loop: SPOI RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 27 ft long
🚐 12, Loop: SPOI RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 33 × 28 ft
🚐 13, Loop: SPOI RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 35 × 28 ft
🚐 14, Loop: SPOI RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 41 × 33 ft
🚐 15, Loop: SPOI RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 56 × 53 ft
🚐 16, Loop: SPOI RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 60 × 42 ft
🚐 17, Loop: SPOI RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 60 × 44 ft
🚐 18, Loop: SPOI RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 58 × 43 ft
🚐 19, Loop: SPOI RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 58 × 43 ft
🚐 20, Loop: SPOI RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 47 × 28 ft
🚐 21, Loop: SPOI RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 40 × 32 ft
🚐 22, Loop: NPOI RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 49 ft long
🚐 23, Loop: NPOI RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 47 × 29 ft
🚐 24, Loop: NPOI RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 52 × 35 ft
🚐 25, Loop: NPOI RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 37 ft long
🚐 26, Loop: NPOI RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 56 × 33 ft
🚐 27, Loop: NPOI RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 48 × 30 ft
🚐 28, Loop: NPOI RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 53 × 36 ft
🚐 29, Loop: NPOI RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 58 × 32 ft
🚐 30, Loop: NPOI RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 72 × 43 ft
🚐 31, Loop: NPOI RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 42 × 31 ft
🚐 32, Loop: NPOI RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 75 × 34 ft
🚐 33, Loop: NPOI RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 66 × 32 ft
🚐 34, Loop: NPOI RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 80 × 36 ft
🚐 35, Loop: NPOI RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 39 × 45 ft
🚐 36, Loop: NPOI RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 40 × 36 ft
🚐 37, Loop: NPOI RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 76 × 40 ft
🚐 38, Loop: NPOI RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 60 × 32 ft
🚐 39, Loop: NPOI RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 68 × 30 ft
🚐 40, Loop: NPOI RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 30 × 32 ft
🚐 41, Loop: NPOI RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 54 × 28 ft
🚐 42, Loop: NPOI RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 73 × 32 ft
🚐 43, Loop: NPOI RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 61 × 26 ft
🚐 44, Loop: NPOI RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 52 × 41 ft
🚐 45, Loop: NPOI RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 72 × 27 ft
🚐 46, Loop: NPOI RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 54 × 34 ft
🚐 47, Loop: NPOI RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 65 × 35 ft
🚐 48, Loop: NPOI RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 45 × 33 ft
🚐 49, Loop: NPOI RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 69 × 30 ft
🏠 Camper Cabin, Loop: NPOI Cabin
7 guests
🚐 N-GROU, Loop: NPOI RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 92 × 32 ft
🚐 S-GROU, Loop: SPOI RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 78 × 54 ft
⛺ Tent 1, Loop: SPOI Tent
Pet Friendly · Campfire · Yes shade
⛺ Tent 2, Loop: SPOI Tent
Pet Friendly · Campfire · Yes shade
⛺ Tent 3, Loop: SPOI Tent
Pet Friendly · Campfire · Yes shade
⛺ Tent 4, Loop: SPOI Tent
Pet Friendly · Campfire · Yes shade
⛺ Tent 5, Loop: NPOI Tent
Pet Friendly · Campfire · Full shade
⛺ Tent 6, Loop: NPOI Tent
Pet Friendly · Campfire · Full shade
⛺ Tent 7, Loop: NPOI Tent
Pet Friendly · Campfire · Full shade
⛺ Tent 8, Loop: NPOI Tent
Pet Friendly · Campfire · Full shade

Reviews (273)

What Guests Are Saying

Sandy Lake is a well-maintained campground with clean facilities, friendly staff, and a variety of activities, making it a favorite for families and outdoor enthusiasts. The large, quiet sites and beautiful surroundings enhance the camping experience, while the convenient access to boating and swimming is a significant plus. Some visitors noted issues with campsite proximity and minor facility improvements, but the overall atmosphere is inviting and enjoyable.

Review Summary

4.5
273 reviews
5
64.5%
176
4
21.6%
59
3
9.9%
27
2
3.3%
9
1
0.7%
2

Marcia G

Verified

September 9, 2026 • Stayed at: 41, Loop: NPOI

5

Large beautiful sites. Volunteers very helpful. We will definitely stay again!

Jeff R

Verified

September 11, 2026 • Stayed at: 26, Loop: NPOI

5

Great place to stay. The sites are level with lots of room. We love coming here.

Charles L

Verified

September 16, 2026 • Stayed at: 49, Loop: NPOI

5

Nice camping and very interesting historical area.

Darren J

Verified

September 18, 2026 • Stayed at: 24, Loop: NPOI

3

We only rate the campground experience as good. The campground itself was clean well-maintained.

Laura S

Verified

September 24, 2026 • Stayed at: 01, Loop: SPOI

2

The campground is beautiful and the lakeside spots are very unique. I was there Monday through Thursday and there was NO hot water in the women's bathhouse the entire time. Sinks and showers, freezing cold. And I checked all options. I told them twice and it never got fixed, nor did I hear a reason. (I had an electric only site so I needed to use their bathhouse the entire trip, which was an unfortunate experience).
Also, while it is nature/woods...the place is overrun with chipmunks. They are everywhere and even came INTO my tent TWICE with my DOG in the tent. No fear! People need to stop feeding them. They are a nuisance and destructive.
On the positive, sites near the bathhouse have their own dock. So you could launch your boat on the other side of the bathhouse and then dock your boat right at your campsite. If you fish, super convenient. I do not.
Also, there aren't any walking paths. Thankfully it was a very quiet week so I just walked my dog around the North loop of sites because there were only 3 campers there. But if it's a busy time, you'll be walking on the road around campsites or into the neighborhood down the road.
All in all the experience could have been a lot better, but it's not the worst campground that's for sure! Just be prepared.

Michael T

Verified

September 26, 2026 • Stayed at: 45, Loop: NPOI

5

None

Karen J

Verified

September 27, 2026 • Stayed at: 46, Loop: NPOI

5

Best campground ever! love the sites, the host was so great . will be back

Susan B

Verified

September 28, 2026 • Stayed at: 24, Loop: NPOI

5

Such a nice campground. It’s nice that the spots are spaced out and you are not right next to the next camper. They have a nice park that our grandson loved.

Scott G

Verified

October 2, 2026 • Stayed at: 32, Loop: NPOI

5

Great place to relax! The grounds are nicely kept up and clean. Excellent walking area to explore the area good fishing spots with nice docks. Friendly staff. We go every year for a few days.

Lynn V

Verified

October 2, 2026 • Stayed at: 38, Loop: NPOI

5

Large, spacious sites. Very clean and well maintained.

Location & Directions for Sandy Lake

22205 531 St Lane, McGregor, MN 55760 United States

Elevation: 376 ft

Getting There

<p>22205 531st Lane McGregor, MN 55760</p>
<p>Take Highway 65 for 13 mi north of McGregor, Minnesota.  </p>
<p><strong>*Follow "South Entrance" signs for campsites 1-21, tent sites 1-4, and south group campsite.</strong></p>
<p><strong>*Follow "No...

Nearest town

McGregor, MN - 13 mi

About 14 min to downtown

Nearby Campgrounds

Nearby destinations


Last updated: October 20, 2026

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Explore McGregor, MN

Population: 367

Nearby city: Duluth, MN

Approx. 58 mi away (straight-line distance)

Elevation: 1,230 ft

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Managed by the US Army Corps of Engineers
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