Accommodations

Tent Camping

The base of operations is the Hok-Si-La Municipal Park & Campground just north of Lake City, MN.  It's 60 miles south of Minneapolis/St. Paul on Hwy. 61.  If you like tent camping (see below if you have an RV or trailer), spend a night or two. A couple of notes on the campground: Tents only, you drive in, drop your gear, then park in a lot near the office. This is nice as very few vehicles drive through and no car doors or horns in the middle of the night. There are water spigots scattered throughout the campground. Vault toilets are near the campsites, with modern restrooms including pay showers (quarters) located near the swimming beach. The campground does not offer electric sites. One final note, there are train tracks on either side of the river with freight trains running at all hours. Earplugs for lighter sleepers may be desired.

Like last year, I've reserved the large Lakeview Group site (B10G). You won't need a reservation to share this spot, and it should be large enough for all who want to camp together. If you want an individual camp site, book soon. Anything starting with B is near the group and the higher A spots aren't far. As far as I can tell, there isn't a bad spot in the campground.  There is a flat nightly fee for the group site, which I've paid.  I'll look for contributions from attendees, but won't ask more than the usual campsite fee.

Please fill out the form on the Contact Us  page  if you're planning to use the group site.  Then I'll know how many to expect and can keep you informed of any developments via email.

If you want your own campsite, contact the camp office at (651-345-3855) or purchase online using the campground link above. These beautiful sites go fast.

Anchoring Out

If you want to sleep in your boat, there are great anchoring grounds either just out from the campsites, around the point near the swimming beach.  or in a lagoon near the campsites.  There is no fee for anchoring out, but if you launch at the public landing near the campground, you will need to move your car and trailer as overnight parking is not allowed at the landing.  The campground will give you a permit to use their car and trailer parking lot for about $10 (or a larger donation if you are so inclined).

RV/Trailer

If you have an RV or trailer, check out the Lake Pepin Campgrounds & Trailer Court.  It's only about a mile south of the Hok-Si-La Municipal Park, the Messabout HQ. That campground also has a few tent camping spaces. Frontenac State Park is just a few miles North. In the past, some have also camped across the lake at the Stockholm Village Park Campground and sailed across to join us.

Motels

If you prefer, there are also nearby motels in Lake City.

Marinas

Need a marina?  There are two nearby.  Just north of the campground is Hansen's Harbor.  To the south is the Lake City Marina.  If you need a slip for the night or an alternate launch site, they can help.