Mississippi River Headwaters - Sandy Lake, Minnesota
- Fee per nightnot confirmed
- Seasonnot listed
- RV length (some sites)not listed
- Drinking wateryes
- Electricyes
At a glance: Confirmed: electric hookups, drinking water, flush toilets and showers. Not listed: maximum RV length.
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Amenities
“Not listed” means the official sources don’t say - it does not mean “no”.
- Electric hookups Yes
- Drinking water Yes
- Flush toilets Yes
- Showers Yes
- Dump station Yes
- Water hookups at sites Yes
- Sewer hookups No
- Tent sites Yes
- RV / trailer sites Yes
- Reservable online Yes
Sites, fees and season
- Campsites
- 61
- Elevation
- 1,216 ft
- Phone
- (651) 290-5850 (campground or managing office)
Fees are not listed in the official data. Check the official site before you go.
Location and nearby campgrounds
Location on the map · Driving directions · 46.78833, -93.32833 (the official listing point; check the access road for large rigs)
- Pokegama Dam Campground 34.1 mi straight-line
- Cross Lake Recreation Area 37.8 mi straight-line
- Leech Lake Rec Area 52.9 mi straight-line
- Gull Lake Recreation Area 55.1 mi straight-line
- North Star 55.2 mi straight-line
From the official listing description, directions and rules
The Sandy Lake Dam and Recreation Area is situated at the outlet of Big Sandy Lake in northern Minnesota, 13 miles 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.
Recreation
Sandy Lake offers many recreational opportunities including camping, boating, swimming, picnicking, birding and hiking. Anglers enjoy fishing the lake and river for Northern pike, walleye, small mouth bass, bluegill, crappie and even catfish. Playgrounds are located on both sides of the dam and are located near the beach and visitor museum areas. The old lock house has been converted into a free small museum containing historical artifacts from the area. Educational programs are offered seasonally and are open to the public.
Weather forecast - next 7 days
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Climate by month
Average daily high and low and monthly precipitation, 1991-2020 normals from the NOAA station Sandy Lake Dam Libby - 0.6 mi away, station at 1,234 ft - about the same height as the campground. Long-term averages, not a forecast; the open season is listed separately above.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 19 | -2 | - |
| Feb | 25 | 0 | - |
| Mar | 37 | 14 | - |
| Apr | 51 | 30 | - |
| May | 65 | 43 | - |
| Jun | 74 | 53 | - |
| Jul | 78 | 58 | - |
| Aug | 77 | 56 | - |
| Sep | 69 | 48 | - |
| Oct | 54 | 35 | - |
| Nov | 37 | 22 | - |
| Dec | 24 | 7 | - |
Highlight months with an average high between and °F:
Photos from visitors
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Questions & answers
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Answers come from visitors, the campground (only its verified representative is labelled "Campground") and our team. They never change the official facts above.
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Sources and data dates where every fact comes from
| Fact | Source | Fetched from the source |
|---|---|---|
| Campsites | Recreation.gov (RIDB) | Oct 27, 2026 source updated Mar 11, 2026 |
| Reservable online | Recreation.gov (RIDB) | Oct 27, 2026 source updated Mar 11, 2026 |
| Tent sites | Recreation.gov (RIDB) | Oct 27, 2026 source updated Mar 11, 2026 |
| RV / trailer sites | Recreation.gov (RIDB) | Oct 27, 2026 source updated Mar 11, 2026 |
| Electric hookups | Recreation.gov (RIDB) | Oct 27, 2026 source updated Mar 11, 2026 |
| Water hookups at sites | Recreation.gov (RIDB) | Oct 27, 2026 source updated Mar 11, 2026 |
| Sewer hookups | Recreation.gov (RIDB) | Oct 27, 2026 source updated Mar 11, 2026 |
| Drinking water | Recreation.gov (RIDB) | Oct 27, 2026 source updated Mar 11, 2026 |
| Flush toilets | Recreation.gov (RIDB) | Oct 27, 2026 source updated Mar 11, 2026 |
| Showers | Recreation.gov (RIDB) | Oct 27, 2026 source updated Mar 11, 2026 |
| Dump station | Recreation.gov (RIDB) | Oct 27, 2026 source updated Mar 11, 2026 |
| Elevation | USGS elevation (EPQS) | Oct 27, 2026 |
| Official page | Recreation.gov (RIDB) | Oct 27, 2026 source updated Mar 11, 2026 |
| Official reservations | Recreation.gov (RIDB) | Oct 27, 2026 source updated Mar 11, 2026 |
| Phone | Recreation.gov (RIDB) | Oct 27, 2026 source updated Mar 11, 2026 |
Last successful data update for this page: Oct 27, 2026. That is when we last read the official sources - not a personal visit, and not the date the source itself changed (shown per fact above). Found something wrong? Report an error.