William O'Brien State Park RV & Campground Guide
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The Ojibwe and Dakota First Nations used the area where William O'Brien State Park now sits as hunting grounds and for the collection of furs for the harsh winters of the area. In the early 17th century, European fur trappers arrived and began to build outposts and towns, and the lumberjacks weren't far behind. The area was famous from about 1650 until the middle of the 19th century as the place to cut white pine, but rather than create a self-sustaining model, the lumberjacks simply clear-cut the area of every single white pine tree and then abandoned it. William O'Brien bought the land from the lumber companies, who were no longer interested in it because they had clear-cut it, and redeveloped it to be a source of lumber. That was in the early 20th century. Then, in 1947, his daughter donated 180 acres of the property for a state park, and since then, more private donations have followed until the park covered its current 1,520 acres. As of December 18, 2023, large portions of the park are closed for much-needed renovation. Call the park staff for more information before visiting.
Spring 41-70 F
Summer 78-82 F
Fall 43-57 F
Winter 8-28 F
RV Resorts & Campsites in William O'Brien State Park
There are two campgrounds in William O'Brien State Park: the Riverway Campground and the Savannah Campground. Together, they combine for 114 RV-specific campsites, 71 of which have electrical hookups. At the Savannah Campground, the hookups are 50 amps, and at the Riverway Campground, the hookups are 30 amps. There are full restrooms and showers in each campground that are available from April until October. The rest of the year, there are both vault toilets throughout the park and functioning full restrooms in the visitor's center. The park has a dump station, too, but it is also only open from April until October. There are three accessible campsites, and the planned upgrades include a big expansion of accessibility in the park. The maximum RV length at the campgrounds is 60 feet. There is a boat dock on Lake Alice and a beach, too. The park is family-friendly, as well, and there are outdoor education programs available for both adults and children.
What to Do at
William O'Brien State Park
You can enjoy good hikes on the area's trails and also catch a few fish in either Lake Alice or the St. Croix River. If you have a canoe, then you can paddle with your fishing gear over to Greenberg Island. Or, you can set up a comfortable chair at your campsite and settle in with a good book.
Hiking
There are 12 total miles of trails in the park, and even during the closure, most of them are still open. The trails are either easy or moderate in difficulty and range in length from 1.8 miles to 4.8 miles.
Stargazing
Despite the park's nearness to the Twin Cities, the stargazing is still a Class 4 on the Bortle Scale. That means that you'll notice the light dome of St. Paul and Minneapolis on the horizon, but it won't be as obstructive as you might think. Still, because the night sky, even when moonless, will be greyish instead of black, you will need a variety of filters to be able to see the fainter heavenly objects.
Flora and Fauna
Raccoons, beavers, and woodchucks make up most of the small mammals in the park. Minks are present, too, but not as common as the other land-based animals. The birds include herons and other wading birds, warblers, bluebirds, orioles, woodpeckers, and different species of raptors. The trees of the area include red maple, black ash, oak, and silver maple. Yarrow, trillium, and foxglove are three of the innumerable species of wildflowers that grow in the park and on Greenberg Island.
Fishing
In addition to the aforementioned northern pike, you can even catch monsters like lake sturgeon that approach 8 feet in length. If chasing even more voracious predators is your thing, then you can go after muskellunge, the biggest ever caught in the area being nearly 6 feet long. If tamer angling is more your style, then Lake Alice will give you a chance to catch steelhead and largemouth bass.
Swimming
Even during the summer, the water is colder than you might think, rising only into the mid-60s. Limit your time swimming when the beach is open, and always stay within your ability. There are no lifeguards, so it pays to take all reasonable precautions.
Boating
Motorboats are only allowed in the St. Croix River, but near the park, they're limited to "no-wake" speeds. The St. Croix River is widely considered one of the premium canoeing and kayaking destinations in the whole country, so you'll certainly have a grand time paddling on the river. You can also take boats out onto Lake Alice.
Geocaching
The single geocache in William O'Brien State Park is in four parts, and it's part of the Minnesota State Parks Wildlife Safari.
How to Get to
William O'Brien State Park
Proceed to St. Paul. From there, take Route 36 east to the junction with Minnesota State Route 95. Take Route 95, which is also known as the St. Croix Scenic Byway, and watch for signs for William O'Brien State Park.
Entering William O'Brien State Park
There isn't anywhere to park your vehicle outside the park, so it's best to enter the park in it. The park's operating hours are 8 a.m. until 10 p.m. Call the park staff for any closure updates because of the construction.
William O'Brien State Park Entry Fee (daily) : $7.0
William O'Brien State Park Entry Fee (annual) : $35.0
Frequently Asked Questions About William O'Brien State Park
The best time to visit William O'Brien State Park is from April to October because that's when everything is available.
The birds are plentiful, and you can put any number of species of songbirds, waterfowl, and raptors into your birding notebooks. Because of the nearness to a major metropolitan area, the park doesn't see much large game, but you will see several species of small mammals.
Yes, there are. The RV-specific campsites are split between the two campgrounds. Even when both are available, only the Savannah Campground is open all year. The Riverway Campground is closed from October until April.
Yes, you need reservations. The cost of a campsite at either of the two campgrounds begins at $25.
Your pets are welcome. They must be on a leash of no more than 6 feet whenever they are outside of your vehicle or their own tent. Alternatively, you may crate them. You also have to clean up after them.