The Group Campground at McCarthy Beach State Park sits on the shore of Sturgeon Lake between the boat launch and day-use beach area. The waterfront site accommodates up to 50 people with an indoor log shelter, tent space, and pit toilets, surrounded by tall pines that provide shade throughout long summer days.
Weather and SeasonsSummer is the time to book this site. Daytime highs reach the mid-70s to mid-80s°F, nighttime lows settle in the mid-50s to mid-60s, and the shallow beach actually warms up enough for swimming. The shaded campsites make the heat manageable. Weekends and holiday weeks fill up fast, so reserve early. Weekdays are noticeably quieter. Autumn brings fall foliage but cooler water. Winter shuts the campground down entirely with harsh conditions and closed facilities.
Natural Features and ScenerySturgeon Lake stretches out from the campground's waterfront edge, clean and spacious with a shallow sandy beach that drops off gradually. Tall pines cluster around the group site, creating shade pockets and a buffer from neighboring areas. The setting feels private despite sitting between active recreation zones. Sticks and bark sometimes wash into the shallows near shore, but the overall lake views and wooded surroundings deliver classic northern Minnesota scenery.