Is Savanna Portage Campground first-come first-served or reservation?

Savanna Portage Campground accepts online reservations. We recommend booking in advance, especially during peak season (typically summer weekends). Use campsite alerts to get notified when spots become available.

Are there showers at Savanna Portage Campground?

Yes, Savanna Portage Campground has shower facilities available for campers. Check the amenities section for details on hours and any fees.

Can I have a campfire at Savanna Portage Campground?

Fire policies at Savanna Portage Campground: Light fires only within provided fire rings or charcoal grills; do not leave fires unattended and extinguish before leaving. Use approved or local firewood to prevent spread of pests.. Always check current fire restrictions before your trip, as conditions change seasonally.

Is there cell service at Savanna Portage Campground?

Cell phone service at Savanna Portage Campground is generally available. Cell service is available. Coverage may vary by carrier and exact location within the campground.

Are dogs allowed at Savanna Portage Campground?

Pets are not allowed at Savanna Portage Campground. This policy helps protect local wildlife and other campers. Consider nearby pet-friendly campgrounds if traveling with animals.

What amenities are available at Savanna Portage Campground?

Savanna Portage Campground offers: Restrooms, Showers, Potable Water, Dump Station, Electrical Hookups. See our detailed campground page for the full list of facilities and features.

What activities can I do at Savanna Portage Campground?

Popular activities at Savanna Portage Campground include Hiking, Fishing, Swimming, Boating. The surrounding area offers plenty of outdoor recreation opportunities for all skill levels.

Savanna Portage Campground

4.23

22 reviews

Top 25% in MNFall

Summer Destination

Featured in:Family-Friendly Campgrounds Minnesota

Real-Time Availability

Select a month, then check for open campsites

Quick Facts

Price

Varies

Booking

Reservable

Sites

Varies

Season

Year-round

Cell

Has Service

Pets

No Pets

ElectricPull-ThroughShowersWiFi

Book on Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (State Parks)Official Website

Real-Time Availability

Select a month, then check for open campsites

Quick Facts

Price

Varies

Booking

Reservable

Sites

Varies

Season

Year-round

Cell

Has Service

Pets

No Pets

ElectricPull-ThroughShowersWiFi

Book on Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (State Parks)Official Website

Savanna Portage Campground

No fees available

Campsite Fees

Advance reservations incur a non-refundable reservation fee ($10 by phone / $8 online). Online reservations can be made up to 120 days in advance; on...

No paid fee categories listed.

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Minnesota State Parks

Provider

888-646-6367, 651-296-6157

I manage this campground

Plan a trip to Savanna Portage Campground

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Campground Map

Savanna Portage Campground

No map location available

Weather at Savanna Portage Campground

Best Time to Camp at Savanna Portage Campground

Summer brings warm days perfect for paddling and hiking, though you'll want to pack bug spray after rainy spells when mosquitoes are most active. Time your visit for late September or early October to catch the forest at its most dramatic, when fall foliage reaches peak brilliance. Since opening and closing dates vary, check ParkFinder before planning your trip to ensure the campground is open.

Best

Fall(Sep-Nov)

4.5 / 5

Top 25% in MN

Described as the best season: comfortable temps, dramatic colors, fewer bugs.

Planning Tips

About Savanna Portage Campground

Extend your adventure beyond a day trip at Savanna Portage, where the magic happens after sunset. Join ranger-led evening programs, embark on moonlit walks through the forest, or gather around a crackling campfire under a canopy of stars—this is camping the way it's meant to be experienced.

The site includes walk-in tent options, RV sites with electrical hookups, a group site, and camper/camper-cabin lodging; there are also remote walk-in lakeside sites.

Historical Significance

The park is named for the historic Savanna Portage trail, a historic canoe portage route linking watersheds and used historically by Native Americans and voyageurs.

Weather and SeasonsSummer brings warm days perfect for paddling and hiking, though you'll want to pack bug spray after rainy spells when mosquitoes are most active. Time your visit for late September or early October to catch the forest at its most dramatic, when fall foliage reaches peak brilliance. Since opening and closing dates vary, check ParkFinder before planning your trip to ensure the campground is open.

Natural Features and SceneryYour campsite becomes a private woodland retreat, nestled among towering hardwoods and fragrant pines that provide natural shade and seclusion. Lake Shumway and Loon Lake shimmer nearby, while an extensive trail system weaves through the forest and across a fascinating bog ecosystem. Come late September through early October, and you'll witness the forest transform into a spectacular display of crimson, gold, and amber—some of Minnesota's finest fall color.

Scenic ViewsCampground sites and nearby trails provide views of forested shorelines, small lakes and a scenic bog; several lakeside campsites offer direct water views.

Best Campsites

Curated by campers, for campers

Reveal picks

Reserving a campsite

Tents

Tents are allowed

RV vehicles

RV vehicles are allowed

Primitive

Primitive camping is not allowed

Reservable

Reservations are allowed

Reservation PlatformsOnline reservation system and call center (phone: 888-646-6367 and 651-296-6157).

Cancellation PolicyAdvance reservation fee is non-refundable; additional cancellation details not provided on the page.

Best CampsitesReviewers highlight lakeside sites (notably sites 27, 29, 41, 43, 44, 45, 49, 51) for water access and views. Site 19E is frequently noted for electric hookup and space for a 30' camper. A remote walk-in site (site K) lies about 3/4 mile from the main campground and is praised for privacy and a smooth tent pad.

Need help booking Savanna Portage Campground?

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Minnesota State Parks Guide

Booking tips & windows

When to Book

Find your booking window

Cancellation Alerts

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Amenities available

Visitors report showers, drinking water, 30-amp electrical hookups, picnic tables, a sanitary dump station and vault/outhouse-style toilets. Wi‑Fi has been reported as poor/unreliable; cell phone service is available but variable.

Showers

Potable water

Electricity hookups

WiFi

Dump station

Picnic tables

I manage this campground

RV details

Electric hookups32 of 101 sites (32%)

3 pull-through sites

Activities you can enjoy

A mix of water- and trail-based recreation is available, centered on several small lakes and wooded hiking routes.

Hiking

Fishing

Swimming

Boating

Planning your trip?Check out our camping packing checklist

Policies & Safety

Hazards & AlertsMosquitoes can be numerous and aggressive, especially after rain. Sites and roads may become muddy following extended wet weather. Follow park rules for fires: light fires only within fire rings or charcoal grills and use approved or local firewood to prevent pest spread. Cell/Wi-Fi service may be limited in parts of the park.

No Flush ToiletsFlush toilets are not available at this campground. Expect vault or pit toilets only.

No Water HookupsSite-level water hookups are not available. RV campers should fill freshwater tanks before arrival; check the No Potable Water note above if applicable for drinking water.

Trip Planning Tools

Set an AlertGet notified when sites open up Check WeatherHistorical weather data Gear for This TripMatched gear recommendations Packing ListCustomizable checklist

Questions & answers

Researching this campground? Ask anything — other campers and our team will weigh in. No visit required.

Tips from campers

Short heads-ups about the road in, gear quirks, timing, and more. You don't have to have been here to share what you know.

Reviews

From Booking Sources

4.2

22 reviews

Satisfactory

Savanna Portage Campground is satisfactory, placing it in the bottom 60% of campgrounds based on reviews

Reviewer sentiment is largely positive: visitors praise the quiet, scenic, well-shaded sites, clean restrooms and showers, good hiking and lake access, and friendly staff. Common negatives include heavy mosquitoes in wet periods, occasional muddy sites after rain, rough/washboard roads, and intermittent electrical and Wi‑Fi issues.

Review Summaries

Based on 22 reviews

What Campers Love

Scenic, private wooded campsites (many lakeside sites noted); clean restrooms and showers; good variety of hiking trails and lake access for boating and fishing; friendly/helpful staff; camper cabins...

Based on 22 reviews

Pro Tips & Recommendations

Bring insect repellent (DEET) and plan for muddy conditions after rain. Request lakeside sites (reported favorites include sites 27, 29, 41, 43, 44, 45, 49, 51) or sites deeper in the loop for more...

Based on 22 reviews

Camper Quotes

“Very nice park, quiet and scenic.” — “Restrooms and showers were clean and well kept.” — “Some sites became quite muddy after consecutive rain.”

Based on 22 reviews

Outdoorithm Community

Be the first to review this campground

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Go if

Fall foliage chasers and paddlers will get the most out of this place. Sites 27, 29, 41, and 43-51 are the lakeside picks worth requesting early. Showers, 30-amp hookups, and a dump station cover the basics for RVers.

Skip if

After a rainy stretch, the roads go washboard and sites turn muddy fast. No pets allowed, Wi-Fi is effectively useless, and summer visits without heavy DEET coverage are genuinely miserable near the water.

Campgrounds

Savanna Portage State Park

Savanna Portage Campground

From official sources

Reference information about Savanna Portage Campground compiled from official sources. Every claim links to its source. View official page →

Savanna Portage State Park features a campground with 64 semi-modern sites. Sixteen of these sites have electric hookups. The campground is part of the park's facilities that include a group camp.

Site layout: 64 semi-modern sites, 16 electric hookups. source

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About Elephant Butte Reservoir

Context for the broader area surrounding Savanna Portage Campground, sourced from the federal Recreation.gov rec-area record.

<A HREF="http://www.usbr.gov/projects/Facility.jsp?fac_Name=Elephant+Butte+Dam">Elephant Butte Dam</a> and Reservoir are features of the <A HREF="http://www.usbr.gov/projects/Project.jsp?proj_Name=Rio Grande Project">Rio Grande Project</a>, located located on the Rio Grande, 125 miles north of El Paso, Texas. Recreation at Elephant Butte Reservoir is managed by the New Mexico State Parks under agreement with the Bureau of Reclamation. The recreation area is open year-round. Elephant Butte Dam, constructed between 1911 and 1916, was a major engineering feat in its day and created the 36,000-acre reservoir on the Rio Grande, that is 40 miles long with more than 200 miles of shoreline. The enormous concrete dam is the major feature of the Elephant Butte National Register Historic District. New Mexico State Parks operates a visitor center that contains information on the construction of the dam. Best fishing is late April through August. Entry fees are charged. There are good access roads. Nearest full-service community is Truth or Consequences, 7 miles south. The smaller town of Elephant Butte is located adjacent to the State Park. Elephant Butte Reservoir is the largest reservoir and the largest state park in New Mexico. Fishing opportunities include stripped bass, white bass, crappie, largemouth bass, walleye, and catfish. Over 200 camping and picnicking sites. There are 3 developed camps on the lake, concession-operated marinas, and stores.

Directions

Take I-25 north from El Paso, Texas, about 125 miles.

Download area map (PDF)