The Hall Family Travels Blog

We stayed at Bertram Chain of Lakes Campground in Monticello, Minnesota, during our recent trip to visit family in June 2026. We chose this campground mainly because it was centrally located between the family members we wanted to see, and honestly, we didn’t know much about it before arriving.

What we found was one of the cleanest and most well-maintained campgrounds we’ve ever stayed at.

The campground opened in 2021, and it shows. Everything felt new, clean, and thoughtfully designed. The campsites were spacious, with large grassy areas separating them from neighboring sites, giving everyone plenty of room to spread out. Each site included a picnic table and fire pit, and several sites offered full hookups. At less than $45 per night, we found the rates to be very reasonable.

Navigating the campground was easy, even with our 37-foot travel trailer. The roads were well maintained, and we had no trouble getting in and out of our site. Plus, cell service was strong throughout our stay, which made it easy to stay connected when needed.

In the center of the campground is a playground and a large facility with clean restrooms and showers. The camp store and office also offer paddleboard and kayak rentals, along with merchandise, ice, drinks, and even ice cream (yum!).

What really surprised us, though, and made this place unique was everything surrounding the campground.

Bertram sits among three small lakes, and the wooded areas around them are crisscrossed with hiking trails, mountain bike trails, and dirt roads. We spent quite a bit of time exploring and loved the variety of trails available. The trails were very kid-friendly, which made them perfect for our two boys to explore safely with us. Many of the mountain bike trails are narrow one-way, single-track routes featuring small ramps and boardwalk sections, making them especially fun for riders (and the kids!).

We also noticed several people fishing in the lakes during our stay, adding to the peaceful, outdoor atmosphere.

One afternoon it rained during our hike, but the forest canopy was so thick that we barely noticed. Walking through the trees felt peaceful and so very green, and along the trail we even discovered wild strawberries growing beside the path—a sweet little bonus to our adventure.

During one of our hikes, we emerged from the woods onto a beautiful sandy beach complete with a playground, picnic area, and restroom facilities. Coming from the California coast, we weren’t expecting to find such a nice beach tucked away in the middle of Minnesota. The lakefront area was a fantastic surprise, and I could see on a sunnier day spending some time there!

Adjacent to the campground are large athletic fields that would be perfect for soccer, football, frisbee, or any family field games. Near the entrance, we also noticed what appeared to be a small water park being used by a YMCA summer camp. We’re not sure whether campground guests have access to it, but it might be worth asking about during a future visit.

The campground also offers cabin rentals for those who aren’t traveling with an RV or tent.

Overall, Bertram Chain of Lakes Campground exceeded our expectations in every way. Between the spacious sites, excellent facilities, beautiful trails, lake access, and outstanding cleanliness, it’s a campground we would happily return to. If you’re planning a stay in the Monticello area, we highly recommend adding Bertram Chain of Lakes Campground to your list.