McCarthy Beach State Park

Side Lake, Minnesota · Campsite openings, cancellations & sold-out date alerts

Lakes & RiversSmall parkWatched around the clock

Weekend availability

Live from Minnesota State Parks · checked Sep 17, 9:45 AM PT

Sold out 1 of the next 6 weekends — exactly when cancellation alerts earn their keep.

  • Fri, Sep 18
    Limited
    4/5 campgrounds
  • Fri, Sep 25
    Limited
    4/5 campgrounds
  • Fri, Oct 2
    Limited
    3/5 campgrounds
  • Fri, Oct 9
    Limited
    3/5 campgrounds
  • Fri, Oct 16
    Limited
    4/5 campgrounds
  • Fri, Oct 23
    Sold out
Alert me when a sold-out weekend opens

Sold out for your dates? We'll tell you the second a site opens.

Cancellations at McCarthy Beach State Park get rebooked in minutes. We check Minnesota State Parks around the clock and alert you before the crowd refreshes the page.

Set an alert for Side Lake$9.99/mo — why we charge

Not ready to subscribe? Get a free weekend heads-up.

We'll email you if McCarthy Beach State Park opens up for a weekend you pick. No account needed.

How booked is McCarthy Beach State Park?

as of July 23

Weekends book out well ahead here — 2 of the 3 Saturdays we sampled, as far out as Jan 2027, are already sold out. When a site frees up it's gone again within minutes, so people watch McCarthy Beach State Park and hear the instant one opens for their dates. Weekdays still have room — for now.

Weekends (Saturday night)

Aug 8Open
Oct 24Sold out
Jan 9Sold out

Weekdays (Wednesday night)

Aug 19Open
Nov 4Open

Availability checked directly against the reservation system, out to 6 months ahead.

Park type

Lakes & Rivers

Small park

Online booking

Available on Minnesota State Parks

Official state reservation system

Alert coverage

Checked around the clock

Openings, cancellations & new dates

Where McCarthy Beach State Park is

7622 McCarthy Beach Road

Side Lake, MN 55781

47.6689, -93.0315

Get directions

Getting a campsite at McCarthy Beach State Park

How do I get a campsite at McCarthy Beach State Park when it's sold out?

Cancellations happen constantly — the trick is being first to know. Set an alert for your dates and we'll watch McCarthy Beach State Park on Minnesota State Parks around the clock, then notify you the moment a site opens. Alerts run on a Pro subscription ($9.99/mo, cancel anytime).

When do campsites usually open up at McCarthy Beach State Park?

Whenever someone cancels. Most reservation systems refund less the closer you get to arrival, so cancellations cluster in the days before a stay — but the openings themselves are unpredictable, which is exactly why watching for them beats refreshing the page.

Where do I book a campsite at McCarthy Beach State Park?

Reservations for McCarthy Beach State Park are made on Minnesota State Parks, the official booking system for Minnesota State Parks. GetParkAlerts is independent — we tell you when a site opens; you book it directly on the official site.

Parks near McCarthy Beach State Park

Flexible on where you camp? Watch a few of these too — more parks, better odds.

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