11 Best Campgrounds in Southern Minnesota for Summer Fun (2023)
Are you looking for the best campgrounds in Southern Minnesota to escape the hustle and bustle of city life?
Minnesota’s lush green forests, rolling hills, and shimmering waterways beckon nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts alike.
There’s an abundance of scenic campsites and serene lakeside locations located all over the state, including many in the southern part, without having to go too far from major cities!
From hiking and fishing to stargazing and campfire cooking, or just simply relaxing by the lake, there’s something for everyone to enjoy!
I’ve spent my entire childhood and adult life camping all around the grand state of Minnesota, and in this post, I’ll share with you some of the best places to go camping in the south!
Best Campgrounds in Southern Minnesota
Looking for the best places to go camping in Southern Minnesota? Here are a few of the very best campgrounds and what to expect at them!
1. Flying Goose Campground
Location: Fairmont
Open Season: Summer
Top Amenities: Full hookups, Dump station, Showers, Flush toilets
Nearly crossing the Minnesota-Iowa border, Flying Goose Campground is perched along the shores of Lake Imogene in Fairmont.
Located just shortly off of Interstate 90, this is a great stop for those traveling through or folks who want to spend a weekend on the lake.
Choose from one of their many sites, most having full hookups for electric, sewer, and water for your use. Others have just water and electric.
Many of the sites have views of the beautiful lake, and all have easy access to all of the amenities offered at the campground.
From flush toilets to hot showers and laundry, you can enjoy all of the modern amenities, all while you leave the hustle and bustle of everyday life behind!
At Flying Goose Campground, guests can enjoy an 18-hole mini golf course, beach volleyball, a sandy swimming beach, fishing docks, a boat ramp, non-motorized boat rentals, and more.
Big rigs can utilize the pull-through sites, and before heading out, take advantage of their sanitary dump station!
2. Old Barn Resort and Campground
Location: Preston
Open Season: Summer
Top Amenities: Full hookups, Flush toilets, Showers, Dump station
This Minnesota resort and campground has a whole lot to offer to guests visiting and going camping in southern Minnesota.
Located in Preston, just 45 minutes southeast of Rochester, this campground sits on the banks of the Root River.
Nearly 300 campsites are available for all types of campers, from rustic tent sites to full hook-up RV sites.
Old Barn Resort also features a historic barn with lodge rooms available, and there are many amenities that guests of both the campground and barn can enjoy.
Take advantage of the flush toilets and showers, as well as the on-site restaurant and the 18-hole golf course that has long been a favorite of guests.
You can also enjoy their three-season indoor heated pool, or floating down the Root River on a tube, which you can rent right from the resort.
Kids will love the playground, and adults can get on a friendly game of basketball or horseshoes!
On top of all of the great things to enjoy within the park, you can also check out 60 miles of paved biking trails along the Root River State Trail.
3. Whitewater State Park
Location: Altura
Open Season: Summer
Amenities: Electric, Flush and vault toilets, Showers, Dump station
Not far off of the towering river bluffs of the Mississippi River is Whitewater State Park, found along the Whitewater River, a short distance from Rochester.
With all sorts of campsites, from open, grassy areas, to wooded, secluded sites, guests can find something that suits their liking.
There are a huge variety of campsites to choose from, whether you’re needing a pull-through site for a big rig, or you’d rather walk in and be more secluded.
Either way, guests can all enjoy the same great amenities including hot showers, flush and vault toilets, and a dump station.
And as for having fun while at the campground, you can take advantage of the very best that Minnesota state parks have to offer!
Wander around the 10+ miles of hiking trails during the summer months, or try out cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in the winter.
Guests can also enjoy fishing along the Whitewater River, or just enjoying the views of the river bluffs.
4. Great River Bluffs State Park
Location: Winona
Open Season: Summer
Amenities: Showers, Flush and vault toilets
Speaking of fantastic river bluffs, if you want a Minnesota campground with epic views, then Great River Bluffs State Park is the place to be!
Located along the mighty Mississippi River, you can enjoy the towering river bluffs that take over this region of the state, up close.
There are just over 30 campsites in a single-loop campground to choose from, or you can choose to cart in all of your gear to their rustic tent sites.
The campground has basic amenities such as seasonal toilets and showers, as well as year-round vault toilets. But there aren’t any hookups offered here.
Spend some of your time here wandering around the hiking trails, many of which have beautiful views of the Mississippi River Valley.
It’s especially beautiful during the fall months when the colors are changing, and many people enjoy snowshoeing here in the winter for the scenic overlooks!
5. Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park
Location: Spring Valley
Open Season: Summer
Amenities: Showers, Flush and vault toilets, Dump station
This hidden gem of Minnesota is so highly worth visiting, and spending a weekend camping in southern Minnesota here makes it even better!
Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park is home to one of the only known caves in Minnesota, therefore giving plenty to explore during a visit.
As for the campground, you can find 73 total sites available, with 23 of them offering seasonal electric hookups.
There are also a few camper cabins that are available year-round and each of them has heat and electric.
During your stay, you of course have to check out Mystery Cave, which is the longest in Minnesota, measuring up to 13 miles long!
There are tours available to explore it. You also can check out the hiking trails, which wind through the park and allow you fully escape into nature.
Snowmobile trails wind through the park in the winter, and people also enjoy snowshoeing around the meadows and trails.
6. Sylvan Park Campground
Location: Lanesboro
Open Season: Summer
Amenities: Showers, Toilets, Dump station
This smaller campground in southern Minnesota is located right in the city of Lanesboro and the park features a first-come, first-served basis camping option.
Choose from just over 30 campsites, all of which are only suited for tents, which are situated along the Root River.
No need to make any reservations, as you’ll just choose a site and pay the small fee once you arrive.
Although this is a smaller campsite, there are still coin-operated showers and toilets available, as well as a dump station to use!
Within Sylvan Park, you’ll also find a playground, tennis courts, and walking trails to enjoy.
7. Lebanon Hills Regional Park
Location: Eagan
Open Season: Summer
Amenities: Full hookups, Showers, Flush toilets, Dump station
This Southern Minnesota camping destination is found right outside the city of Minneapolis in Eagan and offers some of the closest camping near the Twin Cities.
If you want somewhere to escape the city but you don’t want to have to drive very far, then this is the perfect spot for you!
Lebanon Hills Regional Park Campground sits right between multiple small lakes and is surrounded by 2,000 acres of wooded land.
Enjoy modern amenities like full hookups, standard non-electric sites, flush toilets, hot showers, and a sanitary dump station.
On top of that, you can also take advantage of the miles of hiking trails, children’s playground, and fishing piers around the park.
It’s a beautiful park and campground, and you’ll be surprised that you aren’t further outside of the Twin Cities!
8. Eagle Cliff Campground
Location: Lanesboro
Open Season: Summer
Amenities: Showers, Flush toilets, Full hookups
Located just off of the Historic Bluff County Scenic Byway, is the Eagle Cliff Campground, on the banks of the Root River.
Enjoy surrounding views of rolling hills, lush forests, and the winding river, as you sit and relax around a crackling campfire.
There are 150 campsites to choose from, including sites for tent campers, as well as those looking for full hookups.
Sites are large, so you don’t have to be worried about being crowded with other campers, and you can enjoy your own personal picnic table and fire ring.
Showers and flush toilets are also available seasonally, and kiddos can hang out at the playground in the middle of the campground.
If you’re wanting to get out and explore the river, grab a rental canoe, kayak, or tube and float or paddle down the Root River.
Bike rentals are also offered for exploring the paved Root River State Trail.
9. Minneapolis Northwest KOA Journey
Location: Maple Grove
Open Season: Summer
Amenities: Showers, Flush toilets, Full hookups, Dump station
Tucked in a forested area of Maple Grove, just off of Interstate 94, the Minneapolis Northwest KOA Journey is nice for camping near Twin Cities.
You’ll be situated on 20 acres of wooded land, but won’t have to drive too far from the city to do so!
Enjoy the full hookup campsites, many of which can fit very large rigs.
During the summer months, you’ll also find an outdoor pool to enjoy, as well as campfire rings at each site to sit back and relax by.
Along with all of your basic amenities like showers and toilets, you can also enjoy fun things like a game room, basketball courts, a playground, and more.
Several parks are also located nearby, such as the Elm Creek Park Reserve and the Crow Hassan Park Reserve, for hiking, biking, and other outdoor activities.
10. William O’Brien State Park
Location: Marine on St. Croix
Open Season: Summer
Amenities: Flush and vault toilets, Showers, Dump station, Full hookups
For camping not too far from the Twin Cities, William O’Brien State Park takes the cake for being one of the best options with beautiful hikes, views, and camping.
With a few different campgrounds to choose from, with nearly 115 sites and 71 of them being electric, there are plenty of options.
From tent campers to those with big rigs, there’s space for everyone here!
There are also four camper cabins available, two of which are available year-round and the other two are open seasonally.
Basic amenities are available such as a sanitary dump station, flush and vault toilets, and seasonal showers at this campground in southern Minnesota.
During your stay, be sure to check out the beautiful hiking trails along the river bluffs of the St. Croix River.
You can splash around and swim at Lake Alice, go for a kayak ride in the river, relax by the campfire, or visit the visitor center to learn more about the park.
11. Pla-Mor Campground
Location: Winona
Open Season: Summer
Amenities: Showers, Flush toilets, Full hookups
Nestled right along the shores of the Mississippi River, Winona offers some of the most fantastic views of the Mississippi River Valley.
At Pla-Mor Campground in Winona, you can experience those views for yourself, all while enjoying your time camping!
Enjoy a swimming pool, playground, and of course, incredible views and activities like hiking trails in Winona.
You can choose between staying in either a site with full hookups (electric, water, and sewer), or you can stay in a tent site with no hookups.
This campsite also offers the amenities that you might need for your stay, such as hot showers and flush toilets.
FAQs
Yes, there are a few year-round campgrounds in Minnesota, although most of them are only open in the summer. Usually, it’s state park campgrounds that are open in the winter, and they aren’t accessible for RVs, so you’ll need a tent.
Typically, campgrounds open up starting in May and are closing up shop by late October when the snow starts to fly. Some campgrounds (such as a few state park ones) are open year-round, although it’s typically only to tents.
There aren’t many places to camp for free in Minnesota, but state forests are a good option. You can disperse camp here if you’re at least one mile away from a designated campground. Always follow Leave No Trace principles.
Some Minnesota state park campgrounds are open year-round, but most are open between the months of May and October.
Most privately owned campgrounds open up around the same time at state parks, between May and October.
Yes, dogs are typically allowed in Minnesota State Park campgrounds. But they should always stay leashed and it’s up to you to stay responsible for them!
Yes, generators are allowed in Minnesota State Park campgrounds, but they must be turned off between the hours of 10:00 pm and 8:00 am for quiet hours. As for private campgrounds, you’ll need to contact each individual campground for info.
Wrap-Up: Southern Minnesota Campgrounds
While most think of Northern Minnesota when they imagine a weekend at a campground on the lake, it’s true that Southern Minnesota has great places to go also!
All of these great campgrounds in Southern Minnesota make it so you don’t have to drive too far to enjoy nature and escape city life for a weekend.
From the stunning scenery of the Bluff Country to the picturesque lakes of the southern prairies, the campgrounds in this area are more impressive than you could imagine!
So, pack your bags, grab your gear, and head to Southern Minnesota to experience some of the best camping in the Midwest!
