Best Tent Camping near Ruthven, IA

Recent Tent Reviews in Ruthven

119 Reviews of 7 Ruthven Campgrounds

• 

  Chloe T.

  Traveler

  

  Oct. 3, 2024

  Kilen Woods State Park Campground

  Very Quiet | No On Site Payment Available

  First thing to know is that you cannot pay for anything there directly... no cash, no checks, no credit cards, no tap, nothing. You need to use the Yodel app to purchase firewood and, even if there is staff present, you'll need to pay for your site on the MN State Park reservations system. What's nice is that there is no convenience charge when you are on site. This totally threw us as we are used to pulling up and paying with cash or card to a human. And, they have no wifi. So you'll have to use your phone or, like I did, use your phone as a hotspot to use your laptop/tablet.

  Once that was all finally taken care of, we got to enjoy our spacious site. It was HOT, but there is a tree in the center of Site 7 that offered shade and lots of bushes and trees around that offer shade. We just had to keep moving to get it. Each site has a firepit and picnic table. Site 6 has a trail going through it on the edge while Site 7 had a trail on the other side but it was several feet from the actual site. I'm not sure it ever gets busy there, but if it did, you may have people around your site if you choose those edge sites.

  This place was SO quiet! I know that also has to do with the other campers, so thank you to our fellow campers that weekend who kept it quiet. No road noise at all. There are fields nearby, so if it's plowing season I imagine it would be quite noisy and quite dusty.

  At the end of September, along with the heat, there were tons of what we later learned were Asian Lady Beetles, which actually do sting. Surprise! Then when they started slowing down, here came the midges/no-see-ums. So I came away with a lot of stings. Boo! My spouse did not. So I guess they just liked me a lot.

  I would totally recommend Kilen Woods SP! It was a total surprise to use as we were looking for a last minute place to camp, so that was wonderful. If you're driving along I90 in Minnesota or I26 in South Dakota and need an easy overnight, check this place out.

• e

  ellen

  Traveler

  

  Sep. 11, 2024

  Sandy Point Park

  Beautiful, quiet spot

  We struck out 4times before finding this place and we are so happy that we did! What a great little gem - lakeside, crickets chirping and perfect

• T

  Tracy B.

  Guide

  

  Sep. 5, 2024

  Flying Goose Campground & Resort

  Nice campground on nice lake

  Large campground with a play park and other sporting area. Lake to swim in - no lifeguard offered. Large sites with water/electric hook up - some full hook sites and big rig friendly. The site we were put in was not set up well for the connections however it was a large site. Very muddy site but they offered to let us use a rug so we didn’t get ours all Muddy.

• 

  Jenni C.

  Traveler

  

  Aug. 15, 2024

  Olson City Park

  Great Spot

  Though we didn’t stay long, this campground was tidy, well marked, and a perfect stop for the night. The campsites were clean, facilities were top notch, and the park and walking path provided a great spot to wear kids out before continuing on.

• 

  Joshua D.

  Traveler

  

  Jun. 2, 2024

  Silver Sioux Recreation Area

  Hidden gem

  Was it expecting how nice this campground was compared to more primitive ones in the area. Beautiful site! Has tent camping, full rv hook ups, and a nice playground for the kids.

• B

  Beverly M.

  Guide

  

  May. 30, 2024

  Flying Goose Campground & Resort

  Just beautiful

  Very quiet and clean, goid WiFi. Gary was very helpful. This campground is just beautiful. There is a lake you can fish,swim,rent kayaks and canoe. Laundry and showers.

• c

  clair W.

  Scout

  

  May. 29, 2024

  Everett Park

  Beautiful, peaceful, not too far out of the way.

  It was serene and beautiful. The sunset over the water was absolutely amazing. Breathtaking scenery. There is a shower and toilets. And it costs $20 for a tent sight, $25 for a power hookup sight. We'll worth the stop, I almost didn't want to leave. I would stay here again!

• 

  Fred S.

  Legend

  

  May. 21, 2024

  Marble Beach State Rec Area

  Van camping here was just okay

  Camped in Site #59 on Oct. 6-7, 2023. Our site had a fire ring, table, as well as electric & water. Spirit Lake is behind the site, although there was no lake access from there. Nice hearing the water lapping on shore. Registering for a site was a little confusing. There was a friendly host in the campground. Our site sloped down toward the lake; had to use our traction boards to level the van as best we can. No privacy between sites. The 6 room restroom/shower was clean. Overall, the campground was large and well maintained. It had an RV park feel to it, which is not our preferred type of camping. I believe folks in larger rigs will be comfortable here.

• 

  Matthew H.

  Guide

  

  Feb. 13, 2024

  Kilen Woods State Park Campground

  Great Campground! Conveniently located!

  Great Campground. The park Ranger on Duty was very helpful. Campsites were generous in space. Well kept. Fire Ring and picnic table on site were kept up well. Trails and scenery through the back hills are well kept and maintained.

• 

  Dean G.

  Traveler

  

  Sep. 18, 2023

  Brown County Park

  Brown County

  This place is HUGE. We were shocked at the size of the state park and how many many campsites there were. We were back on Taylor Ridge so we had a noticeable drive in/out anytime we went anywhere. Bathrooms were clean and maintained. Sites had ample space. Because it is all on the ridges of the park, there is a significant decline after the campsite “flat area”

• 

  Meg W.

  Guide

  

  Sep. 17, 2023

  Kilen Woods State Park Campground

  Peaceful Prairie Spot

  Chosen at the last minute for its proximity to the Twin Cities area, the drive was about 2 hrs 45 minutes. Park is quiet, clean and very easy to hike. Entire park can easily be hiked in a day, with prairie, river and oak savanna views. The park rangers were not at the station at any point while we visited, meaning payment for firewood and parking must be done online. Really nice facility with flush toilets and showers sits between the two campground loops. Camped in Walk-In Site #1 and the seclusion from the electric sites was great. The walk-in sites are nestled in the woods and fairly private. From the parking spot to the campsite was an easy ~100’.

• 

  Pam H.

  Traveler

  

  Sep. 5, 2023

  Grotto Campground

  Nice quiet camping

  Stopped for the night , so I could see the Grotto in the morning. Very clean restrooms/showers. Only one other camper here. Shaded spots, great Wi-Fi, good cell service. Next to train tracks but only one train came by and it wasn’t loud. Definitely recommend if you’re in the area. You pay at the gift shop across the street. $20 for RV and $10 for tent.

• R

  Roger

  Guide

  

  Sep. 4, 2023

  Ludlow Park

  Not a camping site

  Contacted the office that manages these campgrounds and was told that the Olson Park campground is the only park with camp sites in Worthington…

• M

  Matt N.

  Scout

  

  Aug. 17, 2023

  Robertson Park

  DO NOT GO

  We decided to camp here after a long day on I-90. We got here at 3am and the first thing we saw was a “historic cemetery”. After setting up camp an old mini van kept driving by us, with no one there. He had stopped for a second to look at us and drove away. 10 minutes later he was back and we PACKED up and left. This place is suspicious, take caution.

• 

  Wade G.

  Scout

  

  Aug. 16, 2023

  Ludlow Park

  Not what it says

  There doesn't seem to be any overnight camping at this spot. There is no indication that there is any spots to do any camping. Don't stop here.

• C

  Christopher

  Traveler

  

  Aug. 5, 2023

  Flying Goose Campground & Resort

  Well kept campsite

  Well maintained campground with fishing piers and a swimming beach. A lot of seasonal/permanent sites. Transit spots were a little tight but owners did what they could to space you out. Very accommodating.

• R

  Richard &.

  Guide

  

  Jun. 22, 2023

  The Grotto of the Redemption RV Park

  Nice place to stop while visiting the Grotto

  We stayed at the Grotto of the Redemption RV park for two nights. We were in our class C while slowly making our way across the country. We had no problems getting a spot here. There are two areas. One is very close to a train line, which runs infrequently. Sites are grass, level, and reasonably well maintained. All sites are pull through. Only electrical hookups are available at the sites. This is in good condition. There is fresh water and a dump station available. Each site has a nice grassy area and there are plenty of large trees. Staff was very friendly and helpful. There was a park nearby with a playground. 

  The RV park is near the Grotto. The Grotto is a fascinating achievement worth a look if you are in the area.

  We had 2 bar LTE with Verizon. Our hotspot was usable and performed very well. Campground wifi was not available.

  We enjoyed our brief stay at this campground. We will stay again when traveling this way.

• D

  Dave M.

  Guide

  

  Jun. 11, 2023

  Korte's Checkers Welcome Campground

  Worth a Stop

  Very polite staff. Roads are nice. Facilities are clean. Sites are pull through but are set up with utilities for back in sites. $40 a night. It looked like some campers were extended stays. Good Verizon signal and right off Interstate 90.

• 

  Jeannie D.

  Guide

  

  May. 25, 2023

  Featherstone County Park

  Snug

  Snug if you have slide outs, must watch to see you don't hit neighbor's trailer as you extend. Awnings literally touch neighbors. Crazy good time, if that's what you're into. I like the cabins!

• 

  Jeannie D.

  Guide

  

  May. 25, 2023

  Joe Sheldon County Park

  Beautiful hiking!

  This is a lovely and expanding park. Spacious, level pull through sites with full hookups. Decent Verizon coverage. Shower houses could use updates.

• 

  Gregory L.

  Guide

  

  May. 21, 2023

  Jackson KOA

  Great little park!

  We stopped here for 2 nights on our way to South Dakota. The park is small, but very well maintained, and man, literally every person there was INCREDIBLY nice! I met the previous owner of the park and his wife, and told about some cool things to do in the area including the Jeffers Petroglyphs, a fort in the town of Jackson, and the town from Little House on the Prairie.

  Our site was level, easy to get into, and had a nice tree providing some shade. Water pressure was good, no issues with electric. One thing I noticed that I thought was really cool was they had a good sewer hose at the dump station for guests to use so they didn’t have to dig theirs out. That is the kind of thought the owners put into the experience at their park. Simple, nice perks that make the experience just that little bit extra good, and there were things like that throughout the park.

  There is a small grocery store about 5 mins south of the park, a Burger King right across the street, and a few gas stations. New Ulm is about an hour away and well worth the visit! Cool little downtown area with lots of history, great restaurants, and cool shops.

• 

  Lory B.

  Scout

  

  Mar. 18, 2023

  Gordon Prange City Park

  gordon prange campground

  hope you like flooding and bugs all over the bathrooms.the city clerk was nice to your face but not when your back is turned , but other than that the town people are very nice

• T

  Tracy B.

  Guide

  

  Oct. 9, 2022

  Marble Beach State Rec Area

  Great campground! Limited people for fall camping

  Easy to access- large site campground. Nice sites that back up to spirit lake with enough room for bigger rigs to get into easily and have tree coverage to feel wooded. Easy to check in and out of. Great price for a full hook up site. Plan to return again and again! We loved it.

• 

  Mike V.

  Guide

  

  Oct. 3, 2022

  Kilen Woods State Park Campground

  Kilen Woods SP

  Beautiful small park. Nice showers

• 

  Dan C.

  Scout

  

  Sep. 4, 2022

  Marble Beach State Rec Area

  Good, but not great

  Camp sites for tents are super tiny and irregular shaped. Lots of sloping on sites. Generally tight quarters to other campers and plenty of road noise until about 10 PM. A few good options for fishing, boating and hiking near by.

• 

  Mike

  Scout

  

  Sep. 2, 2022

  Marble Beach State Rec Area

  Close enough to Okoboji

  Excellent Campground!, Easy driving distance to Arnold's Park. Campground is Clean, Showers/Bathrooms are new and modern. Full Hookups are easy to use. many spots in the Oak Woods. Good place for Bicycling, 4 miles mostly bike path to town. Around Spirit Lake is a nice 16 miles bike ride. I rated 4 stars, because there is a little traffic noise, and the lake is a little weedy.

• 

  Nancy Q.

  Traveler

  

  Aug. 27, 2022

  Everett Park

  Peaceful and quiet between lake and corn field

  The shower had plenty of hot water with great water pressure. Dated but clean. Very quiet and peaceful here. Dog friendly.