Best Glamping near Sheldon, IA

Blue Mounds State Park Campground and Palisades State Park Campground provide distinctive glamping experiences near Sheldon, Iowa. Blue Mounds features spacious tipis that sleep 4-6 people, set apart from traditional camping areas for added privacy. These structures combine the rustic appeal of traditional Native American dwellings with modern comforts, situated on manufactured deck board platforms that keep guests elevated off the ground. One guest shared, "We stayed at a tipi site. Camping was great, room enough for family of 4." Palisades State Park complements the area's glamping options with cabin accommodations that offer a more substantial retreat after exploring the park's unique quartzite formations and Split Rock Creek. Both locations provide electric hookups, picnic tables, and fire rings, allowing visitors to enjoy comfort while maintaining a connection to nature.

The glamping experience at these parks extends beyond comfortable accommodations to include distinctive natural features and activities. Blue Mounds State Park houses a protected bison herd that visitors can observe from designated viewing areas, with some guests fortunate enough to spot them near the fence line. The park's prairie landscape offers excellent stargazing opportunities, with minimal light pollution allowing clear views of the Milky Way on cloudless nights. A visitor noted, "At night, it's nice and dark so you can see a lot of stars — if you walk a short way down one of the trails from the campground you can even see the Milky Way." Hiking trails wind through remnant Minnesota prairie, showcasing native plants like prairie smoke amid Sioux quartzite rock outcroppings. Both parks maintain clean shower facilities and restrooms, with Blue Mounds offering free WiFi that supports video calls, making it suitable for those needing to stay connected during their luxury camping experience.

Detours Nearby

LOCAL FAVORITES PRESENTED BYToyota Trucks
Olson City Park

Olson City Park

30 min away

Sandy Point Park

Sandy Point Park

54 min away

2025 Detourist Giveaway

Presented byToyota Trucks

Review Campgrounds. Win Prizes.

Enter to Win

Best Glamping Sites Near Sheldon, Iowa (6)

    1. Blue Mounds State Park Campground

    51 Reviews
    Hardwick, MN
    41 miles
    Website
    +1 (507) 283-1307

    $20 - $35 / night

    "The bathroom facility at the drive-in campground is much nicer than the one for the tipis and cart-in sites."

    "New bath house. They have done a lot to make this park accessible. Grassy sites, some better positioned than others. Very good shade."

    2. Big Sioux Recreation Area — Big Sioux

    35 Reviews
    Brandon, SD
    46 miles
    Website
    +1 (605) 582-7243

    "They sell campfire wood for 6$ a bundle on site so we had some great campfires going. They have nice long paved trails for walking and biking."

    "Easy access from 90W, not much road noise and close to the town of Brandon for supplies. "

    3. Palisades State Park Campground

    30 Reviews
    Garretson, SD
    49 miles
    Website
    +1 (605) 594-3824

    "Some have electric hook up, others are just for tent camping. All of them provide a picnic table and a fire pit. They also have little log cabins. We stayed at campsite 6 which was a very good spot."

    "The campsite was easy to find and close to the town of Garretson. There was a small grocery store there."

    4. Magnolia City Campground

    6 Reviews
    Luverne, MN
    34 miles
    Website
    +1 (507) 227-9278

    "I did notice that the power boxes are set up is only few spots with multiple power boxes on the post. So you could need a power cord extention. If all spots by the power boxes are taken up."

    "The electrical and water are a little spaced out. We took the end spot and count quite reach our two water hoses. There two long-term campers who were hooked up to the water spigot closest to us."

    5. Martin Area County Park

    1 Review
    Sutherland, IA
    29 miles
    Website
    +1 (712) 225-6709

    6. Robertson Park

    11 Reviews
    Spirit Lake, MN
    45 miles
    Website
    +1 (507) 847-2525
Show More
Showing results 1-6 of 6 campgrounds

2025 Detourist Giveaway

Presented byToyota Trucks

Review Campgrounds. Win Prizes.

Enter to Win


Glamping Reviews near Sheldon, IA

129 Reviews of 6 Sheldon Campgrounds


  • Carolyn M.
    Oct. 23, 2019

    Big Sioux Recreation Area — Big Sioux

    Ok place to spend the night, but could have been better

    I spent the night here and had to pay the entrance fee to the park as well as the camping fee for my tentsite. They had only a few tentsites available amid all the RV sites, but they were right on the edge of the playground, so the families had to walk right through my campsite to get to the play area. Not too big a deal as no one wanted to use the play area at night while I was sleeping, but still.  I also looked over at the power lines. There was a flush toilet facility close by but there was a very bright light on all night. Good for families needing to navigate in the dark but not wonderful if you like sleeping in darkness. And though I was told that quiet hours began at 10PM, the site next to me was quite loud through the trees until at least midnight so the quiet hours are not enforced. Meh. I don't think I'll be going back.

  • Katrin M.
    Jul. 7, 2019

    Palisades State Park Campground

    A very nice getaway!

    We camped here over the weekend with our dogs. The campground is within 10 miles off of I90.

    The park is not very big so there are not many campsites. Some have electric hook up, others are just for tent camping. All of them provide a picnic table and a fire pit. They also have little log cabins. We stayed at campsite 6 which was a very good spot. Some of the other sites seemed very close together without much privacy or shade.

    The park staff (rangers, camp host and volunteers) was extremely friendly. They always made sure that we had everything we needed. The rangers also offer different programs on the weekend like learning about geocaching or how to make campfire desserts.

    There is one bathhouse for the entire campground. It seemed a little old but got cleaned daily. There are also several vault toilets around the area. From the campground you have access to the water. There are also several short hiking trails from where you can see the rock formations.

    It was just a very short ride to the Devils Gulch (Jesse James historical site) or Split Rock Park. There is also a Dollar General close by. We would definitely recommend the campground.

  • L
    Jun. 28, 2018

    Blue Mounds State Park Campground

    No water and biting flies

    This campground is still charging $17 for a camp site, $7 transaction fee and $7/day entrance fee despite the fact they have no running water. The toilets still flush. In the morning our car filled up with flies that bit us for hours before we were able to eliminate all of them. It is a 5 mile drive back to Luverne if you need supplies, and I was unable to locate a grocery store.

    Two good things; they have a Free Little Library and at night the lawn was covered with fireflies

    The campground was so miserable that the campground host had abandoned their trailer and was never present. We did have several locals drive through the campground to spy on us, presumably to see who was stupid enough to camp there. You are entirely responsible for knowing what site you reserved because there was no attempt to label reserves sites.

    There is no privacy between sites. This is just a big lawn with driveways, picnic tables and fire pits. The landscaping is nicely done with blackberries popping out of some hedges and providing eye-level interest at the base of trees.

    .

  • Tara S.
    Jul. 26, 2019

    Blue Mounds State Park Campground

    Quiet little oasis in the middle of the Minnesota prairie

    This was a drive-by site for us and not a destination, so our review is based on only one night. We found the park to be very quiet and only had a few camping neighbors during our stay. It seems like it might be a destination for retired RVers, as everyone seemed to know each other well, which was fun. 

    Highlights include nice, easy trails through the prairie, lots of wildflowers, and a herd of bison. We only saw the bison from a distance, but apparently, there are tours. We experienced lots of bugs in early July - biting flies and mosquitoes, and there was a constant humming noise from a nearby farm that really detracted from our experience. 

    Otherwise, the campground was really peaceful and the bathhouse was clean. We arrived around 4:30 pm and the office was closed. We didn't see a single park employee or campground host during our visit. 

    We checked out the tipis, which looked really fun, but with all the flies, we opted for setting up our tents to keep them out. We'd totally stay here again, but we probably wouldn't go out of the way to visit.

  • Krista T.
    Jul. 17, 2018

    Blue Mounds State Park Campground

    Unexpectedly amazing

    Last August we headed to Blue Mounds to investigate out the SW corner of our state for the first time. We swung through New Ulm on the way there to check out the Schell's brewing company and we also stopped at Laura Ingalls Wilder's Plum Creek to break up the drive from the twin cities. The drive itself got pretty boring on the last half- lots of flat fields and cows. As you get closer to Luverne things start to become more interesting and the town of Luverne itself was an unexpected delight.

    Yes, the water currently has e.coli in it. There is a huge alert on the park's page explaining how you can go about accessing water and showers nearby. The $17 rate is the discounted price to reflect the e. coli discount. The main campground is pretty open, some sites have shade, it is a prairie after all. The cart-in campsite offers much more privacy with the grove of trees there. The bathroom facility at the drive-in campground is much nicer than the one for the tipis and cart-in sites.

    We spent one night in the tipi (cool experience for $30-$35 a night) and two nights at a cart-in site w-09. Some of the paths to the cart-in sites are not flat and rather long, but ours wasn't bad at all. I would definitely consider staying at that campsite again. I don't think I would necessarily stay in a tipi again unless I could book it on short notice if I knew that the weather was going to be dry and cool. The day before we got there it had rained quit a bit and when we arrived it was HOT. This meant that we got to enjoy our tipi experience with the aroma of hot wet tipi. The tipi floor is a platform made out of manufactured deck boards that keep you off the ground. The tipi itself isn't nearly as critter-proof as a tent. We wound up packing up our belongings and putting them in our car between leaving the tipi and moving into our campsite since we wanted to go check out the local area before we could check into our next site and somehow a garter snake got transported out of the tipi in our belongings and into our car- awesome haha.

    The park was flooded a few years back which washed out a quite a bit- the lake that used to be there is now gone and just overgrown with plants. Most of the park is dedicated to the bison, so hiking opportunities are kind of limited. There are a ton of bison, but you either get to see them or you don't unless you go on one of their bison tours. They were present by the fence twice while we were there. There is pretty much a large trail loop with another large loop that swings off of that. Bring a wide-brimmed hat and tons of sun screen, not much tree cover on the trails. The one visitor center located in the southern portion of the park appeared to be permanently closed.

    Luverne was cool. There are tons of historic houses and next time I'm out there I'll spend some time driving through neighborhoods to check them out. There is a basic grocery store off of Main Street for anything that you may need to pick up. I kind of wish that we had gone out to eat in town more because of how great the food was. Sterling's was delicious and much more upscale than anything I expected to find out there, the local Buffalo Sweat beer was great enough that I tried to find it at the local liquor store before I left. Showers are available at the Luverne aquatic center for free.

    Overall I really enjoyed my experience and I look forward to my next trip out there, whenever that may be. If you are coming from the Twin Cities make sure to hit up Schells and Laura Ingalls Wilder's Plum Creek homestead like I mentioned above. Nearby side trips are Pipestone, Touch the Sky prairie, and Jeffers Petroglyphs

  • E
    Aug. 26, 2021

    Palisades State Park Campground

    Beautiful but loud

    The campsite was easy to find and close to the town of Garretson. There was a small grocery store there. We only stayed one night on our way West, the sites were nice and grassy with mixed sun and shade. It’s been a dry year so the mosquitos were minimal. We explored split rock creek which is a5 minute walk from the campsite- very beautiful rock formations and an old walking bridge built in 1908. Pictures don’t do the rocks justice, they are beautiful! However, the water was very brown and murky, smelled suspiciously like manure. We saw some people swimming but opted not to because of the color and smell of the water. We did see many large fish in the creek. There were also nice picnic areas on the creek with tables and fire pits. Last issue with the campsite was the noise. The night started out quiet with lots of insect sounds, which are loud but so great when you are camping! The unexpected noises were trains passing by (sounded super close in the middle of the night), planes flying overhead, and cars driving by. This is of course not the fault of the park but the surrounding area…still wouldn’t recommend a long quiet camping trip here if you want to escape the everyday sounds of humans. Overall a very sweet campground, good bathrooms and showers. Staff was very friendly and helpful.

  • Stephanie B.
    Jun. 28, 2020

    Blue Mounds State Park Campground

    Very well maintained park

    The campground is smaller but it is very well maintained. New bath house. They have done a lot to make this park accessible. Grassy sites, some better positioned than others. Very good shade. Some random placement for trash bins but I’d rather have too many than not enough.

    There are lots of hiking trails with options for lots of distances. It was cool to see the Bison (from the west loop). The dam is pretty as well.

  • M
    Jun. 18, 2022

    Big Sioux Recreation Area — Big Sioux

    Clean and Dog Friendly

    Such a nice campground. Nice big shady trees and manicured lawns. They sell campfire wood for 6$ a bundle on site so we had some great campfires going. They have nice long paved trails for walking and biking. We got to walk our dogs on it to avoid tick contact from the grassy trails. There was a cool suspension bridge that was fun to walk on. The showers were very nice and hot without a lot of traffic. 

    There is no sewage hookup or water hook ups. They do that 50/30 amp sites available. There is a dump station right at the entrance to dump when you leave and it also has a separate fresh water station if you want to fill up right when you get there so youre not traveling with a bunch of water in your tank. 

    It was a great campground and the falls were close by and palisades state park was also in the area with a nice hike. 

    There is an extra $8 car fee per night that you have to pay on top of any camping fees. If you are staying longer than 5 days it better to just get the annual parking pass for $32, which would cover parking for all state parks and recreation areas in SD. 

    They have great discounts if you are a veteran and south dakota resident.

  • Susan L.
    Sep. 5, 2020

    Big Sioux Recreation Area — Big Sioux

    Convenient camping near Sioux Falls

    This Recreation Area is large and  located off the Sioux River, which was slow flowing when I visited. It’s not the most picturesque river I’ve seen, so if you’re looking for that look further. However, because it was slow moving it made for a nice round trip paddle. 

    Easy access from 90W, not much road noise and close to the town of Brandon for supplies. 

    There’s a fantastic disc golf course complete with a creaky suspension foot bridge that spans the fiver. 

    Great hiking and biking trails too. I hiked the Valley of the Giants trail, which earns its name because of the many old, “giant” oaks in this river bottom area. It’s an easy hike with one slight incline/decline, but the loop was curtailed by a giant felled oak tree.  The path was completely covered and no matter which way I tried I couldn’t see the trail it had become so overgrown. Sadly it seems that this has been the fate of several the the Giants, perhaps due to the river flooding.

    The campground has gravel pads. My site backed up to the river but there was a bushy berm and the bike/walking bath between the site and the river. No problem to access the river though because there are little paths worn through the bushes. Lots of trees for shade and good space between sites. There’s electric but no water at site. Fill up by the restrooms or before you come. Picnic table and fire ring with grill connected. Fire ring is on a cement pad. I’d never seen that before. 

    There are also  cabins for rent and when I was there the restrooms looked clean and functional.  Picnic shelter and gazebo are on site as well as the Bergeson’s Homestead. It’s always nice to see history being preserved like this! When I’m passing through this area again, I’ll revisit this recreation area.


Guide to Sheldon

Near Sheldon, Iowa, campers can explore prairie landscapes with elevations ranging from 1,400 to 1,500 feet above sea level. The region experiences hot summers with temperatures often exceeding 80°F and cold winters that can drop below freezing. Several campgrounds offer unique accommodations including tipis, cabins, and yurt camping options within driving distance of Sheldon.

What to do

Rock climbing at quartzite formations: Palisades State Park Campground offers distinctive quartzite formations perfect for climbing enthusiasts. "I love this park for both it's camping and hiking. Stunning quartzite formations make for some great climbing. It's a really small park which is both good and bad," shares Jessica B.

Prairie hiking trails: Blue Mounds State Park Campground features extensive hiking trails through native prairie landscapes. "Love the hiking and lack of bugs compared to most Minnesota parks. Great prairie views and it's always great to see Bison," notes Sydney J. The park maintains several miles of trails that showcase native prairie plants and Sioux quartzite rock formations.

Kayaking on local waterways: Big Sioux Recreation Area provides excellent water recreation opportunities. "Loading area for kayaks and canoes right next to the campgrounds," mentions Ashley E. The river access points are well-maintained and suitable for beginners and experienced paddlers.

What campers like

Bison viewing opportunities: Blue Mounds State Park maintains a protected bison herd that visitors can observe. "Park features natural prairie and a buffalo herd. Bison tours are available. Plenty of hiking trails and some cliff climbing," explains Bruce P. The best viewing times are early morning or evening when the herd is most active.

Clean facilities: Palisades State Park maintains well-kept restrooms and shower facilities. "We were at camp spot 12E it was very nice! The bathrooms and showers were okay and the people were very nice," reports Wilanrie B. Most campgrounds in the area provide regularly cleaned facilities.

Affordable yurt camping near Sheldon, Iowa: Magnolia City Campground offers budget-friendly camping close to Sheldon. "Cheap full hookup when passing through," states Paul A. The campground provides an economical alternative for travelers seeking yurt-style accommodations in the Sheldon area.

What you should know

Reservation systems vary: Many campgrounds near Sheldon operate on different reservation systems. Magnolia City Campground works on a first-come basis: "It's a first come place with no reservations and you pay on the honor system when you pull in," explains Mark.

Weather considerations: The prairie landscape can experience strong winds and rapid weather changes. "Lots of sun so bring your sunscreen," advises Maritza R. about Blue Mounds State Park Campground.

Farm odors possible: The agricultural setting means occasional farm smells may affect your camping experience. "Clean and lit up bathrooms and showers. Average campsite for $33 a night with a fire pit and picnic bench. Super smelly probably due to farmland," notes smelly E.

Tips for camping with families

Playground access: Big Sioux Recreation Area features play areas for children. "The playground was rated 'amazing' by our kids," shares Jessica B. The playground equipment is suitable for various age groups and located centrally within the campground.

Educational ranger programs: Blue Mounds State Park offers interpretive programs focused on prairie ecology. "The naturalists here are friendly and knowledgeable, take advantage of programming!" recommends Karla J. B. These programs typically run on weekends during summer months.

Level camping sites: When camping with families, finding level sites makes setup easier. "Sites were not full on the weekend, even less so on Sunday night. Do the prairie tour, interesting and worth the time and the $15," suggests Karla J. B.

Tips from RVers

Water and electric hookup locations: At Magnolia City Campground, hookups might require extension cords or hoses. "The electrical and water are a little spaced out. We took the end spot and count quite reach our two water hoses," notes Jessica B.

Dump station access: Big Sioux Recreation Area provides sanitary dump stations for RVs. "Clean bathrooms with showers. Firewood available to purchase. Each site has a picnic table and fire ring," says Myrna G.

Site sizing considerations: For larger RVs, Blue Mounds can accommodate substantial rigs. "Very quiet even on holidays, sites are in the woods so all sites have shade. All types of camping is available, tent, RVs trailers, 5th wheels, Class A, etc. We have 46 foot toy hauler," shares Bruce P.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Sheldon, IA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Sheldon, IA is Blue Mounds State Park Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 51 reviews.

What is the best site to find glamping camping near Sheldon, IA?

TheDyrt.com has all 6 glamping camping locations near Sheldon, IA, with real photos and reviews from campers.