The Dyrt – find campgrounds for tents, RVs, cabins, glamping and more.
Open in App
Map showing campground location near Plainview, Minnesota
Camper submitted image from Carley State Park CampgroundView 23 Photos
FacilitiesMap showing campground location near Plainview, Minnesota

Carley State Park Campground

10 ReviewsAdd Review

Southeast Minnesota's Whitewater River valley holds Carley State Park Campground, a compact walk-in facility that operates seasonally from Memorial Day through Labor Day weekend. The campground sits on forested hillside terrain with sites positioned close to a gravel access road, requiring campers to carry gear from parking areas to their designated spots.

Individual campsites accommodate tents and RVs up to 30 feet, though the sloped terrain and compact layout favor tent camping over larger recreational vehicles. Matt C. notes this is "a very small, but great state park right by the more-touristy-Whitewater state park." Sites feature fire rings and picnic tables under heavy tree cover, with vault toilets serving the camping area. Most sites can fit one four-person tent, and the close spacing means limited privacy between neighbors.

The Whitewater River flows through the park, offering swimming opportunities and river access points along hiking trails that include concrete step crossings when water levels permit. Trail conditions vary seasonally, with some paths becoming overgrown during peak growing periods. Two group sites provide additional camping options with shared facilities, including site #2 that sits farther down a walking path near the park boundary.

Campers planning longer stays often combine visits with nearby Cedar Hill Campground — Whitewater State Park, which offers more developed amenities and level sites for those preferring full-service camping.

Check AvailabilitySuggest an Edit

RV Road Trip Guides

The Great Northern Road Trip

The Great Northern Road Trip

The Great Northern Road Trip Segment: Duluth to Glacier National Park

Duluth to Glacier National Park: 4 Day Road Trip

Build Your Trip

Plan a TripAdd

Location

Public Campground

Carley State Park Campground is located in Minnesota

Detail location of campground

Directions

Approximately 15 miles northeast of Rochester, or 4 miles south of Plainview on Wabasha County Road 4.

Address

Wabasha County Rd 4
Plainview, MN 55964

Coordinates

44.11770671 N
92.17589142 W

Open in Google Maps

Connectivity

  • signal strength bars
    T-Mobile5G
    Good Coverage
  • signal strength bars
    VerizonLTE
    Some Coverage
    Verified by 1 user
    Last on 4/25/26
  • signal strength bars
    AT&TLTE
    Some Coverage

Is Carley State Park Campground sold out?

Quickly grab cancellations!

Learn More
Presented byHershey's

Connectivity

  • signal strength bars
    T-Mobile5G
    Good Coverage
  • signal strength bars
    VerizonLTE
    Some Coverage
    Verified by 1 user
    Last on 4/25/26
  • signal strength bars
    AT&TLTE
    Some Coverage

Access

  • Walk-In
    Park in a lot, walk to your site.

Site Types

  • Tent Sites
  • RV Sites
  • Standard (Tent/RV)
  • Group

Features

For Campers

  • ADA Access
  • Picnic Table
  • Phone Service
  • Reservable
  • Toilets
  • Pets
  • Fires

Drive Time

2026 Explorer Giveaway

Review Campgrounds. Win Prizes.

Enter to Win

Minnesota Contest

Enter to Win

Reviews

Add Review

5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Star

20%
60%
10%
0%
10%

4.0

out of 5

10 Reviews

Guests commonly noted this small, rustic park offers quiet seclusion with heavily shaded but compact sites better suited for tents. A common theme was the lack of running water and basic amenities, though many appreciated the peaceful atmosphere and proximity to hiking trails.

Crystal B.The Dyrt PRO User
Reviewed Oct. 29, 2025

Nice quite Campground in MN state park

Rustic camping sites with a fire pit/picnic table within the forest. Beautiful state park with nice hiking trails. There is a group camping site here too. Vault toilets.

Month of VisitOctober
  • Review photo of Carley State Park Campground by Crystal B., October 29, 2025
  • Play button icon
  • Review photo of Carley State Park Campground by Crystal B., October 29, 2025
  • (10) View All
m
Reviewed Jul. 7, 2021

Fireflies like fairy lights

This park was great. I site 6 is large enough for two tents and has soft flat ground. Not footy or rocky. They trees are way out so it is not an ideal spot for hammock camping. It was a small park you can hike it in about 4 hours. Some of the trails are overgrown. The river crossing can be a little tough you might get wet. But the hike is worth it. We hung our hammocks in the little open field by the river during the day. It’s really close to white water so we hiked their day 2. At night the fireflies come over the river and it is amazing. Absolutely beautiful. It rained most of the weekend and was still a great trip.

Site6
Month of VisitJune
Matt C.
Reviewed Sep. 7, 2020

A hidden Gem

A very small, but great state park right by the more-touristy-Whitewater state park. We lucked out with booking a group site for Labor Day weekend at the last minute. There are two group sites that share one vault toilet. Site #2 is further down a path with 4 picnic tables and room for 4-5 tents. The site is right at the park border, with farm land/prairie just on the other Side of the trees.

Hiking was great with plenty of hills along the whitewater river, as well as a few places to jump in the VERY cold river. Highly recommend this park - and only 1.5 hours from Mpls! Only downside is there is no firewood within the park, so plan ahead there.

SiteGroup Site 2
Month of VisitSeptember
  • Review photo of Carley State Park Campground by Matt C., September 7, 2020
  • Review photo of Carley State Park Campground by Matt C., September 7, 2020
  • Review photo of Carley State Park Campground by Matt C., September 7, 2020
  • (5) View All
Stephanie K.The Dyrt PRO User
Reviewed Aug. 3, 2020

Nice wooded campground

Nice spots fairly wooded sites seemed small more fit for tents versus rvs. Quiet campground some interesting spots on the hill

Krista T.
Reviewed Jul. 1, 2020

Not exciting, but nice

This isn’t the type of park that you come to conquer, you come here for a lovely time. Carley State Park is easy to overlook in favor of nearby Whitewater State Park. Whitewater has an actual visitor center, the dramatic scenery, the flush toilets, and spacious/level sites. In lieu of those amenities, Carley offers you rustic charm, relative quiet(vehicles have a max length of 30 ft which cuts down on monster RVs), and a hint of summer camp nostalgia in the picnic area. 

While we were here we attempted to do the hiking club trail, unfortunately the water levels were high and we weren’t able to cross any of the river crossings. When the water levels are lower you are able to cross on giant concrete steps. We were there on a Monday and there were maybe 3 cars parked in the whole park. 

Barely any of the sites were occupied when we visited. The campsites are all situated on a hill and they were all very close to this road and were slightly cramped in addition to not being terribly level. Most sites could accommodate one 4-person tent, nothing bigger than that. If you value privacy you might want to be strategic about which site you choose, but I assume that it is a quiet enough campground that this wouldn’t be a huge problem.

  • Review photo of Carley State Park Campground by Krista T., July 1, 2020
  • Review photo of Carley State Park Campground by Krista T., July 1, 2020
R
Reviewed Aug. 30, 2019

Hiking Great - Camping OK

The campsite we stayed at was OK. Very close to neighbors and they were loud. Not much privacy but I am used to hike-in sites so that may be wear my feelings are steming from. MN Hiking Club Trail was very nice. Get ready to have wet feet though! There are two water bridge crossings and the waters were high when we were there.

Month of VisitJune
Ashley K.
Reviewed Jul. 18, 2018

Not worth your time.

Carley State Park is located near Whitewater State Park in southeastern Minnesota. Carley state park is extremely neglected. When walking through the trails, they were overgrown and the bridges were broken down and dangerous. This park could be great with a little TLC.

  • Review photo of Carley State Park Campground by Ashley K., July 18, 2018
Erin L.
Reviewed Sep. 16, 2017

Relaxing

There is no running water FYI!!! But it's a pretty place

Site17
Month of VisitSeptember
  • Review photo of Carley State Park Campground by Erin L., September 16, 2017
  • Review photo of Carley State Park Campground by Erin L., September 16, 2017
  • Review photo of Carley State Park Campground by Erin L., September 16, 2017
  • (4) View All
Emily G.
Reviewed Jul. 10, 2017

Cozy State Park

We went to Carley State Park for a short day outing from Whitewater State Park. Less than 10 minutes away, it's a cozier, smaller campground with a more private and deeper part of the River. I would think you could start floating/canoeing here and end up at Whitewater State Park by boat. We went on the Wildflower hike, and saw many flowers and berries even in the middle of July. The camp sites were a bit smaller, but all were heavily shaded, private, and would be enough for 1 tent or small RV. There was a huge green space and pavilion so family gatherings or day picnics would be perfectly accommodated. This would be the perfect spot for cross country skiing in the winter.

Month of VisitJuly
  • Review photo of Carley State Park Campground by Emily G., July 10, 2017
Showing results 1-10 of 10 reviews

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best photo opportunities at Carley State Park?

The river running through Carley State Park offers excellent photo opportunities, particularly the deeper pools that create serene water scenes. Capture images while crossing the water bridges on the hiking trails for unique perspectives. The wooded campsites nestled among trees provide natural framing for campsite photography. The park's hiking club trail features scenic spots worth photographing, especially during morning or evening light. While smaller than neighboring parks, Carley's intimate woodland setting and flowing water create a photogenic landscape for nature photography enthusiasts.

What facilities and amenities are available at Carley State Park Campground?

Carley State Park Campground offers a small, rustic camping experience with limited amenities. The campground has vault toilets but no running water, so campers should bring their own supply. Sites vary in size - some accommodate tents well while others can fit small RVs, though the sites on the hill may be less suitable for larger vehicles. There are picnic tables at each site and group camping areas available with shared facilities. The park features hiking trails alongside a river, though some trails may be seasonally overgrown. The campground's intimate size makes it a quieter alternative to nearby parks.

What do visitors say in their reviews of Carley State Park?

Visitors describe Carley State Park as a quiet, secluded, and cozy alternative to more developed nearby parks. Many appreciate its peaceful atmosphere and rustic charm. The campground receives mixed feedback regarding site privacy, with some noting sites are close together with limited screening between neighbors. Hikers mention the park's trails require some adventure spirit, as water crossings are common and some paths may be overgrown during peak season. While the park's small size and basic facilities aren't for everyone, many campers value its uncrowded nature and consider it a hidden gem for those seeking a more primitive camping experience.

Keep Exploring