Best Tent Camping near Barry, MN

Tent campsites near Barry, Minnesota include Elk Lake Campground, which features walk-in tent areas along the lakeshore. The campground provides grassy sites with access to the water and basic amenities. Barrett Lake Resort & Campground also offers tent camping options in the region, though with fewer documented amenities. Both locations are situated within the lakes region of west-central Minnesota, providing access to water-based recreation.

Elk Lake Campground provides drinking water, picnic tables, and allows campfires with firewood available on-site. The tent camping areas require a short walk to reach the lakeshore sites, making them more secluded than the main campground. Toilet facilities and showers are available to tent campers, though these are shared with the main campground area. The campground permits pets, which may appeal to campers traveling with animals. Barrett Lake Resort appears to offer more primitive tent camping with minimal documented amenities.

The shoreline tent sites at Elk Lake Campground offer direct lake access for swimming and fishing. One camper noted that "there is tent camping a short walk to the lakeshore that seemed nice." The walk-in nature of these sites provides additional privacy compared to the main campground area, which primarily hosts seasonal RVs. Tent campers should be aware that the main campground contains mostly seasonal occupants, but the dedicated tent area offers a more traditional camping experience. These lakeside tent locations provide a balance of natural setting with access to basic amenities, making them suitable for weekend tent camping trips or longer stays exploring the Barry area and surrounding lakes.

Best Tent Sites Near Barry, Minnesota (2)

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Tent Camping Reviews near Barry, MN

91 Reviews of 2 Barry Campgrounds


  • Renee H.
    May. 23, 2024

    Lac qui Parle Upper Campground — Lac qui Parle State Park

    Spacious and tranquil

    Lots of space between sites. There are not many trees so not much shade. Sites are gravel and relatively level, not much leveling required. Variety of sites, from group camping, primitive (no hookups), electric only, full hookups (water, electric, sewer) as well as cabins and tent only areas. Limited hiking trails connected to campground. Surrounded on two sides by farm fields and Lac Qui Parle Lake on another. There are two loops in the campground. One loop has view of the lake. Boat/canoe launch is in lower campground about 10 minutes from Upper Campground. Recycling and garbage dumpsters on site. Dump station near entrance. Verizon cell signal is poor. Pit toilets available. Bathhouse is centrally located, includes private showers. No laundry on site. Nearby attractions in Montevideo include Talking Waters Brewery/taproom, Jake’s pizza and Java River cafe (with outdoor seating, dog friendly).

  • Tracy O.
    Jun. 20, 2021

    Glacial Lakes State Park Campground

    Perfect for families

    Great family campground. Lots of shade cover. Oak ridge is perfect for larger rigs (<35 feet - anything bigger there are only 2 spots that will fit) (no electric or water). Clean vault toilets. Lots for kids to do. Canoeing, fishing, paddle boards. Great hiking trails. Loop for kids to bike on easily. Easy to get to.

    For those using the dump station it’s on a hill and tougher for bigger rigs to use. No flushing station. But water throughout park. Firewood at the station. Small number of electric sites in the first campground but sites are closed together and less privacy/shade. Bathhouse is in first campground.

  • Katie L.
    Jul. 15, 2024

    Hankinson Hills Campground

    Beautiful stay in the grasslands

    Well maintained campground, has water and multiple vault toilets. There’s a loop for horse camping and a loop for non horse camping. Each site has a fire ring and a nice table, most spaces have trees to provide shade. Verizon works okay, not great but I had a bar or two. Can hear trains running by every so often. Only downside was the abundance of biting flies and mosquitoes.

  • Shelly S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 22, 2020

    Chamber of Commerce Campground - Webster

    Serves it purpose

    This is your basic campground in the middle of town when your visiting nearby or passing through . There are no campground activities or amenities...well, there is a dump area and potable water spigot. No shade, no toilets, no shower. But it’s free ;) Grass, electric hook up , the picnic tables are a little worse for wear. And DO NOT CLEAN YOUR FISH in the campground or on the tables please. Useful but not a destination campground !

  • CThe Dyrt PRO User
    May. 28, 2024

    Hankinson Hills Campground

    Great place to overnight

    There are gorgeous sites well spaced and lots of shade. Trails to bike ride around. No motorized vehicles allowed so it's quiet. Road in was good gravel. Picnic tables, fire rings and pit toilets. $10 / night. Great find.

  • Lee D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jan. 21, 2025

    Tipsinah Mounds City Park

    Lakefront camping

    General: RV style camping on Pomme de Terre Lake and Kenny Lake. Many sites are lakefront or have a view of the lake. We were one of the few (if not only) non-seasonal campers at this campground. 

    Site Quality: Our site was located directly behind the store/office but had a view of the lake. Parking was on grass. The site was level and had an electric hookup. A wooden picnic table (in good shape) and a fire ring complete the site. When I called to make a reservation, I asked for a non-electric site but was told the primitive sites are far from the restrooms. I’m glad we settled on an electric site as the primitive ones, besides the distance from the restrooms, would also only be suitable for tents. 

    Bath/Shower house: Reasonably clean but I’ve seen better. Two showers, two toilets, and one sink. The shower had hot water and good flow, but it was cramped with little room to get dressed (plus the showers are located right inside the door, impeding privacy. 

    Activities: All the activities you would associate with lakefront camping. None of these applied to us but it was a good overnight location for passing through. Several speed boats zoomed by on the lake, and I imagine that on a summer weekend, the boat traffic would be much increased. There is a fish cleaning station. There are nice docks with benches to enjoy the view of the lake/sunset. 

    This campground is not our preferred type of camping – no privacy between sites but on a weekday toward the end of August, it was very quiet (but still HOT). We appreciate that we were assigned a lakeview site as not all of them are.

  • Neil T.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 31, 2021

    Hartford Beach State Park Campground

    Uncrowded and Beautiful

    Vibe: Almost empty on Monday night. Quiet natural lake setting. 

    Cleanliness: Exceptional. 

    Facilities: Updated and well maintained. 

    General spots: Good size, good spacing, ok privacy. Lots of trees 

    Our site: 20. Across from our site was a little trail down to the lake. In the evening we saw tons of fish and an otter. The electric hook up is pretty far from the picnic table/fire ring area. Have a long cord. 

    Noise: Only 4 sites were occupied out of 30 or so. Completely quiet all evening. 

    Cell signal: Good (Verizon)

    Other: Spectacular sunsets and sunrises. Cell phone pictures do not do it justice.

  • Tori K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jan. 1, 2023

    Glacial Lakes State Park Campground

    Located in Central MN

    The trails in the park have nice rolling hills and offer a unique type of beauty. The campground is small, but offers some electric sites as well as some primitive sites. I do believe there were 2 or 3 cabins that I saw. Unsure if there is a group camp with this campground being so small as it is. Firewood is available at the check in/office building. There is a bathroom/shower building in the loop with the electric sites. The electric loop and primitive loops both have vault toilets. Each loop also has a few water stations to fill containers with potable water and each loop has a dumpster for disposing of waste. Not sure if there is a dump station for RVs as I typically use a tent when camping. Nice state park in Rural central Minnesota

  • B
    Jul. 8, 2022

    Glacial Lakes State Park Campground

    Baby lake bp site—choose another site?

    1. Literally right on trail. In fact, the only place to out your tent is immediately next to the trail
    2. No place to hang a hammock
    3. No water (even though youre 100 yards from lake, there is no way to access to get water to filter. Hike in all your water
    4. Its quiet
    5. Lots of ticks (its prairie after all)

Guide to Barry

Tent campsites near Barry, Minnesota are situated in west-central Minnesota's glacial lake region. The area features numerous small to medium-sized lakes formed during the last ice age, creating a landscape of rolling hills and water bodies. Summer temperatures typically range from 65-85°F, with frequent afternoon thunderstorms possible during July and August. Fall camping offers cooler temperatures and colorful foliage displays from mid-September through October.

What to do

Fishing access options: The campgrounds near Barry provide direct lake access for anglers seeking various fish species. Elk Lake Campground offers shoreline fishing spots for tent campers staying in the lakeside sites. According to one visitor, "This campground has level grassy sites" which can serve as good bases for fishing trips.

Water recreation: Lakes in the Barry area support swimming, kayaking and canoeing during summer months when water temperatures reach comfortable levels. Tent campers at Elk Lake can take advantage of the lakeshore sites that provide easy water access. A camper noted they "Stayed 3 nights. Was a nice spot" with convenient lake proximity.

Nature photography: The lakes region around Barry offers excellent opportunities for wildlife and landscape photography, particularly during early morning and evening hours when lighting is optimal and wildlife is most active. Barrett Lake Resort & Campground puts tent campers in proximity to wetland areas frequented by migratory birds and native wildlife.

What campers like

Lakefront tent sites: The walk-in tent sites at Elk Lake Campground receive positive mentions for their location. One camper commented that "Water is available" throughout the campground, allowing tent campers to refill containers without returning to their vehicles.

Privacy levels: The tent camping areas that require a short walk at Elk Lake provide a more secluded experience compared to the main campground sections. A visitor observed that most of the campground has "seasonal RVs but there are a few overnight sites" making the separated tent area more appealing for those seeking quiet.

Level camping surfaces: Tent campers appreciate the "level grassy sites" at Elk Lake Campground, which make tent setup easier and more comfortable for sleeping. The grassy terrain provides natural padding and fewer issues with rocks or roots compared to some forested campgrounds.

What you should know

Seasonal occupancy patterns: Elk Lake Campground primarily hosts seasonal campers in most full hookup sites. As one camper observed, "Most or perhaps all full hookup sites have seasonal RVs" which means the campground has a residential feel rather than a transient camping atmosphere.

Facility limitations: While basic amenities are available, some campgrounds have restricted facilities. At Elk Lake, a visitor noted they "did not see a dedicated dump station," suggesting limited options for waste disposal. Barrett Lake Resort & Campground appears to offer more primitive camping experiences with fewer documented amenities.

Electric availability: For tent campers who prefer some conveniences, a camper mentioned that Elk Lake has "a few overnight sites that generally have electric only (30A)" which could allow for charging devices or running small appliances if needed.

Tips for camping with families

Walking distances: Families with young children should prepare for the walk-in tent sites at Elk Lake Campground. One camper noted "There is tent camping a short walk to the lakeshore" which means families need to carry all gear from parking areas to campsites.

Swimming safety: The lakeshore tent sites provide water access, but parents should be aware there are no lifeguards present at these natural swimming areas. Water clarity can vary throughout the season, and lake bottoms may be muddy or rocky in places.

Weather preparedness: The Barry area experiences typical Midwestern summer weather patterns including potential for strong thunderstorms. Tent campers should bring extra stakes and rain gear, particularly when camping with children during summer months.

Tips from RVers

Hookup limitations: RVers staying at Elk Lake Campground should note that overnight sites typically offer only electric hookups. A visitor mentioned "Water is available" throughout the campground, but direct connections may be limited to seasonal sites.

Site availability challenges: Due to the high number of seasonal occupants, overnight RV sites can be limited during peak summer months. One RVer observed that "This campground has level grassy sites" but most full-hookup options are occupied by seasonal campers.

Power specifications: Electric-only sites at Elk Lake Campground provide 30-amp service according to visitor reports. RVers requiring 50-amp service for larger units may need to look at alternative campgrounds or bring adapters and manage power consumption carefully.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Barry, MN?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Barry, MN is Elk Lake Campground with a 3-star rating from 1 review.