Looking for the best options for tent camping near Barry? The Dyrt is an easy way to find tent camping spots near Barry. Whether you're looking for a quiet, dispersed site or an established camgpround with amenities, The Dyrt makes it easy to find the perfect place to pitch your tent.
Guide
RV park and some tent sites located next to the public pool and softball field. Amenities are good. WiFi is shared with the public pool so it's very slow.
TravelerThis campground has level grassy sites. Most or perhaps all full hookup sites have seasonal RVs but there are a few overnight sites that generally have electric only (30A). Water is available did not see a dedicated dump station. Stayed 3 nights Was a nice spot. There is tent camping a short walk to the lakeshore that seemed nice.
Traveler
This campground is actually called Tipsinoh Mounds Campground & Resort. It has something for everyone. A basketball court, playground, a nice Sandy beach. Tent sites right by lake. Great for fishing and all types of water sports. Not far from the MN Central Lakes Bike Trail.
Guide
Nice, clean campground. A few of the tent sites had lake views with even a few having short paths right to the waters edge. All sites are drive in with not much privacy in between, but it was enough for me. I stayed in site 9, but would probably choose site 14 for better views next time. Even though the dnr website says the office is open daily, the office at this campground is unmanned except for the weekend, and even then, limited hours. Bring change for firewood ($6). Not much for hiking paths. There is another section of the state park that's about 11 miles north. There is a beach and boat landing near the campground, although the lake was starting to look pretty scuzzy when I was there at the end of July.
Traveler
We tent camped in the non electric sites in the Lower Campground. They were shady thank goodness, but not very flat or large. Your tent will be on rocks, not grass.
When we were visiting, the shower house was closed due to Covid, so no review of that. The vault toilet was stocked with TP and fairly clean. The portapotty was near full and smelled awful. Didn’t look like it had been emptied all summer! Gross.
The lake was really high when we visited, which led to a useless campground fishing pier and a boat dock that you had to swim to to use. There was no beach, but there may have been if the water level was normal. Watch out for biting sunnies in the swim area and enormous snapping turtles stealing the fish off your hook at the fishing pier near the swim area.
We did go into Starbuck which is 5 miles away. Very impressive beach, groceries and a DQ all an easy drive away.
Guide
We spent two nights tent camping at the Upper Campground of Lac Qui Parle State Park in May 2022. This is a prairie setting, essentially a very large grassy field without trees or shrubs to provide privacy from neighbors or protection from winds. The campsites are well-spaced, so that provides some cushioning distance. There are many young trees planted, but it will be years before they mature. While the campground lacks privacy, its wide open skies provide wonderful stargazing on clear nights. The openness was also great for watching groups of large birds (geese, turkey vultures, pelicans) wheeling overhead.
There was one trail we could hike from the Upper Campground, and we enjoyed its grassy, rolling hills, trees, and lake views. The main parts of the park (lower campground, picnic area, beach, trails) were inaccessible due to recent storms that caused flooding and tree damage. We plan to revisit the park when it is restored and active again.
LegendThe 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
RangerThis was a nice little find! Two small loops in the campground with some sites along the water. Only electric on the inner loop. We stayed at site 2, which was nice; had enough room for our RV and a tent. Short walk to some green space with a large sandbox, the boat launch, and swim beach. We also saw a deer walking through the campsite too! Fun to watch all of the birds and pelicans!!
Guide
RangerLots 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).
LegendWe camped here in July and it was a great experience, but apparently it is spectacular during the spring and fall migration seasons, because this area is a major stopover on the Red River/ Minnesota River flyway fir migrating birds and waterfowl. During migration, the thousands of birds convening on the headwater lakes of these two rivers makes it sound as though the lake itself is speaking up in its own voice, hence the french furtraders name of “Lac Qui Parle”. The state park here has two sections, a lower part in the forested lowlands on tbe west side, and an upper section on an open prairie bluff on the east side. We camped at the upper camprground, where the sites were open but nicely spaced from the neighbors. The sites were surrounded by blooming prairie and had an exquisite view over the lake, especially at dawn and sunrise. There are also several really nice park camper cabins if you would rather not camp out. The park has lots to explore but is also close to a huge national wildlife marsh refuge that is great for birdwatching and paddling. The park has good facilities eg water and restrooms etc, but is pretty far off the beaten path in terms of access to groceries and supplies, so stock up before arriving and come prepared. This location is close to some interesting Minnezota history sites, too, as well as being a great destination for natural history and outdoor recreation
LegendGeneral: 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.
LegendGlacial Lakes is approximately two hours from my home, which makes it an ideal campground to make an impulse day trip if the weather is right. If you are coming from the Twin Cities you pass through a lot of countryside with the occasional house or small town. Despite it being a slightly shorter drive than the trip to Duluth from my house, it felt like eternity in comparison. It also felt very very unlike the Minnesota that I’m familiar with.
It was a relief to get Lake Minnewaska, which is enormous and the little lake community gives you something to gape at. It also means that you are almost there- thank goodness. Glacial Lakes is relatively unknown considering its proximity to the twin cities, and the scale of its facilities definitely reflect that.
The entrance station was closed when we were there, but it looked nice and it is on the newer side. The parking area at the end of the road is not expansive, so come early if you are doing a day trip on amazingly nice days. I didn’t see the the group campsite or the Lower Campground(or the cabins that are in it) because the road was closed off to it, so I can’t speak on the quality of those campsites, but I’m assuming that they are nice because there is actually a restroom/shower building there.
I would not camp at the Oak Ridge Campground. The sites were rarely level and generally on top of each other with minimal privacy. There are also a handful of hike-in sites. Kettle Lake hike-in campsite is the iconic image of camping at this park thanks to the two little lakes that butt up right next to each other right at your campsite. I also wouldn’t camp here because there is no shade and I would cart-in, but NOT hike-in to a shadeless campsite.
Reviews of this park also mention a lot of ticks, so keep that in mind. There is also horse camping! Minimal shade here too, but there were some young trees. The road to the horse camping is NOT wide enough for two vehicles to pass, so if you are coming here with your equine friends cross your fingers that you don’t encounter anyone on that road.
We visited for the very first time on a nice day in March. The main parking area is in a wooded area, so you have to hike through quite a bit of hilly woods to get to the prairie section. This meant that there were a few treacherous icy and/or muddy spots despite the surrounding areas being snow-free. It also meant wading over a boardwalk that was covered in water that got higher on our way back from all the melting ice.
The prairie part was definitely beautiful and I will definitely visit again when the spring flowers are in bloom or on a nice fall day when the grass changes color. I don’t think it will be a park that I frequent often though, mostly because of the never-ending drive. We did the High Peak Trail, which was a nice point with a strong wind that almost ripped my beanie off the day that we visited.
Guide
Didn’t expect much in graceville but we were blown away. Situated right between a lake and a golf course. Very clean camp sites. Had a blast.
Guide
Very nicely maintained campground and facilities. Mid week stay so nearly empty.
RangerThis was a nice find! Sites pretty close together, especially those in the middle. Some, however, were right on the lake or had paths that lead to a picnic table & fire ring closer to the water. As another reviewer mentioned, one of the loops has sites that are not very level. It was not a problem though. Trails seemed nice & it was a nice surprise to find the dock & bridge near our site. Beach was nice! It was a decent walk there, but at least had a trail to the beach. Nice playground too.
LegendVibe: 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.
GuideThere are 2 separate camp areas with 2 completely different types of sites. The sites near the lake are very wooded, a bit smaller and pretty uneven. The sites themselves are even but your canopy might be overhanging a slope. That being said, we really liked the sites near the lake because we like the trees and lake views. The upper sites are HUGE and very near nice! The bathrooms where clean as well as campsites. We will be going back!
GuideGreat camp ground with things for everyone to do. Upper and lower campground are both very nice with big sites.
ScoutVery friendly staff, very well kept. The showers & other facilities we're cleaned every morning. Maybe more. It is clean At 21.00 it is a bargain. The sites all have electricity, picnic tables & fire ring. Lots of firewood available for donations. Nice place on South Dakota side of Big Stone lake.
GuideThis was a nice campground on the lake. The sites are not very private and some of the fire pits are are far away from the camping pad, they are down the hill by the lake. They have nice hiking trails.
GuideHave spent a great deal of time at this park. Beautiful sunsets, lots of wildlife and nice trails. Fishing is free from the park boundaries with lots of shoreline. Great access to the lake if you have a boat. Only 7 miles into town for forgotten supplies or a specialty coffee. Con, flies can be an issue and the wind has an open shot from the south.
GuideWe were able to grab a quite corner spot with a great view of the lake looking over to South Dakota. There are canoe rentals an ok trail system and a great swimming beach.
GuideBeautiful campground! We rode in to the park on bicycles from Watertown, SD and enjoyed a very relaxing evening at the campground. The hiking trails were very enjoyable and the swimming beach looked very nice. We will return with our kids to this campground!
Guide
What an amazing little gem of a place! A former resort, now home to just 12 full hook up RV sites, a couple of cabins, and an amazing supper club that opens at 5:00 daily. On the shores of Big Stone Lake. A nice beach and a boat landing. There are normally no open sites, we are told, as they are all rented for the season. We got lucky because there was a site available, said Elmer. So we showed up and we’re greeted by the super- friendly residents who helped us into our site. At five we went down for supper- enjoyed a cocktail, a fantastic steak, then another drink while we watched the sun go down. Just perfect. If you can’t camp here, check out the state park - then come over for dinner!
GuideWe reserved a spot with the idea of exploring the area from a nice quiet grass location.
We drove in and we were met by the owner who was very nice.
We then drove to the back where our spot was. At that point we realized the campgrounds was a man camp. Semis, heavy equipment, and discarded appliances were part of the camp area. A van was parted in our spot. The campers were with in feet of each other. No grass or trees once you are passed the office. We did not stop. We just drove out.
If you are working construction it appears to have amenities. If you are looking for a family setting or quiet I would suggest a different campgrounds.
Scout
Stayed here while moving across the country because there wasn’t much else available. It was a nice surprise that it was as good as it is. Well kept up and reasonable prices but man was it tight! Very crowded and the owner was one of those folks who wants to help you back in whether you need help or not. There is a big gas station just out of town near the highway so it’s a convenient place to refuel and recharge for another day.
Tent camping near Barry, Minnesota offers a chance to immerse yourself in nature while enjoying various amenities and activities. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or a spot with more facilities, there are options to suit your needs.
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.
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