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Best Tent Camping near Battle Lake, MN

171 Reviews

State parks and public lands surrounding Battle Lake, Minnesota offer diverse tent camping options in the transition zone between northwoods and prairie landscapes. Glendalough State Park Campground stands out as a premier tent-only destination with cart-in and canoe-in sites situated along Annie Battle Lake. The park's unique no-motors policy on the lake creates a peaceful environment for tent campers. Beers Hike-In Site provides a more secluded backcountry tent camping experience north of Battle Lake, while Elk Lake Campground offers walk-in tent sites with lakeshore access. God's Country Camping provides primitive tent sites with basic amenities for those seeking simplicity.

Most tent campsites in the Battle Lake region feature level, grassy surfaces with varying amounts of shade from hardwood trees. Walk-in tent sites at Glendalough require campers to use provided carts to transport gear from designated parking areas to campsites, though distances are typically short and terrain is flat. Fire rings and picnic tables are standard at established tent campgrounds, with firewood available for purchase. Vault toilets serve primitive tent camping areas, while Glendalough offers modern restrooms and showers near the trail center. Reservations are recommended for weekend camping during summer months when tent-only sites fill quickly.

The tent camping experience around Battle Lake emphasizes water-based recreation and natural quiet. According to reviews, Glendalough's cart-in tent sites are "spaced out quite well" with lake views that "still feels private even though you can see other campers' tents." One camper noted that Glendalough is "one of the few state parks in our state where there are no RVs or car camping," making it ideal for tent campers seeking a more natural experience. At Beers Hike-In Site, visitors appreciate the "easy walk" to the tent site which features "a nice fire pit and good area for fishing." Tent campers frequently use these sites as bases for paddling, swimming, and fishing in the region's numerous lakes, with opportunities to observe wildlife including deer and eagles.

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Best Tent Sites Near Battle Lake, Minnesota (21)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Battle Lake, MN

10 Photos of 21 Battle Lake Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Battle Lake, MN

171 Reviews of 21 Battle Lake Campgrounds

  • Glenda D.
    Mar. 27, 2021

    Delagoon Park Campground

    Small campground with fishing pier

    Delagoon Campground is located within Delagoon Park which is on the outskirts of Fergus Falls, the County seat of Ottertail County. The campground has 22 campsites with 14 being camper/tent sites with water & 20/30 electricity. The campsites are gravel back-in with no separation between sites so privacy is limited. The tent-only sites are against a line of trees but are still open to other campers. There are fire rings but no picnic tables so bring your camping chairs. The fishing pier is large and handicap accessible. There are non-plumbed but modern and clean restrooms within the park. The campground gets used a lot by local residents looking for a quick weekend getaway but there are usually several open spots available that are low in cost ($10 for tent-only & $20 for hookup sites). Registration is first come first serve via a self serve kiosk at the campground entrance. The noise level within the campground can be pretty high on weekends. There are no posted quiet times or on-site staff who manage the campground (it is managed by the Fergus Falls Park & Rec Dept) although the local police drive through frequently when the campground is inhabited.

  • L
    Nov. 2, 2022

    Lake Carlos State Park Campground

    Beautiful and quiet

    End of October, Stopped for just one night, probably about a 20ish minute drive from 94. Was able to purchase firewood after closing, and the campsite were easy to find after (7$)entry to the park. Campsites are reserved through an online system. We found the top campsite completely empty and plenty of sites had good tree coverage for privacy/ way no protection. Nice level sites with soft ground. Each site had a fire ring and picnic table. The only bathroom in walking distance to the upper campsites was a vault toilet located amongst the cabins. Seems like a great place to stay any season.

  • Tori K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Feb. 9, 2025

    Dower Lake Recreation Area

    Swimming!

    offers sites with no hookups and sites with electric (no water, but potable water station is provided to fill up prior to parking) bathrooms and showers in the campground. Fire ring and picnic table provide for each site. Firewood and sewage dump station also provided for free to registered campers. There is a dock, sand swimming beach, horseshoe pits, disc golf, basketball court, and softball field.

  • Glenda D.
    Apr. 22, 2021

    Ashby Resort Campground

    Some semi-private sites - full hookups in other sites

    Each site has a picnic table and some sites have a fire ring.  There are tent-only sites that have no hookups and there are semi-private sites for RVs with electric hookup only or sites that are closer together for RVs that have full hookups.

    Call 218-747-2959 to book a site.  The campground has a lot of trees and most campsites are on grass.

    There is also a motel and cabins on-site that you can book.  The motel rooms, cabins and new cabins (these are like smaller mobile homes) are all lakeside giving you nice views.  

    The campground has paddle boards, paddle boats, kayaks and canoes that are available to guests at no extra charge, too.  You can rent a fishing boat or pontoon either by the day or the week.  There is a fish cleaning house on-site as well.  

    This campground is in the heart of Minnesota's lake's country.

  • Joanna B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Mar. 1, 2020

    Lake Carlos State Park Campground

    Beautiful camper cabin

    Leap Day 2/29/20-3/1/20 Frog Pond

    We headed to Lake Carlos for their candlelight ski, this was our first visit to this state park. Tent camping wasn’t available and we were able to reserve a camper cabin - Frog Pond. It was a nice change and a warmer option, the cabin is gorgeous! Frog Pond sleeps 6 with heat and electricity. There are 4 cabins that share 2 vault toilets.

    It was a beautiful 38 degree Leap Day and we took advantage of it. They offer a large number of ski trails so we xcountry skied before dark. The trails were icy, but still enjoyable. At dark we headed to the candlelight event. It was very busy and a huge turnout. We hiked 1.2 miles and then snowshoed 2.4 miles. There are ponds and bogs that they create snowshoe trails on, so there are even more trails to explore in the winter. It was a beautiful night and we enjoyed the wooded trails and starry skies. We had a fire and enjoyed a normal outdoor cookout before bed.

    We did more skiing on Sunday and checked out the 2 campgrounds as they were on the ski route. One campground is on Lake Carlos and very open. Sites have beautiful lake views. You can apparently drive your boat right into a sandy shore and dock it. They also have a swimming beach. The other campground is a bit more wooded and more suited for tents. This campground is near the camper cabins. The trails are very wooded and pretty. We enjoyed skiing the hiking club trail and ended up hitting almost every trail in our stay. I assume this park would be equally beautiful in the summer. What a beautiful state park!

  • HollyRose M.
    Nov. 7, 2020

    Glendalough State Park Campground

    Well Managed

    Woah love this park! Has so many things to do.

    • Went on the hiking club trail around Annie Battle Lake, most of it is even paved for biking or groomed for skiing.

    • The yurt and watercraft sites are secluded and so awesome with great views, right on the lake, firewood and water back there available specifically for that area... so cool.

    • The cart in sites and camper cabins are in a little old growth forest area right on the lake up in a little hill area. Spaced out quite well, all have views of lake (even though on a hill so for swimming/boating access you gotta go to appropriate spots). What a site for camping!

    • Very clear and calm lakes, sandy, and the little creeks/rivers betwixt them are just begging to be canoed or kayaked.

    • Great swimming areas and picnic tables and fire pits everywhere. Vast views and also pretty wooded areas.

    • Shower and rest rooms very modern by the trail center.

    All in all so cool that they kept it so rustic has a cool history! Big views and wooded views which I love. Various walks, streams and lakes. Campground is the real deal and good for anyone who wants a wilderness experience without actually backpacking! Great for kids, for sure!

  • Glenda D.
    Mar. 26, 2021

    Delagoon Park Campground

    Great campground on the outskirts of town

    Delagoon is the City Park & Camping area on the outskirt of Fergus Falls, the County seat of Ottertail County. The campground is comprised of about 20 campsites with several designated for tent or RV and includes 20/30 amp & water hookups. The other sites on the west side when you enter are tent-only sites with no electricity but there is running water supply outside the bathrooms located within the campground. The sites are spacious but there are no trees separating campsites so privacy is minimal, although the views are beautiful. The bathrooms within the campground and near the playground are modern but not plumbed. Hand sanitizer is refilled often but you may want to bring your own tp in case it has been used or taken. Pebble Lake, the lake adjacent to the campground is accessible by a road to a walking area for shoreline fishing or a road within the camping area leads to a fishing pier, usually installed by May 1. Softball and soccer teams play most days of the week in the summer. There are four softball fields and one soccer field.

  • Tori K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Feb. 9, 2025

    Lake Carlos State Park Campground

    Lakefront (winter edition)

    I stayed here with a few friends in the winter when the park was doing their lantern-lit snowshoe trail. They have 1 site (electric) available in the winter. We had room for a truck bed camper and a pop-up clam ice fishing tent. A couple and their 2 dogs stayed in the truck camper and me and another friend stayed in the clam with an electric space heater going in addition to our 0 degree bags. It stayed pretty cozy! Fire ring and picnic table at the site. I believe the bathrooms and showers were closed for the season but cannot recall. Firewood is available at the office.

  • Amy G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 19, 2017

    400th Ave Camp

    Ranger Review of 400th Ave Camp

    A glorious little site nested in the trees. So close to the parking area it's a breeze to get to, yet far enough away you'd never guess you were near your car (except for very occasional road noise). Great place to camp with kiddos to get them used to the woods!

    Campsite Review:

    My husband and I are lucky enough to live easy driving distance from one of the longest (yet little talked about) hiking trails in the country. The North Country Trail (NCT) runs from North Dakota to New York and all the states in between. It spans Minnesota, not far from our home, and so we love to take overnights and day trips to the trail, sometimes with the pooches!

    This campsite doesn't really have an official name, but it's literally only about 100 yards, if that, from the parking area at the 400th Ave trailhead in the Laurentian Chapter. Close enough that you can leave non essentials in the car and run back for them if you need to. You could even haul your food back to the car instead of hanging it if you wanted to. Great little stop for thru hikers or section hikers, yet perfect for a quick overnight with the kids, if they were itching to camp somewhere other than your back yard.

    It has a great little fire ring with a grate that swings out of the way. A tent pad that's sort of wonky, but you can find a bit of a flat spot if you move closer to the fire. A two sided latrine is just down the path and there is a great big beautiful bench! It looks very new, and it's carved (whittled?) out of a large log of some sort. Solid and gorgeous! There's a little road noise, but not much because it's a logging road, not a highway.

    I highly recommend this spot to families and hikers alike!

Guide to Battle Lake

Tent camping near Battle Lake, Minnesota, offers a unique blend of natural beauty and outdoor activities, making it an ideal destination for nature enthusiasts and families alike.

Tips for tent camping near Battle Lake

  • Glendalough State Park Campground provides a rustic experience with tent-only sites that require a short hike or paddle to access, ensuring a peaceful retreat surrounded by nature.
  • Swan Lake Resort & Campground features spacious, wooded sites that are perfect for families, with easy access to amenities and activities for all ages.
  • Beers Hike-In Site is a great option for those looking for a more secluded experience, offering a nice fire pit and fishing opportunities right at the site.

Local attractions and activities

  • At Glendalough State Park Campground, you can explore scenic hiking and biking trails around Annie Battle Lake, with paved paths that are perfect for all skill levels.
  • Swan Lake Resort & Campground is conveniently located near Battle Lake, where you can find grocery stores, restaurants, and ice cream shops to enhance your camping experience.
  • The pristine lakes at Glendalough are designated "Heritage Lakes," making them ideal for canoeing, kayaking, and swimming, providing endless opportunities for water activities.

Some prices for tent camping range from $20 to $40

  • Tent camping at Glendalough State Park Campground is affordable, with prices typically around $20 per night, making it accessible for budget-conscious campers.
  • Swan Lake Resort & Campground offers tent sites starting at approximately $30, providing a comfortable stay with essential amenities.
  • Beers Hike-In Site has a low fee structure, making it an economical choice for those seeking a back-to-nature experience without breaking the bank.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Battle Lake, MN?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Battle Lake, MN is Glendalough State Park Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 13 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Battle Lake, MN?

TheDyrt.com has all 21 tent camping locations near Battle Lake, MN, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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