RV campgrounds near Beaver, Minnesota offer year-round camping options with varying amenities and reservation requirements. The area sits in southeastern Minnesota's bluff country, where elevations range from 650 to 1,300 feet above sea level. Winter temperatures can drop below zero, while summer highs typically reach the 80s with occasional thunderstorms and moderate humidity.
What to do
Hiking trails: Whitewater State Park offers well-maintained paths with varied terrain for all skill levels. "I hiked up Chimney Rock and then looped back to tackle part of the Dakota trail! The hiking paths were well taken care of. There were plenty of places to stop and rest if you need to," reports Sarah C.
Trout fishing lessons: Take advantage of seasonal fishing education at Whitewater State Park. "We stayed here over Memorial weekend and had a blast—there were so many fun things to do! We hiked, took trout fishing lesson, sat at the beach and had relaxing evenings by the fire," shares Melissa H.
Visit local towns: The small community of Peterson offers historical sites and trail access. "It was great fun for me to take a morning and/or evening walk around Peterson, a lovely quintessential midwest town, with a feed mill, some lodging, a small cafe, Legion bar, etc. Some closures due to covid, like the historical society. Lots of signage around town about history," notes Charlie K.
What campers like
Privacy options: Some RV parks offer more secluded sites than others. "There is a main campground and a bonus sites section; we stayed in the Main campground and this review is based on that," explains Lee D. about Nelson's Landing RV Park. "Our challenge was that we arrived after dark, and the site numbers were posted at the back end of the sites, necessitating a sleuthing operation with my flashlight to find our site."
Clean facilities: Campground bathrooms vary widely in quality and availability. "The best part was the bathroom/shower house! There were 3-4 private shower/toilet/sink rooms with full locking doors. Everything is brand new and pristinely clean: white subway tile, white walls, white fixtures. Great water pressure and temperature," writes Jill K. about Nelson's Landing.
Medical proximity: Hidden Meadows RV Park provides convenient access for those with medical appointments. "This is very convenient if you have Mayo Clinic appointments. The campground was nice with grassy sites along with electric and water hook ups, there was a dump station also," reports Karen S. "We saw deer by the primitive camp areas and had nightly campfires in our fire ring."
What you should know
Winter camping limitations: During colder months, services are reduced at many campgrounds. "As with State Parks in MN, it's best to make the reservation online, especially with office staff being spotty these days. This time of year, water is not on in the campground, but there is a spigot right across the road at the visitor center that is on (easy 2 min walk)," explains Amy G. about winter camping at Whitewater State Park.
Train noise: Railroad tracks affect several RV campgrounds near Beaver. "We arrived after dark and left the next morning but our stay on a Friday in August was quiet except for the loud trains running along the Mississippi. We heard two around 10 pm and either there were no more until the next morning, or we mercifully slept through them!" notes Lee D. about Nelson's Landing RV Park.
Campfire policies: Fire restrictions vary between parks. At Autumn Woods RV Park, "Nice rv park with flexible departure times for Mayo Clinic appointments. The only down fall in the park is they don't allow campfires at the sites. There is a community campfire that can be used," reports Brad W.
Tips for camping with families
Family-friendly activities: Stoney Creek RV Resort provides numerous recreational options for children. "This is an amazing place for families to spend time camping. There are so many different planned activities for both the children and the adults to participate in. They have gaga ball, a bounce pillow, an arcade, mini golf, laser tag, swimming pool, skate park, playground, basketball court, volleyball court...the list of amenities goes on and on," shares Jen A.
Biking opportunities: Paved trails make biking easier for children. "The RV sites have electricity, water, and sewer, and they are level—we were only staying one night and didn't even need to unhook our pickup. The campground is on the Root River bike trail which is beautiful, shaded, and paved," notes Amy E. about Peterson City RV Park.
Flexible accommodations: Some campgrounds offer various lodging options for mixed groups. "This was a great family trip here—we rented 3 cabins and had 2 campers all together which is difficult to accommodate. The roads were perfect for our kids bikes," shares Erica H. about Stoney Creek RV Resort.
Tips from RVers
Hookup placement: Be prepared for unusual utility configurations at Green Acres RV Park-Dexter. "We stopped here on our way across the country. This place is perfect if you're looking for a place to rest and hookup your rig for a night. It also has laundry, which is a nice bonus! Also has two single bathrooms with showers," explains Kate.
Site leveling: Some parks offer more level sites than others. "Sites are gravel and pretty level. Only a little leveling was needed. Staff/owners were friendly and helpful," shares Sam C. about Nelson's Landing RV Park.
Mayo Clinic accommodations: Certain RV parks cater specifically to medical visitors with flexible scheduling. "Nice rv park with flexible departure times for Mayo Clinic appointments," notes Brad W. about Autumn Woods RV Park, which operates from February through mid-October.
