Best Tent Camping near Bloomington, MN
Tent camping near Bloomington, Minnesota provides access to several backcountry and walk-in tent sites within an hour's drive. Afton State Park, located 30 minutes east of the Twin Cities along the St. Croix River, offers 26 hike-in tent sites with varying terrain and privacy levels. Lake Maria State Park, about 45 minutes northwest of Bloomington, features exclusively backcountry tent camping with sites ranging from 0.5 to 3 miles from parking areas. Nerstrand Big Woods State Park, southeast of Bloomington, provides walk-in tent sites with wooded surroundings and access to hiking trails and a waterfall.
Most tent-only campgrounds in the region require reservations through the Minnesota State Parks reservation system. Walk-in tent sites at Afton State Park involve a moderately challenging one-mile hike with a steep incline near the end, making lightweight packing essential. Sites typically include level tent pads, fire rings with grates, and picnic tables. Vault toilets are available near clusters of sites, though campers should bring their own toilet paper. Water sources vary by location, with Afton providing a solar-powered well pump and Lake Maria offering water stations at parking areas. Summer months bring significant mosquito activity, particularly at Lake Maria's wetland-adjacent sites.
Primitive tent camping in this region offers a sense of seclusion without venturing far from the metropolitan area. According to reviews, Afton's backpacking sites provide "privacy and a sense of solitude without having to travel too far from the city." The sites are well-spaced, with some tucked into forested areas and others offering prairie or river valley views. One visitor noted that Lake Maria State Park is "a great place to adventure into backpacking" with sites that feel "isolated even though other sites were nearby." The Cannon River Wilderness Area provides free walk-in tent sites approximately 10 minutes from parking, with opportunities to set up near the river. Wildlife sightings are common, with deer frequently observed at Afton and various bird species active at Lake Maria.