2 campgrounds with availability this weekend
Chester Woods Park offers glamping accommodations among several state and county parks surrounding Byron, Minnesota. The park maintains canvas glamping structures set alongside the picturesque man-made lake created by damming Bear Creek. Whitewater State Park and Sakatah Lake State Park provide additional upscale outdoor accommodations with comfortable bedding, electricity, and climate-controlled interiors. Shades of Sherwood Campground features premium glamping options with nearby water features and recreational amenities. These sites include comfortable mattresses, quality linens, and private outdoor spaces with fire rings. One visitor noted, "The campground is very clean and nice with pristine bathrooms and showers that are close and easy to walk to."
Glamping guests enjoy convenient access to multiple water activities, with options for fishing, paddling, and boating across several locations. Rice Lake State Park provides excellent wildlife viewing opportunities where visitors can spot barred owls and sandhill cranes in their natural habitat. Eagle Cliff Campground serves as a launching point for regional exploration, located near the Root River Trail system. Fishing enthusiasts appreciate the well-stocked lakes, with Chester Woods offering panfish, catfish, and bass in a lake with abundant submerged trees creating ideal fish habitat. According to a camper, "We got to look at the moon and Saturn through a few big telescopes" during an organized stargazing event. Seasonal availability varies by location, with most glamping accommodations available from April through mid-October.
"Drinking water had already been turned off for the season, but the bathroom still had running water and flush toilets in mid-October. Easy access to hiking trails."
"Site 53 was close to the showers and water spigot and it was a big enough spot for 2 tents while being private. It was a 10-20 minute walk to anywhere else."
Available this weekend
from $25 - $250 / night
"Nice park for everyone’s type from tents, cabins and all size RV’s. Electric only at the camp sites but have water and dump station on site. Clean bathrooms and showers."
"It has a campground and man-made lake (created when Bear Creek was dammed for a flood control project) with hiking trails, a horse trail, picnic shelters, a beach, and a playground."
"My only complaint was how close together the walk-in sites were."
"Beautiful forested area just outside Owatonna. Easy drive past beautiful farms to town. Camp host told us mosquitoes were light this year; they seemed plentiful to me!"
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $24 - $50 / night
"Great tent sites some along river lots of activities for children and adults tubing down the river, man-made lake with blowups, scooters, swimming poolAnd jumping pillow."
"There are so many activities to do both within the park and surrounding areas, but my most favorite thing to do was walk the endless miles of hiking trails."
"It can be a little confusing because the camping and mystery caves are a distance apart. I highly recommend going to the caves."
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $25 - $90 / night
"We arrived on a Sunday and stopped at the Park Welcome area. We got the last spot with electric for 3 nights. Nice staff! Ice was available."
"We had an electric site. Very level and clean. Nice fire pit and located right next to the lake. Only downside was the site was electric only."
Available this weekend
from $24 - $34 / night
"We didn’t get to swim at the lake because it was shut down due to a chemical spill at the time, but we did walk over and check it out. The views are great!"
"All spots have a lake view and the beach is within walking distance. We love it here. It’s not to easy to get spots on the holiday weekends, but somehow we managed it"
"Bathroom and shower available. Each site has a fire pit and picnic table. Some sites suitable for hammock camping."
"This sites are spread out enough that you have a little privacy and each site has a fire pit and picnic table. This area is actually part of the owners farm. Bonus, it’s dog friendly."
"It was mid April so no water at the sites but had electric in ours. We were able to get potable water at the entrance. And firewood. Had great trails to walk and bike on. Sites are spaced out."
"Great park if you’re not looking to drive too far to enjoy a bit of nature. Wonderful hiking paths and biking paths. Our site was nice a secluded and right next to the trail heads."
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $24 - $85 / night
"Located on the Root River. Cliff View has very clean bath houses. Lots of sites to choose from. 50 amp service, sewer hook up and of course water. If your close enough to the office wifi available."
"Situated right along the Root River next to the bike trail. They offer kayak, canoe and tube rentals and shuttles. They also have bike rentals. This facility is clean and very well kept."
from $30 - $46 / night
RangerThis campground has large private sites, most are shady or partially shaded. Bathrooms are large and well maintained. There’s lots of good hiking trails and the historic town of Forestville was interesting to explore. Absolutely no cell coverage for T-Mobile or AT&T but luckily our site had a good opening in the trees for our Starlink. Would definitely recommend.
TravelerWe tent camped one night, midweek late August. Our site was private, close enough to the shower house but far enough away that we didn't hear any noise from the exhaust fans. Was a lovely quiet night. On a tight schedule so we weren't able to sample any of the hikes. Would stay here again. #33 also looked like a prime tent camp spot.
GuideThe Nonelectric sites at the White Fox campground were very nice. Great size and mostly private. The electric sites were definitely less private. The showers were clean and the vault toilets actually had a light inside! Trails were very nice.
ScoutAs a newer resident on Roberds Lake I decided to walk my son in his stroller down to the resort. It looked like a tropical paradise. The water is treated, there were tons of kids splashing around, his age.. It was the hottest day this year so far. It was packed! Lots of welcoming smiles on the beach...I saw the sign saying "Public Not Allowed." I was like aw that's disappointing ,and I understand completeley, why they do this. I have worked in the food and bev/entertainment industry for all of my life. Im 44...
I went into the little eatery to ask permission from what appeared to be the owner or manager. I asked her and she replied with " NO!" in the rudest way you could say it, and pointed her finger at the door....I mean, come on. Im my opinion, I think she could have handled it a little more professionally and suggest somewhere else, offer a cup of ice water, anything kind....no. All she was, was straight up cruel and I had to rush the first 2 blocks before I lost it. My son, didn't make a peep..anyways. . .I dont like saying negative things about people but in the case, I cant hold back. If you cant be kind and hospitable to EVERYONE that walks in that door, find a new profession like a prison guard or something....
GuideAmazing staff who were super nice and helpful. Great clean bathrooms and camp sites. We liked the trails and ability to access the lake. Super cheap and easy to rent kayaks.
GuideThis park is very nice. It has long gravel FHU sites. Bathrooms/shower house is fairly new, but they must have high iron levels b/c the toilets and walls already have brown stains. Kid friendly. walking path. Downfalls: Not much shade yet. You have to register online and some older folks don't like that.
GuideWould have been OK for one night, but we decided ahead of time to spend 4 nights. The entry needs a lot of work.(Several potholes that need to be filled in along the whole driveway both sides. Laundry room was nice although 3 washers and 2 dryers seem odd. Only $2 to wash and /or dry. We didn't use the RR/showers but went in and looked at it and it looked nice. They had a small enclosed dog run. There was a very small playground. No activities for adults or kids while we were there. Just a camp site. They did have a few newer cabins. There was a sign that it was under new management, but no one introduced themselves as the new owners. When asked if we could check out an hour late, the young guy in the office said we don't usually allow that, but I suppose it would be OK if you donate to the children's fund that we sponsor.
ScoutOriginal plan was to make it to Magnolia MN and camp there, but a few small setbacks occurred and needed to find a camp site sooner than that. Found this place on the Dyrt app, and called the owner. He was friendly and let me know he had a few spots available. Once I got there, I checked in, put a pin on the map for where I was from, and after he loaded the bunch of wood, he led me to my site.
Place is very clean. Flush toilets and shower stall. Lots of things for campers to do here as well.
Would recommend if you prefer a nice quiet campground away from busy roads.
ScoutSpacious sites, clean (very clean) shower and bathroom facilities.
Near Byron, Minnesota, glamping opportunities exist alongside traditional camping within a 30-mile radius. The area features flat to gently rolling terrain with elevations ranging from 1,000 to 1,300 feet above sea level. The region experiences distinct seasons with warm summers averaging 80°F and cold winters often dropping below freezing, creating varied camping conditions throughout the year.
Hiking trails exploration: At Whitewater State Park, trails offer varying difficulty levels through diverse landscapes. "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," notes Sarah C., who recommends bringing proper footwear for the sometimes challenging terrain.
Cave tours: Mystery Cave at Forestville Mystery Cave State Park offers underground exploration opportunities. "The cave tours are well done and the sites are scenic and tucked into the woods. There is also a winery (Four Daughter) not far away that's more than worth stopping at," explains Elisabeth M. Tours typically cost $15 for adults and $10 for children ages 5-12.
Bicycling: The paved Root River Trail system connects to Eagle Cliff Campground, making it ideal for cyclists. "Located on the Root River. If you're a bicyclist, campgrounds on great paved trail," explains Dan K. Bike rentals are available at several locations, allowing visitors to explore without bringing their own equipment.
Private sites: Many campgrounds offer sites with good spacing and vegetation barriers. At Sakatah Lake State Park, "Our site was a perfect tent-in site (site 15), as it was far enough away from the highway and other sites, so noise was minimal. The bugs were actually tolerable, which was an added bonus," shares Matt C.
Clean facilities: Campers frequently mention the well-maintained amenities. "The campground is very clean and nice. The bathrooms and showers were pristine clean and close and easy to walk to. The beach was great and clean. Fishing was great," reports Erik O. about his stay at Chester Woods Park.
Lakefront options: Water access enhances the glamping experience near Byron. "We stayed on site #1 which had a pretty view of the lake. However, the site is right on the hiking trail, and positioned where 3 paths meet," notes Chandra C. about Rice Lake State Park, highlighting the importance of site selection for privacy.
Seasonal changes: Weather impacts site conditions throughout the year. "We had a reservation on the North Shore, but switched it to Whitewater when we saw the ice and snowstorms in the forecast. Our site was large and easy to back into, all sites have a picnic table and fire ring," shares Karla J.B. about Whitewater State Park.
Site specifics: Some glamping sites require advance planning. "The campground has a TON of sites! There are close to 60 sites in all, about a third to half of those are electric sites. If you like open spaces, this is a wonderful place to camp," explains Michael C. about Myre-Big Island State Park.
Limited connectivity: Cell service varies by location. "We had no cell service at our site, but 2 bars plus WIFI outside the visitor center," notes Karla J.B. about winter camping at Whitewater State Park, an important consideration for those needing to stay connected.
Kid-friendly amenities: Lake Byllesby Regional Park offers features designed for children. "This is a great family campground! Camping spots are rather close, but we have two little ones so they made friends quick with other children. The playground is a short walk to the tent area, which was a big hit with our kids," shares Angela L.
Educational opportunities: Several parks offer ranger-led programs. "We got to look at the moon and Saturn through a few big telescopes," mentions James B. about star-gazing events at Rice Lake State Park, offering learning experiences alongside outdoor recreation.
Swimming options: Water access varies by location and season. "The views are great! We stayed in a RV spot next to the lake which had water and electric hookups," notes Angela L., though she adds that swimming was unavailable during her visit due to temporary conditions.
Site selection for larger vehicles: Oakwoods Trails Campground accommodates various RV sizes. "Nice and quiet little campground. Not many sites but they are very roomy. Water and electric hookup only. They offer a dump station as well," advises Tracy B., noting the spacious sites despite limited amenities.
Hookup availability: Electric-only sites are common in the region. "Nice place but it is a campground not an rv park, 30 & 50 amp service but no water hookup (fill when you come in) and dump tanks when leaving," explains Kevin about Chester Woods Park, highlighting the need to plan for water usage.
Road conditions: Interior campground roads can be challenging. "The interior roads are dirt roads with a few potholes they are very narrow. We were able to drive through the campground with our 40 foot fifth wheel. But just barely, be careful!" warns Cheryl W. about navigating larger rigs through some area campgrounds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Byron, MN?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Byron, MN is Minneiska Campground — Whitewater State Park with a 4.5-star rating from 51 reviews.
What is the best site to find glamping camping near Byron, MN?
TheDyrt.com has all 20 glamping camping locations near Byron, MN, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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