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Best Tent Camping near Carlos, MN

282 Reviews

Tent campsites near Carlos, Minnesota offer a mix of established campgrounds and more secluded options in the surrounding lakes region. Glendalough State Park Campground, located about 40 miles northwest of Carlos, provides tent-specific camping with no RVs allowed, creating a quieter outdoor experience. Several lakeside options like Linwood Resort & Campgrounds and Swan Lake Resort & Campground accommodate tent campers with designated tent areas separate from other accommodation types.

Most tent sites in the region feature level, grassy surfaces with varying degrees of shade from surrounding trees. Walk-in tent locations at Glendalough State Park require campers to use carts to transport gear from parking areas to campsites, creating a more immersive natural experience. According to one visitor, "The tent sites are all cart in, making the scenery the main focus. You don't have to stare at vehicles while you are enjoying a fire." Basic amenities typically include fire rings and picnic tables, with drinking water available at central locations rather than individual sites. Vault toilets serve most primitive areas, while established campgrounds offer shower facilities during peak season.

The region's lakes provide excellent opportunities for water-based activities directly from tent camping areas. Elk Lake Campground features walk-in tent sites with shoreline access, while Glendalough's tent-only policy creates a notably peaceful atmosphere around Annie Battle Lake, which prohibits motorized boats. A camper noted that "the campgrounds are in a grove of hardwood trees that offered great shade and a contrast to the surrounding prairies." Many tent campsites in the area offer fishing access, swimming beaches, and canoe/kayak opportunities. Primitive tent sites typically provide more seclusion but require campers to pack in their own water and supplies. Several campgrounds maintain hiking trails connecting tent camping areas with nearby natural features, making them ideal bases for day hikes.

Map showing campgrounds near Carlos, MinnesotaExplore the Map

Detours Nearby

Sunnybrook Park

Sunnybrook Park

41 min away

Green Lake County Park

Green Lake County Park

1 hr 13 min away

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Best Tent Sites Near Carlos, Minnesota (21)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Carlos, MN

10 Photos of 21 Carlos Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Carlos, MN

282 Reviews of 21 Carlos 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.

  • 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!

  • 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.

  • ERolf P.
    Sep. 23, 2016

    Charles A. Lindbergh State Park Campground

    Canoe Camp

    This is one of the most beautiful campsites we have stayed at in the midwest. The canoe campsite (also accessible through cart-in) is located on a small creek just off of the Mississippi river. There is a fire ring, picnic table, and ample tent space. There is about a 500yd walk to the restrooms, and you have to go another 500yds to the main campground to find the showers. We camped in mid-September, and the water to the main campground had already been turned off for the winter, so no shower review. The bathrooms near the cart-in sites were well maintained and clean, flush toilets. There was drinking water access near the old WPA water tower (but the water came from the city, not the well and water tower). We had some rain, but the sandy soil mean things drained quickly and were nearly dry in the morning. Lots of neat hiking trails within this small park, and a Minnesota Historical Society Site across the road at the Charles A. Lindbergh historic site (his boyhood home).

  • Janet R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 20, 2018

    Rock Lake

    Hidden gem for rustic camping!

    This campground is really a hidden gem that i never knew about even though it is within an hour drive of my home. It is a rustic state forest campground with great campsites located in a gorgeous oak-birch-pine forest and right on a pretty lake. Although the campsites are karge enough to accomodate RVs, there are no hookups and no amenities like a bath house, so the campground favors tent campers. Many of the sites are right on the lake, including oarking space, tent pad, fire ring and picnic table, and each of these have a small lake access for swimming or launching a canoe or kayak. There is also a day use area with beach and boat launch, plus a nice nature trail. You can enjoy a quiet family weekend in the deep woods here, but still pop into the town of Pillager which is only 10 miles away. Well kept, quiet and peaceful

  • Tracy O.
    Jun. 20, 2021

    Glacial Lakes State Park Campground

    Perfect for families

    Great family campground. Lots of shade cover. Oak ridge is perfect for larger rigs (<35 feet - anything bigger there are only 2 spots that will fit) (no electric or water). Clean vault toilets. Lots for kids to do. Canoeing, fishing, paddle boards. Great hiking trails. Loop for kids to bike on easily. Easy to get to.

    For those using the dump station it’s on a hill and tougher for bigger rigs to use. No flushing station. But water throughout park. Firewood at the station. Small number of electric sites in the first campground but sites are closed together and less privacy/shade. Bathhouse is in first campground.

  • 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.

Guide to Carlos

Tent camping near Carlos, Minnesota offers a variety of scenic spots where nature lovers can enjoy the great outdoors. With options ranging from well-equipped campgrounds to serene lakeside retreats, there's something for everyone.

Local Attractions for Tent Campers

  • Experience the beauty of Glendalough State Park Campground, where you can hike along trails that wind through diverse habitats and enjoy pristine lakes.
  • Visit Linwood Resort & Campgrounds, which features a boathouse lodge and game room, perfect for family fun after a day of camping.
  • Explore the nearby town of Osakis, where you can find convenience stores, restaurants, and local bars, enhancing your camping experience at Linwood Resort & Campgrounds.

Activities for Outdoor Enthusiasts

Tent Camping Prices and Amenities

  • Tent camping at Glendalough State Park Campground typically ranges from $15 to $25 per night, offering a rustic experience with modern amenities.
  • At Linwood Resort & Campgrounds, you can find sites with electric hookups and access to showers, making it a comfortable choice for families.
  • Elk Lake Campground offers tent sites with access to drinking water and picnic tables, with prices around $20 per night.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Carlos, MN?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Carlos, MN is Linwood Resort & Campgrounds with a 4-star rating from 1 review.

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

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

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