Best Camping near Dawson, MN

Looking for the best campgrounds near Dawson, MN? Camping, hiking, biking: however you want to spend your days near Dawson, you'll find great campgrounds with The Dyrt. Discover great camping spots near Dawson, reviewed by campers like you.

Best Camping Sites Near Dawson, MN (44)

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Showing results 1-10 of 44 campgrounds

Pet-friendly camping near Dawson

Recent Reviews in Dawson

94 Reviews of 44 Dawson Campgrounds


  • Tori K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Ambush City Park
    Oct. 15, 2024

    Ambush City Park

    Trails and river views

    This park has trails and is bordered on one side by a river. The other side of the river has a municipal water park and golf course. Several state parks close by for additional hiking opportunities. Sites have water, sewer, and electric. Fire ring provided. Showers and bathrooms onsite as well.

  • D
    Camper-submitted photo from Lake Cochrane Recreation Area
    Sep. 3, 2024

    Lake Cochrane Recreation Area

    Camp host here

    Really a nice little park! We have been camp hosts here for the summer. Had never been here before, didn't know it existed. 30 back in sites with #30 being host site.

  • L
    Camper-submitted photo from Memorial Park
    Aug. 6, 2024

    Memorial Park

    Small backin sites

    Hard surface parking with grass surround and gravel picnic table area.Newer power 30 and 50 amp. Good att cell signal but no satellite view in most sites. Current RV rate is $22. Fairly level sites.

  • Renee H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Lac qui Parle Upper Campground — Lac qui Parle State Park
    May. 23, 2024

    Lac qui Parle Upper Campground — Lac qui Parle State Park

    Spacious and tranquil

    Lots of space between sites. There are not many trees so not much shade. Sites are gravel and relatively level, not much leveling required. Variety of sites, from group camping, primitive (no hookups), electric only, full hookups (water, electric, sewer) as well as cabins and tent only areas. Limited hiking trails connected to campground. Surrounded on two sides by farm fields and Lac Qui Parle Lake on another. There are two loops in the campground. One loop has view of the lake. Boat/canoe launch is in lower campground about 10 minutes from Upper Campground. Recycling and garbage dumpsters on site. Dump station near entrance. Verizon cell signal is poor. Pit toilets available. Bathhouse is centrally located, includes private showers. No laundry on site. Nearby attractions in Montevideo include Talking Waters Brewery/taproom, Jake’s pizza and Java River cafe (with outdoor seating, dog friendly).

  • Eric H.
    Camper-submitted photo from Oraas County Park
    Oct. 15, 2023

    Oraas County Park

    Hidden gem in SW Minnesota!

    Beautifully maintained and quiet Park with a couple of trails to walk the pup on.

  • M
    Camper-submitted photo from Memorial Park
    Sep. 18, 2023

    Memorial Park

    Lovely campground clean

     It’s a lovely campground sites. One through seven are first come first serve eight through 13 are reservations which you can get online big mature trees close to the river nice spaces clean the restrooms were really clean and the shower was great except it wasn’t very hot. The camping fee for RVs is now $20 a night

  • SThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Timm County Park
    Sep. 9, 2023

    Timm County Park

    Very nice campground

    Nice set up, some shaded sites, some open, would be great for a group stay. No issues is hookups. Very helpful camp host.

  • Timothy W.
    Camper-submitted photo from Lac qui Parle County Park
    Jul. 2, 2023

    Lac qui Parle County Park

    Beautiful views from the Upper Campground

    We had a lovely weekend overlooking Lac Qui Parle from our campsite. The lack of mature trees on the upper campground bluffs is a plus. A gentle breeze keeps the bugs down and allows for nice views. We have a 26’ travel trailer and got 2 bars of T-Mobile 5G service.

  • Jackie P.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Oraas County Park
    Jun. 26, 2023

    Oraas County Park

    Hidden gem

    Nice park. Water and electric hookups at each site. Each site had plenty of space. We happened to be the only one in the park all weekend, which was awesome. Close to neighboring towns for any essentials that were missed. Hidden gem!

  • Kim H.
    Camper-submitted photo from Dawson City Park
    Jun. 24, 2023

    Dawson City Park

    Great campground

    RV park and some tent sites located next to the public pool and softball field. Amenities are good. WiFi is shared with the public pool so it's very slow.

  • L
    Camper-submitted photo from Swift Falls Co Park
    May. 21, 2023

    Swift Falls Co Park

    Nice spot!

    Some of the spaces are small. We had site 3b which was good sized. Beautiful stream. Only complaint was showers aren't the greatest. Dingy and the shower head is really low on the wall. We'd come here again. Our next reservation is for a smaller spot. We'll see how it goes. Internet service is very spotty.

  • Tori K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Glacial Lakes State Park Campground
    Jan. 1, 2023

    Glacial Lakes State Park Campground

    Located in Central MN

    The trails in the park have nice rolling hills and offer a unique type of beauty. The campground is small, but offers some electric sites as well as some primitive sites. I do believe there were 2 or 3 cabins that I saw. Unsure if there is a group camp with this campground being so small as it is. Firewood is available at the check in/office building. There is a bathroom/shower building in the loop with the electric sites. The electric loop and primitive loops both have vault toilets. Each loop also has a few water stations to fill containers with potable water and each loop has a dumpster for disposing of waste. Not sure if there is a dump station for RVs as I typically use a tent when camping. Nice state park in Rural central Minnesota

  • C
    Camper-submitted photo from Memorial Park
    Sep. 30, 2022

    Memorial Park

    Quaint and Convenient

    Road tripping and hammocking. Not so great for hammocks but we managed to hang two in site 10. Half of the site require reservations. Clean facility- large pads- electric & water. Across from river- 3 minutes from town but you’d never know it. One pull thru. Great fall visit.

  • Paul M.
    Camper-submitted photo from Outdoors Inn Campground
    Aug. 31, 2022

    Outdoors Inn Campground

    Beautiful, manicured, friendly

    Denise, the town, and camp grounds are so welcoming. Clean, well lit, and surrounded by beauty. Bath house modern and spotless. Would visit again and for longer.

  • SThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Outdoors Inn Campground
    Aug. 5, 2022

    Outdoors Inn Campground

    Great location next to Chippewa

    Recommended!

    We had a full hookups with 50 amp service. Our site was next to US-12 and had no noise issues. The Chippewa river flows next to the camp and the adjoining river bank is woodlands. We had no insect issues. There is a super dog park and grocery just east on US-12. Found great coffee and scones in Benson at Go Set Ready Coffee.

    Our site had a great camp fire pit made from a half sphere about 40 inches in diameter. Looked like the bottom of a buoy or end of a 250 lbs propane tank. The proprietor is an arborist and sold us a large bundle of hard wood that made great smores.

    We picked Benson because of its close location to Glacial Lake state park and the Glacial Ridge Trail. Just take MN-29 north.  The topology change in terrain from the farm lands around Benson to the rolling hills and lakes north on MN-29 is great. Continue on MN-29 to Starbuck for a sizable lake. Take some time and explore the back roads on and around the Glacial Ridge Trail. There are many hills, forests and lakes you can explore east up to New London. 

    We had an encounter with a pair of swans on the side of the road next to a lake. These are large beautiful birds! We stopped in the car, kept our distance, watched from inside of the car and enjoyed them before the slipped back into the lake.

  • B
    Camper-submitted photo from Glacial Lakes State Park Campground
    Jul. 8, 2022

    Glacial Lakes State Park Campground

    Baby lake bp site—choose another site?

    1. Literally right on trail. In fact, the only place to out your tent is immediately next to the trail
    2. No place to hang a hammock
    3. No water (even though youre 100 yards from lake, there is no way to access to get water to filter. Hike in all your water
    4. Its quiet
    5. Lots of ticks (its prairie after all)
  • DThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Lac qui Parle Upper Campground — Lac qui Parle State Park
    May. 30, 2022

    Lac qui Parle Upper Campground — Lac qui Parle State Park

    Prairie Camping

    We spent two nights tent camping at the Upper Campground of Lac Qui Parle State Park in May 2022. This is a prairie setting, essentially a very large grassy field without trees or shrubs to provide privacy from neighbors or protection from winds. The campsites are well-spaced, so that provides some cushioning distance. There are many young trees planted, but it will be years before they mature. While the campground lacks privacy, its wide open skies provide wonderful stargazing on clear nights. The openness was also great for watching groups of large birds (geese, turkey vultures, pelicans) wheeling overhead.

    There was one trail we could hike from the Upper Campground, and we enjoyed its grassy, rolling hills, trees, and lake views. The main parts of the park (lower campground, picnic area, beach, trails) were inaccessible due to recent storms that caused flooding and tree damage. We plan to revisit the park when it is restored and active again.

  • UnnamedAdventures  The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Camping 109 RV Park
    Mar. 7, 2022

    Camping 109 RV Park

    Awesome place for a work camper or a fisherman!

    We stayed here during a deployment for work. We were one of many work campers staying at this RV park. They have the basic amenities as a bathroom and laundry room. The sites are roomy and well maintained as the owner mowed the sites often. The campground is near a river so beware of the mosquitoes. We will stay here again when in the area. Also you can get 50% off with passport america pass!

    Check out our blog at www.unnamedadventures.com and follow our journey on Facebook and Instagram or on our YouTube Channel at Unnamed Adventures.

  • Joe S.
    Camper-submitted photo from Monson Lake State Park Campground
    Oct. 10, 2021

    Monson Lake State Park Campground

    Small campground

    This is a very small campsite with only 6 electric sites. The rest of the sites are non electric. The sites are good sized and spread out giving you privacy. There is about a mile and a half of trails which are not difficult to walk. There is also a boat launch at the campground too so you can take the boat out and go fishing.

  • BThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Memorial Park
    Oct. 4, 2021

    Memorial Park

    Recently improved

    The campground is shady, quiet, and clean. The bathroom is remodeled and was very clean. There is a new pavilion and playground with a small Zipline. The last 2 sites around the corner are very priivate. The Grinder is recommended for an excellent breakfast sandwich and roomy feminine place to hang out in bad weather



Guide to Dawson

Camping near Dawson, Minnesota, offers a great mix of outdoor fun and relaxation. With beautiful parks and campgrounds, you can enjoy nature while making lasting memories with family and friends.

What to do:

  • Hiking and Trails: Explore the scenic trails at Sibley State Park. One camper mentioned, "There are lots of trails, a very nice beach and picnic area, and lots of wildflowers." The Mt. Tom trail provides stunning views of the oak savannahs.
  • Swimming: Enjoy a refreshing swim at Lake Andrew, which is just a short walk from the Oak Ridge Campground. A reviewer said, "Swimming at Lake Andrew was fantastic and the beach was full of people enjoying the lake."
  • Wildlife Watching: Keep an eye out for local wildlife. One visitor at Lake Shetek State Park noted, "We saw deer, raccoons, rabbits, squirrels, chipmunks, turkeys, songbirds, butterflies, and frogs."

What campers like:

  • Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate the well-maintained restrooms and showers. A reviewer at Hartford Beach State Park said, "Very nicely maintained campground and facilities."
  • Spacious Campsites: Many campgrounds offer roomy sites. One camper at Green Lake County Park mentioned, "Beautiful clear lake, nice sites, friendly people."
  • Friendly Atmosphere: Campers often highlight the welcoming vibe. A visitor at Sunrise Campground shared, "We will definitely return."

What you should know:

  • Mosquitoes: Be prepared for bugs, especially in warmer months. A camper at Lac qui Parle State Park warned, "The park and campground are nice, but the mosquitoes weren't!"
  • Limited Privacy: Some campgrounds have sites that are close together. A reviewer at Oak Woods Campground noted, "When this campground is full you have zero privacy."
  • Reservations Recommended: Many campgrounds fill up quickly, especially on weekends. A visitor at Glacial Lakes State Park mentioned, "The campground is small, but offers some electric sites as well as some primitive sites."

Tips for camping with families:

  • Kid-Friendly Activities: Look for campgrounds with playgrounds and swimming areas. One camper at Hartford Beach State Park mentioned, "Nice playground too."
  • Plan for Meals: Stock up on groceries before heading out, as some campgrounds are far from stores. A visitor at Sunrise Campground advised, "Stock up on groceries as large grocery stores are approximately 40 minutes away."
  • Involve Kids in Nature: Encourage kids to explore nature. A camper at Oak Ridge Campground said, "We saw a polite raccoon that wandered into our campsite."

Tips from RVers:

  • Check Site Sizes: Make sure your RV fits the campsite. A reviewer at Minnesota Glacial Lakes State Park mentioned, "The electric loop and primitive loops both have vault toilets."
  • Bring Long Cords: If you need electric hookups, bring long extension cords. A camper at Hartford Beach State Park noted, "The electric hookup is pretty far from the picnic table/fire ring area."
  • Dump Station Availability: Check if the campground has a dump station for RVs. A visitor at Camden State Park mentioned, "The dump station near the entrance is convenient."

Camping around Dawson, Minnesota, is a fantastic way to enjoy the great outdoors. With plenty of activities, friendly campgrounds, and beautiful scenery, it’s a perfect getaway for families and RVers alike.

Frequently Asked Questions