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Best Tent Camping near Dawson, MN

96 Reviews

Tent campers visiting the Dawson, Minnesota area can find established campgrounds in nearby communities like Sacred Heart and Renville. Skalbekken County Park offers tent sites along the Minnesota River valley with drinking water, toilet facilities, and picnic tables. The park allows fires and provides firewood for campers. Vicksburg County Park provides more primitive tent camping options without established amenities, suitable for self-sufficient campers seeking a more remote experience.

Road access to tent sites varies between the two county parks near Dawson. Skalbekken County Park features drive-in access, making it convenient for tent campers with substantial gear. The park maintains clean facilities and allows pets, though alcohol is prohibited. Vicksburg County Park offers more dispersed camping opportunities along the Minnesota River but lacks basic amenities such as drinking water, toilets, or designated fire rings. Campers should pack in all necessary supplies including drinking water and waste disposal bags when visiting this location.

The Minnesota River valley provides scenic backdrops for tent camping experiences throughout the region. Skalbekken County Park attracts horse riders with its trail system while offering river views. The park receives positive reviews for maintenance and cleanliness. One visitor described it as having "beautiful views of Minnesota River valley" with "nice friendly local people." Vicksburg County Park appeals to those seeking a more primitive experience and fishing opportunities. A review mentioned the area has "lots of places to choose for dispersed camping" and is particularly good for catfish. Both locations offer quieter alternatives to larger campgrounds, with opportunities to enjoy riverside tent camping without crowds.

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Best Tent Sites Near Dawson, Minnesota (2)

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Tent Camping Reviews near Dawson, MN

96 Reviews of 2 Dawson Campgrounds

  • Jen A.
    Aug. 28, 2019

    Yellow Medicine River Campground — Upper Sioux Agency State Park - PERMANENTLY CLOSED

    Fun Camping in a Tipi

    We camped in a tipi here.  All we needed to bring were sleeping bags and sleeping pads. The kids loved being in a tipi and mom & dad loved that we didn't have to set up a tent. The deck kept us off the dirt, and we were warm all night.  What a fun and unforgettable experience.  We hiked the amazing trails throughout the park and even learned about the history of the area.

  • Renee H.
    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).

  • Makayla B.
    Sep. 9, 2019

    Camden State Park Campground

    Nice campground on the prairie

    There are two campgrounds in this park - the upper one is on the prairie while the lower one is situated among trees along the river. We stayed in the lower campground in site 30. The lower campground is close to the playground and swimming pond but it rained the whole time we camped so we didn't use either.

    Sites in the lower campground are fairly close together and we didn't have cell service (Verizon), which wasn't a big deal.

    I brought my fat bike and bike the Bluebird and Dakota Valley trails. Both are mowed paths that go through prairie and wooded areas. The actual mountain bike trail was disappointing, it was overgrown, narrow, and hugged a high ridge.

    Our site, 30, sloped away from the parking pad. You wouldn't be able to set up.chairs under your awning at this site and the picnic table sat in a low spot that got muddy after 2 straight days of rain. There is a river that runs behind the sites in this loop. Our boys played on the rocks and had a great time.

    There are nearby train tracks and trains ran by several times a day, though luckily they don't blow the horn so we didn't notice them much.

  • 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.

  • Allison K.
    Aug. 1, 2019

    Yellow Medicine River Campground — Upper Sioux Agency State Park - PERMANENTLY CLOSED

    Amazing Tipi Camping!!!

    If you’re looking for some unique camping look no further than the Upper Sioux Agency State Park outside of Granite Falls Minnesota. This park is one of three parks in Minnesota that is home to Tipi camping. Yes I said Tipi!! And not even a Tipi that you need to supply one that’s already set up for you with the wood platform and everything perfect for you to have an amazing experience!

    We paid $55 a night and were able to stay at this awesome Tipi campsite. The only downside to the campsite that we stayed in was that it was right on the corner of the main road. Other than that we are absolutely in love with the campsite and the staff at the park. Each day the park rangers would come through and ask if you needed firewood charge you for it and bring it straight to your campsite. This is a pretty good option for buying firewood since the park office was a few miles away from the actual campsite.

    It was a really nice shower and bathroom facility along with vault toilets just off the main road. The campground is pretty open but still secluded enough for us to feel like we were there alone. There was a river close to the campsite so that we could fish if we wanted to. And just a short walk or drive or bike ride you could get to the picnic area right off the river and have a really nice day or evening. There were also backpack in camp sites that were really secluded and pretty large. The only problem to those was they were close to the river and the mosquitoes are pretty bad.

    This park also has equestrian camping and it’s really nice because it’s completely separate from the main campground.

    There wasn’t a whole lot to do around the Park in the nearby towns however there was some cute little antique and thrift shops which was right up our alley.

    We would definitely go back and stay in a tipi again!!! What a cool experience!!!

  • Sara E.
    Sep. 5, 2017

    Yellow Medicine River Campground — Upper Sioux Agency State Park - PERMANENTLY CLOSED

    Baby's first camping trip!

    My husband and I wanted to try out camping with our five-month-old, so we stayed two nights in Upper Sioux Agency State Park at the Yellow Medicine River Campground. The campground was well-maintained, clean, potable water tasted good, the outhouse had toilet paper and hand sanitizer, and the sites/paths were mowed. Our site (#5) did not have any tree cover, so midday was HOT! It looked like all of the other sites had at least one tree, if not a small forest surrounding the site - so it was just our dumb luck to choose the one site without shade [via the DNR website]. The state park has over 18 miles of trails - - - most are grassy paths mowed along the Yellow Medicine River, through the prairie, or over the grasslands - none with noticeable elevation changes.

  • Neil T.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 31, 2021

    Hartford Beach State Park Campground

    Uncrowded and Beautiful

    Vibe: Almost empty on Monday night. Quiet natural lake setting. 

    Cleanliness: Exceptional. 

    Facilities: Updated and well maintained. 

    General spots: Good size, good spacing, ok privacy. Lots of trees 

    Our site: 20. Across from our site was a little trail down to the lake. In the evening we saw tons of fish and an otter. The electric hook up is pretty far from the picnic table/fire ring area. Have a long cord. 

    Noise: Only 4 sites were occupied out of 30 or so. Completely quiet all evening. 

    Cell signal: Good (Verizon)

    Other: Spectacular sunsets and sunrises. Cell phone pictures do not do it justice.

  • Leni K.
    Oct. 12, 2020

    Lagoon Park

    Beautiful little town campsite

    Stayed one night, tent only, but water and electric hookups present, along with firepit and picnic table. Reservations have to be made in person, but can be done after hours, picked up at the Police Station box, $20. There's less than 10 sites, one half against the highway, the other backed to the disc golf course and swingset. Sites are a bit close, but on an empty weekend we were spaced well. On a beautiful Saturday it was quiet, and empty of visitors by night, and the sites cleared out early Sunday. Two bathrooms, with a shower each, seem well kept up, but are a bit dated. There was no firewood available, but Casey's nearby had some available. There was also a lot of fallen wood and branches in the area. Would definitely go again if in the area.

  • Tori K.The Dyrt PRO User
    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

Guide to Dawson

Tent camping near Dawson, Minnesota offers a blend of scenic views and outdoor activities, perfect for nature enthusiasts looking to escape the hustle and bustle.

Tent campers like these nearby activities

Some prices for tent camping range from $0 to $20

  • Camping at Vicksburg Co Park provides a budget-friendly option with access to public water for river activities.

Tips for tent camping near Dawson

  • Be prepared for a peaceful experience without electric hookups at Skalbekken County Park, where you can enjoy a quiet retreat surrounded by nature.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Dawson, MN is Skalbekken County Park with a 3.5-star rating from 2 reviews.

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