U
Ursula
Ranger
RangerPine Ridge Campground — Itasca State Park
Amazing bike trails, really quiet but it is off season, surrounded by natural beauty
Glamping near Detroit Lakes, MN
3 campgrounds with availability this weekend
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Glendalough State Park's luxury canvas tents and yurts sit alongside secluded Annie Battle Lake, offering a premium glamping experience just over an hour from Detroit Lakes. The park's watercraft-accessible glamping sites feature comfortable bedding, private fire rings, and picnic areas with lakefront views. Campers' Paradise and Maplewood State Park provide additional upscale canvas accommodations with electrical hookups, heated interiors, and access to modern shower facilities. "We spent 5 days there and it was not enough! This place has beautiful scenery whether you are in an inside lot or on the lake," noted one visitor about Campers' Paradise.
Several glamping sites near Detroit Lakes offer year-round bookings, with Itasca State Park's Pine Ridge featuring winter-accessible accommodations complete with electric heating. Water activities dominate the glamping experience, with most locations offering canoe and kayak rentals directly from private docks. Hiking trails connect many glamping sites to natural attractions, including Buffalo River's prairie lands and Maplewood's maple forests. One reviewer highlighted the Glendalough experience: "The yurt and watercraft sites are secluded and so awesome with great views, right on the lake, firewood and water back there available specifically for that area." Most properties require advance reservations, especially during peak summer season when waterfront glamping sites often book months ahead.
Best Glamping Campgrounds near Detroit Lakes (9)
1. Grass Lake Campground — Maplewood State Park
"We had electric hook up, fill with water near the dump station. Our site was big and private on Grass lake facing west so we saw great sunsets sitting in our site."
"Very spacious sites; the best ones in the main campground (with electric) are along Grass Lake (7,8,15,16) but all would be decent sites."
20 Sites AvailableAvailable this weekend
from $24 - $34 / night
2. Buffalo River State Park Campground
"Not a scrap of trash the restrooms clean and well stocked. You don’t have a pothole in site- heck not even a weed on the road."
"This is a great location if you are just getting into the camping lifestyle. The easy to drive to camp sites and flat geography make it easy to find that perfect spot."
Check AvailabilityCampground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $24 - $75 / night
3. American Legion Park
4. Pine Ridge Campground — Itasca State Park
"Itasca State Park is a jewel in the state park system of Minnesota, and the park’s Pine Ridge campground is where hordes and crowds of visitors stay when visiting it in summer."
"Itasca State Park offers campgrounds that will give the full outdoor wilderness experience, away from the sounds of cities and cars. It's a wonderful place for hiking,biking, and water activities."
147 Sites AvailableAvailable this weekend
from $25 - $35 / night
5. Glendalough State Park Campground
"Went on the hiking club trail around Annie Battle Lake, most of it is even paved for biking or groomed for skiing."
"We had a really great weekend exploring Glendalough, in the Ottertail Lakes region where the northwoods transitions out to prairie."
9 Sites AvailableAvailable this weekend
from $22 - $85 / night
6. Deer Park Lake Backcountry Campsite — Itasca State Park
"a different lakes every night."
"The trail is a beginner level trail. A couple uphills, but nothing too bad. The campsite is basic. A log to sit on, a fire ring, and spots for 2 or 3 tents. The campsite overlooks a lake."
Check Availabilityfrom $19 / night
7. Vagabond Village Campground
"Bathrooms are clean and there’s a laundry room."
"Many amenities, very friendly and helpful staff. My absolute favorite!!!"
8. Campers' Paradise
"This place has beautiful scenery whether you are in an inside lot or on the lake. Staff was very kind and accommodating and shower/bathhouse were well maintained and setup very nice."
"First off, every member of the staff we worked with from reservations to the store were wonderful. They were helpful, courteous and polite but you could tell that they were no nonsense."
9. Andersons Crossing
"This is yet another canoe campsite and canoe launch on the state—designated Crow Wing River Water Trail https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/watertrails/crowwingriver/index.html This is a good paddle-in stop or"
"It was located right on the river. This was a great campsite for the 7 of us! Planning on going back a few times this summer!"
Drive Time
- 46 min from Fargo, ND
- 1 hr 48 min from Grand Forks, ND
- 2 hrs 11 min from St. Cloud, MN
- 3 hrs 22 min from Duluth, MN
Recent Glamping Photos near Detroit Lakes, MN
9 Photos of 9 Detroit Lakes Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Glamping Reviews near Detroit Lakes, MN
134 Reviews of 9 Detroit Lakes Campgrounds
Kimberly K.
TravelerPine Ridge Campground — Itasca State Park
Great but crowded
Easy to access campground. We were in the Maple loop. It’s full, but we had enough quiet with the spacing and trees between the sites. Bathroom was clean and didn’t smell. Easy trail access. No real scenery in the campground other than the standard north woods.
- DDavid L.Traveler
Buffalo River State Park Campground
Attentive staff
We were recently coming thru this area in a Class C and hit a stretch of very windy days in the greater Fargo area. There were forecasts for bad winds and possible tornadoes that night and the staff made a point of keeping everyone informed on their safety protocols. They have a stone “safe house” on sight and we were to relocate there if necessary. In the end, it was not needed but I was impressed with the attentiveness of the staff to camper safety. The site itself was fine and the bathroom facilities were clean and well-kept.
- Crystal R.
GuidePine Ridge Campground — Itasca State Park
Best camping!
This campground is better than the bear paw one because they have sites that are bigger and more private.
*pine loop and poplar loops are best if you want private camping sites.
*site 211 is the biggest! That's where we stayed.
*there are two bathroom buildings which have flush toilets and showers. It's less than a five minute walk from just about anywhere in the campgrounds. Also multiple vault toilets.
*I had some cell coverage (t mobile) and so did my friend (Verizon). Usually when did, she didn't, and vice versa. I'd say a good portion of the campground doesn't have service, you may have to walk around a bit to get a bar or two. No wifi in the campgrounds (except where you purchase wood) but there's wifi in the visitor center.
*we saw a bear sighting almost every night. He was not aggressive and pretty skittish, just making noise scared him off. But beware you'll need to keep a clean campsite.
*lots of stuff to do here. The Mississippi headwaters is a must! There's a fire tower, museums, hiking, swimming, kayak rentals, and more! Also the park hosts events too. We went to one on the history of the headwaters and one for archery! Also the wilderness drive is a must!
*there's places to eat in this park too! There's a restaurant (didn't get to try bc it was closed at the time) and a little cafe next to the headwaters. It was delicious, they had sandwiches, pastries, coffee, etc.
- IIvey T.Traveler
Pine Ridge Campground — Itasca State Park
Beautiful spot
People and park rangers friendly. Spread out spots.
- IIvey T.Traveler
Buffalo River State Park Campground
Beautiful
Host and park rangers are on top of checking reservations keeping safe and clean facilities.
Judy K.
ScoutBuffalo River State Park Campground
Fabulous small campground
Bathrooms are new, clean, and showers are spacious. Staff is friendly and present. Host on site. Level, mostly shady.
keith B.ScoutPine Ridge Campground — Itasca State Park
Quiet In the Spring
Late April and things have not gotten green yet so it is a bit dour at the moment. In the summer I can see this place being very beautiful surrounded by trees and near the headwaters of the Mississippi!
Kyle K.ScoutPine Ridge Campground — Itasca State Park
First time in Itasca Park
We like the Pine Ridge Campgrounds because of how dense the trees are between campsites compared to Bear Paw Campgrounds. There is also less traffic going on. The only downside is a further walk to showers/bathrooms.
Guide to Detroit Lakes
Detroit Lakes sits in Becker County, Minnesota at 1,368 feet above sea level in a region carved by glaciers that left behind more than 400 lakes within a 25-mile radius. Summer temperatures average 80°F during the day, dropping to 60°F at night, creating ideal camping conditions from late May through early September when mosquito activity peaks.
What to do
Paddling opportunities: At Glendalough State Park Campground, you can enjoy non-motorized lakes perfect for canoeing and kayaking. "They don't allow motor boats on one of the lakes so there is always calm water to canoe, kayak, swim, or paddleboard in," notes Emily R. The park rents canoes, kayaks, paddle boards and bikes for exploring both water and land.
Hiking trails: The trails at Maplewood State Park Campground wind through diverse ecosystems. "This park has many trails that wind through woods, prairies, and around lakes," explains Spencer F. The park maintains trails for hikers, horseback riders, and seasonal activities like snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.
Swimming beaches: Several campgrounds offer swimming areas for cooling off. Buffalo River State Park features "a great man made swimming beach with beautiful tree filled campground," according to Lisa C. Many lakes in the area have designated swimming zones with sand beaches, particularly useful during July and August when water temperatures reach their warmest point.
What campers like
Seasonal color changes: Fall camping delivers exceptional visual rewards. "Lots of maple trees, red, orange colors in fall," says Denise D. about Maplewood State Park. Another camper simply states it's "Immaculate. Visit in the fall," highlighting the dramatic autumn transformation that typically peaks in late September to early October.
Privacy between sites: At Buffalo River State Park Campground, campers appreciate the layout. "The sites without any hookups are more private and secluded, great for tent camping," explains Leslie R. This privacy factor appears frequently in positive reviews of campgrounds throughout the region.
Glamping options: Luxury camping or glamping in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota area provides comfort without sacrificing nature connections. Glendalough State Park offers yurts that provide upscale camping. "I stayed in their Osprey yurt, and it was perfect for our first camping trip together. I recommend yurts if you're not 100% comfortable with/enjoy staying in a tent," shares Isabelle P.
What you should know
Bug preparation: Be ready for insects, particularly in wooded areas. "Extremely buggy in mid July which is expected," notes Spencer F. about Maplewood. Another reviewer mentioned, "The grass was long and we quickly found ticks crawling up our leg," highlighting the need for proper bug spray and tick checks during summer months.
Reservation requirements: Most campgrounds fill quickly, especially during peak season. "We decided to try camping in one of Glendalough's yurts," states Steph A., but these specialty accommodations book months in advance. For glamping near Detroit Lakes, reservations often open 120 days before arrival date.
Campfire restrictions: Campers' Paradise and other sites provide firewood for purchase. Fire restrictions may change based on conditions, so check before arrival. "If you get to the park past four make sure to pick up firewood before hand," advises Rudy W. Local regulations often require purchasing firewood on-site to prevent spreading invasive species.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping
campsite near Detroit Lakes, MN?
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Detroit Lakes, MN?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Detroit Lakes, MN is Grass Lake Campground — Maplewood State Park with a 4.3-star rating from 20 reviews.
What is the best site to find
glamping camping near
Detroit Lakes, MN?
What is the best site to find glamping camping near Detroit Lakes, MN?
TheDyrt.com has all 9 glamping camping locations near Detroit Lakes, MN, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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