Best Tent Camping near Eagan, MN
Tent campsites near Eagan, Minnesota provide several options for backcountry and walk-in experiences within a short drive of the Twin Cities. Afton State Park Campground, located in Hastings, offers hike-in tent sites with significant privacy and natural surroundings. The park maintains backpack-accessible tent sites approximately one mile from the parking area, making it a popular destination for tent campers seeking a wilderness experience without traveling far from the metropolitan area.
The tent sites at Afton State Park require a moderately strenuous hike, with many visitors noting the uphill climb toward the end of the trail. Campsites feature basic amenities including fire rings, picnic tables, and access to vault toilets. Firewood is available through a self-service system where campers must cut wood themselves using provided saws, with a fee of $6 for all you can carry. Water is accessible from a solar-powered pump near the campground, which produces what reviewers describe as clean, good-tasting drinking water. According to one visitor, "The hike to the campground is short and grueling. A few of the sites are in wooded areas, but we stayed in one of the prairie sites. The terrain is just hilly enough to give the sites a sense of privacy and seclusion."
The tent camping experience at Afton offers significant site separation and diverse terrain types. Tent sites are positioned throughout wooded and prairie environments, with many campers reporting excellent privacy between neighboring sites. A visitor mentioned that "The campsite was perfect. The woods made it very secluded. It was close enough to water and bathrooms so it wasn't bad if you planned." The backpack-in requirement naturally limits the amount of gear campers bring, contributing to the quiet, primitive atmosphere. Cannon River Wilderness Area provides another primitive tent camping option with free sites that are walk-in accessible. These areas typically have fewer amenities but offer greater seclusion for tent campers seeking a more rustic experience. Most tent sites throughout the region require advance reservations, particularly during peak summer months.
