Best Tent Camping near Empire, MN
Tent campers seeking sites near Empire, Minnesota have several established options within a short drive. Afton State Park Campground offers backpack-in tent sites approximately one mile from the parking area, with the final quarter-mile featuring a steep uphill climb. William O'Brien State Park Campground provides tent camping in two distinct areas—Riverway campground with sites near the St. Croix River and Savanna campground set in more open terrain.
Most tent sites in the area feature fire rings with grates and picnic tables, though amenities vary by location. Afton State Park's hike-in sites include access to vault toilets, a solar-powered water pump with drinking water, and self-service firewood (campers must cut their own with provided saws). The backpacking sites at Afton are spaced for privacy, with some overlooking the St. Croix River valley and others nestled in wooded areas or open prairie. William O'Brien's tent sites include both electric and non-electric options, with the non-electric sites generally offering more seclusion and less generator noise from RVs.
The terrain at these campgrounds varies significantly, with Afton's sites situated on a ridge offering more challenging access but greater privacy. Many tent sites throughout the area provide good hammock-hanging options between mature trees. Nerstrand Big Woods State Park Campground, though farther from Empire, features walk-in tent sites with pea gravel tent pads that drain well after rain. The walk-in sites at Nerstrand are a very short distance from parking—only about "three car lengths to the tent pad," according to one camper. Tent campers at Afton particularly appreciate the secluded nature of the sites, with a visitor noting that "the campsite has an open space to play games as well as wooded areas all around" and that sites are "far enough apart you are still able to have privacy and enjoy the peace and quiet."