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Best Tent Camping near Evansville, MN

197 Reviews

Tent campgrounds near Evansville, Minnesota include several options within a short drive, with Glendalough State Park Campground being a standout choice for primitive tent camping. Located approximately 30 miles southwest of Evansville, Glendalough offers a unique tent-only experience with cart-in and canoe-in sites situated along Annie Battle Lake. Swan Lake Resort & Campground provides another option with tent sites that offer lake access in a more developed setting.

Most tent sites in the area feature level, grassy surfaces with varying amounts of shade from hardwood trees. Walk-in sites at Glendalough require campers to transport gear via carts provided by the park, with distances generally being short and manageable on flat terrain. A review on The Dyrt mentioned, "The tent sites are all cart in, making the scenery the main focus. You don't have to stare at vehicles while you are enjoying a fire." Basic amenities at most tent campgrounds include picnic tables, fire rings, and access to vault toilets or more modern restroom facilities. During peak summer weekends, reservations are recommended for established tent campgrounds, especially at popular locations like Glendalough.

Primitive tent setups in this region benefit from the diverse landscapes transitioning between northwoods and prairie. Tent campers at Glendalough enjoy access to multiple lakes, including motor-free Annie Battle Lake, which creates a peaceful atmosphere particularly suited to tent camping. Sites often provide good shade coverage from mature hardwood forests while some areas open to prairie views. As one camper noted, "We had a really great weekend exploring Glendalough, in the Ottertail Lakes region where the northwoods transitions out to prairie." The area offers excellent paddling opportunities with canoe and kayak rentals available at several locations. Fishing is productive in the numerous lakes, with panfish being common catches. Hiking and biking trails connect many of the camping areas, allowing tent campers to explore without needing to drive between destinations.

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Best Tent Sites Near Evansville, Minnesota (13)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Evansville, MN

9 Photos of 13 Evansville Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Evansville, MN

197 Reviews of 13 Evansville Campgrounds

  • Glenda D.
    Mar. 27, 2021

    Delagoon Park Campground

    Small campground with fishing pier

    Delagoon Campground is located within Delagoon Park which is on the outskirts of Fergus Falls, the County seat of Ottertail County. The campground has 22 campsites with 14 being camper/tent sites with water & 20/30 electricity. The campsites are gravel back-in with no separation between sites so privacy is limited. The tent-only sites are against a line of trees but are still open to other campers. There are fire rings but no picnic tables so bring your camping chairs. The fishing pier is large and handicap accessible. There are non-plumbed but modern and clean restrooms within the park. The campground gets used a lot by local residents looking for a quick weekend getaway but there are usually several open spots available that are low in cost ($10 for tent-only & $20 for hookup sites). Registration is first come first serve via a self serve kiosk at the campground entrance. The noise level within the campground can be pretty high on weekends. There are no posted quiet times or on-site staff who manage the campground (it is managed by the Fergus Falls Park & Rec Dept) although the local police drive through frequently when the campground is inhabited.

  • L
    Nov. 2, 2022

    Lake Carlos State Park Campground

    Beautiful and quiet

    End of October, Stopped for just one night, probably about a 20ish minute drive from 94. Was able to purchase firewood after closing, and the campsite were easy to find after (7$)entry to the park. Campsites are reserved through an online system. We found the top campsite completely empty and plenty of sites had good tree coverage for privacy/ way no protection. Nice level sites with soft ground. Each site had a fire ring and picnic table. The only bathroom in walking distance to the upper campsites was a vault toilet located amongst the cabins. Seems like a great place to stay any season.

  • Tori K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Feb. 9, 2025

    Dower Lake Recreation Area

    Swimming!

    offers sites with no hookups and sites with electric (no water, but potable water station is provided to fill up prior to parking) bathrooms and showers in the campground. Fire ring and picnic table provide for each site. Firewood and sewage dump station also provided for free to registered campers. There is a dock, sand swimming beach, horseshoe pits, disc golf, basketball court, and softball field.

  • Glenda D.
    Apr. 22, 2021

    Ashby Resort Campground

    Some semi-private sites - full hookups in other sites

    Each site has a picnic table and some sites have a fire ring.  There are tent-only sites that have no hookups and there are semi-private sites for RVs with electric hookup only or sites that are closer together for RVs that have full hookups.

    Call 218-747-2959 to book a site.  The campground has a lot of trees and most campsites are on grass.

    There is also a motel and cabins on-site that you can book.  The motel rooms, cabins and new cabins (these are like smaller mobile homes) are all lakeside giving you nice views.  

    The campground has paddle boards, paddle boats, kayaks and canoes that are available to guests at no extra charge, too.  You can rent a fishing boat or pontoon either by the day or the week.  There is a fish cleaning house on-site as well.  

    This campground is in the heart of Minnesota's lake's country.

  • Joanna B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Mar. 1, 2020

    Lake Carlos State Park Campground

    Beautiful camper cabin

    Leap Day 2/29/20-3/1/20 Frog Pond

    We headed to Lake Carlos for their candlelight ski, this was our first visit to this state park. Tent camping wasn’t available and we were able to reserve a camper cabin - Frog Pond. It was a nice change and a warmer option, the cabin is gorgeous! Frog Pond sleeps 6 with heat and electricity. There are 4 cabins that share 2 vault toilets.

    It was a beautiful 38 degree Leap Day and we took advantage of it. They offer a large number of ski trails so we xcountry skied before dark. The trails were icy, but still enjoyable. At dark we headed to the candlelight event. It was very busy and a huge turnout. We hiked 1.2 miles and then snowshoed 2.4 miles. There are ponds and bogs that they create snowshoe trails on, so there are even more trails to explore in the winter. It was a beautiful night and we enjoyed the wooded trails and starry skies. We had a fire and enjoyed a normal outdoor cookout before bed.

    We did more skiing on Sunday and checked out the 2 campgrounds as they were on the ski route. One campground is on Lake Carlos and very open. Sites have beautiful lake views. You can apparently drive your boat right into a sandy shore and dock it. They also have a swimming beach. The other campground is a bit more wooded and more suited for tents. This campground is near the camper cabins. The trails are very wooded and pretty. We enjoyed skiing the hiking club trail and ended up hitting almost every trail in our stay. I assume this park would be equally beautiful in the summer. What a beautiful state park!

  • 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.

  • Glenda D.
    Mar. 26, 2021

    Delagoon Park Campground

    Great campground on the outskirts of town

    Delagoon is the City Park & Camping area on the outskirt of Fergus Falls, the County seat of Ottertail County. The campground is comprised of about 20 campsites with several designated for tent or RV and includes 20/30 amp & water hookups. The other sites on the west side when you enter are tent-only sites with no electricity but there is running water supply outside the bathrooms located within the campground. The sites are spacious but there are no trees separating campsites so privacy is minimal, although the views are beautiful. The bathrooms within the campground and near the playground are modern but not plumbed. Hand sanitizer is refilled often but you may want to bring your own tp in case it has been used or taken. Pebble Lake, the lake adjacent to the campground is accessible by a road to a walking area for shoreline fishing or a road within the camping area leads to a fishing pier, usually installed by May 1. Softball and soccer teams play most days of the week in the summer. There are four softball fields and one soccer field.

  • M
    Dec. 23, 2020

    Birch Lake

    Quiet State Park No Hook-ups

    If you like quiet/off the beaten path sites, this one is awesome. Walk in sites as well as drive in. Great (but small) swimming beach, large lake with great fishing available. No hook ups and no dump station. Sites are spaced far enough apart to give you some privacy.

  • Tori K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Feb. 9, 2025

    Lake Carlos State Park Campground

    Lakefront (winter edition)

    I stayed here with a few friends in the winter when the park was doing their lantern-lit snowshoe trail. They have 1 site (electric) available in the winter. We had room for a truck bed camper and a pop-up clam ice fishing tent. A couple and their 2 dogs stayed in the truck camper and me and another friend stayed in the clam with an electric space heater going in addition to our 0 degree bags. It stayed pretty cozy! Fire ring and picnic table at the site. I believe the bathrooms and showers were closed for the season but cannot recall. Firewood is available at the office.

Guide to Evansville

Evansville, Minnesota, offers a variety of tent camping options that immerse you in nature while providing essential amenities for a comfortable stay.

Tent campers appreciate these amenities

Tent campers like these nearby activities

  • Explore the scenic hiking and biking trails around Annie Battle Lake at Glendalough State Park Campground, perfect for outdoor enthusiasts.
  • Paddle across the serene waters of Annie Battle Lake with rentals available at Swan Lake Resort & Campground, offering a fun way to experience the area.
  • Fishing and swimming opportunities abound at Elk Lake Campground, making it an ideal spot for families looking to enjoy water activities.

Some prices for tent camping range from $20 to $40

  • Tent camping at Glendalough State Park Campground is budget-friendly, with sites available for around $20 per night.
  • At Swan Lake Resort & Campground, expect to pay approximately $30 for a tent site, which includes access to various amenities.
  • For a unique experience, consider the tent sites at Elk Lake Campground, where prices hover around $40, providing a great value for the location and facilities.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Evansville, MN is Glendalough State Park Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 13 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Evansville, MN?

TheDyrt.com has all 13 tent camping locations near Evansville, MN, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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