The Dyrt – find campgrounds for tents, RVs, cabins, glamping and more.
Open in App

Best Campgrounds near Eyota, MN

549 Reviews

Campgrounds near Eyota, Minnesota range from state parks to county-operated facilities, with several options for both tent and RV camping. Chester Woods Park, located directly in Eyota, offers tent, RV, cabin, and glamping accommodations from mid-May through mid-October. Approximately 15 miles east, Whitewater State Park provides year-round camping with drive-in, walk-in, and hike-in access. The region includes both developed campgrounds with full hookups and more primitive cart-in sites for those seeking a more secluded experience.

Most campgrounds in southeastern Minnesota operate seasonally, with peak availability from late spring through early fall. Reservations are strongly recommended, particularly for weekend stays during summer months. "Whitewater is by far one of the top state parks in Minnesota. Their camping facilities are clean with running water and free showers. The campsites are quite spacious but not too wooded," noted one visitor. Winter camping is limited primarily to Whitewater State Park, while other facilities like Chester Woods Park close from mid-October until May. The terrain features rolling hills and bluffs characteristic of the Driftless Area, with some campgrounds situated along creeks and small lakes.

Campers report high satisfaction with water-adjacent sites throughout the region. Several visitors mentioned the peaceful sound of flowing water as a highlight of their stay at Whitewater State Park. The cart-in sites at Whitewater's Gooseberry Glen area receive particularly positive reviews for their creek-side locations, though visitors should be prepared for a half-mile trek with gear over uneven terrain. A recent review noted, "Site 4 is right on a rushing creek, which was perfect, and provided a great noise to fall asleep to." Wildlife sightings are common, with reports of deer, eagles, and various bird species. Proximity to hiking trails is another frequently mentioned benefit, with many campgrounds offering direct access to scenic paths through wooded bluffs and along waterways.

Map showing campgrounds near Eyota, MinnesotaExplore the Map

Best Camping Sites Near Eyota, Minnesota (129)

    1. Minneiska Campground — Whitewater State Park

    51 Reviews
    Elba, MN
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (507) 932-3007

    "Whitewater is by far one of the top state parks in Minnesota. Their camping facilities are clean with running water and free showers. The campsites are quite spacious but not too wooded."

    "Easy access to hiking trails. My site was close in distance to adjacent ones, but was on the edge by the creek, so it was pretty quiet."

    2. Chester Woods Park

    7 Reviews
    Eyota, MN
    4 miles
    Website
    +1 (507) 285-7050

    "It has a campground and man-made lake (created when Bear Creek was dammed for a flood control project) with hiking trails, a horse trail, picnic shelters, a beach, and a playground."

    "Has many walking trails that you can take your dog on and just a couple that you can’t."

    3. Carley State Park Campground

    10 Reviews
    Plainview, MN
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (507) 932-3007

    "Carley State Park is easy to overlook in favor of nearby Whitewater State Park. Whitewater has an actual visitor center, the dramatic scenery, the flush toilets, and spacious/level sites."

    "Site #2 is further down a path with 4 picnic tables and room for 4-5 tents. The site is right at the park border, with farm land/prairie just on the other Side of the trees."

    4. Rochester-Marion KOA

    5 Reviews
    Marion, MN
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (507) 288-0785

    "We got back on the Interstate & got off on exit 224. Took Co Rd 7 to HWY 52. This is a lot easier than the directions the KOA gave."

    "It has convenient access to the freeway and the city of Rochester. Bathrooms are cleaned frequently and we'll stocked."

    5. Lazy D Campground and Trail Rides

    5 Reviews
    Elba, MN
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (507) 932-3098

    "Our campsite was next to the river, we enjoyed the sound of it drowning out vehicle noise from nearby roads."

    "was a little high but clear of fallen limbs ( for the most part) the woman who drove the bus to pick us up was amazingly friendly, you could tell she loved her job and it made you feel happy to be around"

    6. Chester Woods Patk

    1 Review
    Marion, MN
    4 miles

    "Shade on most, stick to the outsides of camp for better shade."

    7. Aefintyr

    4 Reviews
    Elba, MN
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (507) 513-5598

    $29 - $139 / night

    "Short drive to White Water State Park. A lot of great trout fishing spots along the river. Very peaceful campground, great view of the stars on clear nights! Will definitely be back."

    "It was so fun to socialize in the shared space around the fire and play games.  If you are up in the bluff, be sure to wear good shoes for the hike up. "

    8. Cedar Hill Campground — Whitewater State Park

    3 Reviews
    Elba, MN
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (507) 312-2300

    "Park is nestled in a beautiful valley surrounded by rocky bluffs with great hiking trails. Campsites are spread apart nicely and some are right along the Whitewater river."

    "There is lots of hiking trails, and a beach to swim in the river. The campground is semi private with lots of trees and shade. The bathrooms are very nice."

    9. Autumn Woods RV Park

    5 Reviews
    Stewartville, MN
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (507) 990-2983

    10. Eagle Cliff Campground and Lodging

    16 Reviews
    Lanesboro, MN
    22 miles
    Website
    +1 (507) 467-2598

    $30 - $46 / night

    "Stopped here on the way up to Minnesota and our campsite was gorgeous! Everyone was very friendly and the sites were very clean. We stayed right on the water."

    "They have several on the rivers edge which are by far the best! The campground rents out tubes as well as provides a shuttle to the starting point and you float down to the campground."

Show More
Showing results 1-10 of 129 campgrounds

2025 Detourist Giveaway

Presented byToyota Trucks

Review Campgrounds. Win Prizes.

Enter to Win

Eyota Contest

Enter to Win

Recent Camping Photos near Eyota, MN

181 Photos of 129 Eyota Campgrounds

Recent Reviews near Eyota, MN

549 Reviews of 129 Eyota Campgrounds

  • Crystal B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 19, 2025

    Minneiska Campground — Whitewater State Park

    Newer campground at gorgeous Whitewater State Park

    This campground is on the opposite side of the road as the park office… but on the same side as the beach. Nice new shower building and nice roads. Some sites are a bit on the smaller side, but there are some drive through sites as well. There are also group sites and cabins.

  • Crystal B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 19, 2025

    Cedar Hill Campground — Whitewater State Park

    Traditional Camping at a Beautiful State Park

    Whitewater SP is a great place to spend time. This campground is the older one on the same side as the store/office. They have a beautiful new shower building.

  • Crystal B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 19, 2025

    Perrot State Park Campground

    WI State Park with access to the Mississippi

    Beautiful park located near the river. There are many sites and a few have water views. There are a variety of sites available as well from primitive to drive through and even a few “twin”sites where family or friends can camp right next to each other. Some sites are a bit more isolated than others as well for a variety of preferences.

  • Crystal B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 19, 2025

    North Campground — Merrick State Park

    Nice sites at a WI State Park on the River

    Nice large sites in a single loop. This is one of 3 campgrounds in this State park. There are a few river side sites in the loop and mature trees are within the loop. The shower building is in this loop although it’s closed over winter. Vault toilets still available.

  • Crystal B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 19, 2025

    South Campground — Merrick State Park

    Nice River campground

    This campground offers many nice sites. Some are more off by themselves and some are right next to each other. There is drive in, cart in, and pull in sites. There is nice ground for renting as well. Many of the sites are on the river. Nice state park! Open year round.

  • Crystal B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 19, 2025

    Island Campground — Merrick State Park

    Nice large “hike-in” sites on the river

    These sites are in 1 of 3 campgrounds in the State Park. They are technically “hike-in” or “cart-in” but have a very short hike to get to. They are large and have a fire ring and picnic table at each of the on the water sites. Very nice in my opinion!

  • Crystal B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 19, 2025

    Pool 4, Riecks Lake Park

    Small area along the river near the road

    Just for clarification, the map coordinates are about 2 miles off here. The address brings you to the lock and dam and while there appears to be a 10 hour parking sign, it is just the parking lot. About 2.1 miles north on the road is the small campground and park. This is seasonal camping closed over winter. The campground and the road is on a narrow piece of land between the Mississippi and a ponds/backwaters that has an impressive amount of waterfowl present.

  • Crystal B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 9, 2025

    Vernon Springs Turkey River County Park

    Nice new campground with great local activities

    This campground is a county campground that looks pretty new or recently upgraded. It is on the outskirts of town by a mile or two. There is nice walking and biking trails on the property and the river is close by. A nature center is on the property. There is a boat launch available near for putting your yak or canoe in. This is seasonally open.

  • Crystal B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 9, 2025

    Deer Creek Speedway

    Campground directly next to the Deer Creek racetrack

    This is a fairly basic campground attached to Deer Creek Speedway. Nice grassy sites. There is a path to drive carts/wheelers to the track. This is located directly off highway 63.

Guide to Eyota

Eyota, Minnesota and its surrounding area feature several established campgrounds catering to different camping preferences. Chester Woods Park, located within Eyota city limits, provides electric hookups, water access, and accommodations for tents, RVs, and cabins. Approximately 15 miles east, Whitewater State Park offers both traditional drive-in sites at Minneiska Campground and cart-in options at Gooseberry Glen. The region encompasses a mix of county parks, state parks, and private campgrounds, with varying levels of amenities from primitive tent sites to full-service RV parks with electric, water, and sewer connections.

Most campgrounds in the area operate seasonally, with many open from May through October. Chester Woods Park specifically operates from the third weekend in May until the second weekend in October. Carley State Park, located about 10 miles north of Eyota, has a shorter season running from Memorial Day to Labor Day weekend. "The bathrooms and showers were very clean and close and easy to walk to. The beach was great and clean. Fishing was great," noted one visitor about Chester Woods. Travelers should be aware that water access varies, with some campgrounds offering full hookups while others provide only electric connections with central water fill stations and dump facilities. Winter camping options are limited, though Whitewater State Park maintains year-round availability.

Campsites throughout the region frequently receive praise for their spaciousness and natural settings. At Chester Woods Park, campers highlight the soft ground for comfortable tent camping and proximity to fishing opportunities. According to one visitor, "Chester Woods is a county park just east of Rochester, MN. The campsites have nice, soft ground for tents, and electrical outlets are available." Several campgrounds offer water recreation, including Chester Woods' swimming beach and fishing lake. The area's topography includes river valleys and bluffs, particularly at Whitewater State Park, where hiking trails provide scenic views and access to the Whitewater River. Private campgrounds such as Rochester-Marion KOA supplement public camping options, providing additional amenities like swimming pools and on-site stores, especially beneficial for families and RV campers seeking more developed facilities.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best season for camping in Eyota?

The optimal camping season near Eyota runs from late spring through early fall (May-October). Summer offers warm days perfect for enjoying water activities, while Nerstrand Big Woods State Park Campground is especially beautiful in fall for leaf-peeping. Frontenac State Park Campground provides quiet, scenic experiences throughout the season with pretty hiking trails. Be aware that some facilities like drinking water may be turned off by mid-October, though bathrooms often remain operational. Spring brings wildflowers but potentially muddy conditions, while summer offers the fullest range of amenities and activities.

Where can I find camping near Eyota, Minnesota?

Several excellent camping options surround Eyota. Chester Woods Park is the closest option, offering drive-in and walk-in sites with water and toilet facilities. For a unique experience, Whitewater State Park is nearby with spacious campsites, clean facilities including free showers, and excellent hiking trails. Other options within a short drive include Carley State Park, Rochester-Marion KOA, and Autumn Woods RV Park in Rochester. Most campgrounds in the area offer a mix of tent and RV camping, though availability varies seasonally.

What amenities are available at Eyota campgrounds?

Campgrounds near Eyota offer varying amenities to suit different camping styles. Sylvan City Park provides RV sites with proximity to downtown and the Root River Trail, plus shower facilities (coin-operated: 4 quarters for 5 minutes). Forestville Mystery Cave State Park Campground offers a more immersive nature experience with lush forests and numerous activities. Most area campgrounds provide basic amenities like water access, toilets, and fire rings. Some locations feature shower facilities, picnic areas, and hiking trails, while others may offer electrical hookups for RVs and access to recreational activities.

Keep Exploring

  3. View all Minnesota cities for camping