j
jennifer B.
Traveler
TravelerVoss Park City Campground
Welcoming
Host was very welcoming! Easy to set up. Has electic and water hook ups. Tent spots available . Nice path around lake for a walk, jog, or bike. Has Showers. pets welcome.
Dog-Friendly Camping near Fairmont, MN
54 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Search destinations
Add dates
Flying Goose Campground & Resort welcomes pets at their lakeside campsites with tent, RV, cabin, and glamping accommodation options. The campground maintains clean facilities with multiple playgrounds, a mini golf course, and a sandy swimming beach along Lake Imogene where dogs can enjoy water access. Korte's Checkers Welcome Campground and Everett Park also allow pets, with reasonable rates for both tent and RV camping. Sites at these pet-friendly campgrounds include picnic tables and fire rings, with most offering electric hookups. The campgrounds maintain large, well-spaced sites allowing pets to comfortably stay with their owners. Grounds are well-cared for and impeccably clean with mature shade trees throughout camping areas. Camp staff at most locations are friendly and accommodating to campers with pets. Camping photos and user guides for Fairmont, Minnesota are available on The Dyrt.
Cedar Hanson County Park and Bright Lake County Park offer quieter pet camping experiences with more rustic amenities but beautiful lake views. Dogs can enjoy the lakefront areas and walking paths around the campgrounds. Shower facilities at most locations provide plenty of hot water with good pressure despite some being dated but clean. Sites typically cost between $20-40 per night depending on hookups, with some campgrounds offering military discounts. Many campgrounds in the area have seasonal campers who primarily visit on weekends, making mid-week stays particularly peaceful for those camping with dogs. Weather considerations are important when planning pet camping trips in the area, as early season camping (April-May) may have water restrictions due to freezing temperatures. Most campgrounds in the Fairmont area operate seasonally, typically from April or May through September or October.
Best Dog-Friendly Campgrounds near Fairmont (54)
1. Flying Goose Campground & Resort
"Set along the shores of Lake Imogene, which comes out of nowhere surrounded by farm land, and you can’t even see it from the road."
"There is a lake you can fish,swim,rent kayaks and canoe. Laundry and showers."
2. Everett Park
"Dog friendly."
"Right by a lake. The staff is attentive, kind and welcoming. Have not been able to have a greater look of the surroundings because just staying for a night and leaving early morning."
from $15 - $20 / night
Check Availability3. Korte's Checkers Welcome Campground
4. Blue Earth City Campground
"Lots of grass, bike/walking paths and dogs on leashes welcome. 14 Sites now, with plans for 10+ Sites built this summer. On site host, so typically quiet and friendly. One price, $25/night."
"When we told her we were traveling with dogs, she put us in space 13 at the back of the loop. Nice large, quiet site surrounded by trees and a terrific grassy area."
from $25 - $35 / night
Check Availability5. Bright Lake Co Park
"Really nice spot almost overlooking the lake (Through the trees), had fire ring, picnic tables and room for quite a lot of tents! For me and my family it was perfect!"
6. Burt Lake County Park
"The lower level is at the lake. About 6 spots w electric but very unlevel. Very nice lake. Stayed here in a 27' B+ 8.26.20. I definitely would stay here again. 1 bar of 4g at&t."
8. Cedar Hanson Co Park
"This camp ground is surrounded by farm land including our own. The only down side is the lake is shallow so fishing is best early early camping season."
"Large grassy sites with big trees overlooking lake. Bathroom with showers. Can hear train whistle but no cars."
9. Tuttle Lake Park
10. Jackson KOA
Drive Time
- 55 min from Mankato, MN
- 1 hr 40 min from Rochester, MN
- 1 hr 42 min from Sioux Falls, SD
- 2 hrs 4 min from Minneapolis, MN
Recent Dog-Friendly Camping Photos near Fairmont, MN
10 Photos of 54 Fairmont Campgrounds
Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Fairmont, MN
213 Reviews of 54 Fairmont Campgrounds
- Samantha B.
ScoutEmerson Bay State Recreation Area Campground
The best place in town
This campground is right on the lake! The spots are spacious, the bathrooms are clean, and the price is right. There are a few docks available for boating, fishing or just lake gazing. This is a great location as a home base to everything in Okoboji. Start the morning with coffee at the beach, hop on the Great Lakes bike trail and everything is nearby.
All the campsites are on crushed gravel so be prepared to sweep frequently or leave your shoes outside.
Dog friendly, lots of places to walk the dogs. Can't leave the dogs unattended in the camper, so keep that in mind when planning trips. Boji Bark has doggie daycare.
Alyssa D.
GuideKilen Woods State Park Campground
Great private site all the way in back!
Found this site by luck just searching on the Minnesota DNR site! Lots of RV sites but there are 4 walk in sites down a small trail, very private and away from everyone else. We chose site 4 and we definitely made the right decision!! Great hiking with beautiful sights. We will definitely be back and are already planning our next visit!
- Jim W.Scout
Blue Earth City Campground
Just off the interstate, great place to stop for the night.
Sites can accommodate tents or up to 50' RVs. Lots of grass, bike/walking paths and dogs on leashes welcome. 14 Sites now, with plans for 10+ Sites built this summer. On site host, so typically quiet and friendly. One price, $25/night.
- Krista T.
LegendRed Fox Campground — Minneopa State Park
A mixed bag of campsites
We visited Minneopa state park because a) I love hiking b) I’m trying to get as much state park time in before the summer hordes descend and c) my back is dying from working at home out of a dining room chair so I preordered an office chair for curbside pickup at an office store which is on the way home from this park.
Minneopa is a unique state park. A River Runs Through it. So does a train(choo chooo). And a neighborhood(kind of). If you have never visited the park before you need to decide what you are going to prioritize first because all of a sudden there are two different park road signs pointing you to either turn left or right depending on what you want to do.
One direction is the waterfall part. It is a nice waterfall. The parking lot is right by the waterfall- so it is very accessible for people who are unable to hike to a lot of waterfalls. However, because the parking lot is RIGHT THERE it isn’t the most rewarding waterfall that I’ve been to, it’s kind of like a less impressive Minnehaha. On this trip we didn’t visit the waterfall because it’s plague time and I figured that it might be busy. Tip: On the weekends get to state parks as early as possible during social distancing time! Most people don’t roll out of bed at 6 am like we did, so it will be fairly easy to socially distance yourself. We got there at 8 and only encountered 4 other hikers that were just heading out when we were almost back to our car.
The other direction is the BISON DRIVE. Yes, you can actually drive amongst bison if the road is open. It wasn’t on our trip on 4/10/2020 because the road conditions are still gross from the winter thaw. Instead we hiked the entire loop(I think it’s 3.3 miles) because it goes around the entire bison enclosure, and I wanted to guarantee that I would see me some bison.
Other highlights about this section of the park are the views of the magnificent Minnesota river, an old windmill(the blades are gone), and the campground is also situated here. This section isn’t as popular as the waterfall section, as evidenced by the relatively small parking lot. The hike was enjoyable while we were there- if it is a hot hot day you might want to just do the Minnesota River Bluff Trail for the shade- the Seppman Mill trail is exposed and you can drive and park at the mill.
As I mentioned before there is also an access point to drive into the bison enclosure. We were able to see the bison herd once we got to the mill area, unfortunately for my photos the bison were just far enough away that I didn’t get a quality photo.
Now onto the campground. Loop A is superior for tent camping in every which way, unless you happen to want electricity or want to rent the cabin which is in loop B. Loop A has trees, large sites, a bathroom, and several sites have awesome views of the river. One thing to keep in mind is that the sites on the outside of the loop are much more private and have way more trees- the inner loop is relatively open in comparison and would be good sites to choose if you are group camping. I would be prepared with lots of bug spray and a screenhouse if you are camping here in the worst of mosquito season- there was quite a bit of standing water and swampy pond nearby.
Site notes(see pics/videos): A2 is nice and spacious, but next to the swampy water
A4 is the immediate neighbor and is distinctive because it’s up on a hill
A3 is on the inner loop and is visible to the road, but I liked it anyway
A5 is a nice spacious site on the inner loop that is less private, I’m pretty sure A19 butts up behind it if you are looking to get a few sites
A12 is the type of site that I would love to camp at- view of the gulley and of the river
A14 is the site that you need to reserve a year in advance if this campground were more popular- amazing location with a spectacular view of the river
A24 also has a good river view
A26 is large and has some badass oak trees
The B Loop is weird- a lot of the campsites don’t seem to even have space for a 2 person tent unless you are ok with not having a campfire(or burning down your tent). If you have a tiny scamp you might be ok?
Site notes: B3 is a good pull-through site for an RV
The cabin is here! It has a screen porch and a propane tank for heating it in cold weather! Also has a decent view of the river- inside is just some bunk beds and a table. There is a pit toilet next to it that I’m guessing other campsites use too.
B20 is definitely the best site in the loop for tent camping- I actually would camp at this one.
There are also 4 group campsites that could probably fit 2-3 tents on them that are only a short hike-in from the parking area. Nice pit toilets are nearby. Minneopa is definitely either a nice day trip or camping trip from the Twin Cities! I was extra pleased that the drive down 169 is interesting- the terrain is beautiful, there are some really random touristy places and showrooms(giant yellow barn/extended structure that is without a doubt indeed Minnesota’s Largest Candy Store), and driving through Saint Peter is a nice old-timey experience.
- Anna M.Traveler
memoirs park
Beautiful Family Friendly Campground
We have very much enjoyed our weekends at the Land of Memories Campground. This is a very spacious, clean campground. We camp with children and this has been a very family friendly campground. It has a playground & trails to walk along the Minnesota River. It is a beautiful area. Bathrooms are clean and comfortable.
Asher K.LegendMarble Beach State Recreation Area Campground
Quite peaceful camp on the Lak
This campground is right on spirit lake and a really wonderful peaceful place to spend a night. There is not really any hiking but we stayed here on a drive through Minnesota and found it to be perfect. It was not crowded and the sites were fairly private. There are several central water and bathroom areas and you can walk down to the lake from the sites. We ended up watching both sunset and sunrise from the lake. Each site has its own picnic bench and firepit and you drive your car right up to the site.
- JJoy R.Traveler
Blue Earth City Campground
Little Gem!
Lovely little campground! Campground host is fantastic! So accommodating & gracious. When we told her we were traveling with dogs, she put us in space 13 at the back of the loop. Nice large, quiet site surrounded by trees and a terrific grassy area. Very few other campers, so we were almost by ourselves for 3 days. The campground is clean and well maintained, as are the fairgrounds. A paved trail meanders thru for walking or bicycling, and town is less than 2 miles away.
Lee D.LegendRed Fox Campground — Minneopa State Park
Feels a little neglected
After reading all of the wonderful reviews, I was a little underwhelmed. Perhaps it is because we arrived after a rainy period. Many of the sites in the A Loop were flooded or muddy and there was only one site occupied. B Loop was a bit better and there were a few more people there. Some sites in the A Loop overlook the river valley through trees but they are directly over railroad tracks so you will hear loud trains. No flush toilets but for pits (A Loop has sinks and a shower), reasonably clean. However I would not choose sites closeby because the fans are quite loud. Bison viewing road was cool and leads to the rebuilt granary (all that remains from a mill). Waterfall (across the street and about a mile from campground) is nice. Unless you hike the Minnesota River Bluff trail, you could easily see the bison, granary, and waterfalls in half a day, making this good for just a one night stay.
Guide to Fairmont
Pet friendly camping options near Fairmont, Minnesota cluster around serene lake settings in southern Minnesota farm country. Most campgrounds are seasonal operations, typically open from April through October, with overnight rates ranging from $15-40 depending on site amenities. The region sees significant temperature variations with spring lows occasionally dropping below freezing and summer days regularly exceeding 80°F.
What to do
Water recreation at Flying Goose: The campground sits on Lake Imogene, offering swimming and boating opportunities. "There is a boat dock and a sandy swimming beach (which we had entirely to ourselves!)," notes reviewer Hanaa, who visited mid-week when the campground was quieter.
Fishing at Fox Lake: Everett Park provides lake access for fishing enthusiasts. "If you like to fish you want to come here," shares reviewer Carla A. The park features electric-only sites with reasonable rates and clean facilities.
Biking on paved trails: Blue Earth City Campground offers access to paved biking and walking paths. "A paved trail meanders thru for walking or bicycling, and town is less than 2 miles away," writes Joy R., who appreciated the quiet setting and tree-lined sites.
Visit the Green Giant statue: Located near Blue Earth City Campground, this 60-foot landmark makes a fun stop. "It's right by the 60' Green Giant statue!" mentions Amy B., who found the location convenient for an overnight stay off I-90.
What campers like
Peaceful mid-week stays: Many campgrounds in the area have seasonal campers who primarily visit on weekends. "We were there for a one night mid-week stay, and it was so quiet and calm because ~70% of the spots are taken by seasonal guests who are primarily at the campgrounds on the weekends," reports Hanaa about Flying Goose Campground.
Clean facilities: Reviewers consistently praise the maintenance of area campgrounds. "The shower had plenty of hot water with great water pressure. Dated but clean. Very quiet and peaceful here. Dog friendly," shares Nancy Q. about Everett Park.
Lake views and sunsets: Bright Lake County Park offers scenic lake views through the trees. "Really nice spot almost overlooking the lake (Through the trees), had fire ring, picnic tables and room for quite a lot of tents!" writes Wally B., who found it perfect for family camping.
Free firewood at some parks: "Free firewood was nice. Enjoyed our stay. Great for a one day stop," mentions Jim L. about Blue Earth City Campground, appreciating this cost-saving amenity.
What you should know
Limited availability at smaller parks: Blue Earth City Campground has just 11 spots but offers full hookups. "Only 11 spots, but all have electric, water, and sewer," notes Chris H., adding that the campground is "clean with nice space around."
Variable water policies: Early spring campers should check about water hookups. "No water hook up due to weather but glad we chose this as a place to stay," mentions Victoria G. about Korte's Checkers Welcome Campground when visiting in April.
Leveling challenges at some sites: Lake-adjacent sites often require leveling equipment. "The lower level is at the lake. About 6 spots w electric but very unlevel," warns Larry K. about Burt Lake County Park, though he still rated it positively.
Ground conditions after rain: "Heavy big rigs could sink if wet. None are very level," cautions Larry K. about Tuttle Lake Park, suggesting this may not be ideal for larger RVs during rainy periods.
Tips for camping with families
Multiple playgrounds: Family-friendly amenities abound at certain campgrounds. "There are three playgrounds (one at the swimming beach), a mini golf course, and an actual phone booth," describes Hanaa about Flying Goose Campground.
Space for kids to play: Cedar Hanson County Park offers open areas for children. "Large grassy sites with big trees overlooking lake," writes Mindy B., noting the quiet setting with "no cars" nearby.
Budget-friendly options: Perch Lake Park offers affordable camping with amenities. "Water and 50 amp at sites. $22 with electricity. $12 w/o," shares Larry K., making it an economical option for families.
Swimming access: "The grounds are well-maintained and very clean. There are three playgrounds (one at the swimming beach), a mini golf course," notes Hanaa about Flying Goose Campground's family amenities.
Tips from RVers
Site selection for dog owners: Some campgrounds offer specific sites better suited for pets. "When we told her we were traveling with dogs, she put us in space 13 at the back of the loop. Nice large, quiet site surrounded by trees and a terrific grassy area," shares Joy R. about Jackson KOA.
Passport America discounts: Membership can provide significant savings. "This is a small private campground that offers a quiet nights stay. Site size was moderate with some shade, a fire ring, picnic table, on a level gravel pad. $20 per Passport America members for FHU is sweet," reports Clint G. about Korte's Checkers Welcome Campground.
Military discounts: Some campgrounds offer special rates for service members. "Would recommend for price with military discount offered," mentions Victoria G. about Korte's Checkers Welcome Campground.
Site utilities placement: Be prepared for unusual hookup configurations. "The site we were put in was not set up well for the connections however it was a large site," notes Tracy B. about Flying Goose Campground, though staff were accommodating.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly
campsite near Fairmont, MN?
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Fairmont, MN?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Fairmont, MN is Flying Goose Campground & Resort with a 4.7-star rating from 6 reviews.
What is the best site to find
dog-friendly camping near
Fairmont, MN?
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Fairmont, MN?
TheDyrt.com has all 54 dog-friendly camping locations near Fairmont, MN, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring