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Best Campgrounds near Faribault, MN

566 Reviews

Faribault, Minnesota's central location provides access to multiple camping environments ranging from riverside sites to wooded retreats. Nerstrand Big Woods State Park, located approximately 10 miles east of Faribault, offers both drive-in and walk-in tent camping with electric hookups available at select sites. Other notable options include Cannon River Wilderness Area with primitive tent sites and Rice County McCullough Park for RV camping with modern amenities. The region includes several mixed-use campgrounds that accommodate both tent and RV campers, while some locations like Sakatah Lake State Park and Kamp Dels also provide cabin accommodations and glamping opportunities.

Most campgrounds in the Faribault area operate seasonally from April through October, with limited winter accessibility. Nerstrand Big Woods State Park typically opens April 1 and closes October 23, while other facilities like River View Campground operate May through mid-October. Several facilities offer electric hookups, drinking water, and shower facilities, though amenities vary significantly between developed campgrounds and more primitive areas. The Cannon River Wilderness Area provides free camping with minimal amenities, requiring hikers to pack in all supplies. Weather considerations impact camping experiences throughout the season. One camper noted about Cannon River Wilderness Area: "For free the area is awesome right by the river. We found a site tucked away from people which is what we like. The hike from parking is not bad at all about a 10 minute walk."

Campers consistently highlight the natural features and varied terrain around Faribault as key attractions. Nerstrand Big Woods State Park receives positive reviews for its hiking trails and waterfall, with visitors mentioning the "beautiful falls" as a highlight of their experience. The park's "spacious camp sites" are frequently cited as a benefit compared to more crowded state parks near the Twin Cities. While some campgrounds like Roberds Lake Resort provide waterfront access with "spectacular sunsets at the private beach," others focus on woodland immersion. Proximity to nearby towns offers convenient access to supplies, with Northfield's downtown area frequently mentioned as a complementary destination for campers seeking dining and shopping options. Reviews suggest that campsites at most developed campgrounds tend to be relatively open with limited privacy between sites.

Best Camping Sites Near Faribault, Minnesota (94)

    1. Nerstrand Big Woods State Park Campground

    36 Reviews
    Nerstrand, MN
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (507) 333-4840

    $24 - $34 / night

    "There are four “walk in” sites, and you can see one another from all of them. Sites 1 and 3 require a walk about three car lengths to the tent pad, and 4 is not much farther."

    "Nerstrand is nestled just outside Faribault MN. The town has a great downtown area on the river with places to eat and little shops."

    2. Sakatah Lake State Park Campground

    24 Reviews
    Waterville, MN
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (507) 362-4438

    $24 - $85 / night

    "Sites are wooded and shady but some are close to neighboring sites. Not too many mosquitos or flies for August in Minnesota! Sakatah Singing Hills paved trail runs through the park. "

    "Great park if you’re not looking to drive too far to enjoy a bit of nature. Wonderful hiking paths and biking paths. Our site was nice a secluded and right next to the trail heads."

    3. Kamp Dels

    12 Reviews
    Waterville, MN
    15 miles
    Website

    "We reserved a spot right next to the pool area. It was a tight fit to back the camper it, but I was able to do it. They have cement pads for a patio area and a fire ring."

    "The one drawback, in my opinion, is that the lake it is right next to doesn’t have a beach for swimming. That was a little disappointing for me."

    4. Rice Lake State Park Campground

    13 Reviews
    Owatonna, MN
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (507) 455-5871

    $24 - $50 / night

    "My only complaint was how close together the walk-in sites were."

    "Beautiful forested area just outside Owatonna. Easy drive past beautiful farms to town. Camp host told us mosquitoes were light this year; they seemed plentiful to me!"

    5. Cannon River Wilderness Area

    2 Reviews
    Faribault, MN
    5 miles
    Website

    "We found a site tucked away from people which is what we like. We set up hammocks right next to the river."

    6. Roberds Lake Resort and Campground

    1 Review
    Faribault, MN
    3 miles
    Website
    +1 (507) 332-8978

    7. River View Campground

    7 Reviews
    Owatonna, MN
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (507) 451-8050

    "Outside of this the children spent most of the weekend in the pool!"

    "Neighbors decided movie night was important with surround sound but over all I would stay here again. Lots of seasonal golf cart traffic and kids on bikes."

    8. Rice County McCullough Park

    1 Review
    Montgomery, MN
    10 miles
    Website

    $25 / night

    "Two boat/fishing docks, playground, pavilion, and hiking trails for things to do. Price is very reasonable for water and electric hookup. Just be prepared for the bugs!"

    9. Lake Byllesby Regional Park

    12 Reviews
    Cannon Falls, MN
    22 miles
    Website
    +1 (507) 263-4447

    "Near lake and excellent bike path. Great brewery and winery close by."

    "Lakeside sites are close together, with W/E hookups, but they’re right in the lake with a wonderful view. The facilities are very clean and well-kept."

    10. Lebanon Hills Regional Park

    43 Reviews
    Apple Valley, MN
    33 miles
    Website
    +1 (651) 480-7773

    $24 - $42 / night

    "Professional built mtn bike trails for adventure. Camping in Minnesota suburbs. Miles of hiking, horseback riding, cross country ski trails. . perfect for my family's weekend Stay-cation"

    "We live about 15 mins. away from this campground. We stayed in the East Loop which is for smaller RVs and tents. it has electricity but no water hookups, however there are water pumps."

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145 Photos of 94 Faribault Campgrounds

Recent Reviews near Faribault, MN

566 Reviews of 94 Faribault Campgrounds

  • Karla J. B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Dec. 1, 2025

    Big Island Campground — Myre-Big Island State Park

    Being outside is better than being on the couch

    Met up with friends to get outside. They brought their dogs and we had a grand time. Windy weather kept us off the lake - there are canoes and kayaks for rent at the state park - but we took several walks around the island. We visited a nearby winery and we went geocaching around the area. Our friends’ site backed up to ours. A group of retirees in RVs were camped on three sides of us, and they spent the weekend hanging out together. One guy shared the PB rice krispie bars he made. They had clean bathrooms with showers. There was an outdoor dishwashing station, convenient for disposing of our washbasin full of gray water.

  • Erik R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 24, 2025

    Afton State Park Campground

    A true year-round backpack camping experience

    So, I think you know what you are signing up for here when you stay camp at the backpacking site at Afton, but let me fill in some of the blanks. #1 yes, the hill climb is as big of an effort as other people have said. You will feel like you earned your dinner. I may have found a hack for this, but more in that later. #2 the site are mostly private. I stayed on site #12. I could see (and they could have seen me) site #9, but thankfully no one was there. That would have been a bummer to have other looking into my site. There is even a semi-worn path between 12 and 9. They would make a good combo if you have a group. Other than that, totally secluded. As far space at #12, you could build as big of a tent structure there as you would need, easily room for a massive 16’x24’ palace (if you would dare to carry it) or anything smaller. An Eagle Scout project built hammock posts at this site, so it is ideal for that set up. #3 the campground amenities are very nice. The solar powered water works great year round, the two pits toilets (if you can even call them that) are very new and nice. And the coolest campground feature is the cut your own firewood station. I went a little overboard since it was so nice and had a way bigger fire than I needed. Bring your own saw and you will love it too. #4 After walking around the park, I discovered a possible hack. There is an unmarked entrance to the park on the north side. Instead of walking all my gear back to the parking lot, I walked the .5 miles to the service entrance, dropped my pack, and then walked the 1.8 miles back to the parking lot. I tend to carry too much. The flat short walk to drop my gear was worth it. Then I drop around the park and picked up my stuff. Probably not MN DNR endorsed way to do it, but I was proud of my discovery. All in, this is a unique and wonderful camping experience. Highly recommend.

  • Maria D.
    Nov. 22, 2025

    Nerstrand Big Woods State Park Campground

    Site 4

    Nerstrand is so lovely in October. We reserved sites 2 and 4. Though they were right next to each other, they felt very secluded. Site 4 felt a bit more private from the main road because the campsite slightly slopes downward. There is also a log bench positioned close to the fire which some may think is nice but was a bit inconveniently placed for our bigger group to gather around the fire. Plenty of trees to set up multiple hammocks at site 4.

    The bathrooms were updated and clean. Unfortunately on our last day, the campground lost running water so only the vault toilets were usable. As someone who doesn’t prefer this option, the vault toilet near the ranger station was actually pretty clean and updated too.

  • Meghan B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 22, 2025

    Riverside Park and Municipal Campground

    Riverside Park - Mill Pond

    This is a very nice city park with electric sites, tent sites, and restrooms with showers. Website says it's open until the end of October this year. The website is where you can reserve online or get the phone number to call during office hours M-F. We phoned and it was an easy process, $30/night for an electric site. That said, there's no instructions in the park that I could see that directs you on how to pay... so I can see that confusing to people just pulling up. With it being off-season and mid-week, there wasn't anyone around to enforce reservations... so I'm assuming the two vehicle dwellers that pulled in late and left early didn't pay. Overall, the place felt safe (it's right behind the police station) and cell service was great. The city did great making this campground feel like it's not right in the middle of a city. Two trains did go through and blast their horns at 2AM, so bring ear plugs if you're a light sleeper.

  • Sarah D.
    Oct. 17, 2025

    Frontenac State Park Campground

    Secluded Site and Great Views Close to the Twin Cities

    We did a one night camping trip for my birthday at Cart-In Site 1 the second to last weekend of September.

    We loved the hiking at Frontenac State Park - walking along the lake and then walking along the bluffs at sunset was magical! Fantastic views. I imagine if we had gone two weeks later, we would have had a fantastic display of fall color. We went a little too early to catch the changing leaves.

    We loved how easy Frontenac was for a casual weekend getaway. It was an easy, scenic one hour drive from St. Paul that was very enjoyable. The park was also nice with great bathrooms at the main campsite, nice trails, and they even had board games to check out at the front office for a rainy day- a great idea!

    We stayed at Cart-In Site 1. I would rate the site itself a 3. It was very secluded and spacious, which was fantastic! We could not see any other campsites from our site, which was fantastic. We only occasionally saw some hikers on a nearby trail. We could hear some other noisy campers, but it wasn't too much of a disturbance. Very wooded, nice, spacious site. There is not water at the Cart-In parking lot, so be aware that you will have to fill up prior to parking and heading to your site (easiest place to do so is the main office/ visitor center).

    I also slept poorly because of a nearby train that kept going past and honking at least until midnight. So if you're a light sleeper, be aware of persistent train noise at these sites!

    Overall good site and an easy, fun, and relaxing weekend getaway from the twin cities.

  • Lance L.
    Oct. 15, 2025

    Cleary Lake Regional Park

    Large campground with plentyy of activities!

    They have two lots for RV and travel trailer use although the first lot only has two spaces and the second one has a total of five. The five space spot has no water or electric hook up but was a great place for me to test out my new solar set up. Word to the wise, gates ACTUALLY close at 10pm, there's no way to contact anyone and I had to walk about a mile in parked outside the gate 😅. The White Pine lot (5 spaces) has a central bathroom/shower building. The park was jam packed Friday/Saturday but a ghosts town the remains sun/mon/tue I stayed.

  • TThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 13, 2025

    Frontenac State Park Campground

    Great hiking trails NICE Bathrooms

    The campground is well maintained, all of the sites are clean and laid out nicely. Some sites are kinda close but there is brush growing between sites.

    There are a LOT of NICE TRAILS at this park. Many nice prairie trails and some fun trails in the bluffs along the Mississippi River too. One trail down along the River can be challenging because of MANY STAIRS.

    Large drive in picnic areas away from the campground that many people drive in to us and had a nice overlook on the Mississippi River. There are 2 nice overlooks that are great to walk to in the dark and watch the calmness and peaceful nature of the river and forest.

    The men’s bathroom and showers are GREAT! There is also very nice large full handicap bathrooms. The SHOWER WATER IS VERY HOT so be careful!

    Dump station is sloped so it makes it easy to drive in either direction to help dump waste water easily. Also fresh water at the dumping station.

    Always Plenty of firewood in the shed next to the office.

  • Joel S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 12, 2025

    Lake Byllesby Regional Park

    Very nice campground

    This is a good campground. Very well kept. Fishing from shore and there is a boat launch. Nice playground for kids. Sites are fairly close. Many have no privacy from others, but some do. No water at the sites and pit toilets are the biggest weaknesses. Nice paths for walking and biking.

  • Maria D.
    Sep. 28, 2025

    Frontenac State Park Campground

    Cleanest Campground Bathrooms Ever!

    Frontenac State Park had some of the nicest campground bathrooms and showers I’ve ever seen—clean, and modern. The ranger station was small and charming, stocked with board games to rent, and it’s clear the staff cares about creating a positive camping experience. I also loved the little free library outside the bathrooms.

    The downsides are that the campsites run small, usually only fitting two tents at most, and there aren’t many trees for hammocking. It’s also a popular park, so it can get pretty loud at times.

    Favorite sites: 37 – Shady and on the edge with just one neighbor (though the main road is on the other side). Decent privacy and potential for hammocking.

    21 – Nice views, but likely best for just one tent/car.

    22 – Very private, though the ground looked a little uneven.

    Other solid tent sites: 36, 25, 48, 49, 51. Site 57 also looked spacious with no neighbors, but it does border the visitor parking lot.

Guide to Faribault

Campgrounds surrounding Faribault, Minnesota range from developed state parks to more rustic options along waterways. Nerstrand Big Woods State Park provides both electric and non-electric sites about 10 miles east of Faribault, featuring trails that lead to a 14-foot waterfall. Roberds Lake Resort and Campground offers waterfront access directly in Faribault, while Cannon River Wilderness Area provides more primitive camping experiences with paddle-in or hike-in options. Most campgrounds in the region accommodate tents and RVs, with several facilities like Kamp Dels and River View Campground also offering cabin rentals for those seeking additional comfort.

The camping season in this part of southern Minnesota typically runs from April through October, with most facilities closing during winter months. Many campgrounds require reservations, particularly at established sites with electrical hookups and shower facilities. State parks like Nerstrand Big Woods and Sakatah Lake implement reservation systems that fill quickly during summer weekends and fall color season. Water access varies significantly between locations, with some offering boat launches and others providing hiking trails to reach waterfront areas. Weather conditions can affect trail quality, particularly after heavy rainfall. As one camper noted about Cannon River Wilderness Area, "For free the area is awesome right by the river. The hike from parking is not bad at all about a 10 minute walk from parking to the farthest site."

Campers consistently mention the beautiful waterfall at Nerstrand Big Woods State Park as a highlight, with multiple trails leading to this natural feature. The park's woodland setting provides a stark contrast to the surrounding agricultural landscape. While most developed campgrounds offer amenities like showers, bathrooms, and electrical hookups, more rustic sites at places like Cannon River Wilderness Area appeal to those seeking solitude. "The sunsets were spectacular at the private beach," reported one visitor to Roberds Lake Resort. Sites with water views tend to be more popular and fill quickly during peak season. Several campgrounds near Faribault offer fishing access, with proximity to both lakes and rivers providing diverse water recreation opportunities within a short drive of the city.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best campgrounds near Faribault, MN?

The Faribault area offers several excellent camping options. Nerstrand Big Woods State Park Campground is nestled just outside Faribault with scenic wooded sites and hiking trails. It's especially beautiful during fall when leaf-peeping is at its best. Another top choice is Sakatah Lake State Park Campground, located less than an hour from the Twin Cities with wooded, shady sites and access to the paved Sakatah Singing Hills Trail that runs from Faribault to Mankato. For a more primitive experience, Cannon River Wilderness Area offers free riverside camping with sites that require a short 10-minute hike from the parking area. Roberds Lake Resort and Campground provides a boat-in experience close to town for water enthusiasts.

Are there any RV-friendly camping options in Faribault?

Yes, several RV-friendly camping options exist near Faribault. River View Campground near Owatonna accommodates big rigs with drive-in access, water hookups, and toilet facilities. Rice County McCullough Park is another good option with big-rig-friendly sites, reservable spots, and basic amenities like toilets. For those willing to travel slightly farther, Kamp Dels near Waterville offers comprehensive RV facilities including water hookups and accommodations for larger vehicles. The campgrounds generally provide essential hookups for RVs, though specific electricity amperage and sewer connections may vary by location. Most RV-friendly sites in the area are available by reservation, which is recommended especially during peak summer months.

What amenities are available at Faribault campgrounds?

Campgrounds around Faribault offer varying amenities depending on their type. Lebanon Hills Regional Park provides comprehensive family amenities including Schultz Beach for swimming, mountain bike trails, and miles of hiking paths for various outdoor activities. Frontenac State Park Campground features spacious sites with basic facilities, though not all sites offer complete privacy. Many state parks in the area provide shaded campsites, drinking water, toilet facilities, and shower houses. The Sakatah Singing Hills paved trail is accessible from several campgrounds for biking enthusiasts. Primitive sites at Cannon River Wilderness Area offer riverside camping but minimal facilities. For water recreation, several campgrounds provide lake or river access, though swimming beaches aren't available at all locations. Most campgrounds feature fire rings and picnic tables at individual sites.

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