Best Tent Camping near Farmington, MN

Tent campers exploring the Farmington, Minnesota area have access to several established sites within a 30-minute drive, including Nerstrand Big Woods State Park and Afton State Park, both offering dedicated tent camping areas. The region features a mix of state park campgrounds, wilderness areas, and retreat centers, with many sites positioned along rivers or within forested settings. Cannon River Wilderness Area provides free primitive tent sites while Camp Spring Lake Retreat Center offers walk-in tent locations with more basic amenities.

Tent sites at Nerstrand Big Woods feature level, pea gravel tent pads with ample space for setting up gear. Most established tent areas include fire rings with grates and picnic tables, though amenities vary significantly between locations. Walk-in tent sites at Afton State Park require approximately a one-mile hike with the final quarter-mile involving a steep uphill section, making lightweight packing advisable. A camper noted, "The hike was very challenging and uphill" but worth it for the privacy. Drinking water is available via solar-powered pumps at some sites, while others require campers to bring their own supply. Seasonal availability ranges from year-round access at Afton to limited seasons at other locations, typically April through October.

The terrain throughout the region provides diverse tent camping experiences from open prairie settings to densely wooded sites. At Cannon River Wilderness Area, tent campers find secluded spots near the water. "For free the area is awesome right by the river. We found a site tucked away from people which is what we like," one visitor commented. The walk-in tent sites at Afton State Park are particularly noteworthy for their spacing and privacy, with sites set far enough apart to create a genuine backcountry feeling despite being relatively close to the Twin Cities. Many tent-only areas feature good tree coverage for shade and hammock opportunities, though some prairie sites offer more open views with partial shade. Wildlife sightings are common across the region's tent camping areas, including deer and various bird species.

Best Tent Sites Near Farmington, Minnesota (17)

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Tent Camping Reviews near Farmington, MN

647 Reviews of 17 Farmington Campgrounds


  • Kelly S.
    May. 2, 2018

    Frontenac State Park Campground

    Early Season Experience

    We spent a single night here at site 37. The site was great, the privacy was okay, and the campground itself was slightly above average.

    Our site was huge. It could have easily accommodated an RV and a tent. There was a campfire ring and picnic table there like each site, but ours also had a tent pad and a very long parking spot. We were tent camping. This was the first tent pad I have ever been able to stake down without bending or breaking stakes and needing a mallet. The site was also close to a few of the trailheads. See pictures. Would recommend site 37 any day.

    The privacy was nonexistent because there were no leaves on the trees yet. In the summer, that might change. There are trees between sites.

    The campground itself was okay. The ranger and lady in the office when we stopped in were a little strange, but helpful. They were out of wood, but there is a DNR certified seller not a mile down the road- you can get more wood for cheaper there anyway. In MN, you need to get your firewood from the state park you are at or a certified seller in the same county to prevent the spread of tree pests and disease. The ranger can and will stop at your site and ask to see your seller card from the wood. The rest of the campground was nice. Many water spigots were still frozen, but there isn't much to be done about that. Overall, I would definitely recommend this campground!

  • Amy G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 30, 2021

    Rice Creek Campgrounds

    Spaced out nicely and they have a tent only loop!

    I booked this on a whim since we needed an overnight close to the State Fair.  I loved the look of the "TENT ONLY" loop - you don't see this often - so it was a good fit.  Seemed that the whole campground was booked up and I assumed, for a similar reason.  The State Fair.

    Booking was fairly easy through their website, and you can "hover" over the sites to see a photo of it.  I chose the one I wanted and hoped it would be what we wanted it to be.

    You DO need a park pass to stay at the campground.

    We arrived after dark, but in the dark you could still tell it was lovely.  I couldn't see any neighbor on the one side where there was a campsite (the other was a field...which is why I chose it). So we set up a tent, enjoyed the last of the evening and crawled into our bags.

    In the morning, when I could see everything, I was thoroughly impressed by the space, the maintenance of the property, the size of the campsites.  All of them were impressive and big!  A few were only separated by swathes of grass, but most had enough trees you couldn't see your neighbor.  And the fact that this loop (F LOOP) was "tent only" meant no generators! It was very quiet!   There were port-o-potties (cleaned about every 3 days) and a centrally located water source (potable) that was in the middle of everything for easy access by everyone. The spaces seemed fairly level, lots of mature trees, fire rings at all of them (with cooking grates that flipped out of the way) and picnic tables at most (resin tables, not wood).

    I took a quick look at the other loops.  The tent/small trailer loop didn't appear to have electric either.  And the RV loops obviously did.  All were very nice!  And there is a shower house (didn't go in) that was for all to use if you had a site.

    We'd stay here again in a heartbeat.

    **I've seen the other reviews here which seem to be based on the bugs.  I know that bugs are part of camping, so I don't review based on that, but I'll add details, if needed.  This one didn't have many, but it was raining, so I'm sure that factored in.  When I camp, I come prepared and I try to focus on reviewing the campsite itself, not the bugs, which I can not control.  I can, however, come prepared for them**

  • Lee D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jan. 12, 2025

    Highland Ridge

    Beautiful but buggy!

    General: Smallish (38 sites plus four walk-in sites) Army Corps of Engineers campground. Some (see below) have electric hookups but no water or sewer hookups, however, there is a dump station. 

    Site Quality: All sites are gravel/dirt (except for the ADA-accessible site), and most are very generous in size. Our site (7) sloped down but leveled out with plenty of room for our campervan at the bottom. All sites are wooded with trees providing separation/privacy between sites. Completing the site are a metal picnic table, fire ring, and lantern hook. 

    Bath/Shower House: Sites 28-38 only have vault toilets (but you could trek to the other campground loop). Sites 1—27 have flush toilets and showers. They were very clean, and I especially appreciated the fact that they were cleaned daily before 6 am, a shout out to the camp host! The shower was great– warm water and great flow, although our friends (who arrived two days before we did) had cold showers when the campground was full.

    Activities: Several short hiking trails. I give this campground 4 stars instead of 5 because Eau Galle Reservoir (Lake George) is about a 10-minute drive from the campground. Most Corps of Engineers campgrounds are located right on the water. There are no amenities (rentals, etc.) offered at the lake but it is small and beautiful, and we enjoyed a peaceful paddle. We saw a couple of people fishing on the lake and there is a small swimming area. At the campground, there was an interpretive center, but it was locked when we were there. There is also a nice, modern playground. 

    Aside from the plentiful bugs (in August), we enjoyed our two-night stay at this campground!

  • Mary S.
    Aug. 16, 2018

    Frontenac State Park Campground

    Shady, quiet campground in the woods with short hiking opportunities

    Campground Design

    I like that it's split into 4 small loops (1-11, 12-28, 29-38 and 39-59). There shouldn't be much traffic in any one loop. It's a very shady campground - lots of trees so it's quite dark at night with no stargazing from your site.

    Our site #42 was right next to #40 and there's not much privacy between the 2 sites. There's a lot more distance and privacy between #42 and #44. In general, sites are fairly close together but there are some trees in between.

    I thought we might be closer to the Mississippi River, but the campground is located above the river (called Pepin Lake at this wide point). You can hike down to the river; the steep descent makes the short hike more interesting. There are Lower and Upper Bluff trails as well as other short, connected trails throughout the park. (See photo of trail map.)

    Tent Campers

    There are 6 'cart in' sites, but they are about 1/2 mile away from the main campground and on the other side of the road. Park, put your gear in a cart, and walk about 1/4 mile to your site (C1 through C6). 

    Special rule for these sites: You have to pay $2 to use the showers at the main campground! Your camping rate is $15 instead of $23 for a non-electric site. If a cart in site doesn't appeal to you, the regular sites are good for tents; many have tent pads. There are also a couple backpacker sites.

    Amenities

    • Picnic table and fire ring on each site. Some sites have a tent pad. The 'rule of 3' says you can have 3 'units' on a site - 2 tents + vehicle, RV + rent +vehicle,... - One restroom with flush toilets, sinks and showers (old but no temperature control) located near the road in front of the loop with sites 12-28. We were in the last loop on site 42, and there was a pit toilet that smelled okay but had lots of flies.

    • Some electric sites ($31) in the first 2 loops; the map (see photo) has an 'e' next to the site number and so does the post at the site.

    • Dump station that includes a potable water filling station. There are water spigots in the camping areas.

    • Trash dumpsters and recycle bins.

    Extra fees

    • There's a $7 reservation fee for online or phone reservations, and the site posts indicate you need to 'reserve' the site before you set up camp.  You avoid that fee by showing up without a reservation when the office is open, but I wouldn't do that on a Friday or Saturday in the summer. You can always get a sense of whether showing up without a reservation is feasible by checking availability online. It also looks like you avoid the fee if you reserve online on the day you stay.

    • $7 entry fee per day is standard in MN parks. A $35 pass is good for 12 months.

  • Jennifer H.
    Sep. 21, 2020

    Afton State Park Campground

    New groomed backpack trails

    Site 27. This is a river landscape. Spiders and snakes..oh my. The parking lot is paved and has a dumpster. This is also where the nature center is. There are often music festivals and family events here. It is also next to Afton Ski resort. This park has a lot of beautiful prairie landscape with some temperate forest features. Wildflowers, shrubs, fungi, evergreens, and deciduous trees. Backpacking to the top hill sites has gotten easier as the park has curved the new wide groomed and wood chipped trail to spiral around the hill instead of a straight climb. There is a solar panel generated drinking water pump at the top and a honor system fire wood station. There is a bathroom, but not super close to this site. This site has a fire pit with grate and table but no bear box. This site does have a clear view to the trail and the site next to it, but it is set back a little bit. I can hear the joggers along the trail that wraps around the site. The sites are mapped out on a wide open prairie ground with some sites tucked back in the trees along the trail. There is not a water front view, but there is plenty of wildlife. The dear and flowers are beautiful. There is partial tree covering but we did bring a tarp for the rain.

  • K
    Sep. 5, 2020

    Hidden Meadows RV Park

    Hidden Gem

    This is very convenient if you have Mayo Clinic appointments. The campground was nice with grassy sites along with electric and water hook ups, there was a dump station also. Portable toilets spaced around and a centralized bath house by the office. There are seasonal guests and everyone was friendly. We saw deer by the primitive camp areas and had nightly campfires in our fire ring. We will return the next time we are up in MN.

  • Steph H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 17, 2017

    Afton State Park Campground

    Great spot close to but away from the cities

    Love love love this park! We did the backpack site so you hike in almost a mile and you go up on the ridge that's open in the middle but each site is heavily forested and some overlook the river. During the late spring, summer and early fall months you can't really see the river but if you do it after the leaves drop or before they come in then you'll have a great view of the river. Our site is off of the main trail so you have a nice little hike in and it feels very secluded and you have a nice even gravel tent pad that's raised up as well as a fire pit and picnic table. There is not a lot of room to play at your campsite but if you just take your trail up to the main trail then it opens up. Off the main trail you will also find vault toilets and firewood that you just have to saw yourself with the saw that is provided. You are surrounded by excellent hiking trails including some great single track as well as a great beach on the St. Croix River that is also very clean. The raccoons are not messing around so make sure to secure your food inside your tent or in a well fortified cooler otherwise you'll be listening to them ravage your site as you try to sleep at night.

  • Tracy O.
    May. 25, 2021

    Sakatah Lake State Park Campground

    Close drive to Minneopa!

    We stayed here while visiting Minneopa state park. The campground was nice. It was mid April so no water at the sites but had electric in ours. We were able to get potable water at the entrance. And firewood. Had great trails to walk and bike on. Sites are spaced out. Our 34’ trailer fit easily. Vault toilets on site. Bathrooms were closed (covid). The loops near the entrance had more shade. Spaces are large and accommodating!

  • Alison O.
    Jul. 1, 2025

    Baker Campground - Baker Park Reserve

    Campsite C14: Close to perfect, but bring your hiking boots… for the fire pit. 😅

    Loved this site! Super peaceful vibes, nice tree cover, flat tent pad, and plenty of space to spread out. 🌳⛺️ It’s tucked just enough off the path to feel private, but not so far that you feel isolated. Clean facilities, water nearby, and the kind of birdsong that makes you forget your emails exist. 🐦📵

    Now… the only reason this isn’t a full 5-star banger is the fire ring placement. 🔥 That thing is doing its own thing like 30 feet from the tent pad—felt like I needed a shuttle to roast a marshmallow. 😂 Bring extra lanterns, chairs, and a good sense of humor if you want to hang by the fire after dark.

    Still—would camp again in a heartbeat. Great site for anyone who likes a little distance between their tent and their s’mores. 🍫🔥

    #TheDyrt #CampsiteC14 #CampLife #FirePitTooFar #GlampLikeYouMeanIt #MNCamping #SmoreDistanceRequired #NatureTherapy #AlmostPerfect


Guide to Farmington

Tent camping near Farmington, Minnesota offers experiences across both wooded and prairie settings with elevation changes throughout the region. The area experiences warm summers with daytime temperatures often reaching the 80s, while spring and fall camping brings cooler temperatures and fewer insects. Many campsites require short hikes to reach, with varying degrees of difficulty depending on the terrain.

What to do

Hiking to hidden falls: Nerstrand Big Woods State Park offers several miles of hiking trails leading to a picturesque waterfall. A camper noted, "The trails were great and at the end of the trails there were beautiful falls. The falls weren't huge but there were pretty. A lot of things to photograph."

River activities: At Cannon River Wilderness Area, paddlers can enjoy river access with primitive camping. "We found a site tucked away from people which is what we like. We set up hammocks right next to the river," one visitor shared about their experience.

Winter exploration: For off-season visitors, the parks remain open with different activities. At William O'Brien State Park, winter camping offers unique experiences. One camper described, "We decided to take a night trek through the park. The moon was very bright that night so visibility was excellent. We walked some trail through a frozen marsh landscape."

Wildlife viewing: Early mornings provide opportunities to spot deer and various bird species. Many campers report turtle sightings during nesting season, with one noting, "You can hear frogs all night and we even saw a turtle laying eggs in a different campsite."

What campers like

Spacious tent pads: Many campsites offer well-maintained areas specifically for tents. At Nerstrand Big Woods State Park, a camper appreciated that "The tent pad was very spacious and flat, great for sleeping!"

Clean facilities: Despite their rustic nature, most campgrounds maintain good hygiene standards. One camper noted, "The bathrooms and showers were clean and well lit. Will definitely camp here again!"

Prairie site privacy: While some campgrounds have closely spaced sites, the prairie sections offer natural separation. At Afton State Park, a camper observed, "The terrain is just hilly enough - and in August - the grass long enough to give the sites a sense of privacy and seclusion."

Proximity to water: Many campers value waterside locations. At Cannon River Wilderness Area, visitors can camp right beside the water, with one noting, "For free the area is awesome right by the river."

What you should know

Hiking difficulty to sites: Some campgrounds require significant effort to reach. At Afton State Park, walk-in sites require preparation. "The hike to the campground is short and grueling," one camper warned about the prairie sites.

Water availability varies: Not all locations have reliable water sources year-round. A visitor to Afton State Park cautioned, "None of the water faucets or water pumps on the trails at Afton State Park are working. The good news is you can fill up on cold drinking water at the visitor center."

Weather preparedness: Minnesota weather can change quickly. One camper at Nerstrand Big Woods shared their experience: "Did a overnight in the rain at one of the walk ins. Great area. Everything you need close at hand."

Firewood regulations: Most parks sell firewood on-site and prohibit outside wood. At William O'Brien, "Firewood is $6/bundle. Self-pay available at site 74e if the ranger station is closed. Bring exact change."

Seasonal closures: Operating seasons vary widely across the region. William O'Brien State Park stays open year-round, while others like Cannon River Wilderness Area operate from "May through October."

Tips for camping with families

Choose sites with less hiking: For families with young children, consider accessibility. Some sites at Nerstrand Big Woods are more approachable than others. A visitor noted, "The walk in site was great - close to parking with plenty of tree shade."

Waterfall adventures: The waterfall at Nerstrand provides a natural attraction for children. "We went there last July just go hiking for the day. The trails were great and at the end of the trails there were beautiful falls," shared one visitor.

Wildlife education opportunities: Many campgrounds offer chances to observe animals safely. At William O'Brien State Park, a camper described, "We love this park!! Very friendly and well kept! Two campgrounds to chose from. Tons of hiking, fishing, and great picnic area next to the river!"

Alternative accommodations: For families new to camping, Roberds Lake Resort and Campground offers amenities that ease the transition. "The sunsets were spectacular at the private beach, boat rental availability for a whole day, flexible and friendly," one visitor shared.

Tips from RVers

Site spacing awareness: RV campers should note that many sites have limited separation. At William O'Brien State Park, a camper observed, "Compared to Wild River State Park, the sites at Savannah are pretty cramped with inconsistent vegetation between sites."

Mid-week advantages: For more privacy, plan non-weekend trips. "Weekends have been packed and reservations scarce for months at state parks in Minnesota. Arriving on a Sunday afternoon was a dream—very few people in the campground loop," advised one RVer.

Cell service limitations: Connectivity varies throughout the region. At William O'Brien, "Cell reception for T-Mobile was minimal to non-existent. Wifi is available in the visitor center parking lot."

Frequently Asked Questions

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

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Farmington, MN is Nerstrand Big Woods State Park Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 35 reviews.

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

TheDyrt.com has all 17 tent camping locations near Farmington, MN, with real photos and reviews from campers.