The Red River Valley region surrounding Fertile, Minnesota offers pet friendly camping options with distinctive prairie and riparian environments. Summer temperatures average 80°F during day and 60°F at night, while the flatter terrain leaves campers more exposed to wind than in other parts of Minnesota. Mosquitoes are particularly abundant in this area during warm months, especially near the region's rivers and streams.
What to do
Explore river recreation: Near Old Crossing Treaty Park, campers can access the Red Lake River. "There is a boat launch to put into the Red Lake River, and the water was calm enough you could have had a leisurely paddle in a kayak either direction. Perhaps it is not normally that low/slow since I visited during a particularly dry spell," notes Torey H.
Visit nearby nature preserves: The region features multiple natural areas within driving distance. At Buffalo River State Park Campground, "Several looping hiking trails start in and around the campground, so you can put together a hike from 15 minutes to two hours. Ours was about an hour, half in the prairie and half along the river," shares Patrick M.
Enjoy urban amenities: Some campgrounds offer proximity to town services. At Red River State Recreation Area, "If you did not want to cook, there are 4 restaurants within 3 blocks of your campsite. And a Cabelas within 4 blocks, so if you forget anything, it's close by," explains Scott G.
What campers like
Budget-friendly options: The Fosston City Campground offers excellent value. "The price in 2020 September is $5 for a tent and $16 for RVs," notes SmallRVLifestyle V. The self-check-in system makes late arrivals easy.
Clean facilities: Many campgrounds maintain good facilities despite their small size. At Fosston City Campground, "There's one flush toilet and shower and they were nice and clean. I was pleasantly surprised by this little campground," says H. K.
Natural settings: Even city parks often provide pleasant outdoor environments. Heiberg Park features "a serene stream that runs through the park, adding to its tranquil atmosphere. The park also has a picnic shelter that's perfect for gatherings," according to Andrew F. The park borders the Wild Rice River, providing fishing opportunities.
What you should know
Seasonal considerations: Many campgrounds operate only during warmer months. Buffalo River State Park Campground is open "April to November," while Red River State Recreation Area runs "May to October."
Noise factors: Some campgrounds experience environmental noise. At Heiberg Park, "This park is right on Hwy 9, a little noisy at night," reports aregan. Similarly, Red River State Recreation Area has "trains with their horns blaring at 4am," according to Scott G.
Limited privacy: Many campgrounds in this region lack dense vegetation between sites. Red River State Recreation Area is "a grassy plain with straight rows of pull-throughs," according to Ian Y., who adds, "there are a handful of walk-in sites off to the side that looked quite nice."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Several campgrounds feature play areas for children. Mentor City Park has "large shade trees, playground and picnic shelter, and shares ball fields with the adjacent school," writes Janet R.
Swimming options: Buffalo River State Park Campground offers a "swimming area is wonderful! Less chlorine than you'd ever get exposed to in a public pool and picnic table access with lots of area to picnic," according to Brianna V.
Budget-friendly activities: City parks often combine camping with community recreation. At Mentor City Park, "The park has large shade trees, playground and picnic shelter, and shares ball fields with the adjacent school. It is clearly a nice outdoor community gathering space that also has an area where camping is allowed," notes Janet R.
Tips from RVers
Hookup availability: Many small town parks offer surprising utility access. At Shooting Star RV Park and Casino, "We stayed at site 19, shown in the photo. Although the sites are close together, there were quite a few empty sites so we felt like it was semi-private. The cost was about $25 per night so definitely a great deal for full hookups," says Glenda D.
Dump station access: Several campgrounds provide sanitation facilities. Fosston City Campground has "a dumpsite and water at the end of the campground," according to SmallRVLifestyle V.
Site spacing: RV sites vary in size and proximity. At Buffalo River State Park Campground, there are "two small loops of campsites, one with electrical service and the other without. Well spaced sites, with some screening between sites," notes Patrick M.
