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Best Tent Camping near Fertile, MN

107 Reviews

Tent campers near Fertile, Minnesota have access to several established sites in the surrounding area. Polk County Park on Maple Lake offers tent camping with a sandy beach for swimming and lakeside recreation. The Agassiz Environmental Learning Center Campground in Fertile provides a more rustic tent camping experience with fire rings and picnic tables but minimal facilities.

Facilities vary considerably across tent camping areas near Fertile. Most sites have basic fire rings but limited amenities. Mentor City Park allows tent camping with access to drinking water, trash disposal, and toilets, making it suitable for campers needing basic services. "For a free campground, it was fantastic. Sites had picnic tables and a place for a fire, although it wasn't an actual fire ring," noted one reviewer about Old Crossing Treaty Park, which also features vault toilets with toilet paper but no hand sanitizer. Many primitive tent sites lack drinking water, so campers should pack sufficient supplies.

Shaded tent sites are available at several locations, particularly at Old Headquarters Campsite where large pines create ideal hammock camping conditions. A camper described it as "large, peaceful and lots of hammock trees," noting there were "wonderful, huge pines without lower branches that made it super easy to hang from." This free, hike-in site includes a fire ring, bench, and bathroom nearby with access to lake water. Weekend camping during peak summer months may encounter more crowds and noise at popular sites like Old Crossing Treaty Park, while primitive tent campgrounds typically offer greater solitude. Most tent camping areas remain quiet during weekdays even in summer months, with ample space for privacy. Several locations provide direct access to waterways for fishing and paddling opportunities.

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Best Tent Sites Near Fertile, Minnesota (9)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Fertile, MN

1 Photos of 9 Fertile Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Fertile, MN

107 Reviews of 9 Fertile Campgrounds

  • J
    May. 14, 2025

    Thief River Falls Tourist Park

    Poor MGMT

    False advertising on amenities. Not all sites have room for a vehicle, or two as they state. Not all sites have benches and fire rings. First 5 days here were spent with no water, no restroom/shower access, no trash access, and no wifi. Host unavailable so no refunds either.

  • T
    Jun. 30, 2021

    Old Crossing Treaty Park

    Great for an Overnight

    Stayed here one night while on a work trip, trying to maximize summer fun. For a free campground, it was fantastic. Sites had picnic tables and a place for a fire, although it wasn’t an actual fire ring. Trees by the sites are not well spaced for hammocks unless you have extra long straps. 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. There was a drinking water pump, but I did not use it. Two vault toilets with a good stock of toilet paper, bring your own hand sanitizer. No electricity and cell service (AT&T) was available but very slow. The sunset was beautiful coming through the large trees in the park, and it was very quiet overnight.

  • H. K.
    Jun. 27, 2022

    Fosston City Campground

    Great to stop over for the night

    This is a campground within a city municipal yard.

    We just needed a place to crash for the night. We came in pretty late. There were 2 other campers.

    The site numbers are along the back of the fence and were difficult to see at night. There aren't really individual driveways, tent pads, picnic tables, etc.

    We just chose an empty spot and set up camp.

    It was nice and flat for our tent. There was electricity though we didn't use it. There was a dumpster and a shelter with many picnic tables near by.

    There's one flush toilet and shower and they were nice and clean.

    I was pleasantly surprised by this little campground. One downside was that there was a railroad nearby so the passing trains' horns we're really loud. But it wasn't all night.

  • Glenda D.
    Apr. 8, 2021

    Bagley City Park

    Nice campground inside the town of Bagley

    The campground has either electric or water or just electric sites for RVs and there are also tent-only sites.  The tent sites are located across from and adjacent to the RV sites.  The RV sites are pretty close together but, we were there in the middle of the summer and there were a couple of open tent sites on one side of us.  The campground is pet friendly and the management is friendly.  The campground is close to Itasca State Park as well.  Others have mentioned that getting in to the campsites near the circle drive area (closest to the lake parking lot) are a little difficult to get into & this is very true.  We have an 8x17 Ice Castle/RV that we pull behind the truck and backing into our spot without disturbing other campers was not an easy task.  The circle drive is right where the last couple of RV sites are sitting and there is a tree at the point of the circle drive so you have to avoid the tree and maneuver around it when backing in.  The sites that are closer to the entrance & the playground that do not have a good view of the lake are easier to get in to.  We used the dump station which is nicely situated on a slope just outside the entrance so it's easy to completely pump out a tank that might sit lower on your unit.  There was a picnic table and campfire ring at each site.

  • Amy G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 18, 2018

    Old Headquarters Campsite

    Large, peaceful and lots of hammock trees!

    It's not often you find a camp along the trail that's large, but this one is just that! About 50 yards off of the North Country Trail, it's well worth the hike to get into. It could easily accommodate a small group of people that had a few tents and hammocks.

    *Note: it was a bit hard to find (if you were coming from the west, traveling east), because it appears that the entrance to the campsite has been re-routed. I suspect to give the campsite a bit more privacy. But if you continue to follow the trail around the lake (lake would be on your right), it's just a few hundred yards past where it's located on the map. Conversely, it would be a few hundred yards before where it's supposed to be if you were approaching from the east.**

    We were super glad to find this site after about 12 miles on the trail. And even happier to see lots of tent trees! We had hammocks, and there were wonderful, huge pines without lower branches that made it super easy to hang from. No underbrush made it lovely! There were a few tent pads on nice, level ground too, if you had a tent to pop up.

    We had a fire ring, there was a bench, a few logs to dry my shoes on, scenery of the lake and a bathroom very nearby. Plenty of dry, downed wood for the fire too. It was just a short hike to the lake for water.

    Quiet, serene, beautiful view, cleanly kept and plenty of trees (yes...even a few bear bag trees that were easy to find). Definitely worth a hike to crash at this lovely little gem.

  • Janet R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 27, 2017

    Old Crossing Treaty Park

    Old Crossing Park

    I would agree with the previous poster, as a campsite this is no great shake. We we where there during the mudweek in July there was only one orher person there so it was quiet, but there was evidence of weekend campers who didn’t practice “Leave no Trace” camping. We bisited this park for historic reasons, due to the important regional treaty signed here and as it was a crossing point on the historic trade route to old Fort Pembina. There is a nice memorial to the treaty event, and it is a nice stopping point if you are following the route of the Pembina Trail. I wouldnt suggest it as a camping destination it snd of itself, but it is ok for camping as as stopover, or it would be good if you planned a couple day trips paddling on the river. It wiuld also be good as a spot for a group canping event, like a family reunion of scouting event, however I dont think you can reserve ahead of time and summertime likely has a lot of day use picnicers on weekends.

  • Laura M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 5, 2023

    Buffalo River State Park Campground

    Everything you need

    Good state park campground with everything you need. You can make your reservations online once you get there, and it’s nice because there’s no online transaction fee. But watch out that you pay the $7 daily state park entry fee as well as the camping fee, because otherwise you'll get a friendly visit from a ranger! 

     There are two loops, one slightly larger one with 50 and 30 amp power (no water or sewer) for $34, and one smaller one with no power for $24. We stayed in a power site because we couldn’t handle the heat anymore, otherwise the smaller one looked a little nicer and quieter and we would have stayed there. 

    Showers were nice and clean and free. Bathrooms were nice. 

    Very nice walking trails all around the campground and throughout the park as a whole. Trash dumpsters here as well as an assortment of segregated recycle bins. Good cell reception with Verizon and ATT. Firewood available at office for $8 and ice for $3. 

    Group camp is off from the main campground a ways, but connected via a little walking trail. There is a dump station and potable water fill at the campground exit. 

    No drinking allowed at any Minnesota State Park campground!

  • Janet R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 13, 2020

    Mentor City Park

    Small town campground near Hwy 2

    This is another typical small town campground located within a 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. The “campground” includes a horseshoe drive along which a few RV’s could park, but there are no hookups. There is an adjacent grassy tenting area that is very nice for tents, but be advised that the only “facilities” are a portapotty, albeit a clean and new one! This is of course would be a good place for a scout group overnight or a family reunion campout, but is not a vacation destination campground. If you are on a roadtrip travelling somewhere on Hwy 2 this would be a safe, clean, quiet spot to stop overnight, being convenient to highway access but far enough away not to hear road noise all night. The leafy setting is peaceful too, and you can get gas and supplies in town

  • Stephanie W.
    Sep. 13, 2016

    Buffalo River State Park Campground

    Alright place to stay outside of city

    Very quiet not sure people allow real camping there. Paid way too much for just 8hrs. No alcohol allowed big downfall for campers. Wouldn't stay again.

Guide to Fertile

Fertile, Minnesota, offers a variety of tent camping options that cater to outdoor enthusiasts looking for a peaceful escape in nature.

Tent campers appreciate these amenities

  • At Old Crossing Treaty Park, you'll find drinking water and vault toilets, making your stay comfortable even without electric hookups.
  • Polk County Park features well-maintained showers and bathrooms, perfect for families looking for a clean camping experience.
  • For those who enjoy a more rustic experience, Old Headquarters Campsite offers a serene environment with plenty of trees for hammocks and a nearby bathroom.

Tent campers like these nearby activities

  • Enjoy a leisurely paddle on the Red Lake River from the boat launch at Old Crossing Treaty Park, where calm waters make for a relaxing day on the water.
  • Polk County Park provides easy access to fishing spots and a sandy beach, ideal for kids to play and swim.
  • Explore the historic Pembina Trail while camping at Old Crossing Treaty Park, where you can learn about the significant treaty signed in the area.

Tent campers should check out these features

  • Mentor City Park offers a peaceful setting with large shade trees and a playground, making it a great spot for families.
  • The scenic views and tranquility at Old Headquarters Campsite create a perfect backdrop for a relaxing camping experience.
  • Cedar Crest Resort provides a beautiful natural environment, ideal for those looking to escape the hustle and bustle of city life.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Fertile, MN is Polk County Park with a 5-star rating from 2 reviews.

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

TheDyrt.com has all 9 tent camping locations near Fertile, MN, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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