149 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
The Mississippi River valley near Goodview, Minnesota provides an assortment of established campgrounds with various accommodation types. Minneiska Campground at Whitewater State Park, located about 15 miles southeast of Goodview, offers tent, RV, cabin, and glamping options with year-round accessibility. Prairie Island City Campground in Minnesota City features riverfront sites with water and electric hookups, operating from April through November. Several state parks span both the Minnesota and Wisconsin sides of the Mississippi River, creating a network of mixed-use camping areas within a 30-minute drive.
Campground reservations are strongly recommended during the summer season when river access sites fill quickly. Most established campgrounds in the area provide drinking water and toilet facilities, though amenities vary significantly between primitive and developed sites. According to one visitor, "Sites away from the water have beautiful shade. Near the water no shade. The whole tent camping area is in the middle of a frisbee golf course so lots of foot traffic by the sites." Train noise impacts several riverfront campgrounds, particularly Merrick State Park in Wisconsin. The region experiences typical Midwest seasonal changes with cold, snowy winters limiting winter camping options to a few year-round facilities, while summer brings humidity and mosquitoes that campers frequently mention in reviews.
Waterfront access represents a primary draw for campers throughout the Goodview area, with several campgrounds providing direct access to the Mississippi River or its backwaters. A recent review noted, "We had one of the primitive sites on the river front, and it was huge! Highly recommend site 152 if you have some camping games you like to play." The region caters to different camping preferences—RV enthusiasts often prefer the electric hookups at Prairie Island and Whitewater State Park, while tent campers seeking more seclusion might choose walk-in sites at Aefintyr or island sites at Merrick State Park. Several campgrounds feature boat launches, fishing access, and water recreation opportunities. Many sites maintain some tree cover and natural features despite being developed campgrounds, though privacy between sites varies considerably across locations.
"Whitewater is by far one of the top state parks in Minnesota. Their camping facilities are clean with running water and free showers. The campsites are quite spacious but not too wooded."
"Easy access to hiking trails. My site was close in distance to adjacent ones, but was on the edge by the creek, so it was pretty quiet."
from $25 - $250 / night
Check Availability"There is a rail line that runs along between the Mississippi and the park edge, campsites are away from this but still can be heard as well as motor boats on the River."
"The sites with nearby water are especially peaceful, and there's plenty of wooded space to explore without worrying about disturbing other campers or damaging wildlife habitat."
from $19 - $110 / night
Check Availability"This campground is a home away from home. We found this campground through this app, and was very happy with our stay. We had one of the primitive sites on the river front, and it was huge!"
"Clean bath house and convenient outdoor bathroom buildings around the grounds. The road along the river is narrow making it hard to back your camper into the riverfront sites if you have neighbors."
"Showers and flush toilets at the north campground which is a quick drive or a very long walk. They were clean, but showers could use a refresh."
"Some are more off by themselves and some are right next to each other. There is drive in, cart in, and pull in sites. There is nice ground for renting as well. Many of the sites are on the river."
from $19 / night
Check Availability"The website states there are tracks nearby that are active 24 hours. This was not a problem for us at all. They were hardly noticeable. We did stay at the north loop, as we wanted electric hook up."
"Really close to the river, as well. Yes… the trains do go by quite a bit, but it really hasn’t bothered us. Beautiful tall trees, clean pit toilets. This park is a gem! We’ll be back."
from $19 - $35 / night
Check Availability"I enjoy camping away from the hub bub of the family campground and opting for the backpack or cart in sites. Luckily, Great River Bluffs has some of the nicest cart ins I have encountered."
"What a beautiful & peaceful gem of a place in south eastern Minnesota!"
from $24 / night
Check Availability"We camped with tents on 2 sites next to each other! Wonderful family camping trip ever! The water activities were awesome 👌. Child activities are super fun. 4th of July weekend! Two thumbs up 👍👌"
"It is set in a valley with 3 to 4 hundred foot hills full of trails on a working farm."
from $22 - $36 / night
Check Availability"We always bring the kayaks, so the water access offered is why we stay. 3 Campgrounds:
- Island sites offer the best-in-park privacy for a campsite, but they are walk in (carts provided"
from $19 - $110 / night
Check Availability"Short drive to White Water State Park. A lot of great trout fishing spots along the river. Very peaceful campground, great view of the stars on clear nights! Will definitely be back."
"It was so fun to socialize in the shared space around the fire and play games. If you are up in the bluff, be sure to wear good shoes for the hike up. "
from $74 - $169 / night
Check Availability
TravelerWe tent camped one night, midweek late August. Our site was private, close enough to the shower house but far enough away that we didn't hear any noise from the exhaust fans. Was a lovely quiet night. On a tight schedule so we weren't able to sample any of the hikes. Would stay here again. #33 also looked like a prime tent camp spot.
GuideOctober 12, low of 63° high around 78°.
We arrived here on Sunday around noon and there were maybe 4 other trailers. We self registered and chose one of the many spots and headed to decorah for lunch. When we got back around 5 pm everyone was gone. We enjoyed the creek rushing next to us and the quiet park!
Water was shut off but vault toilets were available.
GuideNice campground sites are smaller & you will need to level. Nice clean flush toilets & showers. Can hear the highway below. Road in is gravel & narrow not for big rigs.
ScoutWe selected "best available" site and showed up two hours later to a disgusting mess. There was a pile of garbage in our site. There was a busy railroad track right next the the site not shown in the campground map. They offered other sites but they were not any better.
ScoutElectric back in site. No water. Well shaded adequate space
LegendHas river access. Two parking lots Picnic area And make sure you go to the back of the field and take the suspension bridge trail
GuideQuiet, beautiful and good facilities. Showers .25 for 5 minutes. We are here midweek in September so even the occupied sites only have people staying there in the weekends.
TravelerI go there every year for hunting. Everyone is friendly and everyone is responsible for cleaning up the place. First come first serve. No reservations.
ScoutI was a little skeptical after a negative review about the regular residents, so I watched for that dynamic. We were camping with another family so we had 8 kids between the two of us and I was worried all those kiddos would upset people. Quite the opposite experience from that review and it motivated me to leave this one to help provide a good picture. I have nothing bad to say about our camping experience. We did go a little out of season (September 12) so a lot of the campsites were empty. Most their sites are flat, and clean. The grass was well mowed and maintained. They had activities for the kids (Halloween). People that drove by were friendly and smiling, and waiving. We had people drop off candy for the kids asking parents first. We had people offer basketballs for our kids to use while they were away from their site. Me and my friend were about to haul ice bags and wood up a huge hill on foot and someone stopped their golf cart and emptied it of what they were carrying to give us a ride to our campsite. The kids tootled about on their bikes being kids with no negative experiences. There were a couple of kids on motor scooters whose engines were kind of obnoxious but that’s going to happen more and more at campgrounds, and it wasn’t during quiet hours. We had sites atop the “full Lakeview” and it was honestly surprising how beautiful it was up there. I think it can be difficult to get a view when you’re camping but those sites had it. We knew the full lake view sites were open so we took the cheaper ones across from them, but still saw the same view. There was a great amount of space between the sites we used. The only possible critique I might offer is in that specific row there weren’t many trees for shade, but the weather was cooler so it didn’t affect us, but if we went in the summer it might have been more uncomfortable without that natural shade. The bath houses and showers were great!!! I feel like a good bath house can make or break a campsite and we’ve been to some smaller ones that were quite lacking but this one was great. Very clean, not many bugs, spacious, real doors on the shower stalls. We did not arrive in season to utilize the pool area but it looked great from the other side of the gate ;) - the parks were well maintained and the kids loved them. there was a set of stairs that went from up the hill down to the office that looked a little sketchy but they were closed off for use. If you didn’t have a golf cart or couldn’t ride a bike, the trek from where we stayed to the office might be a challenge. Overall we loved it and would definitely consider going again. The sites were a little pricey but had on site sewer hookup which is fantastic.
Camping sites near Goodview, Minnesota range in elevation from 660 to 1,100 feet, with many riverfront locations situated within the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge. Winter temperatures regularly drop below 0°F, while summer humidity creates ideal conditions for Minnesota's unofficial state bird - the mosquito. Campgrounds in the area typically open from April through October with limited year-round options.
Hiking trails with valley views: At Great River Bluffs State Park, trails are mostly level with rolling hills. "I spent a day here hiking and had a blast! I hiked up Chimney Rock and then looped back to tackle part of the Dakota trail! The hiking paths were well taken care of. There were plenty of places to stop and rest if you need to," notes Sarah C.
Boat launches for river access: Several campgrounds offer direct river access points. The area features multiple boat ramps for kayaking, canoeing and fishing. According to Jesse M., Sleepy Hollow Campground is "about a mile from the Mississippi just north of lock and dam no. 5A if you are looking for a quiet place to recharge."
Birdwatching opportunities: The Mississippi River valley serves as a major migratory corridor. "The river valley is a great viewing area for waterfowl, eagles, and hawks," according to one reviewer at Great River Bluffs. Another visitor noted seeing "a white raven spend a few days with us which was wild!" during a stay at Perrot State Park.
Secluded island sites: Merrick State Park offers unique island camping options with private, waterfront sites. "Island sites offer the best-in-park privacy for a campsite, but they are walk-in (carts provided for hauling in). Worth the short walk in from the lot for what you get," explains Beth D. who adds, "We think site 50 has the best view and launch, with not as much riprap as the other island sites."
Reduced mosquito areas: Minneiska Campground at Whitewater State Park has fewer mosquitoes than other locations in the area. "Best part: very few mosquitoes!! (The cold, constantly moving water helps keep them away)," writes Leda T. This makes it "one of my favorite parks in the state of Minnesota."
Spacious riverfront sites: The riverfront campsites at Prairie Island City Campground offer ample space. As Lyla W. describes, "We had one of the primitive sites on the riverfront, and it was huge! Highly recommend site 152 if you have some camping games you like to play."
Train noise impacts sleep: Trains pass frequently through the area, particularly near riverside campgrounds. At Merrick State Park, one camper reported that "the frequency of trains and the loudness of their horns at night was enough to drive me nuts. Every time I was almost asleep another one would go past."
Seasonal water quality issues: Some campgrounds have water quality concerns. At Perrot State Park, Kayla F. noted, "There were signs posted that the drinking water cannot be boiled, nor can it be given to babies or elderly due to high nitrates. But we brought our own water anyways."
Winter camping limitations: While several campgrounds technically remain open year-round, winter services are limited. At North Campground at Merrick State Park, a visitor found "the shower building is in this loop although it's closed over winter. Vault toilets still available." Water systems are typically shut down, though some parks maintain a water spigot near the visitor center.
Water recreation options: River access provides swimming and boating opportunities, though currents require caution. At Prairie Island, "This campground always has something to do. Whether it's a movie night, live music, food trucks, or kayak rentals, there's always something. There is a playground for kids, and clean bathrooms," according to Lyla W.
Educational programs: Some parks offer structured activities for children. Jennifer B. found Perrot State Park had "lots of amazing views, interactive signs and information that was perfect for our 4-year-old," making it "a great place to explore the region near the Mississippi River."
Indoor backup plans: Rainy weather options exist nearby. Kate H. from Whitewater State Park shares, "Despite the rain we had a great time! Because of the rain we went to the eagle center near Wisconsin. A must see if your looking for something indoors!"
Electric site availability: Many campgrounds offer electric hookups, but availability varies seasonally. At Whitewater State Park's winter campground, Amy G. found "all spaces that were plowed had plenty of room to pull in. Some were even 'pull through' which would be extra nice if you wanted it (either big rig type RV or pull behind)."
Accessibility challenges: Some riverfront sites can be difficult to access with larger rigs. Tracy B. at Prairie Island noted, "The road along the river is narrow making it hard to back your camper into the riverfront sites if you have neighbors."
Dump station locations: Dump stations are available at most established campgrounds but may close seasonally. At South Campground at Merrick State Park, off-season visitors should verify which facilities remain open, as "Showers and flush toilets at the north campground which is a quick drive or a very long walk."
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Goodview, MN?
According to TheDyrt.com, Goodview, MN offers a wide range of camping options, with 149 campgrounds and RV parks near Goodview, MN and 9 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Goodview, MN?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Goodview, MN is Minneiska Campground — Whitewater State Park with a 4.5-star rating from 51 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Goodview, MN?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 9 free dispersed camping spots near Goodview, MN.
Keep Exploring
