Palisades State Park Campground
Beautiful Campgrounds
In the King's area, the camp sites are very spacious and even have fancy Fire Pits with Cooking area @ Every Sight! Cutting my 7 day stay down to 4 🤟👋 off to the Next Great Campground 🤙
80 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Campgrounds near Hardwick, Minnesota provide tent and RV sites across multiple state parks and developed facilities. Blue Mounds State Park Campground offers both standard drive-in sites and more secluded cart-in options with tent, RV, and glamping accommodations. Located approximately 20 miles southwest of Hardwick, this park features 30-amp electric hookups, showers, and sanitary dump facilities. Nearby options include Adrian City Park, which remains open from April to November, and Split Rock Creek State Park with electric sites and walking access trails. Most established campgrounds in the region maintain facilities year-round, with seasonal variations in site availability.
Access to many campgrounds varies by season, with peak visitation occurring from late spring through early fall. Blue Mounds State Park maintains year-round operation, though amenities may be limited during winter months. Electric hookups are available at several developed campgrounds, with both 30-amp and 50-amp service at select locations. The terrain throughout the region is primarily prairie and grassland, with some wooded areas providing shade at cart-in sites. Cellular coverage is generally reliable at most established campgrounds, with several reviews noting good connectivity even at remote sites. Water access can be limited in some areas, as noted in visitor experiences: "The lake that used to be there is now gone and just overgrown with plants. Most of the park is dedicated to the bison, so hiking opportunities are kind of limited."
The camping experience near Hardwick features prairie landscapes, wildlife viewing opportunities, and stargazing. Blue Mounds State Park receives particular attention for its unique natural features, including the resident bison herd visible from designated viewing areas. Several campers mention the exceptional night sky visibility, with one noting, "At night, it's nice and dark so you can see a lot of stars - if you walk a short way down one of the trails from the campground you can even see the Milky Way." Cart-in sites typically offer more privacy than standard drive-in locations, though site spacing varies considerably between campgrounds. Weekends during summer months see higher occupancy rates, particularly at established campgrounds with shower facilities and electric hookups. Developed campsites throughout the region typically include picnic tables, fire rings with cooking grates, and nearby access to drinking water.
"Quiet place with nice bike and walking paths. Electric only 30amp water close by. Full dump station."
"Amazing remnant of Minnesota prairie set among the farm country."
from $24 - $50 / night
Check Availability"There are also several vault toilets around the area. From the campground you have access to the water. There are also several short hiking trails from where you can see the rock formations."
"This is a sweet little tucked away oasis near Sioux Falls featuring trails, bluffs and climbing options. Great views and clean camp sites."
"Follow the gps location on the app. Don’t use the address off of the city’s web site. Plus there are signs for camping that will lead you right to it."
from $20 / night
Check Availability"We had a tent site, number 24, and it was tucked into the woods but still close to the parking lot!"
"They have nice long paved trails for walking and biking. We got to walk our dogs on it to avoid tick contact from the grassy trails. There was a cool suspension bridge that was fun to walk on."
"I spent one night at Split Rock on my trip back to Colorado from Minnesota. I had a spot right on the river. The views and scenery were amazing. This is an oasis on the plains."
"Cute spot next to the river with kayaking/swimming in walking distance."
"Playground nearby. The campground is right off the hiking club trail for that doing that. Site 22 had nice trees for hanging hammocks. Firewood is available at the office."
"A small lake with 5 docks and a swimming beach. A few small hiking trails and a park for the kiddos."
from $24 - $34 / night
Check Availability"Its near the highway so there is road noise but nothing that kept me from sleeping. I booked by emailing and they emailed back to confirm."
"Area is close to a community pool (a 1/2 block from the campground entrance). Friendly staff.**"
"At the time of our visit I-90 was being rebuilt nearby so access from the interstate was more difficult, but this isn’t the fault of the campground."
"Location is right on interstate and easy to find. Not for nature lovers."
from $40 - $200 / night
Check Availability"Hot shower, clean bathroom, playground, close to town and I 90"
from $35 / night












In the King's area, the camp sites are very spacious and even have fancy Fire Pits with Cooking area @ Every Sight! Cutting my 7 day stay down to 4 🤟👋 off to the Next Great Campground 🤙
High use but nicely maintained.
Site we were at was $30 a night. Grass pad with electric hookups. Next to a nice lake.
The Ranger at the desk polite and full of information. The only thing we did not like is the cold room where the showers are. Loads of hot water.
Nice showers, sites online can be a bit deceiving. We thought we were getting a more remote site but it ended up being right in the middle of everyone with a direct view of the trashes. Because we were so close to said trash the flies were terrible and got into our camper and stayed in it for days. But showers and bathrooms were clean and overall a cute site with a nice trail nearby!
I spent one night at Split Rock on my trip back to Colorado from Minnesota. I had a spot right on the river. The views and scenery were amazing. This is an oasis on the plains. There is an active train track that runs behind the campground that did cause a few wake-ups during the night but overall I had a great stay.
Tight. Each space has two RVs parked inline with each other. Tail of one RV is parked touching the tail of the other RV
This is a wonderful city park. It has electricity only at most of the sites. There's a choice of fifty amp or thirty amp. No water , except from a community pipe , which you can reach with a hose to fill your r v or camper from the road as you drive in. No dump station here in the park , but just two blocks outside of the park is a free one. Lovely shade trees lots of birds. For powered site , it's $20 a night , so much more affordable than the r v parks! Garretson's website has reservation details. There's also a boat , ramp and a lovely children's playground.
Located off the interstate with easy access to everything. Staff was super friendly and loves dogs. Dog run clean. So nice stayed an extra night.
Near Hardwick, Minnesota, camping opportunities exist across several developed grounds with varying terrain types. The area sits at approximately 1,400 feet above sea level in Minnesota's prairie region, characterized by grasslands and scattered wooded areas. Weather patterns include warm summers with daytime temperatures averaging 80°F and cooler nights, making adequate shelter necessary for overnight stays.
Bison viewing: Access viewing areas at Blue Mounds State Park Campground for wildlife observation opportunities. The park maintains designated areas where visitors can observe the resident bison herd. "Great prairie views and it's always great to see Bison. Didn't love the lack of potable water. Would be nice to see more investment here- real gem of a park," notes Sydney J.
Rock climbing: Several formations available for climbers of various skill levels. Quartzite formations throughout the region provide climbing opportunities. "Would love to come back and do some rock climbing here now that I learned there are spots!" shares Tori K. about Blue Mounds State Park.
Kayaking: Navigate Split Rock Creek through Devils Gulch. Watercraft access points allow for exploration of the waterways. "Really cool kayaking into Devils Gulch and up the Split Rock Creek. Will return to this nicely kept State Park," mentions Carolyn M. about Split Rock Park.
Hiking: Trail system connects through prairie landscapes with limited shade. Walking paths provide access to natural features and wildlife viewing areas. "Love the hiking and lack of bugs compared to most Minnesota parks. Great prairie views," reports Sydney J. about Blue Mounds.
Site spacing: Larger sites available with adequate separation at select campgrounds. "Sites are large and wooded without feeling closed in. There is biking and hiking," notes Kristen B. about Blue Mounds State Park. Campsite near Hardwick, Minnesota typically offers more privacy at cart-in versus standard drive-in locations.
Night sky visibility: Minimal light pollution creates superior stargazing conditions. Clear prairie skies provide excellent astronomical viewing opportunities. "At night, it's nice and dark so you can see a lot of stars," according to reviews of the area campgrounds.
Clean facilities: Regular maintenance reported at Split Rock Creek State Park Campground. "The shower houses were super clean (not even a spiderweb), the park rangers were nice and helpful. Really big sights with plenty of space between them," reports Mary Jo S. The park maintains restroom facilities with consistent upkeep.
Water recreation: Swimming and fishing opportunities at developed lake sites. Several campgrounds provide lake access for water activities. "A small lake with 5 docks and a swimming beach. A few small hiking trails and a park for the kiddos," notes Mary Jo S. about Split Rock Creek State Park.
Potable water limitations: Some campgrounds experience water issues. Access to drinking water varies by location and season. "They give you jugs of drinking water on check in, and for now, the showers are swim beach are off line," reports Kara B. about Magnolia City Campground.
Train noise: Railroad proximity affects several camping locations. Proximity to active rail lines impacts sleep quality at certain sites. "Beautiful spot. Easy water access. Only hitch is you're very close to train tracks and the trains tend to be quite loud as they pass," advises Ryan W. about Split Rock Park.
Site availability: Weekends require advance planning during peak season. Reservation patterns show higher occupancy rates Friday through Sunday from late spring to early fall. "Weekends during summer months see higher occupancy rates, particularly at established campgrounds."
Additional fees: Some locations charge separate entrance and camping fees. Cost structures vary between campgrounds in the region. "We had to pay the entrance fee to the park as well as the camping fee for my tentsite," notes Carolyn M.
Playground access: Select sites adjacent to play areas for convenience with children. Family-oriented campgrounds provide recreational facilities near camping areas. "Follow the gps location on the app. Don't use the address off of the city's web site. Plus there are signs for camping that will lead you right to it," advises Mark about Magnolia City Campground, which features playground facilities.
Safety considerations: Monitor children near water features and cliff areas. Terrain features require parental supervision in certain locations. "We have 3 kids 5 and under. They like it too, but there are cliffs and water, so plan accordingly," cautions Cody H. about Palisades State Park Campground.
Educational opportunities: Schedule around ranger programs when available. Learning experiences about prairie ecology and wildlife enhance family camping trips. "At Blue Mounds you can experience the prairie and what it must have been like for early settlers," notes Kristen B.
Hookup availability: Electric service predominantly 30-amp at most locations. Power connections vary by campground with limited 50-amp service in the region. "Very shady, but does not have sewer or water hookup. 30 amp electric service," reports Dexter E. about Blue Mounds State Park.
Site dimensions: Size limitations affect larger recreational vehicles at certain campgrounds. Some locations cannot accommodate larger RVs due to site dimensions and access routes. "Don't recommend for larger rigs. We struggled with our 44ft 5th wheel, only one site could fit us and it was tight to get in and out," advises Sheila H. about Adrian City Park.
Self-registration: Several campgrounds operate on first-come basis with pay stations. Check-in procedures vary by location and season. "The first-come, first-served / self-pay system other great for us. We pulled in at 7:00 pm and left at 8 am," notes Jessica B. about Magnolia City Campground.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular campground near Hardwick, MN?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Hardwick, MN is Blue Mounds State Park Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 56 reviews.
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