Camping spots near Ihlen, Minnesota include several options for outdoor recreation across southwestern Minnesota and eastern South Dakota. The area sits at approximately 1,700 feet elevation in a prairie landscape with seasonal temperature variations ranging from below-freezing winters to warm, humid summers. Wind exposure is a common factor at campsites throughout the region due to the open terrain that characterizes this part of the Upper Midwest.
What to do
Bison viewing tours: At Blue Mounds State Park Campground, visitors can observe the resident buffalo herd. "Bison tours are available. Plenty of hiking trails and some cliff climbing," notes Bruce P., who also mentions that the town of Luverne is just 6 miles away with supplies.
Rock climbing opportunities: The quartzite formations at Palisades State Park Campground provide excellent climbing opportunities. Jessica B. calls the park "gorgeous" and notes that "stunning quartzite formations make for some great climbing. It's a really small park which is both good and bad. The trails aren't very long, but it's not usually overcrowded."
Frisbee golf: Big Sioux Recreation Area offers a disc golf course for campers looking for recreational activities. One visitor noted, "I didn't partake but they do have a Frisbee golf course. Took a short walk on their trail system to the suspension walking bridge."
What campers like
Prairie experiences: Blue Mounds State Park gets high marks for its prairie landscape. "Love the hiking and lack of bugs compared to most Minnesota parks. Great prairie views and it's always great to see Bison," writes Sydney J., who considers the park "a real gem" despite noting it "needs more investment."
Swimming and water recreation: Sioux Falls KOA offers water features that campers appreciate. Angie G. mentioned, "We decided to stay at this campground because it was close to Falls Park. It's 4 miles away from the KOA to Downtown," adding that "Sioux Falls is a very dog-friendly city and was able to take my dog everywhere!"
Site privacy: Several campgrounds offer spacious sites with good separation. At Split Rock Creek State Park Campground, Janet K. notes, "Nice peaceful campground with large sites nicely spaced apart for privacy. We stayed in #6 (non-electric but there are lots of electric sites)."
What you should know
Train noise: At Split Rock Park, the proximity to railroad tracks affects the camping experience. Carolyn F. warns, "They dont just pass, they blow a LOUD horn right as they go by. It happened multiple times throughout the night, felt like every hour. It would wake even the heaviest sleeper."
Water issues: Some campgrounds experience periodic water contamination issues. At Blue Mounds, Kristen B. explains, "The only downside is that their water is contaminated. They provide directions to a city site where you can fill your camper tank, and they give out a gallon of drinking/cooking water when you check in."
Fee structures: Campground fees can be confusing with multiple charges. One visitor to Big Sioux Recreation Area noted, "My complaint would be the fees. I thought I was paying one fee for the non-e tent site but then there was an additional fee for non-res and another fee for park day use fee or permit."
Tips for camping with families
Playground proximity: Big Sioux Recreation Area has family-friendly layouts with tent sites near play areas. One camper mentioned, "They had only a few tentsites available amid all the RV sites, but they were right on the edge of the playground, so the families had to walk right through my campsite to get to the play area."
Activities for children: Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park offers structured entertainment for kids. According to Alec S., "Our family spent a long weekend here enjoying all of the activities they had to offer. Everything from laser tag to chocolate milk chugging contests... Saturday night was the yogi bear parade and it was the highlight of our entire stay."
Cliff safety: Parents should be aware of terrain hazards at certain campgrounds. At Split Rock Park, amber P. cautions, "Beautiful lil place with lots of scenery to look at, only a few rv spots, but a lot of nice tent spots. Might not be the greatest for kids under 5, due to all the cliffs."
Tips from RVers
Site limitations for large rigs: Split Rock Creek State Park has restrictions for bigger vehicles. Sheila H. advises, "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."
Dump station locations: Some parks have unusual dump station arrangements. Tori K. observed at Blue Mounds State Park: "Layout for getting water and dump station is a little odd as you have to drive through the campground to get to it rather than it being on your way out."
Level sites: Site grading varies across campgrounds. At Pipestone RV Campground, one camper mentioned that "leveling was tricky" at their pull-through site, though they appreciated that the campground allowed setting up a tent for no additional cost on the same site.
