Best Campgrounds near Ihlen, MN

Ihlen, MN is a great camping destination for adventurers of all types. Enjoy the scenic camping, fun activities, and sights and sounds of Ihlen. Find the best campgrounds near Ihlen, plus reviews and photos from other campers like you.

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Best Camping Sites Near Ihlen, Minnesota (74)

    1. Blue Mounds State Park Campground

    51 Reviews
    Hardwick, MN
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (507) 283-1307

    $20 - $35 / night

    "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."

    2. Palisades State Park Campground

    29 Reviews
    Garretson, SD
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (605) 594-3824

    "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."

    3. Split Rock Creek State Park Campground

    6 Reviews
    Ihlen, MN
    1 mile
    Website
    +1 (507) 348-7908

    $40 / night

    "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."

    4. Split Rock Park

    10 Reviews
    Garretson, SD
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (605) 594-6721

    "There was a really nice dump station outside of the park near entrance to Devil’s Gultch."

    "A well maintained city campground with vault toilets and convenient nearby dump station just outside the park. Night time train traffic may be a negative for light sleepers."

    5. Big Sioux Recreation Area — Big Sioux

    35 Reviews
    Brandon, SD
    26 miles
    Website
    +1 (605) 582-7243

    "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."

    6. Pipestone RV Campground

    2 Reviews
    Pipestone, MN
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (507) 825-2455

    $18 - $42 / night

    "the owners are attentive, the facility is clean, neighbors are friendly, and it’s located close to restaurants, shopping, and anything else you could need or want! We’ll definitely be back!"

    8. Sioux Falls Yogi Bear

    22 Reviews
    Brandon, SD
    25 miles
    Website
    +1 (605) 332-2233

    $40 - $200 / night

    "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."

    9. Sioux Falls KOA

    28 Reviews
    Sioux Falls, SD
    27 miles
    Website
    +1 (605) 332-9987

    "We decided to stay at this campground because it was close to Falls Park. It’s 4 miles away from the KOA to Downtown. It wasn’t crowded, very clean, met lots of Texans and the pet areas were awesome!"

    "Also a neat little micro brewery walking distance, across the road. Very nice staff and an RV dealer next door. Very close to I-90 and it’s noise, but that comes with the easy access."

    10. Pipestone Family Campground

    1 Review
    Pipestone, MN
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (507) 825-2455

    "Campground was nearly full of local campers but the kids played great together. Decent pool & showers, fun activities like bags tournaments and a potluck."

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Recent Reviews near Ihlen, MN

378 Reviews of 74 Ihlen Campgrounds


  • Jennifer K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 13, 2025

    Blue Mounds State Park Campground

    Beautiful and peaceful

    Super friendly people all around. Very quiet and beautiful campground. Well minus the semitrucks going down the road here and there. Beautiful clean bathrooms and showers. Pathway is well lit without being obnoxious. Seems to be mostly electric sites. There's a dump and water fill with small clean dumpsters throughout. The hosts were super nice to talk to. Sites are clean and manicured and pretty level. Would definitely stay here again. Beautiful little oasis amid what seems to be endless farmland. Just such a welcome stop after a long drive.

  • Karla J. B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 12, 2025

    Blue Mounds State Park Campground

    Peaceful prairie getaway

    We went to Sioux Falls for a concert and added a few night to our trip to camp at Blue Mounds. Sites were not full on the weekend, even less so on Sunday night. Do the prairie tour, interesting and worth the time and the $15. Some sites were smaller and closer together than others, so your experience may vary. But people were quiet and respectful, so I’m sure you can enjoy your stay. The naturalists here are friendly and knowledgeable, take advantage of programming! Visit the nearby Pipestone National Monument while in the area. Misc notes: Others have mentioned clean facilities, we did get manure smell with the breeze, but very few mosquitoes, great sunsets!

  • kThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 10, 2025

    Lake Vermillion Recreation Area

    As good as a KOA

    Rangers are nice, park Host is amazing Facilities are clean Wifi is a little week for T-mobile but had star link for text Beautiful place view of lake, sites are paved, no stones Lots of trees and shade , i stayed in east campground

  • DThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 28, 2025

    Sioux Falls KOA

    A small but well maintained KOA campground

    Although this is not a large campground it is very well maintained and the staff are super friendly. Please see pictures and video for reference.

  • TThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 20, 2025

    Horse Campground — Oakwood Lakes State Park

    Clean

    The bathrooms and showers were very clean. Also, the campsites are very clean beach areas and boat ramps were very clean. Also a nice frisbee, golf course and great beach access. Also not real expensive but you do need a park pass and they do charge out of stators $10 more for campsites but at the end of the day very nice and well worth it garbage and fill stations and dump station.

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 14, 2025

    Tower Campground

    Right on the highway, so convenient, but noisy

    A parking lot style campground with nice green areas for pets. Level sites, full hookups. If you are looking for a convenient spot by Sioux Falls, this one fits the bill. Book online as staff is not in the office (or at least were not when we arrived).

  • LThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 14, 2025

    Palisades State Park Campground

    Expensive

    We made a reservation using the phone number provided. On short notice, we were charged 80+ dollars for two nights after requesting a tent site without electricity. 0n arrival, we were charged 30 dollars for entrance passes to put on the car. The trains ran close by, and the flies were terrible.

  • Lynn M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 13, 2025

    midway camp, Volga South dakota

    Relax by river

    Hidden gem. Midway camp is known for weddings and events. There are 24 sites most on the Sioux river. All back in sites. Grounds well maintained.


Guide to Ihlen

Camping near Ihlen, Minnesota, offers a mix of beautiful landscapes and fun activities for everyone. Whether you're looking to pitch a tent or park your RV, there are some great spots to check out.

What to do

  • Hiking and Trails: Explore the scenic trails at Blue Mounds State Park Campground. One visitor mentioned, "We went on a couple trails and just enjoyed the beautiful fall colors." The park is known for its picturesque views and wildlife.
  • Wildlife Watching: If you’re into nature, keep an ear out for bison at Blue Mounds State Park Campground. A camper shared, "Was able to walk around before the sun went down and listen to the Bison."
  • Fishing and Water Activities: Head to Sunrise Campground — Lake Shetek State Park for fishing. One reviewer said, "Good fishing. Stock up on groceries as large grocery stores are approximately 40 minutes away."

What campers like

  • Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate the cleanliness of the restrooms and showers. A visitor at Palisades State Park Campground noted, "Bathrooms exceptionally clean. Showers great."
  • Spacious Sites: Many campers enjoy the roomy sites at Big Sioux Recreation Area — Big Sioux. One happy camper said, "Sites are big and roomy."
  • Family-Friendly Activities: Families love the activities available at Sioux Falls Yogi Bear. A parent shared, "It was an absolute blast for our kids with plenty of activities to keep them entertained."

What you should know

  • Noise Levels: Be prepared for some noise, especially at Sioux Falls KOA. One camper mentioned, "Lots of noise since it’s off the highway."
  • Limited Privacy: Some campgrounds, like Oak Woods Campground — Lake Shetek State Park, can feel crowded. A visitor noted, "When this campground is full you have zero privacy."
  • Seasonal Access: Check the seasons for each campground. For example, Sioux Falls KOA is only open from May 1 to October 15.

Tips for camping with families

  • Choose Family-Friendly Campgrounds: Look for spots like Sioux Falls Yogi Bear, which has lots of activities for kids. A reviewer said, "Great place to stay with kids!"
  • Plan for Activities: Bring along games and outdoor toys. One family at Sunrise Campground — Lake Shetek State Park enjoyed fishing and swimming, saying, "Filled with fishing, swimming, and biking along all the great routes."
  • Pack Snacks and Drinks: Make sure to stock up on food before heading to more remote campgrounds like Big Sioux Recreation Area — Big Sioux, where grocery stores are far away.

Tips from RVers

  • Check Site Sizes: Make sure your RV fits the site. A camper at Palisades State Park Campground mentioned, "Totally new entrance with easy access to new section that will handle larger RVs."
  • Look for Amenities: Choose campgrounds with full hookups, like Sunrise Campground — Lake Shetek State Park. One reviewer appreciated, "FHU. Large gravel sites."
  • Be Prepared for Weather: Bring gear for all types of weather. A visitor at Shady Grove Campground noted, "This park is open year round and well set up for cold weather."

Camping near Ihlen, Minnesota, has something for everyone, whether you're a family looking for fun or an RVer seeking adventure.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular campground near Ihlen, MN?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Ihlen, MN is Blue Mounds State Park Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 51 reviews.