3 campgrounds with availability this weekend
Blue Mounds State Park features distinctive glamping options within prairie landscapes of southwestern Minnesota. Glamping accommodations include yurts that provide a comfortable retreat with amenities not found in standard camping. The park's glamping sites blend outdoor experiences with modern comforts including electricity, picnic tables, and designated fire rings for evening enjoyment. A recent visitor noted, "The tipis are spacious and can sleep 4-6 people, set to the side offering some privacy." The yurts sit on elevated wooden platforms keeping guests comfortable above ground level, while the three tipis available for rent provide a cultural camping experience with proper bedding and protection from elements.
Visitors staying in Blue Mounds' glamping accommodations gain direct access to the park's extensive prairie trail network with opportunities for unique wildlife viewing. The bison herd represents a major attraction, with guided tours available to observe these animals in their natural habitat. According to one camper, "We didn't see the buffalo herd, but were only there for one night. Good birdwatching and I've never seen so many fireflies!" Evening activities include stargazing across open prairie skies with minimal light pollution. The park's location near Luverne provides convenient access to town amenities while maintaining the secluded feel of canvas tent camping. Seasonal considerations include summer biting flies and mosquitoes, making spring and fall ideal for glamping experiences when temperatures are mild and insect populations diminish.
"The bathroom facility at the drive-in campground is much nicer than the one for the tipis and cart-in sites."
"Amazing remnant of Minnesota prairie set among the farm country."
Available this weekend
from $24 - $50 / night
"Some have electric hook up, others are just for tent camping. All of them provide a picnic table and a fire pit. They also have little log cabins. We stayed at campsite 6 which was a very good spot."
"The campsite was easy to find and close to the town of Garretson. There was a small grocery store there."
"Just another overnight stop on my drive to Iowa. I spent the night in a non-electric tent site so I can't really comment on the other parts of the campground."
"They sell campfire wood for 6$ a bundle on site so we had some great campfires going. They have nice long paved trails for walking and biking."
"There’s a fair size staff working; you could see 3-5 people at any given time. Good selection in store open 8am to 9pm in July. Nice size pool and laundry room."
"Easily accessible from the highway. Felt clean and secure. Staff was friendly.  We arrived on a Saturday, and there was a food truck at one of the sites!"
"I did notice that the power boxes are set up is only few spots with multiple power boxes on the post. So you could need a power cord extention. If all spots by the power boxes are taken up."
"The electrical and water are a little spaced out. We took the end spot and count quite reach our two water hoses. There two long-term campers who were hooked up to the water spigot closest to us."
from $20 / night
"Only premium spots have campfire rings. Bathrooms and laundry are nicely maintained. It’s hit or miss if the main office is open but the staff is amazing and friendly."
"Clean showers and laundry room. We stayed on the west side. It’s literally in town but very easy on and off interstate. The airport is close by which made it neat to watch."
"Bathrooms well tended. Lake area is busy. Campsite I initially reserved was not suitable for a tent…the only flat area was right on top of the neighbor’s fire pit."
"There are only 4 strictly dedicated tent sites. you park across the street and walk a very short distance, maybe 200 feet to the site. The bathroom is in the parking lot along with a water source."
from $15 - $55 / night
"We spent three nights at the Oak Woods campground at Lake Shetek State Park in May 2022."
"Tons of walking trails and pet friendly!! You’ll see lots of birds and deer... Second time here and love it!!"
from $24 - $85 / night
"Electric and water hookups. Spots are very close together. Luckily several people cancelled for the weekend and we were allowed to pick any spot. Shower houses are nice."
"So beautiful to wake up to the sunrise on the lake. Perfect stop in our way .. great location for kids - there are 2 parks and little “beaches” with sand to play next to the lake"
Traveler+$15 in fees for out of state (10 of that was hidden until the very end of purchase). Clean sites, spacious, some are close together but many have good spacing. Very quiet. Couldn’t find any nonelectric sites online (as in couldn’t find any that exist let alone were available) even though it says there are some. Must reserve online, but can reserve once you arrive.
GuideIn 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 🤙
GuideThe 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.
RangerNice 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!
GuideTight. Each space has two RVs parked inline with each other. Tail of one RV is parked touching the tail of the other RV
GuideLocated off the interstate with easy access to everything. Staff was super friendly and loves dogs. Dog run clean. So nice stayed an extra night.
GuidePaved roads and campsites. Clean bathhouse. Host on premises. Peaceful setting. Quiet during weekdays in late August. Self check in at the entry gate.
GuideModerately easy to get to. Not crowded. You can’t register onsite but there was hardly anyone here so we drove around and found a spot that was not reserved, back in and proceeded to reserve online. 30-50 amp service provided. No water at site. Dump station available.
GuideSpacious and level sites. Very clean and close to I90. Wish we could stay longer than an overnight. There is a $15 daily fee to enter the park for out of state residents.
Blue Mounds State Park offers prairie camping experiences in southwestern Minnesota, 35 miles southwest of Ihlen. The park's elevation rises to 1,719 feet on a quartzite ridge, one of the highest points in the region. Electric and non-electric campsites are available year-round, with summer temperatures averaging between 70-85°F and winter dropping well below freezing.
Bouldering and climbing: Blue Mounds State Park features unique quartzite rock formations ideal for climbing. "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. about Blue Mounds State Park Campground.
Kayaking and water sports: Lake Shetek State Park offers water recreation options for glampers near Ihlen. "We brought our kayaks and enjoyed kayaking the lake, though there was always a pretty big wake and we stayed near the shoreline. We kayaked (a short Portage) to 2 smaller lakes that had no one on them," shares Joanna B. from Oak Woods Campground.
Wildlife viewing: Split Rock Creek at Palisades State Park provides opportunities to observe local wildlife. "South Dakota is known for its well-maintained state park campgrounds, and this area offers two great options: King and Queen. Queen is nestled in a wooded area with limited visibility to the sky, offering a more secluded experience," explains Tim R. at Palisades State Park.
Clean facilities: Campgrounds near Ihlen maintain well-kept restrooms and showers. "Bathrooms are nice and clean. There's a little free library near the restroom. 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," mentions Tori K. from Blue Mounds State Park.
Quiet camping environment: Many sites offer peaceful settings, particularly during weekdays. "Very quiet even on holidays, sites are in the woods so all sites have shade. All types of camping is available, tent, RVs trailers, 5th wheels, Class A, etc. We have 46 foot toy hauler, Clean bathrooms and plenty of dumpsters," reports Bruce P. about Blue Mounds State Park.
Lake views: Several glamping options near Ihlen provide water views. "We followed our GPS getting off I-29 at exit 79 in Sioux Falls and going straight west on hwy 42 for about 20 miles to the sign for the right turn to go up to the recreation area. Our site was spacious enough for our 40 5th wheel and F450. The electric hookup is at the back; we needed about 30 of cord," explains MickandKarla W. at Lake Vermillion Recreation Area.
Seasonal considerations: Spring and fall offer the most comfortable glamping conditions near Ihlen. "No bugs in early June. Campsites were very clean and well taken care of. Clean bathrooms," shares Levi S. about Blue Mounds State Park.
Weather variability: Prairie environments experience significant temperature fluctuations. "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," recommends Karla J. B.
Reservation requirements: Most glamping sites require advance booking, especially during summer months. "Cheap full hookup when passing through," notes Paul A. about Magnolia City Campground, which offers a simpler booking process as a first-come, first-served destination.
Playground access: Some campgrounds feature play areas for children. "We made a reservation using the phone number provided. Super friendly people all around. Very quiet and beautiful campground. Well minus the semitrucks going down the road here and there," reports Jennifer K. about camping in the area.
Educational opportunities: Ranger programs and nature walks provide learning experiences. "The naturalists here are friendly and knowledgeable, take advantage of programming! Visit the nearby Pipestone National Monument while in the area," suggests Karla J. B. about the area.
Swimming areas: Lakes near Ihlen offer swimming opportunities during summer. "Very nice campground with big sites. This area is very nice for hiking and pretty sure swimming and kayaking. We were there early spring so water was to cold to swim," reports Clarke N. about Palisades State Park Campground.
Hookup options: Most glamping sites near Ihlen offer electric hookups, while full-service sites are limited. "Great place right off of 90. 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. It's a first come place with no reservations and you pay on the honor system when you pull in," advises mark about Magnolia City Campground.
Site selection: For larger rigs, researching specific site dimensions is essential. "We were at camp spot 12E it was very nice! The bathrooms and showers were okay and the people were very nice. It was my first time ever pulling and backing up a camper and I was struggling and one of the park rangers came and helped me," shares Wilanrie B. from Big Sioux Recreation Area.
Water access: Not all campgrounds provide water hookups directly at sites. "Rangers are nice, park Host is amazing, facilities are clean. Beautiful place view of lake, sites are paved, no stones. Lots of trees and shade, i stayed in east campground," mentions kenneth B. about Lake Vermillion Recreation Area.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Ihlen, MN?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Ihlen, MN is Blue Mounds State Park Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 56 reviews.
What is the best site to find glamping camping near Ihlen, MN?
TheDyrt.com has all 13 glamping camping locations near Ihlen, MN, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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