Best Tent Camping near Kensington, MN

Tent camping options near Kensington, Minnesota include established campgrounds like Elk Lake Campground and Glendalough State Park Campground. Elk Lake features tent sites a short walk from the lakeshore, while Glendalough State Park offers cart-in and canoe-in tent sites around Annie Battle Lake. Swan Lake Resort & Campground and Linwood Resort also provide tent camping areas with lake access.

Most tent sites at Glendalough State Park are accessible via cart paths, with carts available on-site to transport gear. Fire rings, picnic tables, and drinking water are available at several campgrounds including Elk Lake and Glendalough. Bathrooms with showers can be found at established campgrounds, though primitive sites may only offer vault toilets. Many campgrounds in the region have lake views, particularly at Glendalough and Swan Lake where tent sites are positioned on wooded hills overlooking the water.

The tent-only camping areas at Glendalough State Park offer a more secluded experience with no RVs or car camping allowed. Sites are spaced apart in hardwood groves that provide shade and natural screening. Annie Battle Lake at Glendalough prohibits motorized boats, creating a peaceful environment for paddling, swimming and fishing. Hiking and biking trails connect to most camping areas, with a paved trail circling Annie Battle Lake. A review from The Dyrt mentioned, "The tent sites are all cart in, making the scenery the main focus. You don't have to stare at vehicles while you are enjoying a fire, which I love."

Best Tent Sites Near Kensington, Minnesota (12)

Show More
Showing results 1-10 of 12 campgrounds

2025 Detourist Giveaway

Presented byToyota Trucks

Review Campgrounds. Win Prizes.

Enter to Win


Recent Tent Camping Photos near Kensington, MN

9 Photos of 12 Kensington Campgrounds


Tent Camping Reviews near Kensington, MN

196 Reviews of 12 Kensington Campgrounds


  • Glenda D.
    Mar. 27, 2021

    Delagoon Park Campground

    Small campground with fishing pier

    Delagoon Campground is located within Delagoon Park which is on the outskirts of Fergus Falls, the County seat of Ottertail County. The campground has 22 campsites with 14 being camper/tent sites with water & 20/30 electricity. The campsites are gravel back-in with no separation between sites so privacy is limited. The tent-only sites are against a line of trees but are still open to other campers. There are fire rings but no picnic tables so bring your camping chairs. The fishing pier is large and handicap accessible. There are non-plumbed but modern and clean restrooms within the park. The campground gets used a lot by local residents looking for a quick weekend getaway but there are usually several open spots available that are low in cost ($10 for tent-only & $20 for hookup sites). Registration is first come first serve via a self serve kiosk at the campground entrance. The noise level within the campground can be pretty high on weekends. There are no posted quiet times or on-site staff who manage the campground (it is managed by the Fergus Falls Park & Rec Dept) although the local police drive through frequently when the campground is inhabited.

  • L
    Nov. 2, 2022

    Lake Carlos State Park Campground

    Beautiful and quiet

    End of October, Stopped for just one night, probably about a 20ish minute drive from 94. Was able to purchase firewood after closing, and the campsite were easy to find after (7$)entry to the park. Campsites are reserved through an online system. We found the top campsite completely empty and plenty of sites had good tree coverage for privacy/ way no protection. Nice level sites with soft ground. Each site had a fire ring and picnic table. The only bathroom in walking distance to the upper campsites was a vault toilet located amongst the cabins. Seems like a great place to stay any season.

  • Glenda D.
    Apr. 22, 2021

    Ashby Resort Campground

    Some semi-private sites - full hookups in other sites

    Each site has a picnic table and some sites have a fire ring.  There are tent-only sites that have no hookups and there are semi-private sites for RVs with electric hookup only or sites that are closer together for RVs that have full hookups.

    Call 218-747-2959 to book a site.  The campground has a lot of trees and most campsites are on grass.

    There is also a motel and cabins on-site that you can book.  The motel rooms, cabins and new cabins (these are like smaller mobile homes) are all lakeside giving you nice views.  

    The campground has paddle boards, paddle boats, kayaks and canoes that are available to guests at no extra charge, too.  You can rent a fishing boat or pontoon either by the day or the week.  There is a fish cleaning house on-site as well.  

    This campground is in the heart of Minnesota's lake's country.

  • Joanna B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Mar. 1, 2020

    Lake Carlos State Park Campground

    Beautiful camper cabin

    Leap Day 2/29/20-3/1/20 Frog Pond

    We headed to Lake Carlos for their candlelight ski, this was our first visit to this state park. Tent camping wasn’t available and we were able to reserve a camper cabin - Frog Pond. It was a nice change and a warmer option, the cabin is gorgeous! Frog Pond sleeps 6 with heat and electricity. There are 4 cabins that share 2 vault toilets.

    It was a beautiful 38 degree Leap Day and we took advantage of it. They offer a large number of ski trails so we xcountry skied before dark. The trails were icy, but still enjoyable. At dark we headed to the candlelight event. It was very busy and a huge turnout. We hiked 1.2 miles and then snowshoed 2.4 miles. There are ponds and bogs that they create snowshoe trails on, so there are even more trails to explore in the winter. It was a beautiful night and we enjoyed the wooded trails and starry skies. We had a fire and enjoyed a normal outdoor cookout before bed.

    We did more skiing on Sunday and checked out the 2 campgrounds as they were on the ski route. One campground is on Lake Carlos and very open. Sites have beautiful lake views. You can apparently drive your boat right into a sandy shore and dock it. They also have a swimming beach. The other campground is a bit more wooded and more suited for tents. This campground is near the camper cabins. The trails are very wooded and pretty. We enjoyed skiing the hiking club trail and ended up hitting almost every trail in our stay. I assume this park would be equally beautiful in the summer. What a beautiful state park!

  • Tracy O.
    Jun. 20, 2021

    Glacial Lakes State Park Campground

    Perfect for families

    Great family campground. Lots of shade cover. Oak ridge is perfect for larger rigs (<35 feet - anything bigger there are only 2 spots that will fit) (no electric or water). Clean vault toilets. Lots for kids to do. Canoeing, fishing, paddle boards. Great hiking trails. Loop for kids to bike on easily. Easy to get to.

    For those using the dump station it’s on a hill and tougher for bigger rigs to use. No flushing station. But water throughout park. Firewood at the station. Small number of electric sites in the first campground but sites are closed together and less privacy/shade. Bathhouse is in first campground.

  • Glenda D.
    Mar. 26, 2021

    Delagoon Park Campground

    Great campground on the outskirts of town

    Delagoon is the City Park & Camping area on the outskirt of Fergus Falls, the County seat of Ottertail County. The campground is comprised of about 20 campsites with several designated for tent or RV and includes 20/30 amp & water hookups. The other sites on the west side when you enter are tent-only sites with no electricity but there is running water supply outside the bathrooms located within the campground. The sites are spacious but there are no trees separating campsites so privacy is minimal, although the views are beautiful. The bathrooms within the campground and near the playground are modern but not plumbed. Hand sanitizer is refilled often but you may want to bring your own tp in case it has been used or taken. Pebble Lake, the lake adjacent to the campground is accessible by a road to a walking area for shoreline fishing or a road within the camping area leads to a fishing pier, usually installed by May 1. Softball and soccer teams play most days of the week in the summer. There are four softball fields and one soccer field.

  • M
    Dec. 23, 2020

    Birch Lake

    Quiet State Park No Hook-ups

    If you like quiet/off the beaten path sites, this one is awesome. Walk in sites as well as drive in. Great (but small) swimming beach, large lake with great fishing available. No hook ups and no dump station. Sites are spaced far enough apart to give you some privacy.

  • Tori K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Feb. 9, 2025

    Lake Carlos State Park Campground

    Lakefront (winter edition)

    I stayed here with a few friends in the winter when the park was doing their lantern-lit snowshoe trail. They have 1 site (electric) available in the winter. We had room for a truck bed camper and a pop-up clam ice fishing tent. A couple and their 2 dogs stayed in the truck camper and me and another friend stayed in the clam with an electric space heater going in addition to our 0 degree bags. It stayed pretty cozy! Fire ring and picnic table at the site. I believe the bathrooms and showers were closed for the season but cannot recall. Firewood is available at the office.

  • Tori K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 20, 2025

    Lake Carlos State Park Campground

    Lakefront

    Nice large campground. There is a lower portion and upper portion with the lower campground being lakefront. There are primitive and electric sites available. Firewood at the office and there are restrooms, showers, and vault toilets as well.

    Close to downtown Alexandria where there are a variety of things to do: breweries and restaurants, shopping, other parks and trails.


Guide to Kensington

Tent camping near Kensington, Minnesota centers around a region dotted with glacial lakes surrounded by prairie and woodland transitions. The area experiences warm summers with temperatures averaging 75-85°F from June through August, making it ideal for water activities. Fall camping brings colorful foliage but requires warmer sleeping gear as nighttime temperatures can drop into the 40s by late September.

What to do

Fishing from shore: At Glendalough State Park Campground, the non-motorized Annie Battle Lake provides excellent panfishing opportunities. "We saw many deer, caught many pan fish and observed an eagle in its nest... We can't wait to go back," notes camper Pete T.

Paddling quiet waters: The streams between lakes at Glendalough State Park are perfect for exploring. One visitor observed, "Very clear and calm lakes, sandy, and the little creeks/rivers betwixt them are just begging to be canoed or kayaked."

Beach activities: Swan Lake Resort & Campground offers a sandy beach area with water recreation options. Lagos C. mentioned, "From the sandy beach and wooded trails to the games and activities, there was energy and thought behind every corner."

Winter camping: Some campgrounds in the region remain open year-round. Glendalough State Park operates through winter months, providing opportunities for cold-weather camping, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing on the trails surrounding Annie Battle Lake.

What campers like

Privacy between sites: At Glendalough's tent camping area, the natural spacing creates a more immersive experience. Pete T. explains, "The loop of campsites are in a grove of hardwood trees that offered great shade and a contrast to the surrounding prairies."

Nature viewing: Wildlife observation opportunities abound at Elk Lake Campground, where tent sites are positioned close to the lakeshore. Tim B. notes, "There is tent camping a short walk to the lakeshore that seemed nice."

Family-friendly atmosphere: The best tent camping near Kensington includes sites designed with families in mind. "What a wonderful park for families and first time campers," says Pete T. about Glendalough State Park, adding "The campsites were filled with families and things were very quiet by 9 pm each night."

Motor-free lakes: The prohibition of motorized watercraft on certain lakes creates peaceful environments. Emily R. appreciates that at Glendalough, "They don't allow motor boats on one of the lakes so there is always calm water to canoe, kayak, swim, or paddleboard in."

What you should know

Cart-in requirements: Most tent sites at Glendalough require gear transport. Pete T. explains, "All sites (except one handicapped site) are tent only and cart-in sites. That being said, the trip from the (assigned) parking spot to your site is very short and very flat."

Alternative accommodations: For those new to camping, Linwood Resort & Campgrounds offers cabins as alternatives to tent sites. Tori K. describes, "Cabins with beautiful lake view, boathouse lodge and game room, sunbathing dock on the water."

Seasonal campers: Some campgrounds like Elk Lake have a mix of overnight and seasonal sites. "This campground has level grassy sites. Most or perhaps all full hookup sites have seasonal RVs but there are a few overnight sites that generally have electric only (30A)," reports Tim B.

Reservation timing: Popular campgrounds in the area fill quickly during summer weekends. Swan Lake campground offers reservations with limited walk-in availability. Amy J. noted potential challenges: "Only bad thing was owner was not in the office for hours at a time."

Tips for camping with families

Consider yurts for first-timers: Glendalough's yurts provide a comfortable introduction to outdoor stays. Isabelle P. recommends, "My friend & I stayed in their Osprey yurt, and it was perfect for our first camping trip together. I recommend yurts if you're not 100% comfortable with/enjoy staying in a tent."

Pack for beach activities: God's Country Camping offers access to water recreation, making beach toys and water safety equipment essential. The campground provides drinking water, showers, and toilets while maintaining a natural setting focused on tent camping.

Use carts effectively: When visiting cart-in sites, organize gear by priority. HollyRose M. advises about Glendalough, "The cart in sites and camper cabins are in a little old growth forest area right on the lake up in a little hill area. Spaced out quite well, all have views of lake."

Plan indoor alternatives: Weather changes can impact camping plans. Swan Lake Resort provides indoor options during rain. Kathy D. found that "when we arrived we saw a lovely cabin overlooking the lake and decided to give ourselves a treat. It was very clean and comfortable."

Tips from RVers

Limited hookup availability: Most tent-focused campgrounds have restricted RV services. At Swan Lake Resort & Campground, Tracy O. found, "Sites were open and spacious. Hosts were very friendly and helpful. Full hookups." This contrasts with tent-only areas at other nearby campgrounds.

Electrical connections: For RVers needing power, Elk Lake offers some electric hookups though primarily for seasonal residents. "Water is available did not see a dedicated dump station. Stayed 3 nights Was a nice spot," mentions Tim B.

Site accessibility: RV campers should check access routes carefully. Amy J. noted about Swan Lake, "Spaces are wooded and farther apart than most campgrounds. I wish we could have stayed longer than one night."

Camp store services: Some resorts offer supplies for longer stays. At Linwood Resort, Tori K. lists available amenities: "boat ramp and launching service, boat & pontoon rental, boatlifts, gas, oil, tackle and live bait," which benefit both tent campers and RVers during extended stays.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Kensington, MN?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Kensington, MN is Elk Lake Campground with a 3-star rating from 1 review.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Kensington, MN?

TheDyrt.com has all 12 tent camping locations near Kensington, MN, with real photos and reviews from campers.