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Best Tent Camping near La Crescent, MN

554 Reviews

Tent campsites dot the bluffs and valleys surrounding La Crescent, Minnesota, providing access to scenic woodland and river views. Houston Nature Center offers tent-only camping with level sites along the Root River State Bike Trail. R.J.D. Memorial Hardwood State Forest provides primitive tent camping in its Reno Horse Campground area, where hikers can find secluded spots without amenities. Shady Rest Acres and Whitewater State Park's Gooseberry Glen also provide walk-in tent sites for campers seeking more privacy.

Most tent campgrounds in the region feature basic amenities, with picnic tables and fire rings standard at established sites. Houston Nature Center provides clean bathrooms and free showers, while more primitive forest sites typically offer no facilities. Campers at R.J.D. Memorial Hardwood State Forest should come prepared with water and waste disposal plans as no drinking water or toilets are available. The camping season generally runs May through November, though some sites remain open year-round with reduced services. Forest sites may have multiple handmade rock fire pits where previous campers have established locations.

Areas farther from town provide deeper seclusion, particularly in the state forest lands where dispersed camping is permitted. Tent campers at Houston Nature Center enjoy direct access to the Root River State Bike Trail, making it popular among cyclists. The Whitewater State Park cart-in sites offer a compromise between car camping and backcountry experience, with push carts available for transporting gear a short distance to secluded tent sites. According to one visitor, "We stayed in one of the cart-in sites. Right when you park you see the push carts and it is a very short walk to the campsite. You are able to slightly see one cart-in site neighbor, but besides that it was very private and quiet." Sites near Interstate 90 may experience traffic noise, while forest camping provides more solitude with opportunities for stargazing in open meadow areas.

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Best Tent Sites Near La Crescent, Minnesota (19)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near La Crescent, MN

36 Photos of 19 La Crescent Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near La Crescent, MN

554 Reviews of 19 La Crescent Campgrounds

  • James M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 26, 2022

    Camp John Schultz — Yellow River State Forest

    Nice back country state forest site

    Hiked into this Camp that includes 5 primitive sites: fire rings and benches. Lush dense forest with intermediate hiking including typical summer insects. Leave No Trace ethics include: minimizes fire impacts by gathering only dead, down, wood. Sounded by nature atop of hill hike near Fire tower ( only fire tower in Iowa), cell reception is found up here.

  • Tori K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Mar. 31, 2024

    Minneiska Campground — Whitewater State Park

    Nice state park

    Stayed here for a couple nights on a mini state park road trip. Nice place, like most of the MN state parks. Spotty cell service. Hiked a trail with lots of steps. Fire ring and picnic table are provided at each site. Restroom with showers also available in campground. Site was large and easy to back into and offered some tree cover for shade during certain times of the day. Was unable to hang hammock in specific site we stayed at, but some of the sites looked like they would be suitable.

  • GoWhereYouAreDraw N.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 23, 2019

    Prairie Island City Campground

    Great introductory campground

    Prairie Island has all of you basic amenities without being too far from town. This campground isn’t for everybody -- if you’re looking for extreme adventure and wilderness, this is not the place for you. If you’re interested in getting into camping and not investing the money into all the gear or having direct river access, this is the place for you! They seriously rent it all. Paddleboards, kayaks, canoes, tents, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, and dutch ovens. The camp store sells all of the basics and fishing supplies. The shower house has flush toilets and pit toilets are located throughout the campground.

    Personally, this campground is not the type that I like to stay at but it is really great for the type that wants to get into camping or the camper trailer type. Unfortunately, not enough activities to do besides boating on the river.

  • Mary S.
    Aug. 19, 2018

    Big Paint Campground — Yellow River State Forest

    Small campground has nearby hiking and fishing

    This review is for Yellow River State Forest's Big Paint Campground which consists of sites 35 through 61. Big Paint is a couple miles from Little Paint, a larger campground with 70+ sites. There are two equestrian campgrounds (Creekside and Little Frontier with sites numbered 1 through 34) as well as hike in campgrounds for backpackers. A photo of an area map is included.

    Why did we choose Big Paint instead of Little Paint?

    It's smaller and that's just our personal preference. There were only 4 sites occupied early Friday afternoon and a few more were reserved. We liked site 35, the first site on the left as you enter. This site is like being in a garden with trees and flowers surrounding the site. It had rained and more rain was coming, so the gravel parking pad on #35 was appealing. Most of the sites are completely on the grass.

    Activities

    Stocked trout streams are an attraction for fishermen; see photo of stocking calendar. We enjoyed hiking despite the mosquitoes and humidity in August and were able to make a 5+ mile loop leaving from the campground. You can also hike from Little Paint, and there are equestrian trails. This would also be a good area for X-country skiing and snowmobiling. A photo of the trail map is included. Caution: hunting is allowed in the non-campground area of the state forest.

    Amenities

    Each site has a picnic table and fire ring. Other than that, you can dispose of your trash and use a vault toilet. There's water at the information center (and a camp host site) outside the campground about 100 yards to the left.

    Cost

    You're not getting much (and that's not a bad thing) so the $9 fee seems fair. Pay up front at the entrance station, or make a reservation online at last 2 days ahead of time (and pay a reservation fee). There are 7 non-reservable sites at Big Paint. I doubt that Big Paint fills up; just check the reservation site to see if they get crowded.

    https://iowastateparks.reserveamerica.com/camping/yellow-river-state-forest/r/campsiteSearch.do?search=site&page=siteresult&contractCode=IA&parkId=610130

  • ERolf P.
    Aug. 29, 2016

    Perrot State Park Campground

    Group Camping, Hiking, and Water Sports

    Wonderful time in Perrot State Park. Camped in the group campground, site A. Plenty of room for many tents, and nice level ground to pitch tents on. Huge fire ring for large group fires, and both a large grill on the fire ring, and freestanding charcoal grill. Lots of options for hiking and walking in the park with more than 13 miles of trails. We did a 5 mile hike up and over two of the more popular bluffs. We also did a two-three hour canoe/kayak trip and had a blast.

    There is not a swimming beach at the park, so if you're into that, you'll have to leave the park, but there is more than enough to do at Perrot State Park.

  • Kim The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 3, 2020

    Wildcat Mountain State Park Campground

    Wonderful cart in sites

    The cart in sites are fantastic at Wildcat Mountain! Each site is spacious with most heavily treed for shade. Each site has a nice large flat pad for a tent or two, fire ring, bench and picnic table. Proximity to potable water, vault or modern toilets and designated parking are all within 400 yards of all sites. 

    The park is located in the Kickapoo valley area where the driftless area is amazing to hike. You can kayak or tube down the river that is flanked by high limestone bluffs. The hiking trails are well maintained. There is also extensive horse trails, a beautiful outdoor ampitheater for viewing sunsets and access to the river right in the park. 

    The campers were respectful and quiet. Our campsite was fairly clean when we arrived. Contactless registration due to covid 19. That made getting set up quick and easy!  The cart provided was fairly big for less trips. I would happily camp here again!

  • Erin Z.
    Jul. 21, 2024

    Mill Bluff State Park Campground

    Secluded, but noisy.

    We were at site #9, great spot for tent. There were only trees behind us and our neighbors were far enough way we had privacy. There was no electricity, but we charged our phones and my son’s iPad at the ranger station. There was no running water so bring sanitizer. The swimming pond was great and not rocky. The hikes were good but lots of mosquitoes which made it hard to enjoy. Wish there was more to do in the area. No showers and no electricity in the bathroom near our site.

  • R
    Aug. 30, 2019

    Merrick State Park Campground

    Nice Walk-In site but bring your bug spray!

    Very nice walk-in site right on the river. LOTS of bugs to the point it was uncomfortable so make sure to bring bug spray. Tent pad, fire ring and picnic table available. Trees available that are good for those who hammock.

  • GoWhereYouAreDraw N.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 14, 2018

    Houston Nature Center

    Great location!

    The Nature Center campsite is located at the trail head for the Root River State Bike Trail. Trail Head Park is a nice tent only campground with walk-in sites. A majority of the sites have picnic tables and fire pits. The Nature Center has clean bathrooms and free showers. They recommend donations for the use of the showers.

    $20 per night camping fee. You can pay inside the Nature Center or at the slot between the restroom mirrors. The sites are first come, first serve. Local firewood is available near the restrooms as well; take what you need and leave the center a donation.

    Trail Head Park has a 1 acre natural playground near the campsite. When I visited during the week, I only saw a small group of people using the playground. The playground has a zip line, tree house, small rock wall, and more. Inside the Nature Center, they have interactive and interesting displays. The highlight of this campground is the Root River State Bike Trail and the Owl Center in the town of Houston.

    I'd give the campsite 4/5 review. The location, the bluffs, the bike trail, and center get 5/5 review.

Guide to La Crescent

Tent camping near La Crescent, Minnesota offers a variety of scenic locations and amenities for outdoor enthusiasts looking to enjoy nature.

Tent campers appreciate these amenities

  • The Houston Nature Center features clean showers, toilets, and access to drinking water, making it a comfortable choice for tent campers.
  • At Shady Rest Acres, guests can enjoy beautiful sites with fire pits and access to an outdoor shower, enhancing the camping experience.
  • The Justin Trails Resort offers tent camping alongside a charming cabin option, complete with a store that sells food and drinks.

Some prices for tent camping range from $10 to $20

  • Camping at the Houston Nature Center costs just $10 per night, making it an affordable option for budget-conscious campers.
  • The Reno Horse Campground is a great choice for those seeking a primitive experience, with no fees required for camping.
  • Tent sites at Sparta Campground are available for $20 per night, providing basic amenities like water and pit toilets.

Tent campers should check out the local attractions

  • The Root River Bike Trail runs near the Houston Nature Center, offering excellent biking opportunities for outdoor adventurers.
  • Shady Rest Acres is home to a hobby farm with friendly animals, making it a unique spot for families and animal lovers.
  • The Black River State Forest features canoe campsites that provide a serene setting for those looking to paddle and explore the waterways.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near La Crescent, MN?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near La Crescent, MN is Houston Nature Center with a 4.8-star rating from 5 reviews.

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

TheDyrt.com has all 19 tent camping locations near La Crescent, MN, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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