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Best Tent Camping near Lanesboro, MN

455 Reviews

Tent camping near Lanesboro, Minnesota offers several secluded options in the rolling bluff country of southeastern Minnesota. Schmidt Farm by Forestville provides four hike-in tent campsites adjacent to Forestville State Park, while Houston Nature Center offers tent-only walk-in sites at the trailhead of the Root River State Bike Trail. Gooseberry Glen Cart-in Campground at Whitewater State Park features quiet, wooded tent sites with stream access. The R.J.D. Memorial Hardwood State Forest provides primitive tent camping opportunities for those seeking a more backcountry experience.

Most tent campgrounds in the area operate seasonally from May through October, with peak fall colors in late September and early October. Walk-in tent sites at Houston Nature Center cost $10-20 per night and include access to clean bathrooms and showers. Gooseberry Glen's cart-in sites require a short walk from the parking area, with carts provided for gear transport. Schmidt Farm's hike-in sites include fire pits and picnic tables but no showers. Primitive tent camping in R.J.D. Memorial Hardwood State Forest requires self-sufficiency as no drinking water or facilities are available. Most tent sites in the region permit pets and provide fire rings, though fire restrictions may apply during dry periods.

The tent camping experience around Lanesboro features unique access to the area's natural features and recreational opportunities. According to reviews, Schmidt Farm offers "secluded campsites so you are not camping side by side with others" with "ample space for multiple tents." Campers at Gooseberry Glen noted the sites were "quiet, woodsy and secluded" with "the sound of the stream" creating a peaceful atmosphere. The Houston Nature Center is described as "the best tent campground on the Root River Trail" with "spacious, level, well-kept" sites. Backcountry tent camping in R.J.D. Memorial Hardwood State Forest provides solitude with "no road noise" and views of sandstone bluffs, the Mississippi River, and Wisconsin from hiking trails.

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Best Tent Sites Near Lanesboro, Minnesota (17)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Lanesboro, MN

28 Photos of 17 Lanesboro Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Lanesboro, MN

455 Reviews of 17 Lanesboro Campgrounds

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • K
    Sep. 5, 2020

    Hidden Meadows RV Park

    Hidden Gem

    This is very convenient if you have Mayo Clinic appointments. The campground was nice with grassy sites along with electric and water hook ups, there was a dump station also. Portable toilets spaced around and a centralized bath house by the office. There are seasonal guests and everyone was friendly. We saw deer by the primitive camp areas and had nightly campfires in our fire ring. We will return the next time we are up in MN.

  • 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.

  • J
    Oct. 24, 2017

    Sylvan City Park

    Close to bike trail and downtown

    Stayed here in a tent while on a bicycle camping trip and it was adequate. It is located in a city park within a couple minutes walk of the downtown area. The bike trail crosses the south end of downtown so close to that too. This would not be a good place to camp if you'd like to be out in nature

    Biggest gripe is the slope of the tent sites. The majority of the tent sites are on an incline around a pond. There are also a lot of ducks that aren't very afraid of humans. None got into my gear though. There are fire rings at the tent sites. No picnic tables at the individual sites but there are some nearby in the park and there's also a covered picnic shelter. Hammocks would be difficult to impossible as the tent area is a strip of grass between pond and bluff, which has mostly brush or too whimpy of trees to hang from at the base. There are a couple huge oaks but none in pairs.

    Quarter showers and clean restrooms are available. $20/night/tent which seemed a bit steep to me considering how slanted the sites were and quarter showers. It is cheaper than the other places within immediate biking distance which were $25/night.

  • Lee D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jan. 14, 2025

    Nelson's Landing RV Park

    Convenient location for our stay

    General: There is a main campground and a bonus sites section; we stayed in the Main campground and this review is based on that. There are approximately 90 sites laid out in typical RV park fashion with the sites close together and no physical privacy between sites. 

    Site Quality: Sites tend to be very long and could accommodate even large-size Class A rigs. The “driveways” are a mix of grass and gravel and were not very well defined. Each site has a picnic table on a concrete pad. Our site had water and electric hookups. Our challenge was that we arrived after dark, and the site numbers were posted at the back end of the sites, necessitating a sleuthing operation with my flashlight to find our site. Only a few sites had fire rings that I could see. 

    Bathhouse: The women’s area had three “all-in-ones” with a toilet, sink, and shower. They were very clean with hooks, soap, and paper towels. The entire bathhouse appeared to be in a state of remodeling, and it wasn’t clear what was going to happen with the remainder of the space (plumbed but not completed when we were there). Did not use the shower so cannot comment on that. 

    We arrived after dark and left the next morning but our stay on a Friday in August was quiet except for the loud trains running along the Mississippi. We heard two around 10 pm and either there were no more until the next morning, or we mercifully slept through them! This RV Park is located in the small town of Nelson and accessed through a residential neighborhood. Although not our preferred camp stay, we chose it since we knew we wanted to eat at Stone Barn Pizza (a must if you are in the area!) which is why we arrived after dark!

  • B
    Jun. 12, 2022

    Lake Meyer County Park Campground

    Great spot, tents included

    This is a great little park if you need a place to stop for the night. It was very inexpensive for tents ($10 I think) and the tent camping area was very nice with 3 giant pine trees and some picnic tables and fire rings. As someone who bicycle tours I appreciated fire wood being on site and close to where the tent area is. The bathrooms aren’t the best but they worked. Overall its a safe, clean, welcoming campground for both tents and RV’s.

Guide to Lanesboro

Tent camping near Lanesboro, Minnesota offers a fantastic opportunity to immerse yourself in nature while enjoying a variety of amenities and activities. With several well-reviewed campgrounds in the area, campers can find the perfect spot to set up their tents and explore the great outdoors.

Tent campers should check out local activities

  • The Houston Nature Center is located at the trailhead for the Root River Bike Trail, making it an ideal base for cycling enthusiasts.
  • Schmidt Farm by Forestville offers access to private trails and the serene Forestville State Park, perfect for hiking and wildlife watching.
  • At Aefintyr, campers can enjoy hiking in the beautiful Whitewater area, known for its stunning landscapes and starry nights.

Tent campers appreciate these amenities

  • Houston Nature Center features clean showers, drinking water, and picnic tables, ensuring a comfortable camping experience.
  • Shady Rest Acres provides access to firewood, showers, and a cozy cabin option for those looking for a little extra comfort.
  • At Gooseberry Glen Cart-in Campground, campers can enjoy a short walk to their site, along with picnic tables and trash disposal for convenience.

Unique features of nearby campgrounds

  • The Reno Horse Campground offers a peaceful setting with handmade rock fire pits and ample space for multiple tents, perfect for larger groups.
  • Northend Campground is big-rig friendly and features a lovely sand-bottom creek for swimming, making it a great spot for families.
  • South Bear Creek provides a remote and tranquil environment, ideal for those seeking solitude and a connection with nature.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Lanesboro, MN is Schmidt Farm by Forestville with a 5-star rating from 2 reviews.

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

TheDyrt.com has all 17 tent camping locations near Lanesboro, MN, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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