Located in southeastern Minnesota's Olmsted County, Marion stands in the heart of Minnesota's bluff country, where elevations range from 700 to 1,300 feet. The area features diverse camping options with significant temperature variations between seasons—summer highs typically reach 80°F while winter lows can drop below 0°F. Most luxury camping sites in the region remain open from April through October, with limited winter availability.
What to Do
Tubing on Root River: Located near Eagle Cliff Campground and Lodging, the Root River offers gentle floating experiences. "Tubing the river is the highlight here. You drop in one side of the campsite and an hour later pull out on the other side. So much fun," notes Lee G.
Cycling on Root River Trail: The 42-mile paved trail connects several small towns and passes directly through The Old Barn Resort. "It really is a treat that the Root River Bike Trail System runs right along the campground. We spent most of our time exploring the trail, visiting Lanesboro and Whalen," shares Jason S.
Cave exploration: Mystery Cave features underground pools and geological formations with year-round tours available for $15 adults/$10 children. "The cave was around 12-13 miles long and there was water and different formations. The floor was really wet so bring shoes you won't slip in," advises Kevin T.
Historic village tours: Historic Forestville offers interpretive tours of a preserved 1800s village for an additional fee. "There's also a very interesting cave with a museum and all the talactites, stalagmites, and underground pools you can imagine," explains Jason S.
What Campers Like
Fewer mosquitoes: Whitewater State Park campers consistently mention reduced insect activity. "Best part: very few mosquitoes!! (The cold, constantly moving water helps keep them away.) One of my favorite parks in the state of Minnesota," states Leda T.
Off-peak solitude: Several campgrounds offer remarkably quiet experiences outside summer weekends. "I had the entire State Park to myself. It was super cool be eerie. Great hikes and the view from the top was worth it," reports Erik R.
Winter accessibility: Many campgrounds maintain plowed access during colder months. "We visited in winter (February) and while there was snow on the ground, the spaces were kept plowed with easy access to the electric boxes. We were in a teardrop trailer," notes Amy G.
Accessible fishing: Chester Woods Park features a man-made lake with fish cleaning facilities. "The lake offers the opportunity to fish for panfish, catfish, and bass. There are a lot of submerged trees from before the Creek was dammed that provide good habitat in deep water," explains Brian K.
What You Should Know
Campground spacing varies: Site privacy differs significantly between campgrounds. "Sites are a bit too close to each other, but do offer enough privacy. The fireflies at night were an added bonus," shares Mi S.
Cell service limitations: Many luxury camping sites have limited connectivity. "There is NO CELL SERVICE in the campground - no Verizon, ATT or T-Mobile. Wifi down at the ranger office," notes Jim C.
Shower arrangements: Some facilities require quarters. "The coin operated shower in the women's shower house was ice cold and couldn't be adjusted and the men's shower house in same building was scolding hot and couldn't be adjusted," warns Tracy B.
Seasonal restrictions: Not all facilities operate year-round. "All spaces had a nice picnic table and fire ring. We had to 'dig' to ours with a small snow shovel in the car, but it wasn't an issue," reports Amy G.
Tips for Camping with Families
River safety precautions: The Root River depth varies seasonally. "We participated in many naturalist programs including: bird banding, archery in the park, trout fishing, and learning about bats and peregrine falcons," shares a visitor.
Educational programs: Forestville Mystery Cave State Park offers scheduled activities. "My partner and I stayed in loop "A", site 13. Wonderful area, quiet, scenic campgrounds. Vault toilets with one shower house. Many miles of trails, great fishing and scenery!" shares Asia B.
Playground options: Several campgrounds include play structures. "There are a couple small playgrounds on site, which is a good opportunity for the littles to burn some energy. There's also a nice covered pool," notes Joe W.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Morning and evening animal sightings are common. "We checked in at the visitor center and the ranger told us the site we had chosen on-line was not suitable for our small RV. She found us a site in the electric campground. We heard Barred Owls and Sandhill Cranes. The cranes flew over making strange LOUD calls," shares Mary K.
Tips from RVers
Leveling requirements: Rice Lake State Park campsites have varied terrain. "The campground is very nice and well kept. Clean thru out the park. Some very nice shaded sites. Not the greatest for big RV's. OK lake access, good for padding and small boats," notes Tim B.
Hookup availability: Most glamping sites offer electric hookups but have separate water fill stations. "Clean and well maintained campground about a quarter mile past owner's farm buildings. Signs for registration are easy to follow, stop at the Office (garage) to check in. Cash or check only, no cards," advises Torey H.
Site selection for larger vehicles: Some parks have tight turns and limited pull-through options. "If you need a level site for a rooftop tent be sure to ask, my site was easily switched after I did," explains Torey H.
Seasonal road access: Winter camping requires advance preparation. "We had a reservation on the North Shore, but switched it to Whitewater when we saw the ice and snowstorms in the forecast. Our site was large and easy to back into," shares Karla J.B.
