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Best Tent Camping near Melrose, MN

316 Reviews

Tent camping near Melrose, Minnesota provides access to several natural areas with walk-in tent sites and backcountry camping opportunities. Lake Maria State Park, located about 60 miles southeast of Melrose, offers exclusively hike-in tent campsites spread throughout its wooded landscape. Closer to Melrose, Linwood Resort & Campgrounds provides designated tent camping areas with boat-in access options. For those seeking primitive tent camping experiences, Mississippi River County Park offers boat-in tent sites along the river, while Steven Islands Campsite provides a secluded tent-only camping experience accessible only by water.

Most tent campgrounds in the region require some preparation for varying access conditions. Lake Maria's backcountry tent sites involve hikes ranging from 0.25 to 1 mile from parking areas on moderately hilly terrain. Each site typically includes a level tent pad, fire ring, picnic table, and food storage locker. Many sites have dedicated vault toilets nearby, though campers should bring their own toilet paper. Water is available at central pumps near parking areas but not at individual sites. Summer camping brings significant mosquito activity, particularly after rainfall, while fall offers reduced insects and vibrant foliage. Winter camping is permitted year-round at Lake Maria, with some campers using snowshoes to access sites.

The backcountry tent camping experience near Melrose offers notable solitude and wildlife viewing opportunities. According to reviews, Lake Maria's Site B6 provides "a peaceful escape where the only sounds are rustling leaves, birdsong, and frogs singing at dusk." The park's backpacking sites are particularly well-suited for beginners wanting to try primitive tent camping without venturing too far from civilization. Campers recommend bringing a cart for transporting gear to walk-in tent sites, as one visitor noted: "We made way too many trips back and forth and less time enjoying the amazing state park." Wildlife sightings are common, including endangered Blanding's turtles, trumpeter swans, pileated woodpeckers, and various migratory birds, making these tent-only sites popular with nature enthusiasts.

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Best Tent Sites Near Melrose, Minnesota (19)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Melrose, MN

17 Photos of 19 Melrose Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Melrose, MN

316 Reviews of 19 Melrose Campgrounds

  • 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.

  • Alison O.
    Jun. 17, 2025

    Lake Maria State Park Campground

    Secluded Bliss at Site B6 – Lake Maria’s Backcountry Beauty at Its Best

    If you’re looking for a peaceful escape where the only sounds are rustling leaves, birdsong, and frogs singing at dusk — Site B6 at Lake Maria State Park is the one.

    This hike-in site is about a half-mile walk from the parking area, and the journey in is half the magic: winding wooded trails, wildflowers, and glimpses of the lake through the trees. Once you arrive, B6 feels like a secret woodland sanctuary — set up on a slight rise, tucked beneath a cathedral of towering oaks and maples.

    The site is private, quiet, and wonderfully shaded, with just enough open sky for stargazing by the fire. The tent pad is level, and there’s a solid fire ring and picnic table. Vault toilets and water access aren’t too far, especially by backcountry standards.

    What makes B6 stand out, though, is the vibe. It’s close enough to Lake Maria’s best hiking trails and just a short walk to the lake itself, where you can sit on a log and watch wood ducks paddle past and listen to the frogs in full chorus at night. We saw pileated woodpeckers, red squirrels, and a chorus of chorus frogs. Nature feels close here — in the best way.

    Pro tip: Pack light and bring permethrin-treated clothes during bug season. And don’t forget a headlamp — the darkness here is wild and beautiful.

    This site is perfect for anyone who wants a little solitude, a lot of nature, and a chance to slow down and breathe. We’ll absolutely be booking B6 again.

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

    Dower Lake Recreation Area

    Swimming!

    offers sites with no hookups and sites with electric (no water, but potable water station is provided to fill up prior to parking) bathrooms and showers in the campground. Fire ring and picnic table provide for each site. Firewood and sewage dump station also provided for free to registered campers. There is a dock, sand swimming beach, horseshoe pits, disc golf, basketball court, and softball field.

  • Tori K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jan. 28, 2025

    Lake Maria State Park Campground

    Backpacker's Haven

    Backpack sites only. Love this park as it offers many backpacking sites with some being very short hikes in and some being longer hikes. Some are lake front and some are more woodsy sites. I really enjoy sites 1, 2, and 3 as they are a little more secluded from other sites, however 1 is fairly close to the county road so you will hear some vehicle noise overnight. Site comes with a fire ring, picnic table, and bear locker. Site 1 is my favorite despite the road noise due to the location of the tent pad and being on almost a peninsula offering lots of lake views.

  • K
    Jul. 12, 2018

    Lake Maria State Park Campground

    Beautiful and Relaxing

    Really enjoyed the short hike to our campsite, BP7. There is a bathroom and water station before you head out which is awesome! The campsite was secluded and absolutely beautiful. Definitely will be going back again!

    Campsite included: 2 tent pads, a few areas to hammock, fire ring w/large grill, small bench, picnic table, bear box and latrine.

    I don’t think I would change a thing about the campsite.

  • ERolf P.
    Sep. 23, 2016

    Charles A. Lindbergh State Park Campground

    Canoe Camp

    This is one of the most beautiful campsites we have stayed at in the midwest. The canoe campsite (also accessible through cart-in) is located on a small creek just off of the Mississippi river. There is a fire ring, picnic table, and ample tent space. There is about a 500yd walk to the restrooms, and you have to go another 500yds to the main campground to find the showers. We camped in mid-September, and the water to the main campground had already been turned off for the winter, so no shower review. The bathrooms near the cart-in sites were well maintained and clean, flush toilets. There was drinking water access near the old WPA water tower (but the water came from the city, not the well and water tower). We had some rain, but the sandy soil mean things drained quickly and were nearly dry in the morning. Lots of neat hiking trails within this small park, and a Minnesota Historical Society Site across the road at the Charles A. Lindbergh historic site (his boyhood home).

  • 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!

  • Bri M.
    Aug. 15, 2018

    Lake Maria State Park Campground

    The perfect getaway not too far from home!

    This is one of my favorite parks to spend a night in when I don’t have time for an extended trip farther from home, living in Maple Grove this is only a 40 minute drive but you feel like you have really gotten away! I’ve found it’s also easier to snag a campsite at the last minute unlike most of the other parks around this area of the state, and especially during the week when you will likely have the park to yourself.

    The hikes to the campsites are easy, wide trails without much up and down and most are about a mile hike in. The spots that I have stayed at have good places to set up a hammock, and all sites have a fire ring, picnic table and food locker.

    Walking in on the trails can be a little buggy in late summer but clears up around the campsite, just make sure to bring some bug spray. The variety of birds in the park are fun to observe, the owls were hooting loudly all through the evening and there were a few woodpeckers hanging around our site. These sites in specific also had an outhouse really close, just remember to bring your own toilet paper. Sites 1 and 3 are on a little lake, but the water is more swampy so don’t plan on swimming and it’s probably not ideal for cooking or being purified for drinking water. There is a water pump in the parking lot where you can restock. You also shouldn’t have any trouble finding downed wood for fire around either of these sites. It’s secluded and you don’t see any other campers here but easy enough to get to! The view of the water from site 1 is beautiful and the sunset over the lake in October with the fall colors is a must see.

  • 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.

Guide to Melrose

Tent camping near Melrose, Minnesota offers a serene escape into nature, with various campgrounds providing essential amenities and activities for outdoor enthusiasts.

Tent campers appreciate these amenities

  • Enjoy the convenience of electric hookups and drinking water at Old Wagon Camp Ground, making your stay comfortable and hassle-free.
  • Linwood Resort & Campgrounds features well-maintained picnic areas and firewood availability, perfect for evening gatherings around the campfire.
  • At Cozy Corners, you can bring your pets along, ensuring that your furry friends can join in on the fun.

Some prices for tent camping range from $20 to $50

  • Rates at Old Wagon Camp Ground are budget-friendly, making it an excellent choice for families looking to enjoy the outdoors without breaking the bank.
  • Linwood Resort & Campgrounds offers competitive pricing, especially for those who want to experience a variety of activities on the lake.
  • For a unique experience, Morning Star Resort & Campground Inc provides affordable tent camping options, ideal for those seeking a peaceful retreat.

Local activities to enjoy while tent camping

  • Fishing enthusiasts will love the opportunities at Linwood Resort & Campgrounds, where you can rent boats and enjoy a day on the water.
  • Explore the scenic beauty of the area with hiking trails near Old Wagon Camp Ground, perfect for a day of adventure.
  • Cozy Corners features a nearby park and baseball field, making it a great spot for family-friendly activities.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Melrose, MN is Linwood Resort & Campgrounds with a 4-star rating from 1 review.

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

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

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