Fort Ridgely State Park and Flandrau State Park offer year-round glamping in Morton, Minnesota with accessible accommodations for visitors. Both parks feature hiking trails with wildlife viewing opportunities, though they differ in layout and terrain. Temperatures range from below freezing in winter months to mid-80s in summer, making seasonal preparation important for luxury tent camping experiences in this region.
What to do
Creek exploration at Fort Ridgely: The creek that runs through Fort Ridgely State Park Campground offers cool water activities even in summer. One visitor noted, "The creek is cool temperature even in July but kids have fun swimming and splashing. There are marked areas for crossing the creek which make great wading areas too."
Wildlife viewing on trails: Hike the Prairie Trails at Fort Ridgely during July when wildflowers bloom. "In JULY The Prairie Trails are stunning with all the wild flowers in full bloom. Many trails and nice overlooks too. I walked and hiked the trail over and over because of the beautiful flowers and trails," shared one camper.
History exploration: Visit the historical fort site which features excavations and educational signage. According to a reviewer, "The historical fort site has lots of great information and signage around the excavations. There is a fee to enter the museum."
What campers like
Private rustic sites: For more seclusion, consider the non-electric loop at Flandrau State Park. A camper mentioned, "I camped in the rustic campground, the sites were spaced out a bit, but not as much as I had hoped. LOTS of owls made it tough to sleep, but it was pretty cool as well."
Well-maintained facilities: Fort Ridgely features updated restroom buildings. "BRAND NEW Bathroom/shower building with large ADA showers," reported one camper, noting the exceptional maintenance of the park.
Water access: Memorial Park in Granite Falls offers waterfront sites with updated facilities. A reviewer stated, "It's a lovely campground sites... big mature trees close to the river nice spaces clean the restrooms were really clean and the shower was great."
What you should know
Seasonal water temperatures: While swimming is available year-round, water temperatures vary significantly. "The creek is cool temperature even in July but kids have fun swimming and splashing," noted one Fort Ridgely visitor.
Shower facilities: Unlike many state parks, some locations charge for showers. At Fort Ridgely, "The shower facility is located in the chalet near the main office. Unlike most state parks, there is a $2 fee to shower."
Cell service limitations: Camden State Park Campground has limited connectivity in some areas. One camper reported, "We didn't have cell service (Verizon), which wasn't a big deal."
Site privacy varies: At Flandrau State Park, "The regular (non-rustic) sites were even more crowded, packed with RVs and lacking privacy," according to one visitor, suggesting rustic sites offer more seclusion.
Tips for camping with families
Wildlife education opportunities: Alexander Ramsey Park offers animal viewing areas. "Great family place with all of the animals they have to feed including buffalo, goats, elk, geese, and prairie dogs!" shared one visitor.
Playground access: Several parks offer play areas for children. At Lake Ripley, a camper noted, "Easy parking with lake and playground. Close to town incase you forgot something. Sites have large open areas in front of camps for kids to play."
Weather preparation: Temperature fluctuations can be significant, even in summer. Pack layers and rain gear, as one Camden State Park visitor reported, "It rained the whole time we camped so we didn't use either [the playground or swimming pond]."
Trail difficulty considerations: Most parks offer varying trail difficulties. At Camden, "Great hiking and biking trails, swimming pond and right on the redwood river. The Camden Regional trail is 14 miles of paved trails between Camden State Park and Marshall, MN."
Tips from RVers
Site selection for RVs: At Oak Woods Campground, consider site privacy. One RVer warned, "This was pretty much an open field with people crammed together. One of my neighbors sat and watched a certain cable news channel on a giant outdoor TV hooked up to their bus from 8am until 10p."
Electric hookup availability: Most glamping sites offer electric hookups, but amp capacities vary. Lake Ripley provides electric hookups, with one camper noting, "Most of the sites here are lakefront. They have you park your vehicle behind a row of bushes to help keep the view clear for everybody."
Water access points: For RVs needing water, Memorial Park offers multiple hookup options. "It's a lovely campground sites. One through seven are first come first serve eight through 13 are reservations which you can get online," explained a reviewer.
Off-season considerations: For luxury camping during quieter times, Fort Ridgely offers less crowded experiences. One visitor shared, "I was there Tuesday through Saturday and I was THE ONLY CAMPER in the whole park Wednesday through Saturday!"
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