Best Tent Camping near Owatonna, MN
State parks and public lands surrounding Owatonna, Minnesota provide several options for tent camping within an hour's drive. Nerstrand Big Woods State Park, located approximately 20 miles east of Owatonna, offers both standard tent campsites and walk-in tent sites nestled among mature hardwood forests. The Cannon River Wilderness Area provides more primitive tent camping opportunities with sites positioned along the river corridor between Faribault and Northfield. Rapidan Dam County Park, southwest of Owatonna, features secluded tent-only sites situated along a stream in a wooded setting.
Tent pads at Nerstrand Big Woods have been upgraded to pea gravel, providing level surfaces that drain well after rain. The walk-in tent sites require minimal carrying distance, with most being only "three car lengths" from parking areas. Primitive tent camping at Cannon River Wilderness Area requires backpacking all supplies approximately 10 minutes from the parking area. Most tent campgrounds provide fire rings and picnic tables, with Nerstrand offering additional amenities including drinking water, modern restrooms, and shower facilities. The camping season typically runs from April through October, with some sites prone to flooding after heavy rains.
The outer loop of non-electric sites at Nerstrand Big Woods State Park offers the most privacy for tent campers, with greater tree coverage than the central camping area. According to reviews, these wooded sites help minimize "neighbor issues" that can occur in more open campgrounds. One camper noted that the walk-in sites are "nested within the trees, far enough away from group sites for privacy." At Cannon River Wilderness Area, tent campers report finding "sites tucked away from people" with opportunities to set up hammocks beside the river. Fall camping is particularly recommended for tent campers seeking colorful foliage, with Nerstrand's old-growth hardwood forest providing spectacular autumn displays. Cell service varies throughout these areas, with WiFi available only at the Nerstrand ranger station.
