Best Glamping near Plainview, MN

Several upscale glamping accommodations dot the countryside surrounding Plainview, Minnesota, with properties like The Old Barn Resort and Whippoorwill Ranch Kampground offering distinctive overnight experiences. The Old Barn Resort features yurts among its glamping options, providing a circular canvas retreat with comfortable beds and electricity. Nearby, Eagle Cliff Campground and Lodging and Forestville Mystery Cave State Park also house glamping accommodations with amenities far beyond basic camping. These safari-style and canvas accommodations typically include proper beds with linens, electrical outlets, private seating areas, and climate control options. Many units boast private decks overlooking scenic river views, particularly at locations along the Root River and Mississippi River bluffs. Several properties have added upscale bathroom facilities with hot showers and flush toilets exclusively for glamping guests. "Whitewater State Park Campground is amazing. It's very clean, well kept and the sites are all mostly private with trees which is so much nicer than being in a giant field of tents and RVs like most campgrounds," noted one visitor.

Seasonal access varies across glamping sites in the region, with most open from mid-April through October. Whitewater State Park, situated in a valley surrounded by limestone bluffs, offers glamping accommodations near exceptional hiking trails including the challenging Dakota Trail with dramatic overlooks. The Chester Woods Park property provides glamping pods near a recreational lake where fishing, kayaking, and paddleboarding are popular activities. Several glamping resorts in the area feature on-site dining options, with Eagle Cliff and The Old Barn Resort offering restaurant service within walking distance of accommodations. Most properties provide fire rings and complimentary firewood for evening gatherings. One reviewer highlighted, "We had a fabulous experience this weekend. The food is excellent and comes out SO FAST. The campsites are well kept and spacious." Winter glamping is available at Whitewater State Park and Great River Bluffs State Park, where heated canvas structures and geodesic domes provide comfortable year-round accommodations.

Best Glamping Sites Near Plainview, Minnesota (16)

    1. Minneiska Campground — Whitewater State Park

    50 Reviews
    Elba, MN
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (507) 932-3007

    "Drinking water had already been turned off for the season, but the bathroom still had running water and flush toilets in mid-October. Easy access to hiking trails."

    "Site 53 was close to the showers and water spigot and it was a big enough spot for 2 tents while being private. It was a 10-20 minute walk to anywhere else."

    2. Chester Woods Park

    6 Reviews
    Eyota, MN
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (507) 285-7050

    "Nice park for everyone’s type from tents, cabins and all size RV’s. Electric only at the camp sites but have water and dump station on site. Clean bathrooms and showers."

    "It has a campground and man-made lake (created when Bear Creek was dammed for a flood control project) with hiking trails, a horse trail, picnic shelters, a beach, and a playground."

    3. Kruger Campground and Management Unit

    4 Reviews
    Kellogg, MN
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (651) 345-3401

    $14 / night

    "Fire rings have attached grills. Lovely walking trails. Near Lake Pepin. One negative was orange/rusty water from hand pump well. $14 a night!!! We plan to camp there again."

    "Nice and tucked away. Sites are very private. Has beautiful trails. Next to the river great for exploring and fishing."

    4. Whippoorwill Ranch Kampground

    1 Review
    Plainview, MN
    7 miles
    +1 (507) 534-3590

    "Mark, Sheri and the staff are good people who work hard to make sure you have a great time. The food is excellent and comes out SO FAST; bravo to the kitchen staff!"

    5. Eagle Cliff Campground and Lodging

    16 Reviews
    Lanesboro, MN
    31 miles
    Website
    +1 (507) 467-2598

    $30 - $46 / night

    "Located on the Root River. Cliff View has very clean bath houses. Lots of sites to choose from. 50 amp service, sewer hook up and of course water. If your close enough to the office wifi available."

    "Situated right along the Root River next to the bike trail. They offer kayak, canoe and tube rentals and shuttles. They also have bike rentals. This facility is clean and very well kept."

    6. Stockholm Park Campground

    4 Reviews
    Stockholm, WI
    22 miles
    Website

    "The town of Stockholm is an easy walk with restaurants, baker, gift shops, and art gallery. The campground is first come, first serve."

    "Right on Lake Pepin"

    7. Great River Bluffs State Park Campground

    28 Reviews
    Dakota, MN
    41 miles
    Website
    +1 (507) 643-6849

    "The cart in sites all have a fire pit with a grill, picnic table, and are a short walk from the primitive toilets. There is a water spigot in the parking area."

    "I enjoy camping away from the hub bub of the family campground and opting for the backpack or cart in sites. Luckily, Great River Bluffs has some of the nicest cart ins I have encountered."

    8. The Old Barn Resort

    10 Reviews
    Lanesboro, MN
    32 miles
    Website
    +1 (507) 467-2512

    "Our site was very large, which was nice as it gave us more than enough room to set up our tent, leaving space between us and the neighboring sites."

    "It was located right on the Root River Trail System which we liked for biking and running."

    9. Forestville Mystery Cave State Park Campground

    18 Reviews
    Preston, MN
    37 miles
    Website
    +1 (507) 352-5111

    $35 / night

    "There are so many activities to do both within the park and surrounding areas, but my most favorite thing to do was walk the endless miles of hiking trails."

    "It can be a little confusing because the camping and mystery caves are a distance apart. I highly recommend going to the caves."

    10. Rice Lake Campground — Rice Lake State Park

    13 Reviews
    Owatonna, MN
    45 miles
    Website
    +1 (507) 455-5871

    "My only complaint was how close together the walk-in sites were."

    "Beautiful forested area just outside Owatonna. Easy drive past beautiful farms to town. Camp host told us mosquitoes were light this year; they seemed plentiful to me!"

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Recent Glamping Photos near Plainview, MN

1 Photos of 16 Plainview Campgrounds


Glamping Reviews near Plainview, MN

170 Reviews of 16 Plainview Campgrounds


  • D
    Jun. 26, 2020

    Eagle Cliff Campground and Lodging

    River Camping

    Overall great experience! Located on the Root River. Cliff View has very clean bath houses. Lots of sites to choose from. 50 amp service, sewer hook up and of course water. If your close enough to the office wifi available. Some sites are tight for large motor homes, 5th wheelers and tavel trailer. If your a bicyclist, campgrounds on great paved trail. They like their grass, no rugs or carpet on the grass. I take this as a positive. Dogs n cats are welcome. Lots of seasonal sites. Camping during the week is quite!

  • Mark N.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 25, 2021

    Chester Woods Park

    Nice County Park

    Nice park for everyone’s type from tents, cabins and all size RV’s. Electric only at the camp sites but have water and dump station on site. Clean bathrooms and showers. Best value I’ve seen for fire wood. Has many walking trails that you can take your dog on and just a couple that you can’t.

  • Hilary S.
    Oct. 16, 2018

    Minneiska Campground — Whitewater State Park

    Crowded with RVs, but nice and quiet on the periphery

    Drinking water had already been turned off for the season, but the bathroom still had running water and flush toilets in mid-October. Easy access to hiking trails. My site was close in distance to adjacent ones, but was on the edge by the creek, so it was pretty quiet. None of the cart-in sites were vacant the night I stayed, but those looked lovely as well.

  • D
    May. 14, 2024

    Great River Bluffs State Park Campground

    Nice Weekend Get Away

    The cart in sites all have a fire pit with a grill, picnic table, and are a short walk from the primitive toilets. There is a water spigot in the parking area. They have 4-5 wheelbarrows to use as carts to get your stuff to the site. Each site could comfortably hold 3 to 4 tents. They are on a path for an out and back hike so expect some passers by. Cart in 1 and 2 are fairly close to the parking area and are less secluded from each other. 3 and 4 are more secluded. Site 3 offers more shade and 4 looks to have recently had some trees cut down and is fairly open air. Overall the trails are well maintained and accessible from the cart in area. They provide some nice views of the river and you can easily hike the area in a day. It’s by no means a secluded area if you’re looking to get away from road noise or other people. All in all it makes for a nice weekend getaway.

  • Brian K.
    May. 7, 2017

    Chester Woods Park

    Great weekend spot!

    Chester Woods is a county park just east of Rochester, MN. It has a campground and man-made lake (created when Bear Creek was dammed for a flood control project) with hiking trails, a horse trail, picnic shelters, a beach, and a playground. The campsites have nice, soft ground for tents, and electrical outlets are available. It can get noisy on the weekend, but the sites are nice along the edge of the campground.

    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, and there is also good shoreline structure and weed beds. There is a fish cleaning house next to the campground which has electric lighting, but no running water.

  • Anna G.
    May. 29, 2019

    River's Edge Campground - Black River

    Shiocton, WI

    Water, fishing, tubing, bar, pavilion, kid and animal friendly, showers, toilets, fire pits, water/electric sites, easy booking.

  • Emily G.
    Jul. 10, 2017

    Minneiska Campground — Whitewater State Park

    Family Friendly and Laid Back Exploring

    We stayed for 2 nights at Whitewater State Park with a group of 4. Site 53 was close to the showers and water spigot and it was a big enough spot for 2 tents while being private. It was a 10-20 minute walk to anywhere else. We hiked up chimney rock for some great vistas, swam at the sandy beach, bought ice cream sandwiches at the nature store, and enjoyed talking with the visitor center staff. There were a lot of picnic spots, pavilions, and fire pits for day trips. There were a lot of fresh black berries all around the state park which were fun to gather and eat. The Elba Firetower was a quick 3 miles down the road by car and was a nice little outing. Whitewater was a bit spread out for our liking and unfortunately the woman's shower/bathroom had toilets that were pulled off the entire weekend so you could see and smell raw sewage. Once they fix the bathrooms it'd be a 5 star knowing you'd have to walk a bit. We would stay again at 53, but sites 62, 63, 64 or the walk in sites looked awesome since they were along the river. They are expanding the state park camping which will be a welcomed update and addition.

  • Mary S.
    Aug. 17, 2018

    Great River Bluffs State Park Campground

    Visit here in the fall after the mosquitoes leave

    What's Appealing?

    This campground is nestled in the woods above the Mississippi River. There's a beautiful view from King's Bluff Overlook which is about a 2.5 mile roundtrip from the parking area. You could make it about 5.5 miles if you hike from campground. There are also short walks to a few other overlooks.

    We were just spending the night but I'm not sure there's anything else to do. The information sheet says there are 7 miles of hiking trails, but there really isn't anything interesting other than the overlooks. It was a quiet place for a one night stay.

    I think fall would be the best time to visit after the mosquitoes are gone and when the leaves have turned. Winter would also be good. There are 9 miles of groomed X-country ski trails; you need a MN Ski Pass.

    The Basics

    There are 31 pull in/back in sites (38 is the highest number but some numbers are skipped), 4 cart in sites, and 5 sites for bicyclists (off the Great River Road bike route below the campground across from the Mississippi River). The sites are spacious and shaded and have a picnic table and fire pit.

    Very Basic Campground

    There's a bathroom with toilets, showers, and sinks. The showers are push button so you get no heat control and the water shuts off after about 30 seconds. There are also pit toilets that may be closer to your site. Drinking water and trash dumpsters are near the bathroom.

    Cost

    It's $19 plus the $7 MN state park fee. There was no camp host on site, but I saw a ranger drive through. We have a MN parks sticker on our window and paid online the day we came in because the office was closed. There was no online reservation fee when we paid online on the day of our stay.

    .

  • Ashley K.
    Jul. 18, 2018

    Minneiska Campground — Whitewater State Park

    The heart of south eastern Minnesota

    Whitewater is by far one of the top state parks in Minnesota. Their camping facilities are clean with running water and free showers. The campsites are quite spacious but not too wooded. They have a few walk in sites but they go fast.

    The best part about whitewater are the trails and views. It is located in a carved glacier valley and is surrounded by limestone. I recommend moderate to experienced hikers due to the intense climb to get to the popular views. It’s worth the visit!


Guide to Plainview

The southeastern Minnesota region surrounding Plainview sits at elevations ranging from 650 to 1,300 feet above sea level with limestone bluffs carved by ancient glacial rivers. River valleys wind through hardwood forests, creating protected camping areas with minimal wind exposure. Winter glamping in Plainview, Minnesota continues year-round in some locations, with heated structures maintaining comfortable interior temperatures even when exterior temperatures drop below freezing.

What to do

River activities: Root River offers excellent tubing experiences near The Old Barn Resort. "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 one visitor. The resort provides equipment rentals and transportation to starting points.

Hiking trails: Chimney Rock trail at Whitewater State Park provides challenging elevation gains and scenic overlooks. "I hiked up Chimney Rock and then looped back to tackle part of the Dakota trail! The hiking paths were well taken care of. There were plenty of places to stop and rest if you need to," explains a day visitor. Most trails remain accessible year-round with proper footwear.

Cave tours: Mystery Cave near Forestville Mystery Cave State Park offers underground exploration. "We took the scenic tour, and our guide Kip was fantastic! He let everyone ask all the questions they wanted to, and didn't rush us at all! The rate is $15.00 for adults, $10.00 for kids 5-12, and kids under 5 go for free," shares a camper. Tours run hourly during summer months.

What campers like

Privacy between sites: Kruger Campground offers well-spaced sites with natural buffers. "Sites are very private. Has beautiful trails. Next to the river great for exploring and fishing," notes one reviewer. The campground maintains its natural setting with minimal development.

Clean facilities: Sanitary conditions receive consistent positive mentions. "The campground is very clean and nice. The bathrooms and showers were pristine clean and close and easy to walk to. The beach was great and clean," reports a camper at Chester Woods Park. Many locations update bathroom facilities seasonally.

Winter access: Cold weather camping options exist at several locations. "We stayed 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. Plenty of space for the car and the teardrop in space #202," explains a winter visitor to Whitewater State Park.

What you should know

Limited cell service: Many glamping locations have minimal connectivity. "There is NO CELL SERVICE in the campground - no Verizon, ATT or T-Mobile. Wifi down at the ranger office," reports a camper at Forestville Mystery Cave State Park. Some sites offer WiFi hotspots at central locations.

Reservation requirements: Peak season bookings fill quickly. "It's best to make the reservation online, especially with office staff being spotty these days. Price is $35 for the space/night with electric, and this time of year, there are no other options besides electric spaces," shares a winter visitor.

Noise considerations: Train tracks run near some locations. "Trains come by every 15-30 minutes just feet away from camp site," notes a visitor to Stockholm Park Campground. Sites further from transportation corridors provide quieter experiences.

Tips for camping with families

Beach access: Some locations offer swimming areas. "We had so much fun playing on the river and exploring the park! Everything is right there and the river is so pretty! Despite the rain we had a great time," shares a visitor to Whitewater State Park. Not all water areas have designated swimming zones.

Nature programs: Educational activities occur regularly. "We hiked, took trout fishing lessons, sat at the beach and had relaxing evenings by the fire," mentions a holiday weekend visitor. Most programs run May through September.

Playground availability: Recreation areas for children exist at several campgrounds. "For the families - there's a couple small playgrounds on site, which is a good opportunity for the littles to burn some energy," notes a visitor to The Old Barn Resort. Most playgrounds accommodate children ages 4-12.

Tips from RVers

Electric-only hookups: Many campgrounds offer limited services. "Nice park for everyone's type from tents, cabins and all size RV's. Electric only at the camp sites but have water and dump station on site," notes a visitor to Rice Lake State Park. Water fill stations typically operate from mid-April through mid-October.

Site selection: Choosing appropriate spots matters for larger vehicles. "Sites were nice along the edge of the campground... Super easy to social distance here," reports a visitor about winter camping. Advanced reservations allow for selecting sites that accommodate specific RV dimensions.

Winter RV considerations: Cold weather camping requires preparation. "We were in a teardrop trailer. Plenty of space for the car and the teardrop in space #202, but all spaces that were plowed had plenty of room to pull in. Some were even 'pull through' which would be extra nice if you wanted it (either big rig type RV or pull behind)," explains a winter visitor to Whitewater State Park.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Plainview, MN?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Plainview, MN is Minneiska Campground — Whitewater State Park with a 4.5-star rating from 50 reviews.

What is the best site to find glamping camping near Plainview, MN?

TheDyrt.com has all 16 glamping camping locations near Plainview, MN, with real photos and reviews from campers.