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Best Tent Camping near Plainview, MN

519 Reviews

Southeastern Minnesota offers primitive tent camping amid lush river valleys and rolling bluffs near Plainview. The region features several tent-focused campgrounds including Gooseberry Glen Cart-in Campground at Whitewater State Park just 12 miles southwest of Plainview and Aefintyr, which provides hike-in tent sites along scenic forest terrain. Hok-Si-La City Park on Lake Pepin provides tent-only camping with vehicle-free campsites along the shoreline about 30 miles northeast of Plainview.

Walk-in tent sites predominate in this region, with most campgrounds requiring campers to carry gear short distances from parking areas to designated tent pads. Many tent campsites feature fire rings, picnic tables, and access to vault toilets, though amenities vary by location. At Gooseberry Glen, sites include push carts for transporting gear along short, accessible paths. According to one visitor, "Sites were quiet, woodsy and secluded... We could see site 4 from our site, but all we could hear was the stream." Most tent camping areas maintain seasonal operations, typically closing between late October and April, with Nerstrand Big Woods State Park operating from April 1 to October 23.

Tent campers frequently use these locations as bases for exploring the extensive trail networks throughout the region's state parks. Sites at Whitewater State Park provide direct access to challenging 4-mile hiking loops through varied terrain, while Houston Nature Center offers tent campsites at the trailhead for the Root River State Bike Trail. Tent pads at many locations feature pea gravel surfaces that provide level, well-drained spots for pitching tents. A visitor noted that the non-electric sites at Nerstrand Big Woods State Park are "wooded so you don't have neighbor issues. Sites have large pea gravel tent pads - very nice." Evening quiet hours are typically enforced at established campgrounds, though more remote sites offer greater solitude throughout the day. Dark skies and abundant wildlife viewing opportunities enhance the tent camping experience, particularly at locations farther from town centers.

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Best Tent Sites Near Plainview, Minnesota (14)

    1. Aefintyr

    4 Reviews
    Elba, MN
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (507) 513-5598

    $29 - $139 / night

    "We're so excited to have this unique property on our platform. Offering hike in sites with Bell Tents or pitch your own, this is a great place to view the stars."

    "A beautiful cabin, hike-in glamping or bring your own gear. I was able to stay in the cabin for a couple nights with two friends. The cabin was cozy even during winter."

    2. Gooseberry Glen Cart-in Campground — Whitewater State Park

    2 Reviews
    Elba, MN
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (507) 312-2300

    "We wanted a quiet, secluded campsite, but one we wouldn't have to backpack into."

    "Right when you park you see the push carts and it is a very short walk to the campsite. You are able to slightly see 1 cart-in site neighbor, but besides that it was very private and quiet."

    3. Hok-Si-La City Park & Campground

    7 Reviews
    Lake City, MN
    22 miles
    Website
    +1 (651) 345-3855

    $22 - $132 / night

    "The campground was very full that weekend but the group sites are spacious and well spaced out, (if you can I would recommend G4 or G5 right on the lake for group sites) you definitely don't feel like"

    "This is one of my favorite campgrounds in Southern Minnesota! It is only 1 1/2 hours away from the TwinCities which makes it an ideal getaway."

    4. Oronoco City Park

    1 Review
    Pine Island, MN
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (507) 367-4526

    5. Nerstrand Big Woods State Park Campground

    35 Reviews
    Nerstrand, MN
    48 miles
    Website
    +1 (507) 333-4840

    "It's just a bit of a walk from the main campground and opposite of some very beautiful walk-in sites. The group campground has an open space to play games as well as wooded areas all around."

    "There are four “walk in” sites, and you can see one another from all of them. Sites 1 and 3 require a walk about three car lengths to the tent pad, and 4 is not much farther."

    6. Pool 4, Riecks Lake Park

    Be the first to review!
    Alma, WI
    17 miles

    7. Great River Harbor Campgrounds and Marina

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    Alma, WI
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (608) 248-2454

    8. Island Campground — Merrick State Park

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    Fountain City, WI
    21 miles
    Website

    $15 - $40 / night

    9. Houston Nature Center

    5 Reviews
    Houston, MN
    40 miles
    Website
    +1 (507) 896-4668

    "The Nature Center campsite is located at the trail head for the Root River State Bike Trail."

    "This campsite is at the trailhead for the Root River Bike Trail. This bike trail is so awesome and by far the best in the tri-state area!"

    10. Schmidt Farm by Forestville

    2 Reviews
    Preston, MN
    36 miles
    Website
    +1 (507) 273-6278

    $35 / night

    "This location offers the opportunity to explore both private trails and less traveled areas of Forestville State Park. Secluded campsites so you are not camping side by side with others."

    "If you're looking for a simpler camping experience focused on getting away from everything and solitude, then this is the place for you.   "

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Plainview, MN

37 Photos of 14 Plainview Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Plainview, MN

519 Reviews of 14 Plainview Campgrounds

  • Kelly S.
    May. 2, 2018

    Frontenac State Park Campground

    Early Season Experience

    We spent a single night here at site 37. The site was great, the privacy was okay, and the campground itself was slightly above average.

    Our site was huge. It could have easily accommodated an RV and a tent. There was a campfire ring and picnic table there like each site, but ours also had a tent pad and a very long parking spot. We were tent camping. This was the first tent pad I have ever been able to stake down without bending or breaking stakes and needing a mallet. The site was also close to a few of the trailheads. See pictures. Would recommend site 37 any day.

    The privacy was nonexistent because there were no leaves on the trees yet. In the summer, that might change. There are trees between sites.

    The campground itself was okay. The ranger and lady in the office when we stopped in were a little strange, but helpful. They were out of wood, but there is a DNR certified seller not a mile down the road- you can get more wood for cheaper there anyway. In MN, you need to get your firewood from the state park you are at or a certified seller in the same county to prevent the spread of tree pests and disease. The ranger can and will stop at your site and ask to see your seller card from the wood. The rest of the campground was nice. Many water spigots were still frozen, but there isn't much to be done about that. Overall, I would definitely recommend this campground!

  • Lee D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jan. 12, 2025

    Highland Ridge

    Beautiful but buggy!

    General: Smallish (38 sites plus four walk-in sites) Army Corps of Engineers campground. Some (see below) have electric hookups but no water or sewer hookups, however, there is a dump station. 

    Site Quality: All sites are gravel/dirt (except for the ADA-accessible site), and most are very generous in size. Our site (7) sloped down but leveled out with plenty of room for our campervan at the bottom. All sites are wooded with trees providing separation/privacy between sites. Completing the site are a metal picnic table, fire ring, and lantern hook. 

    Bath/Shower House: Sites 28-38 only have vault toilets (but you could trek to the other campground loop). Sites 1—27 have flush toilets and showers. They were very clean, and I especially appreciated the fact that they were cleaned daily before 6 am, a shout out to the camp host! The shower was great– warm water and great flow, although our friends (who arrived two days before we did) had cold showers when the campground was full.

    Activities: Several short hiking trails. I give this campground 4 stars instead of 5 because Eau Galle Reservoir (Lake George) is about a 10-minute drive from the campground. Most Corps of Engineers campgrounds are located right on the water. There are no amenities (rentals, etc.) offered at the lake but it is small and beautiful, and we enjoyed a peaceful paddle. We saw a couple of people fishing on the lake and there is a small swimming area. At the campground, there was an interpretive center, but it was locked when we were there. There is also a nice, modern playground. 

    Aside from the plentiful bugs (in August), we enjoyed our two-night stay at this campground!

  • Mary S.
    Aug. 16, 2018

    Frontenac State Park Campground

    Shady, quiet campground in the woods with short hiking opportunities

    Campground Design

    I like that it's split into 4 small loops (1-11, 12-28, 29-38 and 39-59). There shouldn't be much traffic in any one loop. It's a very shady campground - lots of trees so it's quite dark at night with no stargazing from your site.

    Our site #42 was right next to #40 and there's not much privacy between the 2 sites. There's a lot more distance and privacy between #42 and #44. In general, sites are fairly close together but there are some trees in between.

    I thought we might be closer to the Mississippi River, but the campground is located above the river (called Pepin Lake at this wide point). You can hike down to the river; the steep descent makes the short hike more interesting. There are Lower and Upper Bluff trails as well as other short, connected trails throughout the park. (See photo of trail map.)

    Tent Campers

    There are 6 'cart in' sites, but they are about 1/2 mile away from the main campground and on the other side of the road. Park, put your gear in a cart, and walk about 1/4 mile to your site (C1 through C6). 

    Special rule for these sites: You have to pay $2 to use the showers at the main campground! Your camping rate is $15 instead of $23 for a non-electric site. If a cart in site doesn't appeal to you, the regular sites are good for tents; many have tent pads. There are also a couple backpacker sites.

    Amenities

    • Picnic table and fire ring on each site. Some sites have a tent pad. The 'rule of 3' says you can have 3 'units' on a site - 2 tents + vehicle, RV + rent +vehicle,... - One restroom with flush toilets, sinks and showers (old but no temperature control) located near the road in front of the loop with sites 12-28. We were in the last loop on site 42, and there was a pit toilet that smelled okay but had lots of flies.

    • Some electric sites ($31) in the first 2 loops; the map (see photo) has an 'e' next to the site number and so does the post at the site.

    • Dump station that includes a potable water filling station. There are water spigots in the camping areas.

    • Trash dumpsters and recycle bins.

    Extra fees

    • There's a $7 reservation fee for online or phone reservations, and the site posts indicate you need to 'reserve' the site before you set up camp.  You avoid that fee by showing up without a reservation when the office is open, but I wouldn't do that on a Friday or Saturday in the summer. You can always get a sense of whether showing up without a reservation is feasible by checking availability online. It also looks like you avoid the fee if you reserve online on the day you stay.

    • $7 entry fee per day is standard in MN parks. A $35 pass is good for 12 months.

  • Tori K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Mar. 31, 2024

    Minneiska Campground — Whitewater State Park

    Nice state park

    Stayed here for a couple nights on a mini state park road trip. Nice place, like most of the MN state parks. Spotty cell service. Hiked a trail with lots of steps. Fire ring and picnic table are provided at each site. Restroom with showers also available in campground. Site was large and easy to back into and offered some tree cover for shade during certain times of the day. Was unable to hang hammock in specific site we stayed at, but some of the sites looked like they would be suitable.

  • GoWhereYouAreDraw N.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 23, 2019

    Prairie Island City Campground

    Great introductory campground

    Prairie Island has all of you basic amenities without being too far from town. This campground isn’t for everybody -- if you’re looking for extreme adventure and wilderness, this is not the place for you. If you’re interested in getting into camping and not investing the money into all the gear or having direct river access, this is the place for you! They seriously rent it all. Paddleboards, kayaks, canoes, tents, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, and dutch ovens. The camp store sells all of the basics and fishing supplies. The shower house has flush toilets and pit toilets are located throughout the campground.

    Personally, this campground is not the type that I like to stay at but it is really great for the type that wants to get into camping or the camper trailer type. Unfortunately, not enough activities to do besides boating on the river.

  • ERolf P.
    Aug. 29, 2016

    Perrot State Park Campground

    Group Camping, Hiking, and Water Sports

    Wonderful time in Perrot State Park. Camped in the group campground, site A. Plenty of room for many tents, and nice level ground to pitch tents on. Huge fire ring for large group fires, and both a large grill on the fire ring, and freestanding charcoal grill. Lots of options for hiking and walking in the park with more than 13 miles of trails. We did a 5 mile hike up and over two of the more popular bluffs. We also did a two-three hour canoe/kayak trip and had a blast.

    There is not a swimming beach at the park, so if you're into that, you'll have to leave the park, but there is more than enough to do at Perrot State Park.

  • K
    Sep. 5, 2020

    Hidden Meadows RV Park

    Hidden Gem

    This is very convenient if you have Mayo Clinic appointments. The campground was nice with grassy sites along with electric and water hook ups, there was a dump station also. Portable toilets spaced around and a centralized bath house by the office. There are seasonal guests and everyone was friendly. We saw deer by the primitive camp areas and had nightly campfires in our fire ring. We will return the next time we are up in MN.

  • R
    Aug. 30, 2019

    Merrick State Park Campground

    Nice Walk-In site but bring your bug spray!

    Very nice walk-in site right on the river. LOTS of bugs to the point it was uncomfortable so make sure to bring bug spray. Tent pad, fire ring and picnic table available. Trees available that are good for those who hammock.

  • GoWhereYouAreDraw N.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 14, 2018

    Houston Nature Center

    Great location!

    The Nature Center campsite is located at the trail head for the Root River State Bike Trail. Trail Head Park is a nice tent only campground with walk-in sites. A majority of the sites have picnic tables and fire pits. The Nature Center has clean bathrooms and free showers. They recommend donations for the use of the showers.

    $20 per night camping fee. You can pay inside the Nature Center or at the slot between the restroom mirrors. The sites are first come, first serve. Local firewood is available near the restrooms as well; take what you need and leave the center a donation.

    Trail Head Park has a 1 acre natural playground near the campsite. When I visited during the week, I only saw a small group of people using the playground. The playground has a zip line, tree house, small rock wall, and more. Inside the Nature Center, they have interactive and interesting displays. The highlight of this campground is the Root River State Bike Trail and the Owl Center in the town of Houston.

    I'd give the campsite 4/5 review. The location, the bluffs, the bike trail, and center get 5/5 review.

Guide to Plainview

Tent camping options near Plainview, Minnesota cluster in the driftless region, a unique geographical area untouched by glaciation during the last ice age. This creates a landscape of steep bluffs, deep valleys, and cold-water streams that support excellent trout fishing. Most campgrounds in the area operate seasonally from April through October due to Minnesota's harsh winters, with night temperatures dropping below freezing by late fall.

What to do

Trout fishing access: Several campgrounds near Plainview provide direct access to premier trout streams. A camper at Aefintyr noted, "A lot of great trout fishing spots along the river. Very peaceful campground, great view of the stars on clear nights!"

Hiking challenging terrain: The bluff country offers varied hiking difficulties. At Whitewater State Park, a visitor described the experience: "We did the 4 mile loop and it was perfect for us- a beautiful and challenging hike that wasn't too punishing. There were lots of scenic views, and a good variety of terrain to keep it interesting."

Bird watching opportunities: The Mississippi River flyway brings diverse bird species. The Houston Nature Center features an International Owl Center that impressed visitors: "The International Owl Center was a welcome discovery. Best tent campground on the Root River Trail."

What campers like

Secluded sites with natural sounds: Many campers appreciate the privacy and natural soundscape. At Schmidt Farm by Forestville, a visitor shared, "I picked campsite two so that I could hear the creek behind me and I enjoyed hearing it the whole time I was there plus the Forestville State Park was just across the creek. The peace and quiet allowed me to have one of the best nights of sleep while camping."

Dark skies for stargazing: The rural setting provides exceptional night viewing. According to a camper at Aefintyr, "Its nice to have a place this nice only 35 minutes from Rochester. Beautiful campground with great amenities available. The hike to the site is steep but worth it once you get up there."

Easy trail access: Campsites often connect directly to trail systems. A Houston Nature Center visitor noted, "This campsite is at the trailhead for the Root River Bike Trail. This bike trail is so awesome and by far the best in the tri-state area!"

What you should know

Seasonal closures and restrictions: Most campgrounds close during winter months. Nerstrand Big Woods State Park operates from "April 1 to October 23," which is typical for the region.

Hike-in requirements: Several of the best tent camping sites near Plainview, Minnesota require physical effort to reach. An Aefintyr visitor advised, "If you are up in the bluff, be sure to wear good shoes for the hike up."

Weather preparedness: Spring camping can be wet. A visitor to Nerstrand Big Woods State Park shared, "Sites were great but a little wet. Some of the south trails are closed because its too wet."

Reservation recommendations: Popular sites fill quickly during peak season. At Houston Nature Center, a camper noted, "Must make reservations but typically not many people here camping."

Frequently Asked Questions

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

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Plainview, MN is Aefintyr with a 5-star rating from 4 reviews.

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