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Best Tent Camping near Preston, MN

449 Reviews

The rural landscape surrounding Preston, Minnesota provides several tent camping options, particularly for primitive camping enthusiasts seeking solitude. Schmidt Farm by Forestville offers secluded hike-in tent sites with ample space for multiple tents near Forestville State Park, while the Houston Nature Center features walk-in tent sites located at the trailhead for the Root River State Bike Trail. Whitewater State Park's Gooseberry Glen provides cart-in tent camping with short walks from the parking area to campsites.

Most tent campgrounds feature basic amenities with fire rings and picnic tables, though facilities vary significantly between locations. Schmidt Farm provides primitive tent setups with fire pits but no drinking water or showers. The Houston Nature Center offers more amenities for tent campers, including clean showers, toilets, and drinking water, with sites available for approximately $10-20 per night. Oak Ridge Recreation Area in R.J.D. Memorial Hardwood State Forest provides primitive tent campsites with minimal facilities—no drinking water or toilets—typically operating from May through November. Many locations require reservations, particularly during peak summer months.

Tent campsites throughout the Preston area offer varying levels of privacy and natural settings. The cart-in sites at Whitewater State Park provide a woodsy, secluded experience with some sites positioned near water features. A visitor commented that "the sites were quiet, woodsy and secluded... all we could hear was the stream." Schmidt Farm delivers exceptional solitude with widely spaced tent sites that prevent neighboring campers from disturbing each other. According to one camper, "If you're looking for a simpler camping experience focused on getting away from everything and solitude, then this is the place for you." Houston Nature Center's tent sites are spread out and offer peaceful surroundings with singing toads at night, situated conveniently at the end of the Root River State Trail for hikers and cyclists.

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Best Tent Sites Near Preston, Minnesota (20)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Preston, MN

28 Photos of 20 Preston Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Preston, MN

449 Reviews of 20 Preston Campgrounds

  • 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.

  • J
    Oct. 24, 2017

    Sylvan City Park

    Close to bike trail and downtown

    Stayed here in a tent while on a bicycle camping trip and it was adequate. It is located in a city park within a couple minutes walk of the downtown area. The bike trail crosses the south end of downtown so close to that too. This would not be a good place to camp if you'd like to be out in nature

    Biggest gripe is the slope of the tent sites. The majority of the tent sites are on an incline around a pond. There are also a lot of ducks that aren't very afraid of humans. None got into my gear though. There are fire rings at the tent sites. No picnic tables at the individual sites but there are some nearby in the park and there's also a covered picnic shelter. Hammocks would be difficult to impossible as the tent area is a strip of grass between pond and bluff, which has mostly brush or too whimpy of trees to hang from at the base. There are a couple huge oaks but none in pairs.

    Quarter showers and clean restrooms are available. $20/night/tent which seemed a bit steep to me considering how slanted the sites were and quarter showers. It is cheaper than the other places within immediate biking distance which were $25/night.

  • B
    Jun. 12, 2022

    Lake Meyer County Park Campground

    Great spot, tents included

    This is a great little park if you need a place to stop for the night. It was very inexpensive for tents ($10 I think) and the tent camping area was very nice with 3 giant pine trees and some picnic tables and fire rings. As someone who bicycle tours I appreciated fire wood being on site and close to where the tent area is. The bathrooms aren’t the best but they worked. Overall its a safe, clean, welcoming campground for both tents and RV’s.

  • Jessica H.
    May. 23, 2018

    South Bear Creek

    South Bear Creek Entrance

    The South Bear Creek entrance is located near Highlandville, IA off of Quandahl Road. This is Iowa Department of Natural Resources land and offers primitive camping only. There are no shower or restroom facilities and we brought our own water. There was a makeshift fire ring made out of rocks and so we used this to build our campfire. Be sure to bring a camp shovel for bathroom breaks. There was no fee at the time to camp here. It might be a good idea to call ahead to the Iowa DNR to see if that has changed.

    Bear Creek is known for trout fishing and is stocked by the DNR. Bear Creek runs for a little over 5 miles at this entrance. Highlandville does have a general store, so you can stock up on items such as snacks, firewood, and angling supplies if you plan to fish the creek.

    Note: There is also a Bear Creek Campground which offers electrical sites along with restrooms, showers and a playground as well as Bear Creek Cabin rentals if you're looking for something with more amenities.

    We camped the last weekend in October and had the entire area to ourselves. We walked along the creek and Quandahl Road. It was a quiet area and we enjoyed camping in a more primitive setting.

Guide to Preston

Tent camping near Preston, Minnesota offers a variety of serene locations where nature lovers can unwind and enjoy the great outdoors. With options ranging from private sites to public parks, there's something for everyone.

Tent campers appreciate these amenities

  • Enjoy a peaceful stay at Schmidt Farm by Forestville, where large campsites and firewood are provided, perfect for a cozy evening under the stars.
  • At Aefintyr, campers can choose between hike-in glamping or traditional tent camping, with amenities like drinking water and picnic tables available.
  • The Houston Nature Center features clean showers and toilets, making it a convenient spot for tent campers looking for comfort.

Tent campers like these nearby activities

Tips for tent camping near Preston

  • When visiting Northend Campground, be prepared for a small park atmosphere with a lovely creek nearby, ideal for swimming and relaxing.
  • For a more primitive experience, consider South Bear Creek, where you can enjoy solitude and the sounds of nature, especially in the winter months.
  • If you're looking for a family-friendly spot, the Houston Nature Center is a great choice, with access to the Root River Bike Trail and a nearby nature center for educational fun.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Preston, MN is Schmidt Farm by Forestville with a 5-star rating from 2 reviews.

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

TheDyrt.com has all 20 tent camping locations near Preston, MN, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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