The Dyrt – find campgrounds for tents, RVs, cabins, glamping and more.
Open in App

Best Campgrounds near Rochester, MN

501 Reviews

Rochester, Minnesota and the surrounding area feature a mix of established campgrounds and outdoor recreation areas offering diverse camping experiences. Minneiska Campground at Whitewater State Park, located about 25 miles east of Rochester, provides tent sites, RV hookups, and cabin accommodations in a scenic river valley setting. Chester Woods Park in Eyota offers similar mixed-use facilities just 10 miles east of the city. Several private campgrounds like Rochester-Marion KOA and Autumn Woods RV Park provide convenient options within city limits, catering primarily to RV travelers while still accommodating tent campers.

Camping seasons vary significantly throughout the region, with most campgrounds operating from May through October. State parks like Whitewater maintain year-round availability, though winter camping requires proper preparation for cold conditions. Many campgrounds require advance reservations, particularly during summer weekends and holiday periods. The terrain ranges from river valleys with limestone bluffs to wooded areas with moderate hiking trails. Electrical hookups are common at established sites, though primitive camping options exist at some parks. A visitor noted, "Chester Woods is a county park just east of Rochester, MN. It has a campground and man-made lake with hiking trails, a horse trail, picnic shelters, a beach, and a playground."

Campers consistently highlight the natural beauty of southeastern Minnesota's bluff country as a major draw. Whitewater State Park receives particularly high ratings for its scenic limestone bluffs and hiking opportunities. One camper described it as "by far one of the top state parks in Minnesota" with "clean facilities" and "spacious" campsites. Water access represents another valued feature, with fishing opportunities in local lakes and the Root River. Several visitors mentioned the convenience of Rochester-area campgrounds for Mayo Clinic patients and visitors. Noise levels vary considerably between locations, with some campgrounds like Tilly's American Travelers RV Resort experiencing road noise, while others offer more secluded experiences. Wildlife viewing opportunities include deer, eagles, and various bird species, particularly in the more natural settings away from the city.

Map showing campgrounds near Rochester, MinnesotaExplore the Map

Best Camping Sites Near Rochester, Minnesota (124)

    1. Minneiska Campground — Whitewater State Park

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

    "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."

    "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."

    2. Chester Woods Park

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

    "Chester Woods is a county park just east of Rochester, MN."

    "Has many walking trails that you can take your dog on and just a couple that you can’t."

    3. Rochester-Marion KOA

    5 Reviews
    Marion, MN
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (507) 288-0785

    "It has convenient access to the freeway and the city of Rochester. Bathrooms are cleaned frequently and we'll stocked."

    "We got back on the Interstate & got off on exit 224. Took Co Rd 7 to HWY 52. This is a lot easier than the directions the KOA gave."

    4. Autumn Woods RV Park

    5 Reviews
    Stewartville, MN
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (507) 990-2983

    5. Oxbow County Park

    6 Reviews
    Byron, MN
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (507) 775-2451

    $25 - $30 / night

    "There is an awesome park near the sites for children."

    "The zoo is amazing, the campground is well cared and a ton of hiking trails!!"

    6. Hidden Meadows RV Park

    4 Reviews
    Pine Island, MN
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (507) 356-8594

    $38 - $45 / night

    "The lower area of this park is so nice and right near a river. The owners are really nice, bathrooms/showers clean and everybody is friendly."

    "Portable toilets spaced around and a centralized bath house by the office. There are seasonal guests and everyone was friendly."

    7. Carley State Park Campground

    9 Reviews
    Plainview, MN
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (507) 932-3007

    "Carley State Park is easy to overlook in favor of nearby Whitewater State Park. Whitewater has an actual visitor center, the dramatic scenery, the flush toilets, and spacious/level sites."

    "Site #2 is further down a path with 4 picnic tables and room for 4-5 tents. The site is right at the park border, with farm land/prairie just on the other Side of the trees."

    8. Bluff Hollow on Root River

    1 Review
    Marion, MN
    8 miles

    $35 - $45 / night

    "There were 2 options for camping - the upper site and lower near the river. We opted to camp and hang out down by the river."

    9. Chester Woods Patk

    1 Review
    Marion, MN
    8 miles

    "Shade on most, stick to the outsides of camp for better shade."

    10. Tilly's American Travelers RV Resort

    1 Review
    Pine Island, MN
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (507) 367-2499

    "It's a nice stop if you need close to Rochester. Not badly priced. Grill and Bar on site with good food. The store, bath, and laundry are still closed due to Covid."

Show More
Showing results 1-10 of 124 campgrounds

2025 Detourist Giveaway

Presented byToyota Trucks

Review Campgrounds. Win Prizes.

Enter to Win

Rochester Contest

Enter to Win

Recent Camping Photos near Rochester, MN

157 Photos of 124 Rochester Campgrounds

Recent Reviews near Rochester, MN

501 Reviews of 124 Rochester Campgrounds

  • TThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 13, 2025

    Frontenac State Park Campground

    Great hiking trails NICE Bathrooms

    The campground is well maintained, all of the sites are clean and laid out nicely. Some sites are kinda close but there is brush growing between sites.

    There are a LOT of NICE TRAILS at this park. Many nice prairie trails and some fun trails in the bluffs along the Mississippi River too. One trail down along the River can be challenging because of MANY STAIRS.

    Large drive in picnic areas away from the campground that many people drive in to us and had a nice overlook on the Mississippi River. There are 2 nice overlooks that are great to walk to in the dark and watch the calmness and peaceful nature of the river and forest.

    The men’s bathroom and showers are GREAT! There is also very nice large full handicap bathrooms. The SHOWER WATER IS VERY HOT so be careful!

    Dump station is sloped so it makes it easy to drive in either direction to help dump waste water easily. Also fresh water at the dumping station.

    Always Plenty of firewood in the shed next to the office.

  • Joel S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 12, 2025

    Lake Byllesby Regional Park

    Very nice campground

    This is a good campground. Very well kept. Fishing from shore and there is a boat launch. Nice playground for kids. Sites are fairly close. Many have no privacy from others, but some do. No water at the sites and pit toilets are the biggest weaknesses. Nice paths for walking and biking.

  • Maria D.
    Sep. 28, 2025

    Frontenac State Park Campground

    Cleanest Campground Bathrooms Ever!

    Frontenac State Park had some of the nicest campground bathrooms and showers I’ve ever seen—clean, and modern. The ranger station was small and charming, stocked with board games to rent, and it’s clear the staff cares about creating a positive camping experience. I also loved the little free library outside the bathrooms.

    The downsides are that the campsites run small, usually only fitting two tents at most, and there aren’t many trees for hammocking. It’s also a popular park, so it can get pretty loud at times.

    Favorite sites: 37 – Shady and on the edge with just one neighbor (though the main road is on the other side). Decent privacy and potential for hammocking.

    21 – Nice views, but likely best for just one tent/car.

    22 – Very private, though the ground looked a little uneven.

    Other solid tent sites: 36, 25, 48, 49, 51. Site 57 also looked spacious with no neighbors, but it does border the visitor parking lot.

  • L
    Sep. 22, 2025

    Holden Park Campground

    Fall Ride in Ocotber

    Our group has been camping at the Holden County Park for 4 years now, this will be our 5th year.

     We are so happy that the shower/restrooms are finally done, its a great plus and we feel that more people will camp there now. 

    We love how quiet it is when we return from our daily rides, its like its our own place as there aren't many if any at all other campers there. This year may be different and if it is we won't mind at all, hopefully they don't either as we do stay up late by the fire but aren't wild crazy loud.

  • GThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 14, 2025

    Crystal Springs RV Resort

    Has a resort feel to it

    Spent one night passing through Ellendale Minnesota. Our reservation paperwork was waiting for us at the gatehouse with directions to our back-in site 11. A close walk to the laundry, showers and restroom pavilion was terrific. I can’t remember but I believe this was the best campground for low road noise of our entire trip!

  • PThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 14, 2025

    Zumbrota Covered Bridge Park

    Scenic

    Pros: great paved walking and bike trail; leads to state bike trail; MN only covered bridge; huge park playground; disc golf course; along branch of the river; easy walk into town; friendly camp host; very quiet Cons: few site pads, you just drive onto grass where you see electric/water posts and fire ring; restroom with 1 toilet and 1 shower were dirty (husband said it looks like it hadn’t been cleaned in a month) I concur on woman’s as well but there was toilet paper (happy) but no hand soap or paper towels; garbage in women’s shower

  • DThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 13, 2025

    Haycreek Valley Campground

    Beautiful surroundings

    Red Wing, Minn might be the prettiest small town in the US. Rolling hills, greenery, the Mississippi River, and genuinely nice people in a small city with lots of attractions.

    The campground is about a 10 minute ride from the city center. The amenities are sparse and aged, but the sites are level, plentiful, and reasonably priced.

    Be aware however…..The Dyrt is wrong. There are no sewer hookups at this campground. They have a dump station and will pump for a fee.

    There is a perfectly average pub on site. The food is okay, the price is reasonable.

Guide to Rochester

Camping spots near Rochester, Minnesota range from wooded river valleys to open prairie settings. Most campgrounds sit between 1,000-1,200 feet in elevation with summer temperatures averaging 70-85°F during peak camping season. The region's limestone bluff topography creates distinct microclimates, with river valley campgrounds often 5-10 degrees cooler than prairie sites.

What to do

River activities: At Bluff Hollow on Root River, campers can kayak, wade, and play in the water directly from camp. "The lower space was wooded, shady and spacious enough for multiple tents and our 4 hammocks. It also had a nice fire pit. We spent most of our time kayaking and playing in the water," notes one visitor.

Wildlife viewing: Oxbow County Park features a free zoo with rescued animals. "Animals are all rescued and given a home. Bison herd and elk and deer too," reports a camper. The park also has hiking trails along the river and up to prairie overlooks.

Hiking: Trail systems vary from flat riverside paths to challenging bluff climbs. "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," writes a visitor to Whitewater State Park.

What campers like

Minimal insects: Many campers appreciate the low mosquito populations at certain sites. "Best part: very few mosquitoes!! (The cold, constantly moving water helps keep them away.) One of my favorite parks in the state of Minnesota," explains a Whitewater State Park visitor.

Privacy options: Some campgrounds offer secluded sites away from crowds. "We had the entire State Park to myself. It was super cool be eerie. Great hikes and the view from the top was worth it," recounts an off-season visitor to Whitewater State Park.

Clean facilities: Bathroom and shower quality receives consistent praise at Chester Woods Park. "The bathrooms and showers we pristine clean and close and easy to walk to. The beach was great and clean. Fishing was great," reports a camper who rated the park highly.

What you should know

Site spacing: Campsite proximity varies widely between locations. "This campground is small and quaint with plenty of space without being too close to your neighbors. Super easy to social distance here," notes a winter visitor to Whitewater State Park.

Winter camping: Cold weather camping options exist but require preparation. "Water is not on in the campground, but there is a spigot right across the road at the visitor center that is on. All spaces had a nice picnic table and fire ring. We had to dig to ours with a small snow shovel," explains a winter camper.

Road noise: Some locations experience traffic sounds. At Tilly's American Travelers RV Resort, a visitor mentioned "The only negative is the road noise," despite rating it as a "nice stop if you need close to Rochester."

Tips for camping with families

Beach access: Multiple parks offer swimming options for children. "The swimming beach is great for kids at Chester Woods. Not best for dogs not good with a busy place in the summer," advises one visitor to Chester Woods Patk.

Zoo visits: Families can combine camping with educational activities. "There is a free zoo and interactive area as well as several play equipment areas. They have activities at the zoo and plenty of hiking trails," mentions an Oxbow County Park visitor.

Rainy day alternatives: Plan for indoor options during inclement weather. "Despite the rain we had a great time! Because of the rain we went to the eagle center near Wisconsin. A must see if your looking for something indoors," suggests a Whitewater State Park camper.

Tips from RVers

Level sites: Pad quality varies between campgrounds. "Our site was large and easy to back into, all sites have a picnic table and fire ring," reports a Whitewater State Park RV camper, while another visitor to Autumn Woods RV Park noted, "Easy backing in, plenty of room. Some highway noise."

Hookup configurations: Water and electrical access varies by location. "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," explains a Chester Woods Park visitor.

Mayo Clinic proximity: Several RV parks cater specifically to medical visitors. "Nice RV park with flexible departure times for Mayo Clinic appointments. The only downfall in the park is they don't allow campfires at the sites. There is a community campfire that can be used," notes a visitor to Autumn Woods.

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Rochester, MN?

According to TheDyrt.com, Rochester, MN offers a wide range of camping options, with 124 campgrounds and RV parks near Rochester, MN and 3 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Rochester, MN?

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

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Rochester, MN?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 3 free dispersed camping spots near Rochester, MN.

Keep Exploring