Near Rushford, Minnesota, camping options span across southeastern Minnesota and into western Wisconsin, with sites at elevations between 650 and 900 feet. The Root River flows through the area, providing water recreation opportunities for campers during spring through fall. Winter temperatures can drop below 0°F while summer averages 70-85°F.
What to do
Biking on Root River Trail: Eagle Cliff Campground in Lanesboro sits adjacent to this popular trail. "This is an amazing campground. The Root River goes right alongside most of the campsites which creates a really peaceful space. There's a great bike trail that weaves in and out of cute small towns and the campgrounds also offer canoe, kayak, and tubing rentals to go down the river," notes a visitor at Eagle Cliff Campground.
Water recreation: Many campgrounds offer river access. "We stayed in site 211 which was ok - shaded, etc. but the ticket is the sites by the water, either riverside or bay side. If you're on the bay side you can bring your boat and beach it right by your campsite," reports one camper at Pettibone Resort.
Historical exploration: Small towns near rv parks around Rushford contain historical sites. "It was great fun for me to take a morning and/or evening walk around Peterson, a lovely quintessential midwest town, with a feed mill, some lodging, a small cafe, Legion bar, etc. Lots of signage around town about history," writes a visitor to Peterson City RV Park.
What campers like
River views: Waterfront sites are consistently rated highest. "We got a spot right on the river. Wonderful campground," mentions a reviewer at Pettibone Resort, which sits on an island in the Mississippi River near La Crosse.
Clean facilities: Modern bathrooms receive frequent praise. "The bathrooms are clean and so are the sites. Lots of pull through sites and full hook ups. They have two pools and a hot tub," notes a camper at Neshonoc Lakeside.
Quiet atmosphere: Several campgrounds enforce strict quiet hours. "This is a very nice campground with a variety of sites. They have several on the rivers edge which are by far the best! They are sticklers on the quiet time after 10 or 11pm," reports a visitor to Eagle Cliff Campground.
What you should know
Cell service details: Coverage varies significantly by carrier. "AT&T had 2-3 bars of LTE and Verizon 1 bar of LTE service. AT&T Speedtest: 146 Mbps down, 4.8 Mbps up. Verizon Speedtest: 16 Mbps down, 0.14 Mbps up," reports a visitor to Pettibone Resort.
Reservation timing: Summer weekends fill quickly. "We stayed on a Friday in July, and the RV sites were about half full," notes a visitor to Peterson City RV Park, suggesting mid-week availability is better.
Winter limitations: Most Rushford area rv parks close seasonally. "Great campground. Easy backing in, plenty of room. Some highway noise," mentions a visitor to Autumn Woods RV Park, one of the few open from February to October.
Tips for camping with families
Swimming options: Some campgrounds feature dedicated swimming areas. "They also have a beautiful white sand beach around a 1-acre swim pond. The water was the color of the Caribbean with these huge blow-up toys and slides in the middle. Kids loved it," reports a visitor to Whiskey Creek Family RV Park.
Playground access: Several campgrounds maintain play areas. "The park includes a nice playground, horse shoes, a shelter, and HUGE open spaces for your badminton, croquet, or other games," describes a camper at Peterson City RV Park.
Scheduled activities: Weekend events can keep kids entertained. "Planned themes and activities on the weekends, great fun for the whole family. Enjoyed the nature trails and fly fishing for trout on the riverbank," notes a visitor to Whiskey Creek Family RV Park.
Tips from RVers
Site leveling requirements: Bring leveling blocks for some locations. "Sites are gravel and pretty level. Only a little leveling was needed," mentions a visitor to Nelson's Landing RV Park.
Utility placement: Hookup locations can vary. "Our challenge was that we arrived after dark, and the site numbers were posted at the back end of the sites, necessitating a sleuthing operation with my flashlight to find our site," notes an RVer at Nelson's Landing.
Big rig considerations: Space constraints exist at some locations. "Campsites are very closely spaced together. I was thankful no one was placed near our campsite to give us more room. The parking pads are very unlevel. Also oddly spaced power hook up with sewer and water placements," reports a visitor to Hidden Meadows RV Park.
