Campgrounds near New Ulm, Minnesota range from state park tent sites to lake-access camping, covering a variety of settings within a short drive. Minneopa State Park stands out with its bison herd and waterfalls you can hike to. Fort Ridgely State Park Campground connects campers with both history and nice prairie views. If you're looking for a quieter place to fish, Lake Auburn Campground works well with its lake access and places to eat outdoors. You'll find basic stuff like bathrooms and tables at all these places. Minneopa has both regular flush toilets and vault toilets depending on which part of the park you're in. Getting to these campgrounds is pretty easy - the roads are in good shape. Keep in mind that deer and lots of birds live in these areas, so store your food properly to keep critters out of your campsite. Spring and fall camping tends to be the most comfortable with better temperatures. Summers can get hot, so bring plenty of water and shade. Some people do camp in winter, but you'll need serious cold-weather gear. These New Ulm area campgrounds are well-suited for overnight stays, with easy access to local attractions and outdoor recreation.
$22 - $85 / night
"Park is right on the edge of New Ulm which is a beautiful small town with strong German heritage and lots to see and do."
"Campsites were close together but that is to be expected at some state parks with drive-ins."
$24 - $85 / night
"The other direction is the BISON DRIVE. Yes, you can actually drive amongst bison if the road is open."
"We arrived there around sundown, and set up camp in the spot we reserved. The view was absolutely beautiful over the hills, with the forest giving us cover from the bright sun rays in the a.m."
$24 - $85 / night
"It's a great park in an area of Minnesota that is not well traveled. There's also a lot of history here with an interesting museum on the U.S.-Dakota Conflict of 1862."
"I arrived close to evening and drove through the site. There was not another soul in site. The building on the hill was closed so, I figured I better just find my campsite for the night."
"A 5k paves trail that goes around the lake connecting the campground to the park on the other side of the lake, bike rentals (using an app on your phone), the lake to fish/kayak/boat, a beach on the opposite"
"Perfect close to home campground. The lake provides plenty of opportunities for fishing and recreational water sports. Has a free bike rental on site and paved trails."
"This is an excellent city park with full hook ups located right on the river. Be aware the area is prone to flooding and this can bring a lot of bugs. However the campgrounds are clean and secure."
"Overall this camp site was a great place to stop while we were driving to the Badlands."
"Very nice little quiet campground on the outside edge of Mankato. Very nice people and easy to work with. Not really up do date with technology for booking and such but over all great place."
"Great golf course right next to it. Nice large sites and great price. 27.00 for pull through and full hook-up. We have always had friendly people staying next to us."
"Beautiful location in the woods witha stream next to it. There are a few water pumps and some outhouses. All sites have a picnic table and fire ring. Restaurant onsite is fantastic."
"Has a awesome family owned drive thru fast food shop at the entrance. The river is perfect for paddle boarding."
"county parks manager is friendly and knowledgeable if you need to call during business hours. plenty of wood to forage (allowed) also some nice wood at registration station for a donation. fort ridgley close by"
$10 / night
"Gulley that a large creek runs through surrounded by trees and large forested hills."
"Near Henderson, MN which is one of a kind small town well worth the visit for all. This is rustic with no hookups except very clean portapotty and hand lever water jack."
"Located in a county park grounds, Shady Oaks is a quiet, no frills RV park. Sites have electric and water. The spaces are nicely spread out, not to crammed in together. A river runs by one side."
GuideNice little campground six sites has dump station and water to fill up with electricity 30 amp and 50 amp hookup works well $10 a night no electricity $20 a night with electricity I have a 40 ft class A and I made it fit with my toad, three day limit but I just need a place for the night
RangerWe camped in the non electric area. All of the sites are easy to back into and fairly flat. Some sites could use more gravel and become very muddy after a hard rain. All sites are good sized, most have vegetation between them for a feeling of more privacy. Sites on outer ring has shaded sites, some sites in the inner ring don’t have much shade.
Has a GREAT swimming pool, sand bottom and maintained.
Bathrooms (men’s) was wall maintained and clean. Showers were also clean, one has a missing bench to sit on. Vault toilets are very clean and had been pumped out recently.
Trails are nice, have some nice views of the park. Some beautiful spring woodland flowers are blooming at the end of May this year.
One trail goes past the Scheels Brewery, second oldest brewery in the country. They give tours and have a gift shop.
The river was flowing fast, had more rain so the level also went up fast. Would be good for an experienced kayaking.
Electric sites are very open and not much privacy, fairly level.
The park also has cabins to rent that were all being used. There is also a STONE CCC cabin that can be rented and looked from the outside to be well maintained and a new roof on it.
Baby turtles were hatching, watch out to not step on them as they slowly make their way to water!
The campground is down in a valley so can get stuffy but usually has a breeze flowing through the campground.
GuideThis place is spectacular,u have to walk down to the creek. God's work. Beautiful
ScoutI loved it here, i was planning to pass through and go to another park but when i got to the other park it was full of people and not very peaceful. So they were nice enough to let me come back to the spot I was in and i stayed for the month there instead. Really good kind people work there and anything that comes up is usually handled right away. Its a hidden Gem a lot of people dont seem to know about so it doesn't get jam packed.
ScoutI called and they said there was a payment box. No box. She said no bathrooms or water. I was fine with that. Although there was someone else there set up. Not sure how they got electric because it was paddle locked. It was down in the 30’s. Good thing I had an electric blanket. The Jackery kept running. Stayed warm with that. Very nosy.
LegendThis is a very nice city park with electric sites, tent sites, and restrooms with showers. Website says it's open until the end of October this year. The website is where you can reserve online or get the phone number to call during office hours M-F. We phoned and it was an easy process, $30/night for an electric site. That said, there's no instructions in the park that I could see that directs you on how to pay... so I can see that confusing to people just pulling up. With it being off-season and mid-week, there wasn't anyone around to enforce reservations... so I'm assuming the two vehicle dwellers that pulled in late and left early didn't pay. Overall, the place felt safe (it's right behind the police station) and cell service was great. The city did great making this campground feel like it's not right in the middle of a city. Two trains did go through and blast their horns at 2AM, so bring ear plugs if you're a light sleeper.
GuideWe stayed at the rustic campsites and weren’t impressed. The sites felt very exposed and were directly under black walnut trees, which were noisy and uncomfortable when the nuts dropped—especially in the fall. Definitely clear the walnuts before setting up a tent. The rustic bathrooms were poor, and the nicer running water bathrooms required a drive to reach.
The regular (non-rustic) sites were even more crowded, packed with RVs and lacking privacy. On top of that, planes flew overhead constantly from about 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.—so loud and frequent it felt like a flight school was nearby. Mosquitoes were also heavy, likely from the large marsh in the park.
The nearby town of New Ulm was very charming, but overall, I wouldn’t camp here again.
Traveleri didn't expect this pretty town and state park to emerge from the surrounding small farm towns i'd been driving through. i'm the only one at the "rustic campground", $7 to camp, and really beautiful. the only thing rustic is no hookups for an RV tho they have a campground for that too.
TravelerI love the location and how quiet it is and secluded each spot is
Camping spots near New Ulm, Minnesota offer a mix of prairie, river valley, and wooded terrain within the Minnesota River Valley region. Most campgrounds in this area sit at elevations between 800-1,000 feet above sea level, with summer temperatures averaging 70-85°F during peak camping season. The area's unique landscape features deep ravines carved by creeks feeding into the Minnesota River, creating distinctive camping environments with varying levels of tree cover.
Explore historic sites: At Fort Ridgely State Park Campground, campers can learn about the 1862 U.S.-Dakota Conflict while enjoying the scenic views. "The historical fort site has lots of great information and signage around the excavations," notes Liz H.
Wade in creek waters: Many campgrounds feature accessible waterways perfect for cooling off in summer. "The creek through the campground is beautiful and the sound of water over the rock is great for sleeping. The creek is cool temperature even in July but kids have fun swimming and splashing," reports Tom about Fort Ridgely.
Hike ravine trails: High Island Creek Park offers unique hiking opportunities. "Beautiful trails leading you down the revenue to a gentle flowing creek. One of me and my hubbies favorite drop in campsites!" writes Alison O. Another visitor mentioned, "During a hot day, I took my two dogs and we hiked to a nearby river. We cooled off and enjoyed the peace and quiet."
Visit the bison herd: A short drive at Minneopa State Park lets you observe bison in their natural habitat. "Have to pay for a separate vehicle pass but that gets you access to the bison refuge and the waterfall," explains Shane T.
Secluded campsites: Rapidan Dam County Park offers privacy between sites. "Lots of sites all separated by trees. Has a awesome family owned drive thru fast food shop at the entrance. The river is perfect for paddle boarding," says Nick G.
Sand-bottom swimming pools: Flandrau State Park features a unique swimming area. "The sand bottom pool wasn't opened but we've used it on past visits and always enjoyed it. Sites are well maintained and the staff is friendly," notes Alec S.
Winter camping options: For off-season visitors, camping remains available at select parks. "Stayed in a camper cabin during the winter and it was lovely! The park was so quiet and trails were great for both hiking and snowshoeing," shares Ellen F. about Fort Ridgely State Park.
Free camping sites: Budget-conscious campers appreciate no-cost options. "Nice clean campground very well maintained and free. Near Henderson, MN which is one of a kind small town well worth the visit for all," explains Mike G. about High Island Creek Park. "Pick where to park in nice large grassy areas. A few areas are next to wild and deep ravines."
Site privacy varies significantly: Land of Memories Campground offers different levels of seclusion. "The spots with the most privacy are here by the river. Other spots inside the park are more exposed," notes Skip H.
Some campgrounds flood: Seasonal water levels affect accessibility. "We stayed in site 21 in late August of 2019. It's obvious that the park had some heavy flooding earlier in the year. A lot of the waterfront sites became sandy," reports Nicole L. about Fort Ridgely.
Toilet facilities range widely: Bathroom amenities differ between parks and loops. "The bathroom has nice showers, and running water in the sinks, but has pit toilets. The horse campground has upgraded restrooms and showers but I never checked it out because it was so far away," Nicole explains about Fort Ridgely.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Beyond bison, area campgrounds host diverse wildlife. "Had tons of peaceful animal visitors including herds of white tail deer walking through our camp ground! Owls and coyotes singing in the distance," reports Alison O.
Try bike rentals: Sportsman Park offers cycling options for kids. "There is lots to keep the kids busy here! A 5k paves trail that goes around the lake connecting the campground to the park on the other side of the lake, bike rentals (using an app on your phone)," recommends Allysa K.
Multiple playground options: Parks with varied play areas work well for different age groups. "Playgrounds (small one in campground, medium on next to lake, and large one on other side of lake if you follow the paved trail), and even a little Library!" continues Allysa about Sportsman Park.
Choose creekside sites carefully: Water access can benefit families but requires supervision. "Each site has a picnic table and fire ring. Bathroom and showers are in the campground and there is wood available for purchase. Lot of day use and activity," notes Tori K. about Flandrau State Park.
Consider seasonal timing: Mosquitoes affect family camping comfort. "Mosquitoes were bad, everyone came home covered in bites. Kids had a blast playing in the creek," notes Nicole L. about Fort Ridgely.
Site spacing considerations: RV campers should research site arrangements before booking. "The sites are close together but that is to be expected at some state parks with drive-ins," explains Jacqueline K. about Flandrau State Park.
Hookup information: Utility options vary among parks. "Camp sites are very close together. Hiking circles around a buffalo enclosure, you have to drive to a different area of the park to experience the waterfalls," notes Amelia B. about Minneopa State Park.
Arrival timing matters: "Friday morning before weekend is best to get there in case of horse trailers to get nicer spot. Sometimes only a few campers are there. Call ahead to stay overnight so sheriff is aware," suggests Mike G. about High Island Creek Park.
Easy-access options: For larger RVs, some parks offer better accessibility. "This campground offers electric and non-electric sites. I'd recommend that anyone looking to visit Minneopa come here if you have a large rig. The logistics are far easier here, and you're still close to the bison," advises Skip H. about Land of Memories Campground.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping options are available near New Ulm for tent campers?
Tent campers near New Ulm have several excellent options. High Island Creek Park offers a beautiful setting in a forested gulley with a large creek running through it. The park allows hikers to trek in about half a mile to find secluded tent spots surrounded by nature. Red Fox Campground at Minneopa State Park provides designated tent sites with varying levels of privacy across their A and B loops. For more rustic experiences, county parks like Mack Lake offer hike-in tent camping opportunities. Most locations provide basic amenities like fire rings, picnic tables, and access to toilets while maintaining a natural setting.
What amenities are available at Flandrau State Park camping area?
Flandrau State Park offers campsites arranged in rings, with the inner sites positioned closer together with limited privacy vegetation between them. The park provides basic amenities including picnic tables and fire pits at each site, with nearby bathroom facilities. The campground is located within a beautiful park setting with hiking trails and is staffed by friendly park personnel. Its proximity to New Ulm's attractions is a significant advantage for campers wanting to explore the area. The park's natural beauty makes up for the somewhat close quarters of some campsites.
Where are the best campgrounds in New Ulm, Minnesota?
Flandrau State Park stands out as a premier camping destination right on the edge of New Ulm, offering convenient access to the town's German heritage attractions. For those seeking a quieter experience, South Dutch Charlie Creek provides well-maintained sites with a peaceful atmosphere. Both locations offer basic amenities like picnic tables and fire pits. Other excellent options within a short drive include Minneopa State Park with its bison herd and Beaver Falls County Park with creek-side camping spots perfect for fishing enthusiasts.
How much does camping cost in New Ulm, MN?
Camping costs in the New Ulm area vary by location and amenities. At Beaver Falls County Park, rustic camping spots with basic amenities like picnic tables and fire pits are available at county park rates. State parks such as Sakatah Lake State Park Campground typically charge between $15-30 per night depending on amenities and season. Many Minnesota state parks also require a vehicle permit ($7 daily or $35 annual). County parks like High Island Creek and South Dutch Charlie often offer more affordable rates, sometimes with self-registration stations for after-hours arrival.
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