Best Tent Camping near Stewartville, MN
State parks and public lands surrounding Stewartville, Minnesota offer diverse tent camping options within a short drive. Whitewater State Park, located about 20 miles east, features the secluded Gooseberry Glen Cart-in Campground with walk-in tent sites along a stream. Schmidt Farm by Forestville, situated southeast of Stewartville, provides hike-in tent-only sites with access to both private trails and Forestville State Park. Houston Nature Center, approximately 30 miles southeast, maintains a tent-only campground at the trailhead of the Root River State Bike Trail. Nerstrand Big Woods State Park, though farther north, offers walk-in tent sites with large pea gravel tent pads and wooded surroundings.
Most tent campsites in the region feature fire rings and picnic tables, with varying levels of additional amenities. Walk-in sites typically require carrying gear short distances from parking areas, with some parks providing carts to transport equipment. Tent pads range from flat dirt surfaces to upgraded pea gravel bases that drain well after rain. Primitive tent camping areas like Oak Ridge in R.J.D. Memorial Hardwood State Forest offer minimal facilities but greater seclusion. Most parks maintain clean vault toilets near tent camping areas, while larger facilities like Nerstrand Big Woods and Houston Nature Center provide shower buildings. Firewood is generally available for purchase on-site, and many parks implement seasonal fire restrictions during dry periods.
The outer non-electric sites at Nerstrand Big Woods State Park provide better privacy for tent campers, according to visitors. One camper noted that "sites are wooded so you don't have neighbor issues" and appreciated the "large pea gravel tent pads." At Gooseberry Glen in Whitewater State Park, tent sites offer a balance of seclusion and convenience, with one visitor describing the experience as "quiet, woodsy and secluded" while noting "all we could hear was the stream." Fall camping is particularly popular for tent campers seeking colorful foliage and fewer insects. Schmidt Farm by Forestville receives praise for its "secluded campsites" that aren't "side by side with others," making it ideal for backcountry tent camping experiences with ample space for multiple tents.
