Best Tent Camping near Welch, MN

The valleys and bluffs surrounding Welch, Minnesota offer several tent camping options, including established campgrounds at Afton State Park and Hidden Valley Campground. The Cannon River Wilderness Area, approximately 16 miles southwest of Welch, provides free tent camping with minimal amenities. These locations offer varying experiences from backpack-in sites with scenic river views to more developed campgrounds with basic facilities.

Most tent sites in the area require moderate preparation as amenities vary significantly between locations. At Afton State Park, backpackers must hike approximately one mile to reach tent sites, with the final quarter-mile featuring a steep uphill climb. Vault toilets are available at most established campgrounds, though drinking water access varies. According to reviews on The Dyrt, "Afton has curved the new wide groomed and wood chipped trail to spiral around the hill instead of a straight climb," making the hike-in more accessible for backpackers. The Cannon River Wilderness Area offers free primitive tent camping with toilet facilities but limited other amenities.

Tent campers frequently describe the secluded nature of sites in this region, particularly at Afton State Park where backpack-in sites provide greater privacy than typical drive-in campgrounds. As one visitor noted, "The campsite has an open space to play games as well as wooded areas all around," referring to group camping areas at Nerstrand Big Woods State Park. Many tent sites throughout the region feature fire rings and picnic tables, though campers should verify seasonal fire restrictions before planning trips. The terrain varies from wooded sites with ample shade to open prairie settings that offer different experiences throughout the camping season. Sites at Hidden Valley Campground operate seasonally from May through mid-October, while other area campgrounds maintain different operating schedules.

Best Tent Sites Near Welch, Minnesota (17)

    1. Afton State Park Campground

    36 Reviews
    Denmark, MN
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (651) 436-5391

    "Backpacking to the top hill sites has gotten easier as the park has curved the new wide groomed and wood chipped trail to spiral around the hill instead of a straight climb."

    "We did the backpack site so you hike in almost a mile and you go up on the ridge that's open in the middle but each site is heavily forested and some overlook the river."

    2. Nerstrand Big Woods State Park Campground

    35 Reviews
    Nerstrand, MN
    24 miles
    Website
    +1 (507) 333-4840

    "It's just a bit of a walk from the main campground and opposite of some very beautiful walk-in sites. The group campground has an open space to play games as well as wooded areas all around."

    "There are four “walk in” sites, and you can see one another from all of them. Sites 1 and 3 require a walk about three car lengths to the tent pad, and 4 is not much farther."

    3. Hidden Valley Campground

    1 Review
    Welch, MN
    1 mile
    +1 (651) 258-4550

    4. Hok-Si-La City Park & Campground

    7 Reviews
    Lake City, MN
    23 miles
    Website
    +1 (651) 345-3855

    $22 - $132 / night

    "The campground was very full that weekend but the group sites are spacious and well spaced out, (if you can I would recommend G4 or G5 right on the lake for group sites) you definitely don't feel like"

    "This is one of my favorite campgrounds in Southern Minnesota! It is only 1 1/2 hours away from the TwinCities which makes it an ideal getaway."

    7. William O'Brien State Park Campground

    39 Reviews
    Marine on St. Croix, MN
    45 miles
    Website
    +1 (651) 539-4980

    $16 - $250 / night

    "I camped here in April and got a camping spot on the edge of the River Campground facing the woods. I loved this spot and it was plenty big for parking two cars, tent, hammock, chairs, you name it!"

    "Our site was a non-electric site on the outside ring, with just a thin slip of woods and a hiking trail between us and the St. Croix river."

    8. Camp Sacajawea Retreat Center

    2 Reviews
    Apple Valley, MN
    25 miles
    Website
    +1 (952) 891-7000

    $50 / night

    9. Cannon River Wilderness Area

    2 Reviews
    Faribault, MN
    28 miles
    Website

    "We found a site tucked away from people which is what we like. We set up hammocks right next to the river."

    10. Tony’s Backyard

    2 Reviews
    Bloomington, MN
    32 miles
    +1 (612) 751-0908

    $45 - $60 / night

    "Tony's Backyard is new to the Dyrt and looking to share a camping spot with others.  Check them out and share your experience on the Dyrt!"

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Tent Camping Reviews near Welch, MN

624 Reviews of 17 Welch Campgrounds


  • Kelly S.
    May. 2, 2018

    Frontenac State Park Campground

    Early Season Experience

    We spent a single night here at site 37. The site was great, the privacy was okay, and the campground itself was slightly above average.

    Our site was huge. It could have easily accommodated an RV and a tent. There was a campfire ring and picnic table there like each site, but ours also had a tent pad and a very long parking spot. We were tent camping. This was the first tent pad I have ever been able to stake down without bending or breaking stakes and needing a mallet. The site was also close to a few of the trailheads. See pictures. Would recommend site 37 any day.

    The privacy was nonexistent because there were no leaves on the trees yet. In the summer, that might change. There are trees between sites.

    The campground itself was okay. The ranger and lady in the office when we stopped in were a little strange, but helpful. They were out of wood, but there is a DNR certified seller not a mile down the road- you can get more wood for cheaper there anyway. In MN, you need to get your firewood from the state park you are at or a certified seller in the same county to prevent the spread of tree pests and disease. The ranger can and will stop at your site and ask to see your seller card from the wood. The rest of the campground was nice. Many water spigots were still frozen, but there isn't much to be done about that. Overall, I would definitely recommend this campground!

  • Amy G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 30, 2021

    Rice Creek Campgrounds

    Spaced out nicely and they have a tent only loop!

    I booked this on a whim since we needed an overnight close to the State Fair.  I loved the look of the "TENT ONLY" loop - you don't see this often - so it was a good fit.  Seemed that the whole campground was booked up and I assumed, for a similar reason.  The State Fair.

    Booking was fairly easy through their website, and you can "hover" over the sites to see a photo of it.  I chose the one I wanted and hoped it would be what we wanted it to be.

    You DO need a park pass to stay at the campground.

    We arrived after dark, but in the dark you could still tell it was lovely.  I couldn't see any neighbor on the one side where there was a campsite (the other was a field...which is why I chose it). So we set up a tent, enjoyed the last of the evening and crawled into our bags.

    In the morning, when I could see everything, I was thoroughly impressed by the space, the maintenance of the property, the size of the campsites.  All of them were impressive and big!  A few were only separated by swathes of grass, but most had enough trees you couldn't see your neighbor.  And the fact that this loop (F LOOP) was "tent only" meant no generators! It was very quiet!   There were port-o-potties (cleaned about every 3 days) and a centrally located water source (potable) that was in the middle of everything for easy access by everyone. The spaces seemed fairly level, lots of mature trees, fire rings at all of them (with cooking grates that flipped out of the way) and picnic tables at most (resin tables, not wood).

    I took a quick look at the other loops.  The tent/small trailer loop didn't appear to have electric either.  And the RV loops obviously did.  All were very nice!  And there is a shower house (didn't go in) that was for all to use if you had a site.

    We'd stay here again in a heartbeat.

    **I've seen the other reviews here which seem to be based on the bugs.  I know that bugs are part of camping, so I don't review based on that, but I'll add details, if needed.  This one didn't have many, but it was raining, so I'm sure that factored in.  When I camp, I come prepared and I try to focus on reviewing the campsite itself, not the bugs, which I can not control.  I can, however, come prepared for them**

  • Lee D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jan. 12, 2025

    Highland Ridge

    Beautiful but buggy!

    General: Smallish (38 sites plus four walk-in sites) Army Corps of Engineers campground. Some (see below) have electric hookups but no water or sewer hookups, however, there is a dump station. 

    Site Quality: All sites are gravel/dirt (except for the ADA-accessible site), and most are very generous in size. Our site (7) sloped down but leveled out with plenty of room for our campervan at the bottom. All sites are wooded with trees providing separation/privacy between sites. Completing the site are a metal picnic table, fire ring, and lantern hook. 

    Bath/Shower House: Sites 28-38 only have vault toilets (but you could trek to the other campground loop). Sites 1—27 have flush toilets and showers. They were very clean, and I especially appreciated the fact that they were cleaned daily before 6 am, a shout out to the camp host! The shower was great– warm water and great flow, although our friends (who arrived two days before we did) had cold showers when the campground was full.

    Activities: Several short hiking trails. I give this campground 4 stars instead of 5 because Eau Galle Reservoir (Lake George) is about a 10-minute drive from the campground. Most Corps of Engineers campgrounds are located right on the water. There are no amenities (rentals, etc.) offered at the lake but it is small and beautiful, and we enjoyed a peaceful paddle. We saw a couple of people fishing on the lake and there is a small swimming area. At the campground, there was an interpretive center, but it was locked when we were there. There is also a nice, modern playground. 

    Aside from the plentiful bugs (in August), we enjoyed our two-night stay at this campground!

  • Mary S.
    Aug. 16, 2018

    Frontenac State Park Campground

    Shady, quiet campground in the woods with short hiking opportunities

    Campground Design

    I like that it's split into 4 small loops (1-11, 12-28, 29-38 and 39-59). There shouldn't be much traffic in any one loop. It's a very shady campground - lots of trees so it's quite dark at night with no stargazing from your site.

    Our site #42 was right next to #40 and there's not much privacy between the 2 sites. There's a lot more distance and privacy between #42 and #44. In general, sites are fairly close together but there are some trees in between.

    I thought we might be closer to the Mississippi River, but the campground is located above the river (called Pepin Lake at this wide point). You can hike down to the river; the steep descent makes the short hike more interesting. There are Lower and Upper Bluff trails as well as other short, connected trails throughout the park. (See photo of trail map.)

    Tent Campers

    There are 6 'cart in' sites, but they are about 1/2 mile away from the main campground and on the other side of the road. Park, put your gear in a cart, and walk about 1/4 mile to your site (C1 through C6). 

    Special rule for these sites: You have to pay $2 to use the showers at the main campground! Your camping rate is $15 instead of $23 for a non-electric site. If a cart in site doesn't appeal to you, the regular sites are good for tents; many have tent pads. There are also a couple backpacker sites.

    Amenities

    • Picnic table and fire ring on each site. Some sites have a tent pad. The 'rule of 3' says you can have 3 'units' on a site - 2 tents + vehicle, RV + rent +vehicle,... - One restroom with flush toilets, sinks and showers (old but no temperature control) located near the road in front of the loop with sites 12-28. We were in the last loop on site 42, and there was a pit toilet that smelled okay but had lots of flies.

    • Some electric sites ($31) in the first 2 loops; the map (see photo) has an 'e' next to the site number and so does the post at the site.

    • Dump station that includes a potable water filling station. There are water spigots in the camping areas.

    • Trash dumpsters and recycle bins.

    Extra fees

    • There's a $7 reservation fee for online or phone reservations, and the site posts indicate you need to 'reserve' the site before you set up camp.  You avoid that fee by showing up without a reservation when the office is open, but I wouldn't do that on a Friday or Saturday in the summer. You can always get a sense of whether showing up without a reservation is feasible by checking availability online. It also looks like you avoid the fee if you reserve online on the day you stay.

    • $7 entry fee per day is standard in MN parks. A $35 pass is good for 12 months.

  • 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.

  • Jennifer H.
    Sep. 21, 2020

    Afton State Park Campground

    New groomed backpack trails

    Site 27. This is a river landscape. Spiders and snakes..oh my. The parking lot is paved and has a dumpster. This is also where the nature center is. There are often music festivals and family events here. It is also next to Afton Ski resort. This park has a lot of beautiful prairie landscape with some temperate forest features. Wildflowers, shrubs, fungi, evergreens, and deciduous trees. Backpacking to the top hill sites has gotten easier as the park has curved the new wide groomed and wood chipped trail to spiral around the hill instead of a straight climb. There is a solar panel generated drinking water pump at the top and a honor system fire wood station. There is a bathroom, but not super close to this site. This site has a fire pit with grate and table but no bear box. This site does have a clear view to the trail and the site next to it, but it is set back a little bit. I can hear the joggers along the trail that wraps around the site. The sites are mapped out on a wide open prairie ground with some sites tucked back in the trees along the trail. There is not a water front view, but there is plenty of wildlife. The dear and flowers are beautiful. There is partial tree covering but we did bring a tarp for the rain.

  • 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.

  • Steph H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 17, 2017

    Afton State Park Campground

    Great spot close to but away from the cities

    Love love love this park! We did the backpack site so you hike in almost a mile and you go up on the ridge that's open in the middle but each site is heavily forested and some overlook the river. During the late spring, summer and early fall months you can't really see the river but if you do it after the leaves drop or before they come in then you'll have a great view of the river. Our site is off of the main trail so you have a nice little hike in and it feels very secluded and you have a nice even gravel tent pad that's raised up as well as a fire pit and picnic table. There is not a lot of room to play at your campsite but if you just take your trail up to the main trail then it opens up. Off the main trail you will also find vault toilets and firewood that you just have to saw yourself with the saw that is provided. You are surrounded by excellent hiking trails including some great single track as well as a great beach on the St. Croix River that is also very clean. The raccoons are not messing around so make sure to secure your food inside your tent or in a well fortified cooler otherwise you'll be listening to them ravage your site as you try to sleep at night.

  • Tracy O.
    May. 25, 2021

    Sakatah Lake State Park Campground

    Close drive to Minneopa!

    We stayed here while visiting Minneopa state park. The campground was nice. It was mid April so no water at the sites but had electric in ours. We were able to get potable water at the entrance. And firewood. Had great trails to walk and bike on. Sites are spaced out. Our 34’ trailer fit easily. Vault toilets on site. Bathrooms were closed (covid). The loops near the entrance had more shade. Spaces are large and accommodating!


Guide to Welch

The Cannon Valley and St. Croix River regions surrounding Welch, Minnesota offer diverse tent camping opportunities from primitive wilderness sites to more developed options with basic amenities. Located at approximately 700 feet elevation, the area experiences warm summers with temperatures averaging 75-85°F and cool nights, making it ideal for tent camping from late spring through early fall. Seasonal flooding can affect lower-elevation sites near the Cannon River, particularly during spring snowmelt.

What to do

Hiking trails: Several campgrounds near Welch feature extensive trail networks through diverse ecosystems. At William O'Brien State Park, one camper noted, "We loved the trails. It was easy to takes hikes of varying lengths. There were so many different kinds of birds, and the wildflowers were blooming and ferns were unfurling - so many shades of green!" The park offers both prairie and woodland trails suitable for different skill levels.

Swimming beaches: During summer months, several camping areas provide water access for swimming. At Hok-Si-La City Park, visitors appreciate "the nice little swimming beach" with one reviewer mentioning "great lake access for swimming and a shower houses (bring your quarters though, showers cost 50 cents for 3 minutes)." Most swimming areas lack lifeguards, so appropriate water safety precautions should be followed.

Seasonal wildlife viewing: The diverse habitats around Welch support varied wildlife observation opportunities. One camper at Hok-Si-La noted, "On our last stay, we were able to watch eagles from our campsite, which was amazing." Spring and fall migrations bring additional bird species through the area, making these seasons particularly good for wildlife enthusiasts.

What campers like

Secluded group sites: Many campers value the privacy of group camping options in the area. At Hok-Si-La, one reviewer mentioned, "The group sites are spacious and well spaced out... you definitely don't feel like you are on top of each other or another group." Another camper noted these sites are "spacious and the cleanest outhouses I have ever seen."

Water access: The region's rivers and lakes are major draws for tent campers. One camper at Cannon River Wilderness Area shared, "We found a site tucked away from people which is what we like. We set up hammocks right next to the river." These primitive sites require hiking in gear approximately 10 minutes from parking areas.

Fall camping: The changing colors make autumn a popular time for tent camping in the region. A visitor to Nerstrand Big Woods State Park stated, "This is a great campground for Fall camping. The color's are amazing. Nice hiking trails." The park's deciduous forest creates particularly vibrant seasonal displays from mid-September through mid-October.

What you should know

Seasonal closures: Operating schedules vary significantly across campgrounds near Welch. Nerstrand Big Woods operates from "April 1 to October 23," while some smaller campgrounds have more limited seasons. One camper noted, "Sites at Hidden Valley Campground operate seasonally from May through mid-October."

Primitive facilities: Several wilderness camping areas offer minimal amenities. A camper at Cannon River Wilderness Area explained, "The 2 camp sites are a good little hike in and you have to backpack everything you need in." These free sites include pit toilets but no potable water sources.

Reservation requirements: Most established campgrounds require advance bookings, especially during peak summer weekends. At William O'Brien, one camper observed, "Weekends have been packed and reservations scarce for months at state parks in Minnesota. Arriving on a Sunday afternoon was a dream—very few people in the campground loop."

Tips for camping with families

Cabin alternatives: For families new to camping, several parks offer cabin accommodations. At Afton State Park, one visitor described their experience: "Camper Cabin (Eastern Bluebird) - Perfect little cabin nestled in the southern half of the park! Screened in porch, heated with electricity, and two double bunk beds!" These cabins typically require booking 3-6 months in advance.

Tent site selection: When tent camping with children, site location becomes particularly important. One camper at Nerstrand explained, "The tent pad was very spacious and flat, great for sleeping! The bathroooms and showers were clean and well lit." Sites closest to bathrooms are typically preferred for families with young children.

Nature programs: Several parks offer ranger-led programs suitable for families. A visitor at William O'Brien mentioned, "We walked some trail through a frozen marsh landscape and happened upon a railroad that passed above our trail with a beautiful tunnel-overpass." Many programs are scheduled during summer weekends and holidays.

Tips from RVers

Site limitations: Most tent-focused campgrounds near Welch have restrictions for RV camping. At Nerstrand, one RVer noted, "There's some sites that are tricky to back a trailer into, which would have been helped by some maintenance - there were LOTS of branches that needed to be trimmed back." Confirming site dimensions before booking is essential.

Seasonal considerations: RV camping in the area presents different challenges throughout the season. A camper at Nerstrand observed, "Sites were great but a little wet. Some of the south trails are closed because its too wet." Spring camping often faces muddier conditions, while fall typically offers drier sites.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Welch, MN is Afton State Park Campground with a 4.6-star rating from 36 reviews.

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

TheDyrt.com has all 17 tent camping locations near Welch, MN, with real photos and reviews from campers.