Nerstrand

Pets

Electricity Hookup

Toilets

Campfires

Showers

Potable water

Sewage Hookup

Picnic table

A quick snapshot my awesome friend, Kyle took of me admiring the scenery and waterfall. 

Willow River Campground

Camp at Willows River Campground to bring out your inner hiker

Willow River State Park

Wooded gorges and cascading waterfalls provide a scenic backdrop.

Find & reserve the best beach, lake, and river, stream, or creek campsites near Nerstrand, Minnesota. Tent, cabin & RV camp on private & State Parks, on local farms, vineyards & nature preserves.

The best waterside campgrounds near Nerstrand, Minnesota

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Waterfall in the adjacent park is a 500 foot walk down the trail.

Prairie Creek Campground

Thank you for a great 2025 Camping Season!  This was our best year yet! We hosted more Hipcamers than any year before and are excited to have been honored again with a Best in Minnesota award.  Thank you and we look forward to 2026.  

Pitch your tent at one of our Walk-In forest campsites on 60 acres along Prairie Creek in Rice County, MN.  Explore the creeks, trails, forest, our enormous granite "split rock" erratic, a 60 acre county park featuring waterfalls and trails, including a single track mountain bike trail.  That's 120 acres of exploring outside your tent; this campground truly offers a large amount of remote forest for recreation right on site.

Big Woods State Park is less than 2 miles away.  Faribault is 8 miles and Northfield is 9 miles from our driveway; they offer dining, boutiques, and all other amenities.  Nerstrand is 4.5 miles east and has a gas station and a fantastic meat market.  Numerous Cannon River put-ins are within 10 miles.

We do not have firewood available at the campground; please plan ahead to bring firewood with you.  

A map of the land is in the photos and shows locations of sites, parking and more.  All Sites are Walk-In!  We have a cart you may use to haul gear in.

Vehicles: Our main parking area by sites 1, 2, & 3 is easily accessible.  The road to the secondary parking area beside our hilltop site 4 is up an adventurous gravel road (but is very accessible).

Kids under 16 camping with their parents do not count in pricing.

This campground is managed by Stephen and Molly on land owned by them and their father Ted.  In 1961, Stephen's grandparents bought this farm. In addition to farming they also operated a trail riding stable here. Over the years, the arable land has been sold, but we retained the wooded areas which are twice crossed by creeks.  About 30 years ago, a 60 acre county park bordering the south and west sides of our land was created.

We are very excited to host campers as a way to preserve and share this beautiful property.

The Split Rock!  This enormous feature is a granite glacial erratic.  It was deposited here as the Wisconsin Glaciation receded approximately 18,000 years ago.  
Its natural split is wide enough to walk through and the view from the top is excellent!

The terrain is mostly deciduous forest.  A creek meanders through the main camping area.

Harbor Bar

Located at Harbor Bar across from Red Wing MN. said to be on one of the prettiest spots on the Mississippi river. Fish from shore in one of the best fisheries in the country. Full restaurant & bar with live music on weekends.
Learn more about this land:
Pitch your tent along the banks of the mighty Mississippi river. bar, restaurant, outdoor music festivals, fishing. View pretty Red Wing from across the river. Located on one of the prettiest spots on the Mississippi river.

Wifi

Cozy Lakeside Cottage Guestroom

Spend some cozy downtime enjoying a fire and the peacefulness of 4 acre lake property.

Take a hot shower and sleep in a comfortable bed- all for less than a hotel room!  It’s like glamping.

**We do require a photo of a valid government ID from all members of your party, immediately after booking.  The host will tell you how to send this.  If not received within the specified time frame, your booking will be cancelled and you will not receive check in information.  

This property:

Cozy lakeside cottage that sleeps two, with level lawn space nearby that will fit two additional tents in your group.  Dedicated private space is in lower level backyard with access to dock* (*May -September), lake and wildlife wetlands with boardwalk.  You'll see the setting sun from the end of the dock and have access to a paver patio firepit.  Private 3/4 bath and comfortable TV room is 60 steps away in the house.  Mostly private spaces with some shared spaces such as driveway, hallways, sometimes we cross paths in the yard.  Mystic Lake Casino, Canterbury Downs, renaissance fest,  Valleyfair, & many other area lakes besides the 600 acre all sports lake that the property is located on are in the immediate area.  For location purposes, we are located 3.7 miles of the Prior Lake, MN McDonald's. 

The basic price of $80 per night&nbsp;includes up to two campers inside or outside of the &nbsp;cottage,&nbsp; but up to two additional campers and tents can be added to the reservation for $20 per person/ per night.&nbsp; A limit of two persons inside of the cottage and four persons total are allowed per reservation.&nbsp;All persons must be declared ahead of reserving the space and ID’d for insurance purposes.   Please note that all persons on the reservation must submit a copy of their valid picture government ID to the host (via platform) prior to arrival (but&nbsp;after booking), and sign a property liability waiver&nbsp;upon check in.&nbsp;&nbsp; The host will discuss the procedure with you as HC supports pictures only after booking.&nbsp; Please ask prior to booking if you have any questions about this- this is a requirement of our short term rental insurance, and part of our&nbsp;self check in procedure.

We are a non smoking, non vape, no party/unregistered guest owner occupied property.  Quiet private guests only please

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3/4 Bathroom is for your exclusive and private use.  Bathroom is detached from the unit and is located in the house 60 steps away.  

field view campsite

Learn more about this land:

You"ll camp right next to the  pasture and on our field drive with wonderful views and sunsets. The field is surrounded on three sides by Rice County Wilderness Park so it is very private and quiet.if you have a tent or small vehicle park down next to fire ring. If you have an RV park on the field drive next to the site

If you’re lucky you may even see the Northern Lights- photo taken at campsite location 

Water Hookup

Camp Crimson Turtle

Established by naturalists in the 1920's this parcel features a waterfront cabin (currently being restored), a two acre spring fed pond that is stocked with fish, a small stream and great privacy. We have had this as our family paradise and now we are sharing it with you!

We now offer a bohemian wagon if you would prefer to get up off the ground!  Available at site 1. 

Learn more about this land:

8 acres of wooded privacy. Spring fed 2 acre pond, fishing, swimming, boating.  Clothing optional if total site is rented. Extremely private.  Electric available upon request for site number 2, other sites are quite far from electric hook up.  New toilet facilities available!!  We now have a flush toilet and exterior shower available for use onsite.

The best waterside camping near Nerstrand

Top-rated campgrounds

1. Willow River State Park

Top-rated campgrounds

1. Willow River State Park

Public campgrounds near Nerstrand

Willow River Campground

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