Private sites camping near Rochester

Camping near Rochester puts you within a short distance of parks, rivers, and nature trails.

98% (265 reviews)

United States
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Minnesota
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Rochester

98% (265 reviews)

Popular camping styles for Rochester

Community favorites near Rochester

Stories from the community

Jaci

1 week ago

With kids

Weekend Trip to Aefintyr

Located just a few minutes outside of Whitewater State Park, Aefintyr offers both convenience and privacy. Chelsi has everything you need at the top of a very steep mountain - you work for the stay and it’s worth every step. Thank you Chelsi for your above and beyond friendliness and accommodations!

Weekend Trip to Prairie Creek Campground

Awesome campsite! Very spacious, felt private. Hearing the creek throughout the stay was so peaceful. The host was great, stopped in to greet us and let us know where everything was. Would definitely recommend, and would definitely stay again :) Thanks!

2 nights at Prairie Creek Campground

Clean, quiet, peaceful. Stephen great explaining the area and what to see.

Weekend Trip to Prairie Creek Campground

A gorgeous quiet and private site right on the creek. Loved having access to hiking trails right on the property. Can’t wait to return again soon!

1 night at Prairie Creek Campground

Stephen is very friendly. Directions were clear. Well maintained area

Weekend Trip to Gilles Family Dairy & Woodland

Mike and Joan's place is one of our most favorite spots to camp. We've come back for our second year and don't rule out coming again this year. The amenities they provide are an amazing bonus on top of an already wonderful place. We've stayed at the camp site but the cabins look great. The woods and the trail system are unbelievably good too - it could be a state park.

Weekend Trip to Gossman Goat Ranch

Cathy and her family are amazing hosts and have a beautiful property. They were so welcoming to my family and made us feel at home. The cabin itself is so cozy, the loft bed was great, my daughter loved looking out over the woods from bed in the evening and morning. The wood stove kept the room warm throughout the night. Will definitely be staying again next time we need to get away for a quick weekend trip!

Weekend Trip to Gossman Goat Ranch

We enjoyed our stay at the cabin. It’s tucked back in the woods behind there main place far enough that you can’t see or hear anything from their farm… really makes you feel like you are alone in the woods! It was about 30 degrees overnight but the wood stove kept the cabin comfortable. We also like the extra touch of already set up hammocks, and a hand built bench by the fire pit. Great option for “camping” during the fall or spring if you don’t want to face the cooler temps in a tent. Hiked 20 miles between Forestville state park and lake Louise state park which are both close to the cabin site.

2 nights at Gossman Goat Ranch

My family and I (2 adults, 3 and 8 year old) loved staying at the cabin on Cathy’s goat farm. We arrived on an unexpectedly cold and snowy spring weekend, and I was afraid we were in for a cold and wet weekend. Not the case! The cabin was toasty warm (Cathy was thoughtful to warm it up for us in advance) from both an indoor propane heater and an enclosed fireplace. With that and the duvets we brought, it was a cozy retreat. Bonus points for the games provided and helpful supply boxes in case we forgot any essentials! Cathy is a friendly and thoughtful host. Definitely get the eggs from the farm chickens and special handmade goat milk soap (the scents are SO good). She let us have our space, but was right there anytime we had a question or needed help. Our bonus hosts - Cathy’s three kids - were also so kind and friendly to my daughters, and they had a bunch of fun playing on the trampoline, playground and around the property. The definite highlight of the trip for all of us were the goats and other farm animals! My daughter got to hold a goat kid that had just been born hours before, which was truely magical. Being able to hang out in the field with a huge herd of goats, a few calves, chickens, friendly barn cats and dogs really made the trip special. All the animals were so friendly! We’ll definitely be returning!

Jim

March 2025

Weekend Trip to Aefintyr

Nice place Chelsi. Thanks for the hospitality and great communication.

2 nights at Gilles Family Dairy & Woodland

Love the wood stove and outdoor cooking firepit! Mike was AMAZING! The cows and dogs were super cute. The trails were beautiful and very hilly! Honestly they're very private sites also! Bed was comfy, deck was perfect - I enjoyed watching the bird feeder. Really a super great energy here. Would definitely go back!

Weekend Trip to Aefintyr

We had a wonderful family weekend in Cabin #3! The kids especially enjoyed the hammock chairs underneath the cabin. The inside was thoughtfully designed and very comfortable, and having a mini fridge and microwave was a nice bonus. The bathrooms were very clean and convenient, too. Chelsi was very responsive and friendly - a great host. We'll definitely be back for another stay!

Weekend Trip to Aefintyr

An awesome experience! The cabins are beautiful on the inside! Mini fridge and electricity make it very easy to enjoy a comfortable stay here beautiful outdoor space. The bathroom is very nice and clean too! Will absolutely be back!!

Rock Bottom Cabin located in a secluded hardwood forest

jacob

January 2025

Weekend Trip to Gilles Family Dairy & Woodland

Rock Bottom Cabin exceeded our expectations in every way. If you don’t like long reviews, then just go ahead and book it - you’ll love it. We were bummed to only be able to stay one night but plan on returning. It’s hard to know where to even begin! Firstly, communication with Mike, our host was excellent. He shared a thorough message of what to except upon arrival, clear directions. When we arrived to his property, we were greeted by many curious cows and then he promptly greeted us on his tractor. With 2-4 inches of snow in the forecast, Mike suggested he give us a ride down to the cabin, rather than us driving our RAV4. We felt confident, but he wanted us to be safe and ultimately glad he offered us the ride. Bonus for a fun tractor ride sitting in the bucket up front. The site is situated on a flat clearing in the woods, surrounded by large oaks and maples, very peaceful. He walked us through the cabin, its amenities, directions on the wood stove and highlighting hiking trails on the paper map he printed for us. From then we were left alone, enjoying the miles of trails around the site. We hiked for about 2.5 hours until sundown and 2 hours in the morning and were able to cover a decent amount of the trails. The hikes were beautiful and all offered their own experiences, views, etc. The cabin was extremely clean, very well constructed and comfortable. We’ve stayed in similar cabins that have bugs or rodents or air gaps but this is built very nicely - not even draft

Weekend Trip to Prairie Creek Campground

You're not gonna wanna miss this absurdly authentic tent camping gem. 1,2,3 babbling brook sites, site 4 WAY up the hill for Sublime Sunsets, total privacy. Stephen & his Dad are hard-working, caring PEOPLE who have worked this family land camp for > 6 yrs.

3 top campgrounds near Rochester

99%

(772)

Prairie Creek Campground

7 sites · Tents60 acres · Nerstrand, MN

Hello 2025, Camping Season is Here! Pitch your tent at one of our Walk-In campsites on 60 acres of forest or hilltop prairie along Prairie Creek in Rice County, MN. Explore the creeks, trails, forest, our enormous granite "split rock", 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. Vehicles: Our main parking area by sites 1, 2, & 3 is easily accessible. The road to the secondary parking area beside site 4 is up a steep gravel road (but it is accessible). We do not have firewood available at the campground; please plan ahead to bring firewood with you. Sites are priced for one tent, please let us know if you need to have more than one tent. Kids under 16 camping with their parents do not count in pricing. 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. This campground is managed by Stephen and Molly on land owned by them and their father Ted. In 1961, Ted's parents 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 25 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.

99%

(381)

Belle Creek Bluff

4 sites · Lodging, Tents28 acres · Welch, MN

Belle Creek Bluff is on 28 acres of prime land in Welch. Belle Creek runs through the middle of the property. Walk, swim, paddle, fish and explore the this beautiful spring fed trout stream. There are a number of hiking trails on the property. Bordering state lands to the east of the property provide endless exploration and hiking adventures. Hike to the top of the bluff for a spectacular view of Welch valley and the ski hill. Hiking NE along Belle Creek can you spot the old model A truck along the banks? There are eagles, falcons, finches, and many colorful birds to see.

100%

(435)

Gilles Family Dairy & Woodland

4 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents100 acres · Houston, MN

Welcome ; Located in southeast Minnesota's Driftless region of hills, valleys, fields and forests, we are a grass based working dairy farm with over 100 acres of woodland, including an extensive trail system and campsites in our wooded acres. What makes this woodland special is it's quiet, secluded setting and over 6 miles of hiking / skiing trails. Our farmstead sits three quarter of a mile off the paved county highway on our well maintained gravel driveway. Each of our campsites are secluded from the others with their own sawdust compost toilets, picnic tables, fireplaces, and firewood. Two of our sites require 4WD with a minimum of 6 inches ground clearance to access, and two are accessible with 2WD. If you do not have 4WD we can help transport your gear while you enjoy the walk in. There are plenty of woodland birds, deer, turkeys, raccoons and squirrels sharing the woods with you. At night it is common for owls to visit the campsite area to say hello, and coyotes talking in the distance. The winding trails through 100 acres of woodland offer a variety of woodland habitats, from Old growth Maple to mixed hardwood, to dense brush, to the edges of open pastureland. Bring your fat bike or mountain bike for an enjoyable ride. For winter users there is a mix of easy, moderate, and challenging winter cross country skiing or snowshoeing / hiking on the property. However the Rock Bottom Cabin is our only heated and insulated site and is available for winter booking. Winter access is walk in only with snow on the ground or in the forecast. We can help transport gear. This property is part of a working pasture-based dairy farm and guided tours of the dairy and cattle are available when scheduling allows. Children 12 and younger are free at our campsites. No need to be counted as guests , but please let us know when requesting to book. We do not allow non-booked visitors to our campsites due to the secluded, remote location, and accessibility.

Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field

Private sites camping near Rochester guide

Overview

Looking for a camping adventure near Rochester, Minnesota? Hipcamp has you covered with over 110 private campsites to choose from. Whether you're a seasoned hiker or a history buff, there's something for everyone. Check out top campsites like Gilles Family Dairy & Woodland (239 reviews), Prairie Creek Forest Campground (202 reviews), and Shady Rest Acres (171 reviews). With popular amenities like campfires, trash disposal, and potable water, you'll have everything you need for a comfortable stay. And the average price per night is just $42, with options as low as $18. So, grab your hiking boots and get ready for an unforgettable camping experience!