The best camping near Frontenac State Park

Discover the most magical spots to pitch your tent or park your rig on your next Frontenac State Park adventure.

100% (9 reviews)
100% (9 reviews)

Enjoy superb birdwatching, limestone bluffs, and sandy beaches at Frontenac State Park.  

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Community favorites near Frontenac State Park

Top-rated campgrounds reviewed by the Hipcamp community.

Top-rated campgrounds near Frontenac State Park

99%
(745)

Prairie Creek Forest Campground

7 sites · Tents60 acres · Nerstrand, MN
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 a waterfall and more trails, including a single track mountain bike course. 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 hill. Kids under 16 camping with their parents do not count in pricing. Sites are priced for one tent, please let us know if you need to have more than one tent. 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. Site 1 is near the creek. Approximately 200 feet from main parking area. Steel fire ring and grill grate, picnic table. Site 2 is in the pines. Approximately 200 feet from main parking area. Steel fire ring and grill grate, picnic table, this site has good hammock trees. Site 3 is by the creek. Approximately 300 feet from main parking area. Steel fire ring, steel grill ring, picnic table, this site has good hammock trees. Site 4 is on the hilltop. Site 4 has parking for 2 vehicles at the site. Steel fire ring with grill grate, stone fire ring, picnic table, this site has good hammock trees. There is NOT room to park a trailer. 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. Over the years, the arable land has been sold but we retained the wooded area which is crossed twice by a stream. About 20 years ago, a 60 acre county park was created to the south and west. The property is bordered on two sides by this county park. When Ted was in high school, the family sold the dairy cows and started a bare bones horseback riding ranch using trails in these woods as riding trails. We are very excited to host campers as a way to preserve and share this beautiful property.
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$22.50
 / night
100%
(27)

Aefintyr

17 sites · Lodging14 acres · Altura, MN
Aefintyr is a campground located on Whiskey Hill in the Whitewater River Valley near the town of Elba, MN. The land was used for personal recreation for several years. I've spent countless hours hiking and enjoying observing the seasons, plants, fungus and animals. The vision of a campground was inspired by many camping and backcountry spots throughout the United States, all of the amazing things in the woods, the beautiful blufftop valley views, proximity to a multitude of outdoor activities and adventures. Camps are spacious, secluded and designed to immerse guests in the surrounding woodland.
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$41.65
 / night
98%
(214)

The Double J

5 sites · RVs, Tents71 acres · Zumbrota, MN
Welcome to the Double J! Of the 71 acres we own, about half is tillable and the other half is woods and pastures for our horses. Within that, there is a beautiful secluded 3-acre meadow nestled down along along a beautiful 1,200 foot stretch of the Zumbro River where we have 5 spacious tent/RV campsites. While the campsites are all adjacent to each other along the river, they are each very spacious (the smallest being 100' wide and 75' deep), with some mature trees scattered around. Each sites (except Site #1) is able to accommodate up to 8 people and more than one tent or RV. There is a small meadow above all the sites where campers can play catch or other games. We provide and maintain a centrally located outhouse and keep the entire area mowed throughout the year. All sites offer great shade trees (perfectly spaced for hanging up a hammock) and access to the river - great for those hot summer days! Water activities to be enjoyed include fishing, swimming, canoeing, kayaking, paddle boarding and tubing (equipment not included). Some campers will drop in upstream at the Covered Bridge Park and float down to their campsite. The Zumbro River, especially in the fishing hole, offers great fishing including Trout, Small-mouth, Red-horse, and an occasional Northern or Sauger. Campers are welcome to to meander out into our pastures to pet our two horses, Shiloh and Champ. Also, we are just over a mile from town where you can visit Covered Bridge Park which has a Frisbee golf course and a nice play area for younger kids. Reserving adjacent sites, or all of the sites, makes for the ideal setting for a large family or group camp-out. In order to prevent overcrowding, we do reserve the right to limit number of sites, or campers per site based on overall parties/campers in the camping area. We will notify you if there are any limits at the time of your booking. We enjoy being able to share our property with others, and it is our desire to promote a safe, peaceful, family-friendly environment, therefore, be sure to note, we do have a NO ALCOHOL policy. PLEASE NOTE: Be sure to read the "RV Details" on the site information page as the road to the camping area may limit the type or size of RV due to a couple dips, a sharper curve, and it's steeper slope. Also, keep in mind, we reserve the right to cancel any reservations due to heavy rains or floods that may require our sites some additional time to dry out sufficiently. For updates and notice of last minute cancellations be sure to follow us on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/DoubleJCamping As is customary for most campgrounds, we ask that if you bring in your own firewood that it be kiln dried. Dry firewood can be purchased for $5.00/bundle. TIP - Being we do not reimburse campers in the event of rain (unless campground is flooded or too muddy), we highly recommend campers take advantage of Hipcamp’s Weather Guarantee option when booking. With Minnesota’s unpredictable weather it allows you to get reimbursed for any days it rains over a specified amount, even if you choose to stick out the rain! The cost is very reasonable making it almost a no-brainer! Don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions! We look forward to being able to serve you!
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$30
 / night
96%
(276)

The Edge

7 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents160 acres · Rochester, MN
This 160 acre farm used to be a sod farm, and then a Christmas tree farm. Camping provided is in the remnants of the uncut Christmas tree forest. 
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$15
 / night
92%
(6)

Lake Tommy Homestead

2 sites · RVs, Tents37 acres · Clear Lake, WI
Tranquil sanctuary on 37 acres of gorgeous mixed terrain, open for your enjoyment and recreation! A 12 acre lake with amazing wildlife/birdwatching, 20+ acres of wooded trails for hiking or mtn biking, a small meadow, gorgeous sunsets and night skies, and whatever else you make of it. Less than an hour from the Twin Cities, and 10 minutes from thriving Amery, a community with plenty to offer and charm for days.
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$24
 / night
99%
(54)

Honeyberry Minnesota working farm

2 sites · RVs25 acres · Stillwater, MN
Small working farm of 25 acres with roughly 1/3 wooded. Bring cash if you want to buy fresh produce. Half-way between Hudson WI and Stillwater MN. Tons of activities to do, including the St Croix River. Mowed trails on the property, campfire wood provided. Walk up to our two-acre Haskap orchard.
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$35
 / night
98%
(66)

Golden Maple Camp, Trails & Biking

1 site · Lodging60 acres · Beldenville, WI
Our beautiful property has been farmed by our family for many years. We have enjoyed preserving the woods with our mountain biking trails turned snow shoe trails in the winter. The woods are full of golden maple trees which is where we got the name for our personal campground. Come visit to see for yourself! Learn more about En Gedi, your tent site: You'll be staying in a private safari tent overlooking a 100 year old maple tree above a secluded hollow in our woods. With access to over 2 miles of marked out mountain bike trails and hiking trails here on the property. Outhouse, picnic table, fire pit with 4 chairs and 4 cots are provided (2 extra large, 2 large), sheets are provided for the 2 extra large cots. Drinking water is provided (2 gallon jug). Firewood is available for purchase at the campsite ($5/ten pieces of wood). You can also use whatever has fallen in the woods. Located at the end of a well worn field road access you'll need to hike in if you have a low clearance vehicle. Its about .25 mile long hike with a 100' ascent. Access in 4x4 can be limited in wet and muddy weather. We also have access to a class A trout stream about 1 mile away to enjoy swimming, fishing and lounging. We are a short 10 minute drive to many great local activities like Whitetail mountain bike trail in River Falls or Kinnickinnick river kayaking. Fantastic local Forestville Winery is less then 2 miles away with great wine and food options. Add on an experience to your stay like mountain bike classes or feeding our baby cows! Get the full country experience while you're camping!
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$72.25
 / night
99%
(372)

Belle Creek Bluff

3 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.
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$36
 / night
100%
(156)

Whippletree Farm & Nature Trail

4 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents40 acres · Lake Elmo, MN
Welcome to Whippletree! This is our sixth-generation family farm, and while it's more of a hobby farm now, it has been in continuous agricultural production since 1869! Besides tillable farm land, we are stewards of native prairie, small wooded areas, a remnant of an oak savanna and wetlands, with trails throughout. We consider this our sanctuary and enjoying sharing it with others looking for a place of retreat to connect with the natural world. Stop by for a visit!
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$30.60
 / night
90%
(44)

Willow River Farm

2 sites · RVs, Tents17 acres · North Hudson, WI
17 acres very close to Willow River State Park, with private trails for hiking and dog walking, consisting of mature pine forest and beautiful pasture. Goats and chickens. You can do Goat Yoga! Four-wheeler and dirtbike available for rent, firewood available for purchase. Full RV hook-ups (power, pump-out, and water) at RV site. Located only ten minutes from beautiful Stillwater and Hudson, and only a mile or so from the St. Croix River. 35 minute drive from downtown Minneapolis.
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$39
 / night
91%
(35)

Lionheart

3 sites · RVs, Tents36 acres · Millville, MN
Our land is a unique find with a little bit of everything. With river access, you can enjoy swimming/water activities and wind down with the wildlife sounds and campfire crackle. We have a few standup paddle boards, and river tubes available to rent and farm fresh eggs to purchase and enjoy with your morning campfire breakfast. The best on the Zumbro! Come experience life outdoors on the river :). *Please Note: there is an active shooting range to the north of the sites which you may hear 9:00am - 6:30pm. The shots are loud and echo in the valley. **While our property and our campsites are private, the river is not. Please expect tubers, kayakers and water lovers of all ages to be on the river at anytime.
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$31.20
 / night
100%
(4)

Two Bees & A Bud, Flower Farm Camp

1 site · Tent40 acres · New Richmond, WI
Welcome to Campsite in Wonderland Woods at Two Bees & A Bud, Flower Farm! Discover the perfect getaway at our private campsite - Wonderland Woods. Nestled in the trees on the bank of a secluded waterfowl preserve, Wonderland Woods Campsite is a nature lovers paradise! Explore our 40 acre property, including 8,000 sqft of You-Pick flowers, kayak the 466 acre spring-fed pond, walk the paths through the woods, visit the bees and chickens or relax in the hammock as you close your eyes and listen for all the nature sounds. Our Flower Farm has unique experiences you may enjoy during your stay including You-Pick Flowers, workshops and events (additional fees to be paid through Two Bees & A Bud website). We also sell our honey, maple syrup and eggs. Check out our website for all the details and ticket purchases. www.twobeesandabud.com There is a short walk from the parking area to the camping area. This walk takes roughly 8 minutes and we will provide a wagon for you to transport your things. Just a 20 minute drive from Hudson, WI or Stillwater, MN, our campsite is the perfect getaway to escape the hustle of the city.
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$40.50
 / night

The best camping near Frontenac State Park guide

Overview

About

Perched on a limestone bluff overlooking the Mississippi River’s Lake Pepin, Frontenac State Park is regarded as one of the nation’s premier birding sites. Some 260 species of local and migratory birds have been spotted here, and the forest’s treehouse-like Wildlife Observation Blind lets visitors observe them from a true bird’s-eye view. The Frontenac Campground is set on the bluff rim with panoramic views of the river below, while 13 miles of trails lead to scenic viewpoints, prominent points, and the banks of Lake Pepin, where swimming and fishing are popular summer pastimes. At just 75 minutes away from Minneapolis and Saint Paul, this Minnesota park is a great option for a quick getaway from the Twin Cities.

Notable campgrounds

  • Best for epic views: Frontenac Campground
  • Best for peace and solitude: The park’s six cart-in campsites
  • Best for immersion: The park’s two backcountry campsites

Tips for snagging a campsite

  • All Frontenac State Park campsites are reservable 120 days in advance. 
  • Reservations can be made online or by calling (866) 857-2757.
  • Book well in advance for the summer season or weekends, as the park's proximity to the Twin Cities makes it a popular destination.

When to go

Long days and warm temperatures make Memorial Day to Labor Day a busy time at Frontenac State Park. Peak birding season runs in both spring and fall, when migrating birds pour into the vicinity. While spring visitors may also spot blooming wildflowers, fall campers are likely to see fall foliage color changes in the trees. Come winter, the park grooms seven miles of trails for cross-country skiing and prepares a popular sliding hill. Winter visitors should come prepared for cold weather camping.

Know before you go

  • Recognized as an Important Birding Area by the Audubon Society, Lake Pepin hosts thousands of migratory birds each spring and fall as they travel the Mississippi Flyway. Oft-sighted species include eagles, kingfishers, warblers, cuckoos, titmice, larks, nightjars, gnatcatchers, thrashers, and creepers. 
  • Visitors to Frontenac State Park can also explore two adjacent parks: Hok-Si-La Park, also on the riverbank with a campground and boat launch, and the Richard J. Dorer Memorial Hardwood State Forest, home to 10 campgrounds.
  • The Frontenac office is a great resource where campers can check out birding kits, GPS units, fishing kits, canoes, kid’s discovery kits, and board games.

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