The Mississippi River valley near Homer, Minnesota provides multiple campground options for both tent and RV camping. Great River Bluffs State Park offers established campground facilities just minutes from Homer, while Perrot State Park Campground across the Wisconsin border provides riverside camping experiences. Whitewater State Park, located approximately 20 miles west, features tent sites, RV hookups, and cabin accommodations. Most campgrounds in the region support mixed-use camping with amenities such as picnic tables, fire rings, and access to drinking water, though specific facilities vary between locations.
Reservations are highly recommended for developed campgrounds, particularly during summer weekends and holiday periods when sites fill quickly. "Beautiful place to canoe or kayak. The park does have kayak and canoe rentals available for reasonable prices," notes one Perrot State Park visitor. The camping season generally runs from April through October, with some parks like Great River Bluffs and Perrot remaining open year-round. Campers should be aware that water access points may experience seasonal flooding, particularly in spring when the Mississippi River levels rise. Mosquitoes can be problematic during summer months, especially near water features, so appropriate repellent is advisable.
The surrounding bluff country provides distinctive camping experiences with numerous hiking opportunities. Perrot State Park receives particularly positive reviews for its hiking trails and scenic overlooks of the Mississippi River valley. Several campgrounds in the area feature river access points for paddling and fishing activities. Prairie Island City Campground offers both electric and water hookups for RVs with convenient boat access to the Mississippi. Money Creek Haven provides cabin rentals as an alternative to tent or RV camping. Campers frequently mention the region's natural beauty as a highlight, with one visitor commenting that "Brady's Bluff is not necessarily an easy hike, but the view afterwards is worth it." Mixed-use campgrounds throughout the area generally maintain clean facilities with accessible bathrooms and showers at most developed sites.
$39 / night
"There is a rail line that runs along between the Mississippi and the park edge, campsites are away from this but still can be heard as well as motor boats on the River."
"The sites with nearby water are especially peaceful, and there's plenty of wooded space to explore without worrying about disturbing other campers or damaging wildlife habitat."
$24 / night
"I enjoy camping away from the hub bub of the family campground and opting for the backpack or cart in sites. Luckily, Great River Bluffs has some of the nicest cart ins I have encountered."
"What a beautiful & peaceful gem of a place in south eastern Minnesota!"
"This campground is a home away from home. We found this campground through this app, and was very happy with our stay. We had one of the primitive sites on the river front, and it was huge!"
"Clean bath house and convenient outdoor bathroom buildings around the grounds. The road along the river is narrow making it hard to back your camper into the riverfront sites if you have neighbors."
$25 - $250 / night
"Whitewater is by far one of the top state parks in Minnesota. Their camping facilities are clean with running water and free showers. The campsites are quite spacious but not too wooded."
"Easy access to hiking trails. My site was close in distance to adjacent ones, but was on the edge by the creek, so it was pretty quiet."
"We always bring the kayaks, so the water access offered is why we stay. 3 Campgrounds:
- Island sites offer the best-in-park privacy for a campsite, but they are walk in (carts provided for hauling"
"Really close to the river, as well. Yes… the trains do go by quite a bit, but it really hasn’t bothered us. Beautiful tall trees, clean pit toilets. This park is a gem! We’ll be back."
$30 / night
"Great Harvest Host location super nice family."
"We pulled in from a long driving day .we were greeted by our host . She was very friendly and explained where the site was . Had a great night sleep . This is a good over night stop ."
$29 - $999 / night
"We were visiting our daughter in nearby Winona, MN. This place is also close to La Crosse WI. We stayed here three nights."
$28 - $30 / night
"We stayed one night on our way to Minnesota. There is plenty of shade. The park streets are asphalt with two concrete strips for your tires in the sites."
"We stayed one night on our way to Minnesota. There is plenty of shade. The park streets are asphalt with two concrete strips for your tires in the sites."
"Right at the end of the root river state trail. Singing toads at night. Very flat. Sites are spread out. Within walking distance to grocery store."
"The Nature Center campsite is located at the trail head for the Root River State Bike Trail."
"Lots to do in the area, La Crosse is a 30 minutes drive away."
"The lake is murky And there are a lot of frogs, but that’s camping. There are chairs And a shaded area available."
LegendThis is a very small campground in the middle of town across from the high school track/football field. It has a handful of grassy sites. River is behind the property. It is located off a fairly busy road. The bike trail and root river (paddling route) is close by. Pretty area.
LegendThis is a small primitive campground that has 1 vault toilet. (no shower) Horses are allowed. Fairly close together sites, but a beautiful area to get into nature or go camping at a reasonable price.
LegendThis area is getting more developed as the Owl Center will be moving here from the current location on Main Street. You do need to walk several hundred feet to the tent sites. Nature center, natural playground, biking trails, root river with paddling opportunities. This area is part of the drift-less region and known for its rolling landscape.
LegendLocated on state forest land there are 2 separate areas right next to each other. The first loop is for smaller vehicles and tents and the larger area should be reserved for larger vehicles with horse trailers. There are hiking and equestrian trails present into the state forest land. There is one vault toilet. No other amenities. Beautiful area!
LegendThis is a tucked away campground off a few miles of gravel near Spring Grove, MN. It has a pool and activities found at many KOAs. There is a beautiful creek going through the property and is a very beautiful area known as the driftless region.
LegendThis campground offers a few sites (on the smaller side) in a private area, but within town limits. There is a frisbee golf course present and it is just downhill from the football field. Spring Grove is a cute town with a strong German ancestry roots.
LegendA handful of rustic type sites in the town. This is directly across from the football field, a nice outdoor basketball court and a park.
LegendThis small campground is at the county fairgrounds in the city of Preston, MN. It has basic sites that are fairly good sized. Located within a few hundred yards of the river and the bike trail. Downtown businesses are walkable.
TravelerGrabbing a spot here in May was ideal- hardly any bugs and few other campers. The sites with nearby water are especially peaceful, and there's plenty of wooded space to explore without worrying about disturbing other campers or damaging wildlife habitat. It can get a bit chilly, being northern, but generally positive.
The Mississippi River basin offers multiple camping options near Homer, Minnesota where the terrain ranges from 650 to 1,300 feet in elevation across the bluff country. The region features limestone formations with natural springs feeding numerous creeks that flow into the Mississippi River. Water levels fluctuate seasonally, with fall offering drier campsites than spring or early summer.
Hiking through bluffs: Great River Bluffs State Park Campground offers 7 miles of hiking trails with viewing areas like King's and Queen's Bluff. "The trail system is very well labeled with maps along each trail. The trail system is mostly level and I would label as easy hiking with rolling hills," notes one visitor to Great River Bluffs State Park Campground.
Trout fishing: Beaver Creek Valley State Park Campground provides access to cold, clear streams ideal for beginning anglers. "Small quiet campground with sites that back up to the creek. Very easy walking trail winding through the park and stream. An easy way to trout fish and enjoy the park," writes one camper of their experience at the park.
Water activities: Merrick State Park Campground offers multiple access points for kayaking and canoeing. "We liked having our site right on the river; our dog loved this. The campsites were very open and train tracks were nearby," reports one reviewer. The park includes three camping loops with varying amenities and river proximity.
Private campsites: Money Creek Haven offers spacious camping spots with various accommodation options. "Great campsite girlfriend and I stayed here last summer it was great friendly staff and very clean also very spacious," mentions one visitor to Money Creek Haven Inc. The campground includes a man-made lake that's popular with families.
Accessible waterfront: Prairie Island City Campground provides direct river access for boaters and paddlers. "Spacious campsites on the Mississippi River. Nice wooded area allows for shade. Clean bath house and convenient outdoor bathroom buildings around the grounds," notes one camper at Prairie Island City Campground.
Fall colors: Seasonal campers praise the autumn landscape at several area campgrounds. "Stayed here in the fall. Had a site right next to the bathroom big enough for 2 tents and 2 vehicles. Hikes here offer great views of the river and bluffs and the fall colors are gorgeous!!!" shares a visitor to Great River Bluffs.
Limited cell coverage: Some campgrounds in the area have poor or no cellular service. "There is no cell reception because of the valley. This is great if you want to get away from it all, but if you're staying a while and need to work, this isn't the place to do it," cautions a camper at Beaver Creek Valley State Park Campground.
Seasonal water quality: Some campgrounds report water issues during certain times of year. "There were signs posted that the drinking water cannot be boiled, nor can it be given to babies or elderly due to high nitrates. But we brought our own water anyways," reports a visitor to Perrot State Park.
Train noise: Several campgrounds near Homer experience railroad disturbances. "Highway noise from the highway running along the river and from I-90 (while not really noticeable during the day) is ridiculously loud at night. Added to this were the half dozen trains that ran through the night (horns going off too)," mentions a camper at Great River Bluffs.
Playground access: Multiple area campgrounds feature play structures for children. "The campground has plenty of playground equipment and some organized activities for children. There was a nice beach," mentions a visitor to Prairie Island City Campground.
Farm experiences: For a unique overnight stay, Frickson Family Farms offers camping with agricultural activities. "Neat to see baby pigs and also grill some tasty steaks from the cool farm store!!" reports a visitor to Frickson Family Farms LLC, which operates as a Harvest Host location.
Educational activities: Some parks provide interpretive programs for young visitors. "The Saturday we were there they had a heritage camp set up to learn about how things were done in the past," notes a camper at Perrot State Park Campground.
Site access challenges: Some campgrounds have limitations for larger vehicles. "The road along the river is narrow making it hard to back your camper into the riverfront sites if you have neighbors," cautions a visitor to Prairie Island City Campground.
Electric site availability: Whitewater State Park offers reliable electric hookups year-round. "We visited in winter (February) and while there was snow on the ground, the spaces were kept plowed with easy access to the electric boxes," notes a winter visitor to Minneiska Campground — Whitewater State Park.
Off-season camping: Many campgrounds near Homer remain open with limited services in winter. "As with State Parks in MN, it's best to make the reservation online, especially with office staff being spotty these days. Price is $35 for the space/night with electric, and this time of year, there are no other options besides electric spaces," advises a camper at Whitewater State Park.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Homer, MN?
According to TheDyrt.com, Homer, MN offers a wide range of camping options, with 150 campgrounds and RV parks near Homer, MN and 5 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Homer, MN?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Homer, MN is Perrot State Park Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 36 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Homer, MN?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 5 free dispersed camping spots near Homer, MN.
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