The bluff country surrounding Winona, Minnesota features a diverse range of camping options along the Mississippi River valley and nearby state parks. Great River Bluffs State Park, located just outside Winona, offers both drive-in and cart-in sites with spectacular views from limestone bluffs overlooking the river. Nearby Whitewater State Park in Elba provides year-round camping with tent, RV, and cabin accommodations. Across the Mississippi in Wisconsin, Perrot State Park and Merrick State Park offer additional camping opportunities with boat access. Private options include Camp Everyday Winona, which operates from April through mid-October with full hookup sites and cabin rentals.
Most campgrounds in the region require reservations, especially during summer weekends and fall color season. State park campgrounds typically provide basic amenities including drinking water, picnic tables, and fire rings, while facilities like showers may be closed during colder months. Mosquitoes can be problematic in summer, with one visitor noting, "The mosquitos were very bad when I visited. I suggest going in late fall when the weather is cooler." Cart-in sites at Great River Bluffs require transporting gear from parking areas using provided wheelbarrows, with distances ranging from short walks to half-mile treks. Winter camping is available at several state parks, though with reduced services.
Visitors frequently highlight the scenic beauty and wildlife viewing opportunities throughout the area. The cart-in sites at Great River Bluffs receive particular praise, with one camper noting, "The 5 sites are well spaced out with lots of trees, nice flat tent pads, a newer clean vault and good fresh water both within a short distance of all the sites." Birdwatching is exceptional, with eagles, cranes, and songbirds commonly spotted. Hiking trails provide access to dramatic river valley vistas, though trail difficulty varies significantly between parks. Whitewater State Park features challenging climbs to viewpoints, while Great River Bluffs offers easier, well-mapped trails. The proximity to both the Mississippi River and Root River provides opportunities for fishing, paddling, and swimming during warmer months.
$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."
$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."
$24 / night
"Great River Bluff State Park is located outside of Winona, MN. The trails at this park are very easy to hike with hardly any incline."
"Beautiful area with very nice trails. 20-30 mins to Winona, 20 mins to La Crosse. Not a huge site selection, but very nice sites. My wife and I try to go there as much as we can!"
"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."
"This is a great local campground right on the river and a great stay for gorgeous Winona, MN. Management is helpful and friendly."
"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!"
$15 - $26 / night
"The website states there are tracks nearby that are active 24 hours. This was not a problem for us at all. They were hardly noticeable. We did stay at the north loop, as we wanted electric hook up."
"Nice quiet campground. only mile away from Mississippi Thunder Speedway!"
$15 / night
"Showers and flush toilets at the north campground which is a quick drive or a very long walk. They were clean, but showers could use a refresh."
"Some are more off by themselves and some are right next to each other. There is drive in, cart in, and pull in sites. There is nice ground for renting as well. Many of the sites are on the river."
$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."
$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 ."
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.
ScoutYou have clear views of the River and Valley from the campgrounds.
Camping sites near Winona, Minnesota range from riverfront locations with water access to secluded bluff settings offering isolation from crowds. The area sits within the unglaciated Driftless Region with deep valleys carved by the Mississippi River and tributaries. Winter camping temperatures can drop below zero, while summer highs typically reach 80-90°F with high humidity levels.
Paddling on backwaters: At Merrick State Park, campers can access calm Mississippi River backwaters. "We always bring the kayaks, so the water access offered is why we stay. The Island sites offer the best view and launch, with not as much riprap as the other island sites, but you can make any of them work," notes Beth D.
Fishing spots: Multiple access points exist for both river and stream fishing within a 15-minute drive of most campgrounds. "This park has good access for a kayak/canoe path. Great access to awesome fishing!" reports Tiffany K. from her stay at Merrick State Park.
Heritage programs: Educational activities run regularly during summer months. "The Saturday we were there they had a heritage camp set up to learn about how things were done in the past," explains a visitor from Merrick State Park, adding value for families interested in history.
Hiking trails: Whitewater State Park features upland trails with elevation changes for more challenging hikes. "I hiked up Chimney Rock and then looped back to tackle part of the Dakota trail! The hiking paths were well taken care of. There were plenty of places to stop and rest if you need to," says Sarah C.
Island camping: North Campground at Merrick offers some of the most secluded sites. "The sites are large and nicely spaced out with mature trees separating the areas. There is a very clean shower house with sinks and flushing toilets, as well as an outhouse with toilets," reports Misty S.
Fall colors: October brings dramatic color changes to the bluffland forests. "Stayed here in the fall. Hikes here offer great views of the river and bluffs and the fall colors are gorgeous!!!" shares Tori K. about her experience at Great River Bluffs State Park.
Wildlife viewing: Areas near water attract diverse bird populations. "There's a beautiful view from King's Bluff Overlook which is about a 2.5 mile roundtrip from the parking area. You could make it about 5.5 miles if you hike from campground," notes Mary S. about the viewing opportunities at Great River Bluffs State Park.
Farm experiences: Some camping options include agricultural settings with local produce. "Neat to see baby pigs and also grill some tasty steaks from the cool farm store!!" remarks Andy F. about staying at Frickson Family Farms.
Mosquito seasons: Bug activity peaks from June through August, particularly near water. "Being so close to the river, the bugs were awful. I did love that it was quiet even peak season and there were plenty of spots open so it felt like a nice getaway," reports Shelby N. from Merrick State Park.
Train noise: Several campgrounds sit near active rail lines with nighttime traffic. "The frequency of trains and the loudness of their horns at night was enough to drive me nuts. Every time I was almost asleep another one would go past," warns Megan P. about her stay at North Campground.
Water levels: Spring flooding can impact sites nearest to the Mississippi. "The river was high when we visited, and some of the river-facing sites were flooded out," notes Patrick M. during his visit to South Campground at Merrick State Park.
Off-season closures: Many campground amenities shut down during colder months. "Water is not on in the campground, but there is a spigot right across the road at the visitor center that is on (easy 2 min walk)," reports Amy G. about her winter camping experience at Whitewater State Park.
Kid-friendly activities: Several parks offer organized programming for children. "We spent a day here hiking and had a blast! There are also many places for non-campers to grill out and picnic," shares Sarah C. about Whitewater State Park.
Water safety: River currents can be strong for young swimmers. "We had so much fun playing on the river and exploring the park! Everything is right there and the river is so pretty! Despite the rain we had a great time! Because of the rain we went to the eagle center near Wisconsin. A must see if your looking for something indoors!" recommends Kate H. from Whitewater.
Playgrounds and recreation: Camp Everyday Winona offers more developed recreation options. "There was a rec room with a pool table and pinball machines. There's a pool there but it was empty when we got there. Too cold to swim anyway. There's a playground for kids near the tent area," notes Patti M.
Site spacing: Most RV sites are moderately spaced with varying privacy levels. "Spacious campsites on the Mississippi River. Nice wooded area allows for shade. The road along the river is narrow making it hard to back your camper into the riverfront sites if you have neighbors," advises Tracy B. about Prairie Island City Campground.
Water quality alerts: Some campgrounds have water restrictions. "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," warns Kayla F. from her stay at Perrot State Park.
Electric availability: Winter campers should plan for electric sites when available. "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. Price is $35 for the space/night with electric," explains Amy G. about the winter camping setup at Whitewater State Park.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Winona, MN?
According to TheDyrt.com, Winona, MN offers a wide range of camping options, with 149 campgrounds and RV parks near Winona, MN and 5 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Winona, MN?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Winona, MN is Perrot State Park Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 36 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Winona, MN?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 5 free dispersed camping spots near Winona, MN.
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