Is Carley Campground first-come first-served or reservation?

Carley Campground accepts online reservations. We recommend booking in advance, especially during peak season (typically summer weekends). Use campsite alerts to get notified when spots become available.

Are there showers at Carley Campground?

Yes, Carley Campground has shower facilities available for campers. Check the amenities section for details on hours and any fees.

Can I have a campfire at Carley Campground?

Fire policies at Carley Campground: Use approved or local firewood. Light fires only within fire rings and charcoal grills; do not leave fires unattended and extinguish all fires before leaving. Do not burn trash. Wood that is dead and lying on the ground may be gathered for campfire use onsite where allowed.. Always check current fire restrictions before your trip, as conditions change seasonally.

Are dogs allowed at Carley Campground?

Yes, pets are allowed at Carley Campground. Dogs must typically be kept on a leash (usually 6 feet or shorter) and under control at all times. Be sure to clean up after your pet and check for any breed or size restrictions.

What amenities are available at Carley Campground?

Carley Campground offers: Restrooms, Showers, Potable Water, Electrical Hookups, Pets Allowed. See our detailed campground page for the full list of facilities and features.

What activities can I do at Carley Campground?

Popular activities at Carley Campground include Hiking, Fishing, Biking, Boating, Wildlife Viewing. The surrounding area offers plenty of outdoor recreation opportunities for all skill levels.

Carley Campground

4.37

50 reviews

Carley Campground

Top 25% in MNFall

Summer Destination

Featured in:Best Campgrounds Minnesota

Real-Time Availability

Select a month, then check for open campsites

Quick Facts

Price

Varies

Booking

Reservable

Sites

Varies

Season

Year-round

Cell

No Service

Pets

Pets Allowed

ElectricPull-ThroughShowers

Book on Minnesota State Parks (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources)Official Website

Real-Time Availability

Select a month, then check for open campsites

Quick Facts

Price

Varies

Booking

Reservable

Sites

Varies

Season

Year-round

Cell

No Service

Pets

Pets Allowed

ElectricPull-ThroughShowers

Book on Minnesota State Parks (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources)Official Website

Carley Campground

No fees available

Campsite Fees

Reservations are required for all campsites. A non-refundable reservation fee is charged for each advance reservation ($10 by call center / $8...

No paid fee categories listed.

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Minnesota State Parks

Provider

866-857-2757 (reservations); 888-646-6367; 651-296-6157

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Carley Campground

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Weather at Carley Campground

Best Time to Camp at Carley Campground

Fall delivers the most comfortable conditions: daytime highs in the 50s–60s°F, crisp nights in the 30s–40s°F, ideal for campfires and sleeping in a tent. Migrating waterfowl and late-season songbirds concentrate around the lake and wetlands while prairie grasses glow with autumn color. Weekday crowds are light and bugs are gone. Summer is popular for camping and biking but brings relentless mosquitoes, especially near wetlands and on the small island. One August group mentioned constant bug pressure. Spring offers wildflower displays but expect wet ground and insects as the season progresses.

Best

Fall(Sep-Nov)

4.5 / 5

Top 25% in MN

Fall cited as most comfortable: crisp nights, ideal for campfires; migrating birds.

Planning Tips

About Carley Campground

Carley Campground sits in Carley State Park, where oak savanna, prairie, and wetlands meet Albert Lea Lake. The park offers tent, RV, primitive, and group sites with electric hookups, flush and vault toilets, and hot showers. Campers praise the wooded, shaded sites and quiet mid-week atmosphere, though reviews note aging bathhouse facilities and pothole-filled dirt roads.

Reported campground options include tent and RV sites in the main campgrounds and a primitive hike‑in/group site on a small island; group sites are available. Cabin/modern lodging is not documented for this campground.

Weather and SeasonsFall delivers the most comfortable conditions: daytime highs in the 50s–60s°F, crisp nights in the 30s–40s°F, ideal for campfires and sleeping in a tent. Migrating waterfowl and late-season songbirds concentrate around the lake and wetlands while prairie grasses glow with autumn color. Weekday crowds are light and bugs are gone. Summer is popular for camping and biking but brings relentless mosquitoes, especially near wetlands and on the small island. One August group mentioned constant bug pressure. Spring offers wildflower displays but expect wet ground and insects as the season progresses.

Natural Features and SceneryThe campground is surrounded by second-growth forest, oak savanna, and marsh habitat along Albert Lea Lake. Campsites are wooded and feel private, especially mid-week, with trails running through rolling terrain and along the water. One camper wrote it's "beautiful back to nature…no words can describe the beauty of the land." Morning brings birds on the water. One reviewer watched an eagle land in a tree near their site. The primitive island sites sit cooler because of the surrounding lake. Dense trees block direct lake views from many sites, but overlooks on hiking trails and near site #1 offer filtered water views. Spring wildflower displays draw particular praise, especially Virginia bluebells.

Best Campsites

Curated by campers, for campers

Reveal picks

Reserving a campsite

Tents

Tents are allowed

RV vehicles

RV vehicles are allowed

Primitive

Primitive camping is allowed

Reservable

Reservations are allowed

Reservation PlatformsOnline reservations (web) and call center (866-857-2757).

Cancellation PolicyA non-refundable reservation fee is charged for each advance reservation; additional cancellation/refund terms are not specified on the page.

Best CampsitesSite #1 earned specific praise for its lake view. Multiple campers say Big Island Campground sites are large, wooded, and private, suitable for larger RVs, with one noting "all the sites are pretty awesome." White Fox Campground looks visually better maintained than Big Island, according to one reviewer who recommended it if available. The primitive small-island group site offers seclusion but requires a 100-yard haul from the car, has no running water, and draws bold raccoons that approach the fire and rummage through gear if food isn't secured.

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Minnesota State Parks Guide

Booking tips & windows

When to Book

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Cancellation Alerts

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Amenities available

User reports and park materials indicate drinking water spigots, picnic tables, fire rings, electric hookups (many sites with 30A and some 50A), and bath/shower buildings with flush toilets at main campgrounds. A primitive island group site is reported to have no running water. Dump-station, Wi‑Fi, and formal water/sewer hookups are not clearly documented.

Showers

Potable water

Electricity hookups

Flush toilets

Fire rings

Picnic tables

I manage this campground

RV details

1 pull-through site

Activities you can enjoy

Evening naturalist programs and moonlit walks are mentioned; multiple trails and water trails provide opportunities for hiking, biking, paddling/boating, fishing and wildlife viewing (notably birding).

Hiking

Fishing

Biking

Boating

Wildlife viewing

Planning your trip?Check out our camping packing checklist

Policies & Safety

Hazards & AlertsFollow fire safety rules and use local or approved firewood to help prevent the spread of harmful forest pests. Light fires only within fire rings or charcoal grills, do not leave fires unattended, and extinguish all fires before leaving. Do not burn trash.

No Cell ServiceCell phone service is not available at this campground. Plan accordingly for emergencies and download offline maps before arriving.

No Water HookupsSite-level water hookups are not available. RV campers should fill freshwater tanks before arrival; check the No Potable Water note above if applicable for drinking water.

No Dump StationThere is no dump station at this campground. Plan to use a dump station along your route or at a nearby facility before or after your stay.

Trip Planning Tools

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Tips from campers

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Reviews

From Booking Sources

4.4

50 reviews

Recommended

Carley Campground is recommended, placing it in the top 40% of campgrounds based on reviews

Reviews are generally positive, praising scenic trails, wildflower displays and a quiet, back‑to‑nature camping experience. Common negatives cite basic or aging restroom/shower facilities, rough/unpaved roads and, at primitive island sites, heavy mosquitoes and bold raccoons.

Review Summaries

Based on 50 reviews

What Campers Love

Scenic hiking and wildflower displays (Virginia bluebells), peaceful and often shaded/private campsites, good birdwatching and proximity to water; dog‑friendly and suitable for rustic camping.

Based on 50 reviews

Pro Tips & Recommendations

Bring insect repellent and secure food from wildlife; bring water and a cart/wagon for the primitive island site; arrive mid‑week for more solitude; expect rustic facilities and consider arriving...

Based on 50 reviews

Camper Quotes

Nice little primitive park with camping,hiking, fishing ect. Outhouse style toilets but very clean. enjoyable park!; Beautiful park!; Magical place; Wish the campground had a longer season.

Based on 50 reviews

Outdoorithm Community

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Go if

Fall birders and wildflower hikers will be most at home here. Site #1 has filtered lake views, the trails deliver real solitude mid-week, and electric hookups suit tent campers who want a powered site without a resort feel.

Skip if

RV owners needing to fill fresh water tanks may find the spigots inadequate, and anyone sensitive to aging bathhouses with push-button showers and ventilation issues in the vault toilets should factor that in before booking.

Campgrounds

Carley State Park

Carley Campground

About Lake Waha

Context for the broader area surrounding Carley Campground, sourced from the federal Recreation.gov rec-area record.

This 180-acre reservoir with 3 miles of shoreline are administered by the Lewiston Orchards Irrigation District. Lake Waha is part of the <A HREF="http://www.usbr.gov/projects/Project.jsp?proj_Name=Lewiston+Orchards+Project">Lewiston Orchards Project.</a> Located in Northwest Idaho, facilities are limited. Available species include smallmouth bass and rainbow trout. Season open year-round.

Directions

Directions: Located southeast of Lewiston off County Rd. P2.