Is Fort Ridgely Campground first-come first-served or reservation?

Fort Ridgely 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 Fort Ridgely Campground?

Fort Ridgely Campground does not have shower facilities. Plan accordingly—nearby alternatives may include day-use areas or towns.

Are dogs allowed at Fort Ridgely Campground?

Pets are not allowed at Fort Ridgely Campground. This policy helps protect local wildlife and other campers. Consider nearby pet-friendly campgrounds if traveling with animals.

What amenities are available at Fort Ridgely Campground?

Fort Ridgely Campground offers: Electrical Hookups. See our detailed campground page for the full list of facilities and features.

Fort Ridgely Campground

4.26

75 reviews

Top 8% in MNSpring

Featured in:Family-Friendly Campgrounds Minnesota

Real-Time Availability

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Quick Facts

902 ft

Price

Varies

Booking

Reservable

Sites

Varies

Season

Year-round

Cell

No Service

Pets

No Pets

ElectricPull-Through

Book on Minnesota DNR Official Website

Get Directions

Real-Time Availability

Select a month, then check for open campsites

Quick Facts

902 ft

Price

Varies

Booking

Reservable

Sites

Varies

Season

Year-round

Cell

No Service

Pets

No Pets

ElectricPull-Through

Book on Minnesota DNR Official Website

Get Directions

Fort Ridgely Campground

No fees available

Campsite Fees

No paid fee categories listed.

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Minnesota State Parks

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Campground Map

Fort Ridgely Campground

44.4474, -94.7256

Weather at Fort Ridgely Campground

Best Time to Camp at Fort Ridgely Campground

Late spring through early fall offers the longest window of full services and comfortable temperatures, with wildflowers peaking in late May and June. Mid-summer brings green shade and evening ranger programs but also mosquitoes and potential waits for the two-shower bathhouse when the campground fills on weekends. Fall delivers the best combination of scenery and solitude: crisp days in the mid-40s to mid-60s°F, bright prairie color, and fewer campers than July. Winter visitors enjoy sledding on the hills and cross-country routes, though facilities close and wind on the open prairie can be brutal.

Best

Spring(Mar-May)

4.0 / 5

Top 8% in MN

Late‑May and June wildflower peaks and comfortable temps make spring attractive.

Planning Tips

About Fort Ridgely Campground

Fort Ridgely Campground sits in a wooded valley along a trout stream in the Minnesota River country, blending quiet forest loops with easy access to prairie overlooks and fort ruins from the 1862 U.S.–Dakota War. The 30-amp-electric sites draw light crowds on weekdays and appeal to campers who value both history and solitude. Cell service is spotty to absent; plan to disconnect.

Weather and SeasonsLate spring through early fall offers the longest window of full services and comfortable temperatures, with wildflowers peaking in late May and June. Mid-summer brings green shade and evening ranger programs but also mosquitoes and potential waits for the two-shower bathhouse when the campground fills on weekends. Fall delivers the best combination of scenery and solitude: crisp days in the mid-40s to mid-60s°F, bright prairie color, and fewer campers than July. Winter visitors enjoy sledding on the hills and cross-country routes, though facilities close and wind on the open prairie can be brutal.

Natural Features and SceneryThe campground occupies a sheltered valley carved by a small creek, with sites tucked under mature hardwoods that provide heavy shade and muffle sound. Trails climb wooded hills to restored prairie and bluff overlooks of the Minnesota River valley and surrounding farmland. Late-May and June bring wildflowers across the grasslands; by fall the valley turns gold and rust. The creek runs clear enough to support rainbow trout and burbles over rocks near creekside sites. Thirteen-lined ground squirrels scurry around the fort area, and white-tailed deer and songbirds are common in the woods. The mix of forest, stream, and open prairie in a compact park gives you varied scenery without long drives between zones.

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Reserving a campsite

Tents

Tents are not allowed

RV vehicles

RV vehicles are allowed

Primitive

Primitive camping is not allowed

Reservable

Reservations are allowed

Best CampsitesSites 7, 21, 25, 27, 33, and 37 are designated for hammock camping. Creekside and Rustic-loop sites offer the sound of running water and extra privacy backing up to wooded hills. Sites 1–3 sit within Wi-Fi range if connectivity matters. All sites are drive-through on firm grass with 30-amp power, but the single-amperage setup won't run multiple RV air conditioners simultaneously.

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Amenities available

Electricity hookups

I manage this campground

RV details

Electric hookups14 of 78 sites (18%)

1 pull-through site

Planning your trip?Check out our camping packing checklist

Policies & Safety

No Potable WaterThis campground does not have potable water on-site. Bring all the water you need for drinking, cooking, and cleaning.

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

No Flush ToiletsFlush toilets are not available at this campground. Expect vault or pit toilets only.

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.

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Reviews

From Booking Sources

4.3

75 reviews

Satisfactory

Fort Ridgely Campground is satisfactory, placing it in the bottom 60% of campgrounds based on reviews

Review Summaries

Based on 75 reviews

What Campers Love

Campers consistently praise the **quiet, peaceful atmosphere** and **clean, well‑maintained sites**.[1][2][3][5] Many like the **mix of shade and openness**, with large sites that offer a sense of...

Based on 75 reviews

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Go if

RV campers who don't need full hookups and want a low-key spring or summer base for the 1862 fort interpretation, creek-side sites, and prairie wildflower hikes. Weekdays here can feel like a private park.

Skip if

No dump station and an inconsistent shower situation (two stalls, occasionally locked) make this a rough fit for longer stays or anyone relying on campground facilities. No pets allowed, no tent sites, and zero cell service seal the deal for some deal-breakers.

Nearby Campgrounds

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Equestrian Campground

Fort Ridgely State Park

Saddle up for an unforgettable adventure at Fort Ridgely's equestrian campground, where you and your horse can explore miles of scenic trails winding through prairies, woodlands, and river valleys. After a day of riding, gather around the campfire under starlit skies, join evening naturalist programs, or take a moonlit stroll near the historic fort site and Fort Ridgely Creek.

1300 Summit Ave, New Ulm, MN 56073

Extend your day's adventure into a magical night under the stars at Rustic Campground. Gather around a crackling campfire, join evening naturalist programs, or set out on a moonlit walk—this is traditional camping at its finest, where the fun doesn't end when the sun goes down.

Semi-Modern Campground

Flandrau State Park, 1300 Summit Avenue, New Ulm, MN 56073

Flandrau State Park's semi-modern campground sits beneath a mature hardwood canopy on the edge of New Ulm, just steps from a spring-fed sand-bottom swim pond and historic 1930s stone structures. The 52-site loop mixes electric and non-electric sites, with showers, flush toilets, and easy access to riverside trails and the park's beloved beach house. Nightly fees run $8–10, and reservations are required.

$8.00 - $10.00 / night

Frequently Visited

4.0

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Camper Cabins Campground

1300 Summit Avenue, New Ulm, MN 56073

Flandrau State Park's camper cabins sit in a wooded river valley where the Cottonwood River carves through floodplain forest, oxbow marshes, and oak-covered bluffs. The park is minutes from downtown New Ulm. Popular with day-users for its sand-bottom swimming pond and 1930s stone buildings. And serves visitors looking for a shaded cabin stay with trail access and easy town runs.

1300 Summit Ave, New Ulm, MN 56073

Tucked along the winding Cottonwood River near New Ulm, the cozy camper cabins at Flandrau State Park offer the perfect basecamp for families seeking a peaceful riverside retreat. This intimate park pairs comfortable accommodations with easy access to swimming, hiking trails that climb to scenic overlooks, and charming WPA-era architecture that whispers of the park's storied past.

Semi-Modern Campground

1300 Summit Ave, New Ulm, MN 56073

As the sun sets over Flandrau State Park, your day of adventure doesn't have to end. This semi-modern campground invites you to gather around evening campfires, join ranger-led programs, and wake up to the gentle sounds of the Buffalo River flowing through prairie and woodland.

RVs

Reservable

No fees available

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Zuya Group Center sits on a wooded hillside overlooking Lake Shetek in southwestern Minnesota's largest lake park. The center accommodates groups in three bunkhouse cabins (each sleeping roughly 24), a recreation hall with additional bunks, and a central dining hall. The complex operates mid-May through late September and requires group reservation.

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Campgrounds

Fort Ridgely State Park

Fort Ridgely Campground

About Little Wood River Reservoir

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

Little Wood Reservoir which is formed by <A HREF="http://www.usbr.gov/projects/Facility.jsp?fac_Name=Little+Wood+River+Dam">Little Wood Dam</a> is a major facility of the <A HREF="http://www.usbr.gov/projects/Project.jsp?proj_Name=Little%20Wood%20River%20Project">Little Wood Project.</a> Managed by the Bureau of Reclamation, this 600-acre impoundment offers a 360-acre reservoir with 9 miles of shoreline. Boating and fishing are the major recreation activities at Little Wood Reservoir, located in southcentral Idaho, about 70 miles northeast of Twin Falls. Fishing opportunities for rainbow, cutthroat, and brook trout. Season open year-round.Site offers: restrooms, boat ramps, campground, parking, picnic tables, and swimming. <A HREF="http://www.usbr.gov/pn/hydromet/ramps/wood/wood.html"> Boat ramp elevations.</a>

Directions

Directions: Located about 10 miles north of Carey off U.S. 26.