Is Group Camp first-come first-served or reservation?

Group Camp 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.

What is the best time to visit Group Camp?

Group Camp is open Seasonal; opening and closing dates vary by park—check ParkFinder for specific campsite seasons.. The best time to visit depends on your preferences—summer offers the warmest weather and most activities, while spring and fall provide fewer crowds and milder temperatures. Check current conditions before your trip.

Are there showers at Group Camp?

Group Camp does not have shower facilities. Plan accordingly—nearby alternatives may include day-use areas or towns.

Can I have a campfire at Group Camp?

Fire policies at Group Camp: Light fires only within fire rings and charcoal grills; do not leave fires unattended and extinguish all fires before leaving. Do not burn trash. Use approved or local firewood to prevent the spread of forest pests.. Always check current fire restrictions before your trip, as conditions change seasonally.

Is there cell service at Group Camp?

Cell phone service at Group Camp is generally available. Cell service is available. Coverage may vary by carrier and exact location within the campground.

Are dogs allowed at Group Camp?

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

What amenities are available at Group Camp?

Group Camp offers: Restrooms, Potable Water. See our detailed campground page for the full list of facilities and features.

What activities can I do at Group Camp?

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

Group Camp

4.50

98 reviews

11411 Clementa Ave NW, Monticello, MN 55362

Top 7% in MNFall

Great HikingSummer Destination

Featured in:Summer Camping Minnesota

Real-Time Availability

Select a month, then check for open campsites

Quick Facts

Price

Varies

Booking

Reservable

Sites

Varies

Season

Seasonal; opening an...

Cell

Has Service

Pets

No Pets

Book on Minnesota DNR - State Parks Official Website

Real-Time Availability

Select a month, then check for open campsites

Quick Facts

Price

Varies

Booking

Reservable

Sites

Varies

Season

Seasonal; opening an...

Cell

Has Service

Pets

No Pets

Book on Minnesota DNR - State Parks Official Website

Group Camp

No fees available

Campsite Fees

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

No paid fee categories listed.

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Minnesota State Parks

Provider

888-646-6367; 651-296-6157

I manage this campground

Plan a trip to Group Camp

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Campground Map

11411 Clementa Ave NW, Monticello, MN 55362

No map location available

Weather at Group Camp

Best Time to Camp at Group Camp

Each season paints Lake Maria in a different light. Summer brings ideal conditions for backpacking adventures and prime wildlife watching as the forest comes alive. When autumn arrives, the hardwood canopy erupts in brilliant reds and golds, creating postcard-perfect hiking conditions. Winter transforms the park into a cross-country skiing paradise, with camper cabins available for those seeking a cozy base camp. Campground availability varies throughout the year, so check ParkFinder for specific dates and seasonal offerings.

Best

Summer(Jun-Aug)

5.0 / 5

Top 5% in MN

Seasonal info: summer is the warmest/best window for group camping, programs and evenings.

Planning Tips

Operating Season: Seasonal; opening and closing dates vary by park—check ParkFinder for specific campsite seasons.

About Group Camp

When the sun dips below the horizon at Lake Maria State Park, your adventure is just beginning. Gather around a crackling campfire, join evening naturalist programs, or wander beneath a canopy of stars on moonlit trails. Reserve your group campsite in advance through the Minnesota State Parks system to secure your spot in this peaceful woodland retreat.

The park contains a Group Camp and multiple hike-in backpacking sites; camper cabins are also available elsewhere in the park.

Weather and SeasonsEach season paints Lake Maria in a different light. Summer brings ideal conditions for backpacking adventures and prime wildlife watching as the forest comes alive. When autumn arrives, the hardwood canopy erupts in brilliant reds and golds, creating postcard-perfect hiking conditions. Winter transforms the park into a cross-country skiing paradise, with camper cabins available for those seeking a cozy base camp. Campground availability varies throughout the year, so check ParkFinder for specific dates and seasonal offerings.

Natural Features and SceneryTucked away in towering hardwood forests dotted with prairie clearings, Lake Maria offers a true escape that feels worlds away from the nearby metro area. Wind through rolling trails past quiet marshes and glimmering lakes, where loons call across the water at dusk and great blue herons stand sentinel in the shallows. Keep your eyes open for owls gliding silently overhead and coyotes moving through the underbrush—this secluded landscape delivers wilderness solitude with surprising accessibility.

Scenic ViewsMarsh and small-lake views from trails and many campsites; open hay fields and wooded clearings provide attractive sunrise and sunset vistas.

Best Campsites

Curated by campers, for campers

Reveal picks

Reserving a campsite

Tents

Tents are not allowed

RV vehicles

RV vehicles are not allowed

Primitive

Primitive camping is not allowed

Reservable

Reservations are allowed

Reservation PlatformsMinnesota State Parks reservation system (online via ParkFinder/UseDirect) and call center: 866-857-2757

Best CampsitesThe Group Camp is spacious and connects directly to the park trail network, suitable for families or groups. Reviewers highlight backpack sites such as B13 and #7 for privacy and views; sites with well-spaced trees are recommended for hammock campers.

Need help booking Group Camp?

Reservation tips, booking windows, and free cancellation alerts.

Minnesota State Parks Guide

Booking tips & windows

When to Book

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Cancellation Alerts

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Amenities available

Park facilities include potable water refill at the trail center, picnic tables and fire rings at campsites, and on-site restrooms reported as clean. Cell phone service is generally available though carrier/quality is not specified.

Potable water

Flush toilets

Fire rings

Picnic tables

Group Sites

Cabin Lodging

I manage this campground

Activities you can enjoy

Extensive trail network and small lakes/ponds support hiking, backpacking, wildlife viewing, fishing and non-motorized boating; trails are used year-round for hiking and cross-country skiing.

Hiking

Fishing

Biking

Boating

Wildlife viewing

Planning your trip?Check out our camping packing checklist

Policies & Safety

Hazards & AlertsSeasonal heavy mosquitoes and biting insects in warmer months; some trails are shared with horses so expect occasional horse droppings; parking can be limited on busy days; remote/backcountry sites require hiking in with gear.

No Electric HookupsElectric hookups are not available at this campground. RV campers should arrive with a full battery and plan for off-grid power (generator hours/quiet rules permitting).

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

Set an AlertGet notified when sites open up Check WeatherHistorical weather data Gear for This TripMatched gear recommendations Packing ListCustomizable checklist

Questions & answers

Researching this campground? Ask anything — other campers and our team will weigh in. No visit required.

Tips from campers

Short heads-ups about the road in, gear quirks, timing, and more. You don't have to have been here to share what you know.

Reviews

From Booking Sources

4.5

98 reviews

Recommended

Group Camp is recommended, placing it in the top 40% of campgrounds based on reviews

Visitors praise Lake Maria for its quiet, well-marked trails, scenic small lakes and ponds, abundant wildlife and secluded-feeling campsites. Backpacking sites and a spacious group camp that connects directly to trails are highlighted as strengths.

Review Summaries

Based on 98 reviews

What Campers Love

Quiet, scenic hiking with many water views; secluded backpacking campsites; abundant bird and wildlife sightings (loons, herons, owls, coyotes); well-maintained trails and clean restrooms; group camp...

Based on 98 reviews

Outdoorithm Community

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Go if

Scout troops, family reunions, or any group that wants hike-in access to loon-and-heron country without driving far from the metro. Fall weekends are the sweet spot, and the trails connect straight to your campsite.

Skip if

Summer visits mean serious mosquitoes, so if your group is bug-averse without serious repellent, the warm-month experience gets old fast. No hookups, no dump station, and no pets means this is tents-only wilderness-style, full stop.

Campgrounds

Lake Maria State Park

Group Camp

About Merritt Reservoir

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

<A HREF="http://www.usbr.gov/projects/Facility.jsp?fac_Name=Merritt+Dam">Merritt Dam</a>, a feature of the <A HREF="http://www.usbr.gov/projects/Project.jsp?proj_Name=Ainsworth Unit Project">Ainsworth Unit, Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program</a>, is on the Snake River 14 miles upstream from the confluence of the Snake and Niobrara Rivers. Recreation is managed by Nebraska Game and Parks. Reservoir open 24 hours. Good access roads. Available species include walleye, muskie, largemouth bass, crappie, and yellow perch. Irrigation supply reservoir experiencing moderate fluctuations. THe reservoir peaks has 2,906 water surface acres, 6,147 land acres and 44 miles of shoreline. Fishing season is year-round. <a href="http://www.usbr.gov/gp-bin/arcweb_mrne.pl">Current reservoir levels.</a>

Directions

Located 21 miles southwest of Valentine, Nebraska. Nearest highway is Nebraska 97.