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

Group 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 Group Campground?

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

Can I have a campfire at Group Campground?

Fire policies at Group Campground: Follow Minnesota state park rules; only use approved or local firewood to prevent spread of forest pests.. Always check current fire restrictions before your trip, as conditions change seasonally.

Are dogs allowed at Group Campground?

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

What activities can I do at Group Campground?

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

Group Campground

3.57

14 reviews

Group Campground

Featured in:Group Camping Minnesota

Real-Time Availability

Select a month, then check for open campsites

Quick Facts

735 ft

Price

Varies

Booking

Reservable

Sites

Varies

Season

Year-round

Cell

No Service

Pets

No Pets

Book on Minnesota State Parks (Minnesota DNR)Official Website

Get Directions

Real-Time Availability

Select a month, then check for open campsites

Quick Facts

735 ft

Price

Varies

Booking

Reservable

Sites

Varies

Season

Year-round

Cell

No Service

Pets

No Pets

Book on Minnesota State Parks (Minnesota DNR)Official Website

Get Directions

Group Campground

No fees available

Campsite Fees

Purchase a vehicle permit for unlimited year-long visits to state parks and recreation areas. The Minnesota State Parks system provides an online...

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Minnesota State Parks

Provider

888-646-6367, 651-296-6157

I manage this campground

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Campground Map

Group Campground

44.6505, -93.7160

Nearby supplies

Nearby towns such as Jordan and other south‑metro communities (e.g., Shakopee) for food and supplies

Weather at Group Campground

Best Time to Camp at Group Campground

Summer offers the warmest, most reliable weather: daytime highs in the mid-70s to low-80s°F, nights in the mid-50s to mid-60s, with the longest daylight for trail time and evening naturalist programs. Trails through prairie and floodplain are at their peak for hiking, biking and wildlife viewing, though prairie stretches have little shade and ticks are reported in warmer months. Fall is praised for strong color along the river and quiet trails, but October visits can be chilly. Winter brings snowmobiling and multi-use trail riding. Spring can leave low-lying floodplain areas muddy. Reserve early for summer weekends, when the group camp sees moderate to busy use.

Best

Fall(Sep-Nov)

4.0 / 5

Fall foliage is a highlighted strength and enhances scenic value.

Planning Tips

About Group Campground

Group Campground sits within Minnesota Valley State Recreation Area, a river-valley corridor of floodplain forest, wetlands and prairie along the Minnesota River near Jordan. The site is a base for group tent camping with access to miles of multi-use trails for hiking, biking and horseback riding. Reviewers note extensive, well-marked trails and quiet scenery, though the area feels primitive with limited infrastructure.

This site is identified as the Group Campground within Minnesota Valley State Recreation Area.

Historical Significance

The broader Minnesota Valley corridor has agricultural and settlement history along the river. The Jabs Farmstead, a historic structure within the recreation area, reflects early settlement, though specific cultural interpretation for the group camp is not documented.

Weather and SeasonsSummer offers the warmest, most reliable weather: daytime highs in the mid-70s to low-80s°F, nights in the mid-50s to mid-60s, with the longest daylight for trail time and evening naturalist programs. Trails through prairie and floodplain are at their peak for hiking, biking and wildlife viewing, though prairie stretches have little shade and ticks are reported in warmer months. Fall is praised for strong color along the river and quiet trails, but October visits can be chilly. Winter brings snowmobiling and multi-use trail riding. Spring can leave low-lying floodplain areas muddy. Reserve early for summer weekends, when the group camp sees moderate to busy use.

Natural Features and SceneryThe recreation area protects a long stretch of Minnesota River floodplain at 735 feet elevation, with bottomland woods, river backwaters, wetlands and open prairie. Scenery is subtle rather than dramatic: quiet riverside stretches, fall foliage along earthen trails, and open fields with intermittent river views. Beavers, mink and red fox live in the wetland and riparian zones, and birdwatchers see a variety of river-valley and wetland species year-round. Prairie sections can be sunny and exposed; floodplain areas offer more shade under cottonwoods and willows. Reviewers warn that low-lying trails can flood or wash out after heavy rain.

Geological RegionMinnesota River floodplain / river valley

Scenic ViewsScenery is primarily river‑valley and floodplain views rather than dramatic overlooks — quiet stretches of river frontage, prairie, and wooded trails with notable fall foliage along the Minnesota River.

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Amenities available

Specific, official amenity listings for the Group Campground are not provided on the Minnesota DNR camping pages. Park-level and third-party sources note group camp facilities exist but do not enumerate site-level amenities. (For context, the park's equestrian campground is documented as having toilets, potable water, and picnic tables but no showers, no electric hookups, and no sewage hookups.) Visitors should confirm exact amenities with the park before arrival.

Group Sites

I manage this campground

Activities you can enjoy

The Minnesota Valley State Recreation Area and its campgrounds support multi-use recreation including hiking, horseback riding, biking, snowmobiling, birdwatching, geocaching, and group camping. Trails alternate between river, prairie, and wooded sections and include portions of the Minnesota Valley State Trail.

Hiking

Biking

Wildlife viewing

Planning your trip?Check out our camping packing checklist

Policies & Safety

Hazards & AlertsKnown hazards reported in public sources include periodic flooding and trail washouts and the presence of ticks. Visitors should also follow general state park precautions (sun exposure on open prairie sections, seasonal mud on low areas).

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 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

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Reviews

From Booking Sources

3.6

14 reviews

Mixed Reviews

Group Campground has mixed reviews, placing it in the bottom 85% of campgrounds based on reviews

Visitors praise extensive, easy and well-marked multi-use trails, quiet river-valley scenery, and good opportunities for hiking, biking, horseback riding, and birdwatching. Common notes warn that the area can feel primitive with limited infrastructure and occasional flooding or washed-out trail sections.

Review Summaries

Based on 14 reviews

What Campers Love

Miles of multi-use trails (including paved segments of the Minnesota Valley State Trail), scenic Minnesota River frontage and fall colors, seclusion despite proximity to suburbs, and strong...

Based on 14 reviews

Pro Tips & Recommendations

Watch for park signs and entrances, bring sun protection and plenty of water for prairie stretches, expect limited facilities and check park alerts for flooding or closures, and be prepared to share...

Based on 14 reviews

Camper Quotes

“Nice easy hiking trails, open picnic area and vault toilets.”; “Rarely see anyone else camp out here. Love it.”; “Closed due to flooding as of Monday.”

Based on 14 reviews

Outdoorithm Community

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Go if

Organized groups who want a quiet river-valley base for hiking, biking, or horseback riding on the Minnesota Valley State Trail. Fall is the sweet spot: cooler temps, good foliage color, and thinner trail traffic than summer weekends.

Skip if

No showers, no flush toilets, and no confirmed potable water on-site make this a hard sell for anyone expecting state park basics. Spring visits add flooding and mud; even summer carries tick warnings on the prairie sections.

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Campgrounds

Minnesota Valley State Recreation Area

Group Campground

About Anita Reservoir

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

<A HREF="http://www.usbr.gov/dataweb/dams/mt00567.htm">Anita Dam</a> and Reservoir, features of the <A HREF="http://www.usbr.gov/dataweb/html/huntley.html">Huntley Project</a>, are located 6 miles southeast of Ballantine, Montana near Billings. This offstream storage dam was completed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1937. Water is released from Anita Reservoir into the Reservoir Canal which flows across Fly Creek to the vicinity of <A HREF="http://www.mt.blm.gov/pillarmon/index.html"> Pompeys Pillar </a>. As the first representative of the United States in the Upper Missouri Valley, Captain Clark of the Lewis and Clark expedition scratched his name and the date of July 25, 1806 on Pompeys Pillar, a large rock landmark overlooking the Yellowstone River. The Crow Indian Reservation and the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument are nearby. The Anita Reservoir, with 32 surface acres and 2 miles of shoreline, offers seasonal opportunities for crappie, catfish, and largemouth bass. No facilities are available.

Directions

Drive northeast on I-94 from Billings, Montana.