Campgrounds and RV parks near Arlington, MN

Arlington sits in Sibley County in south-central Minnesota, roughly an hour southwest of the Twin Cities and within reach of the Minnesota River Valley. The town works well as an RV base for travelers who want farmland quiet during the day and access to state parks, paved rail trails, and lake country within a short drive. Private campgrounds in the surrounding valley tend to be small and family-run. Peaceful Valley Campsites sits in a quiet valley near the Minnesota River, just 20 minutes north of Mankato and 50 minutes south of Minneapolis/St. Paul just off US Hwy 169, with 36 sites including 17 full hookup RV sites, 18 sites with water and electric, and 1 tent only site. Farther north, Codgers Cover RV Resort is a 104 space seasonal resort in Howard Lake, about 43 miles west of Minneapolis and 44 miles south of St. Cloud, with city water and sewer hook-ups and metered electric. South and east of Arlington, state park campgrounds anchor the area: Minneopa State Park near Mankato, the Equestrian - Minnesota Valley State Park loop, and Sakatah Trail Campground near Waterville along the Sakatah Singing Hills State Trail.

Minnesota state park sites, including Minneopa and Sakatah Lake, use one centralized system. All campsites in Minnesota state parks and recreation areas require a reservation before they may be occupied, year-round, and cell phone coverage and Wi-Fi are unpredictable at some parks, so booking before leaving home is recommended. Online reservations can be made up to 120 days in advance, 24 hours a day, except for the first day a reservation becomes available. Overnight guests need a state park vehicle permit in addition to a camping or lodging reservation. Private campgrounds book directly through their own websites or by phone. Holiday weekends at private parks often carry multi-night minimums, and popular lakeside resorts fill their seasonal lots months in advance.