Campgrounds and RV parks near Ottertail, MN

Water is the main draw. Otter Tail Lake, one of the largest lakes in Minnesota, sits minutes from town and supports swimming, fishing, boating, and paddling. Maplewood State Park spans roughly 9,200 acres with eight inland lakes, a swim beach on Lake Lida, two boat ramps, and picnic areas. On land, the park offers more than 25 miles of hiking trails and about 20 miles of horse trails through rolling hardwood forest of sugar maple, basswood, and oak that is well known for fall color. Wildlife viewing along the park's scenic drives is a common family activity, with white-tailed deer, wildflowers, and songbirds along the roadsides. At Thumper Pond, the 18-hole championship golf course and the 12,000-square-foot Northern Hideaway Indoor Waterpark, which includes water slides and an 18-person hot tub, give kids and adults a rainy-day backup. Battle Lake, Pelican Rapids, and Inspiration Peak are all short drives for dining, shops, and short hikes.

Ottertail has a humid continental climate with long, cold winters and warm, sometimes stormy summers. Winter nights routinely fall below zero Fahrenheit, and running water at Maplewood State Park is shut off in mid-October, though vault toilets remain available year-round. The park's five camper cabins are heated and open year-round, though typically only three to five are kept in the winter rotation, and camping reservations at Minnesota state parks are required in every season. Spring is short and variable. Ice-out on area lakes generally happens in April, the Minnesota Fishing Opener falls in mid-May, and most private RV resorts open in early May. The Thumper Pond golf course runs April through October, weather permitting, while the resort's indoor waterpark stays open year-round. Summer, June through August, is peak season. July is typically the warmest month, and June brings the heaviest rainfall of the year. Fall color through the maple, basswood, and oak forest peaks in late September into early October, drawing heavy weekend traffic to Maplewood State Park.

The Maplewood State Park campground has 71 drive-in sites, 32 with electric hookups, spread across the Main, Hollow, and Knoll loops near Grass Lake and a smaller loop at Lake Lida. Sites accommodate up to six people and are rated for RVs up to about 50 feet. Amenities include drinking water, flush toilets, hot-water showers, trash collection, and a dump station in the developed loops, with vault toilets in the more rustic areas. The park also has 24 equestrian sites, three backpack sites, five camper cabins, and one group site. Cell service inside the park can be spotty, and firewood must be purchased locally to prevent the spread of invasive species. Private resorts in town lean toward full-hookup sites with 30- and 50-amp service.