Blue Mounds State Park RV & Campground Guide
Minnesota
The Blue Mounds State Park is located less than four hours southwest of Minneapolis, Minnesota. The park offers fascinating geological formations, such as the Sioux Quartzite cliff that juts 100 feet straight up from the prairie. You'll also see plenty of wildlife, including the Minnesota Bison Conservation Herd. Seasonally, the park explodes with wildflowers, and you'll always see miles of sweeping prairie grass. At the park, you can enjoy hiking and rock climbing. While nearby small towns such as Luverne offer a few restaurants and small grocery stores, the closest city to get supplies you might need is Sioux Falls, SD, which is a 40-minute drive from the park.
Spring 35-58 F
Summer 60-82 F
Fall 37-60 F
Winter 11-30 F
Sioux Falls, MN
RV Resorts & Campsites in Blue Mounds State Park
With the cold temperatures in the northern states, the best way to visit these parks is with an RV. If you don't have your own RV, check out the great rentals available at RVshare.
Adrian's Municipal Campground
Adrian's Municipal Campground is owned by the city of Adrian and offers a ton of amenities. All 121 sites have 50-, 30-, or 20-amp electric hookups, water hookups, and free Wi-Fi. Some spots also offer sewer and/or cable TV, and there is a dump station on the property. You might not have time to enjoy the cable or internet because you'll be too busy playing horseshoes, volleyball, basketball, baseball, gaga ball, or life-size chess or checkers. There is also a professionally designed 18-hole disc golf course on the premises, so you'll never be bored at Adrian's Municipal Campground.
Red Barn RV Park
This older park offers lots of shade under the mature trees. Located in Tea, SD, Red Barn RV Park offers 76 full hookup sites with either 50- or 20-amp power. Pets are allowed at this campground, and it offers laundry, showers, restrooms, wireless internet, cable TV, swimming pool, horseshoes, and golf. The on-site clubhouse also has a game hall.
Tower Campground
Tower Campground in Sioux Falls is a kid- and pet-friendly campground that offers pull-through sites and full hookups with 50- or 30-amp power. Premium sites have a brick fireplace and a free bundle of wood. Pull-through sites start at $46.75 per night, and back-in spots start at $42.08 per night. Tower offers nightly, weekly, and monthly rates. It has a kids' play area and its own dog park as well as laundry, restrooms, and shower facilities. The campground is shaded by beautiful mature trees.
River's Bend Campground
With two catch-and-release fishing ponds and a swimming pond with a sand beach, River's Bend Campground has plenty to offer. This municipal campground has back-in sites with 50-amp power, and some sites have water and sewer hookups. There is a dump station on-site. In addition to the ponds, recreational amenities include access to an award-winning trail system, playground, volleyball and basketball courts, and a driving range that you get to via a trail. Full hookup sites start at $25 per night or just $17 per night for electricity only.
What to Do at
Blue Mounds State Park
Inside Blue Mounds State Park
While the bison herd is a large draw to the park, other wildlife such as elk, wolves, and prairie chickens abound. You may not associate cactus with Minnesota, but Blue Mounds State Park is one of a few spots in the Gopher State where the prickly pear grows, so visit late June or July to see them in bloom. In late summer, the wildflowers put on a colorful show, and the park is a haven for native tallgrass such as the blue-stem grasses that grow to 7 feet tall. You'll find lots of different kinds of trails in the park, including self-guided hikes, paved bike trails, and snowmobile trails. If you enjoy bird-watching, a number of unusual birds frequent the park, so be sure to download the bird checklist.
Outside Blue Mounds State Park
While you're in southwestern Minnesota, be sure to take in some of the local flavors. Down-home dishes, craft beers, and family recipes abound in this area, so you'll never be hungry or thirsty. The splendor of the area's natural beauty has inspired local artists for decades, and you'd be remiss to leave Minnesota without stopping by the nearby art galleries and studios to see what they have created.
Restaurants
Sterling's Café & Grille
Sterling's Café & Grille features standard lunch fare, such as sandwiches, salads, burgers, and flatbread pizza, in addition to entrees such as Cajun chicken penne, chicken marsala, coconut chicken curry, and ribs. They offer gluten-free options, and for those of age, they have a large selection of beers on tap.
Type: American
Location: 105 E Main St, Luverne, MN 56156
Wildflowers Coffee Boutique
In addition to the full coffee, tea, and smoothie menu, Wildflowers Coffee Boutique has breakfast and lunch options. The breakfast menu has small items such as cheddar, bacon, and egg English muffin sandwiches. The lunch menu features hardier fare, including sandwiches, wraps, salads, and soups. They also serve ice cream.
Type: Cafe
Location: 129 E Main St, Luverne, MN 56156
Minervas
Minervas is a fine-dining restaurant serving American food with vegetarian and vegan options. It is open for lunch and dinner with an eclectic menu that includes seafood crepes, steak, duck, and walleye.
Type: Fine Dining, American
Location: 301 S Phillips Ave, Sioux Falls, SD 57104
Carnaval Brazilian Grill
As you would expect from a Brazilian restaurant, Carnaval Brazilian Grill offers signature rodizio service. You can also order single entrees including pizza, sandwiches, seafood, and pasta. Be sure to save room for their signature Cinnamon Roasted Pineapple or another dessert.
Type: Brazilian, American
Location: 2401 S Carolyn Ave, Sioux Falls, SD 57106
Jacky's Restaurant
In addition to your standard Mexican fare, Jacky's Restaurant offers specialties such as Authentic Guatemalan Dish, which is chicken in coconut milk served with plantains and coleslaw. Jacky's also has a number of seafood entrees featuring flavors from throughout Mexico and Central America, including three varieties of ceviche.
Type: Mexican, Latin American, Guatemalan
Location: 702 E 8th St, Sioux Falls, SD 57103
Shopping
Deuschle Studio
A working artists' studio that also houses a gallery, Deuschle Studio offers glasswork, ceramics, jewelry, and other works of art. They offer pieces to fit any budget, including gifts kids would love.
Location: 1294 131st St, Luverne, MN 56156
Those Blasted Things
This unique shop is housed in a Western-style building. Those Blasted Things is a family-operated business with a wide range of arts, crafts, and other gift items. You'll find lamps, jewelry, carved rock and stone, bookends, fossils, and other interesting items.
Location: 924 S Kniss Ave, Luverne, MN 56156
The Empire Mall
The Empire Mall features your classic mall stores, gift shops, and restaurants, including upper-end merchandisers Coach and Lancôme.
Location: 5000 W Empire Mall, Sioux Falls, SD 57106
Sightseeing
Touch the Sky Prairie
Touch the Sky Prairie is under the umbrella of the Brandenburg Prairie Foundation. It features 1,000 acres of protected prairie land that is home to over 120 species of native grasses, safeguarding several species that are on the federal threatened and endangered species lists. You can enjoy hiking on several different trails through this natural area.
Location: County Rd 11 & 171st Street, Hardwick, MN 56134
Split Rock Creek State Park
Split Rock Lake is the heart of Split Rock Creek State Park. You can rent canoes, kayaks, paddleboards, paddleboats, or rowboats to explore the lake. Other recreational activities include hiking and viewing the historic bridge that was built from local quartzite in the 1930s.
Location: 336 50th Ave, Jasper, MN 56144
Palisades State Park
Split Rock Creek flows through Palisades State Park, cutting through unique Sioux quartzite formations. Visitors can enjoy bird-watching, camping, fishing, canoeing, and hiking.
Location: 25495 485th Ave, Garretson, SD 57030
How to Get to
Blue Mounds State Park
Blue Mounds State Park is located just 1 mile off U.S. Highway 75. To get there, you'll take Interstate 90. When you get to Luverne, turn north onto Highway 75 and go 6.2 miles. Turn east on 161st street, and that will take you to the park.
Entering Blue Mounds State Park
A one-day vehicle permit is good for 24 hours, so it includes overnight camping. The park is open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
One-day vehicle permit : $7
Year-round vehicle permit : $35
Southwest Minnesota and southeast South Dakota offer many great destinations for when you're on the road in an RV. If you don't have your own, you can easily rent an RV from RVshare. While you're out exploring these amazing United States, keep in touch by tagging RVshare in your social media posts or send your photos and memories to [email protected]