Frontenac Campground

The Great Outdoors

A highlight of camping at the Frontenac Campground is the scenic views on offer from the surrounding Frontenac State Park, which was inhabited by the Hopewell culture between 400 and 300 BC. Head to Garrard’s Bluff to witness the natural widening of the Mississippi River known as Lake Pepin and the limestone arch of In-Yan-Teopa (“Rock With Opening”). Fishing for walleye, northern pike, and crappie is possible in Lake Pepin, as is swimming at Sand Point, or you can stretch your legs on the 13 miles of hiking trails that wind through the park. If you’re visiting in the winter months, there are around 5.5 miles of groomed cross-country skiing and snowmobiling trails for visitors to access. The Frontenac State Park is also a popular birdwatching destination, with golden eagles, warblers, and sanderlings all regularly spotted here.Continue south along the Mississippi River, and you’ll arrive at the Five-Mile Bluff Prairie State Natural Area, which overlooks the meeting of the Chippewa and Mississippi Rivers. It encompasses 300-foot-high river bluffs that afford magnificent views and forests of aspen, chokecherry, and staghorn sumac that attract a variety of migratory bird species in the spring. The Five-Mile Bluff Prairie State Natural Area lies adjacent to the Nelson-Trevino Bottoms State Natural Area (a portion of the largest delta floodplain forest in the upper Midwest) where you may be lucky enough to spot pileated woodpeckers, blue-gray gnatcatchers, and broad-winged hawks.Drive in the other direction, and you’ll come to the Cannon River Turtle Preserve Scientific and Natural Area, which is situated just past Red Wing. Its sandbars and uplands provide the ideal nesting habitat for turtles, with some areas of the preserve designated as a sanctuary. You can hike or bike in along the Cannon Valley Trail or explore by canoe, with the chance to glimpse not only turtles but also red-shouldered hawks and cerulean warblers, which are both special concern species in Minnesota.

Exploring the City

Campsites at the Frontenac Campground are just three minutes' drive from the community of Frontenac, where you’ll find a small supermarket if you need basic grocery supplies. There’s also a gas station here if you need to fill up your RV rental and a couple of eateries if you don’t feel like cooking. Alternatively, you can make the 15-minute drive into Red Wing, where you’ll find a more extensive choice of supermarkets, services, and restaurants.While you’re visiting Red Wing, be sure to stop in at the Pottery Museum of Red Wing, which delves into the history of the region’s clay industry. See pottery manufactured as early as the 19th century and purchase a unique piece by local artisans to take home with you. Red Wing is also home to the Aliveo Military Museum, where artifacts dating from the Revolutionary War are displayed and the Red Wing Marine Museum, which features restored marine engines and fishing tackle in a historic riverfront building.The campsites at Frontenac State Park are just over an hour’s drive from the “twin cities” of Minneapolis and St. Paul, which boast several excellent museums between them. Head to the Walker Art Center where contemporary works are displayed or delve into the region’s industrial past at the Mill City Museum, then stroll along the landmark Minneapolis Stone Arch Bridge. Hands-on exhibits await at the Science Museum of Minnesota while the Minnesota History Center features several interactive displays that help bring the state’s past to life. Architecture buffs shouldn’t miss a visit to the Minnesota State Capitol designed by Cass Gilbert or the impressive Marjorie McNeely Conservatory. If you need a retail fix, the 500+ stores at the sprawling Mall of America will do the trick, with the on-site theme park of Nickelodeon Universe ready to entertain the kids.Whether you want to explore the museums of Minneapolis and St. Paul or get active in the reserves along the Mississippi River, book an RV in Goodhue County and start planning your next vacation.