News - Reservations due by Jan. 31 for seasonal and monthly camping at Minnesota state parks

[Rick]

Those who just can’t get enough of the scenic beauty at Minnesota state parks in a week or two stay, should act now to nab one of the few campsites available for longer stays, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. At a limited number of state park campsites, visitors can stay for a whole month or even a full season. Reservations for these opportunities are due by Sunday, Jan. 31, 2016.

For pricing and other park-specific information, or to submit a request to reserve a site, prospective visitors can call the phone numbers listed below or check the DNR website and the state parks seasonal and monthly camping page.

Nine Minnesota state parks have monthly and seasonal openings for camping in 2016.

• Myre-Big Island State Park (507-379-3403) in Albert Lea will offer monthly or seasonal camping from May 6 to Labor Day (Sept. 5) at four campsites, three of which have electric hook-ups.
• Lac qui Parle State Park (320-734-4450) in Montevideo will offer monthly or seasonal camping from May 6 to Labor Day at two electric campsites and three with a full hook-up to water, sewer and electricity.
• Upper Sioux Agency State Park (320-564-4777) in Granite Falls will offer monthly or seasonal camping from May 6 to Labor Day at two campsites, both of which have electric hook-ups.
• Big Stone Lake State Park (320-839-3663) in Ortonville will offer monthly and seasonal camping from May 6 to Labor Day at two sites with an electric hook-up.
• Kilen Woods State Park will offer monthly and seasonal camping from May 27 to Labor Day at three sites with electric hook-ups. Please call Phil Nasby at 507-831-2900, ext. 225, for information.
• Rice Lake State Park (507-455-5871) in Owatonna will offer monthly or seasonal camping from May 6 to Labor Day at three campsites, two of which have electric hook-ups.
• Lake Bronson State Park (218-754-2200) near Hallock will offer monthly or seasonal camping from May 8 to Labor Day at 10 sites with electric hook-ups.
• Hayes Lake State Park (218-754-2200) south of Roseau will offer monthly or seasonal camping from May 8 to Labor Day at seven sites with electric hook-ups.
• Old Mill State Park (218-754-2200) near Thief River Falls will offer monthly or seasonal camping from May 22 to Labor Day at seven sites with electricity and water.

If demand exceeds availability at a particular park, a lottery will be conducted on Monday, Feb. 1, or as soon as possible, and the park will notify applicants whether or not they were selected. If sites are available after this date, they will be reserved on a first-come, first-served basis. No preference will be given to monthly or seasonal campers from prior years.

For monthly campsite reservations, the entire monthly fee is due by Friday, April 15.  For seasonal campsite reservations, a one-month down payment is due by Friday, April 15, and the remainder of the seasonal fee is due when visitors arrive to check-in. If a lottery is not necessary and sites are available after Jan. 31, the monthly fee must be paid at the time of reservation to hold the site.

 

Discuss below - to view set the hook here.

[BringAnExtension]

Though the DNR is unlikely to see any discussion here, I have concerns about allowing someone to reserve a camping spot for entire season.  These are parks that are supported by all Minnesotans through taxes and should be available for widespread use, not just the first person to get a reservation in.

I would be ok with seasonal reservations IF these parks are being underutilized and this is a way to boost their use.  Does anyone have a link to campsite use versus capacity.