Frequently asked questions

Do you allow pets at the campground?

We love pets of all kinds. However you will be held responsible for containing your pet within your site at all times using a leash or other humane methods of containment. PLEASE clean up any waste from your pets immediately after they have finished their business. If your pet is known for being overly reactive with other animals or humans we respectfully ask that you do not bring them into the park. Pets must not be left alone at anytime. There is an off-leash dog park within the Prairie Island Park Complex just a short distance from the campground.

Can I leave my boat in the water overnight?

Yes, as long as you are campging with us. We do however ask that you respect the swimming access at the beach area. There are many areas along the shoreline where boats can be moored overnight. We will however not be responsible for any theft, damage or other mishaps.

Can I park my boat in my site?

We do have a designated boat parking area that is preferred, but if you do choose to park your boat in your site you must respect site boundaries and it can not cause bottle neck issue for other guests.

Can I bring my own firewood?

Sorry but you can not transport non-certified firewood into the campground. Nail, paint, finish free, and untreated dimensional lumber that has been cut into smaller pieces is allowed. (ie: untreated construction off cuts) Packaged wood with a USDA certificate attached can be brought in, however our locally sourced supply of firewood is often considerably less expensive and the right thing to do for protecting our local tree species from devistating infestations such as the Emeral Ash Borer and Oak Wilt.

Does the campground flood?

The campground is located right on the Mississippi River and does occasionally flood during high water events, usually in the spring but on rare occasions in summer and fall. We do not flash flood however. The river changes level regularly throughout the season. These changes happen over multi-day cycles. We know well in advance whether we will be negatively affected by heavy rain events or seasonal snow melt. If your reservation will be affected by flooding you will be notified 3-7 days in advance. Click on the following link to check the 7 day forecast for river levels at the campground. CAMPGROUND RIVER LEVEL

5.5’ - Summer normal

10’ - Higher than normal but all amenities are unaffected.

12.5’ - Boat Launch and beach area start to go under

13’ - Primitive sites and lowest electric and water sites see a bit of water

13.5 - 14.5’ All primitive sites are closed

14.6’ - 15’ Short Term camping closed.

16’ - Entire campground is closed.

Can we park our camper tongue first to courtyard with friends or family?

While we do understand why folks and family want to park so that they are facing eachother, we ask that all sites listed as “Back-In” sites are used as such. Our sites are laid out back to back so tongue first parking can lead to folks not being able to access their hitch without inconveniencing the site behind them. Even if you know the person in the adjacent site we ask that you not pull in tongue first. This can lead to presedence issues with other campsites within the campground. Drivable motorhomes are able to face either way because they do not require a tow vehicle. Thank you for your understanding.

How do I cancel a reservation?

There are 2 ways to cancel a reservation. The preferred way is to email us your cancellation request by responding to your reservation confirmation email or by emailing info@prairieislandcampground.com . The other is to call and talk to one of our campground staff members at 507-452-4501 between the hours of 9am - 8pm daily. If you reach voicemail you can leave a message with your request and we will take care of it as soon as possible. Be sure you are ready to provide your reservation details. No matter which of the of the ways you choose to cancel, we will process the cancellation according to our cancellation policy and send you a confirmation email with the details.

Can we leave personal equipment at the campground if we are not currently renting a site?

When does the campground close for the season?

The campground closes for the season on November 1, at 12pm. However the water service is typically turned off for the season starting the week after October 15th. On the rare occasion that we would experience a hard freeze earlier than the 15th we could be forced to turn it off prior to that to protect the system from damage.