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Flandrau
Overview
Flandrau State Park offers a unique blend of historical charm and natural beauty right on the edge of New Ulm, Minnesota. This park is characterized by its rolling hills and the winding Cottonwood River. Travelers will immediately notice the historic stone buildings constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps, which give the grounds a timeless, rustic feel. It serves as a peaceful retreat for those looking to explore the Minnesota River Valley while remaining close to local conveniences.
Location & Surroundings
Situated in Brown County, the park sits within a lush river valley surrounded by high bluffs and dense forests. The landscape transitions beautifully from open prairies to shaded woodlands, providing a variety of scenery for visitors. Because it is located so close to the city, it offers a rare balance of wilderness and accessibility. The surrounding area is deeply rooted in German heritage, which is reflected in the architecture and local culture found just outside the park gates.
Amenities & Park Features
For RV travelers, the park provides 34 electric hookup sites spread across wooded and open areas. While there are no full hookups, a convenient dump station and fresh water are available. The park is most famous for its filtered sand-bottom swimming pond, which offers a beach-like experience in the heart of the Midwest. During the warmer months, visitors have access to modern restrooms and hot showers, making it a comfortable destination for extended stays.
Nearby Attractions & Things to Do
Beyond the park’s eight miles of hiking trails, the city of New Ulm offers fascinating cultural sites. Visitors can climb the Hermann Heights Monument for a panoramic view of the valley or visit the historic August Schell Brewing Company. The downtown area features a beautiful glockenspiel and several authentic German restaurants. For those staying in the winter, the park’s trails are groomed for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, offering year-round outdoor recreation.
Who This Park Is Best For
This park is ideal for families and history enthusiasts who appreciate a mix of outdoor activity and cultural exploration. It is a fantastic weekend destination for RVers who enjoy hiking and swimming without venturing too far from town. While it leans toward a rustic state park vibe, the availability of electricity and modern bathhouses makes it accessible for most modern rigs. It is perfect for those who want to immerse themselves in Minnesotas prairie heritage.
Amenities
- Recreational Facilities
- Policies
- Other Amenities & Services
- Recreation Nearby (within 10 miles)
- Facility
- On-Site Rentals
- Sites
User Reviews
B A
Flandrau is a good overall Minnesota state park. Located on the Cottonwood River, it is a quick drive from downtown New Ulm. They have a man made swimming pond here, but every time I've been this year it has not been filled. I'm sure why they have not opened it this year. The park has some nice elevation change on their hiking trails and nice views of the river. I almost always see deer here.
James Kiefert II
We did some hiking, swimming and sitting around at camp. We used a site with electricity, and enjoyed the fact that it was peaceful even though the campsites were full. The bathrooms were clean and worked as intended. We also enjoyed that the staff were extremely helpful.
R S
Swimming pond kept the kids and adults alike busy for hours with the hot humid weather. It has a sand bottom which makes it easy to walk and play and goes to a 7 foorlt depth soceven adults can swim. We saw lots of deer so don't drive fast thru the park. Also got really good pictures of a couple turkeys and their babies. We stayed in the Stone and Coffeetree cabins. The Stone cabin is very small with 1 queen mattress and a twin trundle bed along with a coffee table and 3 chairs. The Coffee tree cabin is the traditional 2 sets of twin over queen bunk beds set up. The campground was quiet, and peaceful. The only negative is the cleanliness of the showers and bathrooms. The women's bathroom was not cleaned the entire weekend so we didn't take showers the 2nd night.
DLM-Distribution Campervans
Flandrau State Park is a quiet spot right in New Ulm that feels like you're far from town. The hiking trails are short but scenic, with wooded paths and some nice overlooks. The sand-bottom swimming pond is clean and great for cooling off in summer. The campground is well-kept and works great for campervans—quiet, simple, and easy to access. A solid place to unwind without going far from Mankato, the Twin Cities etc
Denise Rich
Clean park. Had electricity but no sewer hook up. We were able to fill our water tank but no water hook ups at site. Location was beautiful and great access to biking trails.
Dennis Smith
Just a short visit to New Ulm, but we enjoyed a long walk in Flandrau State Park. We might return for summer camping someday. The natural playground and artificial lake look like a lot of fun for younger campers.
James F
Very nice park, with a lot of day use activity. Around supper time it starts to quite down. The camp sites are pretty much on top of each other with no privacy whatsoever. In the off season it's not too bad as the campground is not so full. There was more "thru" traffic here than any state park we have been to. Seemed about every half hour or so someone would drive thru then leave. The Ranger we talked to was lovely, she answered a bunch of questions and was pleasant to talk to. The trails are marked VERY good and are well maintained. The bathroom was closed for the season, but the vault toilets were clean and stocked.
Brianna Hansen
Good family campsite. Semi modern spots had some folks running generators at all times except quiet hours. Easy hiking close to sites, swimming pond was clean and had lifeguards (no floaties allowed). Fun area for kids to play. Bathrooms clean. Going to town took 5 minutes.
Anne Carroll
Sweet little state park with tons of spring wildflowers and an amazing number of birds. Choose either rustic or semi-modern campground and enjoy the 8 miles of hiking trails.
F. R.
State Parks are usually pretty decent around this state. However, we arrived here for the first time. I was very underwhelmed. There was a nice place to park. The grass was very overgrown and was not cut or maintained. We found that there is a sand bottom pool but it was not open as of yet, that seemed like it would be ok. Our main goal was to find a nice place to have a picnic date lunch. We found that there were no picnic tables set up except for one in the tall buggy grass and one tucked into an area with a mediocre view of the river. We had our picnic and quickly left. We drove 2 hours to do a picnic here. (My husband and I do date adventure days) We find a new State Park to go to- hike and or have a picnic. A lot of open area and looked like a nice banquet venue to rent out.