Shades of Sherwood: Your Family Camping Adventure in Zumbrota, MN

Shades of Sherwood Introduce

Welcome to Shades of Sherwood, a vibrant and activity-filled campground nestled in Zumbrota, Minnesota, that promises an unforgettable summer experience for families and friends. If you're a local Minnesotan searching for a camping destination that goes above and beyond with entertainment and amenities, Shades of Sherwood offers a truly unique and engaging environment. This isn't just a place to pitch a tent or park an RV; it's a destination designed for non-stop fun, especially for kids of all ages. With its impressive array of activities, including a waterpark, swimming pool, and jumping pillow, boredom is simply not an option here. The campground thrives on providing a lively atmosphere with themed weekends that add an extra layer of excitement to your stay. As a professional content writer specializing in local business SEO, this article will delve into the various aspects of Shades of Sherwood, from its convenient location and diverse services to its standout features, helping local users in Minnesota discover why this campground is a highly recommended choice for a memorable family camping adventure.

Shades of Sherwood is conveniently located at 14334 Sherwood Trail, Zumbrota, MN 55992, USA. This prime location places it approximately an hour south of the Twin Cities metropolitan area on US Highway 52, making it easily accessible for a vast number of Minnesotans. The campground sits on 77 acres of picturesque woods, rivers, and creeks, offering a beautiful natural backdrop for your family's adventures. Its setting along the Zumbro River provides direct access to opportunities for tubing, fishing, and enjoying a sandy river beach, even after other water attractions close for the day. For those driving, simply take the Sherwood Trail exit (mile marker 81) off US Hwy 52 and travel west for approximately 3 miles. While Shades of Sherwood offers an immersive natural experience, its proximity to the quaint city of Zumbrota means that essential supplies, local shops, and dining options are just a short drive away. This blend of secluded natural beauty and convenient access to town makes it an ideal spot for families who appreciate both outdoor recreation and the comfort of nearby amenities. Additionally, larger cities like Rochester are approximately 24 minutes away, and Minneapolis is less than an hour's drive, providing options for bigger city excursions if desired. The strategic location ensures that Minnesotans can easily plan a fun-filled getaway without extensive travel, maximizing their time enjoying the campground and its surroundings.

Services Offered

Waterpark: Features a waterpark area with inflatables on a man-made lagoon, providing hours of aquatic fun.
Swimming Pool: A clean and well-maintained outdoor swimming pool is available for guests.
Tubing: Tubes are provided for floating down the adjacent Zumbro River.
Jumping Pillow: A large inflatable jumping pillow offers entertainment for children.
Playgrounds: Multiple playgrounds are available for younger campers.
Pedal Carts: Pedal carts are offered as an activity for a fee.
Mini Golf: An on-site mini-golf course (note: some reviews indicate it may be basic).
Arcade Room: An indoor arcade for additional entertainment.
Themed Weekends: Regular themed weekends with organized activities like carnival games, costume contests, and scavenger hunts.
Electric & Water Campsites: Most sites offer 30-amp electric and water hookups, with some 50-amp available.
Primitive/Standard Sites: Basic sites along the river without electric or water hookups, suitable for tent camping.
Cabins: Fully furnished cabins are available, including kitchens, bathrooms, living rooms, and TVs.
Fire Rings and Picnic Tables: Each campsite comes with a fire ring (often with cooking grates) and a picnic table.
Coin-Operated Showers: Showers are available in designated bathhouses and require a small fee to use.
Flush Toilets: Flush toilet facilities are available, though their cleanliness and quantity may vary (some guests note reliance on porta-potties).
Dump Station: A single dump station is available for RV waste disposal (free for guests).
Laundry Facilities: On-site laundry facilities are provided for camper convenience.
Camp Store: A mini-mart/store offers camping necessities, groceries, firewood, and ice cream.
Pet-Friendly: Pets are welcome, provided they are kept on a leash and pet waste is picked up.
WiFi: Wi-Fi access is available.
Volleyball and Basketball Courts: Outdoor sports facilities for active play.

Features / Highlights

Extensive Family Activities: A wide range of activities geared towards families and kids, ensuring constant entertainment.
Water-Based Fun: Features a waterpark with inflatables and direct access to the Zumbro River for tubing and swimming.
Themed Weekend Events: Engaging and unique themed weekends add excitement and variety to stays.
Dedicated Staff: Praised by many for having excellent staff who go above and beyond.
Large, Flat Sites: Campsites are generally spacious and flat, making setup easier, though some may be rocky.
Shaded Spots: Many sites offer good tree cover, providing shade during warm days.
Proximity to Zumbro River: Provides a natural sandy beach area for relaxation and play, even when other attractions close.
Cabins Available: Offers fully equipped cabins for those seeking a more comfortable stay.
Good for All Ages: Activities cater to both younger children and older kids, making it suitable for diverse family groups.
Community Atmosphere: The emphasis on family fun and activities often creates a lively and social environment.

Contact Information

Address: 14334 Sherwood Trail, Zumbrota, MN 55992, USA

Phone: (507) 732-5100

Mobile Phone: +1 507-732-5100

For the most current information on rates, availability, and to make reservations, it is highly recommended to visit their official website. Please note that some activities, particularly the waterpark and inflatables, may require an additional wristband fee per person, which is separate from the camping rate. It is advisable to clarify all costs, including shower fees, prior to booking to ensure a full understanding of your potential expenses.

Shades of Sherwood is an ideal destination for Minnesotans, particularly families, seeking a high-energy and activity-rich camping experience close to home. For locals, the convenience of a relatively short drive from the Twin Cities makes this an accessible option for weekend getaways or longer summer vacations. Its primary suitability for local users stems from its robust offering of family-friendly activities. While some campgrounds provide a quiet retreat, Shades of Sherwood is designed to keep kids and adults entertained for hours on end. The waterpark, swimming pool, jumping pillow, and river tubing are major draws, ensuring that children have plenty of outlets for fun and excitement. This focus on engagement means that parents can truly relax, knowing their children are occupied and enjoying themselves in a safe environment. The themed weekends further enhance this appeal, offering unique experiences that encourage repeat visits and create cherished family traditions.

While some previous visitors have noted concerns regarding additional fees for certain amenities and the condition of some restroom facilities, the core offerings of Shades of Sherwood remain highly attractive for families prioritizing activity. The availability of diverse campsite options, from primitive tent sites along the river to full-hookup RV spots and even furnished cabins, caters to a wide range of camping preferences. The presence of a convenient camp store means that forgotten essentials are easily acquired, adding to the overall convenience for local campers. The staff consistently receives high praise for their excellent service, indicating a commitment to guest satisfaction despite any minor operational challenges. For Minnesotans who value a dynamic, fun-filled camping experience with abundant activities and a vibrant family atmosphere, Shades of Sherwood offers a compelling choice. It’s a place where childhood memories are made, laughter echoes through the trees, and the spirit of summer adventure truly comes alive, making it a highly recommended destination for local families year after year.

Shades of Sherwood Photos

Shades of Sherwood Location

Shades of Sherwood

Minnesota Goodhue County Zumbrota Sherwood Trail

14334 Sherwood Trail, Zumbrota, MN 55992, USA

Shades of Sherwood Reviews

Shades of Sherwood is a GREAT place for summer family fun! There is so much to do for kids of all ages and the waterpark, pool, tubing, jumping pillow keeps them busy for hours! I would highly recommend to anyone wanting a fun family camping experience. The staff is excellent and go above and beyond. I would definitely recommend to anyone and everyone! :) Thanks again for the great time as always!
Jun 10, 2025 · Alesha H
My family of 6 frequents campgrounds and try to go to different ones every year. This one had all the things we find important: activities for the kids, especially water parks, swimming pools. Jumping pillow, playgrounds, themed weekends.Upon check in we find out you have to pay extra for those things. Like $25 a person. The owner says its on the website but it isn't clear at all. Assuming that was the price people paid to come for the day, because that's what most campgrounds are like.The showers are pay to use. And there's only one building of 3 for each gender. This was shocking. I've never paid for showers at a campground. Not only that but that is the only bank of bathrooms and our camper was so far away. This campground is large and the bathrooms are a room they need major improvement. Yes, there's porta pottys all over but they were full and disgusting. They need more frequent pumping.The pool was nice and clean but had a weird smell. The lagoon was just kind of gross and it closed way too early. The water stained my swimming suit. And it also had a weird smell. My kids loved the inflatables so that was a plus. The only thing that was a plus all around was the river by our campsite. We had a sandy beach to sit and play long after the lagoon closed. And it was so hot the weekend we went.The site itself was large and flat but rocky. The tree we had at our site was dropping these furry caterpillars all over. It was a nice shady spot. Fire pits are small.The only activities I saw was carnival games on Saturday morning.For as large of campground as it is there's only one dump station.For the cost this campground isn't worth it in my opinion.
Jun 23, 2025 · Kayla Coil
Wonderful campground and we were camping without kids! Plenty of things to do and loved to be able to cool off in the pool or the water park!
Jul 08, 2025 · Trisch Davis
Update Feb 2025:June 2024 we did not have a good experience with the staff at this campsite. My post is long to explain the unusual weather situation but also showing how the staff could have handled it in any other way but chose not to.My update comes from a conversation I had with the owner. He seemed genuine when he apologized for our experience. He wanted to make things right even if that meant we never camped there again. He refunded the $300. He did not push for us to camp there again or try gaslighting me. He listened, related and did all he could to make things right. I respect the way he handled the situation. It does seem like a great family friendly campsite. Because of the experience I had with the owner we might reconsider camping there!I made reservations in early May 2024 for reservations in June 2024. During the month of June 2024 is when all the flooding was happening along with Shades of Sherwood. I called about 3 days before our reservations to see if we could reschedule as this is when the flooding was moving near this campsite. I did not provide my name nor did they ask but I did mention we were camping in tents. They responded with " we do not refund or reschedule as we do not control the weather." 3 hours later they called to tell me our 3 reserved sites were flooded and they needed to move us but wanted to know if we needed electricity since our original sites had it. They said they would figure something out if we didn't have electricity. No word so I called back later that day and they said they found a site for us. Fri night had thunderstorms so we arrived early Sat morning. I went to the office to check in and right away the front desk person said we are not accepting reservations. I asked why wouldn't they have called me. They responded and this is word for word " we assumed you were not coming." After some discussion they said they have two sites we could look at (no refund for the 3rd site which is a $100 deposit per site). The two sites were located right next to another tent site that was flooded along with a hill that I can see the water level almost as high as the hill. We said no and we will take credit. So they did and I asked for verification on my credit - they responded with "you can go to the site" I don't know how that is possible as I do not have an account setup with them. Nothing on their site will show my credits. I asked for them to email me. They did but in the most vague way possible - noting I have been credited for sites reserved but did not state how many site. So I asked her to send another email stating how many sites but she kept in telling me it's in their system. We walked outside to figure out what we are going to do since we drove an hour and 45 minutes then some guy started to yell at me to move. They were moving campers out of the water and pulling them up to dry land. I understand people are busy but do not talk to me like that. He had plenty of room to get thru the parking lot. I spoke with an employee to confirm if this guy works there and they responded "we heard the whole thing and no he is a guest." It's really upsetting that they would not allow us to reschedule due to the weather which was dangerous at that point because we wanted to camp there and possibly make an annual tradition out of it.
Feb 28, 2025 · Bridget
This was our second camping experience at Shades of Sherwood. The weekend looked to be hot and sunny. Perfect for a weekend of water fun (which they do not lack!!). The unfortunate issue arose when we did have some inclement weather roll in. It was so busy that the WiFi network they have for guests couldn’t keep up- so when I heard sirens going off I called up to the office to ask what exactly we should do or if the sirens were for the severe thunderstorm. We had 6 kids with us in our party and would have liked to be safe vs sorry. The lady who answered was very nonchalant about my weather question/concern and told me that they didn’t know what to tell me. We ended up going up to the office just to be safe, but upon entering, a seasonal camping couple and the front desk folks were laughing and making fun of campers who had weather concerns. When you have kids it’s different. That was just very disappointing to hear. Not to mention there were folks stuffed into the shower houses already and no where to go eve if there were a tornado.All in all, our children like camping here. We don’t have issues with the camp minus the staff. It would be good to maybe have a plan in place.
Jul 15, 2024 · Lauren Everhard