Myre-Big Island Campground

The Great Outdoors

Camping at the Myre-Big Island Campground is ideal for exploring the sparkling waters of Albert Lea Lake and the Myre-Big Island State Park. The park centers around the 117-acre Big Island, which is connected to the mainland by a causeway and is blanketed in old-growth hardwoods that have escaped the impact of wildfires. Large tracts of oak savanna and wildlife-filled wetlands sprawl across the mainland, with American white pelicans, white-tailed deer, and raccoons regularly spotted. Stop in at the Owen Johnson Interpretive Center to browse the collection of Native American artifacts that were uncovered here in the mid-1940s, revealing that humans have inhabited the area for around 9,000 years. Then stretch your legs on the 16 miles of hiking trails that wind through the park or hit the mountain biking and cross-country skiing trails.A 30-minute drive west of the Myre-Big Island Campground is the Walnut Lake State Wildlife Management Area near Wells, which encompasses 2,516 acres of forests and grassy uplands. It provides a vital habitat for many wildlife and bird species, including great blue herons, red-tailed hawks, and American kestrels. A section of the WMA is also accessible to hunters, with pheasants, deer, and small game all for the taking.If you’re an avid angler, head 20 minutes' drive west to Pickerel Lake, which offers both shore fishing and non-motorized boat angling opportunities. Various species can be caught here due to its connection with the Mississippi River, including largemouth bass, northern pike, black crappie, and bluegill. Alternatively, you can drive north to White Lake and Fountain Lake, around which the city of Albert Lea sprawls, with walleye, black crappie, and channel catfish all abundant in numbers.

Exploring the City

Campsites at the Myre-Big Island Campground are just five minutes’ drive from the center of Albert Lea, where you can pick up grocery supplies at one of the local supermarkets. There are also gas stations here if you need to fill up your RV rental and a good selection of cafes and fast-food restaurants if you don’t feel like cooking.While you’re ready to explore the city of Albert Lea, stop in at the Freeborn County Historical Museum, which was established in 1948 to preserve the cultural heritage of the region. It boasts more than 40 exhibits that include a turquoise truck once owned by Happy Days actress Marion Ross (who grew up in Albert Lea) and memorabilia belonging to rockabilly guitarist Eddie Cochran. The Freeborn County Historical Museum also features a period village that’s clustered with 18 buildings dating from the 1850s to the early 1900s, together with a large collection of antique farming equipment.An RV campsite at Myre-Big Island Campground provides a good base for visiting the city of Rochester, which lies around an hour’s drive to the northeast. It’s renowned as the birthplace of the Mayo Clinic, a nonprofit academic medical center that was founded by Dr. Charles Mayo in 1889. Join a guided tour of his former mansion, Mayowood, which was completed in 1911 and is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places or head to the iconic Plummer Building that dominates the Mayo campus. Also of note is the early 20th-century Plummer House, a Tudor-style mansion once owned by Dr. Henry Stanley Plummer that’s decorated with period furnishings. Art enthusiasts shouldn’t miss a visit to the Rochester Art Center that not only exhibits contemporary art but hosts regular classes and workshops in a variety of media.Whether you want to explore the cultural sites of Albert Lea, the vibrant city of Rochester, or go fishing in the surrounding lakes, book an RV in Freeborn County and start planning your next vacation.