RV Rental Madison, MN

Madison's location is right on the annual migration route of Canada geese. Rent a motorhome in Madison in the spring, and you’ll witness hundreds of other species of birds flock to Salt Lake to rest. Salt Lake, which straddles the border of South Dakota and Minnesota, is the only saltwater lake in the state and is considered an important birding area. Watch out for some rare species like the wader Wilson's phalarope (threatened) and short-eared owl (species of special concern).

Migrating waterfowl also make a much-needed stop at the 6,000-acre Lac Qui Parle Lake. Nicknamed by Dakota Indians as the "lake that speaks," Lac Qui Parle Lake is filled with a chorus of quacking and honking when the Canada geese and other waterfowl arrive. The lake, only half an hour’s drive by RV rental from Madison, is equally famous for its abundant yield of walleye (restocked with millions of fingerlings every three years), bluegill, lake sturgeon, and 30 other fish species.

Farther out but still less than an hour's drive away by camper rental from Madison, the Big Stone Lake State Park, the source of the Minnesota River, attracts anglers eager to land walleye. Birders flock here too for superb birding opportunities while hikers have a combined three-mile trail to explore. Apart from robins, thrashers, and sedge wrens, the lake is also home to a population of raccoons, squirrels, and deer.

Madison is about the size of a postage stamp, so the closest RV parks are some distance away in Dawson, Appleton, and Watson. The nearest Walmart is also within a 30-mile radius, in Montevideo, and you might be able to park there for a night or two with a manager's permission. If you want to give state park camping a try, Lac qui Parle State Park is about 25 miles away by motorhome rental from Madison.

Up to 50 amp electric sites, water, and sewer hookups are available in the state campground, even in the winter. There are also hot showers, flush toilets, and a sanitary dump station on-site. Hiking trails, a swimming beach, and a groomed cross-country ski trail beckon adventurous campers for an invigorating day out.

The Lac qui Parle County Museum makes an ideal first stop after you set foot in town. Here you can glean into the town's past in the four separate buildings that make up the museum complex. See what a late 19th-century log cabin looks like, step inside the spacious Education Museum, and view the actual rural schoolhouse built in the late 1880s. Browse through the museum's exhibits that span everyday items (salt and pepper shakers) to more important exhibits like military displays from the Civil War era and Native American artifacts.

In proportion to its size, Madison has quite a few grocery stores and gas stations around town. Dining options are also slim, but if all you need to survive is fast food and diner fare, with a hearty helping of American comfort food on your plate, you won’t go hungry. Madison bills itself as the "lutefisk" capital of the world, so it might be worth hunting down where you could buy this local dried fish delicacy of Nordic origin.

Auto racing fans may want to rent an RV in Madison anytime between Memorial Day to Labor Day when the Saturday night racing at the Madison Speedway is a must-see. The racing events are sanctioned by WISSOTA (from Wisconsin and Minnesota) Promoters Association and conducted on a 3/8-mile-high banked dirt speedway. The competing vehicles are modified cars, street stocks, and limited late models. In between races, there are plenty of special events that will entertain the non-racing fans of your group.

For close to 150 years, Madison has been celebrating "the Little Minnesota State Fair" or the Lac qui Parle County Fair, in early September. Like any county fair, livestock, agricultural, and horticultural products are featured along with crafts and needlework, baked, and canned food. A huge variety of rides and live entertainment also ensure that everyone in the family is entertained.

But don't wait for the county fair to roll around to come visit. Book an RV rental in Madison now and make the town your gateway to see more of the fabled 10,000 lakes. After all, there are a few lakes close to town, and you can start your countdown from there.