Best Glamping near Alden, MN

Myre-Big Island State Park houses secluded glamping accommodations alongside Albert Lea Lake, featuring a mix of upscale canvas tents and luxury cabin options within wooded settings. The glamping sites offer electrical hookups, private fire rings, picnic tables, and easy access to well-maintained shower facilities with hot water and private changing areas. "This state park was a wonderful surprise! We first selected a site on Big Island however it wasnt for us. Due to the dense foliage there was little sun able to peak through, no grass for our dog to lay in, but it is beautiful if you like seclusion," noted one visitor about the park's diverse site options. The Albert Lea KOA provides additional glamping opportunities with premium tent accommodations that blend rustic charm with modern conveniences, maintaining a 4.5-star rating for its comfortable outdoor lodging experiences.

Extensive hiking trails wind through the woodlands, prairie, and wetland settings surrounding the glamping sites, creating perfect wildlife viewing opportunities. Guests regularly spot deer, eagles, and various bird species from their accommodations. One reviewer highlighted, "We saw a lot of wildlife: several deer, red squirrels, chipmunks, a raccoon, a woodchuck, lots of different birds, and several different types of butterflies. In the mornings the birdsong was pretty amazing, loud and long lasting." The parks offer watercraft rentals including canoes, kayaks, and paddle boards for exploring the lake. Seasonal experiences vary dramatically, with fall glampers enjoying colorful foliage and fewer insects compared to summer stays. The White Fox area of Myre-Big Island provides the most accessible glamping options with proximity to Albert Lea's historic district, approximately 7 miles from downtown Alden.

Best Glamping Sites Near Alden, Minnesota (18)

    1. White Fox — Myre-Big Island State Park

    22 Reviews
    Albert Lea, MN
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (507) 379-3403

    "We arrived on a Sunday and stopped at the Park Welcome area. We got the last spot with electric for 3 nights. Nice staff! Ice was available."

    "We had an electric site. Very level and clean. Nice fire pit and located right next to the lake. Only downside was the site was electric only."

    2. KOA Kampgrounds of America

    4 Reviews
    Hayward, MN
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (507) 373-5170

    "Check in was quick, spots were easy to pull into, the bathrooms were really clean, and it was surprisingly quiet despite the proximity to the highway. "

    "We stopped for the night driving between Black Hills and Chicago and the service was awesome. The hosts called to tell us about construction and give us alternative directions."

    3. Oakwoods Trails Campground

    6 Reviews
    Austin, MN
    24 miles
    Website
    +1 (507) 437-6165

    "Bathroom and shower available. Each site has a fire pit and picnic table. Some sites suitable for hammock camping."

    "This sites are spread out enough that you have a little privacy and each site has a fire pit and picnic table. This area is actually part of the owners farm.

    Bonus, it’s dog friendly."

    4. Pilot Knob State Park Campground

    12 Reviews
    Forest City, IA
    29 miles
    Website
    +1 (641) 581-4835

    $10 - $28 / night

    "Located by New Ulm, MN this campground has plenty of activities in the park or very near the park."

    "Very clean bathhouse and bathrooms, park. Family friendly and quiet place to camp."

    5. Daly Park & Campground

    5 Reviews
    Blue Earth, MN
    26 miles
    Website
    +1 (507) 524-3000

    6. Sakatah Lake State Park Campground

    24 Reviews
    Waterville, MN
    38 miles
    Website
    +1 (507) 362-4438

    "It was mid April so no water at the sites but had electric in ours. We were able to get potable water at the entrance. And firewood. Had great trails to walk and bike on. Sites are spaced out."

    "Great park if you’re not looking to drive too far to enjoy a bit of nature. Wonderful hiking paths and biking paths.

    Our site was nice a secluded and right next to the trail heads."

    7. Kieslers Clear Lake Campground

    3 Reviews
    Waseca, MN
    29 miles
    Website
    +1 (507) 835-3179

    "Plenty for kids to do and the staff was great"

    "There was a pretty bad storm that came through and the staff was quick to clean up downed branches and help all the folks who got damage."

    8. Rice Lake Campground — Rice Lake State Park

    13 Reviews
    Owatonna, MN
    39 miles
    Website
    +1 (507) 455-5871

    "My only complaint was how close together the walk-in sites were."

    "Beautiful forested area just outside Owatonna. Easy drive past beautiful farms to town. Camp host told us mosquitoes were light this year; they seemed plentiful to me!"

    9. Clear Lake State Park Campground

    12 Reviews
    Clear Lake, IA
    40 miles
    Website
    +1 (641) 357-4212

    $17 - $35 / night

    "The rest of the sites are beautiful with electric hook up. Nice clean bathroom and hot shower!"

    "Pros: Clean/well maintained, easy short path through the trees to get to the beach, sturdy picnic tables all around, long “driveway” for campsite

    Cons: pads are gravel and not very level, pads are very"

    10. Flying Goose Campground & Resort

    6 Reviews
    Fairmont, MN
    40 miles
    Website
    +1 (507) 235-3458

    "Lake to swim in - no lifeguard offered. Large sites with water/electric hook up - some full hook sites and big rig friendly."

    "Set along the shores of Lake Imogene, which comes out of nowhere surrounded by farm land, and you can’t even see it from the road."

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Recent Glamping Photos near Alden, MN

2 Photos of 18 Alden Campgrounds


Glamping Reviews near Alden, MN

130 Reviews of 18 Alden Campgrounds


  • p
    Nov. 20, 2022

    Riverside Co Park

    Great full hookup 40 unit campgrount

    40 site Totally renovated 2 years ago nestled along the little Cedar river above the dam. New Shower house/bathrooms. Natural themed kids play area including a huge tree house. City water and sewer with 50 and 30 amp to each site. Man made swimming pond with a lighted waterfall. Volleyball and walking trails with primitive camping across the road. Cabin with air conditioning and fully furnished further up the river on 200 acres of county land. Fishing above and below the dam. Picnic table and fire ring at every site.

  • S
    Aug. 10, 2021

    White Fox — Myre-Big Island State Park

    Peaceful

    We arrived on a Sunday and stopped at the Park Welcome area. We got the last spot with electric for 3 nights. Nice staff! Ice was available.

    $34/night plus Minnesota State Park pass @ $8/day.😩

    Not super spacious but very comfortable distance between spaces. Well maintained dirt road in campground. Grassy and mowed. Nice big trees! Water spigots. Very nice individual, clean rooms for showers.

    Two separate campground loops in the White Fox area and another couple loops half mile down the road

    The lake is gorgeous but just a few places to get to the water. Saw a sign on the park door saying kayaks and canoes available to rent.

    Six miles of paved, but badly in need of care, is a bike path that meanders through thick forest and open grassy fields. Follows the lake and heads close to the town of Albert Lea.

    We saw a guy setting out electric scooters that were available to rent which looked like fun!

    Birds and deer abound.

    Walmart 2 miles away!

  • Julian B.
    Sep. 4, 2018

    White Fox — Myre-Big Island State Park

    Quiet Spot Near a Tranquil Lake

    Got to this campground late in the evening. Check in was a breeze and easy to find and pull into the site. We had an electric site. Very level and clean. Nice fire pit and located right next to the lake. Only downside was the site was electric only. No option for full hookup but water was located between the sites. Dump station was clean and modern and located close by.

  • Lee D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Mar. 25, 2023

    Pilot Knob State Park Campground

    Layout of campground would be challenging if full

    General: A mixture of tent (non-electric) and electric sites, mostly arranged in several rows. 

    Site Quality: Mixed. Not all sites are level, and most do not have delineated parking pads (there is a small pavement indent to show where to access the site). A fire pit and picnic table complete the site. Most of the sites are too close together for our liking, however, when we were there (a Monday at the end of August, the day before school started), we were only one of three sites occupied so for our stay it didn’t matter. 

    Bathhouse: Basic but clean. My biggest complaint is there were no hooks or shelves for toiletries by the sinks. The showers looked nice but we did not use them. 

    Activities: Horseback riding (there are trails for this), hiking, fishing. Although we did see several trailheads, I did not have a map so didn’t explore them. There is an observation tower, but it is a two-mile walk/drive from the campground (on paved roads; I didn’t try to find hiking trails to get there). 

    Misc: A shout-out to the great host, Pam, who greeted us as we arrived. The observation tower, entrance gates, and picnic shelter were all constructed by the CCC and were beautiful. It almost seemed like the campground was an afterthought as it is outside the entrance gates and nowhere near the tower. The layout of the campground would be challenging if all sites were occupied.

  • GoWhereYouAreDraw N.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 27, 2019

    Sakatah Lake State Park Campground

    There is plenty to do for the outdoor enthusiasts

    We biked the Sakatah Singing Hills Trail from Faribault, MN to Mankato, MN (39 miles). The whole trail was paved, which was really nice and runs through hardwoods forest. We camped in Sakatah State Park and then explored the City of Mankato. Sakatah Lake is a relatively calm lake and seems like a great place to kayak.

    They have 5 bike-in campsites near the trail. Other campsites include drive-in sites, electric sites, group sites, and camper cabins. The campsites are secluded just enough so that one feels like they are camping in the woods by themselves.  Unlike a lot of campgrounds, Sakatah State Park has its fire pits above ground. Very nice for keeping warm. Amenities at the campground include showers, flush toilets, vault toilets, dump stations.

  • Tracy O.
    May. 25, 2021

    Sakatah Lake State Park Campground

    Close drive to Minneopa!

    We stayed here while visiting Minneopa state park. The campground was nice. It was mid April so no water at the sites but had electric in ours. We were able to get potable water at the entrance. And firewood. Had great trails to walk and bike on. Sites are spaced out. Our 34’ trailer fit easily. Vault toilets on site. Bathrooms were closed (covid). The loops near the entrance had more shade. Spaces are large and accommodating!

  • Rhonda P.
    Jun. 8, 2018

    McIntosh Woods State Park Campground

    beautiful spot near lake

    Beautiful shaded campground near the lake, not far from town if you forgot something. We stayed in one of the two yurts- bunk bed plus a futon and table/chairs inside. Picnic table and grill outside. Walk to small town/restaurants.Clean bathroom facilities in area. Short hikes. Fishing nearby.

  • Ken K.
    Aug. 7, 2022

    White Fox — Myre-Big Island State Park

    Stop over between other parks

    I've been using this as a night over stop before going on to the Black Hills or on my way back home. The first time I stayed the night over there it was a nightmare just because of this family or group of people showed up late and didn't comprehend quiet hours. So needless to say I had little to no sleep.

    The other times I've stayed there it was quiet and not too many people around. Kind of buggy but that's expected with the water and all the shade.

  • T
    Sep. 5, 2024

    Flying Goose Campground & Resort

    Nice campground on nice lake

    Large campground with a play park and other sporting area. Lake to swim in - no lifeguard offered. Large sites with water/electric hook up - some full hook sites and big rig friendly. The site we were put in was not set up well for the connections however it was a large site. Very muddy site but they offered to let us use a rug so we didn’t get ours all Muddy.


Guide to Alden

Myre-Big Island State Park offers diverse camping experiences in central Minnesota, where the average summer temperatures reach 85°F and winter lows typically drop to 10°F. Campsites near Alden provide access to Albert Lea Lake, with waters reaching depths of 14 feet in some channels. The region's rich wetlands attract numerous migratory birds during spring and fall seasons.

What to do

Fishing opportunities: Lake Imogene at Flying Goose Campground provides unexpected water recreation surrounded by farmland. "Set along the shores of Lake Imogene, which comes out of nowhere surrounded by farm land, and you can't even see it from the road. Mature shade trees everywhere," reports one camper who appreciated the fishing piers.

Hiking trails: The terrain at Sakatah Lake State Park offers 20+ miles of trails through varied ecosystems. "The park has 20+ miles of hiking trails through prairies, woodlands, and along the lake too! Plus the park offers geocashing (and free GPS rental), as well as canoes, kayaks, paddle boards, and a small fishing that can be rented," notes a visitor who enjoyed the diverse terrain.

Seasonal wildlife viewing: Early spring visits allow for different wildlife experiences. "We visited in early April so the sites were quite exposed, I can imagine they would be more private in the summer. Water and showers were not open yet as it was too cold but the vault toilets were well maintained," shares a reviewer about Myre-Big Island State Park's off-season camping.

What campers like

Spacious sites: Many campers appreciate the White Fox Campground at Myre-Big Island State Park for its layout. "This campground has a TON of sites! There are close to 60 sites in all, about a third to half of those are electric sites. If you like open spaces, this is a wonderful place to camp," comments one reviewer who enjoyed the extensive facilities.

Secluded island camping: The island section of Myre-Big Island provides a more remote glamping option. "Reserved a site here as a pit stop on a long road trip out west. I did not have high expectations, but was thoroughly surprised. A bald eagle flew over the car on our way in. Things were already looking good," shares a camper who discovered the less-populated island campground.

Clean facilities: Pilot Knob State Park maintains well-kept amenities despite modest pricing. "Beautiful campground. Well maintained. Nice facilities. You can't beat this place for the price. Nice hiking trails too," notes one visitor who found value in the $10-18 price range depending on hookups.

What you should know

May fly season: Spring camping brings specific insect challenges. "We were here in May and the bugs were awful (I get it, they're part of being out in nature). At one point I just had to yell 'RUN' at my partner as I fled with our dog because the may flies were swarming so thickly," warns a camper about specific seasonal conditions at White Fox campground.

Lake conditions: Some lakes in the area have water quality considerations. "On the lake but you need to be in middle of this lake if you want to get wet. Unless you enjoy swimmers itch. Not even very nice fishing on the dock Unless you like green fish," advises a camper about Sakatah Lake's conditions during certain seasons.

Limited full hookups: Clear Lake State Park has infrastructure constraints to consider. "This is our second time camping at the Clear Lake State Park. Limited full hook up sites. I wish there were more full hook ups that you could reserve," mentions a reviewer who found the partial hookup options adequate but limited.

Tips for camping with families

Multiple playground options: Family-friendly amenities enhance glamping in Alden, Minnesota for those with children. "What a gem! We were there for a one night mid-week stay, and it was so quiet and calm because ~70% of the spots are taken by seasonal guests who are primarily at the campgrounds on the weekends. There are three playgrounds (one at the swimming beach), a mini golf course, and an actual phone booth," reports a visitor to Flying Goose Campgrounds.

Beach access: Several campgrounds offer swimming opportunities for children. "The park is clean, the shower house is nice. It's hard to control the temperature in the showers, too hot for little kids to stand directly in the water. The playground was fun for the kids, nice beach access!" notes a camper about Clear Lake State Park's family amenities.

Midweek quieter experience: For families seeking less crowded conditions, timing matters. "We arrived on a Sunday and stopped at the Park Welcome area. We got the last spot with electric for 3 nights. Nice staff! Not super spacious but very comfortable distance between spaces," shares a visitor about midweek availability at Myre-Big Island.

Tips from RVers

Navigating tight roads: Oakwoods Trails Campground has specific access considerations. "Clean and well maintained campground about a quarter mile past owner's farm buildings. Signs for registration are easy to follow, stop at the Office (garage) to check in. Cash or check only, no cards," advises a camper about the approach to this rural site.

Site selection for larger rigs: Space constraints affect RV positioning at some parks. "Very nice park if your RV is not too big. I put our 38 foot 5th wheel in a site but you better be on your game here. Lots of shade and big trees," warns a visitor to Sakatah Lake State Park who still managed to accommodate their large vehicle.

Pull-through availability: Several campgrounds offer easier access sites. "We found this place by accident, and were very happy we did. We stayed in a pull through site with two other campers, were nice and spaced out and didn't hear them at all," shares an RV camper about Flying Goose Campground's site layout and convenience.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Alden, MN?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Alden, MN is White Fox — Myre-Big Island State Park with a 4.5-star rating from 22 reviews.

What is the best site to find glamping camping near Alden, MN?

TheDyrt.com has all 18 glamping camping locations near Alden, MN, with real photos and reviews from campers.