Is Big Island Campground first-come first-served or reservation?

Big Island Campground accepts online reservations. We recommend booking in advance, especially during peak season (typically summer weekends). Use campsite alerts to get notified when spots become available.

Are there showers at Big Island Campground?

Yes, Big Island Campground has shower facilities available for campers. Check the amenities section for details on hours and any fees.

Can I have a campfire at Big Island Campground?

Fire policies at Big Island Campground: Use approved or local firewood; light fires only within provided fire rings or charcoal grills. Do not leave fires unattended and extinguish all fires before leaving. Follow posted park rules regarding campfires and firewood.. Always check current fire restrictions before your trip, as conditions change seasonally.

Are dogs allowed at Big Island Campground?

Pets are not allowed at Big Island Campground. This policy helps protect local wildlife and other campers. Consider nearby pet-friendly campgrounds if traveling with animals.

What amenities are available at Big Island Campground?

Big Island Campground offers: Restrooms, Showers, Potable Water, Electrical Hookups. See our detailed campground page for the full list of facilities and features.

What activities can I do at Big Island Campground?

Popular activities at Big Island Campground include Hiking, Wildlife Viewing. The surrounding area offers plenty of outdoor recreation opportunities for all skill levels.

Big Island Campground

3.45

13 reviews

Summer Destination

Featured in:Family-Friendly Campgrounds Minnesota

Quick Facts

Price

Varies

Booking

Reservable

Sites

Varies

Season

Year-round

Cell

No Service

Pets

No Pets

ElectricShowers

Book on Minnesota DNR - Minnesota State Parks Official Website

Get Directions

Quick Facts

Price

Varies

Booking

Reservable

Sites

Varies

Season

Year-round

Cell

No Service

Pets

No Pets

ElectricShowers

Book on Minnesota DNR - Minnesota State Parks Official Website

Get Directions

Big Island Campground

No fees available

Campsite Fees

Reservations are required for all campsites. A non-refundable reservation fee is charged for each advance reservation (call center $10 / web $8)....

No paid fee categories listed.

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Minnesota State Parks

Provider

Reservations: 866-857-2757; General contact: 888-646-6367, 651-296-6157

I manage this campground

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Campground Map

Big Island Campground

43.6358, -93.3089

Weather at Big Island Campground

Best Time to Camp at Big Island Campground

Fall is a peak season for foliage and comfortable hiking; winter provides opportunities for walking and cross-country skiing on nearby trails. After heavy rain, low-lying areas can hold standing water and summers may bring more mosquitoes.

Best

Fall(Sep-Nov)

4.0 / 5

Fall is a peak season for foliage and comfortable hiking along the shoreline.

Planning Tips

About Big Island Campground

Pitch a tent or stay overnight and enjoy evening naturalist programs, moonlit walks, or campfire time with family and friends. Reservations are required for all campsites; check the park webpage or ParkFinder for seasonal opening/closing details before planning your visit.

The campground supports reservable, developed campsites with electric service and traditional camping; site types for primitive, group, or cabin lodging are not explicitly documented in the available sources.

Weather and SeasonsFall is a peak season for foliage and comfortable hiking; winter provides opportunities for walking and cross-country skiing on nearby trails. After heavy rain, low-lying areas can hold standing water and summers may bring more mosquitoes.

Natural Features and SceneryThe campground sits on a wooded island surrounded by lake and marsh, with large mature trees providing deep shade at most sites. The lake and marsh edges create good habitat for waterfowl, turtles, and otters, and fall brings notable color displays along the shoreline.

Scenic ViewsSome sites offer open water views of the surrounding lake and marsh; shoreline birdwatching and quiet water vistas are available from several campsites.

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Reserving a campsite

Tents

Tents are allowed

RV vehicles

RV vehicles are allowed

Primitive

Primitive camping is not allowed

Reservable

Reservations are allowed

Reservation PlatformsOnline reservations via the Minnesota state parks reservation system and by phone at 866-857-2757; online reservations available up to 120 days in advance with same-day fee-free reservations available.

Best CampsitesChoose sites away from the entrance/road and on higher, well-drained ground to minimize noise and avoid standing water. Shady, spacious sites with grassy pads and proximity to the newer bathhouse are generally preferred.

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Minnesota State Parks Guide

Booking tips & windows

When to Book

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Amenities available

Amenities reported by visitors include a newer bathhouse with hot showers, potable water, electric hookups, picnic tables and fire rings at individual sites. Vault/pit toilets are present and described as clean; a sanitary dump station or full utility hookups are not consistently documented.

Showers

Potable water

Electricity hookups

Fire rings

Picnic tables

Vault toilets

I manage this campground

RV details

Electric hookups2 of 18 sites (11%)

Activities you can enjoy

The campground is used as a base for hiking and wildlife viewing year-round, with walking and cross‑country skiing trails accessible from the park. Visitors commonly use the site for general camping, wildlife observation, and shoreline/outdoor recreation.

Hiking

Wildlife viewing

Planning your trip?Check out our camping packing checklist

Policies & Safety

Hazards & AlertsStanding water in low-lying sites after rain can lead to persistent mosquitoes. Marshy shoreline areas may hold standing water; visitors should expect insect activity and vary site choice accordingly.

No Cell ServiceCell phone service is not available at this campground. Plan accordingly for emergencies and download offline maps before arriving.

No Flush ToiletsFlush toilets are not available at this campground. Expect vault or pit toilets only.

No Water HookupsSite-level water hookups are not available. RV campers should fill freshwater tanks before arrival; check the No Potable Water note above if applicable for drinking water.

No Dump StationThere is no dump station at this campground. Plan to use a dump station along your route or at a nearby facility before or after your stay.

Trip Planning Tools

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Reviews

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From Booking Sources

3.5

13 reviews

Mixed Reviews

Big Island Campground has mixed reviews, placing it in the bottom 85% of campgrounds based on reviews

Visitor feedback is generally positive, praising shady, spacious sites, a very clean newer bathhouse with hot showers, and good wildlife viewing (deer, turtles, otters). Common negatives include mosquitoes and occasional standing water at low sites; a few visitors reported uneven gravel pads or issues locating advertised water spigots.

Review Summaries

Based on 13 reviews

What Campers Love

Shady, well‑spaced campsites; very clean, modern bathhouse with hot showers; peaceful setting with good wildlife viewing; helpful camp host and reasonable nightly rates noted by some visitors.

Based on 13 reviews

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Big Island Campground

No fees available

Campsite Fees

Reservations are required for all campsites. A non-refundable reservation fee is charged for each advance reservation (call center $10 / web $8)....

No paid fee categories listed.

Get Notified When Available

We'll monitor this campground and alert you the moment sites become available.

Free to start · paid plans add 2-min scans

256,000+ sites monitored · Email alerts to start; SMS and in-app with an account

Learn more about alerts →

Share this campground

Minnesota State Parks

Provider

Reservations: 866-857-2757; General contact: 888-646-6367, 651-296-6157

Go if

Fall campers and birders will get the most from this place: shaded, well-spaced sites, deer and otters along the marshy shoreline, and T-Mobile 5G if you need signal. The bathhouse reviews are consistently strong.

Skip if

Low-lying sites hold standing water after rain and the mosquitoes follow fast. No dump station, no water hookups, and no camp store mean RVers needing full services will hit gaps quickly.

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2148 340th St, Forest City, IA 50436, Lake Mills, Iowa, 50450, United States

Rice Lake State Park occupies 15 acres along the shore of a 1,200-acre lake near Lake Mills, Iowa. The park centers on a stone shelter built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1934. There are no campsites. Visitors come for day-use fishing, boating, picnicking, and waterfowl observation. The compact footprint creates an intimate access point to a much larger lake.

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Reservable

80.115 km

No fees available

Campgrounds

Myre-Big Island State Park

Big Island Campground

From official sources

Reference information about Big Island Campground compiled from official sources. Every claim links to its source. View official page →

Big Island Campground is located in Myre-Big Island State Park. Sites in Big Island Campground are equipped with a tent pad, fire ring, and picnic table under lush trees. Flush toilets and showers are available in a nearby building. The campground is part of a park offering year-round camping, with monthly/seasonal sites available April through October.

Seasons & access: Year-round camping is available. Monthly/seasonal campsites are available April-October. source
Accessibility: All trails in Myre-Big Island State Park are open to track chairs. source
Campfires: Firewood must be purchased at this park or from a certified supplier. source
Site layout: Big Island Campground sites have tent pad, fire ring, and picnic table. source

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About Helena Valley Reservoir

Context for the broader area surrounding Big Island Campground, sourced from the federal Recreation.gov rec-area record.

The <A HREF="https://www.usbr.gov/projects/index.php?id=467">Helena Valley Unit</a> is in central Montana, adjoining the city of Helena, Montana, and 3.5 miles west of Canyon Ferry Dam on the Missouri River. The principal purposes of the unit are irrigation and municipal water for the city of Helena. Features of the development are a tunnel, dam and regulating reservoir, canal, pumping plant, and other facilities. Created by <A HREF="https://www.usbr.gov/projects/index.php?id=113">Helena Valley Dam</a> the reservoir, with 518 water surface acres, 477 land acres and 6 miles of shoreline, offers fair fishing for kokanee salmon. Picnic shelters available. Boating is non-motorized only.

Directions

Adjoins city of Helena, the capital city of Montana.

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