Albert Lea-Austin KOA Journey

This was a great stop over for a night or a couple of days. If you are traveling on I 90 or I 35 this is a very easy campground to get to. Clean and great price. Front yard view of a cornfield kind of a different look but we liked it.

Satellite worked great. Power and water was good.

From driving in on dirt roads full of very uneven surface and ruts and washes to approaching the office (opposite the building entrance), to indifferent young people at the registration, things just went downhill. Accessing this from the nearest road was about a 4" drop from the pavement to the dirt road. You drive through a dirt tunnel of trees, and large coaches must stay in the middle so as not to scrape. We were met with two carloads of bathing-suited people leaving the park. Scraped. We registered and were told where our site was, none of the four employees offered to show us. We found it OK but the interior roads are rutted, full of unevenness and a surface I can only describe as riprap, a large cheap rock used to divert water flow and prevent erosion. NOT for roads and walkways and parking areas. Walking on it is VERY difficult, twisted ankles will happen! Our bus would not level on this, the pads were sinking into the soft surface under these fist-sized rocks, so we just spent the night on the air levelers. Smoke from campfires kept us inside, so didn't explore the grounds. Water pressure was at approximately 40psi when we arrived, not excellent, but OK. The morning we experienced 4 psi, not enough to shower, laundry or fill sink for dishes. Husband went to the office and complained, but there were others there complaining they couldn't shower, etc either. Office staff said there was nothing they could do. So, when we went to leave, I noticed ruts in the neighboring site, as well as up and down the interior roads. Our bus had plowed the rocks ahead of us, and we were grateful for the power of our engine to get us out. The fist-sized rocks are simply being moved aside as people drive through them, leaving the wet ground exposed. Bad choice. Not a place we will return to. We camped at Albert Lea / Austin KOA in a Motorhome.

KOA is a good travel stop. Fairly generic, very clean grounds and facilities. Laundry was clean ($1.50 wash and $1.50 dry). Bath house was very clean; however, the shower only rendered cold water. Roads around the campground are dirt, so some dust is kicked up by cars traveling through the rows. Site were level and the pads are dirt. Nice grass space between sites. Modest highway noise, but not too distracting. We used this location as an overnight stop.

In town to visit friends who just moved to Albert Lea over the weekend. Pool was down water green and dirty along with the pool side furniture not in very good condition you would have to assume no one cares and it’s not a top priority. With the pandemic wrapping up and everyone getting out you would think for a KOA this would be a must do. From the pool to the overall attitude and hospitality of the staff you get a feeling no one really cares. Interstate close enough you can still hear it and the surrounding corn/bean fields were. For an overnight stay at best.

Nice campground. Very polite staff. Quiet. Felt safe and comfortable. Had a good amount to buy in the office/store if you needed anything. Lots of shade. Skinny roads between sites.
Sites: Nice pull-through sites. Well-maintained and sizable grass living area.
Location: We don't know much about the area outside of the campground. So, not sure there. Gave it a 3 of 5 for location as I just do not know. Seemed generally okay driving in.