What can I say, but that Marshall, MN, has a clean and friendly emergency room.
It wasn’t how our trip through the farmland of southwestern Minnesota was supposed to go, but we had been on the road for an extended period of time traveling comfortably in our Pleasure-Way, and life happens.
Earlier that day, we’d said our goodbyes to cousins and extended family, after a whirlwind 4th of July weekend in Minneapolis. We were excited to be headed back onto the open road, camping, and visiting national state parks, this stretch taking us westward across the northern states.
Our van fridge was full with all of the goodies that a big city offers, including frozen gluten free pizzas, egg bites, tons of fresh veggies, and local-caught turkey. We were ready to spend two weeks in rural Minnesota / South Dakota / Wyoming / Nevada, before being back in range of a big city. And this first night back on the road, we had planned a mellow evening- setting up camp under maple trees, looking at trail maps of which areas of Minnesota state park system we wanted to hike, and checking out the best fishing spots on the Redwood River.
But as we drove into Marshall, MN (population 13,906), one of my kids alerted me that something was not quite right. He was requesting a cool, damp, washcloth for the older kid because he was ‘hot.’ Uhh? This is the same kid that had looked a little off earlier and had been too tired to eat dinner. If you know kids, you know that’s not good, so I pulled over on the side of the road, just as the late summer sun went down.
I travel with a selection of first aid supplies, including the usual things you’d find in any home medicine cabinet. A quick thermometer check showed that my teen had a 104 degree fever, telling me we needed to adjust our plans. The next stop was now the local emergency room. At 10pm on a Sunday, i was thankful something, anything, in this town was open.
While it wasn’t a definite emergency, it was important to me to get any medical care my kid needed while we were in cell phone range, within easy reach of doctors and pharmacies, and before driving for hours across the mostly empty farm and prairie-land of South Dakota. Consider this an experienced traveler’s tip: try to avoid having a (potential) medical emergency in a remote area- get things sorted while you’re still in town.
I have never had an easier, comfier, friendlier ER visit than that night. there was no wait, a spacious room, and after some quick tests, and a prescription to fill just ‘in case’. My kid was given the all clear, and we were out a few hours later. Oh, and the parking? Pfffft. I love a rural small town parking lot. So easy.
After getting my kid all tucked up and cozy on the couch in the back of the van, it was 2am as we headed out of town and drove slowly down a moonlit two-lane road looking for the sign to nearby Camden State Park. I don’t advise arriving in the dark, but we did find it!
Let’s get into some travel details. First, it IS possible to get last minute drive-up sites in summer in Minnesota state campgrounds. And there are many campgrounds to choose from! I could spend several summers checking out just the ones in the area (see some suggestions at the end of this post).
Second, the state campgrounds, Like Camden State Park, are well-kept and offer a variety of activities in summer and winter. At Camden, where we stayed for several days to let my kid recuperate, there was fishing in the Redwood River, fishing in Brawner Lake, swimming in a spring-fed pond, canoeing, biking, trail hiking, and exploring the native and restored prairie. You might catch a brown trout, bass, or bluegill.
The trees, bushes, and grasses are soooo very green in the summer. And with lots of rain, the water was high, muddy and moving fast. We could hear it rushing in the background at our campsite on the lower campground. Some of the sites back up against the river. All of the sites are generously sized and well spread out. We chose a site with electric hookups and were glad for it, as during the heat of the day, even with the shade of the trees, we ran the air conditioning in the van.
In contrast, the upper campground and park offer a sunny prairie experience, rather than the woodsy river experience of the lower area. We saw cottontail rabbits, wildflowers, and bluebirds. The upper section also has cell phone service, and the lower campground offers very spotty service.
The bugs were the only downside to our stay. The screens on our van protected us well from the numerous flies in the park (true for the entire region, not just the park). But being aside from Southern California, we are just not acclimated to bugs in general! Don’t say I didn’t warn you!
Aside from the activities to do and nature to admire, the area has interesting history as well.
Southwest Minnesota: Prairie Land and Sacred Stone
Southwest Minnesota’s story begins with Dakota people, who lived on the prairies here for over 3,000 years. The area is famous for Pipestone National Monument, a sacred gathering place where Native American tribes from as far as the Appalachian Mountains to the east and Rocky Mountains to the west traveled to quarry red stone for peace pipes.
the biggest change to the region came in the 1880’s when homesteaders rushed in to claim ‘free’ land under President Lincoln’s 1862 Homestead Act. Families could get 160 acres if they made certain changes to the land over five years. These settlers turned the grasslands into the farms you see today, most currently growing soy, corn, and wheat.
Southwest of Minnesota has recently made a big push into renewable energy. You may see wind turbines dotting the landscape. These help power homes across the Midwest.
Onward to Pipestone National Monument
Once my kid was feeling better, we headed to Pipestone National Monument. It’s an easy 34 mile drive straight down state highway 23 from Camden State Park, and just 10 miles from the state line with South Dakota. I highly recommend stopping here if you are in the area.
The monument is officially connected to 23 tribal nations, who still make use of the local pipestone. From April through October, Native American carvers and quarriers are on hand to demonstrate the ancient crafts of pipestone quarrying and pipe-making. the visitor centre has interesting exhibits and shows a short film explaining the cultural and spiritual importance of the site in detail.
in the summer, you can find educational programs at the visitor centre, including talks, wildlife presentations, cultural demonstrations, and guest speakers.
we really enjoyed the live demonstrations of the carvers making animals out of pipestone. And the outdoor grounds showcase the prairie plants, the quarry and Pipestone Creek.
At the end of our visit, we made a delicious lunch in the van, and ate outside in the warm summer breeze. I grabbed a chocolate icecream from the freezer, and we finished it off before getting back on the road.
Southwest Minnesota doesn’t get alot of fanfare, but we absolutely loved the area. And next time we pass through, we’ll plan to spend more time adventuring in the wilderness, and less time in the ER.
** Southwest Minnesota is a common entryway to South Dakota and Badlands National Park, Custer State Park and Mt Rushmore. If you find yourself headed that way, it’s worth a hop off of the interstate to explore.
Camden State Park Camping Options (80 Sites)
- Lower Campground: Near Redwood River, flush toilets and showers, 35 year-round sites
- Upper Campground: Seven pull-through sites, 20 electric sites, wheelchair accessible facilities
- Group Camp: Accommodates up to 50 people, enclosed shelter, along the river
- Horse Camp: Separate area with horse trails
Facilities: Bathrooms, showers, grills, playground, boat launch, swim beach, rentable shelter, and cabins. Activities include hiking, cross country skiing, fishing, and swimming.
Other Nearby Attractions Worth a Stop:
- Blue Mounds State Park: Home to a bison herd grazing on preserved prairie grassland
- Jeffers Petroglyphs Historic Site: Ancient rock carvings telling a 5,000-year story of Native American presence