🌤 Weather at Horace Austin State Park by season
| Spring | Summer | Fall | Winter |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23–68 °F | 58–81 °F | 25–72 °F | 5–28 °F |
Each range runs from the coldest monthly average low to the warmest monthly average high in that season (1991-2020 climate normals), measured at Austin Waste Wtp Facility, 1 mi away, elevation 1,199 ft. Conditions at the park can differ from the station, especially where elevation differs — check a forecast before you go.
🏆 Austin City Park — Historic 44-acre park in Austin, home of SPAM and Hormel
Horace Austin State Park is a 44-acre urban park in Austin, Minnesota — the hometown of Hormel Foods and the SPAM Museum. The park features mature hardwood forest along the Cedar River, walking trails, picnic areas, and a swimming pool. Named for Minnesota’s seventh governor, the park provides a green oasis in the agricultural heartland of southern Minnesota. The SPAM Museum in downtown Austin (free admission) attracts over 100,000 visitors annually.
Visitor Information
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Location | Austin, Mower County, MN |
| Size | 44 acres |
| Entry Fee | Free |
| Nearby | SPAM Museum (free!) |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the SPAM Museum worth visiting?
Absolutely — the free SPAM Museum is a quirky, surprisingly well-done experience covering the history of Hormel and the iconic canned meat. Over 100,000 visitors a year can’t be wrong. Try the SPAM samples!
Is the SPAM Museum worth visiting?
Yes — the free SPAM Museum in Austin is a surprisingly engaging experience. Exhibits cover SPAM’s role in WWII (feeding Allied troops), its cultural significance in Hawaii and Asia (SPAM musubi is a Hawaiian staple), and the manufacturing process. Over 100,000 visitors annually make it one of Minnesota’s most popular quirky attractions.
Make it a road trip: Pair a visit with Myre-Big Island State Park (within about an hour’s drive) or Big Island State Park (within about an hour’s drive).
About Horace Austin
Horace Austin State Park in Austin, Minnesota provides a wooded park along the Red Cedar River in the heart of this southern Minnesota city — home of Hormel Foods and the famous SPAM Museum. The park is named for Horace Austin, Minnesota’s eighth governor (1870-1874). The park provides a natural retreat within the city.
Things to Do
Hiking and walking the trails, fishing in the Red Cedar River, swimming at the pool, picnicking, cross-country skiing in winter, and visiting Austin’s SPAM Museum — the kitschy shrine to Minnesota’s most famous processed meat.
Insider Tips
Austin’s park: Named for Minnesota’s 8th governor, this park provides recreation in Austin — home of Hormel Foods and the SPAM Museum. Pro tip: The SPAM Museum in Austin is free, fun, and surprisingly interesting — learn how a canned meat product became a global phenomenon (7 billion cans sold). Hormel heritage: Austin’s identity is inseparable from Hormel — the meatpacking company founded here in 1891.
Best Time to Visit
Year-round: SPAM Museum is open year-round. Summer: Park activities and cycling. Fall: Comfortable temperatures. Winter: Cross-country skiing.
Wildlife & Nature
Horace Austin SP — in Austin, Minnesota — provides urban recreation along the Cedar River. The park’s river, pond, and wooded areas support white-tailed deer, songbirds, and waterfowl. Bald eagles fish the river. Great blue herons wade the shallows.
Nearby Attractions
Austin — adjacent — has the SPAM Museum. Albert Lea — 20 miles west. Rochester — 45 miles northeast — has the Mayo Clinic.
🐾 Dogs & Pets at Horace Austin State Park
- Pets allowed? statewide rule
- Pets are welcome in Minnesota state parks and recreation areas as long as they are leashed and personally attended at all times.
- Leash rule statewide rule
- Leash six feet or shorter (or portable enclosure) required at all times.
- Beaches & swim areas statewide rule
- Only service animals are allowed in beach areas — pets are prohibited on swim beaches statewide.
- Cabins & lodging statewide rule
- Only service animals are allowed in state park lodging, camper cabins, yurts and tipis — no pet-friendly cabin program.
- Statewide exceptions statewide rule
- Emotional support/therapy animals do not qualify as service animals and are prohibited from park buildings.
Are dogs allowed at Horace Austin State Park?
Pets are welcome in Minnesota state parks and recreation areas as long as they are leashed and personally attended at all times. Individual parks can post stricter rules — check signage on arrival.
Rules verified July 2026 via dnr.state.mn.us. More: Minnesota state parks guide · Dog rules in all 50 states compared
Park Location
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