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Gull Lake Recreation Area

Mississippi River Headwaters - Gull Lake, Minnesota

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As of October 2026, Gull Lake Recreation Area is a campground in Minnesota with 40 campsites. Gull Lake Recreation Area is booked through Recreation.gov.

PermitSnag checks Gull Lake Recreation Area for availability and tells alert holders when a site opens up.
Gull Lake Recreation Area is located at 46.4108° N, 94.3514° W.

people allowed on 39 of 40 sites: 8
people allowed on the largest site: 40

Gull Lake Recreation Area reservations and next available dates

October 2026

November 2026

open, tap to book on Recreation.govsold outin your alert

Stay and booking rules

Mid-stay changes allowed
Changes allowed: 2 change(s) per reservation
Maximum reservations at once: 12 reservations
Maximum stay: 14 nights
Military discount available

Published by Recreation.gov for Gull Lake Recreation Area, read on September 30, 2026.

Campsites at Gull Lake Recreation Area

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Standard 39
Group 1
Accessible 1
Hookups 40

What an RV fits

25–29 ft2 sites
55–59 ft5 sites
60–64 ft6 sites
65–69 ft3 sites
70–74 ft3 sites
75–79 ft6 sites
80–84 ft1 site
85–89 ft3 sites
90–94 ft2 sites
95–99 ft2 sites
100–104 ft2 sites
105–109 ft1 site
110–114 ft1 site
115–119 ft1 site
120–124 ft1 site

Amenities

restrooms
showers
potable water
dump station

At a glance: Setting: Lake · Access: Paved road.

Things to do: fishing, boating, swimming, hiking, biking, wildlife, photography, stargazing, horse riding.

All sites at Gull Lake Recreation Area, as listed by Recreation.gov

Every site is in the GULL LAKE loop.

Site	Type	Sleeps	Max RV	Hookups	Access
01	Standard	8	66 ft	Electric	-
02	Standard	8	61 ft	Electric	-
03	Standard	8	55 ft	Electric	-
04	Standard	8	59 ft	Electric	-
05	Standard	8	105 ft	Electric	-
06	Standard	8	78 ft	Electric	-
07	Standard	8	110 ft	Electric	-
08	Standard	8	89 ft	Electric	-
09	Standard	8	62 ft	Electric	-
10	Standard	8	79 ft	Electric	-
11	Standard	8	89 ft	Electric	-
12	Standard	8	65 ft	Electric	-
12A	Standard	8	25 ft	Electric	-
13	Standard	8	100 ft	Electric	-
14	Standard	8	59 ft	Electric	-
15	Standard	8	78 ft	Electric	-
16	Standard	8	61 ft	Electric	-
16A	Standard	8	25 ft	Electric	-
17	Standard	8	77 ft	Electric	-
18	Standard	8	63 ft	Electric	-

Site	Type	Sleeps	Max RV	Hookups	Access
19	Standard	8	56 ft	Electric	-
20	Standard	8	58 ft	Electric	-
21	Standard	8	63 ft	Electric	-
22	Standard	8	122 ft	Electric	-
23	Standard	8	80 ft	Electric	-
24	Standard	8	88 ft	Electric	-
25	Standard	8	116 ft	Electric	-
26	Standard	8	79 ft	Electric	-
27	Standard	8	93 ft	Electric	-
28	Standard	8	102 ft	Electric	-
29	Standard	8	98 ft	Electric	-
30	Standard	8	72 ft	Electric	-
31	Standard	8	69 ft	Electric	-
32	Standard	8	71 ft	Electric	-
33	Standard	8	90 ft	Electric	-
34	Standard	8	62 ft	Electric	-
35	Standard	8	77 ft	Electric	-
37	Standard	8	70 ft	Electric	Accessible
39	Standard	8	97 ft	Electric	-
Picnic Shelter	Group	40	-	Electric	-

About Gull Lake Recreation Area

Overview

Gull Lake Recreation Area offers something for everyone with boating, hiking, fishing and swimming at Minnesota's famous Gull Lake, the largest of the 10 lakes on the Gull Chain of Lakes. Visitors have the opportunity to see and hear an abundance of watchable wildlife like bald eagles, white-tailed deer, river otters, a variety of songbirds, and the legendary call of the loon.

Recreation

Anglers will delight in the large population of fish including stocked walleye, northern pike, bass and a variety of panfish. Boaters can access crystal clear waters throughout the chain of lakes and enjoy the peaceful sunsets overlooking the woods. Hit the self-guided interpretive trail for a short hike with wildlife watching and scenic overlooks along the lake. Hop on your bike on the City of East Gull Lake's paved multi-use trail that starts by the dam, or head out to join up with the Paul Bunyan State Trail with trailheads located in Baxter and Nisswa. Got a kayak, canoe, or intertube? Try heading down the Gull River from the lower canoe launch. Ask the Park Rangers about river safety with current water flow and check-out a life jacket before you go.

Facilities

The campground is known for its well-spaced wooded sites, each with 50 or 30 amp electric hookup service, picnic tables, campfire rings, and a centrally located showerhouse. A water fill and dump station is located near the entrance to the campground. This side of the park holds two canoe launches, a paved shoreline fishing platform, fish cleaning station, self-guided information booth, playground, a flush toilet restroom, and a handful of picnic tabels and grills. Across the dam is the Ranger Office, boat ramp, vault toilet, and swimming beach on the lake. Volleyball nets, basketball hoop, horseshoe pits, and two more playgrounds are also perks of this side of the park.

Natural Features

The campground sits on the Gull River at the outlet of Gull Lake. The area was formed by a receding glacier that moved southward from Canada and carved the landscape. Gull Lake is one of the six Mississippi Headwaters Projects of the Mississippi River Watershed operated by The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Nearby Attractions

Gull Lake is located minutes from 520 holes of golf, the 100-mile Paul Bunyan State Trail, amusement parks, a zoo, and numerous shopping opportunities in Brainerd, Baxter, and Nisswa.

Rules and notices at Gull Lake Recreation Area

Recreation.gov does not date these notices. We last read them on September 30, 2026. Check Gull Lake Recreation Area on Recreation.gov

Notices from Recreation.gov

Reservations MUST be made online utilizing recreation.gov either prior to your visit or immediately upon arrival. The park office can not make reservations. However, the staff are happy to help walk you through the process on your smart phone or tablet.

Firewood sales will be available at the wood shed on site #40 ONLY between 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Upon arrival, you will be provided with instructions on how to pay for firewood with a credit/debit card online with wood delivery straight to your site. Exact cash sales are still available at the wood shed during hours of operation.

Only two tents OR one wheeled-camping unit plus one tent is allowed per campsite.

Upon your arrival, you will find a box on your site post with check-in information such as firewood ordering hand out, your day use camper pass, and an important campground information handout. Please review these materials when you arrive. Park Staff may come around to check in with you. If you need assistance, contact a ranger or a volunteer.

There is no longer an entrance at the north side of the park. All users will need to access the park via the south entrance. There is a new roundabout on Gull Dam Road to route you to the south if you still wish to come via Gull Dam Road. Suggested directions are as follows:

From the intersection MN 210 and MN 371 in Baxter, drive north 2.6 miles. Turn left on Cty Rd 77 (Pine Beach Road). Drive west for 4.7 miles. Turn right onto Cty Rd 70 (E. Gull Lake Drive). You will come to a stop sign in 2.1 miles, go straight, this will take you into the park. Follow the road over the dam and the campground will be straight ahead.

There are no sewer or water sites at this campground but potable water and a dump station are located at the campground entrance.

The shower building and drinking water are available May 14 - October 15.

ONLY CERTIFIED FIREWOOD is allowed in the park . Firewood restrictions are in effect to prevent the spread of harmful forest insects and disease. Click here for more information

Recreation.gov permit and campground cancellations →

Gull Lake Recreation Area FAQ

How hard is it to get a campsite at Gull Lake Recreation Area?

Gull Lake Recreation Area is rated "Hard to Book" based on historical demand. This campground is popular and often books out weeks in advance. Your best strategy is to monitor cancellations.

How do I find last-minute availability at Gull Lake Recreation Area?

Cancellations happen frequently at Gull Lake Recreation Area, especially 1-2 weeks before check-in dates. PermitSnag monitors availability 24/7 and sends instant alerts when sites open up due to cancellations. This is often the best way to snag popular campsites.

How many campsites does Gull Lake Recreation Area have?

Gull Lake Recreation Area has 40 campsites.

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