Cross Lake Day Use
Mississippi River Headwaters - Cross Lake — lakeside, fishing
Location: CROSSLAKE, MN, MN
Price: From $50 per night
Rating: 5 out of 5 (1 reviews)
Season: May through October
In Central Minnesota’s popular lakes area, the Cross Lake Day Use has tremendous appeal for families and friends, with an array of activities and facilities perfect for a day outdoors.The area offers two group picnic shelters. The #1 shelter is located upstream of the dam and is smaller than the #2 shelter which is located downstream of the dam, along the Pine River. Canoe access is available along both shores of the Pine River downstream from the dam.
Cell coverage (FCC estimate): strong signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas. Best carrier: T-Mobile. Verizon 4G: 100%. AT&T 4G: 100%. T-Mobile 4G: 100%.
Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Restrooms, Fishing
Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/cross-lake-day-use to be notified when sites open up.
Cross Lake Day Use offers excellent family-friendly recreation in Central Minnesota's popular lakes area with beach swimming, fishing piers, picnic facilities, and canoe/kayak access. Google reviewers consistently praise the clean, well-maintained Army Corps of Engineers facility with ample space and friendly staff.
Wildlife alert: American Black Bear, Fisher, Common Loon, Great Blue Heron, Eastern Hognose Snake, and Common Snapping Turtle verified within 8km
Insider tips for Cross Lake Day Use: Book early — federal campground with only 2 tent sites Reserve one of two group picnic shelters for larger gatherings Fish from accessible piers upstream and downstream of the dam
Skip Cross Lake Day Use if: Seeking RV hookups — no hookups available. Planning a winter trip — seasonal operations only May-October. Need more than 2 tent sites.
Best time to visit Cross Lake Day Use: May through October — Official operating season per verified data.
Nearby campgrounds: Cross Lake Recreation Area (CROSSLAKE, MN), Gull Lake Recreation Area (BRAINERD, MN), Mabel Lake (Remer, MN), Stony Point (Walker, MN).
Cell Phone Coverage at Cross Lake Day Use
Cell signal at Cross Lake Day Use (CROSSLAKE, MN): strong overall signal based on FCC broadband data. Best carrier: T-Mobile.
- Verizon 4G LTE: 100% coverage
- AT&T 4G LTE: 100% coverage · AT&T 5G: 100%
- T-Mobile 4G LTE: 100% coverage · T-Mobile 5G: 100%
Coverage data source: FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC). Actual signal may vary due to terrain, tree cover, and distance from towers. Camper reports are more reliable than coverage maps in remote areas.
In Central Minnesota’s popular lakes area, the Cross Lake Day Use has tremendous appeal for families and friends, with an array of activities and facilities perfect for a day outdoors.The area offers two group picnic shelters. The #1 shelter is located upstream of the dam and is smaller than the #2 shelter which is located downstream of the dam, along the Pine River. Canoe access is available along both shores of the Pine River downstream from the dam.
Verified facts
RIDB / Recreation.gov official databaseAmenities
RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verifiedStraight talk
CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reportsKnown issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.
Insider tips & when to go
CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entryBook early
federal campground with only 2 tent sites
Reserve one of two group picnic shelters for larger gatherings
Fish from accessible piers upstream and downstream of the dam
Official operating season per verified data
Things to do nearby
RIDB /activities /recareas + intelConditions today
LiveCell signal
FCC BDC · quarterly datasetFCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal. Best carrier: T-Mobile.
Wildlife nearby
iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 kmLocation
Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Getting there →
From Brainerd, Minnesota. on Highway 25; turn right on County Road 3 and travel north to Cross Lake, Minn. The Day Use area entrance is to the left, directly across from intersections 3 and 66.
Campground entrance
Google Maps APICommunity
#community · posts, photos & Q&A · AI-moderated (Claude Vision)Pro tips
- Book on recreation.gov exactly 6 months ahead at 10am ET — Mississippi River Headwaters - Cross Lake fills fast in peak season.
- Check current road conditions at Mississippi River Headwaters - Cross Lake before arrival — seasonal closures common.
Frequently asked questions
RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakableHow much does Cross Lake Day Use cost per night?+
What season is Cross Lake Day Use open?+
Does Cross Lake Day Use have hookups?+
What is the maximum RV length at Cross Lake Day Use?+
How do I make reservations at Cross Lake Day Use?+
What is the cell service like at Cross Lake Day Use?+
What season is Cross Lake Day Use open, and what are check-in times?+
Official resources
●Data sources on this page
CamperWatch never fabricates data. Where data is unavailable, it is not shown.
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