Cross Lake Recreation Area
Mississippi River Headwaters - Cross Lake — lakeside, fishing
Location: CROSSLAKE, MN, MN
Price: From $24 per night
Price range: $24–$40 per night
Rating: 4.6 out of 5 (619 reviews)
Season: May through October
In Central Minnesota’s popular lakes area, the Cross Lake Recreation Area is best known for its picturesque sunsets, beautiful beaches and well-maintained campsites. The campground provides a full menu of activities for camping enthusiasts, while being located just minutes from shopping and paved bike trails. For a virtual tour go to: http://www.photographyoptions.net/images/headwaters/tour.html The recreation area provides plenty of water based entertainment like boating, canoeing, kayaking, wa
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, Showers, Dump Station, Electric Hookups, Fishing, Boat Launch
Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/cross-lake-recreation-area to be notified when sites open up.
Cross Lake Recreation Area is known for picturesque sunsets, beautiful beaches, and well-maintained campsites in Central Minnesota's popular lakes area. Google reviews consistently praise it as a clean, well-designed campground with ample space and friendly staff (4.6/5 from 253 reviews).
Wildlife alert: American Black Bear, Fisher, Common Loon, Great Blue Heron, Eastern Hognose Snake, and Common Snapping Turtle are research-grade documented within 8km.
Insider tips for Cross Lake Recreation Area: Book early — this is a popular federal campground with high demand. Only select sites have electric hookups; confirm hookup availability when reserving. Located minutes from shopping and paved bike trails for non-camping activities.
Skip Cross Lake Recreation Area if: You need water or sewer hookups — most sites lack these amenities.. You require year-round camping — seasonal operations May-October only..
Best time to visit Cross Lake Recreation Area: May-October — Campground operates seasonally May through October only..
Nearby campgrounds: Cross Lake Day Use (CROSSLAKE, MN), Gull Lake Recreation Area (BRAINERD, MN), Mabel Lake (Remer, MN), Stony Point (Walker, MN).
Cell Phone Coverage at Cross Lake Recreation Area
Cell signal at Cross Lake Recreation Area (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 Recreation Area is best known for its picturesque sunsets, beautiful beaches and well-maintained campsites. The campground provides a full menu of activities for camping enthusiasts, while being located just minutes from shopping and paved bike trails. For a virtual tour go to: http://www.photographyoptions.net/images/headwaters/tour.html The recreation area provides plenty of water based entertainment like boating, canoeing, kayaking, water skiing and fishing.
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
this is a popular federal campground with high demand.
Only select sites have electric hookups; confirm hookup availability when reserving.
Located minutes from shopping and paved bike trails for non-camping activities.
Campground operates seasonally May through October only.
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 Crosslake, Minn. The campground entrance is to the left, at the intersection of County Roads 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 Recreation Area cost per night?+
What season is Cross Lake Recreation Area open?+
Does Cross Lake Recreation Area have hookups?+
What is the maximum RV length at Cross Lake Recreation Area?+
How do I make reservations at Cross Lake Recreation Area?+
What is the cell service like at Cross Lake Recreation Area?+
What season is Cross Lake Recreation Area 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.
Nearby Campgrounds
Own a campground nearby?
List free on CamperWatch — we take 5% only on bookings we send. No monthly fee.