Gull Lake Recreation Area
Mississippi River Headwaters - Gull Lake — lakeside, fishing, hiking
Location: BRAINERD, MN, MN
Price: From $32 per night
Price range: $32–$50 per night
Rating: 4.7 out of 5 (449 reviews)
Season: May through October
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. The campground is known for its well-spaced wooded sites, each with 50 or 30 amp electric hookup service, picnic tables,
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, Vault Toilets, Showers, Dump Station, Electric Hookups, Fishing, Boat Launch
Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/gull-lake-recreation-area to be notified when sites open up.
Gull Lake Recreation Area offers boating, fishing, hiking, and swimming at Minnesota's largest lake in the Gull Chain of Lakes, with abundant wildlife viewing opportunities. Google reviewers praise it as quiet with easy bike trails, interpretive hiking, and a nearby boat landing and swimming beach.
Wildlife alert: Common Loon, Sandhill Crane, White-tailed Deer, Baltimore Oriole, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, North American Porcupine, and Common Snapping Turtle verified in the area.
Insider tips for Gull Lake Recreation Area: Book early — this is a popular federal campground. Located at the end of a dead-end road, which keeps traffic minimal. Electric hookups available on select sites only; plan accordingly.
Skip Gull Lake Recreation Area if: You need water or sewer hookups — only electric hookups on select sites.. You require year-round camping — seasonal operations May through October only.. You prefer spontaneous visits — book well in advance..
Best time to visit Gull Lake Recreation Area: May-October — Campground operates seasonally May through October only..
Nearby campgrounds: Cross Lake Day Use (CROSSLAKE, MN), Mabel Lake (Remer, MN), Stony Point (Walker, MN), Sandy Lake (MCGREGOR, MN).
Cell Phone Coverage at Gull Lake Recreation Area
Cell signal at Gull Lake Recreation Area (BRAINERD, 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.
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. 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.
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.
Located at the end of a dead-end road, which keeps traffic minimal.
Electric hookups available on select sites only; plan accordingly.
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 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.
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 - Gull Lake fills fast in peak season.
- Check current road conditions at Mississippi River Headwaters - Gull Lake before arrival — seasonal closures common.
Frequently asked questions
RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakableHow much does Gull Lake Recreation Area cost per night?+
What season is Gull Lake Recreation Area open?+
Does Gull Lake Recreation Area have hookups?+
What is the maximum RV length at Gull Lake Recreation Area?+
How do I make reservations at Gull Lake Recreation Area?+
What is the cell service like at Gull Lake Recreation Area?+
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Official resources
●Data sources on this page
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