Mississippi River Headwaters - Cross Lake is an ideal place for camping adventures of all kinds. There are tons of hikes and other fun activities to partake in. Experience some of the most stunning views that Minnesota camping has to offer. Ready to plan your adventure? Check out our campgrounds near Mississippi River Headwaters - Cross Lake and user-submitted reviews.
$24 - $40 / night
"This is a great campground in the Brainerd lakes area of Minnesota.it is right in the middle of the town of Crosslake but when you’re in the campground you feel like you’re out in the woods."
"Could just be the current political budget restraints but I tent camped Gull Lake RA for four nights never saw a Ranger."
$57 - $65 / night
"And, this campground is close to the fun downtown in Crosby and the great bike trails and parks there. The Ironwood spot I was in is also especially private, so highly recommend it!"
"It’s clean, well-maintained, and close to town for groceries and restaurants. Would stay here again."
"The lake is nice and offers a boat ramp. It is a clean lake but does have zebra mussels. Nice walk around the campsite. There is a dam with a nice fishing pier. "
"Lovely park on cross lake. Sites are large although not alway easy for bigger rigs to get into due to trees. But trees are part of the beauty. Camp amenities in good shape."
"The cabins are my favorite because of the lake views, proximity to the bathhouse, and heat/AC units. Cabin #5 has the best unobstructed views of the lake. Cabins have WiFi."
"A great little campground right near the town (easy to bike in for coffee or beer) but it feels like you're deep in the northwoods! Some sites are better than others in terms of privacy."
"Stayed at RV site 4 which is bordered by trees on one side which was nice for privacy."
"Easy access to both single track and to paved cycling path. Sites are close but still felt private, especially when leaves fill in. Nice shower house, and a sauna we didn’t use."
"No tent sites available on the lake as those are reserved for rv, but the tent area is nice and wooded."
"Lots of amenities in the surrounding area. Good golfing. Good times"
"Rode our bikes on the Paul Bunyan Trail to Nisswa and had some ice cream at The Chocolate Ox. Did a little shopping and got a beer at the brewery. Great location for lots of activities."
"Beautiful spot with lakes all around."
"If you are on foot or bicycle, it's marked on the paved Paul Bunyan Trail.
From the trail, it's about a 1/2 mile walk/hike to the site. Not super easy if you have a bike, but do-able."
"My middle son and I did a bike packing trip on the Paul Bunyon Trail, we rode up from Crow Wing and stayed at this little gem for the night."
GuideWas able to reserve a nice spot at the last minute. Campground is very well maintained and the facilities/amenities are exceptionally nice.
ScoutCould just be the current political budget restraints but I tent camped Gull Lake RA for four nights never saw a Ranger. Here there is a security gate you have to go through before you enter and multiple Rangers. Could be that were so close to town here. highway traffic noise even at furthest site. I will ask about dispersed camping and try to report back. They have shower facilities here just like a gull lake. Yes that means noisy Motorhomes, and travel trailers at all sites.
GuideI was looking to take a solo camping trip for the weekend and paddleboard on the Cuyuna Mine Lakes. I booked the trip pretty late because of a lot of different factors, but Crow Wing State park still had plenty of availability. The park is nothing spectacular, but it was nice, wooded, and the staff were great. It was my first time solo camping in awhile, so I opted to stay at a state park where there would be rangers. I noticed that the rangers stopped and talked to me night one, and remembered me- which made me feel very safe as a solo female camper. The campground was overall pretty quiet, and my site was wooded so that I normally could not see other campers from my site, which was great! It felt decently quiet . If you visit in the summertime, expect hellish mosquitoes and pack accordingly!
You can join the hiking club trail straight from the campground, which was nice- I went on a few beautiful sunset walks to watch the sunset over the river
The bathroom and shower were clean and easily accessible.
The park was a 20-30 minute drive from the Cuyuna Mines area, so I was able to easily drive over Saturday morning and spend the day paddleboarding.
This park is not one of the most spectacular in Minnesota, but I had a great stay and it was very relaxing. It was great for a weekend getaway for a solo female camper looking to do some paddle boarding in the area
Legendoffers sites with no hookups and sites with electric (no water, but potable water station is provided to fill up prior to parking) bathrooms and showers in the campground. Fire ring and picnic table provide for each site. Firewood and sewage dump station also provided for free to registered campers. There is a dock, sand swimming beach, horseshoe pits, disc golf, basketball court, and softball field.
TravelerSavanna Portage State Park is a beautiful and peaceful spot for camping, especially if you enjoy tent camping. The campsites are well-spaced, private, and perfect for tents, offering a great connection to nature.
The park features a lovely lake that’s ideal for kayaking, fishing, or just relaxing by the water. There are also several great hiking trails, ranging from easy walks to more challenging routes, giving you plenty of opportunities to explore the scenic forest and wetlands.
One thing to note—there are a lot of bugs in the summer, so make sure to pack plenty of bug spray! Overall, it’s a fantastic place for outdoor lovers looking for a quiet and rustic getaway.
LegendThis is one campground in Minnesota that offers a handful of electric hookups for winter camping. The beauty of this campground, is that while the campsites available are in a row, there's plenty of space between sites and some of them are even pulled through. Making it easy for RVs to pull in and hook up.
The vault toilet is not easy to find from where the electric openings are in the winter. While these spaces are right next door to a shower house with toilets, this is closed in the winter. The vault toilet is several rows over and down, making it hard to find if you don't already know where it is. But it was clean, and it was available.
The campfire rings seemed clean, and each had a picnic table as well. We loved the pull-through site because then we were a little more protected from the road, although it's not busy this time of year at all. So it was very quiet except for our neighbors, and they didn't make much noise at all.
There are trails nearby that are easily accessible on foot from the campground, and you can make loops that come back to the campground as well.
There are two campgrounds at this park, but this is the one that has availability in the winter time. Ironically, they also have a couple of walk-in spots that are also open this time of year. If you're willing to brave the temps without an electric hookup. Not hard to find, not hard to access, but no electric hookups at these sites.
TravelerThe website for this RV park is broken
TravelerThis Campground is closed permanently
ScoutThis is a beautiful quiet place to park it for a while. There is everything here from 43 ft Class A rigs to tents. We were the only ones for about four days when we got here and now the campground is completely full. It’s the middle of September, and you wouldn’t know you were practically in the middle of the city with all the foliage. The only downfall is you have to unhook to go dump every so often. Thankfully the dump site is inside the campground
Camping near Mississippi River Headwaters - Cross Lake, Minnesota, offers a mix of beautiful scenery and outdoor activities. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or an adventure-filled getaway, there are plenty of campgrounds to choose from.
Camping near Mississippi River Headwaters - Cross Lake, Minnesota, has something for everyone, from families to solo adventurers. Just remember to plan ahead and enjoy the great outdoors!
Frequently Asked Questions
According to TheDyrt.com, Mississippi River Headwaters - Cross Lake offers a wide range of camping options, with 195 campgrounds and RV parks near Mississippi River Headwaters - Cross Lake and 12 free dispersed camping spots.
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Mississippi River Headwaters - Cross Lake is Cross Lake Recreation Area with a 4.6-star rating from 5 reviews.
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 12 free dispersed camping spots near Mississippi River Headwaters - Cross Lake.
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 9 parks near Mississippi River Headwaters - Cross Lake that allow camping, notably Bankhead National Forest and Chugach National Forest.
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