Warning
GeneralOnly firewood certified, or approved by a state or
federal natural resource agency is permitted. Certified firewood is available
for purchase in the campground. Any unauthorized firewood in the campground
may be removed and destroyed by Corps of Engineers staff.
About Gull Lake Recreation Area
Available sites
39 total sites
RV Sites
Seasonal information
2026 Season availability
Campground Amenities
RV Utilities and Hookups
- Dump station on site
Rates, Sites & Availability
39 Sites Available
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No available sites
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Site Details
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39 Sites Available
No available sites
All sites are booked for your selected dates. Try showing all sites to see booked options, create an alert to be notified when something opens up, or adjust your dates.
Reviews (1016)
What Guests Are Saying
Gull Lake Recreation Area is highly praised for its well-maintained, spacious campsites with good tree coverage, providing privacy and comfort. Visitors appreciate the friendly staff, clean facilities, and easy access to recreational activities like biking, swimming, and fishing. While mosquitoes can be a nuisance, overall experiences are positive, with many campers planning to return.
What Guests Are Saying
Gull Lake Recreation Area is highly praised for its well-maintained, spacious campsites with good tree coverage, providing privacy and comfort. Visitors appreciate the friendly staff, clean facilities, and easy access to recreational activities like biking, swimming, and fishing. While mosquitoes can be a nuisance, overall experiences are positive, with many campers planning to return.
Review Summary
Rashaad J
VerifiedSeptember 20, 2026 • Stayed at: 02, Loop: GULL LAKE
Great environment. Area was lovely and the volunteer camp reps were amazing!
Curtis A
VerifiedSeptember 20, 2026 • Stayed at: 37, Loop: GULL LAKE
What a lovely campground! The hosts were so welcoming… campfire wood easily available and sales support the community. Sites were Perfect, like no one had camped there before me. Wow. Can’t wait to visit again!
mark d
VerifiedSeptember 21, 2026 • Stayed at: 15, Loop: GULL LAKE
Sites and park is great. All it needs is water at the site to get 5 stars
MARK S
VerifiedSeptember 21, 2026 • Stayed at: 04, Loop: GULL LAKE
Our stays at Gull Lake Recreation are consistently good. The sites are spacious, clean, and quiet. The host, Trish, was very helpful and friendly.
Amy & Dave T
VerifiedSeptember 24, 2026 • Stayed at: 23, Loop: GULL LAKE
We have been to Gull Lake Recreation Area several times. We usually go there at least twice a season. It's not that far from where we live (135 mi) and it's close to the Mountain Bike Trails at Cuyuna State Recreation Area, which is our main activity when we're there. We love this campground. It's well-maintained. The volunteer campground hosts and crew are second to none! They are friendly, attentive, and keep the place clean. The park rangers are always friendly and helpful. It looks like the playground area was recently renovated and it looks great. If you have a family, there is also a swimming beach. It's also close to Baxter/Brainerd so you can enjoy those amenities as well.
Alan Y
VerifiedSeptember 26, 2026 • Stayed at: 23, Loop: GULL LAKE
Large level sites, that are well spaced for privacy. This was our first visit, but definitely will not be the last!
Suzanne M
VerifiedSeptember 27, 2026 • Stayed at: 16A, Loop: GULL LAKE
Quiet, friendly volunteers, wood delivery to site 6-8pm. Clean, nice showers and bathrooms. Close by fishing near dam. Could use better signage by roundabouts to new route to the Gull dam entrance.
Cory G
VerifiedSeptember 27, 2026 • Stayed at: 24, Loop: GULL LAKE
clean level sites as well as a clean park
Donald P
VerifiedSeptember 27, 2026 • Stayed at: 35, Loop: GULL LAKE
We had a wonderful time. The playground was fun for our son. It's nice to have the road blocked off to through traffic now so only park users are driving cars. It's a nice quiet park.
david k
VerifiedSeptember 27, 2026 • Stayed at: 08, Loop: GULL LAKE
The sight we had needed trees trimed.
Location & Directions for Gull Lake Recreation Area
10867 E Gull Lake Dr, Brainerd, MN 56401 United States
Elevation: 368 ft
Highway access
Gull Lake Recreation Area is accessible via Minnesota State Highway 371, which is approximately 10 miles to the east. Additionally, U.S. Highway 10 is about 15 miles to the south.
Policies & Rules
General
- 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. 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.
- During the 2025 camping season, rangers will not be checking you in at your site in person. Instead, 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. 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 1 - 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
Warnings & Advisories
Warning
GeneralOnly firewood certified, or approved by a state or
federal natural resource agency is permitted. Certified firewood is available
for purchase in the campground. Any unauthorized firewood in the campground
may be removed and destroyed by Corps of Engineers staff.
Nearby Campgrounds
Last updated: October 20, 2026
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