Warning

General

Only 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.

GULL LAKE RECREATION AREA
GULL LAKE RECREATION AREA
GULL LAKE RECREATION AREA
Sunset view from the hiking trail
Catch of the day at the upper fishing pier

About Gull Lake Recreation Area

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.

Available sites

39 total sites

Seasonal information

2026 (Current year)

2026 Season availability

Current season
Upcoming seasons
Past seasons
Closed periods
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Currently closed

Campground Amenities

RV Utilities and Hookups

RV Utilities and Hookups

  • Dump station on site
Missing information?

Rates, Sites & Availability

Select check-in and check-out dates to see real-time availability for each site.

39 Sites Available

Site
Price
🚐 01, Loop: GULL LAKE RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · Gravel
🚐 02, Loop: GULL LAKE RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · Gravel
🚐 03, Loop: GULL LAKE RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · Gravel
🚐 04, Loop: GULL LAKE RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · Gravel
🚐 05, Loop: GULL LAKE RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · Gravel
🚐 06, Loop: GULL LAKE RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · Gravel
🚐 07, Loop: GULL LAKE RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · Gravel
🚐 08, Loop: GULL LAKE RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · Gravel
🚐 09, Loop: GULL LAKE RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · Gravel
🚐 10, Loop: GULL LAKE RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · Gravel
🚐 11, Loop: GULL LAKE RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · Gravel
🚐 12, Loop: GULL LAKE RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · Gravel
🚐 12A, Loop: GULL LAKE RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 60 ft long
🚐 13, Loop: GULL LAKE RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · Gravel
🚐 14, Loop: GULL LAKE RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · Gravel
🚐 15, Loop: GULL LAKE RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · Gravel
🚐 16, Loop: GULL LAKE RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · Gravel
🚐 16A, Loop: GULL LAKE RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 45 ft long
🚐 17, Loop: GULL LAKE RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · Gravel
🚐 18, Loop: GULL LAKE RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · Gravel
🚐 19, Loop: GULL LAKE RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · Gravel
🚐 20, Loop: GULL LAKE RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · Gravel
🚐 21, Loop: GULL LAKE RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · Gravel
🚐 22, Loop: GULL LAKE RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · Gravel
🚐 23, Loop: GULL LAKE RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · Gravel
🚐 24, Loop: GULL LAKE RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · Gravel
🚐 25, Loop: GULL LAKE RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · Gravel
🚐 26, Loop: GULL LAKE RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · Gravel
🚐 27, Loop: GULL LAKE RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · Gravel
🚐 28, Loop: GULL LAKE RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · Gravel
🚐 29, Loop: GULL LAKE RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · Gravel
🚐 30, Loop: GULL LAKE RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · Gravel
🚐 31, Loop: GULL LAKE RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · Gravel
🚐 32, Loop: GULL LAKE RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · Gravel
🚐 33, Loop: GULL LAKE RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · Gravel
🚐 34, Loop: GULL LAKE RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · Gravel
🚐 35, Loop: GULL LAKE RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · Gravel
🚐 37, Loop: GULL LAKE RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · Paved
🚐 39, Loop: GULL LAKE RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · Gravel

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.

Review Summary

4.6
1016 reviews
5
76.1%
773
4
16.5%
168
3
4.4%
45
2
1.4%
14
1
1.6%
16

Jodie J

Verified

June 15, 2026 • Stayed at: 19, Loop: GULL LAKE

5

Very quiet clean park!

Jeffery d

Verified

June 13, 2026 • Stayed at: 27, Loop: GULL LAKE

5

Well maintained campground with nicely wooded and spaces sites. Showers were hot and clean.

Pat O

Verified

June 12, 2026 • Stayed at: 25, Loop: GULL LAKE

4

Have always loved this park. Great boat docking. Sites are very nice with great separation.

Michael S

Verified

June 11, 2026 • Stayed at: 34, Loop: GULL LAKE

5

Very well layed out camp grounds, nice beach. The volunteers in this park are upbeat, friendly and informational

Gwen G

Verified

June 11, 2026 • Stayed at: 12, Loop: GULL LAKE

5

Always a nice, clean well kept campground throughout the entire park. Campsites clean on arrival with info for campers on post. Great bike trail out of the park.

John K

Verified

June 11, 2026 • Stayed at: 01, Loop: GULL LAKE

5

The campground was wonderful. Spacious sites that are very well kept. The staff/volunteers were supper friendly and helpful!

Kenton K

Verified

June 9, 2026 • Stayed at: 03, Loop: GULL LAKE

4

Treated well by staff and volunteers. Nice clean campgrounds and site!

Dan D

Verified

June 8, 2026 • Stayed at: 10, Loop: GULL LAKE

5

I was very impressed. The ranger stopped in right after we arrived and asked if we had any questions. Other staff was also very helpful. Camp sites were very nice and clean. Bathrooms and showers were neat and clean. It was nice that they had crushed granite on the sites where you put your camper and picnic table. I would definitely go back.

Timothy B

Verified

June 8, 2026 • Stayed at: 31, Loop: GULL LAKE

5

Great, well kept campground. There is some traffic noise, especially of you're in a site on the side of the campground closer to the roads.

We launched our kayaks from the boat landing and paddled over to Ernie's on Gull, where we had one of the BEST burgers in recent memory. It was about a 45-minute paddle on-way, going around the point.

The beach was nice and the water super clear. There isn't a very wide area of sand, but enough.. Behind the beach there's a short retaining wall, then a large grass and picnic area with tables and grills. There is a bathroom / changing building there also.

The bathrooms and showers were clean and well kept. Although the shower stalls were "cozy".
Over by the garbage and recycling area it smelled like something died nearby... but what do you do. Hold your breath.

Very convenient if you have to run to Casey's or into Brainerd for anything.

Vincent W

Verified

June 7, 2026 • Stayed at: 15, Loop: GULL LAKE

5

When we arrived the site was ready, looked awesome. The Ranger came by later and checked us in and chatted with us, very good experience.

Location & Directions for Gull Lake Recreation Area

10867 E Gull Lake Dr, Brainerd, MN 56401 United States

Elevation: 368 ft

Nearest town

Brainerd, MN - 12 mi

About 18 min to downtown

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

General

Only 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

Nearby destinations


Last updated: October 20, 2026

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Explore Brainerd, MN

Population: 14,468

Nearby city: St. Cloud, MN

Approx. 59 mi away (straight-line distance)

Elevation: 1,217 ft

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Managed by the US Army Corps of Engineers