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
Amy & Dave T
VerifiedJune 1, 2026 • Stayed at: 09, Loop: GULL LAKE
This is perhaps the most well-maintained campground we stay at during our travels around Minnesota to the state parks, other COE campgrounds, and privately-owned campgrounds. The rangers as well as the volunteers are all first-rate! The sites we stay in are clean and well-maintained. The facilities are clean and well-maintained as well. We usually come here twice a season. It's close to our favorite activities and provides a safe and enjoyable experience. Good work!
Reid D
VerifiedJune 1, 2026 • Stayed at: 04, Loop: GULL LAKE
Beautiful clean campsites and facilities! Close to Gull Lake for fishing and the access is top notch!
Stacy V
VerifiedJune 1, 2026 • Stayed at: 24, Loop: GULL LAKE
always love coming here! Especially in spring fall
Leon P
VerifiedJune 1, 2026 • Stayed at: 16, Loop: GULL LAKE
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Amy V
VerifiedJune 5, 2026 • Stayed at: 39, Loop: GULL LAKE
Our absolute favorite campground for the last 25 years. Even better now, with the new by pass road. No more noisy traffic
Jennah F
VerifiedJune 5, 2026 • Stayed at: 37, Loop: GULL LAKE
This was one of our best trips! And we've camped a lot. The site was awesome, the weather was beautiful, the carp were swimming and the beach was amazing! Thank for for the great memories!!!
Vincent W
VerifiedJune 7, 2026 • Stayed at: 15, Loop: GULL LAKE
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.
Timothy B
VerifiedJune 8, 2026 • Stayed at: 31, Loop: GULL LAKE
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.
Dan D
VerifiedJune 8, 2026 • Stayed at: 10, Loop: GULL LAKE
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.
Kenton K
VerifiedJune 9, 2026 • Stayed at: 03, Loop: GULL LAKE
Treated well by staff and volunteers. Nice clean campgrounds and site!
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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