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
Select a site to view details
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
Ryan L
VerifiedOctober 6, 2026 • Stayed at: 06, Loop: GULL LAKE
Wonderful experience, super friendly and attentive camp hosts! Site 6 has nice wooded privacy on all sides.
Ann M
VerifiedOctober 5, 2026 • Stayed at: 25, Loop: GULL LAKE
As per the usual, the park was clean and peaceful. The wooded sites are my favorite! Unfortunately, it rained all day on Sat so we didn't get to enjoy the bike trails, we headed into Baxter and found something to do. Staff came and checked us in promptly. First time we've ever been asked to see our America the Beautiful pass. Be sure you know where yours is. ( I had to scrounge around the truck to locate it) :)
Doug B
VerifiedSeptember 30, 2026 • Stayed at: 34, Loop: GULL LAKE
We discovered the Gull Lake Recreational Campground by accident several years ago looking for a place to camp. Have been going there every fall since. Beautiful Campground. Well Maintained, quiet safe. Look forward to it every year.
Curtis A
VerifiedSeptember 29, 2026 • Stayed at: 37, Loop: GULL LAKE
Can’t get enough of this property or the staff here! Weekend reservations are impossible (plus full of locals) but Sun-Th are peaceful and beautiful.
Matt and Pat, Trish and the Clarks were great hosts and make Gull Lake the Destination it is. And the Rangers, of course - such a great career choice.
Don’t go there now - the autumn leaves are turning and you will never want to leave.
DeAnn B
VerifiedSeptember 28, 2026 • Stayed at: 22, Loop: GULL LAKE
Our stay at Gull Lake Recreation Campground was wonderful! We fished, hiked and enjoyed bonfires! Camping sites are clean, bathrooms and showers clean and a playground for kids!! Campground hosts were great and staff were exceptional. We will be back! Beautiful area!!
Patricia Q
VerifiedSeptember 28, 2026 • Stayed at: 17, Loop: GULL LAKE
Some tree trimming on the campground roads would be good. Can be difficult to get into sites because of all the foliage. Beautiful campground and sites themselves are well maintained.
david k
VerifiedSeptember 27, 2026 • Stayed at: 08, Loop: GULL LAKE
The sight we had needed trees trimed.
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.
Cory G
VerifiedSeptember 27, 2026 • Stayed at: 24, Loop: GULL LAKE
clean level sites as well as a clean park
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.
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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