Itasca State Park is a Minnesota state park near Park Rapids, covering 33,235 acres. Hours: Daily from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m. It offers camping or lodging. Entry needs a state park vehicle permit, $7 for a day, as the DNR fees page said on October 19, 2026.
- 33,235acres
- Park Rapidsmailing town
- Yesovernight stays
- $7day vehicle permit
- Camping
- Fishing
- Mississippi River headwaters
- Fire tower
- Historic site
- Old growth forest
Plan It In Three Lines
- Hours: Daily from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m.
- Cost: a $7 one-day vehicle permit or a $35 year-round permit, per the DNR fees page of October 19, 2026; confirm before you go.
- Pets: leashed (six feet or shorter) outside buildings, lodging and beaches, per the DNR rules page; park-specific limits are listed below.
About The Park
The DNR describes it: Established in 1891, Itasca is Minnesota's oldest state park. Today, the park totals more than 32,000 acres and includes more than 100 lakes. Walk across the mighty Mississippi as it starts its winding journey 2,552 miles to the Gulf of Mexico. Stand under towering pines and visit landmarks of centuries gone by throughout the park.
Wildlife. The diversity of vegetation in the park supports many wildlife species. Birding is excellent and visitors are encouraged to help spot and record the bird life they see in the park.
History. In 1832, Henry Rowe Schoolcraft was led by Anishinabe guide Ozawindib to the source of the Mississippi River. It was on this journey that Schoolcraft, with the help of an educated missionary companion, created the name Itasca from the.
Geology. The landscape region in which the park is located was formed at the leading edge of repeating glacial advances. This northern pine moraine forms ranges of hills containing coarse, gravelly materials and boulders pock-marked with countless.
Visit Facts
- Address36750 Main Park Drive Park Rapids, MN 56470
- Phone218-699-7251
- Park hoursDaily from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m.
- Park office hoursJacob V. Brower Visitor Center, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Camping and Lodging Office, 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
- Emailitasca.statepark@state.mn.us
- Park GPS point47.25003, -95.21224 (DNR printed coordinates)
- Official pageDNR page for Itasca State Park
Trails
| Season | Trail type | Length | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Accessible | 1.5 miles | Headwaters Loop Trail Doctor Roberts Trail – leads to the Old Timer's Cabin Self-guided trail at the Jacob V. Brower Visitor Center |
| Summer | Self-Guided | Three and one-quarter miles | A trail guide for the Doctor Roberts Trail is available for purchase at the gift shops. Landmark Trail has interpretive signs throughout. The trail at the Jacob V. Brower Visitor Center, the Forestry Demonstration Trail and the Blowdown Trail are also self-guided trails. |
| Summer | Hiking | 49 miles | Trails take you through some of the most scenic parts of the park. |
| Summer | Paved Bike | 16 miles | A six-mile paved trail connects Douglas Lodge with the Mississippi River headwaters. Bikers can also share an additional ten miles on the Wilderness Drive Loop with automobiles. |
| Summer | Boardwalk | Accessible | The segment of the Doctor Roberts Trail that runs from Douglas Lodge to the Old Timer's Cabin is an accessible boardwalk. Great for seasonal orchid viewing! |
| Winter | Groomed Cross-Country Skiing Classic | 13 miles, easy to difficult | Trails are groomed for both classic and skate skiing. A Great Minnesota Ski Pass is required on groomed ski trails for skiers age 16 and up. |
| Winter | Groomed Cross-Country Skiing Skate | — | — |
| Winter | Snowmobile | 31 miles | Trails circle the perimeter of the park and connect with other trails that lead to Park Rapids, Walker, Bemidji, Bagley, Mahnomen and Detroit Lakes. |
| Winter | Snowshoe | Anywhere in park except on groomed trails and roads | Try the Doctor Roberts, Schoolcraft, Brower, Mary Lake, or LaSalle trails for snowshoeing. Snowshoe rentals are available from Itasca Sports at the Forest Inn. |
Camping And Lodging
| Type | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Drive-in Sites | 223 sites in two campgrounds | — |
| Electric Sites | 160 sites in two campgrounds | — |
| RV Length Limit | 60 feet | Length is measured from front of tow vehicle to rear of vehicle being towed. |
| Accessible Sites | Four sites | There are four accessible drive-in sites with electric hookup, two in Bear Paw Campground and two in Pine Ridge Campground. |
| Backpack Sites | 11 sites, all one to five miles from parking | — |
| Cart-in Sites | 11 sites in Bear Paw Campground | All sites are 100-500 feet from parking. Carts are available to haul gear. |
| Group Camp | Accommodates up to 50 people | Photos and details about the rustic Elk Lake Group Camp. |
| Group Center | Accommodates up to 75 people | Photos and details about the seasonal Lake Ozawindib Group Center. |
| Accessible Lodging | — | The Bear Paw Guesthouse, Clubhouse, Douglas Lodge cabins, Four-Season Suites, and Lake Ozawindib Group Center all have accessible lodging options. |
| Other | — | See photos and details of all lodging available at the park. The Headwaters Inn, Four-Season Suites and select Bert's Cabins are available year-round. Other lodging is seasonal. |
Reservations go through the DNR system; start from the park page.
On The Water
| Type | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Water Source | Headwaters of the Mississippi River State Water Trail | — |
| Fishing Pier | — | Accessible fishing piers are on Lake Itasca and Ozawindib Lake. |
| Swimming Beach | Lake Itasca | — |
| Boat Access | — | There are accesses on Lake Itasca, Ozawindib Lake, Elk Lake and Mary Lake. |
| Boating Restrictions | All lakes within the park have speed limit restrictions | — |
| Boat Docks | — | — |
| Canoe Access | 3 on Lake Itasca | — |
Other Recreation
| Type | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Picnic Area | — | Picnic shelter, bathrooms and a play area on Lake Itasca between the headwaters and the swimming beach. |
| Picnic Shelter | Open shelter with electricity | Call the park to reserve. |
| Playground | Accessible, at the swimming beach | Swings, slides, climbers and bouncers. |
| Volleyball | At the swimming beach | Pick up equipment at Itasca Sports Rental. |
| Warming House | Forest Inn | The Forest Inn fireplace room and restrooms are open 24 hours during peak winter season. |
| Other | — | Winter weekend itinerary |
Amenities
| Type | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ranger Station | — | Park administration building is on Main Park Drive, adjacent to the Jacob V. Brower Visitor Center. |
| Visitor Center | Open year-round, with reduced off-season hours | Stop in at the 13,000 square-foot Jacob V. Brower Visitor Center to learn about all there is to see and do in the park before you begin your adventure outdoors. |
| Interpretive Exhibit | Throughout the park | Read along with audio recordings used in some of our exhibits. |
| Naturalist Programs | Year-round | — |
| Historic Site | — | Itasca State Park itself is designated as a National Register Historic District, and there are many other historic sites within the park. |
| Tours | — | A "step on" naturalist is available for bus tours for a fee and by special arrangement. Contact the naturalist. |
| Gift Shop | Three gift shop locations | Gift shops in the Mary Gibbs Mississippi Headwaters Center and the Forest Inn are open from Memorial Day weekend through early October. The gift store in the Jacob V. Brower Visitor Center is open year-round. |
| Rentals | — | Itasca Sports is a rental concessionaire that operates within Itasca State Park. Rent bikes, pontoons, canoes, kayaks, stand-up paddle boards and more from their summer location at the Lake Itasca boat access. Open daily from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day with reduced hours in the spring and fall. |
| Firewood | Available year-round | Firewood is available at the Camping and Lodging Office during the peak season, and at the Jacob V. Brower Visitor Center in winter. You can also purchase firewood using the Yodel portal and self-service throughout the park. |
| Ice Sales | Available seasonally | Ice is available at the Camping and Lodging Office, Douglas Lodge, and Itasca Sports during the peak season. |
| Restaurant | Open seasonally | Douglas Lodge Restaurant offers full-service dining overlooking Lake Itasca in the historic Douglas Lodge. Mary Gibbs Cafe offers specialty coffee, breakfast and lunch options for casual grab-and-go dining. Located within walking distance of the Mississippi River Headwaters. |
| Other | Day use rentals | Jacob V. Brower Visitor Center, Forest Inn, Douglas Lodge, and the picnic shelter are all available for meetings, conferences, weddings and other gatherings. Call 218-699-7251 for more information. |
Pets And Permits
Statewide, the DNR rules page says pets are welcome in state parks on a leash six feet or shorter, attended at all times; only service animals are allowed in buildings, lodging, tours and beach areas. A vehicle permit costs $7 a day or $35 a year (DNR fees page, read October 19, 2026). See the parks passport page for the full price list.
Directions
South entrance to the park is 23 miles north of Park Rapids on U.S. Highway 71. From Bemidji, the east entrance is 30 miles south on U.S. Hwy 71 and 1/10 mile north on State Hwy 200. The north entrance is 21 miles south of Bagley on State Hwy 92/State Hwy 200.GPS device users: Lat. 47.194648 Long. -95.165012
Map © OpenStreetMap contributors. Directions.
Nearby Places
- La Salle Lake State Recreation AreaState Recreation Area, about 7 miles away in a straight line
- Lake Bemidji State ParkState Park, about 27 miles away in a straight line
- Maplewood State ParkState Park, about 60 miles away in a straight line
What We Could Not Verify
- Current alerts, closures, trail and campground conditions: they change daily. Read the DNR park page before you go.
- County: the DNR page does not state it, so we do not print one.
- Fees for lodging and group sites, and day-by-day availability: set by the DNR reservation system.
- Permit prices were read on October 19, 2026 and the DNR page shows no effective date.
- The map point is the park’s printed coordinate, not a verified entrance.
Related Pages
More In North Lakes
- Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness
- Leech Lake
- Big Bog State Recreation Area
- Garden Island State Recreation Area
- Hayes Lake State Park
- La Salle Lake State Recreation Area
- Lake Bemidji State Park
- Zippel Bay State Park
- Events in North Lakes
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Itasca State Park?
It is near Park Rapids, Minnesota. The DNR address is 36750 Main Park Drive Park Rapids, MN 56470.
How much does it cost to visit Itasca State Park?
A one-day vehicle permit is $7 and a year-round permit is $35 on the DNR fees page we read on October 19, 2026. Check the fees page before you go.
Are dogs allowed at Itasca State Park?
Pets are welcome on a leash six feet or shorter outside buildings, lodging, tours and beach areas, per the DNR rules page. The park page states no extra limits we could read.
Sources
- Itasca State Park (DNR Recreation Compass data) (read November 1, 2026).
- Minnesota state park fees (DNR) (read November 1, 2026).
- Minnesota state park rules (DNR) (read November 1, 2026).
- Minnesota State Parks Passport, all places, park fees and rules.