Red River State Recreation Area is a Minnesota state recreation area near East Grand Forks, covering 104 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.
- 104acres
- East Grand Forksmailing town
- Yesovernight stays
- $7day vehicle permit
- Full Hook-up Campsites
- Boating/Fishing/Birding
- Picnicking
- Paved Multi-use Trails
- Nearby Dining and Shopping
- Urban Setting
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: The creation of the Red River State Recreation Area was a grassroots effort as a result of the flood of 1997 that devastated the communities of East Grand Forks, MN and Grand Forks, ND. After the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers redrew the floodplain, the Federal Emergency Management Agency bought 500 homes and other buildings in East Grand Forks along the Red and Red Lake Rivers.
Wildlife. The rich river bottom forests along the Red and Red Lake rivers provide a diversity of plant life and habitat for many animals. Mammals found here include raccoon, river otter, gray and red squirrels and white-tailed deer.
History. Ten thousand years ago, Glacial Lake Agassiz was at its largest size and covered 135,000 square miles of eastern North Dakota, northwestern Minnesota and southern Manitoba.
Geology. Bedrock in the area consists of Cretaceous, Ordovician and Jurassic sedimentary bedrock. The bedrock is overlain by 200-400 feet of fluvial glacial drift.
Visit Facts
- Address515 2nd Street Northwest East Grand Forks, MN 56721
- Phone218-773-4950
- Park hoursDaily from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m.
- Park office hoursThe ranger station is closed for season.
- Emailredriver.statepark@state.mn.us
- Park GPS point47.93083, -97.02642 (DNR printed coordinates)
- Official pageDNR page for Red River State Recreation Area
Trails
| Season | Trail type | Length | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Accessible | 2 miles | Accessible hiking trails pass through the campground. The trails also connect to the 20+ miles of paved Greenway trail system. |
| Summer | Paved Bike | — | Paved biking trails pass through the campground, continuing for 7 miles. |
Camping And Lodging
| Type | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Drive-in Sites | — | The campground has 109 drive-in sites. The majority of sites are pull-through, but some campers will need to back into certain sites. Sites 1-20 and 42-59 are on one-way roads. These sites are note recommended for large RVs. The park is closed during the winter months. The campground usually opens during the first full weekend of May, depending on weather conditions. |
| Pull-Through Sites | — | All 79 pull-through sites are full-service sites with electric, water and sewer hookups. |
| Electric Sites | — | The campground has 98 full-service sites with electric, water and sewer hookups. The campground also has three electric-only sites. All electric sites have 20-, 30-and 50-amp hookups. |
| RV Length Limit | — | The max RV length is 60 feet. Length is measured from front of tow vehicle to rear of vehicle being towed. |
| Accessible Sites | — | All five accessible drive-in sites are electric with full hook-ups. |
| Walk-in Sites | — | The four walk-in sites have either gravel or grass tent pads and are located less than 1/4 mile from parking area. |
| Group Camp | — | The one group campsite can accommodate 40 people. The group camp includes picnic tables, fire rings, and a vault toilet. Reserve Now –> |
Reservations go through the DNR system; start from the park page.
On The Water
| Type | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Water Source | — | The Red River flows past the campground. |
| Fishing | — | Fishing is available at various sites along the Red and Red Lake rivers. |
| Boat Access | — | Access the Red and Red Lake rivers south of the campground. |
Other Recreation
| Type | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Picnic Area | — | The campground and surrounding city parks have picnic areas. |
| Playground | — | The playground is near the picnic area in the campground. The surrounding city parks also have playgrounds. |
Amenities
| Type | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ranger Station | — | The ranger station is located at the entrance to the campground. Wi-Fi is available at the ranger station. |
| Interpretive Exhibit | — | Find interpretive exhibits along bike trails and at trail heads. |
| Naturalist Programs | — | Interpretive programs are offered bi-weekly during summer months. The park also offers the Junior Naturalist Program for kids ages 7-14. |
| Rentals | — | Fishing kits (rod, reel, stocked tackle box), birding kits, GPS units, and kids discovery kits (activities and stories designed for age 5-12) are available to check out for free at the ranger station. |
| Firewood | — | Purchase firewood at the ranger station or through Yodel. Burn approved firewood only. Gathering firewood in state parks is not allowed. |
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
If traveling east on Highway 2, cross the Kennedy Bridge into East Grand Forks and take the first exit. Follow 4th Street NW to the parking lot for the Riverwalk Center mall, make a right turn and follow the avenue of flags to the park office. If traveling west, take a left turn at the intersection of Highway 2 and Highway 220 and follow DeMers Avenue to 4th Street NW.
Map © OpenStreetMap contributors. Directions.
Nearby Places
- Old Mill State ParkState Park, about 37 miles away in a straight line
- Lake Bronson State ParkState Park, about 58 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.
More In Red River Valley
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Red River State Recreation Area?
It is near East Grand Forks, Minnesota. The DNR address is 515 2nd Street Northwest East Grand Forks, MN 56721.
How much does it cost to visit Red River State Recreation Area?
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 Red River State Recreation Area?
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
- Red River State Recreation Area (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.