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Savanna Portage State Park is a Minnesota state park near McGregor, covering 16,259 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.
- 16,259acres
- McGregormailing town
- Yesovernight stays
- $7day vehicle permit
- Hiking Trails
- Swimming Beach
- Fishing
- Continental Divide
- Snowmobiling
- Historic Areas in Park
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: Time slips by when you visit this park of the north. Walk the Savanna Portage Trail, a historic trail traveled by fur traders, Dakota and Ojibwe Indians, and explorers more than 200 years ago. Savanna Portage State Park has 15,818 acres of rolling hills, lakes, and bogs.
Wildlife. Walk the hiking trails among the oak woods and see deer, bear, skunk, wolf, moose, and coyote. The bogs of the park attract many small animals and songbirds, especially warblers. The lakes are home to migrating loons and other waterfowl.
History. Savanna means open grassland and refers to the expanse of marsh grass in the park. The park contains the historic Savanna Portage Trail that the Dakota and Ojibwe Indians, explorers and voyageurs found a challenge.
Geology. Savanna Portage contains many features which are the result of the glaciers that moved through Minnesota. The large bogs are old glacial lakes that once covered many thousands of acres of land.
Visit Facts
- Address55626 Lake Place McGregor, MN 55760
- Phone218-419-1500
- Park hoursDaily from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m.
- Park office hoursDaily, intermittently Savanna Portage will be closed to the public November 28- December 6 for a muzzleloader hunt. The park will be unavailable to anyone without a special muzzleloader hunt license these days. If you are needing assistance with making a reservation call 866-857-2757.
- Emailsavannaportage.statepark@state.mn.us
- Park GPS point46.75729, -93.24989 (DNR printed coordinates)
- Official pageDNR page for Savanna Portage State Park
Trails
| Season | Trail type | Length | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Self-Guided | 5 Miles | — |
| Summer | Hiking | 27 Miles | — |
| Summer | Unpaved Bike | 10 Miles | — |
| Summer | Boardwalk | — | — |
| Winter | Groomed Cross-Country Skiing Classic | 9.7 | 9.7 miles of groomed classic ski trails are available in the state park and in the nearby Remote Lake Solitude Area. A Great Minnesota Ski Pass is required to use groomed trails. We also pack trails for winter hiking, snowshoeing, biking as time permits. |
| Winter | Groomed Cross-Country Skiing Skate | 5.7 | State park staff oversee 5.7 miles of groomed skate ski trails in Remote Lake Solitude Area, 1 mile south of the state park. |
| Winter | Snowmobile | 32 miles | Only allowed on trails groomed for snowmobiling. |
| Winter | Snowshoe | Anywhere except groomed trails | Snowshoeing is allowed anywhere in the state park, except for on trails groomed for skiing and snowmobiling. Snowshoe rentals are available at the ranger station. |
| Winter | Other | Fat biking | Ungroomed fat bike trail around Lake Shumway. |
Camping and Lodging
| Type | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Drive-in Sites | 61 Sites | — |
| Pull-Through Sites | 4 Pull-Through Sites | — |
| Electric Sites | 18 Sites | — |
| RV Length Limit | 55 Feet | Length is measured from front of tow vehicle to rear of vehicle being towed. |
| Accessible Sites | 2 accessible sites | The campground has two accessible drive-in sites. |
| Backpack Sites | 6 Sites | — |
| Canoe-in Sites | 1 Site | — |
| Group Camp | 1 Site – Site accommodates up to 30 people | Site is located in secluded, mixed pine and oak forest that overlooks Savanna Lake. Boat landing, fire rings, picnic tables, hand pump, and vault toilets available. Site has terraced camping areas. Drive-in camp, small trailers and campers are permitted. Reserve Now –> |
| Accessible Lodging | 1 accessible camper cabin | — |
| Camper Cabins | — | One rustic camper cabin, sleeps five. Open May to November. Accessible. There is no running water or electricity in the cabin; campers may use showers and bathrooms in the campground. Pets not allowed. More information on camper cabins. |
| Guest House | — | See Garni Guest House details. reserve now. –> |
Reservations go through the DNR system; start from the park page.
On The Water
| Type | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fishing Pier | Lake Shumway | The pier is accessible. |
| Swimming Beach | Within the park | — |
| Boat Access | Loon, Shumway, Wolf lakes | — |
| Boat Docks | — | — |
| Canoe Access | Rat House, Remote, Savanna | Rat House and Remote lakes are within the Remote Lake Solitude Area, managed by park staff within Savanna State Forest. |
Other Recreation
| Type | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Picnic Area | — | — |
| Picnic Shelter | Open Shelter | Wheelchair accessible. |
| Playground | — | — |
| Volleyball | — | — |
| Horseshoes | — | — |
| Warming House | — | — |
Amenities
| Type | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ranger Station | — | — |
| Historic Site | — | — |
| Gift Shop | Nature Store | — |
| Rentals | — | Boat, motor, canoe and kayak rentals are available from the ranger station. 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 | Ranger station | — |
| Ice Sales | Ranger station | — |
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.
Park-specific: Pets not allowed.
Directions
Take Highway 65 north to Aitkin County Road 14, then follow 14 for 11 miles to the park.
Map © OpenStreetMap contributors. Directions.
Nearby Places
- Moose Lake State ParkState Park, about 33 miles away in a straight line
- Cuyuna Country State Recreation AreaState Recreation Area, about 40 miles away in a straight line
- Jay Cooke State ParkState Park, about 41 miles away in a straight line
- Schoolcraft State ParkState Park, about 42 miles away in a straight line
- Father Hennepin State ParkState Park, about 44 miles away in a straight line
- Banning State ParkState Park, about 44 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 Central Lakes & St. Cloud
- Mille Lacs Lake
- Charles A. Lindbergh State Park
- Crow Wing State Park
- Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area
- Father Hennepin State Park
- Glacial Lakes State Park
- Glendalough State Park
- Lake Carlos State Park
- Lake Maria State Park
- Maplewood State Park
- Events in Central Lakes & St. Cloud
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Savanna Portage State Park?
It is near McGregor, Minnesota. The DNR address is 55626 Lake Place McGregor, MN 55760.
How much does it cost to visit Savanna Portage 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 Savanna Portage State Park?
Pets are welcome on a leash six feet or shorter outside buildings, lodging, tours and beach areas, per the DNR rules page. This park’s page adds limits listed in Pets And Permits above.
Sources
- Savanna Portage 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.