Overview
Brainerd is a city in Northwestern Minnesota.
1 things to do · 3 places to eat · 3 bars & cafés · 1 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Brainerd
Paul Bunyan Land
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: May–Sep. Summer highs reach about 80°F; winter lows dip to about 4°F. Cold months (Jan, Feb, Mar, Nov, Dec) can bring snow and ice; check road conditions. Wettest: Jun and Jul. (climate data from nearby Pine City)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- BRD Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport, Brainerd — 5 mi away. Directions
- STC Saint Cloud Regional Airport, Saint Cloud — 56 mi away. Directions
- MSP Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport / Wold–Chamberlain Field, Minneapolis — 113 mi away (major hub). Directions
Groome Transportation provides a shuttle service between the Minneapolis/St. Paul Airport and Brainerd.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Get in
Go Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport (BRD)
It offers a 6,500-ft paved runway with instrumental landing systems and navigational aids. Commercial air service is provided by Delta Air Lines, typically offering six daily arrivals/departures during the peak summer season, and 4 arrivals/departures daily during the off season. Charter services and maintenance facilities are also available for personal aircraft.
Groome Transportation provides a shuttle service between the Minneapolis/St. Paul Airport and Brainerd.
Get around
Brainerd Taxi provides a service throughout the Brainerd Lakes Area.
See
At the east end of town you can see the lengthy brick-faced remains of the North Pacific Railway shop. The NPR was built from this area all the way out to the state of Washington in the 1870s. At the center of the town you'll see the Brainerd Water Tower, nicknamed "Paul Bunyan's Flashlight", which is a major landmark of the city. The Brainerd Water Tower was constructed approximately 100 years ago in 1920.
Do
There is something for every age and interest throughout the entire year. You can fish in one of the 465 lakes, rent recreational equipment so you can enjoy the water or trails, join a local neighborhood festival or event, play on one of the local golf courses, or enjoy a colorful hike along the Paul Bunyan Trail — a 100-mile paved trail winding through lakes, rivers and forests. During winter, you can glide through powdery snow on a snowmobile or on cross-country skis or attend a theatrical or musical event. During good weather you can enjoy food and drink atop a patio overlooking a lake.
Alternatively, you can take a day-trip to see a wide variety of attractions and recreational options from within the five-county region.
- - located in Brainerd
Eat
Eat Northwind Grille
Simple family restaurant with a big menu of classic American food. Think pancakes and omelettes for breakfast and burgers for dinner.
Eat Ernie's on Gull
Big lakeside bar and restaurant serving hearty meat and potatoes since 1917. You can tie up at the dock and hangout on Ernie's patio, complete with its own outdoor bar and volley ball court.
Eat Sherwood Forest
Big restaurant playing up the backwoods Minnesota stereotype. It's a mixture of corny and classy at the same time. The menu is pretty safe, typical American food. However, they proudly feature the bounty of Minnesota in their dishes. Also has a nice selection of local beers. and a huge deck.
Drink
Drink Jack Pine Brewery
Small brewery known for their Fenceline IPA.
Drink Roundhouse Brewery
Right off the main highway, this brewery has a fairly large taproom and occasional food trucks.
Drink Big Axe Brewing
Big Axe is a small brewery with a simple modern/rustic-hybrid taproom. They have a range of simple, but well-executed styles ranging from wheat beers to IPAs. Big Axe also has a kitchen which serves a small menu of bar food and sandwiches.
Sleep
Lodging options are many. Small family-owned resorts offer cabins along the shores of area lakes. Deluxe resort complexes offer meal plans, children's programming, championship golf courses, and perhaps an on-site spa. Northwoods hotels can be found in Brainerd, Baxter, Pequot Lakes, Crosslake, and Breezy Point. Quaint B&Bs, campgrounds, and private cabin rentals are also available.
For local information, contact the Brainerd Lakes Chamber, +1-800-450-2838.
Nearby
Crosslake
City / town · 15 listings · 22 mi away
Aitkin
City / town · 10 listings · 26 mi away
Little Falls
City / town · 13 listings · 28 mi away
Mille Lacs
Rural area · 10 listings · 28 mi away
Staples
City / town · 7 listings · 28 mi away
Wadena
City / town · 3 listings · 45 mi away
Foley
City / town · 1 listings · 50 mi away
Walker
City / town · 55 mi away
My experience
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