Overview
Itasca State Park is in northern Minnesota, is the oldest and largest of Minnesota's state parks, and is considered the "jewel" of the state's parks system. Itasca offers the classic northwoods experience, with an old growth forest, diverse and plentiful wildlife, fishing, swimming, and crystal-clear streams and lakes, including Lake Itasca, which is the source of the legendary Mississippi River.
2 sights
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Best things about Itasca State Park
Lake Itasca
Mary Gibbs Mississippi Headwaters Center
Located at the headwaters, this center offers exhibits, a gift shop, restrooms, and a cafe.
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: May–Sep. Summer highs reach about 82°F; winter lows dip to about 1°F. Cold months (Jan, Feb, Mar, Nov, Dec) can bring snow and ice; check road conditions. Wettest: Jun and May. (climate data from nearby Fargo)
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.
- TVF Thief River Falls Regional Airport, Thief River Falls — 73 mi away. Directions
- BRD Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport, Brainerd — 77 mi away. Directions
- MSP Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport / Wold–Chamberlain Field, Minneapolis — 189 mi away (major hub). Directions
Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 1-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Lake Itasca
- Afternoon Mary Gibbs Mississippi Headwaters Center
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
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.
Understand
History
Landscape
Itasca's 32,690 acres include lakes, streams, old growth forest, and hundreds of miles of hiking trails. No visit to Itasca is complete without seeing the headwaters of the Mississippi River, at the outlet of Lake Itasca.
Itasca's landscape is a glacial moraine, sometimes referred to as "knob and kettle." The land was shaped by advancing and receding glaciers, and the lakes are the residue of glacial melt.
Flora and fauna
Typically for northern Minnesota, the park is home to a great diversity of songbirds, predatory birds, freshwater fish, amphibians, and mammals. Observant visitors have a good chance of seeing deer, beavers, porcupines, black bears, and maybe even wolves.
The grand forests of Itasca State Park include red pine, white pine, cedars, aspen and birch. In undisturbed areas, some of the old growth trees have been determined to be more than 500 years old.
Park information
- Itasca State Park website
See
See Lake Itasca
Sleep
Lodging
Camping
Backcountry
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My experience
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