Minnesota State Park Reservations Reopen Today

Minnesota state parks are open, and with phone lines being flooded with calls, the DNR is recommending that campers make reservations online at stayatmnparks.com.

Outdoors enthusiasts who want to camp this week or a year from now (including the 2012 Fourth of July weekend) can once again make reservations at Minnesota state parks, starting at 8 a.m. today (July 26).

Due to the high call volume the reservation system has been experiencing since the shutdown, the DNR recommends making reservations online at stayatmnparks.com, if possible. For those who prefer to speak with an operator, reservations can be made at 866-857-2757.

All but four Minnesota state parks have reopened following the shutdown. Camden, Old Mill, St. Croix and Upper Sioux Agency state parks remain closed due to extensive storm damage. 

Reservations can be made up to one year ahead, but because the reservation system was closed during the shutdown, Minnesota state parks have not yet taken any reservations for July 4, 2012, so all 3,323 reservable campsites and lodging at all parks will be up for grabs. 

“This is an unprecedented situation, and it provides an opportunity for whoever calls or goes online first to get their pick of the most popular locations in Minnesota for their holiday getaway,” said Courtland Nelson, director of the DNR’s Division of Parks and Trails. “(Today) at 8 a.m., every room in Douglas Lodge at Itasca State Park, every reservable campsite on the North Shore and every camper cabin throughout the state will be available. We expect our reservation system will be very busy.” 

Some nearby parks also have reservable campsites available this weekend (July 29-31)

Those parks include:

* Afton State Park (backpack-in only) in Hastings

* Frontenac State Park near Red Wing

* Lake Maria State Park (backpack-in only) in Monticello

* Nerstrand Big Woods State Park near Northfield

* Sakatah Lake State Park near Faribault

* Wild River State Park near Center City

* William O’Brien State Park in Marine on St. Croix. 

There are even a few reservable sites left this weekend on the North Shore at Cascade River, Gooseberry Falls, Temperance River and Tettegouche state parks. 

During the last week in July in 2010, Minnesota state parks had 348,000 day visitors and 59,000 overnight visitors. 

Standard campsites can be reserved for $12 to $20 a night (plus $5 for electric hook-ups), not including vehicle permits, which are required to enter Minnesota state parks.

Vehicle permits are $5 for one night or $25 for a 12-month permit providing unlimited access to all 74 Minnesota state parks and recreation areas.