Wondering what to do in Detroit Lakes and Park Rapids, MN? Well, you are in luck. There is no lack of things to do in the Detroit Lakes & Park Rapids Minnesota area in the summertime. It is the land of 10,000 lakes after all. I have been vacationing in the Northern Minnesota area almost every year of my life, and have been living here by the lake the past two summers!
Home of loons, bears, deer, swans, eagles, tall pine trees, and all the fishies. You are sure to enjoy your time in the Detroit Lakes & Park Rapids area.
There are so many family-owned lakeside resorts to stay at, campgrounds, and cabins to rent. There are plenty of hotels in Detroit Lakes and Park Rapids, but I would recommend being close to the lake! If you are traveling on a budget, you could car-camp, van, or tent at the surrounding state and city parks.
On top of staying at your resort and enjoying the outdoors, here are nine of the best activities near Detroit Lakes and Park Rapids. Enjoy lake country!
#1 Itasca State Park
Detroit Lakes: 1hr
Park Rapids: 30 m
One of my favorite state parks. At Itasca State Park you will be surrounded by tall trees, birds, fishies, and beautiful lakes. See the Headwaters of the Mississippi River, where the river begins its almost 3,000-mile journey.
Cost:
$35- MN State Park Permit (Good for 1 year)
$7 per vehicle per day
In the park, you can rent bikes, kayaks, boats, and even go on a boat tour. There is a cafe and gift shop near the Headwaters. With over 49 miles of hiking trails, you will have plenty to see. Camp for the night or stay in the park’s hostel and cabins.
Bring bug spray, food, and sunscreen! There is a gas station near one of the park entrances, otherwise, there aren’t many stores nearby.
#2 Heartland & Paul Bunyan State Trail
Detroit Lakes: 45m
Park Rapids: 0m-1hr
Bikers, runners, borders, rollerbladers, get ready! This mostly flat, shaded, 115-mile trail is a perfect way to experience northern Minnesota. It begins as the 8-mile Heartland Trail in Park Rapids, then becomes Paul Bunyan State Trail, extending from Akeley to Bemidji.
The Heartland and Paul Bunyan State trails pass plenty of lakes and ponds. Stop at the many benches to enjoy views of wildlife, including swans, deer, and bald eagles. In any of the towns listed below, there will be plenty of parking and easy access to the trail.
Towns Along the Trail: This map is a great resource
#3 Float Down the River
Detroit Lakes: 0m
Park Rapids: 45m
Wanting to sit back and relax? For only $5? Why not do it floating down the river with a drink and snacks in your hand.
Bring a cooler, speaker, bag for electronics, and sunscreen. Hop on a bus and they drop you off at the river entrance. There are opportunities to stop and party or get away from the group for a more laid-back experience.
You can make this ride as fast or long as you want, and you can always hop on the bus again for another ride.
Make sure to check to see their opening. Sometimes the river is not high enough for tubing. (K&K tubing and Charlies Tubing are right next to each other, I think they offer the exact same service and prices).
#4 Bemidji & Bemidji State Park
Park Rapids: 50 m
Detroit Lakes: 1h 30m
This state park can get a little crowded in the summer months, however, it makes for a great day trip. With plenty of trails for hiking, mountain biking, and biking, this state park is great for a day strip. If you don’t want to hit the trails, hit the beach for some swimming or fishing.
#6 Chill around Detroit Lakes
- Shady Hollow Flea Market: Saturday and Sunday (usually 7:00-3:00). With a great mix of new, old, food, drinks, and music, you will enjoy walking around this flea market. There are tons of vendors and a wide variety of products. The market is located on the south side of town near the WE Fest concert grounds.
- Treat yourself to a massage at Relakes Massage located in the downtown area.
- Detroit Beach. A bit crowded, but very close to fun restaurants like Zorbaz, which is lively on the weekends and family-friendly throughout the day.
- WE Fest– A three-day country music festival hosted in Detroit Lakes, usually the first week of August. You can camp there or stay off the grounds, tickets are pretty affordable and it is a great time! There is plenty of space in the concert bowl to spread out, shop around, and get away from others, so it could be ok for kids to attend.
- Golf- There are courses in Park Rapids, Detroit Lakes, Pelican Rapids, Perham and many in between!
#7 ATV Trails
This is a very popular thing to do around here. These trails bring ATVers in the summer and snowmobilers in the winter. People will stop at restaurants and bars along the way. I have not found any ATV rentals in this area, however, there may be some I’m not finding! More information on the ATV trails here.
#8 North Country Hiking Trail
This trail extends from Vermont to North Dakota. There are plenty of access points near Detroit Lakes (one is just east of DL on highway 34) and Park Rapids.
I have hiked on this trail near, and just north of the Tamarac Wildlife Refuge. This Refuge is home to tons of birds, particularly trumpeter swans! It makes a great day trip, with plenty of trails including the North Country Trail.
While I wouldn’t call this stretch of the trail particularly scenic (no caves, mountains, rivers, or overlooks), it is nice to be in the woods and hear the birds and wildlife.#9 Chill at the Lake
This should probably be number one on the list, but I thought that would be too obvious. Lake life is really what it’s all about in this area. There is something for everyone, from fishing, boating, tubing, paddle boarding, kayaking and so on.
Start the morning with pancakes with your family, spend it out in the sun, grill, have a fire, and repeat the next day.
If you don’t like the vibe of the lake you are staying at, there are so many to choose from, probably within 15 minutes of you. Some lakes are party lakes, others quiet, so find one you like hanging out at!
Tips
- Watch the sunrise and set
- Have a floatie to sit-in
- Bring your hammocks
- Yard Games: Bean Bags (cornhole), Ladder toss, etc.
- Bring Snorkels! While you may not see any crazy fish, the water is so clear and you may find some shells and clams!
- LOTS OF BUG SPRAY. Especially if you’re in the woods…. maybe bring a bug net too.
For more travel advice and inspiration, check out the post about my Trip to Rincon, Puerto Rico, Zion National Park, How to Rent a Campervan, and my top 5 Tips to Travel Often in College.
Keep living your hippie fantasies, whatever that means for you.
5 responses to “What to Do in Detroit Lakes & Park Rapids Minnesota: 9 Can’t-Miss Summer Activities.”
Having been to northern Minnesota a few times myself, I can say this blog is very helpful
Thank you, Bob! It’s a pretty dope place to be!
I think you hit on all the right stuff here with stuff to do in this area – I spent a lot of time up there as we had a cabin in the Detroit Lakes area growing up. I haven’t been back there in years – I miss it!
Sounds like you had great memories there, I did as well! Rain or shine it’s so fun to be at the lake or in the woods with family.
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