Itasca State Park
Itasca State Park is a state park of Minnesota, United States, and contains the headwaters of the Mississippi River. Its address puts it 53 mi southwest of Hornet Township. It was established in 1891.
A state park, 53 mi southwest of Hornet Township
Winters are cold
January nights drop to -4°. When to go ↓
Plan where you’ll sleep
No town within 30 miles has many hotels or campgrounds. Look at the towns below, or plan to camp. Where to stay ↓
Established in 1891
Itasca State Park dates from 1891. About ↓
Best months: Jun, Jul, Aug and Sep
June, July, August and September are the mild months, with highs of 67–78°. When to go ↓
Written from NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Overture places to stay, Census town figures, Wikidata and Wikipedia.
When to go
Use the months below to time a visit to Itasca.
Itasca State Park
Itasca State Park is a state park of Minnesota, United States, and contains the headwaters of the Mississippi River. The park spans 32,690 acres (132.3 km2) of northern Minnesota, and is located about 21 miles (34 km) north of Park Rapids, Minnesota and 25 miles (40 km) from Bagley, Minnesota. The park is part of Minnesota's Pine Moraines and Outwash Plains Ecological Subsection and is contained within Clearwater, Hubbard, and Becker counties.
Itasca State Park was established by the Minnesota Legislature on April 20, 1891, making it the first of Minnesota's state parks and second oldest in the United States, behind Niagara Falls State Park. Henry Schoolcraft determined Lake Itasca as the river's source in 1832. It was named as a National Natural Landmark in 1965, and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. About 500,000 people visit Itasca State Park annually.
- Type
- State park
- Established
- 1891
- Area
- 50 square miles
- Listed
- National Register of Historic Places (1973) · National Natural Landmark (1975)
- Wikipedia readers
- 11K a year
Nights near Itasca State Park
Hotels, motels or campgrounds are closest in Squaw Lake (4).
Compare 2 towns
| Town | From Itasca | Drive | Places to stay | People | Typical home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Squaw Lake | 57 mi northeast | 1.5 hr | 4 2 hotels · 2 lodges & cabins | 102 | $181K |
| Hornet Township | 53 mi northeast | 1.5 hr | 1 1 campground | 203 | $183K |
Getting there
Nearest airports with airline service
Places to add to Itasca
Pair a visit with these, within 45 miles.
45 mi
Photo credits
Lake Itasca: Tastocke, CC BY-SA 3.0 · The Big Fish: McGhiever, CC BY-SA 4.0
Good to know about Itasca
What town is Itasca State Park near?
Hornet Township, MN, about 53 miles northeast.
When is the best time to visit Itasca State Park?
June, July, August and September, with highs of 67–78°.
What is the closest airport to Itasca State Park?
Thief River Falls Regional (TVF), about 73 miles away. The nearest big hub is Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport / Wold–Chamberlain Field (MSP), about 189 miles.
Where should I stay near Itasca State Park?
Squaw Lake (57 mi, 4 places to stay).
What locals in Hornet Township say
Share what you know in Hornet Township’s Town Square.
Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · NOAA climate normals · U.S. Census.