North Star
North Star Campground is located 4 miles south of Marcell and 25 miles north of Grand Rapids on MN State Highway 38. There are 38 campsites located within easy walking distance of the sandy swimming beach. The lake has many sheltered bays and inlets to provide quiet water for ideal fishing.
More like this: reservable in Minnesota · big rigs in Minnesota · pets allowed in Minnesota
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 38 |
| Host/management | 1 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 82 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
32 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | Water / sewer | People / vehicles | Fires | Accessible |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Gravel | – / 2 | |||||
| 02 | 75 | Gravel | – / 2 | ||||
| 03 | 75 | Gravel | – / 2 | ||||
| 04 | Gravel | – / 2 | |||||
| 05 | 80 | Gravel | – / 2 | ||||
| 06 | Gravel | – / 2 | |||||
| 07 | Gravel | – / 2 | |||||
| 08 | Gravel | – / 2 | |||||
| 10 | 60 | ||||||
| 11 | 82 |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | None |
| Max vehicle length | 100 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
| Accessibility | Sites 22, 23, 24, 25 and 13 more are listed accessible |
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Closed for the season. Forest Service sites close for the season; check the official page for the reopening date. |
| Forest | Chippewa National Forest |
| Booking | No reservations required. |
| Fees | Use Fee/ $14 Night |
Weather by month
Getting there
| Nearest town | Grand Rapids, Minnesota |
| Coordinates | 47.5569° N, 93.6523° W · Directions ↗ |
Supplies & services
| Outdoor gear | Wildlands Gear Exchange ↗ | 23 mi |
| RV sales & service | Lake Country RV ↗ | 54.6 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Trails nearby
- 2.4 miMarcell North Snowmobile Trail ↗14.2 mi trail · snowmobile, snowshoe, ski
- 2.4 miMarcell South Snowmobile Trail ↗10.2 mi trail · snowmobile, snowshoe, ski
- 3.4 miCrooked/No Mans Portage0.1 mi trail · hiking
- 3.6 miCrooked/Three Island Portage0.3 mi trail · hiking
- 3.8 miSuomi Snowmobile Trail ↗17.1 mi trail · snowmobile, snowshoe, ski
- 3.9 miLaurentian Divide Interpretive0.6 mi trail · hiking
Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.
Public land it sits in
This campground sits inside Chippewa National Forest.
- inChippewa National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,598,139 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Scenic State Park CCC/Rustic Style Service YardHistoric district · Bigfork · 11 mi
- Bigfork Village HallBuilding · Bigfork · 13.1 mi
Guidebooks for Minnesota
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at North Star?
Sites at North Star are reservable on Recreation.gov. No reservations required. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at North Star?
Use Fee/ $14 Night
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at North Star?
Check-in 02:00 PM, checkout 01:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is North Star open right now?
Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does North Star have?
39 sites, including 38 standard sites without power.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at North Star?
Recreation.gov lists no practical vehicle capacity limit for the largest site here, which usually means pull-through or open parking. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.
Source: Will my RV fit
Are pets allowed at North Star?
Yes, pets are allowed at North Star. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at North Star?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there accessible sites at North Star?
Sites 22, 23, 24, and 25 are listed accessible on Recreation.gov, 17 sites in all. What that covers (a paved pad, an accessible table, a nearby accessible restroom) is on each site's booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is there cell service at North Star?
FCC coverage maps show Verizon 4G LTE and AT&T 5G at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
What is the nearest town to North Star?
Grand Rapids, Minnesota.
Source: Getting there
What if North Star is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Clubhouse Lake (5.1 mi, partly first-come), Onegume (18.5 mi), and Mosomo Point (18.7 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby