Part of Chippewa National Forest
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.
!! NEW FOR 2026 !!
Sites 22-38 will be reservable through recreation.gov from 7/3/2026 to the evening of 9/6/26. Sites 1-21 will remain first-come first-served. When there is no reservation for a site, the site is considered first-come first-served. Reservations will be posted 4 days in advance.
Fee includes one camping unit per site. Double occupancy is not permitted on single unit sites; on large sites double occupancy is permitted. The second occupant must pay the full nightly amount for each night of stay by using a fee envelope at the entrance kiosk. Please read the fee board upon entering the campground to see what qualifies for single and double occupancy. Vehicles and/or trailers must not block any part of roadways or gates at any time.
Some important campground rules:
- Quiet hours are from 10pm – 6am. Generators cannot be run during this time. If you have a medical condition that requires powered equipment, please plan accordingly with battery backup.
- Pets are welcome but must remain on a leash 6' or shorter in length at all times. Pets are not allowed in beach areas.
- Campfires cannot be left unattended. They must be extinguished before the campsite is vacated.
- Fireworks, including sparklers, are not allowed.
- Cutting/damaging live vegetation is not allowed. You may gather dead and downed wood for campfires if it fits within the fire ring.
- The use of power saws, including electric chainsaws, is strictly prohibited.
All regulations are found under 36 CFR 261 and are punishable by fines.
Northern Minnesota is home to black bears. Campers must keep coolers and other bear attractants locked inside hard-sided campers or in vehicles when not attended, including overnight. Black bears are present and active within the campground area. Feeding any wildlife, including hanging bird feeders, is strictly prohibited.
NEW FOR 2025: Chippewa National Forest Campground Food Storage Order
Bundled firewood is no longer available in Chippewa National Forest campgrounds. Firewood may be available for sale at local vendors, or may be brought from home if within Itasca County. You may also cut dead and downed wood in the forest without a permit as long as it will be used in the campground. Chainsaw use (gas and electric) is not permitted in the campground.
Don't move firewood: To limit the spread of invasive tree-killing pests, firewood from outside the area is not permitted. Some states have quarantines and may confiscate your firewood. Please help protect our forests from invasive species by obtaining your firewood at or near your camping destination and burning it on-site. Visit dontmovefirewood.org for more information.
Click here for more information on the Chippewa National Forest.
!! New for 2026 !! Campers will now be able to reserve sites #22-38 from July 3rd, 2026 to September 6th, 2026. Reservations will become available on Recreation.gov on a rolling basis on January 3, 2026.
Phone: N/A
46891 State Hwy 38