Discover the boreal forest, Red and White pines, Paper Birch, Big-tooth Aspen, hayfields, Mississippi River, 400 lakes within a 50-mile radius, and many stores.
The Great River Road (GRR) stars in Lake Itasca State Park, Minnesota. Driving through Minnesota on the GRR takes you past the northern boreal forest, hayfields and tree farms, running along the Mississippi River. Farther south, the Big-tooth Aspen, the Red and White pines, and Paper Birch fade away as more and more farms make up the scenery.
Next you’ll travel through Bemidji on your way to Grand Rapids, traveling through the backcountry, crossing U.S. 2 two times. The road touches the shores of 6 lakes, crossing the Mississippi 8 times. There are a number of nice resorts that can’t be seen from the highway. Just remember, they won’t be luxurious, but minnows, leeches, and nightcrawlers abound for those who must fish. South of Grand
Rapids is Crosby and Aitkin (joining Route 210) ; it’s so flat you’ll swear you’re in Iowa. Keeping your eye on Ole Miss, the rural highway will bring you to wild rice country. Be sure to stay alert, as this is a spot where you’ll encounter lots of skunk, deer, raccoon, and fox crossing the road.
Seventy miles south of Grand Rapids takes you in the heart of Crosby, the center of Minnesota’s iron range, the Cuyuna. The mines are gone, but the landscape is similar to what it was like during the days of mining iron. South of Crosby is Brainerd, more populated than other towns along the road. Host to lots of recreation, Brainerd boasts over 400 lakes within a fifty-mile radius, and over 150 campgrounds or resorts. It’s here that you’ll be glad to be back to the rural parts of GRR after being assaulted by pawn shops, discount stores, and empty storefronts along Route 210. South of Brainerd, you reach Route 371. Don’t fail to spot the statue of Paul Bunyan’s Blue Ox Babe at Route 371 and Route 210 on your way to Little Falls and Crow Wing State Park. Once again, the terrain is usually flat, filled with corn, and devoid of the Mississippi.
Finally, if you want to speed up things and get off the GRR, you can opt to drive U.S. 10 or I-94 here, on your way to Monticello and St. Cloud. An industrial and commercial center, St. Cloud resembles middle America with its suburbs. The GRR follows 9th Avenue through St. Cloud before traversing along Route 75. Once you’re past I-94 and traffic, you can once more pick up a rural road to return to a country environmeny.
Starting Point:
Lake Itasca State Park, MN
Distance of Drive:
183 miles
Must Eat:
Sawmill Inn
601 Washington St., Brainerd, MN 56401
Phone: 218-829-5444
Call ahead to confirm hours of operation.
Good Stop For: Great Omelettes
Best Time of Year for Drive:
Autumn and summer are both beautiful seasons for this drive on the Minnesota portion of the Great River Road. During the fall, there are all kinds of festivals, including Oktoberfests, and in summer there are plenty of fish fries, and a Blueberry Festival in Lake George the last weekend of July.
Points of Interest on Drive:
Crow Wing State Park and Little Falls
Mississippi River
Statue of Paul Bunyan’s Blue Ox Babe
Tagged with: forest • Minnesota
Filed under: Best Road Trips