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{Big Timbers} Lodging next to North Entrance of Itasca State Park

Escape into nature with easy access to outdoor activities. Find your haven in this cozy retreat nestled near Itasca State Park.

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Experience the perfect blend of nature and comfort at Big Timbers, located less than a 1/4 mile from Itasca State Park's North Entrance. Enjoy all the park's amenities and explore nearby Bagley, Bemidji, or Park Rapids within a 30-mile radius.

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional

Popular amenities

  • Pet-friendly
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Air-conditioning
  • Parking available

About the area

Located in Lake Itasca, this hotel is in a rural area and on the waterfront. Evergreen Gifts & Fun Park is a local attraction and the area's natural beauty can be seen at Mississippi River and Itasca State Park. Discover the area's water adventures with kayaking and power boating nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with hunting and hiking/biking trails. Visit our Lake Itasca travel guide
Map
Shevlin, MN

What's nearby

  • A forest path covered with fallen leaves.
    Itasca State Park
    3 min drive - 4.4 km
  • A calm lake surrounded by dense green forest and a clear blue sky.
    Itasca State Park
    3 min drive - 2.5 km
  • A wooden sign by a river with text about the Mississippi River's flow.
    Mississippi Headwaters
    4 min drive - 3.3 km
  • Lake Itasca
    3 min drive - 2.5 km
  • Bemidji State University
    43 min drive - 62.9 km

Getting around

  • Bemidji, MN (BJI-Bemidji Regional)
    41 min drive

Restaurants

  • Lobo's Bar and Grill
    2 min drive
  • Douglas Lodge Restaurant
    11 min drive
  • Mary Gibbs Café
    3 min drive
  • Itasca Camp Karaoke
    2 min walk
  • itasca junction cafe
    11 min drive

About this property

{Big Timbers} Lodging next to North Entrance of Itasca State Park

  • Hotel near Mississippi River
  • {Big Timbers} Lodging next to North Entrance of Itasca State Park provides everything that you need. Guests can connect to free in-room WiFi.
  • Additional perks include:
  • Barbecues and smoke-free property
  • Room features
  • All guest rooms at {Big Timbers} Lodging next to North Entrance of Itasca State Park boast comforts, such as air conditioning, in addition to
  • More amenities include:
    • Bathrooms with shower/bath combinations and hairdryers
    • Outdoor lighting, fridges and microwaves

Similar properties

Property grounds
North Beach Resort
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  • Parking included
  • Laundry room
  • Living/dining area
8.8 out of 10, Excellent, 25 reviews
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Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
  • Available in some public areas: Internet access

Outdoors

  • Barbecue grill
  • On a lake

Accessibility

  • If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • Wheelchair accessibility

More

  • Smoking not allowed

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • Bathtub or shower
  • Hair dryer
  • Soap
  • Toilet paper
  • Towels provided

Entertainment

  • Smart TV

Food and drink

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator

More

  • Air conditioning
  • Desk
  • Heating

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 4:00 PM
Contactless check-in and check-out are available
Minimum check-in age - 21

Check-out

Check-out before 11:00 AM
Contactless check-out

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

Pets

Pets are allowed
Service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees
Welcoming dogs only
1 total pets

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome

Events

Events allowed: family gatherings, birthday parties, weddings

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Important information

You need to know

This property is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business or profession.
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Cashless transactions are available
Parties and events (including family gatherings, birthday parties and weddings) are allowed on site
Safety features at this property include a carbon monoxide detector, a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector and a deadbolt lock
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation
If you cancel your booking, you'll be subject to the host's cancellation policy. In accordance with EU regulations about consumer rights, property booking services are not subject to the right of withdrawal.

Frequently asked questions

Is {Big Timbers} Lodging next to North Entrance of Itasca State Park pet-friendly?

Yes, this hotel allows dogs (limit 1 total).

How much is parking at {Big Timbers} Lodging next to North Entrance of Itasca State Park?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at {Big Timbers} Lodging next to North Entrance of Itasca State Park?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at {Big Timbers} Lodging next to North Entrance of Itasca State Park?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is {Big Timbers} Lodging next to North Entrance of Itasca State Park located?

Situated on the waterfront, this hotel is within 2 miles (3 km) of Mississippi River, Lake Itasca and Itasca State Park. Mississippi Headwaters is 1.7 mi (2.8 km) away.

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Reviews

{Big Timbers} Lodging next to North Entrance of Itasca State Park Reviews

10

Exceptional

10

Cleanliness

10

Location

9.8

Staff & service

9.8

Property conditions & facilities
Rating 10 - Excellent. 55 out of 57 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 3 out of 57 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 57 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 57 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 57 reviews

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Amanda

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
We couldn’t have picked a better place to stay, everything was very well kept and close to the amenities at the park! The ice cream shop was a hit with the kiddo!
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Julie F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Very clean and cozy spot!! Great access to Itasca State Park any time of year. Super easy check in/out, and very accommodating host. Enjoyed great meals at Lobos, bar/grill in Becida, and in Bemidji. Will definitely be back!
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Craig D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Nice, clean place to stay. It is very close to Itasca Lake north entrance. Host was very responsive.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Christian H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great stay!

This was a great place to stay over the weekend. The property was clean and nice and its location was great for a visit to Itasca State Park. Thank you!
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Mike H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The bed is wonderfully comfortable. We loved the spacious bathroom. Plenty of natural light. Great location right outside the park entrance. We recommend it!
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025
Verified review

8/10 Good

Karen W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, location, listing accuracy
Disliked: Communication

Winter weekend

It’s great place to stay….love the location …love the decor. I have stayed here in the summertime and now in the bitter cold ( -10 degrees/29 below windchill) and still had a fabulous time.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Annett P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Awesome getaway!

We had a very nice stay! Very close to Itasca State Park for hiking. Very quiet and management was awesome! Would highly recommend checking it out!!
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Joanne H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful room and perfect location

Newly built, clean, and well designed. Perfect location at entrance to Lake Itasca state park. Comfortable and pleasant. Will definitely stay here again!
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Tina F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Vacation 2023

Big Timbers was a wonderful place to stay to visit Lake Itasca and we were very comfortable here.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Gary & Beth M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect Stay

This property was a great location for visiting Itasca State Park. The room was very spacious and included everything we needed. There is pizza and ice cream available on site and a convenience store a block away.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Jack W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Vacation

Property was nice, room was clean, bed was comfortable. It is right across the road from the NorthEntrance to Itasca state park
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Heidi B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Just what we were looking for!

New, well done log home room with superb bathroom! Nice view of pine trees! Super close to all the adventures at Itasca State Park with convenience store nearby and Lobo's Restaurant down the road was amazing! Great area close to Mississippi Headwaters
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Jeromy H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely spot!!

We loved it! It was so nice being in the woods and near Itaska state park to go to during the day, but yet having a air conditioned room with a smart tv in the evening! I would highly recommend staying here. We will be back! Much better than any hotels I had seen in the area.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Mark C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Big Timbers

WE THOROUGHLY ENJOYED OUR STAY. EVERYTHING WAS PERFECT. OUR ROOM WAS CLEAN AND COMFORTABLE, AND SURPASSED OUR EXPECTATIONS.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Sheryl K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Nice place to stay

First off, Christine was very quick to answer any communication you sent her. Big Timbers was clean and welcoming. It was close to the North entrance of Itasca State Park, so we didn't have to drive to far. If we go back to that area again, we would definitely stay again.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Jack W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Itaska vacation

Our room Was right across the road from Itasca state park North entrance. There are. 2 restaurants within a short drive of the room and a convenience store located right across the road for drinks and snacks and gas and an ice cream shop. Right there at the cabin that also serves pizza.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Mary G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Homey and convenient

The room was perfect. Homey, comfortable and convenient. The amenities that were supplied were perfect and the room was so comfortable. We came to hike the state park and see the headwaters and it was so nice to come home to in the evening. I wish they were at every state park! We would definitely stay again if back in the area.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Molly K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great place

The unit was clean, modern and larger than expected. The bathroom was also very large. The bed was comfortable. It is very close to Itasca state park if that is your destination. We only used the room to sleep as we were visiting friends at a near by cabin. We rented it twice in 3 weeks and wouldn’t hesitant to book it b again.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

John L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A wonderful place, even in the off season

My wife and I (and our 16-year old dog) came. My wife and I wanted to see the headwaters of the Mississippi. Our dog, blind and deaf, just wanted to be with us. It is a great location, and we really enjoyed the flock of wild turkeys that visited. This was the last trip our dog took with us (we had to put him to sleep shortly after we returned home). I think of Big Timbers with fondness as the last really good memory of our time with the dog.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Zach G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great Log Cabin

The host was awesome and extremely responsive. They have a gift shop right beside the motel / log cabin. This was convenient as there was times I was not able to make food on the grill and I was able to pick up a pizza or hot dog. I was also able to get ice cream when I was craving some which was awesome. I highly recommend Big timbers as it is a repeat spot that my family will go to each summer!
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Karen S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, listing accuracy

One-week Fall Stay

This was a well appointed authentic Northwoods themed motel room. Brand new. Modern decor. Very comfortable. Christine, the host, was responsive and very friendly. It is obvious she and her family have taken great pride to make a first class property. We will definitely recommend it to others and stay there again.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Nicole R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Cozy, Close to Itasca

TL;DR: Overall very much enjoyed our stay and would highly recommend this comfy/cozy room! We hope to visit again soon! This is a great location for a VRBO just across the street from the north entrance of Itasca State Park, close to the headwaters. It's near a main road, but there was very minimal traffic at night. The room was easy to access and pet friendly with hardwood floors. Cozy wood interior and cabin-like decor with the amenities of a nice hotel room. The king size bed was super comfortable. Heat and A/C available for those warm/cold fall days. Microwave and mini fridge/freezer worked great! Bathroom was spacious with a nice hot shower. Nice outdoor area to take our dog out to potty. We didn't have neighbors most of our stay, but did notice the walls weren't very soundproof so could hear barking if it's happening in the room next to you. There's a little restaurant/gift shop next door with pizza, ice cream, and souvenirs.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Kevin

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Very nice place would stay again.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Betty

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, communication
Liked how close it was to Itasca State Park!
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Aaliyah S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
This place was great! We stayed during Labor Day weekend and the location is perfect. The space was clean, comfortable, and the host was quick to respond.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2025