I Stayed At The Historic Douglas Lodge At Itasca State Park In Minnesota And It Was Truly Unique

I recently traveled to Itasca State Park as part of a spontaneous road trip through Minnesota. Rather then camping, as I usually do, I was able to score a reservation at the one of the only hotel-style lodges (the others are also at Itasca) in the entire state park system. My stay at Douglas Lodge at Itasca State Park in Minnesota was not only unique, it was quite pleasant. In fact, when visiting Itasca, I may never camp again.

Douglas Lodge is a classic Northwoods-style retreat that was built in 1905.

Constructed from massive logs, the lodge is open seasonally from Memorial Day weekend through the first Sunday in October.

I arrived in on the first weekend in June, which is probably how I was able to get a last-minute reservation.

The main floor consists of a cozy common area with an incredible stone fireplace and plenty of comfy seating.

I was fascinated by all the nooks and crannies with historical information about the park and artifacts from its early days.

The main entrance opens to the stairway that leads to the lodge's seven guest rooms. Unfortunately, there is no elevator.

There is a small restaurant to the right, as you enter, but it was only open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. when I stayed. Because I was arriving later than 5:00, I stopped in Park Rapids and had dinner at Y Steak House. (Strong recommend!)

Of the seven rooms, there are four singles and three doubles.

The latter have two double beds, sleep four, and have en suite bathrooms. The double room rates were $145 per night when I visited.

I booked a single room. The base rate was $85; after taxes and the reservation fee, the total was still less than $100.

The singles sleep up to two people and share two-and-half bathrooms (i.e., two have showers) among them. It worked out really well, though: I never had to wait for one during my stay.

Although it was a little small, the room was comfortable.

I really loved the chairs!

From my window, I enjoyed a sliver of view of Lake Itasca through the late spring foliage.

In the morning, it was time to explore. Itasca is the oldest state park in Minnesota - and one of the first in the U.S.

At more than 30,000 acres, it's also the second largest (behind St. Croix State Park).

Its chief claim to fame, of course, is the headwaters of the Mississippi River.

The river is only a few feet wide here as it leaves Lake Itasca and begins its journey of more than 2,500 miles to the Gulf of Mexico. It's a pretty amazing and humbling place to visit, and I was lucky to have it to myself (it was early) when I was there. Although I've visited before, I will definitely remember this time.

The other big draw (for me, anyway) that Itasca offers is large stands of virgin white and red pine trees - some of the largest in the state.

I enjoyed several hours of peaceful hiking and tree bathing in this incredible Northwoods setting before I had to move on to my next destination.

If you've never visited Itasca State Park, it should definitely be on your Minnesota bucket list. I'm amazed every time I go. And I suppose I should restate my previous pronouncement - I may never camp again when visiting Itasca if I can score a reservation. As there are only seven rooms in the seasonal , they can be difficult to book. In addition to excellent campgrounds, Itasca does offer a few other (albeit limited) lodging options that you won't find in other Minnesota State Parks. Don't fret, though! If you can't book something right in the park, there are plenty of fantastic vacation rentals in the area. One of my favorites is this affordable rental cabin in the woods. It's cozy and closer to Itasca State Park than either Park Rapids or Bemidji.

Have you ever stayed at Douglas Lodge at Itasca State Park in Minnesota? Tell us about your experience in the comments.