🏍️ Overview
• Total Distance: ~200 miles round trip
• Estimated Ride Time: 5–6 hours (excluding stops)
• Road Type: Paved rural highways and scenic byways
• Start/End: Detroit Lakes, MN
• Midpoint: Lake Itasca State Park
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🗺️ Route Plan
OUTBOUND: Detroit Lakes → Lake Itasca (approx. 100 miles)
1. Start in Detroit Lakes
• Stop at Charlie’s Place
38821 MN-34
Detroit Lakes, MN
2. US-10 W → MN-34 W (to Park Rapids) – 47 miles
• Ride through Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge.
• Scenic lake views and rolling forest.
• Stop at Clancy’s Bar
26333 Icon Dr Park
Rapids, MN
3. From Park Rapids → MN-71 N → MN-200 W – 35 miles
• Ride through beautiful pine forests.
• Low traffic, winding forest roads.
4. MN-200 W → County Hwy 122 / Itasca State Park Entrance – 18 miles
• Enter via North Entrance for the quieter scenic route.
• Park and walk to the Headwaters of the Mississippi River.
🏞️ Suggested Stop at Lake Itasca
• Mississippi Headwaters
• Wilderness Drive Loop (One-way, scenic 10-mile loop around park)
• Lunch idea: Douglas Lodge Restaurant (inside the park)
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🏁 RETURN: Itasca → Detroit Lakes via Scenic Backroads (approx. 100 miles)
1. Leave via MN-113 E (through White Earth State Forest) – 40 miles
• Great sweeping turns, lots of elevation change and curves.
• Very little traffic, perfect for motorcycles.
2. MN-113 E → MN-71 S (brief stretch) → County Hwy 3 E → Frazee – 30 miles
• Ride through countryside and farmland
• Stop in Frazee for a break at Spanky’s Stone Hearth Bar & Grill
3. From Frazee → County Rd 54 / Becker Co Hwy 25 N → Detroit Lakes – 30 miles
• Leisurely cruise back into DL with lake views near the end.
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