Auto Club Park park
Auto Club Park
One of the top attractions at Auto Club Park is the Paul Bunyan Trail, a 120-mile recreational trail that runs from Brainerd to Bemidji. The trail is perfect for hiking, biking, and snowmobiling, and it offers stunning views of the nearby lakes and forests. Another popular attraction is the Gull Lake Recreation Area, which features a sandy beach, fishing piers, and a boat launch.
Visitors to Auto Club Park can also explore the nearby towns of Brainerd and Nisswa, both of which offer charming shops, restaurants, and museums. The areas are rich in history, and visitors can learn about the region's logging and railroad industries at the Crow Wing County Historical Society Museum.
Interesting facts about Auto Club Park include its original name, which was "Round Lake State Park," and the fact that it is one of the oldest parks in Minnesota, with a history dating back to the 1930s. The park was renovated in the 1990s and renamed Auto Club Park after a partnership with the AAA Minnesota/Iowa Auto Club.
The best time of year to visit Auto Club Park depends on the visitor's interests. Summer is ideal for outdoor activities like swimming and boating, while fall offers stunning foliage views and great hiking weather. Winter is perfect for snowmobiling and cross-country skiing, and spring offers great fishing opportunities.
Overall, Auto Club Park is a beautiful and diverse destination that offers something for everyone. Whether you're looking for outdoor adventure, historical exploration, or simply a peaceful place to relax, this park is definitely worth a visit.
Park & land designation reference
A quick legend for the federal and state land categories Snoflo tracks. Each designation comes with different rules around access, recreation, and resource extraction.
- National Park
- Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
- State Park
- Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
- Local Park
- Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
- Wilderness Area
- The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized motorized access permitted.
- National Recreation Area
- Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing, often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes); may allow more development.
- National Conservation Area (BLM)
- BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
- State Forest
- State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
- Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
- Vast federal lands managed for mixed use -- recreation, grazing, mining, conservation -- with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
Plan your visit down to the hour
Same weather feed Snoflo's iOS app uses -- updated continuously from NOAA / yr.no.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Area campgrounds
Snoflo-tracked campgrounds within reach of Auto Club Park, with reservations status.
| Campground | Reservations | Toilets | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cleary Lake Regional Park | ✗ | ✓ | → |
| Lebanon Hills Regional Park | ✗ | ✗ | → |
| Lebanon Hills Campground | ✓ | ✓ | → |
| Lake Auburn Campground | ✗ | ✓ | → |
| Carver Park Reserve | ✗ | ✗ | → |
| Kestrel | ✗ | ✗ | → |
Plan a longer trip
The closest parks, lakes, fishing spots, and POIs so a park visit can grow into a full weekend.
Responsible recreation & Leave No Trace
- Know before you go
- Check the operator's site for hours, permit requirements, seasonal closures, and fire restrictions before heading out.
- Stay on trail
- Stick to marked paths to protect vegetation, prevent erosion, and avoid disturbing wildlife habitat.
- Respect wildlife
- Observe from a distance, never feed wildlife, and store food securely if camping is permitted on-site.
- Pack it in, pack it out
- Carry out all trash, food scraps, and gear. Many parks have limited or no trash service.
- Leave what you find
- Don't take rocks, plants, or artifacts. They make the park what it is for the next visitor.
Set push alerts in the Snoflo app
Save Auto Club Park as a favorite, set a custom threshold (precipitation, freezing temperatures, fire-restriction days), and the iOS app will push the moment conditions cross.
About Auto Club Park
What can I do at Auto Club Park?
Most Snoflo-tracked parks support hiking, picnicking, and wildlife viewing. Check the operator's site for activity-specific rules (camping, fishing, paddling, hunting).
How fresh is the weather data?
The hourly forecast updates throughout the day from NOAA / yr.no. Streamflow comes live from USGS streamgauges.
When is the best time to visit?
Use the 15-day temperature & precipitation outlook on this page to plan -- pick a window with comfortable temperatures and low precipitation.
How do I get to Auto Club Park?
Tap Directions in the hero above to open driving directions in Google Maps, or Open in map to center the Snoflo interactive map on the park.
Can I get alerts when conditions change?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this park, set a threshold (temperature, precipitation), and you'll get a push the moment it crosses.
Other parks near here
Snoflo-tracked parks within driving distance of Auto Club Park.