Forty percent of the land area at Voyageurs National Park in Minnesota is covered by water. So, getting to the one in-park lodge option or practically any of the frontcountry and backcountry campgrounds is going to take a boat. Speaking of boats, you can even take all the comforts of home with you while exploring the national park by renting a houseboat!

Lodging

Kettle Falls Hotel, Voyageurs National Park / NPS-Billy Flynn

The only in-park, concession-operated lodging available in the park is at Kettle Falls Hotel. Remotely located on the far eastern side of the Kabetogama Peninsula, it is approximately 15 miles from the nearest road and is only accessible by water. If you do not have a watercraft of your own, you can arrange a shuttle service with your hotel reservation.

Open seasonally May – September, hotel rooms and villas are offered, ranging between $70 - $390 per night for 2025 (not including taxes). The villa units require a three-night minimum stay.

Traveler’s Note: The prices listed on the hotel’s website page appear to be the same as the 2017-2018 prices listed on the hotel’s PDF brochure, so you should call 218-240-1724 or 218-240-1726 during the summer, or 218-875-2070 October – April to confirm pricing.

The following local community websites offer lodging/RV camping options:

• International Falls/Ranier
• Kabetogama Lake
• Ash River
• Crane Lake
• Orr/Pelican Lake
• Fort Frances, ONT (Canada)

Camping

With the exception of two mainland campsites, the remainder of frontcountry campsites are accessible only by boat at Voyageurs National Park / NPS file

There are two primitive hike-in campsites along the Kab-Ash Trail that do not require a boat to reach. Aside from those two sites, you will need watercraft to access frontcountry and backcountry campgrounds in Voyageurs National Park.

Prefer a campground you can drive a car or RV to? The links below to local public campgrounds and the community links above also offer other camping choices suitable for RVs.

Public Campgrounds

In the Kabetogama and Ash River area, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) offers two nearby facilities:

• Woodenfrog State Forest Campground (Kabetogama)
• Ash River State Forest Campground (Ash River)

In the Rainy Lake area, the City of International Falls offers a small campground:

• City Beach Campground

In the Crane Lake area, the Superior National Forest offers camping and cabins.

Houseboat Rentals

Kempton Bay South via houseboat, Voyageurs National Park / NPS file

For a totally unique perspective of being able to explore the water and islands of Voyageurs National Park while bring along the comforts of home, how about renting a houseboat? The park does not rent houseboats, but there are commercial options in the gateway communities for houseboat rentals. Follow these links to view houseboat rental companies that serve the Rainy Lake district of the park and the Namakan district of the park (located in the Ash River area and beyond the southern end of the park at Crane Lake).

Backcountry Camping

Experience the solitude and remote, rugged, wild backcountry of Voyageurs National Park with 14 backcountry campsites located along the Kabetogama Peninsula within the park. All require travel by water from any mainland boat launch to access the trailheads that lead to them. 

A map of campsites in the backcountry, Voyageurs National Park / NPS file

The park does not rent watercraft, but you can check with local businesses that offer water taxi service to and from the trailheads, as well as a variety of boat rentals, from canoes and kayaks to fishing boats and pontoons.

A camping permit is required through recreation.gov.