Location Guide
Merrifield The Countryside Between Brainerd and the Lakes
Merrifield is the unincorporated community that grew up at the north end of North Long Lake and along the Paul Bunyan State Trail, about 9 miles north of Brainerd. It offers countryside living with Gull Lake and the big lakes minutes away.
Merrifield at a Glance
County
Crow Wing County
Community
Unincorporated community; part of Lake Edward Township (ZIP 56465)
From Brainerd
About 8 to 9 miles north, roughly 15 minutes
From the Twin Cities
About 142 miles, roughly 2 to 2.5 hours
Schools
Brainerd Public Schools (ISD 181)
About Merrifield
Merrifield began as a stop on the railroad line north of Brainerd, named for the veterinarian who settled here in the 1890s, and it still functions as the countryside community of the Lakes Area. The post office has operated since 1899, and the intersection at County Road 3 and Highway 25 remains the workaday heart of the neighborhood.
The community's position is its superpower: minutes from the north end of North Long Lake, Gull Lake's southeast shore, and the trail, with Brainerd and Baxter a short drive for anything you need. Buyers here get the quiet, the space, and the lake access, with the least driving of any rural option in the region.
Key Facts
The essentials that shape daily life, the housing market, and the resale picture in this community.
About 9 miles north of Brainerd
North Long Lake and Gull Lake nearby
Paul Bunyan State Trail runs through the community
Crystal Lake nature pier and paddle sports
Countryside living with city services close
The Water
Merrifield is the rural crossroads north of Brainerd where county roads meet the trail and the big lakes. Residents get a countryside pace, a general store, and a post office, with Brainerd's services 15 minutes south and North Long Lake and Gull Lake all around.
Lakes and Waterways
Life Here Year-Round
The Paul Bunyan State Trail runs right through the community, making it a natural base for biking and winter sports. North Long Lake, Lake Edward, and Gull Lake deliver boating and ice fishing through the seasons, and the Merrifield Nature Pier on Crystal Lake offers kayak and paddleboard access, all while Brainerd's hospital, shops, and airport sit 15 minutes away.
Buying in Merrifield
What buyers should understand before buying or selling in this community, and how it fits the bigger lake-market picture.
Compare Other CommunitiesMerrifield is the most convenient countryside option in the area, about 15 minutes from Brainerd's services.
North Long Lake, one of the area's biggest lakes, is minutes away, with Gull Lake and Lake Edward close too.
Housing runs from lakefront on the bigger lakes to affordable acreage and manufactured-home parks off the water.
The trail and the nature pier make it one of the more active rural communities.
Questions Buyers Ask About Merrifield
Is Merrifield a town?
It is an unincorporated community, no city hall, but very much a place: a post office, businesses, the trail, and a strong local identity, in Lake Edward Township north of Brainerd.
What lakes are near Merrifield?
North Long Lake is the closest big water, with Gull Lake, Lake Edward, and dozens of smaller lakes all within a few minutes, plus Crystal Lake for paddle sports.
How close is Merrifield to Brainerd?
About 8 to 9 miles, roughly 15 minutes, which makes it one of the easiest countryside commutes in the Lakes Area.
Why buy in Merrifield instead of Brainerd or Baxter?
For space, privacy, and lake access with the same schools and services 15 minutes away, often at a lower price than in-town property.
Life Around Merrifield
Paul Bunyan State Trail
Roughly 120 miles of paved trail running through the community.
North Long Lake
A large, popular lake with miles of sandy shoreline.
Merrifield Nature Pier
Kayak, paddleboard, and canoe access on Crystal Lake.
Gull Lake
The region's premier lake minutes to the east.
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