Location Guide
Staples Railroad Town with Strong Lake Country
Staples is a railroad town on the Todd and Wadena county line with a historic depot, strong schools, and lake country at its edge: Dower Lake, Fish Trap Lake, and Lake Alexander are all minutes away.
Staples at a Glance
County
Todd and Wadena counties
Community
2,989 (2020 census)
From Brainerd
About 28 to 30 miles, roughly 37 to 40 minutes
From the Twin Cities
About 133 to 143 miles, roughly 2.5 hours
Schools
Staples-Motley Schools (ISD 2170)
About Staples
Staples grew up as a railroad town where the Northern Pacific and the Burlington lines crossed, and the restored depot still stands as the centerpiece of a downtown that has kept its independent character. Today the town combines railroad history, a college campus, and some of the region's better fishing lakes within a few miles.
Dower Lake Recreation Area puts fishing at the edge of town, Fish Trap Lake offers more quiet water minutes away, and Lake Alexander carries a serious walleye reputation. For buyers, Staples means full small-city services, strong schools, and close lake access at prices well below the resort towns to the north.
Key Facts
The essentials that shape daily life, the housing market, and the resale picture in this community.
Historic railroad town with a restored depot
Dower Lake Recreation Area with the state's longest fishing pier
Fish Trap Lake and Lake Alexander nearby
Staples-Motley schools and Central Lakes College campus
Living Legacy Gardens and the barn quilt tour
The Water
Staples is a working town with a railroad heart and a surprising amount of recreation at its edges. Dower Lake sits right in town, Fish Trap Lake and Lake Alexander lie minutes west, and the historic depot anchors a downtown that keeps its character.
Lakes and Waterways
Life Here Year-Round
Dower Lake Recreation Area, with Minnesota's longest fishing pier, operates year-round from open-water fishing to the ice season. Lake Alexander, a roughly 2,660-acre walleye lake, and Fish Trap Lake draw boaters and anglers from across the region, and Living Legacy Gardens, the historic depot, and the Staples-Motley schools and Central Lakes College campus keep the town busy through all four seasons.
Buying in Staples
What buyers should understand before buying or selling in this community, and how it fits the bigger lake-market picture.
Compare Other CommunitiesStaples offers the most complete small-city package on the west side of the region: schools, college, hospital area, and retail.
Dower Lake, Fish Trap, and Lake Alexander give genuine lake living within minutes of town.
Housing prices are among the most approachable in the region.
Brainerd is about 40 minutes east for anything the town does not have.
Questions Buyers Ask About Staples
What is Staples known for?
The railroad depot that made it, Dower Lake's famous long fishing pier, the Living Legacy Gardens, and a strong school system serving the Staples-Motley area.
Is Staples lake country?
Yes. Dower Lake is in town, Fish Trap Lake is minutes west, and Lake Alexander, a premier central Minnesota walleye lake, is close by.
What schools serve Staples?
Staples-Motley Schools (ISD 2170), plus a Central Lakes College campus in town.
How far is Staples from Brainerd?
About 28 to 30 miles, roughly 37 to 40 minutes on Highway 210, with the Twin Cities about 2.5 hours away.
Life Around Staples
Dower Lake Recreation Area
Minnesota's longest fishing pier right at the edge of town.
Lake Alexander
A roughly 2,660-acre walleye lake minutes west.
Staples Historic Depot
Restored railroad history in the heart of downtown.
Living Legacy Gardens
Ten acres of gardens and trails.
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