It's possible that you've never noticed it, but a certain Minnesota rest area has to be one of the most beautiful in the entire country. I understand that glancing down at the photos, you may be thinking, "Tettegouche State Park?! On the North Shore? Of course I've noticed that!" I'm sure you have, but did you know that the park's visitor center and adjacent parking lots also comprise a MnDOT Class 1 safety rest area? That's the news here: One of the most beautiful parts of one of the state's most beautiful parks is a totally free rest area that you can visit and explore without a Minnesota State Park pass.

Tettegouche State Park was the first in a partnership between the state park system and MnDOT to develop rest areas in portions of state parks.

The program started in the mid-1980s. Since then, rest areas have also been added at Grand Portage State Park and Gooseberry Falls State Park.

But Tettegouche, with its 11,000 square-foot, fully accessible visitor center, remains the flagship.

It's home to a fascinating interpretive center and nature store, as well as the headquarters for three state parks: Tettegouche, George Crosby Manitou, and Temperance River.

The center also offers plenty of comfortable places to relax, as well as seasonal equipment rentals.

As a rest area, the facility is open 24 hours per day throughout the year.

As with any major rest area, you'll find restrooms, vending machines, drinking water, and travel information.

But what makes this rest area in Minnesota so impressive is its location.

Walk around to the back, and enjoy sweeping views of Lake Superior.

Stretch your legs on a short hike through the North Woods.

​​This easy 1.2-mile out and back trail is just about the right length to get your blood pumping without being tiring.

The trail takes you out along Shovel Point on the rugged shoreline.

Enjoy incredible panoramas from a boardwalk overlook at the tip of the point.

From there, you can see Palisade Head and several of the sea caves that pock this part of the North Shore.

The famous Tettegouche sea stack (formerly a sea arch) is also located in this part of the park.

Stroll down to the pebble beach at the mouth of the Baptism River and relax for a while.

And after you've explored this incredible Minnesota rest area, you can head back up to your car and continue on your journey.

So, next time you pack up the car for a road trip along the gorgeous North Shore of Lake Superior, be sure to make a pit stop at this impressive Minnesota rest area. I almost always do, and I think you'd be missing out if you didn't.

Did you know that the Tettegouche State Park visitor center was also a MnDOT rest area? Have you stopped here? Let us know in the comments!