13 Minnesota Camper Cabins to Enjoy the Outdoors Year-Round (2023)
Are you looking for some of the best Minnesota camper cabins to get out and enjoy the great outdoors this summer?
Camper cabins are small, rustic buildings that are typically found in state parks or wilderness areas and are perfect as a home base for exploring.
With limited amenities, you can really escape everyday life and enjoy living out in the wild for a few nights.
Minnesota has tons of these small cabins scattered around the state, specifically in the amazing state parks throughout.
I’ve lived here in Minnesota for my entire life and love camping and exploring my home state!
So if you’re looking for the perfect weekend getaway, I’m going to tell you all about where to go to experience these for yourself!
Best Minnesota Camper Cabins
If you’re looking for some great camper cabins in MN, these are the best places to go to find them!
1. Afton State Park
Location: Hastings
Open Season: Year-Round
Afton State Park has long been a favorite park for many Minnesotans, as it features beautfiul views of the St. Croix River Valley.
With campgrounds along the river, hiking trails scattered around, and a fantastic ski resort nearby, it’s beloved by many.
Whether you’re sitting back and relaxing along the riverbanks or wandering the trails, your time at Afton State Park will be enjoyable.
For your stay, reserve one of the four Afton State Park cabins that are open year-round and found near the group camps. They all have electricity and heat.
Aside from these, you can also find two yurts which don’t have electricity but are available year-round, as well as a wall tent that is only reservable in the summer.
With all of these options, it’ll be easy to find somewhere to stay within the park to explore.
2. Lake Carlos State Park
Location: Carlos
Open Season: Year-Round
Found just otuside of Alexandria off of Interstate 94, is Lake Carlos State Park.
A large chain of lakes connects Lake Carlos to Lake Le Homme Dieu, Lake Darling, Lake Geneva, and more.
Carlos is also home to Carlos Creek Winery, one of the best wineries in the state of Minnesota.
You can reserve a stay at one of the 4 camper cabins that are available year-round for guests to use.
All of the cabins have electricity and heat, as well as as screened-in porch to sit and enjoy the sounds and sights of nature.
One of the cabins can sleep 5 and is wheelchair accessible, while the other cabins can sleep 6 and are not accessible.
Showers and flush toilets are found in the campgrounds as well as the visitor center, but vault toilets are available in the winter months.
3. Bear Head Lake State Park
Location: Ely
Open Season: Year-Round
In the forested outskirts of Ely, you’ll find Bear Head Lake State Park, located on its namesake lake, Bear Head Lake.
This beautiful park offers serene opportunities to experience time on the water without crowds that you might find at other parks.
It also puts you within close distance to many of the other great lakes that surround the area.
Five total camper cabins are available for use, all of which are open year-round and have heat and electricity to make your stay more comfortable.
Two of the cabins are accessible and can sleep 5 people, while the other three can sleep 6 people and are not accessible. All are found within the campground.
4. Savanna Portage State Park
Location: McGregor
Open Season: Year-Round
Located near McGregor near Little Savanna Lake and not too far from Grand Rapids, is Savanna Portage State Park.
This lesser-known and lesser-visited park offers hiking trails, a swimming beach, plenty of places to snowmobile in the winter, and fishing in the lakes.
There is only one cabin available here, and it’s open for use year-round, but only on select days during the winter.
Although it is open year-round, there is no electricity or heat in the cabin, so you’ll need to pack enough clothes and sleeping bags to stay warm.
There are showers and flush toilets available in the summer months, and vault toilets year-round found scattered throughout the park.
5. Tettegouche State Park
Location: Silver Bay
Open Season: Year-Round
Tettegouche State Park is a favorite place for myself and many other people in the state of Minnesota.
Located along the rugged shores of Lake Superior’s North Shore, this park offers some of the most remarkable views and hiking trails in the state.
You simply won’t be able to get enough of the views, so it’s best to stay in one of the four rustic cabins available.
Now, these cabins are a bit different, as you’ll need to hike about 3.5 miles to reach them, so they’re best suited for backpackers.
But once you’ve made it, you’ll have peace and the sounds of nature will feel serene.
If you have the ability, I really recommend checking out these year-round cabins, which include a woodstove and firewood, as well as a small cookstove and other must-have items.
A shower building with toilets is also available near these rugged Minnesota camper cabins.
6. Lake Shetek State Park
Location: Currie
Open Season: Year-Round
Found down in Southwest Minnesota, Lake Shetek State Park is a lesser visited park, and therefore will have fewer crowds than many of the others.
Enjoy bicycle trails around the lakes in the area, including Smith Lake and Lake Shetek. Many people enjoy fishing on the lakes as well.
You’ll find four year-round camper cabins within the campground at Lake Shetek State Park.
Cabins C2 and C3 are both wheelchair accessible and sleep up to 5.
On the otherhand cabin C1 only sleeps 5 but is not accessible, and cabin C4 can sleep up to 4 people.
There are a few specifications for when the cabins are open, as they’re only availbale Thursday through Sunday from November to March.
But during the summer, April to October, you can use them any day of the week.
7. Whitetail Woods Camper Cabins
Location: Farmington
Open Season: Year-Round
Unlike all of the other camper cabins in Minnesota that I’ve told you about so far, these ones are not found in a state park!
The Whitetail Woods Camper Cabins are found in Whitetail Woods Regional Park in Farmington, just south of Minneapolis.
Five year-round cabins are available for you to reserve online and enjoy the sounds and sights of nature in Farmington.
Three of the cabins are original and are situated above the ground with an accessible entry. The other two are newer and offer views of the Vermillion River Valley.
Each cabin features bunk beds, a table and chairs, Adirondack deck chairs, electricity, heat, an outdoor picnic table, a fire ring, and more.
All of them offer easy access to Whitetail Woods Regional Park, which features hiking trails, sweeping views of the rolling hills, and a sledding hill in the winter months.
8. Mille Lacs Kathio State Park
Location: Onamia
Open Season: Year-Round
Situated just off of the coast of the southern shores of Mille Lacs Lake, Mille Lacs Kathio State Park is a beautiful park with plenty to do.
Enjoy climbing the 100-foot observation tower, wandering around on the hiking trails, swimming at the beach, or even heading out onto the lake for some fishing.
You can visit the park year-round by staying in one of their five camper cabins, each of which have electricity and heat.
One of the cabins is wheelchair accessible and sleeps 5 people, while the other four cabins can sleep up to 6 people.
Showers and toilets can be found in the Petaga Campground and are available in the summer, while vault toilets are available year-round.
Visiting Mille Lacs Kathio State Park is only a 90 minute drive from Minneapolis, so it’s the perfect weekend getaway from the Twin Cities!
9. William O’Brien State Park
Location: Marine on St. Croix
Open Season: Year-Round
This beautiful park is located along one of the most beautiful areas of the state, the St. Croix River Valley, in Marine on St. Croix.
William O’Brien State Park offers beautiful views of the rolling hills surrounding the river, gorgeous foliage during the fall months, and roaming wildlife.
If you’re looking for somewhere to stay in nature, you can plan a visit to one of their four camper cabins in Minnesota.
Two of the cabins (Marine Mills & Vasa) are accessible and are available year-round with heat and electricity.
Otisville is another cabin that is also available year-round but is not accessible, and can sleep up to 6 people.
Lastly, Copas is only available from April through October because it doesn’t have any heat or electricity. The cabin sleeps 5 people.
10. Blue Mounds State Park
Location: Luverne
Open Season: Summer
If you’re looking for a place to stay outdoors in Southern Minnesota, then Blue Mounds State Park is the place to be!
This unique park is one of the only places in Minnesota to see wild bison, prickly pear cactuses, and towering sandstone cliffs.
It has amazing hiking trails to see all of the beautiful views that the park has, and lots to learn about the history of the park.
The cabins here are a bit different than the other Minnesota camper cabins that are found in other state parks.
What you’ll find here are two tall canvas tipis which can sleep up to 6 people.
These tipis offer a unique place to stay during your visit, and also have a picnic table and fire ring outside of the tent.
Nearby you’ll find toilets and water, which are available seasonally.
11. Baker Park Reserve
Location: Maple Plain
Open Season: Summer
Located just a short 20-minute drive from Minneapolis, Baker Park Reserve has a few cabins available to rent.
The cabins are found within the campground at Baker Park Reserve and there are five of them available.
Each has a screened-in porch, electricity, heat, bunk beds with mattresses, tables, and benches, so all of the basic essentials that you’ll need.
Along with all of the amenities inside, you can find a picnic table and a fire ring outside of the cabin to enjoy the outdoors. Plus, showers and bathrooms are found nearby.
During your stay at Baker Park Reserve, you can take advantage of the park’s bike and watercraft rentals, which can be used on Lake Independence.
You can also visit the swimming beach, fishing piers, or launch your boat into the water.
12. Jay Cooke State Park
Location: Carlton
Open Season: Year-Round
As the start of the North Shore, as it winds its way up Lake Superior, Jay Cooke State Park is one of the most beautiful parks near Duluth.
It’s home to waterfalls, hiking trails, a swinging bridge, beautiful river views, and the start of the Superior Hiking Trail.
There are five Minnesota camper cabins here, available year-round, all of which have heat, electricity, and a screened porch to relax on and get away from the bugs.
Showers and flush toilets are available in the campground and near the visitor center. There also are year-round vault toilets throughout the park.
The cabins are located just a short distance from the visitor center and are near the campground.
13. Wild River State Park
Location: Center City
Open Season: Year-Round
Located just off of the St. Croix River, this state park offers plenty of hiking, kayaking, paddle boarding, and more exploring.
Whether you’re hoping to visit during the middle of the summer or the dead of winter, you can enjoy their 6 camper cabins in MN.
The cabins here are rustic but all 6 have electricity and heat to keep warm during the winter and sheltered from the cold.
Out of the cabins, 4 of them can sleep up to 6 people, while the others are accessible and can accommodate 5 people.
There are also seasonal showers and flush toilets within the campground, and year-round vault toilets as well.
During your stay, spend plenty of time exploring the trails along the St. Croix River valley, whether it be hiking in the summer or snowshoeing in the winter.
What is a Camper Cabin?
Camper cabins are small, rustic accommodations typically found in state parks or outdoor recreational areas.
They typically have very limited amenities, sometimes only the building and a fire pit to cook your meals over.
But others have screened porches, heat, and electricity, so you can stay in the shelter without giving up your basic everyday amenities.
Camper cabins also don’t have plumbing or running water, but you can usually find it at state park visitor centers or campgrounds.
They offer a great experience to get out into nature and disconnect from everyday life.
FAQs
There are 29 state parks (out of 66) that have camper cabins to stay in. A few included on this list are Afton State Park, Tettegouche State Park, Mille Lacs Kathio State Park, and Bear Head Lake State Park.
Yes, you typically will need to reserve a camper cabin. In Minnesota state parks, you can reserve them up to 120 days in advance online.
Some state parks fill up faster than others, but it’s recommended to book your camper cabin at least 2 months in advance to get the best choice. They open up 120 days in advance, so this is your best bet.
At MN state parks, camper cabins cost between $80-90 per night, and also a $7-10 advanced registration fee. Outside of the state parks, costs may vary.
Camper cabins in MN are typically about 12×16 feet and can fit up to 5 or 6 people. They aren’t very big, so try to limit the supplies you bring!
No, dogs are not allowed inside MN state park camper cabins. But they are allowed within the parks themselves if leashed.
Voyageurs National Park itself doesn’t have cabins, but you can find a great lakeside resort, Northern Lights Resort, just outside of the park that offers cabin rentals.
Wrap-Up: Camper Cabins in Minnesota
From hiking and fishing to canoeing and birdwatching, there is no shortage of outdoor activities to enjoy in Minnesota state parks.
And staying in a Minnesota camper cabin is one of the very best ways to fully experience all of these fun things to do.
These small cabins offer limited amenities and offer you the chance to escape the world’s troubles and relax for a weekend.
