Cabin camping options near St. Johns, Michigan provide convenient access to outdoor recreation in the central Michigan region. With temperatures averaging 83°F in July and 28°F in January, seasonal variations impact available activities. The flat terrain around St. Johns sits at 764 feet above sea level and connects to the Maple River watershed, creating opportunities for fishing and water recreation.
What to do
Fishing nearby lakes: Sleepy Hollow State Park Campground offers productive fishing for specific species. One visitor reports, "Fishing is good here for some largemouth bass,and huge blueguils" while noting it makes "a good day excursion."
Explore hiking trails: Bertha Brock County Park features well-marked hiking routes with unique natural features. A visitor mentions, "There was three hiking trails to choose from, we choose the 'turkey trail'. The trail was well marked but got quite confusing about 3/4 in. Tons of fun things to see here, beautiful stone bridges."
Disc golf courses: Several parks in the region maintain disc golf facilities. One reviewer at Bertha Brock noted, "Some of the trials are hard to find, but this disc golf here is one of the best courses I have played."
Water recreation: Maple River Campground provides direct river access for paddling. A camper shared their experience: "September 9th 2017 I hosted a Kayak/Canoe trip and we used this location for our landing and camping. It was a great little location that even had some river side cabins you could rent."
What campers like
Riverside cabin options: Maple River Campground offers waterfront cabin rentals with convenient parking arrangements. A camper noted, "had a beautiful riverfront spot where we were able to put our camper parallel to the water instead of backed in! it was beautiful."
Wildlife viewing: Multiple cabin locations feature opportunities to observe local animals. At Maple River Campground, a visitor mentioned, "The amount of nature was overwhelming. Lots of turtles and ducks to be seen."
Private campsites: Just-In-Time Campground offers cabins with lake views and enough space between sites. A recent visitor commented, "Beautiful view of the lake and functional facilities make this a pleasant stay for a small family."
Family-friendly amenities: Several campgrounds provide structured activities for children. A visitor to Just-In-Time noted, "This place is great for the family, lots of events on the weekend including fireworks or movies on there big screen. Nice private beach and they even have floating trampoline to play on."
What you should know
Electrical hookup challenges: Some campsites require extensive extension cords. A camper at Sleepy Hollow observed, "Be sure to bring at least 100 feet of extension chord if you want electricity, because the power ports are not as accessible from some areas."
Seasonal operations: While some cabins operate year-round, others have limited seasons. Snow Lake Kampground operates May through October with amenities changing seasonally.
Campground rules vary: Some locations have strict policies about alcohol consumption and visitor fees. One reviewer at Snow Lake noted, "This is a Christian campground so they are very strict on alcohol consumption. On your site only, but not allowed anywhere else in the park."
Bathroom facilities: Cabin campers often share community bathroom facilities of varying quality. A camper at Sleepy Hollow mentioned, "Bathrooms are well spaced between the campsites you, and have showers along with some vending machines outside of them."
Tips for camping with families
Theme weekends: Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park organizes regular events for children. A visitor observed, "Great campground, but more for families with younger children. Great staff, great events, always a fantastic time!"
Beach and water play options: Several cabin locations feature swimming areas. A visitor to Just-In-Time noted, "Nice private beach and they even have floating trampoline to play on."
Playgrounds and recreation: Multiple campgrounds maintain dedicated children's areas. One reviewer at Yogi Bear's mentioned, "There's a very nice pool, playgrounds, and mini golf."
Halloween events: Consider booking early for special seasonal celebrations. A reviewer noted about Sleepy Hollow, "Every year they put together an awesome Halloween trick or treat weekend, but be sure to book the day of six months before because otherwise you will not get a site."
Tips from RVers
Site spacing considerations: Some cabin and RV areas have limited privacy. A visitor to Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park observed, "There's not very many trees between camping spaces so don't expect much privacy."
Site leveling requirements: Bishop Lake Campground sites vary in terrain. One camper mentioned, "Our campsite had a view of the lake, but no shade."
Parking arrangements: Some cabin sites accommodate varied parking configurations. A Maple River camper noted, "We were able to park the camper with the door facing the river. It was great for fishing, and our dogs had a great time too."
Extra amenities fees: Some campgrounds charge additional fees beyond site rental. A reviewer at Maple River observed, "You do have to pay $5 for shower use and $5 to use the dump station. They do have ice and firewood for sale there."
