4 campgrounds with availability next weekend
Cabins near Brainerd provide overnight accommodations with varying levels of amenities, from rustic to fully equipped units. True North Basecamp offers cabins with heat/AC units and WiFi, positioned with scenic lake views. Cabins at Mille Lacs Kathio State Park feature electricity and heat but no indoor plumbing. "Perfect little camper cabin and site. Fabulous park staff that even turned the heater on for us before we arrived. The cabin has electricity, heat, no plumbing," noted one visitor about Mille Lacs Kathio. Several properties including Red Rider Resort and Camp Holiday Resort provide cabins with proximity to lakes, many including private docks for water access.
Rustic and deluxe cabins are both available, depending on the location. Simple units at state parks typically provide basic furnishings with shared bathrooms nearby, while resort cabins often include more amenities. Crow Wing State Park and Birch Bay RV Resort maintain cabin rentals with varying policies on pets. "We love Minnesota, almost more than we love Wisconsin - only because the natural beauty and the numerous, non-ending lakes to explore. Instead of 'ruffing it' we decided to treat ourselves with a cabin rental and don't regret the splurge," mentioned one reviewer about their cabin experience. Most locations require advance reservations, particularly during peak summer months from May through September.
Most cabins include beds but require visitors to bring their own linens, towels, and toiletries. Cooking arrangements vary significantly between properties - some prohibit indoor cooking entirely while others provide kitchenettes. Fire rings with grill grates are common at cabin sites for outdoor cooking. Several properties including Fritz's Resort & Campground and Birch Bay RV Resort maintain on-site stores for basic provisions. Cabins at Breezy Point Resort operate seasonally from May to October. For winter stays, Mille Lacs Kathio State Park offers a limited number of heated cabins with electrical hookups, though visitors should note that many facilities like shower houses remain closed during winter months.
"Although they have lots of sites, it is a State Park. That means that they are close together. We canoed into the park on the Mississippi and had to carry a canoe to our site."
"Water fill and firewood available at the registration building. The water was high in iron. Canoe and kayak rentals available. Lots of trails for hiking and biking."
Available next weekend
from $24 - $80 / night
"Cabins are basic but clean with comfortable beds, a table and ac! Right on the lake and direct access to the trails"
"I've stayed in both the cabins and the camping area. The cabins are my favorite because of the lake views, proximity to the bathhouse, and heat/AC units."
"There are 10 tent sites and many cabins. We stayed in tents. The sites are rustic but have fire rings and some have charcoal grills in them."
"Stayed at RV site 4 which is bordered by trees on one side which was nice for privacy."
"We had site 4, lake side access. The site was amazing, with a dock to the lake. Has a picnic table with a lean to shelter, and a fire ring."
"Right on the lake with private dock. Sites a close by. Most have water and electric. Full hookups are very limited. Only 4 site near the back. Off of a quiet road. No traffic noise."
from $30 - $66 / night
"Sites are huge, very dog friendly, quiet, ice and firewood on site, cute little lake with gorgeous sunsets, huge kiddy play area on water, free kayak and paddle board use, nice little onsite store."
"Very nice RV resort with clean campground, clean bathrooms & showers. Full hookups, good resort wifi and good Verizon."
from $60 - $80 / night
"No tent sites available on the lake as those are reserved for rv, but the tent area is nice and wooded."
"Kathio is a big park with lots of trails. Camp sites are decent sized and most have trees in between them. some of the sites are bigger and more secluded."
"This is one campground in Minnesota that offers a handful of electric hookups for winter camping."
Available next weekend
from $25 - $35 / night
"We stayed in the lodge cabins in August 2021 fir a family reunion. Great facility with many types if cabins. Beautiful spot with lakes all around."
"Rode our bikes on the Paul Bunyan Trail to Nisswa and had some ice cream at The Chocolate Ox. Did a little shopping and got a beer at the brewery. Great location for lots of activities."
"Lots of amenities in the surrounding area. Good golfing. Good times"
GuideGreat site. Has a good fire ring. Has a wilderness toilet off away from the site. Trail into the site is well marked. You’ll get plenty of animal sounds from the beaver dam lake that is right by the site. Has a picnic table. There is only one tent pad. Not a completely level place for a second tent so prepared if you have two tents that one of them will be on a slight angle.
ScoutWe have been going up to Camp Holiday for about 5 years now and staying in the same campsite. We just love this place. We have the same neighbors every year so it is like having a family reunion each time. It is so clean and quiet and the sunsets are absolutely beautiful. It is so nice just sitting by the lake listening to the loons. It is hard to leave at the end of the week! Thank you Camp Holiday for giving us such a great week every year!
GuideI had a very...interesting experience at the camper cabins this week! I stayed at the cabin #3 this week, Monday through Thursday (3 nights). Monday and Tuesday were awesome. I was the only one there on the whole side of the road, and it was soooo peaceful.
Early Wednesday morning (around 3am)is where things stopped being peaceful. A really bad storm developed (that I had no idea was coming). It was probably the worst storm I had ever experienced in my life. Five trees fell in the yard, one small one hitting the cabin. One tree even fell a couple of feet behind my car, blocking me in. After taking a short walk when the sun came up, I realized the damage was everywhere in the park. I was seeing downed trees all over every single trial and road. I emailed the park office which opened at 8 that I was trapped, and they cleared all the trees from the office to where I was (almost three miles away) and was getting me out by 9:30. I was so impressed with how fast they worked. Amazing job! They offered to give me a refund if I wanted to go home early (I didn't, because I was still really enjoying my time there). I will definitely be back!
Without the whole storm fiasco, here are some pros and cons:
Pro *the cabins are gorgeous and cozy. *they have electric and heat (a gas burning stove heats the cabin, how cute!) *there's a screened in porch allowing you to enjoy the weather without bugs. *the vault toilet is really close, but there is also flush toilets with a shower in the campground, which is like a five minute walk, or a very short drive. *the mattresses on the bunk beds appear to be newer than some cabins I stayed in, that being said, a foam mattress topper isn't a bad idea if you struggle to sleep *the trails are gorgeous. The cabins aren't far from the lake either. There's a visitor center that's currently closed for renovations (2026) but I think will be open next year. There's a short interpretive trail behind it too. *there's a fire ring and picnic table outside.
Cons (there aren't many!) *I think being separated from the main campground is both a pro and a con, depending on your personality. If you like solitude then it's perfect. If you enjoy being where everyone else is, then it's a con.
ScoutCamp Holiday has many great options for lodging and amenities. The hosts are personable and friendly. There are activities for everyone; kids, teens and adults. The lake is big enough and they have two beach access points. We can't wait to stay again this summer!
GuideSet on the Upper Missisippi this was well worth the 8 Mile detour off the main east/west route through MN. History, hiking, biking, fishing and boating here. We grabbed a site just above the river. So peaceful and quiet. The few campers here on a late September day were mostly at the electric site area. There is an old town site with informational plaques along the way that depict what life was like here in the 1890s. Excellent map signage on the hiking trails too. Clean and tidy vault toilets. There is access to the extended bike path from this state park as well.
ScoutWe tent camped and appreciated the clean facilities, activities for kids to do, and close to great fishing lakes (Bay Lake & Borden Lake).
LegendLots of fun amenities, most notable are disc golf and a small zoo with some bison and deer. Sites are fairly spacious and the tent sites are closest to the river. A couple of cute cabins to rent. Picnic tables at each site (some are warped). There is a bike trail nearby. No fire pits at each site so bring one if you can! There is a large community fire pit though. Full hookup sites available.
RangerI was looking to take a solo camping trip for the weekend and paddleboard on the Cuyuna Mine Lakes. I booked the trip pretty late because of a lot of different factors, but Crow Wing State park still had plenty of availability. The park is nothing spectacular, but it was nice, wooded, and the staff were great. It was my first time solo camping in awhile, so I opted to stay at a state park where there would be rangers. I noticed that the rangers stopped and talked to me night one, and remembered me- which made me feel very safe as a solo female camper. The campground was overall pretty quiet, and my site was wooded so that I normally could not see other campers from my site, which was great! It felt decently quiet . If you visit in the summertime, expect hellish mosquitoes and pack accordingly!
You can join the hiking club trail straight from the campground, which was nice- I went on a few beautiful sunset walks to watch the sunset over the river
The bathroom and shower were clean and easily accessible.
The park was a 20-30 minute drive from the Cuyuna Mines area, so I was able to easily drive over Saturday morning and spend the day paddleboarding.
This park is not one of the most spectacular in Minnesota, but I had a great stay and it was very relaxing. It was great for a weekend getaway for a solo female camper looking to do some paddle boarding in the area
LegendThis park features fishing in Whiskey Creek, (stocked with rainbow trout, crappies, and sunfish), picnic area, children's playground, semi-enclosed shelters, campground area with full hook-up and tent sites, two camping cabins, softball fields, frisbee golf, volleyball area and a children's zoo, which includes buffalo, whitetail deer, peacocks, and golden pheasants. Site had picnic table and fire ring.
Camping with the whole family so there may be some familiar rigs from other reviews of mine.
Cabin camping near Brainerd, Minnesota centers around the region's abundant lakes and recreational trails. Most cabin options sit on lake shores or within wooded areas, with varying levels of seclusion and privacy. Winter cabin accommodations can be limited with many facilities closing between October and May, though several state parks maintain heated cabins year-round.
Hiking trails: Crow Wing State Park offers several hiking options along the Mississippi River. "The hiking club trail straight from the campground was nice- I went on a few beautiful sunset walks to watch the sunset over the river," notes one visitor, who also mentioned the trails were well-marked and roads well-maintained.
Water recreation: Many cabin properties provide watercraft access. At Camp Holiday Resort and Campground, "Turtle lake channels over to another lake. Makes a great boat or kayak trip. Boat kayak paddle board and paddle boat rentals available," according to one camper who stayed at a lakefront site.
Mountain biking: The Cuyuna area offers extensive trail systems accessible from various cabin locations. A visitor to True North Basecamp noted, "We stayed in a cabin for a week of biking. Excellent location with all the trails. It has a great swimming area, though it did get deep fast for little kids. We brought our paddleboard and had a great time on the quiet lake."
Lakefront access: Many cabins feature private docks and water views. At Red Rider Resort, "My kids had fun fishing for panfish off their dock and although we never made it, they have a swimming beach that is a bit down the MTB access trail," one reviewer shared.
Clean facilities: Bathhouse cleanliness receives frequent positive mentions. "The bathroom / shower house were very clean. Everything was new or very well maintained," noted a visitor to Red Rider Resort's tent site.
Proximity to towns: Cabin locations often provide easy access to nearby communities. One camper at True North Basecamp praised the "great little campground right near the town (easy to bike in for coffee or beer) but it feels like you're deep in the northwoods!"
Reservation timing: Most Brainerd area cabin rentals require advance booking, particularly for summer weekends. This is especially true for sites with specific views or amenities.
Seasonal operation: Many resorts close during winter months. A reviewer at Mille Lacs Kathio State Park noted the winter camping situation: "This is one campground in Minnesota that offers a handful of electric hookups for winter camping... The vault toilet is not easy to find from where the electric openings are in the winter... The vault toilet is several rows over and down, making it hard to find if you don't already know where it is."
Insect preparedness: Mosquitoes and flies can be problematic during summer months. "Mosquitoes are extra brutal mid summer here so be prepared," warns one Mille Lacs Kathio State Park visitor.
Playground access: Several properties provide dedicated play areas. At Camp Holiday Resort, families appreciate that "there are two nice playgrounds here, a slide, water trampoline, nice beach, and nice, clean bathrooms. The sites aren't very private, but some are right on the lake with a beautiful view."
Activity variety: Properties with multiple recreation options benefit families. "We loved this campground and this area! The owners and staff were great. They have a small market and a game room. The resort was clean and well maintained. There is a beach. You can also rent water toys, boats and pontoons," noted a visitor about Camp Holiday.
Historical features: Educational opportunities exist within some parks. Crow Wing State Park contains historical elements that campers frequently mention: "Historic signs describing the old town are along the beginning part of the trail near the picnic area. Kinda fun to read about and feel what old settlements were like!"
Site leveling: Be prepared with leveling equipment at lake properties. One camper at Camp Holiday Resort noted, "Most of the lake side sites were pretty uneven, bring plenty of leveling blocks. That was really the only negative we had, but it wasn't really a big deal because we came prepared with just enough leveling blocks."
Electrical hookups: Check power availability carefully as it varies by location. At Birch Bay RV Resort, campers appreciate the "full hookups, good resort wifi and good Verizon" signal, making it suitable for those needing connectivity.
Visitor policies: Some resorts have strict guest regulations. A reviewer at Birch Bay RV Resort cautioned, "We give this resort 5 stars because, despite it not being visitor friendly, they are up front in their policies about visitors and the place is great in all other respects. If you want to have visitors while staying here it is best to consider these policy before visiting as they are strictly enforced."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular cabin campsite near Brainerd, MN?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular cabin campground near Brainerd, MN is Crow Wing State Park Campground with a 3.9-star rating from 27 reviews.
What is the best site to find cabin camping near Brainerd, MN?
TheDyrt.com has all 26 cabin camping locations near Brainerd, MN, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring
