Cabin camping near Clearwater, Minnesota offers access to recreational opportunities along the Mississippi River, which runs through the eastern portion of Clearwater Township. The area's terrain features a mix of prairie landscapes and hardwood forests with elevations ranging from 900-1,100 feet above sea level. Winter cabin rentals typically require advanced booking as temperatures can drop below 0°F, while summer cabins often fill 3-6 months in advance.
What to do
Hiking trails: Lake Maria State Park Campground features over 14 miles of hiking paths through hardwood forest. "Backpack sites only. Love this park as it offers many backpacking sites with some being very short hikes in and some being longer hikes. Some are lake front and some are more woodsy sites," notes Tori K.
Wildlife viewing: Crow Hassan Park Reserve provides opportunities for wildlife observation, especially birds. "I never tire walking the dog park circle along the crow river! Great for birding and tons of beautiful trails," mentions Alison O.
Swimming options: Minneapolis Northwest KOA maintains a swimming pool for guests during summer months. "The staff was very nice. We had a tent site with no hook ups. The site was spacious and private-surrounded on 3 sides by trees. The pool area was clean and without issue," reports Jessica M.
Winter activities: Baker Campground provides cabin access near seasonal recreation including cross-country skiing. "With great fishing, playground, swimming, and biking trails very nearby, the kids were kept as busy as they wanted to be," says Bryan S.
What campers like
Private settings: Lake Maria State Park Campground offers secluded cabin experiences with natural surroundings. "If you're looking for a peaceful escape where the only sounds are rustling leaves, birdsong, and frogs singing at dusk — Site B6 at Lake Maria State Park is the one," says Alison O.
Clean facilities: St. Cloud Campground & RV Park maintains well-kept restroom facilities. "This campground is well maintained. The staff was very friendly and helpful. The shower house was clean. We enjoyed our stay here and will return," shares Jody M.
Family amenities: St. Cloud-Clearwater RV Park provides numerous activities for children. "Absolutely beautiful campground with mature trees. Cedars, white oaks, hickory's and more. The birds are singing and so are the kids because this place has so much to do for them. Pool, pool table, soccer table, mini golf, swing set, clubhouse, 3 wheel bike racing, and water balloons wars," writes Aaron L.
Natural surroundings: Bertram Chain of Lakes Regional Park Campground features abundant wildlife. "This place had awesome trails and so many deer! It's like they were camping with us," notes Christopher C.
What you should know
Seasonal considerations: Lake Maria State Park experiences high insect activity during summer months. "To be fair I'd like to preface this review with a word of caution. We went in the middle of Summer. High bug season. Take a look at other reviews as they come in and see what time of year they visited," advises Steph H.
Reservation requirements: Bertram Chain of Lakes Regional Park Campground fills quickly during peak seasons. "Really nice campground! Meadow setting where the campsites are, but then TONS of hiking trails with significant trees & shade. Really beautiful," reports Kathy L.
Accessibility factors: Certain sites require walking to reach cabins. "Only about a mile from the parking lot. This site was nearly surrounded by a lake which lended to a lot of bugs, but was absolutely gorgeous! We could see one other camper in a different site, but it still felt like you were in the wilderness," explains Lydia N.
Travel distances: Monticello cabins provide overnight accommodations close to major highways. "We stayed here for one night before taking our camper to a local dealer to have work done. The campground is right on the Mississippi River with great views," mentions Jen A.
Tips for camping with families
Pack sufficient bug repellent: Summer cabin stays require insect protection, particularly for children. "Walking along the kids all looked like Pig-Pen from Peanuts. Even though we'd sprayed everyone down the bugs must have felt safety in numbers because we were covered in welts in no time flat," shares Steph H.
Consider mid-week stays: Weekend crowds diminish significantly Monday-Thursday. "Friendly staff, quiet during the week and busy on the weekends. Nice pool, laundry facility, nice restrooms with showers," observes Cheri W.
Select sites strategically: Creekwood Acres cabins offer unique educational opportunities. "The cabin is set in a shady grove of mature trees on a hill overlooking a peaceful pond and marsh. I was serenaded all night by frogs and owls and more," explains Janet R.
Check distance to bathrooms: Cabin locations vary in proximity to facilities. "Only 1 bath house and it's not close to most of the tent sites," notes Zach H.
Tips from RVers
Reserve specific sites: Some campgrounds assign sites through automated systems. "When I asked the owner for another site, he told me that there is an algorithm that determines the site selection and if I wanted one with trees I needed to put a note on my reservation," advises Diane A.
Prepare for variable connections: Wi-Fi service varies substantially between properties. "The campground was nice, but there were a few things that could be done to make it better. It was the worst wifi of about 15 campgrounds we've been to on our trip this year. They warned us it was slow, but we couldn't even connect to it from our site," explains Tina.
Check road proximity: Some cabins and sites border busy roadways. "When I arrived, I was given a site that backed up to a very busy road. There was also no shade on the site and I was 3 feet or less from my neighbor," notes Diane A.
