Cabin camping near Hinckley, Minnesota offers options in various settings from riverfront locations to wooded areas with access to outdoor recreation. Hinckley sits at approximately 1,050 feet elevation in Pine County, where the landscape features mixed hardwood forests, wetlands, and river corridors. Winter temperatures often drop below zero, while summer averages reach the 80s with occasional thunderstorms.
What to do
Hiking at Banning State Park: The park features trails along the Kettle River with historical ruins from a 130-year-old sandstone quarry. "The hiking here is amazing! The Quarry Loop along the Kettle River has a ton of history, allowing you to explore the remains of the 130+ year old sandstone quarry. Seeing the drill holes in the cliffs was really cool and the remains of the old buildings were a highlight even to our small children," notes Jennifer H. from Banning State Park Campground.
Winter activities: Several parks offer year-round cabin options for cold-weather recreation. "This is a great place for winter camping! The campsites are large enough (despite the snow) to set up suitable winter tents, and each site has a picnic table and fire pit. In the park, there's a lot of ice climbing and cross country skiing," reports Alexa S. about winter experiences at Banning State Park Campground.
Canoeing at St. Croix State Park: The park offers canoe rentals and river access during warmer months. "Canoe outfitters in park during most of the summer. A great way to spend a weekend," says Tony J. from Old Logging Trail — St. Croix State Park.
What campers like
Privacy at Wild River State Park: Sites feature natural vegetation barriers. "The campground was very nice. The sites are private, couldn't see any neighbors as there are a lot of trees. The park rangers were very helpful and informative. The facilities were nice and well kept," explains Stephanie H. from Wild River State Park Campground.
Clean facilities: Many campers note the maintenance standards. "Very nice campground. Can't stress enough how CLEAN the restrooms and showers are. Cleaned 3x daily due to COVID. Site drained VERY well during and after heavy rain," writes Dave T. about his stay at St Croix River Resort.
Fall colors: The area transforms during autumn. "10/11/19-10/13/19. #9. We booked a site in advance and hoped to catch the fall colors. It was our first time camping at Banning. Fall came early in MN and it was just past peak. Most of the leaves were yellow (or on the ground), but it was still pretty," shares Joanna B. about her October visit to Banning State Park.
What you should know
Seasonal insect conditions: Bug activity varies significantly by season. "We decided to try an extend the camping season by staying here in the first weekend of October, and we were rewarded greatly! The colors were near peak and the water was really high, so there were many kayakers going down the river as we hiked along the parallel trails," explains Bryan S. from Banning State Park Campground, highlighting benefits of fall camping.
Cell service limitations: Connectivity varies by location. "This is a solid state park offering. The sites are decently spaced with good tree cover. Noise seemed to travel between sites, I had some loud neighbors during the day but they settled down before quiet hours. Intermittently had 1-2 bars of T-Mobile with LTE Internet. Wi-Fi is available at the park entrance," reports Katherine T. about Wild River State Park.
Water access options: Some cabins have distant water hookups. "We were quick to learn that water hookups were shared with other sites and required 'y' connections at the spigots. Our water source ended up being 75' plus from our RV. Thankfully I just happened to be carrying the extra hose for several years but never had to use it before," shares Sam C. from Banning RV Park and Campground.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Several campgrounds offer play areas. "This park had nice spots - grassy with level tar to park on. The pool had a perfect temperature and nice lounging area. Shuttle took you to the casino 24 hours a day," describes Lisa D. about Grand Casino RV Resort.
Winter cabin options: Electric heated cabins available year-round. "This is one campground in Minnesota that offers a handful of electric hookups for winter camping. The beauty of this campground, is that while the campsites available are in a row, there's plenty of space between sites and some of them are even pulled through. Making it easy for RVs to pull in and hook up," notes Amy G. about Mille Lacs Kathio Petaga Campground in winter.
Dog-friendly areas: Pet accommodations vary by location. "Remarkably, in addition to playgrounds for children in different places around the campground, there was a huge dog walking and play area that was grassy and beautifully clean—and, of special interest, included a complete 'dog playground' with all the standards elements of a dog agility course! Very cool—and an expense and effort most places wouldn't go to," explains Janet R. at Banning RV Park and Campground.
Tips from RVers
Parking challenges: Some sites require careful maneuvering. "Back-in site was 90 degrees to the road - if the bathhouse parking lot wasn't across from it, wouldn't have been able to swing in on a 24' travel trailer. Water pressure was low, internet was out more than on," reports Cathleen V. about Grand Casino RV Resort.
Distance to utilities: Bring extra-long hoses for some sites. "Then we all collectively began searching for our water source. Ours source ended up being 75' plus from our RV. Thankfully I just happened to be carrying the extra hose for several years but never had to use it before," shares Sam C. about Banning RV Park and Campground.
Seasonal availability: Most cabin camping options operate May through October, though some like Grand Casino RV Resort remain open year-round with winterized facilities. "We stayed in one of the walk-in sites. It was great, not too too buggy. Mostly quiet. Hiking trails in the park are wonderful and there's a lot of history to discover within the park," notes Ashley H. about summer conditions at Mille Lacs Kathio Petaga Campground.
