Best Cabin Camping near Lake Elmo, MN

Cabin options near Lake Elmo, Minnesota include several campgrounds with a variety of enclosed accommodations. Afton State Park Campground features rustic camper cabins with electricity and heating systems, making them suitable for year-round use. The Eastern Bluebird cabin at Afton offers "screened in porch, heated with electricity, and two double bunk beds," according to one camper. William O'Brien State Park and St. Croix Bluffs Regional Park also provide cabin rentals with varying amenities, including picnic tables, fire rings and access to drinking water. Most cabins include basic furnishings but offer distinct experiences depending on their location within wooded areas or more open terrain.

While some cabins provide only the essentials, others feature more comfortable accommodations with electricity and indoor heating. William O'Brien State Park remains open throughout the year for cabin guests, while Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Regional Park operates seasonally from May through September. One visitor described their experience: "Perfect little cabin nestled in the southern half of the park!" Most facilities permit pets in their cabin areas with certain restrictions, though St. Croix Bluffs Regional Park maintains a no-pets policy. Reservations are typically required for all cabin accommodations, with many locations booking up quickly during summer weekends and holiday periods.

Most cabin accommodations provide beds with mattresses but expect guests to bring their own bedding, pillows, towels and personal items. Kitchen facilities vary significantly between locations - some cabins offer limited cooking options beyond outdoor fire pits with grates, while others may include basic indoor cooking facilities. Several campgrounds feature on-site firewood sales, with Afton State Park offering a self-serve option where "firewood was $6 for all you can cut/carry." Restroom facilities range from vault toilets accessible from cabin areas to modern shower buildings located within walking distance. Visitors should plan to bring cleaning supplies, food, and any specialty items needed during their stay as on-site provisions are limited.

Best Cabin Sites Near Lake Elmo, Minnesota (28)

    1. Afton State Park Campground

    36 Reviews
    Denmark, MN
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (651) 436-5391

    "Camper Cabin (Eastern Bluebird)🏡🐦 Perfect little cabin nestled in the southern half of the park! Screened in porch, heated with electricity, and two double bunk beds!"

    "It was a shaded site perfect for our hammocks, it was quiet and very secluded. The Yurt was very cool! Very comfortable beds and plenty of space for the 6 of us to stay and sleep."

    2. William O'Brien State Park Campground

    39 Reviews
    Marine on St. Croix, MN
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (651) 539-4980

    $16 - $250 / night

    "We camped at William O’Brien State Park November 1-4, 2022. We were taking advantage of some unseasonably warm days, and we are so glad we did. This park is beautiful!"

    "The picnic table and fire ring was great. We had an electrical hookup and the bathrooms were really clean. Great trails in the park too."

    3. St. Croix Bluffs Regional Park

    20 Reviews
    Denmark, MN
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (651) 430-8240

    "Nice trails, clean restrooms, level sites. No alcohol allowed and no pets! Fire rings, sturdy picnic table. Electric and water."

    "Our site has a large picnic shelter with 6 picnic tables two grills and it’s own volleyball place. We also had a portable toilet included which was amazingly clean!"

    4. Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Regional Park

    17 Reviews
    Lino Lakes, MN
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (763) 324-3340

    $20 - $75 / night

    "We took a 30 minute drive north of the cities for a quick get away, and were rewarded with a very nice campground! The check in staff was friendly, helpful and efficient."

    "It was very easy to find, close to the twin cities, and clean. There was good access to kindling for a fire in the nice fire pit that has a grill."

    5. Rice Creek Campgrounds

    8 Reviews
    Lino Lakes, MN
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (763) 324-3340

    $20 - $32 / night

    "I booked this on a whim since we needed an overnight close to the State Fair.  I loved the look of the "TENT ONLY" loop - you don't see this often - so it was a good fit. "

    "Beach was closed but we still got some good walks in. Fire ring was a little shallow for my liking so had to get some solid coals going to get dinner on the table."

    6. Bunker Hills Regional Park

    16 Reviews
    Coon Rapids, MN
    24 miles
    Website
    +1 (763) 862-4970

    $20 - $32 / night

    "If you simply look at the list of amenities this park has, nature lovers would be quick to turn their nose up at it as an overly-commercialized playground."

    "This is a nice, quiet campground with activities nearby. The sites are decently private and there is nice bathrooms/showers."

    7. Veterans Campground On Big Marine Lake

    2 Reviews
    Hugo, MN
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (651) 433-2699

    $20 - $110 / night

    "They have a small bar, small trail, fishing dock, swimming beach, boat dock, boat rental, kayak rental, golf cart rental, game room, parks, showers and bathrooms, pavilion."

    "We have stayed in cabins and in our trailer. The pontoons they offer for rent are beautiful!! The lake is nice. Good luck catching fish though. Bill the manager is a great guy!"

    8. Float-Rite Park

    3 Reviews
    Marine on St. Croix, MN
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (715) 247-3453

    "You can tube down the river which is fun and it’s close to town. But it can get loud. Not a campground for children though"

    9. Baker Campground - Baker Park Reserve

    38 Reviews
    Maple Plain, MN
    36 miles
    Website
    +1 (763) 694-7662

    $21 - $29 / night

    "Clean gravel sites with electric hook up surrounded by well maintained grass, picnic table, and fire pit. Central water spigot and dump station. Great signage throughout."

    "Super peaceful vibes, nice tree cover, flat tent pad, and plenty of space to spread out. 🌳⛺️ It’s tucked just enough off the path to feel private, but not so far that you feel isolated."

    10. Wild River State Park Campground

    45 Reviews
    Taylors Falls, MN
    39 miles
    Website
    +1 (651) 583-2125

    $35 / night

    "The camper cabins at Wild River are located just above the St. Croix River. Our cabin seemed to be at a trailhead to the river, which we took advantage of."

    "It was very buggy so we got a screen tent. Nicely shaded site as well. Not far from the water station and pit toilet."

Show More
Showing results 1-10 of 28 campgrounds

2025 Detourist Giveaway

Presented byToyota Trucks

Review Campgrounds. Win Prizes.

Enter to Win


Cabin Reviews near Lake Elmo, MN

284 Reviews of 28 Lake Elmo Campgrounds


  • B
    Jun. 7, 2021

    Whitetail Woods Camper Cabins

    Great camper cabins for spring and fall

    Each cabin has four sleeping spots: 2 bunk beds, and the 2 couches convert to beds. There's a heater inside, but no AC, which makes these the most suitable during the spring and fall.

    There is a fire ring outside of each cabin, along with a table. No cooking is allowed inside the cabins, which can make things rough if the weather isn't cooperating. 

    We enjoy hiking around the trails, but we primarily go to decompress, lounge around, and play games, read, etc. There's WiFi available, but depending on which cabin you reserve signal will be took weak for real usage. Same for mobile data -- don't plan on cell service here.

    The bathroom facilities are nice. Outside water is shut off during some parts of the year, so bring your own drinking water if you are camping close to/during winter.

    Cabins are accessible for those who need special assistance, which is nice. The only caveat is I don't recall there being an automatic door opener to the cabins.

    While the cabins are close together, noise is not a factor once you're inside. 

    It's difficult to get reservations, so I recommend trying to start booking 120 days in advance, which is the farthest out you can reserve. For example, as of this review (early June), all weekends are booked for all cabins.

  • DThe Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 23, 2022

    William O'Brien State Park Campground

    Camper Cabin

    We camped at William O’Brien State Park November 1-4, 2022. We were taking advantage of some unseasonably warm days, and we are so glad we did. This park is beautiful! The trails are well kept and cover woodlands, grasslands, and wetlands. There is a huge beaver lodge that can be seen from one of the trails, and we saw a smaller one from a different trail. We saw an abundance birds while we were there.

    We stayed in a camper cabin (‘Vasa’) and enjoyed it. The cabins are one room plus an enclosed porch. Furnishings are bunk beds and a table with benches. The cabin was heated and had electricity. You cannot cook indoors. There is a fire pit and picnic table outside. There are three cabins on a little cul de sac by the Savanna campground. There are two vault toilets near the cabins. The water source was off for the season, but water was available at the park office.

  • Scott M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Dec. 22, 2022

    Whitetail Woods Camper Cabins

    Great Cold Weather Option

    Super simple camping cabins. They each have 4 spots and have contactless entry as you get sent a code to use. There is no cooking inside the cabin so you have to use the fire ring outside. Shower facilities are really nice and match the cabins. Plan ahead as these are hard to come by.

  • Alison O.
    Mar. 16, 2021

    Afton State Park Campground

    Camper Cabin camping @ Afton State Park

    Camper Cabin (Eastern Bluebird)🏡🐦

    Perfect little cabin nestled in the southern half of the park! Screened in porch, heated with electricity, and two double bunk beds!

  • S
    Aug. 13, 2021

    St. Croix Bluffs Regional Park

    Top Shelf

    Beautiful, spacious, trees but open. Nice trails, clean restrooms, level sites. No alcohol allowed and no pets! Fire rings, sturdy picnic table. Electric and water.

    I made reservations online and when we arrived they said I had reserved a place at Elmo Lake which was 20 miles away. Same 2 county facilities but different campgrounds. Oops my bad. Different addresses!

  • S
    Oct. 28, 2019

    Nugget Lake County Park

    Camper cabins

    This is a really nice campground. The camper cabins are really nice. They have two rooms, a sleeping room and a front room. The sleeping room has 2 bunk beds (4 beds.) The front room has a mini fridge, coffeemaker, toaster, microwave, and a futon. The firepits are well taken care of. It is usually empty when you arrive. There is no.swim beach. The trails and playgrounds are really nice. The bathrooms are heated. The showers are pay showers.

  • kristin C.
    Aug. 9, 2018

    Ham Lake Resort

    Well Rounded RV Park and Campground

    My partner and I scheduled a 3 day / 2 night stay in a new Vintage Cruiser RV for $39.99, in exchange for attending a presentation on private membership.

    We checked in Wednesday evening, and the nicest staff I've ever met helped us acclimate to RV living. We are new to this game. They patiently described how to utilize the grey and black water tanks, as well as encouraged us to check-out the canoes, row boats, bikes, horseshoes, ladder golf and many other entertainment items - for FREE!

    The map provided was accurate which made locating the cruiser a breeze. There were further instructions inside as well. The RV was immaculate. Provided for our use were all linens (a public very clean bath and shower was just across the road), dish soap, dish towels, paper towels, flat wear, plates, bowls, mugs and pans.

    The campground has a couple of ponds, as well as access to Ham Lake where the watercraft is launched. There is a petting arena with goats, ponies, and a llama who gave my partner the stink eye, but fell in love with me rubbing the fence and giving me all googly eyes!

    The clubhouse sells bundled wood, ice, snacks, cold drinks, ice cream and provides 24-hour fresh coffee. There is also a small resupply area, and gift shop.

    There are pull-through sites, back ups, 50 and 30 amp hook ups, and tent sites, covered pavilions, picnic tables and fire pits.

    The campground itself seems remote, secluded and peaceful, however, you are conveniently located to two well-stocked convenience stores, as well as Wal-Mart about 15 minutes away. It's also only about 45 minutes from the Minnesota Twin Cities.

    One note: We visited in August and needed gallons of bug spray.

    We very much enjoyed our get away!

  • J
    Jul. 24, 2020

    Baker Campground - Baker Park Reserve

    Great First Time w/Travel Trailer

    Clean gravel sites with electric hook up surrounded by well maintained grass, picnic table, and fire pit. Central water spigot and dump station. Great signage throughout. Showers and restrooms available. A couple disc golf baskets, sand volleyball court and well maintained grass fields were available for play. Lake independence is a 5-10 minute walk along a newly paved trail. Lake offers two swimming beaches, a water equipment rental area, new restroom facilities, and a playground that was under construction at this time. Simple online reservation process at $26/night our one night total cost $36.03 all fees included. Morning of our reservation, camp staff called to communicate a change of site due to our reserved site having issues with its electrical. All amenities functioned appropriately. My wife, two young boys, and I had a great first time experience with our Bambi 19CB Airstream!

  • Rachelle W.
    Aug. 31, 2021

    Wild River State Park Campground

    Wild River State Park Camper Cabin

    The camper cabins at Wild River are located just above the St. Croix River. Our cabin seemed to be at a trailhead to the river, which we took advantage of. The camper cabins had electricity and heat, no plumbing. Excellent fire ring for cooking. The park itself has many trails.


Guide to Lake Elmo

Cabin accommodations near Lake Elmo, Minnesota provide secluded woodland escapes within 30 minutes of the Twin Cities metropolitan area. The region sits in the St. Croix River Valley at elevations ranging from 880 to 1,100 feet, with summer temperatures averaging 83°F and winter lows regularly reaching below freezing. Camper cabins in this area typically operate with different seasonal availability than tent camping areas, with many remaining accessible through winter months.

What to do

Hiking with wildlife viewing: Wild River State Park offers extensive trail networks along the St. Croix River. "I really enjoyed the snowshoe hike along the St Croix River and watched the full moon rise. The ski trails were groomed and there were miles of trails," reports one visitor who explored during winter months.

Beach swimming: Several parks feature swimming areas for cooling off during summer months. At St. Croix Bluffs Regional Park, "Beach is great. Easy boat launch. Clean facility," notes one camper, adding "Great hiking trails, bike trails, nearby horseback riding."

Snowshoeing and skiing: Winter activities expand camping options when staying at heated cabins. "We snowshoed and skied. The candlelight ski was great and the routes were marked with different colored luminaries - for hiking and skiing," writes a camper at Wild River State Park.

Paddle sports: Many parks rent watercraft for river and lake exploration. "The pontoons they offer for rent are beautiful!! The lake is nice," explains a visitor to Veterans Campground on Big Marine Lake.

What campers like

Spacious, wooded sites: Campers consistently mention site privacy as a key advantage. At Rice Creek Campgrounds, "Level private sites, lots of trees, Showers were clean. Would definitely camp again," writes one visitor.

Family-friendly amenities: Parks often include playgrounds and recreational facilities. "The waterpark is a blast and we were able to find discount passes online," notes a camper at Bunker Hills Regional Park, which offers cabin accommodations alongside developed facilities.

Star-gazing opportunities: Open areas provide excellent night sky viewing. "The star gazing area was great!" reports a camper at Wild River State Park, noting the dedicated viewing areas that complement cabin accommodations.

Multiple accommodation options: Beyond standard cabins, several parks offer unique structures. "Minnesota State Parks have just started to build Yurts for 3 campgrounds around the state; Afton, Cuyuna and Glendalough State Parks. These have some great amenities and are perfect for family camping, especially in Fall, Winter and Spring," explains one visitor.

What you should know

Reservation requirements: Most parks require advance booking. At Baker Campground, "You'll need to book for at least two nights and book as soon as you can. There are 200 sites but on the July weekend we stayed, I'd say almost all of them were booked."

Firewood considerations: Quality and availability vary between locations. "Firewood at $7 a bundle doesn't burn, it just smokes. I asked for a refund. Buy firewood elsewhere," advises a Rice Creek Campgrounds visitor.

Alcohol and pet policies: Rules differ significantly between parks. "This seems to be the hot spot for horses and if we go back I definitely want to do the horseback riding right outside the park!" notes one visitor to Wild River State Park, while another camper at St. Croix Bluffs Regional Park points out: "YOU CANT BRING ALCOHOL OR PETS!"

Insect preparation: Minnesota's woodland and lakeside environments support active insect populations. "The mosquitoes were absolutely nuts!" reports a Rice Creek camper, while another visitor warns about "horseflies making it known that we were 'trespassing on their turf'."

Tips for camping with families

Water activities planning: Lake access provides recreation opportunities. "Swimming beach, boat dock, boat rental, kayak rental, golf cart rental, game room, parks" are all available at Veterans Campground on Big Marine Lake according to a regular visitor.

Playground access: Multiple parks feature dedicated children's areas. "Nice playground for the kids. Fantastic bathrooms zoned showers," notes a visitor at St. Croix Bluffs Regional Park.

Wildlife viewing opportunities: Animal sightings enhance camping experiences. At William O'Brien State Park, "This campground is lovely. You can hear frogs all night and we even saw a turtle laying eggs in a different campsite."

Group site options: Some parks accommodate larger family gatherings. "This place has two group sites the one we stayed at Birch Hollow, hosts up to 20 campers and the other one up to 50," explains a St. Croix Bluffs Regional Park visitor.

Tips from RVers

Site selection advice: Specific loops offer better RV accommodation. "The upper loop (sits 45-64) is definitely more geared towards RVs, so not what I would consider an ideal tent site," advises a visitor to Bunker Hills Regional Park.

Off-season advantages: Visiting during shoulder seasons provides more space. "Arriving on a Sunday afternoon was a dream—very few people in the campground loop (especially the non-electric ones), but still able to take advantage of a weekend day," notes a William O'Brien camper.

Hookup variations: Electric and water connections differ between parks. At William O'Brien State Park, "There are nice paved trails around a couple of lakes/ponds for biking, and easy access to the shower and bathroom facilities (which were very nice)."

Driving considerations: Some parks have tight access roads. "Do yourself a favor and arrive in Marine on St. Croix via Broadway Street / Maple Street. The tree canopy, winding roads, and tunnel are worth it," suggests one William O'Brien camper.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular cabin campsite near Lake Elmo, MN?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular cabin campground near Lake Elmo, MN is Afton State Park Campground with a 4.6-star rating from 36 reviews.

What is the best site to find cabin camping near Lake Elmo, MN?

TheDyrt.com has all 28 cabin camping locations near Lake Elmo, MN, with real photos and reviews from campers.