Cabin rentals around Richmond, Minnesota offer direct access to the region's network of lakes, hardwood forests, and prairie landscapes. Most cabins in this area sit at elevations between 1,100-1,300 feet above sea level with summer temperatures averaging 75-85°F during peak camping season. Winter cabin stays are popular during January and February when temperatures can drop below 0°F, making heated accommodations essential.
What to do
Paddling opportunities: Lake Koronis Regional Park provides excellent canoeing conditions with minimal motorboat traffic in certain areas. "We came for the fall colors!! They were beautiful! Canoed all day out on the lake!" notes Anne G. from Lake Koronis Regional Park.
Snowshoeing trails: Winter cabin stays offer access to groomed trails perfect for snowshoeing adventures. As one visitor to Sibley State Park mentioned, "The activities around were plentiful such as snow shoes and sled hill and plenty of trails. Well kept. Beautiful area."
Fishing spots: Games Lake County Park connects to a larger lake system with diverse fishing options. "Games Lake is part of the Norway chain of lakes, which total 2,800 acres, and provides an excellent fish population," according to park information. The lake is particularly known for walleye and northern pike fishing.
Wildlife observation: Many cabin locations offer opportunities for bird watching and animal spotting. At Creekwood Acres, visitors can explore "a beautiful farm focused on organic, sustainable and restorative land practices on acreage that is a mix of prairie, forest, wetlands, and rolling hills" with free-range animals.
What campers like
Heated facilities: Camper cabins at many parks feature reliable heating systems for year-round comfort. One visitor to Lake Maria State Park Campground noted, "Appreciated the camper cabin and the clean sites. Most if not all sites are in the woods from what I could tell so there is a lot of leaves."
Private woodland settings: Many cabin sites offer secluded locations surrounded by mature forest. A Lake Maria visitor shared: "Our site was on a short private trail off the main loop and opened up to a decent space. We had a picnic table and fire pit and plenty of space for our two tents and an area to play."
Accessibility options: While some cabins require hiking to access, others offer drive-up convenience. As one Lake Maria camper explained, "This lovely spot is a one mile hike from the parking lot, so be ready to walk if you need to make more than one trip. The hike itself is rather hilly, and the site is about a quarter mile off of the main path."
Clean bathrooms: Multiple campgrounds maintain well-serviced bathroom facilities. A visitor to Oak Ridge Campground shared, "Bathrooms are super nice and are heated. Sites a nice distance apart, lots of trees."
What you should know
Reservation windows: Most cabin rentals open for booking 120 days in advance and fill quickly, especially for summer weekends and holidays. Winter cabins typically have more last-minute availability except during school breaks.
Tick season concerns: Wooded cabin sites can have significant tick populations from May through July. One visitor to Sibley State Park noted, "Mosquitos were minimal, but the wood ticks were out in force."
Cabin access limitations: Some cabins require significant hiking to reach. A Lake Maria camper advised: "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."
Seasonal restrictions: County park cabins like Games Lake County Park typically operate from May through September only, while state park cabins often remain open year-round with limited winter services.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Several campgrounds feature dedicated play areas for children. A visitor to Oak Ridge Campground mentioned the "Nice playground with swings, close to a larger park near the lake."
Protected swimming areas: Designated beach areas with shallow entry points make water access safer for children. "Nice beach area and Great picnic area!!! Big playground picnic tables scattered everywhere," notes a visitor to Lake Koronis.
Multiple cabin clustering: For larger family gatherings, consider booking adjacent cabins. As one camper at St. Cloud-Clearwater RV Park shared, "Just stayed for the weekend and we had a wonderful time. Shaded lot, much quieter than other sites I've been too."
Indoor recreation options: Some campgrounds offer indoor activities for rainy days. One visitor noted that St. Cloud-Clearwater RV Park's "Gift shop/office had a pool table and lots of games to borrow/use. Pool & mini golf also available."
Tips from RVers
Site orientation challenges: Be aware that some campgrounds have sites designed in ways that may not align with RV layouts. At Lake Koronis Regional Park, one camper noted, "Pretty disappointed to arrive and be in a backwards site. This is a back-in only site and yet the site is backwards. The firepit is on the backend of the camper instead of the front."
Utility hookup variations: Different cabins and RV sites offer varying levels of services. One guest at St. Cloud Campground & RV Park shared that "the sites were pretty large, much larger than at a KOA, but not so big or private as some campgrounds we've been to."
Internet connectivity: Connectivity varies significantly between locations, affecting those needing to stay connected. A St. Cloud Campground guest reported, "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."
