Cabins near Saint Cloud, Minnesota range from rustic to modern with varying amenities based on location. Situated in central Minnesota at an elevation of about 1,030 feet, the area experiences four distinct seasons with summer temperatures averaging 70-85°F during peak camping months. Winter cabin camping remains popular with several year-round options maintaining heated accommodations.
What to do
Hiking at Lake Maria State Park: Follow wooded trails through diverse landscapes with multiple difficulty options. "Backpack sites only. Love this park as it offers many backpacking sites with some being very short hikes in and some being longer hikes," notes a visitor at Lake Maria State Park.
Water activities on Games Lake: Enjoy swimming, fishing, and boating less than an hour from St. Cloud. "Located near Games Lake, it's perfect for fishing, boating, and family fun. A playground, beach, and boat launch make it a great getaway," reports a camper from Games Lake County Park.
Winter cabin use: Reserve cabins for cold-weather camping experiences. "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. Good trails and a fun experience," mentions one visitor about winter activities at Lake Maria State Park.
What campers like
Private wooded settings: Many cabin sites offer seclusion among trees. "Site B6 at Lake Maria State Park is the one. This hike-in site is about a half-mile walk from the parking area, and the journey in is half the magic: winding wooded trails, wildflowers, and glimpses of the lake through the trees," shares a camper from Lake Maria State Park Campground.
Lakefront proximity: Several cabin locations provide water views or quick access. "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," describes a Lake Maria State Park visitor.
Clean facilities: Well-maintained shared bathrooms at most cabin locations. "The campground is very nice, with shade and open areas. Hosts are friendly and helpful. Sites are well maintained as are the showers and restrooms," notes a visitor at St. Cloud Campground & RV Park.
What you should know
Seasonal considerations: Insect populations peak in summer months. "When we pulled up to the parking lot we knew we were in trouble. The black flies were dive bombing the car like a scene from Armageddon... First step onto the grassy trail exploded in a cloud of mosquitos," warns a summer visitor at Lake Maria State Park.
Reservation requirements: Most cabin rentals need advance booking, particularly May through September. "This park had awesome trails and so many deer! It's like they were camping with us," mentions a camper at Bertram Chain of Lakes Regional Park Campground.
Amenity variations: Cabins range from primitive to fully equipped. "The site I was on only 2 trees, which would be great for a hammock. Lots of traffic, driving, people biking, and walking by. It was pretty constant until around 9pm," reports a visitor about site privacy considerations at Oak Ridge Campground.
Tips for camping with families
Pool access: Some locations offer swimming pools for family enjoyment. "More like an RV Park although they do have rustic sites. Nice facilities including 2 bathroom facilities, playground, volleyball court, dog walking area, baseball field, a lodge with games and a store, and a hall where they hold bingo and other events," shares a family who stayed at St. Cloud Campground & RV Park.
Kid-friendly activities: Look for campgrounds with recreational facilities. "This campground is a gem so very close to the Twin Cities. The sites are good sized, and the bathroom/showers are great. With great fishing, playground, swimming, and biking trails very nearby, the kids were kept as busy as they wanted to be," explains a visitor at Baker Campground - Baker Park Reserve.
Cabin spacing considerations: Some sites provide more privacy than others. "If you're looking for a bit of privacy, I'd recommend any of the sites before 96. If you're looking for ease of access to multiple camping spots (for a family get together with extended family) sites after 94 would be great for that," suggests a camper at Oak Ridge Campground.
Tips from RVers
Site configuration awareness: Check site layouts before booking. "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," warns a visitor at Lake Koronis Regional Park.
Power management: Understand electrical limitations at your cabin or site. "On the outskirts of St Cloud, this campground was very well maintained and clean. They have a pool, lodge, bath house and laundry facilities, the sites were pretty large, much larger than data KOA, but not so big or private as some campgrounds we've been to," explains a camper at St. Cloud Campground & RV Park.
Wi-Fi expectations: Internet access varies significantly between locations. "Campground is very nice, with shade and open areas. Hosts are friendly and helpful. Sites are well maintained as are the showers and restrooms. Host stated that the wifi was weak but since there were not a lot of campers we should be alright. We were unable to even get a signal!" reports a visitor at St. Cloud Campground & RV Park.
