Cabin rentals near St. Joseph, Minnesota provide access to the state's central lakes region, with rentals available between May and October at most locations. Winter cabin options remain limited primarily to Lake Maria State Park, where year-round availability exists but requires preparation for potentially harsh conditions. The terrain around St. Joseph features a mix of hardwood forests, prairie remnants, and glacial lakes connected by regional trail systems that link many camping locations.
What to do
Hiking and backpacking trails: Lake Maria State Park Campground offers backpacking-specific sites with varying difficulty levels. "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," explains Tori K. Sites include fire rings, picnic tables, and bear lockers for food storage.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Crow Wing State Park Campground provides riverside habitat for diverse wildlife. "Nature feels close here — in the best way. We saw pileated woodpeckers, red squirrels, and a chorus of chorus frogs," notes one visitor. The park's river setting creates excellent conditions for dawn and dusk wildlife observation.
Water recreation access: Games Lake County Park provides boating and swimming facilities near cabin accommodations. "There is a nearby boat launch with parking. As well as a playground and beach area with a slide," shares a reviewer. The park is situated on Games Lake, part of the larger 2,800-acre Norway chain of lakes system.
What campers like
Secluded cabin locations: Lake Maria State Park Campground offers cabins in more remote settings. "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," describes Alison O. These cabins require packing accordingly due to the hiking distance.
Clean, modern facilities: Bertram Chain of Lakes Regional Park Campground maintains high standards for their bathrooms. "The bathrooms were extremely modern and clean. There were some really nice wide trails around the lake," reports David T. The park balances natural settings with well-maintained infrastructure.
Variety of accommodation options: St. Cloud Campground & RV Park offers multiple lodging types. "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," says Elizabeth W. The varied options accommodate different preferences and budgets.
What you should know
Seasonal operating schedules: Most cabin rentals around St. Joseph operate from May through October. St. Cloud-Clearwater RV Park runs from May 3 to October 13, while St. Cloud Campground operates May 1 to October 10. Winter cabin options require advance planning.
Reservation requirements: St. Cloud-Clearwater RV Park fills quickly during peak season. "Just stayed for the weekend and we had a wonderful time. Shaded lot, much quieter than other sites I've been too. Many lots seem to be seasonal owners, but all were very well kept," reports one visitor. Weekends book several months in advance during summer.
Bug protection essentials: Mosquitoes and ticks can be problematic, particularly at Lake Maria State Park. One camper advises: "Pro tip: Pack light and bring permethrin-treated clothes during bug season. And don't forget a headlamp — the darkness here is wild and beautiful." Bug pressure tends to be highest from May through August.
Tips for camping with families
Pool and recreation options: Baker Campground - Baker Park Reserve offers family-friendly facilities. "With great fishing, playground, swimming, and biking trails very nearby, the kids were kept as busy as they wanted to be," notes Bryan S. The campground includes paved trails around lakes for safer biking with children.
Cabin selection strategies: Family cabins vary significantly in size and amenities. Creekwood Acres offers a full kitchen cabin with a main floor bedroom and additional sleeping space in the loft. Other locations provide more rustic accommodations requiring additional preparation.
Kid-friendly activities: St. Cloud-Clearwater RV Park provides numerous structured activities. "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," shares Aaron L. Activities rotate throughout the summer season.
Tips from RVers
Site layout considerations: Some campgrounds feature unusual site configurations. Lake Koronis Regional Park has a notable site design issue: "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," explains Mandy S. Reviewing site maps before arrival helps prevent setup challenges.
WiFi and connectivity challenges: Reliable connectivity varies greatly between properties. At St. Cloud Campground & RV Park, "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," reports Tina. Bringing mobile hotspots serves as a backup for needed connectivity.
