Cabin camping near St. Michael offers accessible overnight options within 30 minutes of the city. Most sites require reservations, particularly during summer weekends when temperatures range from 70-85°F. The region features multiple park reserves with short-term rental cabins available for visitors seeking alternatives to traditional tent or RV camping.
What to do
Hiking accessible trails: Baker Park Reserve has several paved paths for all skill levels. One camper noted, "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)."
Water activities: Lake Maria State Park provides direct water access from backpacking sites. A visitor shared, "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."
Winter camping: Bunker Hills Regional Park maintains year-round access for winter glamping in St. Michael area. A camper reported, "The temperature was COLD the first night, but perfect the rest of the week. Absolutely loved the experience, and I will go again."
Horse trails: Crow Hassan Park Reserve offers equestrian-specific camping. "This is my all-time favorite park to bring my horse to, and it's her favorite trail too. Seriously, when we head back to our trailer she will stop and refuse to proceed," one enthusiast explained.
What campers like
Privacy levels: Sites vary from secluded to social. At Baker Campground, "Quiet, lots of trees, nice fire rings. Bathrooms were close and well kept. There were lots of other campers there but the sites are large and plentiful so it was not crowded."
Clean facilities: Regional parks maintain high standards. "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," according to one Baker Park visitor.
Proximity to cities: Most sites offer wilderness feel despite urban proximity. A Rice Creek Chain of Lakes camper mentioned, "We took a 30 minute drive north of the cities for a quick get away, and were rewarded with a very nice campground!"
Backpacking options: Lake Maria State Park features walk-in sites at varying distances. "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."
What you should know
Seasonal considerations: Bug activity peaks mid-summer. At Lake Maria, one visitor warned: "The black flies were dive bombing the car like a scene from Armageddon. We prepared the kiddos for a quick grab and run and jumped out of the car."
Reservation requirements: Most luxury glamping sites near St. Michael book 60-120 days ahead. "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," noted one Baker Park visitor.
Site selection varies: Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Regional Park offers both open and wooded sites. "Our site was clear, flat and grassy, and had an established fire pit. Other loops had grills and hook ups for pop-up campers and RVs."
Water access challenges: Some sites require walks to water sources. At Lake Maria: "The pump for the water was very slow. 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."
Tips for camping with families
Day use amenities: Bunker Hills provides additional recreation options. "They have a water park with a wave pool, a disc golf course, a golf course, several pavilions with grills, a few playgrounds and plenty of trails both paved and unpaved."
Site spacing concerns: Some campgrounds have limited separation. A Minneapolis Northwest KOA visitor noted, "The KOA was nice and clean but you're packed in on top of each other like sardines in a can."
Weekend planning: St. Cloud-Clearwater RV Park sees varied traffic patterns. According to one camper: "Friendly staff, quiet during the week and busy on the weekends. Nice pool, laundry facility, nice restrooms with showers."
Playground access: Multiple facilities cater to children. "This a nice family campground. It has a 9 hole mini golf, shuffleboard, salt water pool, and a lobby/gift shop. They also offer a nice seating area for those hot or raining days with free arcade."
Tips from RVers
Parking configurations: Bunker Hills accommodates various vehicle sizes. "This campground was big with privacy between the camp spots. There were nice trails to help explorer the regional park."
Site selection strategies: Baker Park offers specific recommendations. "The sites a Baker Park Reserve are larger than average. This is a big campground with a lot of paved bike trails and a nice lake a short walk away."
Hookup varieties: Lake Auburn Campground provides partial services. "Nice, well-maintained campground good for drive-in camping and RVs. Close to several towns in case you forgot something."
