The cabin camping experience near South Saint Paul offers multiple accommodation options within a short drive of the metro area. Located in Minnesota's rolling hills and hardwood forests, these cabins provide shelter through all four seasons with winter temperatures often dropping below zero. Most cabins are positioned on elevated sites overlooking lakes, rivers, or prairie landscapes, with varying accessibility depending on the season and location.
What to do
Water activities on Lake Independence: Baker Park Reserve features cabins within walking distance of the lake shore. "We love to camp here. Access to lake independence. A lot of biking trails. Nice clean bathrooms. Nice park for kids just a small hike away. Plus a decent amount of rentals," notes camper Matt H.
Birding and wildflower viewing: William O'Brien State Park Campground offers cabin stays with excellent spring nature viewing. "We loved the trails. It was easy to takes hikes of varying lengths. There were so many different kinds of birds, and the wildflowers were blooming and ferns were unfurling - so many shades of green!" writes Karla J. B.
Disc golf course access: When staying at cabins near Bunker Hills Regional Park, visitors can enjoy the nearby course. "Close to a top 10 disc golf course if that's your thing," mentions Lynsey M., who also notes the park's convenient location near downtown areas.
Seasonal beach access: Afton State Park provides cabins with summertime beach options. "Less than an hour drive from Minneapolis this is a good get away. As expected it has many walk trails. Highlight of this location is beach which is nice for swim and sun bath," explains Alison.
What campers like
Modern cabin amenities: The Eastern Bluebird cabin at Afton State Park gets high marks for comfort. "Perfect little cabin nestled in the southern half of the park! Screened in porch, heated with electricity, and two double bunk beds!" reports Alison O., who gave the experience five stars.
Privacy between units: Campers appreciate the secluded cabin settings at Rice Creek Campgrounds. "I loved the look of the 'TENT ONLY' loop - you don't see this often. In the morning, when I could see everything, I was thoroughly impressed by the space, the maintenance of the property, the size of the campsites," writes Amy G.
Contactless entry systems: Cabins near South Saint Paul increasingly offer technology-enhanced access. "Super simple camping cabins. They each have 4 spots and have contactless entry as you get sent a code to use," explains Scott M. about his winter experience at the cabins.
Camping atmosphere without roughing it: The cabins provide a middle ground between tenting and hotels. "The cabins are well-built and heated. The wooded cabins have what seems like full-sized mattress bunk beds built into the wall. Each bunk has its own reading light. The storage in this place is amazing," notes Krista T.
What you should know
Reservation windows and competition: Planning ahead is essential for cabin stays. "Based on the lack of Dyrt reviews and the overabundance of weekend availability for this campground, it might be a nice option for you to get camping even if you are a state-park-loving metro dweller like me," advises a visitor to Rice Creek Campgrounds.
Bathroom access considerations: Many cabins require walking to facilities. "The biggest downside is the middle-of-the-night trek to the bathroom. The bathroom is heated and open year round," explains Krista T., adding that shower water can be limited, with "maybe 2 minutes of hot water" in winter months.
Cooking restrictions: Most cabins prohibit indoor cooking. "There is no cooking inside the cabin so you have to use the fire ring outside," notes Scott M., which can be challenging in poor weather conditions.
Variable water access: Water availability changes seasonally at many cabins. "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," advises Blair about Whitetail Woods camper cabins.
Tips for camping with families
Pool access for kids: Baker Park Reserve provides cabin options with additional water amenities. "With great fishing, playground, swimming, and biking trails very nearby, the kids were kept as busy as they wanted to be," reports Bryan S.
Playground proximity: Select cabins near recreational areas for family convenience. "Nice playground for the kids. Fantastic bathrooms zoned showers," notes Lisa D. about St. Croix Bluffs Regional Park, giving it five stars.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Families enjoy nature encounters at cabins near lakes and marshes. "This campground is lovely. You can hear frogs all night and we even saw a turtle laying eggs in a different campsite," shares Laura E. about Savanna Campground.
Multiple cabin configurations: Some parks offer group cabin options. "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. Our site has a large picnic shelter with 6 picnic tables two grills and it's own volleyball place," explains Lizzy Z.
Tips from RVers
Boat launching options: Veterans Campground On Big Marine Lake offers cabins and RV sites with watercraft amenities. "The pontoons they offer for rent are beautiful!! The lake is nice," shares Staci J., though she cautions that fishing success is limited.
Utilities for extended stays: RVers recommend checking hookup options when booking cabins. "Most of the lots near the front were occupied but the back was almost empty, which is where the more wooded lots are. Only 1 bath house and it's not close to most of the tent sites," notes Zach H. about campground layouts.
Seasonal accessibility considerations: RV campers suggest monitoring road conditions for cabin access. "We tent camped here for a night while passing through. It's a basic KOA with a few amenities. The lots were really big and we had no one near us, so it was nice and private," adds Zach about the Minneapolis Northwest KOA.
