Cabin camping near Staples, Minnesota offers access to the Mississippi River watershed and Crow Wing River systems, with elevations averaging around 1,300 feet above sea level. The area experiences warm summers with average July temperatures of 82°F and cold winters dropping to 0°F in January. Seasonal cabin rentals typically operate from May through October, with limited year-round options primarily through state parks.
What to do
Hiking trail access: Crow Wing State Park Campground offers trails that connect directly to campsites. "The park is nothing spectacular, but it was nice, wooded, and the staff were great. You can join the hiking club trail straight from the campground, which was nice- I went on a few beautiful sunset walks to watch the sunset over the river," notes Sarah D.
Historical exploration: Explore the 1890s town site at Crow Wing State Park with interpretive displays. "There is an old town site with informational plaques along the way that depict what life was like here in the 1890s. Excellent map signage on the hiking trails too," shares Lindsey R.
Disc golf and wildlife viewing: Sunnybrook Park combines outdoor recreation with unique wildlife encounters. "Lots of fun amenities, most notable are disc golf and a small zoo with some bison and deer. Sites are fairly spacious and the tent sites are closest to the river," reports Tori K.
What campers like
Lakefront seclusion: Lake Carlos State Park Campground features two campground sections with different character. "There is a lower portion and upper portion with the lower campground being lakefront. There are primitive and electric sites available," explains Tori K., who adds that the campground is "close to downtown Alexandria where there are a variety of things to do: breweries and restaurants, shopping, other parks and trails."
Winter access options: Unique among local options, Lake Carlos State Park maintains winter cabin availability. "I stayed here with a few friends in the winter when the park was doing their lantern-lit snowshoe trail. They have 1 site (electric) available in the winter," notes Tori K.
Lake activities: True North Basecamp cabins offer direct water access. "We brought our paddleboard and had a great time on the quiet lake. We did hike up to the top of the camp area and were glad we stayed in the cabins. The shower/bathroom house was nice," says Stacy M.
What you should know
Reservation requirements: Most cabin accommodations require advance booking, especially during peak summer months. "We booked the trip pretty late because of a lot of different factors, but Crow Wing State Park still had plenty of availability," reports Sarah D., highlighting the exception to the typical busy booking pattern.
Limited facilities at some locations: Research bathroom facilities before booking. "There was only 1 shower/toilet building and 7 water spigots for 48 camp sites - most of which were for tents. Of the 2 women's shower stalls, only one worked properly. Fortunately, the facility was very clean," Julie P. mentions about Crow Wing State Park.
Seasonal considerations: Glendalough State Park Campground offers varied accommodation types including cabins and yurts. "All sites (except one handicapped site) are tent only and cart-in sites. That being said, the trip from the (assigned) parking spot to your site is very short and very flat," notes Pete T., highlighting the logistics of accessing sites.
Tips for camping with families
Motorized vs. non-motorized lakes: Choose lakes based on activities your family prefers. "They don't allow motor boats on one of the lakes so there is always calm water to canoe, kayak, swim, or paddleboard in," explains Emily R. about Glendalough State Park.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Kids often enjoy the animal encounters. "We saw many deer, caught many pan fish and observed an eagle in it's nest... We can't wait to go back," shares Pete T. about their Glendalough State Park experience.
Playground access: Sunset Pines Campground includes family-friendly facilities. "The staff is friendly, and go above and beyond to make sure your stay is good. The sites are clean and level. They have a pool and playground for kids among other activities," says Brent G.
Tips from RVers
Site spacing considerations: At some locations, RV sites may be closer together than tent areas. "The electric site area isn't super awesome, as it gets crowded and is more like a huge group camp. But the rest are way more private," notes HollyRose M. about Crow Wing State Park.
Full hookup availability: Not all campgrounds offer full hookups for RVs. "Sites have beautiful lake views. You can apparently drive your boat right into a sandy shore and dock it," observes Joanna B. about Lake Carlos State Park, highlighting the proximity to water but not commenting on utility availability.
Off-season options: Winter camping with electric hookups is limited but possible. "We had room for a truck bed camper and a pop-up clam ice fishing tent. A couple and their 2 dogs stayed in the truck camper and me and another friend stayed in the clam with an electric space heater," shares Tori K. about winter camping at Lake Carlos State Park.
