Best Cabin Camping near Waconia, MN

Each cabin has four sleeping spots: 2 bunk beds, and the 2 couches convert to beds. There's a heater inside, but no AC, which makes these the most suitable during the spring and fall.

There is a fire ring outside of each cabin, along with a table. No cooking is allowed inside the cabins, which can make things rough if the weather isn't cooperating. 

We enjoy hiking around the trails, but we primarily go to decompress, lounge around, and play games, read, etc. There's WiFi available, but depending on which cabin you reserve signal will be took weak for real usage. Same for mobile data -- don't plan on cell service here.

The bathroom facilities are nice. 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.

Cabins are accessible for those who need special assistance, which is nice. The only caveat is I don't recall there being an automatic door opener to the cabins.

While the cabins are close together, noise is not a factor once you're inside. 

It's difficult to get reservations, so I recommend trying to start booking 120 days in advance, which is the farthest out you can reserve. For example, as of this review (early June), all weekends are booked for all cabins.

My partner and I scheduled a 3 day / 2 night stay in a new Vintage Cruiser RV for $39.99, in exchange for attending a presentation on private membership.

We checked in Wednesday evening, and the nicest staff I've ever met helped us acclimate to RV living. We are new to this game. They patiently described how to utilize the grey and black water tanks, as well as encouraged us to check-out the canoes, row boats, bikes, horseshoes, ladder golf and many other entertainment items - for FREE!

The map provided was accurate which made locating the cruiser a breeze. There were further instructions inside as well. The RV was immaculate. Provided for our use were all linens (a public very clean bath and shower was just across the road), dish soap, dish towels, paper towels, flat wear, plates, bowls, mugs and pans.

The campground has a couple of ponds, as well as access to Ham Lake where the watercraft is launched. There is a petting arena with goats, ponies, and a llama who gave my partner the stink eye, but fell in love with me rubbing the fence and giving me all googly eyes!

The clubhouse sells bundled wood, ice, snacks, cold drinks, ice cream and provides 24-hour fresh coffee. There is also a small resupply area, and gift shop.

There are pull-through sites, back ups, 50 and 30 amp hook ups, and tent sites, covered pavilions, picnic tables and fire pits.

The campground itself seems remote, secluded and peaceful, however, you are conveniently located to two well-stocked convenience stores, as well as Wal-Mart about 15 minutes away. It's also only about 45 minutes from the Minnesota Twin Cities.

One note: We visited in August and needed gallons of bug spray.

We very much enjoyed our get away!

Clean gravel sites with electric hook up surrounded by well maintained grass, picnic table, and fire pit. Central water spigot and dump station. Great signage throughout. Showers and restrooms available. A couple disc golf baskets, sand volleyball court and well maintained grass fields were available for play. Lake independence is a 5-10 minute walk along a newly paved trail. Lake offers two swimming beaches, a water equipment rental area, new restroom facilities, and a playground that was under construction at this time. Simple online reservation process at $26/night our one night total cost $36.03 all fees included. Morning of our reservation, camp staff called to communicate a change of site due to our reserved site having issues with its electrical. All amenities functioned appropriately. My wife, two young boys, and I had a great first time experience with our Bambi 19CB Airstream!

The cabins in the woods are great in winter with snow on the pine trees. I would probably prefer the prairie cabins in the summer, especially with mosquitoes. The prairie cabins have significantly less privacy though with trails on either side that have good views into the heavily windowed cabins.

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. Storage under the bed, one counter with ample storage under it, and even the windows are so deep that I was able to store most of my food on the sill.

The biggest downside is the middle-of-the-night trek to the bathroom. The bathroom is heated and open year round. There are two year round showers as well, but don’t plan on a long shower to unwind unless you like cold water. There was maybe 2 minutes of hot water. Basically enough to wash your body quickly, it was easy enough to avoid getting my hair wet. The shower room is also set to a cool 58 degrees in the winter. I do suspect that the floors are slightly heated though. You will need to dart across to the bathroom to blow dry your hair if you’re washing it in the winter. 

You can use a slow cooker and a coffee pot in the cabin. Otherwise you can cook over the fire as well. They have potable water in the bathroom for washing your dishes in the cabin with.

Close enough to town if you need something, far enough away for peace and quiet.

Minneopa Campground, you’re that poetic hideaway where “water falls twice” and bison roam under the open sky. As a forward‑thinking canine behaviorist and groomer 🌿, I appreciate spaces that embrace nature, community, and a dash of wilderness therapy—for both humans and pups!

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🌲 My Lyrical Dyrt-Style Review

🌟 Overall Mood: 4 / 5 – Rustic charm meets “nature unplugged” luxury ✨ Highlights: • Falls & Forks: A quick half‑mile hike delivers two majestic falls — upper falls tumble a few feet & the lower cascades 40–50 ft into a silent, lush gorge  • Bison Drive: Herds of ~20–40 bison grace the 330‑acre enclosure, accessible via a scenic auto‐drive; brings pure awe from safety of your car  • Camp Setup: 61 wooded campsites (6 with electric hookups), plus 4 group sites and 1 cabin. Non‑electric loops are shaded, rustic, and super private  • Amenities: Drinking water, flush toilets, hot showers (May–Oct), dump station, fire rings & picnic tables  • Wildlife & Trails: Abundant birdlife (213 species!), deer, coyotes, beaver; 4.5 mi of hiking, plus a short falls loop ()

🦟 Minor Caveats: • Mosquitoes and flies can be intense—especially near campground loops after rainfall  • A‑loop sites tucked by a railway cliff; trains rumble at night—not everyone’s quiet retreat ()

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🐾 Humorous & Humble Take • For the pups: Ace and canine clients will love splashing below the falls—just watch for slick rocks and curious beavers joining the party. • Pro tip: Request a B-loop or non-electric site far from the rails—to avoid midnight freight jams and embrace that hammock zen. • Camp vibe: Quirky woodland privacy with rustic charisma—like a corporate retreat, minus the Wi‑Fi.

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🏷️ Hashtags & Emojis

#MinneopaMagic #WaterFallsTwice #BisonBrigade #CampLife #DogFriendly #NatureUnplugged #FallsAndFur #RusticRetreat 🏕️ #TrainTracks 🎧 #BugSprayEssential 🦟

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Final Thoughts: Minneopa is a beautifully raw blend of waterfalls, wildlife, and woodland camp experience—with just the right dash of quirky (trains, bugs, and bison included). It’s a forward‑thinking wilderness escape perfect for unplugging, recharging, and teaching dogs that even nature has its own “social hierarchy.”

Pack the bug spray, grab the pup, and prepare for poetic nights by the fire—this campground is a metaphor in moss.

Final Thoughts: Minneopa is a beautifully raw blend of waterfalls, wildlife, and woodland camp experience—with just the right dash of quirky (trains, bugs, and bison included). It’s a forward‑thinking wilderness escape perfect for unplugging, recharging, and teaching dogs that even nature has its own “social hierarchy.”

Pack the bug spray, grab the pup, and prepare for poetic nights by the fire—this campground is a metaphor in moss.

#MinneopaMagic #WaterFallsTwice #BisonBrigade #CampLife #DogFriendly #NatureUnplugged #FallsAndFur #RusticRetreat 🏕️ #TrainTracks 🎧 #BugSprayEssential 🦟