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8 Minnesota State Parks with Camper Cabins, Cabins and Guesthouses for Big Families

    The Land of 10,000 Lakes. Minnesota. Just the nickname makes you think of beautiful Minnesota outdoors and all the fun your big family can have at the state parks. Now there’s no need to leave the park. We searched and found these big family friendly cabins, guesthouses, and camper cabins that will accommodate your family for your next outdoor adventure. Enjoy!

    Cabins and Guesthouses

     Bear Head Lake State Park 

    Secluded in the Northwoods, this park contains pristine lakes; it is home to black bears, nesting eagles, wolves, and moose.

    • Guesthouse – Located just feet from ideal fishing along Bear Head Lake, the three-bedroom guesthouse offers a perfect retreat, sleeps ten, and is available year-round. Full kitchen, heat, and air conditioning.


    Fort Ridgely State Park 

    Tour Historic Fort Ridgely and wander through the ruins of this once thriving outpost.

    • Chalet – Features a full kitchen with amenities, a fireplace, and central heat. There are no beds in the Chalet; guests should bring sleeping bags and spread out on the floor for an overnight stay. Bathrooms are located on the lower level.
    • Farmhouse – Located near the equestrian campground, the farmhouse offers convenient access to the Fair Ridge Trail.  It sleeps six,  has one bedroom with three beds – these beds looked small to us. There is no indoor restroom; a vault toilet is nearby and a shower building is available at the equestrian campground.

    Ithasca State Park 

    Itasca is Minnesota’s oldest state park. Today, the park totals more than 32,000 acres and includes more than 100 lakes.

    • East Cabin – This restored, heated and air-conditioned two-bedroom log cabin sleeps six, and is available seasonally. Two bedrooms with two full beds and one queen pull-out.
    • Lake Ozawindib Cabin – Remote three-room heated log cabin in a wilderness setting on Lake Ozawindib. It sleeps eight and is available seasonally. There are two bedrooms with two full beds and two pull-outs. Kitchenette with full-size refrigerator and cooktop.
    • Douglas Lodge Cabins – One-room and one-, two-, or three-bedroom heated log and stick cabins near Douglas Lodge along Lake Itasca. All include a bathroom with a shower/tub. One cabin sleeps six and six cabins sleep eight.
    • Bear Paw Guesthouse –  The log guesthouse sleeps up to 10 people. It has two bedrooms, each has a queen bed and the third bedroom with a twin-sized bunk bed. Two futon couches can be made into beds. There is a full kitchen with a living area, a second living area with a fireplace, two bathrooms that are ADA accessible.
    • Clubhouse – A two-story, heated, and air-conditioned log building near Douglas Lodge is ideal for large groups or families. It rents as a single unit and includes ten bedrooms with seven full beds and seven twin beds. There is also a common area and a large screened porch with a view of Lake Itasca. Sleeps 21.

    La Salle Lake State Recreation Area 

    Take advantage of fishing opportunities on Minnesota’s deepest inland lake at 213 feet. Other highlights include a coldwater stream, a scientific and natural area, and a pristine stretch of the Mississippi River.

    • Black Bear Guest House – Enjoy beautiful waterfront views from this heated cabin right on the lake. It sleeps ten and is available year-round. Three bedrooms with four queen-sized beds and a pull-out futon that can sleep two. Kitchen with full-size refrigerator, microwave, dishwasher, and 4-burner cooktop.

    St Croix State Park

    Experience the rustic beauty of St. Croix State Park while enjoying the modern conveniences of home. The guesthouse offers direct access to groomed cross-country ski trails and a five-mile paved bicycle trail.

    • Guesthouse 1 –  The guesthouse has eight bedrooms with 15 beds, two full bathrooms with showers on each floor, and one half-bath. There is also a full kitchen with amenities. Sleeps 15.
    • Guesthouse 2 – The guesthouse has six bedrooms with ten beds, two full bathrooms with showers, and a full kitchen with amenities. Sleeps 12.

     


    Savanna Portage State Park 

    Savanna Portage State Park has 15,818 acres of rolling hills, lakes, and bogs.

    • Garni Guesthouse – The Garni Guesthouse is located on a peninsula on the beautiful Savanna Lake. Miles of rolling hills with hiking and snowmobile trails are within walking distance. The guesthouse has one bedroom with a full bed, two twin beds, and a full futon. There is one bathroom with a small shower and a full kitchen with amenities. Heat is included. An unattached garage with a heated bunk room is located 100 feet from the guesthouse. Sleeps six.


    Tettegouche State Park 

    Visit Tettegouche for a great sense of the North Shore: the spectacular overlooks at Shovel Point; rocky, steep cliffs and inland bluffs; and the cascading 60 ft. High Falls of the Baptism River.

    • Tettegouche Camp
      • Cabin A – This two-room cabin has a view of Mic Mac Lake from the large screened-in porch. There is one bedroom with two twin-over-full bunks, a living/dining area with a wood stove, and a small kitchenette with a two-burner cooktop, and mini-refrigerator.  Sleeps six.
      • Cabin B – This three-room log cabin is located about ten feet from the shores of Mic Mac Lake. Its large screened-in porch overlooks the lake and the hills of the park. There is a living/dining area with a wood stove, two bedrooms with two full-over-full bunks, and a small kitchenette with a two-burner cooktop and mini-refrigerator. Sleeps 6.
      • Cabin C –  Nestled on the edge of the woods, this three-room log cabin is near the lodge and shower building with a view of Mic Mac Lake from its two small screened porches. There is one bedroom with two twin-over-full bunks, a living/dining room with a wood stove, and a small kitchen with a two-burner cooktop and mini-refrigerator. Sleeps 6.
    • Ilgen Falls Cabin – This cabin overlooks Illgen Falls on the eastern edge of Tettegouche State Park, near the Baptism River.
      The drive-to cabin offers a private setting with park trails only three miles away. There are two bedrooms with two queen beds and a queen sleeper sofa, a gas fireplace, and a full kitchen. Sleeps six.


    Wild River State Park 

    The park is located along 18 miles of the beautiful St. Croix River. The park attracts people who enjoy camping, hiking, horseback riding, canoeing, interpretive programs, self-guided trails, and cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.

    • Guesthouse – Nestled in a secluded location, the guesthouse offers privacy and relaxation. Close to hiking, canoeing, snowshoeing, skiing, and numerous other recreation opportunities. There are two bedrooms with one queen bed, one double-over-single bunk, and a single roll-out, one bathroom with a tub/shower unit, and a full kitchen. The cabin also has a fireplace, gas furnace, central air conditioning, television, and a deck. Sleeps six.

    Camper Cabins

    mncampercabin

    Camper cabins are rustic, one-room wooden cabins that provide basic shelter for visitors who want a “camping out” experience but prefer not to deal with a tent.
    Each 12 by 16-foot cabin contains a table, benches, and wooden bunk beds (two sets of single over full bunk beds) with mattresses. Most cabins have a screened porch. Camper cabins do not have indoor plumbing but are located in or near the park’s campground, where seasonal restrooms, showers, and drinking water are available. Vault toilets are available year-round at all locations.

    Park name, number of camper cabins that sleep six:

    • Afton, 2
    • Bear Head Lake, 3
    • Big Bog SRA, 4
    • Flandrau, 1
    • Forestville/Mystery Cave, 3
    • Glacial Lakes, 3
    • Glendalough, 3
    • Hayes, 1
    • Jay Cooke, 3
    • Lac Qui Parle, 2
    • Lake Bemidji, 2
    • Lake Carlos, 3
    • Lake Maria, 3
    • Lake Shetek, 2
    • Maplewood, 4
    • Mile Lacs Kathio, 4
    • Sibley, 3
    • Wild River, 4
    • William O’Brien, 1
    Camping World

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    Theresa Jorgensen

    Theresa Jorgensen

    Theresa Jorgensen is a mother to four children including twins. She recognized the necessity for a comprehensive resource of hotels that cater to big families with rooms and suites for 5, 6, 7, or 8 people in a single room while traveling with her own family. In 2008, she established SixSuitcaseTravel to compile a database of such hotels. Over time, the website has grown to include travel advice, itineraries, road trip suggestions, national park guides, and more. Theresa takes pleasure in assisting other big families in creating unforgettable travel experiences.