Written by Denise Stegmann in March 2020

The minnesota camper cabin

Not quite glamping but also not tent camping.

I like the idea of camping, pitching a tent, nodding off all cozied up in a warm sleeping bag, enjoying a camp fire all day long, just feeling very connected to nature. That is the idea, but then I also feel so exposed to all the elements, the ground is quite hard for sleeping, it can get pretty cold, and you can never stand upright unless you step out of the tent. I also always fear all kinds of wild animal encounters. So to be quite honest I am not the die hard camper who I sometimes envision myself to be. But I still like the idea of it. So living in Minnesota I have the lovely option of a camper cabin. A cute little cabin set in a state park that is only lacking a bathroom. But I can live with that. Maybe you can too. So keep reading to learn more about the option of a camper cabin in a Minnesota State Park.

State parks

Minnesotans are very proud of their state park system. There are 67 state parks, and every Minnesotan has access to a state park that is no more than 50 miles from their home. A Minnesota state park is an area of land preserved by the state for its natural, historic, or other resources. To visit a MN state park you need a $35 permit for your vehicle. The permit is valid for one year from the month of purchase.

Glacial lakes State park

Our family went to the Glacial Lakes State Park in the summer of 2019. Glacial Lakes State Park was established in 1963 to preserve prairie land that used to cover most of Minnesota before farming. It is a really beautiful piece of the world. Not breathtaking but serene and peaceful. Prairie landscape, textures and colors of different grasses and wildflowers make a beautiful mix. Dotted with dark blue lakes and patches of old oak forests. You just want to paint these different layers that make this place so beautiful to the eye. What we can enjoy today once meant a rough life. During our time there I could not help my thoughts drifting to early European settlers. Now that I am writing this it strikes me as wrong that I did not think of native Americans living in these lands. It just shows what kind of historical narratives I have been exposed to as a European. So my mind kept creating these images of hard working and ever enduring settlers who just tried to survive. While I enjoyed the serenity of this place another generation had to practice a different kind of mindfulness to simply survive in these conditions. Only the sky and the horizon could give one an idea of what might come next. One lived with the seasons, and those were the only given in one's life. Life was pretty much based in the moment. There was no need to be reminded to be in the present. You had no other choice but to be in the present. I do not mean to idealize this life, being present often meant health or injury, life or death.

​So if you feel like exploring this state park, know that you can find trails that are easy to explore with children, even very young ones. On warm days everyone can go swimming in Signalness Lake. It's a sandy, shallow entry that should be easy to navigate with young children. You can also rent canoes, kayaks, rowboats and paddle boards to spend time on the lake. 

the camper cabin- An affordable and comfortable outdoor family experience

Basic cabins rent for $70 a night, cabins with electricity and heat rent for $75 a night. Since our family stayed in a cabin with electricity I am going to refer to that type of cabin during the warmer months in this article. For our family with two young children the option of a camper cabin to explore a state park was superior to the concept of tent camping. Camper cabins seem like a very family friendly way to spend time in nature.

​Where are they located? Map of camper cabins in MN 

What do they have to offer?

Twenty-seven state parks all over Minnesota have between 1 and 5 camper cabins. They each have two bunk beds. One bunk bed is the twin over full type of bunk bed where the lower part is a full size mattress and and the upper part is a full size, the other one is a standard twin size. So you could potentially have up to 6 people sleep in one camper cabin. There is also enough space to comfortably set up a pack and play for a baby or toddler. The bunk beds are equipped with a bare waterproof mattress. My husband and I often wake up with back pain but we slept well on the provided mattresses. Everything was very clean at our camper cabin, and we were also instructed to clean everything before leaving. But no one ever checked on our cleaning, and I had read reviews on tripadvisor about unclean camper cabins. So cleanliness might be a question of luck. There are different types of brooms provided in the cabin so you can always do your own cleaning. 

There was also a table with two benches, seating 4 comfortably. And most camper cabins have a screened in porch attached to the cabin. The screened in porch can be locked, and so can the cabin itself.

​Outside of the cabin there is a ringed in fire pit with a grate, and a picnic table. Cabins never seem to be located in isolation, they seem to be grouped by two or more. But our cabin still felt private especially since we went during the week and the closest next cabin was not occupied. The parking lot for our cabin was also  right there so carrying things to the cabin was no effort.
Our cabin had seven outlets so that felt like a luxury compared to any type of camping we had done before. We actually arrived somewhat unprepared, and ended up cooking meals on a camping stove outside the cabin. But in my attached packing list you will see that for our next camper cabin retreat I am planning on taking full advantage of the 7 outlets.
Even though camper cabins do not have indoor plumbing you will be able to use campground bathrooms that are never far away from the cabin.

how well does it HOLD UP in the rain or other elements?

You are completely protected from the elements. and can really hunker down in any kind of weather condition. You just have to leave the cabin when nature calls. Many camper cabins are designed for year round use, and also come with heat. Since we had a napping toddler with us, we stayed in the front porch area while the toddler was napping and the rain was coming down. It is a screened in front porch so it might not stay completely dry but it gives you a somewhat protected area.

Camper Cabin Packing list for my family of four

When I make a packing list for any overnight trip I usually think in the following categories: sleep, nutrition, hygiene and safety, and entertainment. These categories should cover all of our needs. In a perfect world I would also pack by these categories but this is a different story.
Sleep
  • sleeping bags for everyone (consider if anyone prefers a blanket)
  • fitted mattress cover for twin size and/or full size for potentially 4 mattresses (not necessary but a personal preference)
  • pillows (again, not necessary but a personal preference)
  • pack and play (if you are traveling with baby or toddler)
  • nightlight and/or sound machine (depending on what your family needs to sleep; there are outlets) 


Nutrition
Again, you have 7 outlets so why not go for full comfort. Next time we will go to a camper cabin I will consider bringing all of these. You will have to bring a cooler, or two unless you want to go all out and bring a mini fridge but I think if you are considering this then maybe you are just not meant to do any activity that involves the word camping. So one idea to keep the cooler cool would be to bring frozen meals, that could be warmed up in a slow cooker. 
  • Waterboiler
  • Toaster
  • Slow cooker
  • French press
  • Coffee/tea
  • Breakfast (toaster waffles, bread, butter, jam, overnight oats, fruit, cooked bacon)
  • Portions of freezer meals (chicken noodle soup, chili)
  • Freeze dried meals (some of them are really good, we like Mountain House and Backpacker's Pantry)
  • Hot Dogs and buns
  • Cheese
  • Crackers
  • Pickles
  • Milk
  • ​Tea bags, hot chocolate mix
  • Cereal
  • Cookies, bars
  • S’mores materials
  • Maybe sticks for hot dogs and s'mores
  • Plates, eating utensils
  • Cups and/or Bottles
  • Cookware you might need
  • Camping stove (depending on your meal planning)
  • matches
  • water bottles​ 
  • dish soap, sponge, dish towel, maybe some kind of bin to transport your dirty dishes to a bathroom for cleaning


Hygiene
Be prepared for sun and mosquitos, and be prepared to use a camping bathroom. Do you have shoes you can wear during a shower? Do you need some kind of tote to transport everything you need to get ready for the day?
  • bug spray
  • sunscreen
  • first aid kit
  • toothbrushes and toothpaste
  • towels
  • anything you want to use during a shower
  • toilet paper (all the bathrooms at Glacial Lakes State Park had toilet paper, but it might be smart to bring some just in case)


​Entertainment
Obviously what you are going to bring for entertainment is going to be influenced by what you and your family enjoy doing. But here is some inspiration
  • Coloring books (they can also be fun for adults)
  • pens and crayons (you might also find some rocks you can color)
  • games
  • binoculars
  • field guides for birds or plants
  • books
  • fishing gear
  • ball
  • swimwear

More accommodations in Minnesota's state parks

Cabins and Guesthouses
Different types of basic cabins and guesthouses that sometimes have bathrooms and/or kitchens. It is fun to see what affordable options are out there.

Yurts
Three different state parks have yurts that can only be reached by hiking or canoeing. This could be a wonderful experience with older children.

read more

Museum Visit with children

Make a museum visit a fun learning experience for your children, and for yourself.

Flying in times of the Climate crisis

An attempt to justify air travel in a warming climate.

Winter time on Lake superior

Plan a winter time trip with your baby on the shores of Lake Superior.