Is Camper Cabins Campground first-come first-served or reservation?

Camper Cabins Campground accepts online reservations. We recommend booking in advance, especially during peak season (typically summer weekends). Use campsite alerts to get notified when spots become available.

Are there showers at Camper Cabins Campground?

Camper Cabins Campground does not have shower facilities. Plan accordingly—nearby alternatives may include day-use areas or towns.

Are dogs allowed at Camper Cabins Campground?

Pets are not allowed at Camper Cabins Campground. This policy helps protect local wildlife and other campers. Consider nearby pet-friendly campgrounds if traveling with animals.

Camper Cabins Campground

4.39

156 reviews

Top 23% in MNFall

C+Report Card

Scenic ViewsSummer Destination

Featured in:Family-Friendly Campgrounds Minnesota

Quick Facts

1,407 ft

Price

Varies

Booking

Reservable

Sites

Varies

Season

Year-round

Cell

No Service

Pets

No Pets

Book on Minnesota DNR Official Website

Get Directions

Quick Facts

1,407 ft

Price

Varies

Booking

Reservable

Sites

Varies

Season

Year-round

Cell

No Service

Pets

No Pets

Book on Minnesota DNR Official Website

Get Directions

Camper Cabins Campground

No fees available

Campsite Fees

No paid fee categories listed.

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Minnesota State Parks

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Campground Map

Camper Cabins Campground

46.0007, -95.3351

Weather at Camper Cabins Campground

Best Time to Camp at Camper Cabins Campground

Fall offers the best combination of comfortable weather and vivid autumn color. Expect daytime highs in the 45–60°F range during September and October, with nights dipping into the 30s. Peak foliage hits late September through early October, making hiking and wildlife viewing especially rewarding as biting insects subside. Wood ticks are an issue in warmer months, so bring repellent and check yourself after hikes. Spring and summer bring shade to the lower campground and prime lake access, though the small public beach gets crowded and the lower sites can feel packed during peak weekends. Reviewers note the lower campground can catch chilly winds in fall.

Best

Fall(Sep-Nov)

4.5 / 5

Top 23% in MN

Overview: 'Fall offers best combination of comfortable weather and vivid autumn color.'

Planning Tips

About Camper Cabins Campground

Camper Cabins Campground sits within Lake Carlos State Park, offering year-round access to 2,605-acre Lake Carlos and extensive hiking trails through glacial moraine forest. The park features two camping areas: a quieter upper campground with more space between sites and a lower campground steps from the water. Reviewers consistently mention booking pressure, so reserve early.

Weather and SeasonsFall offers the best combination of comfortable weather and vivid autumn color. Expect daytime highs in the 45–60°F range during September and October, with nights dipping into the 30s. Peak foliage hits late September through early October, making hiking and wildlife viewing especially rewarding as biting insects subside. Wood ticks are an issue in warmer months, so bring repellent and check yourself after hikes. Spring and summer bring shade to the lower campground and prime lake access, though the small public beach gets crowded and the lower sites can feel packed during peak weekends. Reviewers note the lower campground can catch chilly winds in fall.

Natural Features and SceneryGlacial moraine topography shapes the landscape here, with Lake Carlos. A deep basin reaching 163 feet. Surrounded by rolling hills, old-growth forest patches, and a network of woodland ponds and marshes. Wetland overlooks and forest trails show off maples that turn vivid in fall, while the lakeshore holds stands of aspen and oak. Wildlife sightings include bald eagles, eastern gray squirrels, chipmunks, and dragonflies above the water. The lake hosts largemouth bass, northern pike, walleye, and cisco, though zebra mussels and milfoil have established populations (the DNR provides boat-cleaning stations). Trails can have standing water after rain, and poison ivy grows along lakeside routes.

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Reserving a campsite

Tents

Tents are not allowed

RV vehicles

RV vehicles are not allowed

Primitive

Primitive camping is not allowed

Reservable

Reservations are allowed

Best CampsitesThe lower campground draws praise for cleanliness, shade in spring and summer, and immediate lake access. The upper campground is quieter and more spacious, better for campers who want separation from neighbors. Some camping pads run short for larger RVs, so verify site length limits before booking.

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Policies & Safety

No Potable WaterThis campground does not have potable water on-site. Bring all the water you need for drinking, cooking, and cleaning.

No Cell ServiceCell phone service is not available at this campground. Plan accordingly for emergencies and download offline maps before arriving.

No Flush ToiletsFlush toilets are not available at this campground. Expect vault or pit toilets only.

No Electric HookupsElectric hookups are not available at this campground. RV campers should arrive with a full battery and plan for off-grid power (generator hours/quiet rules permitting).

No Water HookupsSite-level water hookups are not available. RV campers should fill freshwater tanks before arrival; check the No Potable Water note above if applicable for drinking water.

No Dump StationThere is no dump station at this campground. Plan to use a dump station along your route or at a nearby facility before or after your stay.

Trip Planning Tools

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Reviews

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From Booking Sources

4.4

156 reviews

Recommended

Camper Cabins Campground is recommended, placing it in the top 40% of campgrounds based on reviews

Campers consistently praise Camper Cabins Campground for its beautiful lake, well‑kept hiking trails, and friendly, helpful staff. Reviewers highlight clean restrooms/showers, strong fishing and boating access, and family‑friendly atmosphere — the upper campground is noted as quieter and more spacious while the lower campground is closer to the water and can feel crowded. Many recommend booking early and taking advantage of park programs and the informative visitor center.

Review Summaries

Based on 156 reviews

What Campers Love

["Scenic, clean lake and shoreline with good fishing","Extensive, well‑marked hiking trails and varied recreation (swim, boat launch, canoe/kayak, horseback riding, biking)","Clean, regularly...

Based on 156 reviews

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Camper Cabins Campground

No fees available

Campsite Fees

No paid fee categories listed.

Get Notified When Available

We'll monitor this campground and alert you the moment sites become available.

Free to start · paid plans add 2-min scans

256,000+ sites monitored · Email alerts to start; SMS and in-app with an account

Learn more about alerts →

Share this campground

Minnesota State Parks

Provider

Go if

Fall weekends with a fishing rod and a reserved upper-campground site. The maples and oaks turn vivid by late September, ticks subside, and the upper loop gives you breathing room that the lower waterfront sites can't match at peak times.

Skip if

Pets are a hard no, and alcohol is prohibited park-wide with fines enforced. Larger RVs should verify pad lengths before booking, several reviewers found the sites too short for their rigs, and boat trailer parking gets congested fast.

Nearby Campgrounds

Lake Carlos State Park

When the sun sets over Lake Carlos, your adventure is just beginning. Settle into your campsite and experience the magic of a Minnesota evening—crackling campfires, naturalist-led programs under the stars, and the peaceful sounds of the forest at night.

Lake Carlos State Park

Lake Carlos State Park's camper cabins sit among hardwoods and pines on the shore of one of Minnesota's clearest lakes. The park covers over 1,200 acres with direct beach and boat landing access, though visitors should expect close site spacing and weekend crowds.

Lake Carlos State Park

Lower Campground sits directly on the shore of Lake Carlos in central Minnesota's glacial hill country. The campground offers 81 electric sites packed densely along a hard-surfaced loop, with sites 109–124 right on the water. Expect excellent lake access and lively summer boat traffic, but little privacy between neighbors.

Reservable

0.321 km

No fees available

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Camper Cabins Campground

Lake Maria State Park

Camper Cabins Campground sits in Lake Maria State Park, a wooded retreat about an hour northwest of the Twin Cities near Monticello. The camper cabins are hike-in only, roughly three-quarters of a mile to 1.5 miles from parking, giving them a remote feel without a long trek. The park is known for more than 40 miles of hiking and horse trails threading through hardwood forest, ponds, and marshes.

Reservable

131.348 km

No fees available

Campgrounds

Lake Carlos State Park

Camper Cabins Campground

C+

Camper Report Card

How campers graded it

Rated higher than 48% of graded campgrounds

Graded on what 135 campers actually wrote - graded on 14 things that make or break a trip. Each topic is graded against every other campground on it - A is among the best, C about average. No star ratings.

Strengths

Grade B+.Things to do
Grade B+.Bugs & weather
Grade B.Getting there

Watch-outs

Grade C-.Rules & policies
Grade C.Value
Grade C.Staff & hosts

Every grade - tap to see what campers said

Each topic is graded against every other campground on it; a topic campers liked never grades below C−. ± shows the 95% confidence range from the sample size.

How we grade →See how Minnesota grades overall

About Keith Sebelius Reservoir (Prairie Dog State Park)

Context for the broader area surrounding Camper Cabins Campground, sourced from the federal Recreation.gov rec-area record.

<A HREF="https://www.usbr.gov/projects/index.php?id=238">Norton Dam</a> and Keith Sebelius Reservoir are features of the <A HREF="https://www.usbr.gov/projects/index.php?id=339">PSMBP - Almena Unit</a>. The reservoir is open 24 hour and has good access. Available species include walleye, saugeye (sauger/walleye hybrids), wipers, largemouth bass, crappie, and channel catfish. Irrigation supply reservoir experiencing moderate fluctuations. The reservoir has 2,181 water surface acres, 5668 land acres and 32 miles of shoreline. Fishing season is year-round. Public hunting is available for deer, upland game, and waterfowl. Special hunts can be arranged by application for youth, disabled, or family hunts. <A HREF="http://www.usbr.gov/gp-bin/arcweb_ksks.pl">Current Reservoir Levels</a> A stabilized/reconstructed rammed earth house from the 1890's called the "Adobe House", furnished with items from the general time period, is open by appointment only.

Directions

Site is located 4 miles southwest of Norton, Kansas. Nearest highway is U.S. 36. From Norton, 4 miles west on U.S.36 and 1 mile south on KS 261.

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