Where: 17100 Station Trail, Farmington, MN 55044
https://www.co.dakota.mn.us/parks/ReservationsPasses/CamperCabins
Was it worth it? Yes, I give it a 9/10
Highlight: The cabin itself (*see video tour below)
When we visited: February 2021
The Elusive Cabin Reservation
This beauty is tucked away in a little patch of woods in Farmington and is definitely worth the visit! I’m not gonna lie though, it’s TOUGH to find an opening! I’d been trying to make a reservation for months but it was always full. One lucky day while stalking the website, I found a random one night stay in mid Feb and booked it immediately! The reservation site is HERE. At $90 a night, this place is a great deal! TIP: Go online just after midnight and you’ll most likely be able to book a spot 120 days out (that’s the 2021 COVID reservations window).
Getting There
We live in Cottage Grove so we did the scenic drive through Hastings to get to Whitetail Woods. All was going smoothly until Google Maps told us to turn down a street called Alverno Ave. Turns out Alverno Ave is the road the snowplows forgot. After seeing an abandoned car stuck on the road ahead of us, we knew we had to get outta there! After some pro winter driving skills by the Australian, we managed to escape and get back to a real road. So, a word of caution, if you head to Whitetail in the winter, avoid Alverno Ave!
Checking In
Due to COVID, the check-in/out is all done electronically. You’ll receive an email voucher with a barcode on it and anytime after 3PM on your check in date you scan your barcode to enter the cabin. Included in your email is a parking pass. I forgot to print it beforehand but luckily they had some extra printouts in the cabin.
The Cabin
Check out the video for a tour of the cabin!
The cabins sleep six people. Each has a bunk bed (with a queen & full) and a queen pullout sofa bed. The cabins do NOT have a bathroom, kitchen or plumbing. You can cook outside by the fire or bring a portable gas stove (must be done outside the cabin). There is a small counter for a prep space and if you need to do dishes, there’s a bucket that you can fill up with water in the bathroom (bring dish soap if you are doing this).
Linens are not provided so bring your own sheets, blankets, pillows and towels. I like this though because after working in hotel housekeeping in college, I will never trust hotel sheets again!! (P.S. If you need any gross hotel stories, I’m your girl).
The cabins have electricity, outlets, lights and Wi-Fi so you’re not going to be totally roughing it here. The cabin’s heater worked great and kept the place cozy all night. We only used the Wi-Fi to play some tunes on Spotify so I’m assuming it worked well but we didn’t really put it to the test. This is the perfect opportunity to go device free!
Our Visitor
After settling in, we were kicking back relaxing until Andrew saw something scurry across the floor. Turns out, we had a mouse in the house! After a good hour or so trying to shoo the damn thing outside, we finally got it out! I was no help, I just laughed at Andrew trying to chase it and at my kids who were completely freaking out! One tween was whining that our night was ruined and he refused to sleep there and the other one just stood on the table yelling! All over a tiny mouse, geez! Don’t let that scare you away from these cabins though, I’m sure he/she just snuck in while we had the doors open 😉
Family vacay turned into a Date Day
It was the tail end of the polar vortex the day we arrived so we didn’t venture outside all too much on day one. Although after a few board games we sucked it up, bundled up and went for a night hike with flashlights and glow sticks!
Now get this, the next morning we woke up early and brought our kids back to Cottage Grove and dropped them at school! So much for a family vacation, HA! Distance learning did NOT give Andrew and I much time alone so we picked up breakfast and coffee and went back to the cabin!
Hiking/Skiing/Snowshoeing
After enjoying our coffee without the background sounds of our children, we went out on a morning hike! Check out the trail map HERE. There are a few trails to choose from but just be aware some are for skiing only. The trails are well marked and quiet but once we left the pine trees, we didn’t love the scenery. It was mostly open prairie, which I’m sure looks way better in the spring.
Sledding & Play Area
We didn’t sled on this trip but there’s a decent lighted sledding hill a short drive from the cabins that’s open until 10PM. The hill is right next to a natural playground. It’s the kind with logs, rocks and native plants and would be great for little kids but I think older kids would get bored fast.
Awesome Short Staycation
For us, our one night stay was just perfect. Although, I think if the weather was nicer it would’ve been great to stay another night to make use of the bonfire pit. If you’re headed here without kids and just want a place to unwind and relax, a multiple night stay would be right up your alley. Overall, I’d say if you get the chance to stay here, do it!!
Have you stayed at Whitetail Woods before? If not, is this staycation on your Minnesota bucket list?
Happy Exploring!
More information:
- Dogs not allowed in camper cabins
- No entry fee to get into Whitetail Woods Regional Park
- Heated restroom/shower building is not far from cabins
- BYO linens/bedding
- No refrigerator/microwave/coffee makers
- No plumbing in cabin
- A cabin with a mouse costs extra 😉
- If you’re driving through Hastings, check out my post on Vermilion Falls HERE
- Bring a potty bucket if you’ve got little (or big) people that don’t want to walk outside to the bathroom in the middle of the night
