Water Park

Canary Beach Resort

6 RV Sites, 12 Cabins, 10 Tent Sites

Canary Beach Resort on Lake Villard in Villard, Minnesota, has been crafting family vacations since 1920, making it one of the longer-operating lake resorts in central Minnesota's vast lake country and bringing more than a century of accumulated hospitality knowledge to the combination of RV camping, lakefront cabins, and vacation homes that form its current accommodation mix. Recognized by regional travel publications as a Reader's Choice award-winning property, the resort's longevity reflects the consistent quality and the genuine lake culture that keeps families returning to Lake Villard across generations. The resort's accommodation variety spans the full spectrum of lake vacation preferences, from RV sites with full hookup connections for self-contained campers to lakefront cabins with direct water views and vacation homes for groups and extended family gatherings that need more space and privacy. A waterpark adds aquatic programming beyond the lake itself, and a mini-golf course, boat rentals, and paddle boats provide recreational infrastructure for guests at every age and activity level. A general store, laundry, clubhouse, shuffleboard, and volleyball round out a facility profile that has been built over decades to serve the full range of needs that multi-day lake resort guests bring. Lake Villard occupies a position in the Leaf Hills region of west-central Minnesota, a glacially created landscape of rolling moraines, scattered wetlands, and the chain of interconnected lakes that has made this part of the state synonymous with Minnesota's iconic lake country identity. The lake's clear water and wooded shoreline support populations of walleye, northern pike, bass, and panfish that attract anglers to this corner of Stearns and Pope counties, and the surrounding agricultural countryside gives the landscape a pastoral character that softens the natural wilderness of the surrounding lakes and wetlands. Glenwood, the Pope County seat approximately 12 miles east of Villard on Lake Minnewaska, provides the nearest full-service commercial amenities including grocery stores, hardware, and dining for guests making resupply runs during lake vacation stays. The Glacial Lakes State Trail and Lake Minnewaska's public recreation infrastructure provide additional outdoor recreation options in the immediate vicinity, and the broader central Minnesota lake district extending from Alexandria to Willmar encompasses hundreds of accessible lakes within easy driving range of Villard. Alexandria, approximately 25 miles north, anchors a regional tourism hub with additional dining, shopping, and the iconic Big Ole Viking statue that marks the community's Scandinavian heritage celebrations. Canary Beach Resort operates seasonally from late spring through early fall in the central Minnesota climate where the lake swimming and fishing season is concentrated in the warmest months. July and August represent the highest demand, when Minnesota's lake vacation culture reaches its annual intensity and multi-generational family groups fill the cabins and vacation homes for week-long stays that are the resort's traditional booking pattern. The property's century-plus operating history, lakefront cabin inventory, and the accumulated tradition of families who return annually give Canary Beach a community character that newer properties cannot easily replicate.

from $42/night

Mont du Lac Resort

20 RV Sites, 16 Cabins, 14 Tent Sites

On the Wisconsin side of the St. Louis River overlooking the Duluth-Superior harbor, Mont du Lac Resort delivers year-round outdoor adventure from a single hillside property — transitioning from a downhill ski and snowboard hub through the winter months to a mountain biking and disc golf retreat across the warmer season. Few resorts in the Upper Midwest match Mont du Lac for the breadth of activities available in one place across every season, making it equally compelling for a ski-weekend booking in January and a mountain biking trip in July. Accommodations range from Trophy Suites and deluxe cabins to RV sites and tent camping, giving guests a full spectrum of lodging options within the resort's wooded grounds. A full-service chalet with a bar and restaurant anchors the social side of the property and handles post-activity recovery with the kind of comfortable informality that active outdoor resorts do best. The staff brings genuine enthusiasm for the activities that define the Mont du Lac experience — particularly useful for first-time skiers or riders navigating the hill's layout. Pets are welcome throughout the resort. The hillside setting overlooking the St. Louis River is striking in every season. Winter transforms the slope into snow-covered ski terrain with runs suited to all ability levels, from beginner-friendly pitches to steeper runs that challenge intermediate skiers. When the snow melts, nine kilometers of dedicated mountain biking trails wind through the same wooded hillside, and an 18-hole mountain disc golf course adds a year-round low-key option that attracts a different demographic from the downhill crowd. The river views below the hill change character across seasons as dramatically as the hillside activities above. Duluth, Minnesota, sits just across the St. Louis River and adds one of the Upper Midwest's most interesting small cities to the resort's regional draw. The Aerial Lift Bridge — one of the most recognizable pieces of engineering in Minnesota — spans the ship canal at Canal Park, where the Great Lakes Aquarium, the waterfront Lakewalk, and a concentration of breweries and restaurants create a lively lakeside district. The Skyline Parkway above Duluth provides panoramic views over Lake Superior that rank among the finest urban overlooks in the region. Pattison State Park, home to Big Manitou Falls — the highest waterfall in Wisconsin — and Jay Cooke State Park's dramatic gorge and suspension bridge are both within easy driving range. Mont du Lac Resort shines brightest during ski season, typically running December through early March depending on snowfall, and again in summer when mountain biking and disc golf replace the chairlifts. Book lodging well ahead of winter holiday weekends and Martin Luther King Jr. weekend, when the ski hill and resort facilities fill to capacity. Summer stays offer a quieter, more relaxed version of the resort — ideal for families and individuals who want outdoor recreation with more room to breathe than peak-season crowds allow.

from $20/night

Whiskey Creek Family RV Park

39 RV Sites, 2 Cabins, 1 Glamping Site

Whiskey Creek Family RV Park in Sparta, Wisconsin, offers 39 RV sites, two cabins, and a glamping site across 38.5 wooded acres along the Little La Crosse River, with 30 and 50-amp service and rigs accepted to 50 feet on a big-rig-friendly layout. A one-acre lined swim pond with an Aquaglide aqua park anchors an unusually deep amenity set behind a gated entrance. Thirty-nine back-in sites run in full-hookup and water-and-electric categories carrying 30 and 50-amp, sized to 50 feet, with fire pits and picnic tables. Two cabins and a glamping site round out the accommodations. A general store, laundry, dump station, restrooms, showers, firewood, recycling, and site WiFi handle the practical side, with a gated entrance controlling access. The recreation is the reason to book. A one-acre lined swim pond with an Aquaglide inflatable aqua park anchors the summer, with a beach, water park, and inflatable water toys besides. A ninja slack line, gaga ball, playground, dog park, sports courts, volleyball, and basketball fill the grounds, with a golf driving range, bike rentals, walking trails, hiking, and biking from the property. A camp store, bar, and snack bar serve pizza, ice cream, a Friday fish fry, and beachside treats, with live music and planned activities through the season. The park also operates as a wedding venue. Pets are welcome. Sparta wears its title as the Bicycling Capital of America with genuine pride, and the Driftless Region's trail connections run directly from the area. Memorial Day through Labor Day is the peak. Reserve well ahead.

Jellystone Park™ Warrens

415 RV Sites, 123 Cabins, 45 Tent Sites, 4 Villas

Jellystone Park Warrens in Wisconsin offers 415 full-hookup RV sites and 127 cabin and villa units with 20, 30, and 50-amp service, cable TV, and rigs accepted to 42 feet behind a gated entrance. Categories are split by whether the site carries cable, alongside a water park, lazy river, splash pad, laser tag, and beach. Four hundred fifteen sites span back-in with cable TV, pull-through with cable TV, pull-through without cable TV, and premium pull-through with cable TV categories, all carrying water, sewer, and electric on 20, 30, and 50-amp, sized to 42 feet, with fire pits and picnic tables. Note the 42-foot cap before booking a larger rig, and pick the cable tier that matches what you want. One hundred twenty-seven cabins and villas make the lodging inventory exceptional. A general store, laundry, propane fills, dump station, restrooms, showers, and firewood handle the practical side. A water park, lazy river, and splash pad anchor the summer, with an outdoor pool, hot tub and sauna, beach, and pond alongside. Mini-golf, laser tag, gem mining, a jumping pillow, gaga ball, sports courts, basketball, volleyball, shuffleboard, horseshoes, corn hole, golf cart rentals, a craft room, walking trails, playground, pavilion, dog park, and snack bar fill the rest, with fishing and planned activities through the season. Warrens is the Cranberry Capital of Wisconsin, less than an hour north of the Dells. Summer is decisively the season, with the September Cranberry Festival drawing crowds. Reserve well ahead.

from $25/night

Warrens Lodging

30 Villas

Warrens Lodging in Warrens, Wisconsin, offers thoughtfully designed villas with full kitchens, private baths, lofts, crafted wood decor, cable TV, WiFi, and fire rings, alongside complimentary access to the neighboring Jellystone Park's water resort. A lazy river, wave pool, splash pad, and mini-golf sit next door behind a gated entrance. The villas are the accommodation here — this is lodging rather than an RV park, with no campsites or hookups. Multiple floor plans are available, each with a full kitchen, private bath, and loft, plus a fire ring outside. Laundry, restrooms, showers, a general store, and firewood handle the practical side, with WiFi throughout and a gated entrance controlling access. The water resort access is the draw. Guests get complimentary use of the neighboring Jellystone Park's lazy river, wave pool, water park, splash pad, and inflatable water obstacle course — a complete family water program without the campground. On the lodging side, a hot tub and sauna, mini-golf, craft room, snack bar, on-site dining, golf cart rentals, walking trails, a dog park, playground, and pavilion fill the property, with gaga ball, shuffleboard, basketball, volleyball, gem mining, and fishing besides. Planned activities run through the season. Pets are welcome. Warrens sits in Monroe County, Wisconsin's cranberry capital, where the surrounding bogs supply the crop that makes the state the nation's largest producer. The western Wisconsin lakes and forest region surrounds it. Summer family demand is decisively the peak. Reserve well ahead.

from $180/night