Split Rock Park to Open Four Camper Cabins
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources plans four new camper cabins at Split Rock Lighthouse State Park in 2027.
Updated on Nov. 8, 2026 in National Parks
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The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources plans to open four new camper cabins at Split Rock Lighthouse State Park in 2027, with the opening targeted for early June. The cabins will be open year-round, all week.
Why it matters
Camper cabins are often fully booked, and North Shore parks have historically been the most visited in the state system. The DNR is seeking to expand overnight amenities along the North Shore, where limited camper cabin development opportunities exist.
Each camper cabin has heat, electricity, and bunks that usually sleep five to six people. Lake Vermilion-Soudan Mine State Park previously opened four cabins in 2020 and four more in 2021, and the Split Rock campground itself opened in 2022.
The players
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
The state agency that manages Minnesota's state park system and is planning the new Split Rock camper cabins.
Split Rock Lighthouse State Park
A North Shore state park between Two Harbors and Silver Bay, known for its historic lighthouse on Lake Superior.
The details
Split Rock Lighthouse State Park is located between Two Harbors and Silver Bay, and the new cabins will sit within its campground. The DNR selected the park because limited camper cabin development opportunities exist along the North Shore.
Timeline
2020: Lake Vermilion-Soudan Mine State Park opens its first four camper cabins.
2021: Lake Vermilion-Soudan Mine State Park opens four more camper cabins.
2022: The Split Rock Lighthouse State Park campground opens.
Early June 2027: Four new camper cabins at Split Rock are targeted to open.
Roadmap
The Split Rock plan continues a statewide camper cabin rollout that began at Lake Vermilion-Soudan Mine State Park in 2020, and it would make Split Rock the 28th state park to add the cabins. The move targets the North Shore, where demand for overnight lodging has historically been strongest.
Visitors hoping to stay at Split Rock once the cabins open should expect them to be popular, since camper cabins are often fully booked. Because the cabins are open year-round, all week, they offer flexible options for planning trips along the North Shore.
The takeaway
Travelers planning North Shore trips should consider booking early once camper cabin availability opens at Split Rock.
What happens next
The four new Split Rock camper cabins are targeted to open in early June 2027.
Further reading
Explore more on National Parks to see how state park lodging options compare across the country.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Star Tribune.
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