
Minnesota's Best Vacation Rentals
Minnesota's Best Vacation Rentals
By Lindsey Ranzau
Minnesota’s best vacation rentals sit on such diverse landscapes as beautiful lakes, vibrant cities, and secluded forests. Whether you're seeking a luxurious stay in a Frank Lloyd Wright-designed home, a cozy treehouse nestled among the oaks, or a modern cabin by the lake, Minnesota has something for every kind of traveler.
Here are some favorites that can be found on Airbnb, VRBO and beyond.
CUYUNA COVE
CROSBY

A cabin at Cuyuna Cove
Stay in a year-round tiny cabin or a seasonal bungalow at Cuyuna Cove. Bungalows share a spa-inspired shower house and cabins each have their own bathrooms. Shared fire pits and sauna are on-site, along with direct access to the red dirt mountain biking trails in Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area. Each cabin has modern amenities, cozy beds, and decks that overlook the area. This stay fosters connection with other adventurers and the great outdoors.
FAWN & FERN
WAHKON

Fawn & Fern
Located along the shore of Lake Mille Lacs, Fawn and Fern offers three modern cabins. Rent all three to have the entire property to yourself. There’s plenty of trails to explore and direct lake access with a beach and kayaks. Each cabin has a private sauna, wood-burning hot tub, and outdoor shower areas. A true Minnesota cabin experience with plenty of nearby restaurants and outdoor activities.
GATHERED OAKS
ALEXANDRIA
Gathered Oaks / Credit: Lindsey Ranzau
Stay in a repurposed grain bin in Alexandria where you can enjoy lakes, wineries, breweries, and a quaint downtown. Eight hotel-like rooms are located inside the grain bin, and the modern farmhouse style is cozy yet classy. Suite #8 also offers a seating area and a kitchenette in addition to its hotel-like room on the second floor.
This unique stay is located on the Gathered Oaks wedding venue, so it may be hard to secure a weekend in the summer, but weekdays and winter months are just as beautiful!
GRANDPA'S POOL HOUSE
STANCHFIELD

Grandpa's Pool House
Grandpa’s Pool House serves up a vintage vibe from the late '70s and early '80s. It’s ideal for bachelorette parties, birthday parties, and getaways with the kids. In 2020, the granddaughter of the original owner did a complete renovation of the house to create the magical vacation rental you see today. Complete with an indoor pool, the house screams FUN and sleeps up to 14 people.
HAM'S HAUS
LUTSEN

Ham's Haus / Credit: Lindsey Ranzau
Named after the owners’ beloved dog, Ham’s Haus is made from shipping containers and focuses on sustainable architecture and living. Luxurious may not be the first word that comes to mind when you hear shipping containers, but it is the best word to describe the experience at Ham’s Haus. Every last detail has been thought of here, from heated floors to a fenced-in spot for dogs to featuring local artists throughout the home.
The views of Lake Superior are breathtaking, and can be enjoyed around the indoor or outdoor fireplace. Located just eight minutes from Lutsen Mountains for skiing and hiking on the North Shore.
HOPE GLEN FARM
COTTAGE GROVE
The luxury tree house at Hope Glen Farm / Credit: Lindsey Ranzau
Feel like a kid again in the luxurious tree house nestled in a 150-year-old oak tree at Hope Glen Farm in Cottage Grove. The tree house has seven different rooms to explore, including a hidden room that is so fun to find. Take in the views from one of four decks, cozy up by the fireplace, cook a meal in its full kitchen, and take a walk around the grounds to feed the goats and chickens.
This stay is full of surprises on site but also located near Afton Alps and other parks for biking, fishing, and kayaking.
KLARHET
LUTSEN
Klarhet / Credit: Lindsey Ranzau
Surround yourself in nature by staying in a dome on a regenerative food forest. Klarhet’s four domes are open for lodging in all seasons and each one includes a king size bed, kitchenette, and bathroom with a rainfall shower. Gaze at the night sky and wake up surrounded by the natural flora of Minnesota’s North Shore. Then order a locally crafted charcuterie board or have a meet and greet with their goats. Klarhet is located on Lutsen’s ski hill road and in close proximity to many North Shore adventures.
LILLA NORR
MORA

The A-frame interior of Lilla Norr
This 1978 A-frame is a design-lovers dream. Which makes sense; two of its owners (twin sisters Ashley Hewitt Lemke and Jamie Hewitt Budnick) have been running a highly covetable vintage shop (Arlee Park) since 2016.
Everything in their cabin is wonderfully curated to harmonize with the surrounding five acres of woods. It also features two bedrooms and a bathroom with a full kitchen and wood-burning stove. Enjoy access to the Snake River, which is great for kayaking, canoeing, floating, and swimming in the summer.
NORTH LOOP LOFT
MINNEAPOLIS

A historic North Loop loft in downtown Minneapolis / Credit: Airbnvb
This historic loft gives a taste of city life in downtown Minneapolis' trendiest neighborhood (the North Loop) and is in walking distance to Target Field, Target Center, U.S. Bank Stadium, and all of the city's other fun shopping, restaurants, and nightlife options. It can sleep up to fuve guests and offers a full kitchen.
NORDLYS HYTTE
GRAND MARAIS

Nordlys Hytte on Poplar Lake / Credit: Airbnb
Nordlys Hytte allows guests to stay on the Gunflint Trail with access to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness while having a modern retreat to escape to when exploring is done for the day. This remodeled '70s cottage is located on Poplar Lake which can be explored with the provided canoes and paddle boards. The cabin itself has a modern design and amenities to enjoy.
THE ELAM HOUSE
AUSTIN
The front of the Elam House / Andrew Parks
The Elam House is the second largest Usonian house Frank Lloyd Wright designed, a simple, affordable and modern style he was well-known for at the time. Enjoy the patio, gaze out one of the home's 100 windows, and even ice skate in the backyard during the winter. Staying here is like taking a step back in time — it was built in 1951 — and allows you to live inside the mind of a monumental architect with deep Midwestern roots, even if it’s just for a weekend.
Find more unique accommodations, from cabin rentals to farm stays.