Cabin Rentals in Price County, WI: Where to Stay Without Airbnb

Last updated: May 2026

Cabin Rentals and Lodging in Price County Wisconsin: Where to Stay Without Booking Through Airbnb

If you’re looking for a cabin rental in Wisconsin’s northwoods, you’ve probably noticed the same problem everywhere: everything worth staying in is on Airbnb, the prices keep climbing, and half the “rustic” cabins are just vinyl-sided houses with a moose painting over the fireplace.

Price County still has the real thing. Family-owned resorts, direct-booking cabins on quiet lakes, and county campgrounds that cost nothing and feel like you’ve got the whole forest to yourself. Here’s where to stay, what each option costs, and how to book directly without giving 15% of your vacation budget to a tech company.

Lake Cabins and Resorts

Solberg Lake (West of Phillips)

Sunset Haven Resort has been operating on Solberg Lake since the 1950s. Small cabins, clean, right on the water, owned by the same family for three generations. You call them on the phone to book. No app, no service fee, no “cleaning fee” that costs more than the stay.

The lake itself is 844 acres with walleye, northern pike, and panfish. The cabins come with a private dock, and you can have a pontoon or fishing boat delivered to your slip for the week. Swimming is good off the docks. The water’s clear and the bottom drops off gradually.

Rates typically run $125-175 per night for a two-bedroom cabin in summer. That’s per cabin, not per person. Book early for July and August weekends.

Butternut Lake (East of Park Falls)

Butternut Lake is the quieter option. Two small resorts operate here, both family-owned. The lake is 983 acres but feels smaller , bays and islands break up the open water, so you’re never far from shore.

Walleye and crappie are the main draws for fishing. The swimming is good off the resort docks, and the resorts rent boats if you don’t want to bring your own. Butternut is the kind of lake where you can hear loons at night and not much else.

Booking is the same story , call the resort directly. Rates are comparable to Solberg, maybe slightly cheaper because it’s less well-known.

The Flambeau River

If a lake isn’t your thing, a few outfitters along the Flambeau River offer cabin rentals. You get the river right outside your door , paddle out in the morning, come back for lunch, head out again in the evening. The Flambeau has smallmouth bass, walleye, musky, and northern pike depending on which stretch you’re on.

Several outfitters along the Flambeau River offer cabin rentals with direct bookings. Some include a canoe or kayak with your stay.

Free and Low-Cost Camping

If a cabin isn’t your style , or your budget . Price County has some of the best low-cost camping in the state.

Big Falls County Park (Kennan)

Six campsites. Free (donations appreciated). Pit toilets, hand pump water, swimming area at a natural waterfall pool. No electric, no showers, no reservations. First-come, first-served. The road in is gravel and can be rough after rain, but that’s part of the deal , it keeps the crowds out.

On a weeknight in June, you might have the whole place to yourself. On a July weekend, get there by Thursday afternoon.

Ojibwa Park Campground (East of Phillips)

On County Highway 70, right on the Flambeau River. $15 per night. Pit toilets, hand pump water, boat landing. You can paddle in with your gear from the river landing. Weeknights are quiet. Weekends fill up but it’s never crowded the way Devil’s Lake or Peninsula gets.

Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest Dispersed Camping

The national forest covers most of Price County, and dispersed camping is allowed almost anywhere that’s 150 feet from trails, roads, or water. No fee, no reservation, no amenities. You bring everything you need and pack out everything you brought.

Pick up a forest service map from the ranger station in Park Falls for $10. The forest roads are generally passable in a regular car during summer, though some require high clearance after heavy rain. This is the most remote option , you can go a full day without seeing another person.

Timm’s Lake County Park and Smith Lake County Park

Two smaller county parks with basic camping facilities. Timm’s Lake is on the south shore of Timm’s Lake (68 acres, good panfish), Smith Lake is on Smith Lake (47 acres). Both have tent sites, pit toilets, and boat landings. Cheap and quiet.

What to Know Before You Book

Cell Service

Cell coverage is spotty once you’re off the main highways. Verizon has the best coverage in Price County, but even they have dead zones in the national forest areas. AT&T and T-Mobile are less reliable.

If you need WiFi for work, ask the cabin owner before booking. Some resorts now have satellite internet. Others don’t. If you’re camping, plan to be offline.

Getting There

Price County is roughly:
– 3 hours from Milwaukee
– 2.5 hours from Madison
– 2 hours from Green Bay
– 1.5 hours from Wausau

Highway 13 runs north-south through the county (Phillips, Prentice, Park Falls). Highway 8 runs east-west. Most resort access is off these highways, then county roads and gravel roads.

When to Go

Summer (June through August) is peak season. Book cabins by April for July and August weekends. September is underrated , fewer bugs, fall colors, and the fishing is still good. October is hunting season, so book around that if you’re not a hunter.

Winter (December through March) is snowmobile season. Many resorts stay open and offer sled-in access. Cross-country skiing and ice fishing are solid if you can handle the cold.

What to Bring

For cabin stays, most provide kitchen gear, bedding, and basic cookware. Check when you book. Bring your own food , the nearest real grocery store is in Phillips or Park Falls, and the small resort stores have limited selection and higher prices.

For camping, bring:
– Bug spray (30% DEET minimum, June through August)
– A good sleeping bag rated for 20°F below your expected low
– Fire starter and a backup cooking method
– A first aid kit
– A paper map (cell service is unreliable)

Why Price County Instead of Minocqua or Eagle River

Price County gives you the same northwoods experience , the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, the Flambeau River, the ATV trails, the fishing, the small-town bars and supper clubs , at roughly half the cost of the Minocqua/Eagle River corridor. Less traffic. Less crowds. Fewer jet skis doing laps at 7 AM.

The trade-off is fewer restaurants and services. You’re not walking to a coffee shop. Your dinner options are a handful of local bars and supper clubs, which are honestly better than most of the tourist traps up north anyway. The food is simple, the portions are huge, and the drinks are cheap.

If you want a genuine northwoods experience without the northwoods price tag, this is it.

For more, see secret swimming holes in Price County.
For more, see Price County’s expanding ATV trail network.
For more, see why Price County cabins beat every tourist trap.

See also: our complete Price County fishing guide, our ATV trail guide for Price County, our guide to free camping in Wisconsin, our 48-hour Price County itinerary and our complete lodging guide for Price County

See also: what makes Price County communities special

See also: our weekend weather preview

See also: our guide to every town in Price County

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I find cabin rentals in Price County?

Price County offers cabin rentals through VRBO, Airbnb, and local resorts. Popular areas include Long Lake, Butternut Lake, and the Flambeau River corridor. The Price County Tourism website maintains a lodging directory with direct links to cabin rental providers.

Are there resorts with cabins in Price County?

Yes, Price County has several waterfront resorts offering cabin-style lodging with amenities like boat rentals, docks, and swimming beaches. Most operate seasonally from May through October, though some offer winter accommodations for snowmobile and ice fishing access.

What’s the average cost of a cabin rental in Price County?

As of 2026, cabin rentals in Price County range from $75-150 per night for basic units to $200-400 per night for larger waterfront properties. Weekly rates typically offer a discount. Prices peak during summer and fall color seasons.

Is there hotels or motels in Price County?

Phillips and Park Falls each have a small selection of hotels and motels, with rates typically under $100 per night. Options are limited compared to tourist destinations, so advance reservations are recommended during peak summer and fall weekends.