The 8 Best Apostle Islands Cabins for 2024

Looking for the best Apostle Islands Cabins?

I’ve got you covered because as a local in Wisconsin, I’ve visited the Apostle Islands several times. It is easily one of the best places to explore the natural beauty of northern Wisconsin, and staying in a cabin allows you to immerse yourself in nature while still having access to modern amenities.

While most of the Apostle Islands do not have accommodations other than rustic campsites, you can stay in a cabin rental on the largest island, which is Madeline Island. Another option is to stay on the mainland and take day trips around the Apostle Islands.

Below, I have created a list of the best Apostle Island Cabins, including ones on Madeline Island and some on the mainland.

8 Best Apostle Islands Cabins

Below, you will find the best Apostle Islands cabins to stay at during your next trip, whether you are looking for a cozy cabin for just 2 people or a spacious log cabin to fit a larger family or group of friends.

1. Motisi’s Sandy Beach Cabin

⭐RATING: 10/10 | WHERE? Madeline Island | BUDGET? $395 average per night

If you are looking for an Apostle Islands Cabin, Motisi’s Sandy Beach Cabin is a perfect choice. The cabin is located on Madeline Island and was recently built in 2020.

Motisi’s Sandy Beach Cabin has 3 bedrooms and can accommodate up to 6 people. The interior has a rustic modern design, with a second-story deck that has stunning views. It also has a screened-in porch overlooking the lake, which is the perfect place for a morning coffee or to relax with a good book.

One of the best parts is the outside, where you will find a private sandy beach to relax in the sun or go for a swim on a warm summer’s day.

The cabin is also beautiful in the fall time when the fall foliage colors the surrounding trees.

Why Choose Motisi’s Sandy Beach Cabin?

✔️ Private, sandy beach
✔️ Beautiful rustic modern interior
✔️ Large screened-in porch with lake views

sandy beach at the apostle islands wisconsin
Bobak Ha’Eri, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

2. Madeline Island Cottage on Lake Superior

⭐RATING: 9.8/10 | WHERE? Madeline Island | BUDGET? $471 average per night

This Madeline Island Cottage is an incredible choice for a cabin on Lake Superior. The cottage is on Chebomnicon Bay and features 600 ft of private shoreline, including a sandy beach area.

The charming blue cottage has 3 bedrooms and can accommodate up to 6 people. The interior has been recently updated and is sure to provide a comfortable stay.

However, the best part about staying here is enjoying the outdoors, and there are plenty of ways to do that including going swimming in the lake, building sandcastles on the beach, or toasting marshmallows over a bonfire.

Why Choose Madeline Island Cottage on Lake Superior?

✔️ 600 ft of shoreline, including a sandy beach area
✔️ Recently updated cottage
✔️ Plenty of outdoor activities to enjoy

3. Cozy Cabin in the Woods

⭐RATING: 10/10 | WHERE? Madeline Island | BUDGET? $250 average per night

Located along the Sunset Bay of Lake Superior, Cozy Cabin is a perfect place to stay to unwind while visiting the Apostle Islands.

The cabin is surrounded by trees, giving it a secluded feel but it is also only a mile away from La Pointe, which has shops and restaurants.

The cabin has 1 bedroom and can accommodate up to 4 people. Inside, you will find modern decor that has an up-north theme. Some of the highlights include a wood-burning stove and a screened-in patio space. There is also lake access via a shared dock.

This is a great choice for couples or small families that are looking for a cozy cabin surrounded by nature, but also not far from a small town.

Why Choose Cozy Cabin in the Woods?

✔️ Secluded cabin on Madeline Island
✔️ Only 1 mile from La Pointe
✔️ Lake access via a shared dock

4. The Barn – Lakeshore Cabin

⭐RATING: 10/10 | WHERE? Madeline Island | BUDGET? $975 average per night

The Barn is a luxury lakeshore cabin that is surrounded by 18 acres of White Pine Maple and Birch forest. The cabin is also very spacious, making it a perfect choice for larger families or groups of friends visiting the Apostle Islands.

The interior of this log cabin is over 3,000 square feet and can accommodate up to 16 people. It is beautifully decorated with wood accents, large windows, and comfortable furnishings. It also features a large stone fireplace in the living space.

On the outside, the cabin has a large deck area, a bonfire space, and an oversized dock on the lake. There is also 900 ft of private shoreline.

Why Choose The Barn Lakeshore Cabin?

✔️ Spacious, luxury log cabin 
✔️ Beautiful outdoor deck
✔️ Large windows and stone fireplace in the living room
✔️ 900 ft of shoreline with an oversized dock

5. Spacious Lake Shore Home

⭐RATING: 10/10 | WHERE? Near Bayfield, WI | BUDGET? $325 average per night

This Spacious Lake Shore Home is located on the mainland, near the town of Bayfield. This makes it easy to access boat tours and shuttle services to the Apostle Islands to spend the day exploring.

This log cabin is perfect for families or groups, as it has 3200 sq. ft. with 3 bedrooms. The inside features wood furnishings, a large living space, a kitchen, and a game room with a pool table.

The best part of this cabin is its spacious outdoor patio and deck area, which overlooks the lake. The patio features 2 hammocks and an outdoor table with seating. There is also an outdoor firepit and a small dock on the lake.

Why Choose the Spacious Lake Shore Home?

✔️ 3200 sq. ft. log cabin along the shores of Lake Superior
✔️ Beautiful outdoor deck and patio
✔️ Outdoor hammocks
✔️ Lake access

6. Secluded Log Cabin Hideaway

⭐RATING: 10/10 | WHERE? Near Bayfield, WI | BUDGET? $621 average per night

Secluded Log Cabin Hideaway is a picturesque log cabin near Bayfield, that is surrounded by forest and lake views.

It is a 4-bedroom cabin that accommodates up to 9 people. Some of the highlights are the unique spiral staircase, maple wood floors, and the beautiful large windows in the living room that overlook the lake. 

The cabin also has an outdoor deck with a grill, seating, and a table so that you can have a barbeque and enjoy some meals in the fresh air.

Last but not least, there is a spacious L-shaped dock that even has seating so that you can relax and take in the lake views or jump in the water and go for a swim.

Why Choose the Secluded Log Cabin Hideaway?

✔️ Spacious log cabin
✔️ Beautiful views of the lake
✔️ Outdoor deck with grill and picnic table 
✔️ Large L-shaped dock

7. Majestic View Cabin

⭐RATING: 10/10 | WHERE? Madeline Island | BUDGET? $349 average per night

Majestic View Cabin is located on a cliff overlooking Lake Superior, which gives it stunning and rare views over the lake. The cabin itself is a cozy 2-bedroom space that accommodates up to 4 people.

The cabin features a screened-in porch as well as an outdoor fire pit so there are plenty of places to relax and take in the scenic views of the lake. 

The cabin also includes the use of 4 bikes so that you can easily bike the 1.5 miles to the nearest town where you will find shops and restaurants.

Why Choose Majestic View Cabin?

✔️ Incredible cliffside views of Lake Superior
✔️ Cozy interior with a screened-in porch
✔️ Outdoor fire pit
✔️ Use of 4 bikes included

8. Superior Horizons Carriage House

⭐RATING: 10/10 | WHERE? Near Bayfield, WI | BUDGET? $221 average per night

Superior Horizons Carriage House is located near Bayfield, on 10 acres of wooded land. This is a good option for those who enjoy hiking, as it is on a hiking trail.

The home has 2 bedrooms and can accommodate 4 people. The interior of the log cabin has comfortable furnishings, and you can also enjoy some Netflix, Hulu, or HBO Max which can be relaxing after a long day of exploring the outdoors.

One of the unique features of this cabin is that it has a private garage where you can store your kayaks, bikes, motorcycles, or trucks. There is also outdoor parking space for a boat or trailer. So, if you are bringing a boat to the Apostle Islands, this is a perfect cabin for you.

Why Choose Superior Horizons Carriage House?

✔️ Secluded log cabin
✔️ Private garage 
✔️ Space to park a boat or trailer
✔️ Hiking trail on-site

sandy beach on the lake superior shoreline at dusk

Where to Stay Near the Apostle Islands

The Apostle Islands are remote and filled with natural beauty, which adds to the appeal of visiting them. However, it also means that there aren’t many places to stay on the Apostle Islands, except for Madeline Island which is the biggest island.

Therefore, when visiting the Apostle Islands, you can choose to stay at a cabin rental on Madeline Island or stay on the mainland near the town of Bayfield, Wisconsin.

Staying near Bayfield can be convenient, as you don’t have to worry about taking the ferry over with your car or luggage. Additionally, there are boat tours to the different Apostle Islands that leave from Bayfield.

If you want the experience of staying on one of the Apostle Islands, Madeline Island is an excellent choice. The island is known for its beautiful shoreline, and there are plenty of activities such as hiking, kayaking, paddleboarding, and more.

There are several Apostle Island Cabins on Madeline Island, and you can get here by taking the car ferry.

apostle islands rock formations in wisconsin
Sharon Mollerus, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

How to Get to the Apostle Islands

Madeline Island is the largest of the Apostle Islands and is the only island that has roads and cars allowed. 

In the spring, summer, and fall you can get to Madeline Island by taking the Madeline Island Ferry Line. The ferry runs from Bayfield to La Pointe, and the journey takes around 25 minutes. This is a car ferry, so you can choose to bring your car across to the island.

To get around the other Apostle Islands, you will need to join a boat tour, take a private boat, or take a kayak or canoe.

Apostle Islands Cruises is a boat company that offers a few different tour options of the Apostle Islands, as well as a boat shuttle option that allows you to spend the day hiking on Stockton Island. These tours are offered during the late spring through the fall season and leave from Bayfield, WI.

When to Visit the Apostle Islands

The best time to visit the Apostle Islands is anytime between late May through October. During this time, the weather is warm and mild which makes it perfect for hiking, boating, and exploring the islands.

The summer season is an especially good time to visit the Apostle Islands as this is when the majority of the boat tours and shuttles will be available, making it easier to travel around.

However, fall is also a beautiful time to visit as the islands become covered in colorful fall foliage, making it a very picturesque place to visit in Wisconsin.

fall foilage with brillant red and orange trees outside the apostle islands visitor center

FAQ: Apostle Islands Cabins

Can you stay on the Apostle Islands?

You can stay on 18 of the Apostle Islands, but the only option is rustic tent camping or backcountry camping. However, on Madeline Island, there are plenty of great cabin rentals that you can stay at. This allows you to experience staying on the island surrounded by nature but also have access to modern amenities.

Where should I stay to see the Apostle Islands?

Staying in a cabin is the best option for visiting the Apostle Islands. There are cabin rentals on the mainland and Madeline Island. Both of these areas allow for easy day trips to explore the Apostle Islands. Plus, staying in a cabin allows you to experience the natural beauty of this part of Wisconsin.

What city is closest to the Apostle Islands?

Bayfield, Wisconsin is the closest town to the Apostle Islands. Bayfield is located on the mainland and is where you will find the Apostle Island Visitor Center. Many boat tours also leave from the town of Bayfield, which makes it a convenient place to stay. The closest major city to the Apostle Islands is Minneapolis, which is a 3.5-4-hour drive.

Conclusion: Apostle Islands Cabins

The Apostle Islands are worth visiting on any trip to northern Wisconsin due to their incredible natural beauty and the variety of outdoor activities available in the area. Staying in one of the above Apostle Island cabins is sure to add to your experience, as you will be surrounded by nature and near the lake. 

There are many different options when it comes to cabin rentals, from Motisi’s Sandy Beach Cabin to the Cozy Cabin in the Woods. Plus if you are traveling with a family or larger group, staying in a cabin such as The Barn – Lakeshore Cabin or this Spacious Lake Shore Home is a great way for everyone to be able to stay in the same place vs. having to get different hotel rooms.

However, no matter which Apostle Island cabin you choose, you are sure to have an incredible vacation in Wisconsin.

If you are traveling to the Apostle Islands, why not also make a stop over to Superior, Wisconsin? Located only 1.5 hours away, there are many things to do in Superior, Wisconsin and it is sure to be a good addition to your next trip.

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