Kavanaugh's Sylvan Lake Resort

We love our annual trip to Kavanaugh's! If you're not sure which accommodations on the property you would like to rent, looking at the photos and cabin floorplans is very helpful. All photos are true to each cabin style, what you see is truly what you get.

Updated Review: Came back for another visit/getaway.

This resort is so peaceful. We typically come during off-season, but still get the full experience. The cabins are clean and the area is beautiful.

The staff go out of their way to address any needs. They are friendly and personable.

The amenities are top notch. We enjoyed the pool area, the lake, and had a great time grilling out. The area is so calm - it's a great refreshing experience.

Town is only 15 minutes away with great restaurants, Starbucks, and other things that are needed.

We recommend the resort and will be back.

Thank you!

Beautiful resort! We stayed in the cottage with our two young children and had an amazing time. We usually stayed are more well-known resorts but decided to try something different this year and couldn't be more pleased. Our kids LOVED it simply because there were plenty of safe spaces for them to run free and play.

My family and I have been going to Kavanaugh's for 5 years now. Our trip never disappoints. All of the amenities are clean. The staff is friendly and the lake is the perfect size. Would highly recommend to friends and family.

Had a great 5 day stay. Very clean accommodations. Beach AND pool were very nice and convenient. Boat rentals were easy to make. Only drawback was their WI-FI was iffy at best. Scheduled for a full week next year. Will bring our own hot spot.

Kavanaugh’s has great staff, great facilities, and so much to do. We stayed for a week for a family vacation and had fun playing at the beach with sand toys provided, kayaked, rented a pontoon on the very clear lake, played on many different playgrounds, used the indoor pool (also an outdoor pool available), hot tub, fire pits for a campfire with wood and paper to start it provided, walked on their walking trails, and played frisbee in the yard. Our unit had a washer/dryer, air conditioning, and was very comfortable with a big kitchen. We plan to go back next year!

We come here every summer as a family and absolutely love it. The grounds are very well-kept, and the beaches and pools are very clean. The staff have always been friendly and are willing to help out in any way they can. Oh yeah, and they have rubber ducky races every Monday! This is seriously an amazing resort run by amazing people.

Stay here during the winter and we love it. The location is perfect for the Brainerd Lakes area. Indoor pool and hot tub are nice amenities. The rooms need updating especially the sleeper sofa and love seat. Many years of use.

What a great place. Clean and well maintained. Beautiful property and landscaping. I love the creek. I wish the kids play room, vending machines, and hot tub stayed open longer than 10:00.

Well maintained, lovely resort. So much to do - both pool and lake water activities, basketball, volleyball, tennis, walking path, fire pits, game room... The lake water is clear. Nice beaches. Very much appreciate the attentive reservation staff who helped us set up our family reunion. We recommend Kavanaugh's!

Kavanaugh’s Sylvan Lake resort was the perfect place for our family vacation! The two units we stayed in were spacious and clean! The resort had so many wonderful amenities… And they took great precautions for safety. Many more safety precautions then I even imagined we’re possible! We highly recommend this resort for a safe family vacation this summer and beyond!

Great place to get away for a while. It is very picturesque, with many nice vistas and cozy, well-furnished cabins for rental. They are relatively inexpensive if you go during off season. There is a club house with an outdoor pool and an indoor pool, plus the kind of pool you play with sticks and balls! There is even a modest selection of arcade games. It is quiet and conducive to reflection and nature watching.

Beautiful well maintained resort. Friendly staff, they were very helpful. Was nice to have 2 pools and a lake for swimming. The grounds are well kept and beautifully landscaped. My family had an absolute blast and we will definitely be back!

Fantastic family resort, we all agreed this is our favorite and will be coming back next year. Me and my family stayed here for the July 4th weekend, and had so much fun. This place is perfect for an in-between resort and cabin setting. So many amenities: 2 lakefront swim areas, a decently sized outdoor pool that goes about 4’6” (a guess I don’t remember) although it does go deeper in the middle and shallower in both ends which really threw me off. Indoor pool (pretty small) and hot tub, small fitness center, tiny arcade but has a pool table, little store for necessities, free playaks (small kayaks), paddle boards kayaks and boats for rent, basketball court, tennis court, sand volleyball, loungers on the beaches... yeah they have pretty much everything. Rental/doc people were super helpful and friendly! We loved our room/half house and small deck with the lake view which was great to wake up to. Easy check in and check out. Overall had an amazing stay and would HIGHLY recommend this for people who want the cabin feel with the resort amenities.

My family goes here every year, it is our favorite tradition. The lake is absolutely beautiful and the perfect lake to ski, tube, and swim in. There are many activities inside the resort such as duck races, hot dog cookoits, beach locations, parks for young children, and a well kept indoor and outdoor pool. Best vacation homes ever, highly recommend.

Can't say enough great things about Kavanaugh's. This was our first year and we absolutely loved it! They have everything you want for activities and the grounds, as well as the lodging are very well kept. A wonderful, laid-back atmosphere along with a beautiful lake perfect for swimming and fishing, left us wanting little. Already talking about next year!

Great family spot, both indoor and outdoor pools. The lake is wonderful and the staff is very helpful! Helped us patch a tire and get us moving after a fantastic weekend getaway with the kids.

This is a super chill relaxing resort to vacation. You can rent pontoon boats, small fishing boats, paddle boards, and bicycles. They have free kayaks, canoes, paddle boats, row boats, tennis courts, basketball court with all the balls, lifejackets and about everything else you may need. They have tons of lake access right in front of most of the cabins, a indoor and outdoor pool. The owners are super friendly and are often seen hosting different events throughout the week like the rubber ducky races which is a blast and a cookout. The cabins are very nice, clean and updated. We will definitely be coming back again.

The entire Kavanaugh family is gracious & kind. Never stayed but would highly recommend?

Nice place to stay with family (2 beaches, rubber ducky race earlier in the week, indoor & outdoor pools, boats, etc. for rent + a tiny herb garden for guests. Some of the older cabins could use washers & dryers though.)