Ballard's Resort vs Sportsman's Lodge

Lowest price on record

• Ballard's Resort:$200 per cabin, 1 night!Assumption
• Sportsman's Lodge:$276 per person, 2 nights✓Confirmed

The figures above are quoted on different bases (per cabin and per person), so they are not on the same scale and must not be read as one being cheaper than the other. What a cabin or group rate means for your crew depends on how many of you there are and what the occupancy cap is, which is what the true trip cost calculator resolves.

Each figure is the lowest price we hold for that lodge across all of its packages, not a quote for a specific trip. Nights, party size, meals and what is bundled differ underneath it — the true trip cost calculator is where those become one number.

Where they differ

We hold a value for both lodges on each of these, and the two values aren’t the same.

• Plan types offeredFit

  • Ballard's Resort:Modified American Plan, Housekeeping✓Confirmed
  • Sportsman's Lodge:Modified American Plan✓Confirmed

• Lowest published pricePrice

  • Ballard's Resort:$200 per cabin, 1 night!Assumption
  • Sportsman's Lodge:$276 per person, 2 nights✓Confirmed

• Party rulesParty rules and occupancy

  • Ballard's Resort:Maximum occupancy per guide boat; Children 12 and under: 20% discount on regular packages; Maximum occupancy✓Confirmed
  • Sportsman's Lodge:Children 4 and under free; 5-15 discounted; 16+ regular rate; Pike fishing option requires 4+ group✓Confirmed

• Tax included in priceTerms

  • Ballard's Resort:Varies by package — 2 Nights / 2 Days Guided Fishing Package: yes · 3 Nights / 2 Days Guided Fishing Package: yes · 4 Nights / 3 Days Guided Fishing Package: yes · 5 Nights / 4 Days Guided Fishing Package: yes · Housekeeping Cabin - 1 Bedroom: not stated · Housekeeping Cabin - 2 Bedroom: not stated · Housekeeping Cabin - 3 Bedroom: not stated
  • Sportsman's Lodge:no

Where they match

• Access methodFit

  • Ballard's Resort:Drive-in✓Confirmed
  • Sportsman's Lodge:Drive-in✓Confirmed

Recorded for only one of them

We hold a value for one lodge here and nothing for the other. That is a gap in our record, not a finding about the quiet lodge — it may well offer the same thing without saying so on its rate page. Treat every line here as a question, not an answer.

• Boat captain, vessel, equipment, baitIncluded

  • Ballard's Resort:Not stated for this property?Unknown
  • Sportsman's Lodge:Included✓Confirmed

• Cabin amenitiesIncluded

  • Ballard's Resort:Included — Kitchen, A/C, TV, daily maid service, grills, linens, towels, appliances✓Confirmed
  • Sportsman's Lodge:Not stated for this property?Unknown

• Dock slipIncluded

  • Ballard's Resort:Extra cost — Additional $17/night✓Confirmed
  • Sportsman's Lodge:Not stated for this property?Unknown

• Fishing equipment and baitIncluded

  • Ballard's Resort:Included — Equipment, bait, ice, fish processing included✓Confirmed
  • Sportsman's Lodge:Not stated for this property?Unknown

• Fishing guide serviceIncluded

  • Ballard's Resort:Extra cost — À la carte: $1,200/8hr boat (up to 6), $750/5hr, $220/person/8hr individual✓Confirmed
  • Sportsman's Lodge:Not stated for this property?Unknown

• Fuel surchargeIncluded

  • Ballard's Resort:Extra cost — Possible if gas rises 15%+ above rate-setting price✓Confirmed
  • Sportsman's Lodge:Not stated for this property?Unknown

• Guide serviceIncluded

  • Ballard's Resort:Included — U.S. Coast Guard licensed guide; up to 6 people per boat✓Confirmed
  • Sportsman's Lodge:Not stated for this property?Unknown

• Guided ice fishing, equipmentIncluded

  • Ballard's Resort:Not stated for this property?Unknown
  • Sportsman's Lodge:Included — Vexilar rental $35/day extra✓Confirmed

• Lodging amenitiesIncluded

  • Ballard's Resort:Included — Kitchen, A/C, TV, daily maid service, grills, linens, towels, appliances✓Confirmed
  • Sportsman's Lodge:Not stated for this property?Unknown

• Meals (base rate)Included

  • Ballard's Resort:Not stated for this property?Unknown
  • Sportsman's Lodge:Extra cost (priced separately)✓Confirmed

• Meals (lunch add-on $15)Included

  • Ballard's Resort:Not stated for this property?Unknown
  • Sportsman's Lodge:Extra cost (priced separately)✓Confirmed

What to ask on the phone

These are the rows we couldn’t answer for each lodge — the questions worth asking before you book. If you get an answer, send it to us with the source. We check it against that source before it goes on the lodge’s page.

Keep going

• Everything we hold on Ballard's Resort
• Everything we hold on Sportsman's Lodge
• Open this comparison in the tool to add a third lodge or swap one out.
• Run a true trip cost for your own crew, nights and travel — that is where currencies are converted, at a dated rate.

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