Iowa is renowned for its vast cornfields and flat, open spaces, but there is much more for vacationers to explore. In addition to its agricultural fields, the state boasts rolling grasslands, lush green forests, and picturesque waterways that offer opportunities for boating, fishing, and swimming. If you’re looking to enjoy the outdoors without sacrificing comfort, consider elevating your experience with a glamping trip. Glamping, short for “glamorous camping,” combines the best of both worlds: the natural beauty of traditional camping with the benefits of modern conveniences like cozy bedding, climate-controlled accommodations, and a host of additional perks and amenities.
Top Glamping Sites in Iowa
Fillenwarth Beach Resort Cottage Colony
The Fillenwarth Beach Resort Cottage Colony in the town of Arnold’s Park sits along the shoreline of West Lake Okoboji. Lakefront, condo-style units and cottages are available, and they feature a kitchen, a bathroom, a patio, and a gas grill. With beaches, boat docks, lake cruises, and sailboat experiences, the resort is well-suited for water fun. Other features include indoor and outdoor heated pools, a recreation room with scheduled activities, paddle boats, canoes, and rowboats.
Scharnberg Park
Scharnberg Park in Everly offers accommodations for tent and RV camping, and three cabins are also available. A 15-acre lake is stocked regularly with bluegill, bass, and channel catfish. The fishing pier is ADA-accessible, and the park has boat rentals, a swimming beach, primitive areas, a shower house, firewood, and concession sales.
Sunrise Cottages at King’s Pointe Resort
The Sunrise Cottages at King’s Pointe Resort in Storm Lake is the perfect destination for a unique vacation. The cottages come with a 65-inch TV, wireless internet access, a fire pit, lake views, a full kitchen, a charcoal grill, and other amenities. During your stay, enjoy a dry-cleaning service, bike and kayak rentals, a water park, fishing, picnicking, swimming, walking trails, and a playground.
Little Wall Lake Park
Little Wall Lake Park is located near Ames on the shore of a 249-acre lake. It offers RV camping with full hookups, primitive campsites, and campsites with electricity. All guests have access to wireless internet. Enjoy the idyllic scenery hiking on the trails, take a boat out on the water, or go swimming during your stay.
Jester Park Cabins
Jester Park Cabins is a stunning park that embraces the beauty of its lakefront landscape in Granger. On Saylorville Lake, you can enjoy boating and fishing. Fishing poles and paddle boat rentals are available. The cabins feature a full kitchen, a modern bathroom, a porch, a charcoal grill, a deck, and a communal fire pit. You can also enjoy cross-country skiing, a nature center, snowmobiling, golfing, hiking, and an equestrian center.
Lake Darling State Park
At Lake Darling State Park in Brighton, you can stay in one of the park’s modern cabins. The cabins are outfitted with a kitchen, private bedrooms, and heating and cooling. This year-round park offers fishing and boating on the lake as well as rental canoes, paddleboards, and paddleboats. Spend your days hiking, mountain biking, snowmobiling, and cross-country skiing.
Lake Wapello State Park
Lake Wapello State Park is located a few miles from Bloomfield, and it offers modern cabins with heating and cooling, private bedrooms, and a kitchen. The wooded landscape offers a nature trail and a trail that wraps around the lake. On the lake, you can lounge at the beach or go swimming, fishing, or boating. Other activities include snowmobiling and cross-country skiing.
Where to Glamp in Iowa
Premium RV parks, campgrounds, and other glamping destinations are found throughout Iowa. Some are located near major cities, such as Sioux Falls, Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, and other urban areas. Other coveted destinations are near the state’s most beautiful natural areas. The landscape is marked by prairies, woodlands, lakes, rivers, and wetlands.
Iowa has warm, humid summers and chilly winters. When you take advantage of the comforts of glamping, you can enjoy a comfortable trip any time of year. Whether you plan to go boating, cross-country skiing, or something else, glamping is the perfect way to experience Iowa.
What to Bring When Glamping in Iowa
• Weather-appropriate clothing, shoes, and hats
• Sunscreen and insect repellent
• A fully stocked first-aid kit
• Headlamps and flashlights
• Disposable plates, cups, bowls, and flatware
• Grill-appropriate pots and pans
• Tumblers and straw brushes
• Bottled water
• Camping chairs
• Lighter, fire starters, and charcoal
• Towels
• Bedding
• Games
• Books
• A fan or heater
• A lantern
• String lights
• Reservations, if needed
Why settle for an ordinary camping trip in Iowa when you can elevate the experience with a touch of class? Consider glamping with an RV rental to enjoy the comforts of home while exploring the outdoors. Discover more camping options in Iowa.
