Cabins Near Ames, Iowa
Looking to cabin camp near Ames and enjoy a rustic retreat into nature? Finding a place to cabin camp in Iowa is easier than ever. You're sure to find the perfect cabin rental for your Ames camping adventure.
Best Cabin Sites Near Ames, IA (25)
1. Ledges State Park Campground
Boone, Iowa39 Reviews•57 Photos•208 SavesMillions of years before the plains of Iowa were inhabited by the Sauk, Fox and Sioux peoples, much of the American Midwest was covered by a shallow inland sea. It was at this time that the area’s sandstone deposits began forming. Fast-forward to just 13,000 years ago, with the inland sea now long gone, Ice Age glacial meltwater raced across the dry plains, carving and scouring channels and canyons into the sandstone terrain. One of these canyons can be found in Iowa’s Ledges State Park. This 1,000-acre nature preserve and recreation area is located on a wide bend on the Des Moines River, and is just 40 miles north of the city of Des Moines. The park is subject to frequent flooding when the river breaches its banks, but is otherwise a popular year-round outdoor recreation destination. Visitors to Ledges can enjoy a variety of hiking, fishing and paddling opportunities, as well as explore a prehistoric river canyon that showcases nature’s ability to sculpt the landscape.
The campground at Ledges State Park features 94 tent and RV sites situated among deciduous woods not far from the Des Moines River. Campers can choose from full-hookup, partial-hookup, or primitive tent sites. Most sites are back-in; only a few are pull-through for larger vehicles. Tent sites are located in both in the main camp area, and in a secluded walk-in area. There is also a youth group site. All sites are equipped with picnic tables, fire pits and cooking grills, and all have access to water faucets, flush restrooms, showers, and trash receptacles; a dump station is located near the campground entrance. The campground also features a kids’ playground, outdoor amphitheater, and is within walking distance of trails and picnic areas. Some roads and/or facilities may not be open or available in the winter. Reservations are accepted, however the park saves about half of the sites for first-come, first-served campers; sites are $11–$19/night.
- Pets
- Fires
- Electric Hookups
- Phone Service
- Reservable
- ADA Access
$12 - $18 / night
2. Jester County Park
Granger, Iowa27 Reviews•45 Photos•102 Saves- Pets
- Fires
- Electric Hookups
- Phone Service
- Reservable
- RVs
$20 - $25 / night
3. Little Wall Lake County Park
Story City, Iowa5 Reviews•8 Photos•37 Saves- Pets
- Fires
- Electric Hookups
- Phone Service
- Reservable
- ADA Access
4. Thomas Mitchell County Park
Mitchellville, Iowa11 Reviews•57 Photos•58 Saves- Pets
- Fires
- Electric Hookups
- Phone Service
- Reservable
- ADA Access
5. Des Moines West KOA Holiday
Earlham, Iowa22 Reviews•33 Photos•44 SavesWe are very excited to provide you and your family a memorable Iowa camping experience at the best rated Des Moines RV Park & Campground. If it's been years since you've camped at Des Moines West KOA, make it a point to stop back in to see all the new and exciting improvements, including 2 Dog Parks, Huge Jumping Pillow, Jump Shot (Trampoline Basketball), Water Wars, Paddle Boats, Organized Weekend Activities, Ladder Ball, Horseshoes, & Hunt Brother's Pizza & Wings. We promise you'll be pleasantly surprised. The park is nestled 1.5 miles north of I-80, off exit 106, amongst beautiful Iowa farm fields, in a peaceful rural setting, where the only thing you'll hear are the songbirds singing!
- Pets
- Fires
- Electric Hookups
- Phone Service
- Reservable
- ADA Access
6. Timberline Campground
West Des Moines, Iowa12 Reviews•6 Photos•43 SavesTimberline Campground is nestled on the outskirts of Waukee, Iowa, which is located just a few miles west of West Des Moines. It is conveniently situated one and a half miles away from Interstate 80, but your ears won’t be able to tell.
From the shady campsites to the immaculate facilities, Timberline Campground continues to delight its guests time and time again. Let your hosts show you how Timberline Campground provides country camping with city convenience!
Timberline is private property, not public property, and shall not be used as public property. Check in at the office and register all guests and planned activities.
- Pets
- Fires
- Electric Hookups
- Phone Service
- Reservable
- ADA Access
$35 - $80 / night
7. Don Williams Park
Ogden, Iowa4 Reviews•6 Photos•16 SavesSelf-registration campground (no reservations - first come, first serve) 135 electrical campsites $20/night 50/30/110 amp hookup 5 "group" camping areas (park in any arrangement) 27 non-electrical campsites - $11 / night Youth camping area (by reservation only) Modern shower houses with flush toilets Multiple water hydrants Two dump stations Luxury cabins (by reservation only) Boating (no wake lake) Fishing and bait shop 9-hole golf course and clubhouse with restaurant Hiking trails Updated playgrounds Swimming beach Two enclosed shelters (by reservation only) Two open air shelters Wildlife viewing
Please view the Park Rules below for further information.
Operating Hours & Seasons
The campground is open from April 15 - October 15, but may be open later depending on weather.
Park hours are 5:30 a.m. - 10:30 p.m.
Closures The campgrounds will be closed during the winter months, however, the roads through the park will be open to allow for wildlife viewing.
- Pets
- Fires
- Electric Hookups
- Phone Service
- ADA Access
- RVs
$12 - $20 / night
8. Briggs Woods Park
Webster City, Iowa8 Reviews•17 Photos•17 Saves- Pets
- Fires
- Electric Hookups
- Phone Service
- Reservable
- ADA Access
9. Spring Lake County Park
Jefferson, Iowa9 Reviews•9 Photos•31 Saves- Pets
- Fires
- Electric Hookups
- Phone Service
- Reservable
- ADA Access
$20 / night
10. Dolliver Memorial State Park Campground
Lehigh, Iowa8 Reviews•13 Photos•29 Saves- Pets
- Fires
- Electric Hookups
- Reservable
- ADA Access
- RVs
Recent Cabin Reviews in Ames
193 Reviews of 25 Ames Campgrounds
Pat F.
Guide
Don Williams Park
Quite and nice
Very quite and nice campground, we camped on top of the hill in tents it was awesome view and potable drinking water next to camp, bathrooms and shower facilities was clean and nice
- ccedded S.
Scout
Sportsman Park
JJSploit
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- MMaggie C.
Legend
Union Grove State Park Campground
Loved it!
Loved this campground! We just stayed for one night, but wish it had been two. Small and quiet. A few trails to hike and a horse camp that I didn’t have time to explore. Nice lending library as well. Bathroom/shower combos are nice (1 is ADA). Not far off the interstate. Some sites are off with level & weird (ie stairs/door open on an incline and away from the table), and our picnic table was sloped. So pick your site carefully. 19E was ok - table not level and high stairs required from TT but good for Starlink connection and close water spigot (elec only at these sites)
Renee H.
Ranger
Des Moines West KOA Holiday
Nice modern KOA
Large modern KOA with sites to accommodate all sizes of rigs and also tent campers. Gravel sites require some leveling. Not much privacy between sites nor shade. Bathhouses were clean and private. Laundry available. Off leash dog area available. Convenient to John Wayne’s birthplace and covered bridges of Madison County. Bulk propane tanks were on site for winter campers. Camper cabins available. Small store with Hunt Brothers pizza to order. Gathering room on site and pedal car racetrack. Verizon cell signal was good. Garbage dumpster and dump station on site.
George H.Scout
University 40
difficult tas
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- Amanda W.Scout
Jester County Park
outing
went out here with family and had a amtime azing
- Amanda W.Scout
Jester County Park
camping
we love it here people are great price is Right Showers are hot every time it a WOnderfull place •to be .
Stuart K.Legend
Newton KOA
This KOA Deserves Your Attention
Literally a single stone’s throw from I80, one of the busiest thoroughfares you’ll find yourself on here in the great ‘Hawkeye State,’ this is one campground that very much deserves your attention, despite being a KOA. In fact, this campground outpost is so close to the highway that you’ll be hard pressed not to see or hear it during your entire stay. While this KOA does sit down a bit from the hustle & bustle that comes with a major interstate highway, a good number of the available RV sites sit on a sloping hill that is the same elevation as the highway itself, so if you do have the choice, opt for the lower sites (more on that later).
Sitting just 30 minutes east of Des Moines, Newton KOA offers up about 100 sites for RVs and 5th wheelers offering up all the standard hook-ups (water, sewage and 30 / 50 amp- but be careful because some sites only offer 30 or 50, while some do offer both, so be sure to ask when making your reservation). For mi tent pitching bredren, there’s about a dozen or so sites to choose from and all are fairly intermingled with the RV sites, although each site does sit on a plush patch of grass, so this KOA does a nice job on that front of integration. Oh, and if you don’t have an RV, 5th wheeler or a tent, on worries, this KOA will rent you one of its three cabins.
As this is a KOA you can expect a ton of amenities and this place does not disappoint with: catch & release fishing pond w/ fish cleaning station (that is oddly placed about as far away from the fishing pond as you can get), disc golf course, K9 camp for the puppies, cable TV, WiFi, in-ground pool (available 5/25 until 9/3) with ADA pool lift, horseshoes, meeting rooms, firewood for sale, LP gas refueling station, pool table, shuffleboard, social lounge, two kids playground, laundr-O-mat, basketball court, restroom & shower facilities, mini-market with basic groceries, ping pong, jump pad, game room, gaga pit, designated dumpster and dump station and of course the scattered fire pits and picnic tables. Just to go above and beyond, this KOA serves up free breakfast of flapjacks on Saturdays. Yahoo!
Insider’s tips? Here’s a few: (1) Whether you are pitching a tent or pulling up in your RV, the best sites IMHO are those in the lower valley, but located right in front of the main office, where there are 6 RV slots numbered #45 – 50 and 6 tent sites numbered T1 – T6; (2) Should you get hungry and might want to try some local fare, check out Taco John’s and La Cabaña Mexican Restaurant, which I guess stand for ‘local’ around here, although there is Newton Family Restaurant. If you are looking for something really different and amazing, I would suggest heading on over to Dan’s Sandwich Shop, which feels like real Americana from a bygone era, complete with a diner-esque vibe and matching elbow counter to warm up to over a nice piece of apple pie, scoop of ice cream washed down with a hot mug of coffee; (3) While this KOA has a mini-market, you will find a bigger selection with better prices just down the road at the local Walmart, where just due west of this, you’ll find a Hy-Vee Grocery store with a wine & spirits shop positioned there as well. Further down the road, you have excellent fresh cut meat from Fareway Grocery, but check out the local hotspot, Newton Market as well; and (4) While what you will discover from an outdoor standpoint at Newton KOA is interesting, if you want something more substantial, head to Newton Arboretum & Botanical Gardens for 6 acres of family-friendly landscape to explore with more displays and demonstrations that you can shake a stick at! Seriously, there’s a butterfly garden, peony border and nearly 200 individual species of trees here to check out.
Happy Camping!
- mmichael W.
Traveler
Thomas Mitchell County Park
Nice campground although not too many spaces.
Came in late, even though there were several empty spaces turns out they were reserved. Very nice camp host told us we could have a non-electric site, none of them were reserved. Bathroom/showers were clean.
Ben K.ScoutThomas Mitchell County Park
Clean and quiet in tent
Spent 2 nights tent camping here. We stayed at site 4, glad I read reviews on here. I personally would not want to be in a site beyond number 7 as it gets too close to the dump station and subsequent “sewage lagoon”
Shower house was clean, pretty quiet, and only 5 miles off the highway
- TTom M.Guide
Des Moines West KOA Holiday
One of our favorites !
Have stayed here several times, one of our grandkids favorite KOA's. Staff is one of the nicest and most helpful we've ever encountered.
Ashley M.ScoutSportsman Park
Awesome
Great camping sites! Can’t beat the price. Showers and toilets that were clean. Very peaceful. Best place we camped from Michigan to Washington!
- JJeff C.Scout
Newton KOA
A decent option along the freeway
Our stay here was fine. Check-in was easy and courteous. We were escorted to our site. All of the staff that we interacted with was great. It seems like this park has an original section and then expansion sections tired up a hillside. The original section is the only section with any mature shade trees. Our site, and it looked like the others in the tiered hillside section, were in full sun all day. We selected an upgraded patio site. It was spacious and the patio area was made from pavers. It was equiped the same as the other sites though, just a fire pit and a picnic table (that was in rough shape). Our experience at other KOAs is that the patio sites have some better patio furniture. The fire pit wasn't functional for cooking. The cooking grate was rusted and set about 1" off the bottom of the fire pit leaving no room for charcoal. Pool looked nice but we didn't use it. The bathrooms and showers were clean but the showers could use a place to set your dry clothes.
- Les W.Guide
Des Moines West KOA Holiday
Unbelievable !
Stayed here for five nights attending a family reunion. First time staying at a koa and it was awesome. From the site service firewood and food delivery, to the location and people who stopped here in their travels. I will definitely stay at a KOA again!
- jjeremy K.Traveler
Lizard Creek Ranch Camping
Great place to stay
Very nice park with a nice restaurant and many things to do in the area. Very pretty and taken care of.
Charity T.ScoutDes Moines West KOA Holiday
Very laid back
QUIETEST KOA IN AMERICA. no hiway no traintracks or airport! Well kept.. bathrooms are a little scarce and WET.. but very nice little campground and VERY friendly staff.
- Russell T.Traveler
Timberline Campground
Love this place
Timberline is among my favorite campgrounds, always has great people, nice shade trees, fun pool, and quality facilities.
- jjessScout
Timberline Campground
Wish we could’ve stayed longer
Marta and crew were so friendly and helpful! Clean bathrooms, beautiful property. Close to hwy but far enough away. We called ahead to arrive after hours and had to get back on the road in the morning. Wish we could’ve stayed longer!
- Jeannie D.Guide
Spring Lake County Park
Family Tradition
We love to return here every year!
Recently updated two-way fresh-fill/santiary dump station. There is Ice Cube Consessions and the skating rink from Memorial Day through Labor Day every year. Great long-term hosts really make this park feel like going home.
- Jeannie D.Guide
Briggs Woods Park
Pretty place
Nice camp, decent sites, GREAT buddy sites! Cell service is null, and no wifi. We do love the hiking over here!
- Jeannie D.Guide
Dolliver Memorial State Park Campground
Love Dolliver
One of my favorite hiking spots! Camping here is comfortable enough. Sites can be a little squat in the middle loops, and no fhu. Antenna coverage is fine for catching your evening weather report, but cell service cuts out as you drive down into the park, and does not resume until you come back up and out. There's no wifi, and I'm not sure how satellite service would fare down here. Our Dish barely kept up with the antenna, so I'm guessing satellite's a meh. If you have anything you'd like to listen to or watch, download it before going in. But, honestly, the hiking is so good, it'd be silly to worry about much of anything down here. I rarely do.
- Jeannie D.Guide
Ledges State Park Campground
It's okay
Great vibes. Camp's pretty far from the bones of the park, but the hike's relatively plesant. Cell coverage is terrible out here, and there is no WIFI to help keep people connected.
- Jeannie D.Guide
Webster County Kennedy Park Campground
No Service
Great sites, phenomenol hosts. LOVE the playground, and the culture; this is home during the summer months. Terrible WIFI, absolutely no cell coverage out here. Not sure how they justify raising camping rates here if the ameneties do not reflect modern needs for family enjoyment. Yes we like smores, and watching the birds, and fishing, and hiking; but so help me, we like our Netflix too, and I sure would like to be able to watch the weather report. Even Dish coverage is spotty out here. It's weird, we're not down in a valley or anything. Not sure why this is such a dead zone out here.
- ddariohillScout
University 40
Car drifting simulator you dreamed of
Enjoy drifting& driving awesome cars. Explore beautiful maps, find your favourite drift locations. Do experiments with car tuning. And join the Drift Hunters community!- Over 25 awesome drift cars. Drive your dreams!- Detailed car tuning- Car customization. Paint your car in any color with 4 types of paint. Change rims, paint rims. Stance it- Upgrade performance of your car- make more skids- 10 nice tracks for drifting, racing or just doing burnouts With the coins you collect in endless game mode you can open new beautiful cars to drift. Enjoy drifting.
- KKellyGuide
Shady Brook Camping & RV Adventures, LLC
Interstate to close
You could literally throw a rock from the entrance and hit a passing semi. Would be a possible extended stay for construction folks. Not for any peace and quite camping. Have never stayed at the campground, only scouted. So can't comment on operators, or residents.
Elza S.ScoutUniversity 40
Excellent!
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Jake C.Legend
Waterfront Cabin
Off-Grid Cabin by the pond
Jake from the Dyrt here! I had a chance to learn a little about this awesome cabin, they offer the opportunity to get off-grid and hangout on the porch overlooking a pond. Check them out and leave a review on The Dyrt!
Guide to Ames
Cabin camping near Ames, Iowa offers a perfect blend of nature and comfort, allowing you to enjoy the great outdoors without sacrificing the conveniences of home.
Cabin campers appreciate these amenities
- At Ledges State Park Campground, visitors can enjoy clean restrooms, showers, and picnic tables, making it a comfortable choice for families.
- Little Wall Lake County Park features spacious sites with electric hookups and firewood availability, enhancing the cabin camping experience.
- Don Williams Park offers well-maintained facilities, including a sanitary dump and potable water, ensuring a hassle-free stay.
Some prices for cabin camping range from $50 to $29
- A cabin at Sportsman Park can be rented for just $50, providing an affordable option for those looking to escape the city.
- Daisy Long Memorial County Park offers tent and RV sites starting at $8, making it a budget-friendly choice for campers.
- For a unique experience, Timberline Campground has cabins available at competitive rates, perfect for families or groups.
Cabins are available at Ledges State Park and more
- Ledges State Park Campground features cabins nestled among scenic trails, ideal for hiking enthusiasts.
- At Briggs Woods Park, you can find cozy cabins surrounded by nature, perfect for a peaceful retreat.
- Jester County Park offers cabin accommodations year-round, making it a great option for any season.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular cabin campsite near Ames, IA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular cabin campground near Ames, IA is Ledges State Park Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 39 reviews.
What is the best site to find cabin camping near Ames, IA?
TheDyrt.com has all 25 cabin camping locations near Ames, IA, with real photos and reviews from campers.