Best Glamping near Calmar, IA

Chimney Rock Canoe and Campground has a selection of glamping accommodations set along the Upper Iowa River near Calmar, surrounded by 80-foot limestone bluffs. The campground features canvas tents and cabin-style glamping units with comfortable furnishings, electrical hookups, and access to shared shower facilities. Located 20 minutes from Calmar, the property includes spacious sites with picnic tables and fire rings, with many glamping spots positioned for scenic river views. Amenities include a campground store for essentials, clean shower houses, and firewood available on-site. One guest shared, "This part of Iowa is a treasure. Deb and her crew are always helpful and accommodating. There are cabins, electric sites, showers and a dump station."

Activities center on the Upper Iowa River with kayaking, canoeing, and tubing being primary attractions, with the campground providing rental equipment and shuttle services to facilitate these water adventures. Hiking trails wind through the surrounding bluffs, offering panoramic views of the river valley and abundant wildlife viewing opportunities including eagles nesting in the area. Bluffton Resort, another glamping destination in the region, complements the experience with its bar and store providing refreshments after outdoor activities. Lake Meyer County Park, situated on a hill above its namesake lake, rounds out the glamping options with additional trails and water recreation. A recent visitor mentioned, "The scenery is amazing. I had the most peaceful stay which was exactly what I was wanting. We enjoyed one day of kayaking and another day of cycling on the trout run trail. Both days were SO serene!"

Best Glamping Sites Near Calmar, Iowa (14)

    1. Lake Meyer County Park Campground

    2 Reviews
    Calmar, IA
    2 miles
    Website
    +1 (563) 534-7145

    "As someone who bicycle tours I appreciated fire wood being on site and close to where the tent area is. The bathrooms aren’t the best but they worked."

    "Lake Meyer sits atop a hill above the Lake. Beautiful trails with lots of wild life. Even an eagles nest. There are hook ups and water."

    2. Chimney Rock Canoe and Campground

    6 Reviews
    Cresco, IA
    17 miles
    Website

    "Excellent staff. One of the best kept campgrounds I've been to. Between the campground and the nearby towns, there is easily two weeks of activities to do. More depending on the time of year you go."

    "Every time I visit I have a wonderful time enjoying the scenic Upper Iowa River. This part of Iowa is a treasure. Deb and her crew are always helpful and accommodating."

    3. Bluffton Resort

    5 Reviews
    Decorah, IA
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (563) 735-5738

    $25 / night

    "The camping sites also have large tall trees where a camper should be parked which causes you to park way to close to the fire pit."

    "Gorgeous bluffs and river to camp right next to! Can’t wait to go back!"

    4. Goeken Co Park

    1 Review
    West Union, IA
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (563) 425-3613

    5. Waukon City Park

    3 Reviews
    Waterville, IA
    21 miles
    Website
    +1 (563) 568-0081

    "Includes electric and water and showers and firewood. Best value I have found yet. They have a bunch o pavilions and facilities. Pool, tennis, lake."

    "Free firewood, free wifi, water and electric at each campsite. Found a nice shady site for tent camping."

    6. Airport Lake Park Campground

    3 Reviews
    Elma, IA
    25 miles
    Website
    +1 (641) 394-4714

    "Water electric at each site. Dump station on site. Nice swimming beach and many fishing jetties."

    "Bathrooms were clean. Good cell phone signal. Small lake for fishing and swimming working walking distance"

    7. Forestville Mystery Cave State Park Campground

    18 Reviews
    Preston, MN
    36 miles
    Website
    +1 (507) 352-5111

    $35 / night

    "There are so many activities to do both within the park and surrounding areas, but my most favorite thing to do was walk the endless miles of hiking trails."

    "It can be a little confusing because the camping and mystery caves are a distance apart. I highly recommend going to the caves."

    8. Eagle Cliff Campground and Lodging

    16 Reviews
    Lanesboro, MN
    39 miles
    Website
    +1 (507) 467-2598

    $30 - $46 / night

    "Located on the Root River. Cliff View has very clean bath houses. Lots of sites to choose from. 50 amp service, sewer hook up and of course water. If your close enough to the office wifi available."

    "Situated right along the Root River next to the bike trail. They offer kayak, canoe and tube rentals and shuttles. They also have bike rentals. This facility is clean and very well kept."

    9. The Old Barn Resort

    10 Reviews
    Lanesboro, MN
    38 miles
    Website
    +1 (507) 467-2512

    "Our site was very large, which was nice as it gave us more than enough room to set up our tent, leaving space between us and the neighboring sites."

    "It was located right on the Root River Trail System which we liked for biking and running."

    10. Harvest Farm Campground

    Be the first to review!
    Cresco, IA
    22 miles
    Website
    +1 (563) 883-8562

    $25 - $100 / night

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Recent Glamping Photos near Calmar, IA

5 Photos of 14 Calmar Campgrounds


Glamping Reviews near Calmar, IA

73 Reviews of 14 Calmar Campgrounds


  • p
    Nov. 20, 2022

    Riverside Co Park

    Great full hookup 40 unit campgrount

    40 site Totally renovated 2 years ago nestled along the little Cedar river above the dam. New Shower house/bathrooms. Natural themed kids play area including a huge tree house. City water and sewer with 50 and 30 amp to each site. Man made swimming pond with a lighted waterfall. Volleyball and walking trails with primitive camping across the road. Cabin with air conditioning and fully furnished further up the river on 200 acres of county land. Fishing above and below the dam. Picnic table and fire ring at every site.

  • D
    Jun. 26, 2020

    Eagle Cliff Campground and Lodging

    River Camping

    Overall great experience! Located on the Root River. Cliff View has very clean bath houses. Lots of sites to choose from. 50 amp service, sewer hook up and of course water. If your close enough to the office wifi available. Some sites are tight for large motor homes, 5th wheelers and tavel trailer. If your a bicyclist, campgrounds on great paved trail. They like their grass, no rugs or carpet on the grass. I take this as a positive. Dogs n cats are welcome. Lots of seasonal sites. Camping during the week is quite!

  • Melissa K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 3, 2017

    Boulder Creek Campground

    Pretty Disappointed

    This park fell short in so many ways. Having stayed in other Yogi Bear's we were expecting similar accommodations. I will say they had a lot of rain and it did affect most of the campground. We booked over the phone for two nights. It was nearly $90 for those two nights. This is pretty spendy for us but we were meeting friends there. We arrived at the campground and were given site 14. It as across from our friends cabin so it should have been good. However, we got to our site on a very poorly maintained road only to find the site did not have a fire pit or a picnic table. It was extremely tiny, barely big enough for our truck and definitely not enough room for our two tents. The site was covered in sticks and debris and there was trash bags in front of the cabin across the washed out road. We went down to voice our concern that this was just not going to work and they said to try site 13. Even worse then 14. It was a grass spot, mowed out, no place to park a vehicle, which I'm glad I left at the bottom of the hill, extremely narrow, washed out road going to site 13. There still was no picnic table but there was a fire pit. Stated this is just not going to work. We paid way too much for so little accommodations. They said they couldn't refund or move us to an electric site (we didn't need electric but the two previously mentioned sites were not going to work) without talking to their boss. After already spending 28 days in a tent, across the country, I was pretty upset that this yogi bear was so bad. They did end up moving me to site 17, which was one of the few that did not have a completely flooded fire ring. Which leads to the next things, almost all of the grounds were completely flooded. Fire rings couldn't even be seen they were so far under water. To walk to any part of the park involved getting your feet wet. The playground swings were above water making it difficult for the kids to reach them without getting really wet. There had been no attempts to move any water from the storms making it difficult to enjoy parts of the park. The pool was pretty cold but I suppose it is Wisconsin. The staff did have many events going on but if you were early, you wouldn't even know the events were going on. They showed up right on time and then had to set up. But they did do a variety of races and had a pirates and princess dance. They brought in actual hair dressers to do the little girls hair for them. That was something the girls in the group enjoyed. They also had cartoons playing in the evenings. The kids also enjoyed that. Overall, I would never return, there are so many really nice parks in Wisconsin for way less money. This was not worth it at all.

  • B
    Jun. 12, 2022

    Lake Meyer County Park Campground

    Great spot, tents included

    This is a great little park if you need a place to stop for the night. It was very inexpensive for tents ($10 I think) and the tent camping area was very nice with 3 giant pine trees and some picnic tables and fire rings. As someone who bicycle tours I appreciated fire wood being on site and close to where the tent area is. The bathrooms aren’t the best but they worked. Overall its a safe, clean, welcoming campground for both tents and RV’s.

  • J
    May. 22, 2018

    Chimney Rock Canoe and Campground

    Best place to unplug with the family.

    Excellent staff. One of the best kept campgrounds I've been to. Between the campground and the nearby towns, there is easily two weeks of activities to do. More depending on the time of year you go. They offer canoeing, kayaking, tubing, sand volleyball court, shower facilities, water and electrical hookups, cabins, picnic shelter, and firewood on site. Go to http://www.chimneyrocks.com for more information

  • K
    Jul. 18, 2020

    Airport Lake Park Campground

    Beautiful spot

    Exceptionally clean. New basthroom/ shoer house. Water electric at each site. Dump station on site. Nice swimming beach and many fishing jetties.

  • Tonya B.
    May. 12, 2023

    Bluffton Resort

    Decent place to camp

    The campground had quite a few geese when we went so lots of honking and goose poop which dont work out if you want peace and quiet and clean shoes. The camping sites also have large tall trees where a camper should be parked which causes you to park way to close to the fire pit. Luckily we were camping in a group and could hang out at another campsite with better placement. On the plus side, the view is beautiful and the bar is nice!

  • Joe W.
    Aug. 13, 2020

    The Old Barn Resort

    Nice, quiet campground

    Our site was very large, which was nice as it gave us more than enough room to set up our tent, leaving space between us and the neighboring sites.

    For the families - there’s a couple small playgrounds on site, which is a good opportunity for the littles to burn some energy. There’s also a nice covered pool, but we didn’t use it because the most shallow point was 4’6”, which is great for bigger kids, but with little ones, it’s a bit more difficult. There’s a river that offers tubing. Again, our kids are a bit too little for that, but we went down to the water to check it out, and it was beautiful, quiet, and not real deep. Perfect for a relaxing float.

    Beware, the office and bar/restaurant are located inside the barn. I say beware because there are barn swallows that nest on the outside of the barn. TONS of barn swallows. They’re mostly harmless, but they do swoop down and get pretty close, so you need to watch out a little bit.

    All in all, it’s a pretty great place to camp. Beautiful, quiet (people seem to mostly respect the idea of “quiet time”), spacious, and relaxing. Also, it doesn’t hurt that you’re away from the bright lights of the city, so star gazing is amazing!

  • TyAnn J.
    Aug. 23, 2018

    Forestville Mystery Cave State Park Campground

    Family friendly adventures await among the tall oakes and maples

    Mystery Cave State Park is surrounded in in a lush green forest with huge oak and maple trees that hang over the road like a huge living canopy. My new word while we stayed there was “Forresty” due to feeling like we had entered a different world. There are so many activities to do both within the park and surrounding areas, but my most favorite thing to do was walk the endless miles of hiking trails. (Word to the wise, some of the trails are hiking/equestrian so watch your step😂) We didn’t do our homework, but if we would have known, we would have brought our fishing rods as the rivers were full of trout!!

    We arrived at 2:00pm on Saturday, after a long 5 hour drive from northern Minnesota. It was amazing to watch the landscape change from iron ore mining pits to countless acres of corn and potatoes!! Check in time is 4:00pm, but our spot was empty when we arrived, so the park rangers let us set up early (Friendly and most helpful!!) We grabbed a bundle of wood for $6.00 for a campfire while we were at the park office. (that is pretty normal rates as you can’t bring in your own wood at State Parks in Minnesota) There are 3 different loops, an additional equestrian loop, and 5 cabins. We stayed in loop “C” with has bigger sites for RV’s and offers electricity. Loops “A” and “B” have smaller sites (still big!!) and both of those loops are non-electric. None of the sites are “full” hook up, but there is a dump station & fresh water fill right off the park office. The restrooms and showers are just off of the “C” loop, as was the amphitheater, and there are garbage/recycling bins every 4-5th site. The park was very noisy, but that all changed when most of the folks left Sunday. It was very peaceful the rest of the week.

    There are so many things outside the park to do too!! We were not aware, but the Mystery Cave is a short drive from the state park. We took the scenic tour, and our guide Kip was fantastic!!! Hey let everyone ask all the questions they wanted to, and didn’t rush us at all!! The rate is $15.00 for adults, $10.00 for kids 5-12, and kids under 5 go for free. The pictures just don’t do it justice!! The next day we drove to Masonic Park in Spring Valley and we were amazed by the sheer size of the rock face!! There is no charge to picnic or visit there and there is one spot for camping, but you need to get permission from the city before doing so. We also toured Niagra Cave which is a longer drive, but well worth it!! The underground waterfall was super cool!! They charge $16.00 per adult, kids 4-12 are $10.00, and children under 4 are free.

    All in all this was a great get away for our family, and I highly recommend staying at the park:)


Guide to Calmar

Visitors to Calmar, Iowa discover rugged limestone landscapes with elevations ranging from 1,100-1,300 feet above sea level. The Upper Iowa River watershed carves dramatic valleys with exposed rock faces and heavily forested ridges. Summer temperatures average 75-85°F with frequent afternoon thunderstorms, while spring and fall camping seasons feature 40-60°F temperature swings between day and night.

What to do

River fishing expeditions: Access prime trout waters at Lake Meyer County Park Campground, located 20 minutes northeast of Calmar. "Lake Meyer sits atop a hill above the Lake. Beautiful trails with lots of wild life. Even an eagles nest. There are hook ups and water," shares camper Lourene M.

Mountain biking day trips: The Trout Run Trail near Bluffton Resort provides 11 miles of paved trails connecting to longer regional routes. "We enjoyed one day of kayaking and another day of cycling on the trout run trail. Both days were SO serene!" notes visitor Reah E.

Cave exploration tours: Drive 45 minutes to Forestville Mystery Cave State Park Campground for guided underground adventures. "I came here to explore the caves and it blew me away. I think the cave was around 12-13 miles long and there was water and different formations. The floor was really wet so bring shoes you won't slip in," advises Kevin T.

What campers like

Free firewood access: Waukon City Park campground, 30 minutes east of Calmar, provides complimentary firewood with each site rental. "Free firewood, free wifi, water and electric at each campsite. Found a nice shady site for tent camping," reports Brian M.

Spacious campsites: The Airport Lake Park Campground offers generous site dimensions with concrete fire ring pads. "Camper spots were huge with plenty of space between sites. Fire ring was on a cement slab. Bathrooms were clean. Good cell phone signal. Small lake for fishing and swimming working walking distance," says Paul W.

Privacy between sites: Chimney Rock Canoe and Campground provides secluded camping areas in the upper campground section. "We stayed in the upper C campground, every spot is spread far apart for privacy," notes Laura P., adding "We rented canoes and went on a four hour trip but next time we will Deff go on a longer canoe trip and leave earlier."

What you should know

Early booking requirements: Glamping near Calmar, Iowa requires reservations 3-4 months in advance for summer weekends, especially for premium river sites.

Limited cellular service: Many campgrounds in the Calmar area have weak or non-existent cell signals. Be prepared to disconnect, particularly at river valley locations.

Seasonal campground operations: Most glamping operations near Calmar close from mid-October through mid-April. The Old Barn Resort offers the longest season, running April 1 through October 31.

Shuttle service logistics: Many campgrounds provide river trip shuttles, but require advance booking. "The shuttle service is nice but I felt a little mislead after our phone conversation compared to what happened. We'll go back," notes Tyson B. at Bluffton Resort.

Tips for camping with families

Group camping circles: The Old Barn Resort features specially designed group sites arranged in circles. "We camped with family in the group circle site. The circle group site has a nice big area for the kids to play. The playground and lake was also fun for the kids too," shares Dustin B.

Child-friendly swimming spots: Several glamping options near Calmar feature dedicated swimming areas with gradual entry points. "There's also a nice covered pool, but we didn't use it because the most shallow point was 4'6", which is great for bigger kids, but with little ones, it's a bit more difficult," notes Joe W. about The Old Barn Resort.

Wildlife viewing opportunities: Lake Meyer Park offers excellent wildlife spotting for young naturalists. "Beautiful trails with lots of wild life. Even an eagles nest," says Lourene M. The park's elevated position provides sweeping views for spotting various bird species.

Tips from RVers

Level site availability: Most glamping facilities near Calmar offer level sites suitable for larger RVs. "Good level campsite and in walking around all the ones in the electric loop looked pretty level," reports Jim C. about Forestville Mystery Cave State Park.

Fresh water access points: Access to clean drinking water is available at most campgrounds. "Water electric at each site. Dump station on site," notes Kris E. about Airport Lake Park Campground's amenities.

Extended stay considerations: For longer stays while glamping near Calmar, select sites with full hookups. Dan K. recommends Chimney Rock: "50 amp service, sewer hook up and of course water. If you're close enough to the office wifi available. Some sites are tight for large motor homes, 5th wheelers and travel trailer."

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Calmar, IA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Calmar, IA is Lake Meyer County Park Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 2 reviews.

What is the best site to find glamping camping near Calmar, IA?

TheDyrt.com has all 14 glamping camping locations near Calmar, IA, with real photos and reviews from campers.