Carroll, Iowa sits at an elevation of approximately 1,230 feet with mild summer temperatures averaging 70-85°F and winters dipping well below freezing. The surrounding area features rolling hills and prairie landscapes with several water bodies offering cabin rentals within a 30-mile radius. Cabin accommodations vary significantly in price depending on season and amenities.
What to do
Roller skating: Spring Lake County Park offers a unique open-air roller skating rink that operates weekends from Memorial Day through Labor Day. "Door to door ice and concession delivery. Awesome open air roller skating rink and nightly grilling parties at the beach," notes camper Jodi H.
Disc golf: Spring Lake County Park includes a disc golf course as part of its recreational offerings. "There are campsites along the lake with easy access to shoreline. There are approximately 100 sites. There is a playground and disc golf," reports Dave M.
Lakeside hiking: Several parks offer paved trails ideal for biking or hiking around their lakes. At Swan Lake State Park Campground, "Great trail all the way around the lake, we took a bike ride around it was about 3 ish miles," shares Shane T.
What campers like
Affordable cabin rentals: Carroll County's cabin options include budget-friendly accommodations. At Hagge County Park, there is "1 cabin for rent at a reasonable price" according to Lori N., who also notes the park has "nice shaded areas" and well-maintained trails.
Lake views: Many cabins near Carroll offer direct waterfront positioning. At Prairie Rose State Park, sites feature "great views of the lake with gorgeous sunsets" as Kaelyn H. points out, adding that it's a "simple quiet spot! far from the interstate!"
Clean facilities: Campers consistently mention the well-maintained bathrooms at most parks. "Bathroom facilities adequate. Nice lake for the kids to go fishing. Lots of nice hiking trails. Park rangers are good ppl," notes Therese T. about Springbrook State Park.
What you should know
Limited connectivity: Cell service varies significantly between parks. At Springbrook State Park Campground, "You'll love this little park if you want to really disconnect and get away from things as there was absolutely 0 cell reception where we were at," reports Jesse P.
Reservation systems: Most cabins require advance booking. County-managed cabins can be reserved through mycountyparks.com, which one reviewer at Spring Lake County Park specifically mentions: "There are reservable sites on mycountyparks.com."
Seasonal operations: While some parks operate year-round, many cabin facilities close during winter months. Littlefield Recreation Area maintains some services later into fall: "I stayed 3 nights, the second week of November... Water was on and the bathrooms were open and clean!" according to Roger.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: When booking cabins with children, check for nearby play areas. At Spring Lake County Park, Chelsea G. notes there are "spacious campsites" and "lots of trails to choose from," making it ideal for families wanting both outdoor activities and play structures.
Swimming options: Several parks offer swimming beaches for cooling off. At Littlefield Rec Area, families appreciate the "park, beach, covered shelter area and showerhouse" mentioned by Laura B.
Nature programs: Some parks offer educational opportunities. Therese T. shared that at Springbrook State Park, "They had a little nature center which was closed but the nice lady opened it for my kids to go in and let them hold snakes and turtles! They were so excited!"
Tips from RVers
Site spacing: Cabin areas often intermingle with RV sites. At Black Hawk State Park, Bruce P. notes: "Nice level campground right on the water and in town. Many types of sites available from full hook to dry camping. Some paved but most are gravel sites."
Utility connections: When renting cabins that include hookups, be prepared for varied placement. At Black Hawk State Park, "Utility location did require us to use a longer hose and extension cord to reach from our site."
Dump station access: For RV owners, dump stations may have long waits during peak times. At Springbrook State Park, one camper noted: "1 dump, long wait. Nearest store 10 miles away, weak cell, down in river valley."
