Cabins near Clarksville, Iowa can be found within a 30-mile radius in several county and state parks. Located in north-central Iowa's rolling prairie landscape, this region experiences four distinct seasons with summer temperatures averaging 80-85°F. Cabin accommodations range from basic structures to modern units with full amenities, and most require reservations 3-12 months in advance, particularly for summer weekend stays.
What to do
Hiking trails: Pine Lake State Park offers extensive hiking opportunities along the river and around the lake. One visitor noted, "Nice hiking trails right outside the cabin, along the river. Just down the road is a large lake with more hiking as well."
Water activities: Big Woods Lake Recreation Area provides multiple water recreation options. A camper shared, "Two ramps for boats and two spots for kayaks or canoes. Nice paddling and usually pretty easy going. One beach, but I've never seen anyone really swimming. Just mostly small kids splashing around."
Family games: Wilder City Park offers numerous outdoor activities. According to one visitor, "They have sand volleyball pickle ball miniature golf and huge checkers plus a couple playgrounds for the kids. It's a nice quiet family campground."
Fishing options: Union Grove State Park Campground provides good fishing opportunities at their lake. A camper mentioned, "Union Grove is known for having good lake fishing. The lake is also a great place for kayaking or canoeing."
What campers like
Modern cabin amenities: Tower Rock offers two well-appointed cabins. As one reviewer described, "The two cabins are fairly new and have all of the amenities. My mother-in-law stayed here while visiting recently and we enjoyed spending time at her cabin."
Clean facilities: Riverside Co Park maintains high-quality amenities. A visitor noted, "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."
Peaceful setting: McIntosh Woods State Park Campground provides a quiet environment. One camper shared, "We can't wait to go back. Our camp was so private & we were happy because we had a new puppy that was from a hoarding situation & not real social."
Accessibility to supplies: Hickory Hills Park offers convenience with nearby services. A reviewer explained, "This is a 700+ acre park with hiking, fishing, and disc golf. It also has modern amenities and a small zoo of animals from birds to buffalo."
What you should know
Seasonal availability: Many cabin rentals in the Clarksville area have limited seasonal availability. Union Grove State Park Campground operates from "May 1 to September 30" according to their listing information.
Bathroom variations: Waterloo - Lost Island Waterpark KOA has varied bathroom conditions. A visitor observed, "Bathrooms are cleaned daily but at times are quite nasty. Not their fault people are just nasty."
Shade considerations: Several cabins and campsites have limited shade. One KOA visitor mentioned, "Decent sites with full hook ups. Little shade with small trees next to about each site."
Reservation requirements: Cabin rentals typically require advance booking. At L. Brandt's Crazy Acres Campground & Cabin Rental, all accommodations are listed as "reservable" in their amenities section.
Tips for camping with families
Swimming options: Pine Lake State Park Campground offers water activities for families. A visitor shared, "Lovely views, great walking paths, quiet and picturesque lake. Bathrooms and shower rooms are new and super clean."
Playground access: Multiple cabin locations feature child-friendly areas. At Riverside Co Park, a camper highlighted the "Very creative natural play park for children to play on."
Educational opportunities: Hickory Hills Park provides learning experiences beyond typical camping. A reviewer mentioned their "small zoo of animals from birds to buffalo."
Bathroom proximity: Consider cabin proximity to bathroom facilities when traveling with children. McIntosh Woods campers noted, "Sites arranged in a circle around a clean shower house. Potable water."
Tips from RVers
Site selection: When bringing an RV to cabin areas, check site leveling. At Union Grove State Park, a camper warned, "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."
Hookup variations: Not all cabin areas offer full hookups for accompanying RVs. At Big Woods Lake, a visitor noted, "Sites are well planned out though, giving each camper plenty of space. Several buddy set ups, allowing two campers to set up with main doors facing each other."
Length considerations: Riverside Co Park accommodates larger vehicles. A visitor highlighted, "Very long parking pads- big rig friendly and very roomy sites."
Wi-Fi and connectivity: Cell service varies at cabin locations. At Waterloo - Lost Island Waterpark KOA, a camper reported, "We had 4 bar LTE with Verizon. Our hotspot was usable and performed very well."
