Best Cabin Camping near Clive, IA

Several campgrounds within driving distance of Clive provide cabin rental options for a comfortable outdoor retreat without tent camping. Jester County Park offers cabins with electrical hookups, while KOA Holiday in Des Moines West features cabin accommodations along with standard campground amenities. Cabins typically include electricity, beds, refrigerators, and some form of heating or cooling. "We stayed in a cabin and they were simple, but suited our needs. They had two wooden cabin-style buildings with little front porches. Inside, you had two bunk beds, and the bottom bunk of one was a pull out futon, so you really had room to sleep 5 people," noted one visitor about their experience at a local park. Waterfront Cabin at Carpenter Trail Ranch provides a more secluded option with electric hookups, fire pit, and picnic table in a waterfront setting.

Rustic and deluxe cabins are both available, depending on the location. Many cabins require advance reservations, particularly during summer months when demand increases. Timberline Campground, operating from April through November, offers cabin rentals alongside other accommodation types. Adventureland Campground provides year-round cabin availability, making it suitable for winter stays. Thomas Mitchell County Park features cabins available from April to November. A visitor who stayed at Des Moines West KOA reported: "We stayed one night in a basic cabin. AC was on upon arrival. Bathrooms were immaculate! Pizza and chicken ordered on site was a delicious dinner when we were just too tired to fuss with our own gear."

Most cabins provide beds but require guests to bring their own linens, towels, and toiletries. Cooking facilities vary widely between locations, with some offering microwaves, mini-refrigerators, and coffee makers, while others only provide outdoor fire rings with cooking grates. Shady Brook Camping near Earlham includes cabins with water and electric hookups but no shower or toilet facilities in the units. Some campgrounds like Jester Park and Timberline offer on-site markets for basic provisions, though most visitors bring essential supplies. Cabins at Cuttys Des Moines Camping Club provide access to electric hookups and toilet facilities, with pets allowed at their discretion. When planning a cabin stay, visitors should confirm specific amenities, as furnishing levels vary significantly between locations.

Best Cabin Sites Near Clive, Iowa (25)

    1. Jester County Park

    30 Reviews
    Granger, IA
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (515) 323-5300

    $20 - $25 / night

    "Each site as a gravel drive and then open gravel area with a picnic table and fire pit with grill grate.  Plenty of room for camp chairs and other furniture you may want to set up. "

    "Fire rings, picnic tables, level gravel sites."

    2. Timberline Campground

    13 Reviews
    West Des Moines, IA
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (515) 987-1714

    $35 - $80 / night

    "Playground was next to us but it was fun watching the kids play. Full sun in the morning but afternoon was shaded by trees. Restrooms and shower was clean and close walking distance."

    "We called ahead to see if they had sites available that night. Arrived just before the office closed at 7pm."

    3. Des Moines West KOA Holiday

    23 Reviews
    Earlham, IA
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (515) 834-2729

    "Not much privacy between sites nor shade. Bathhouses were clean and private. Laundry available. Off leash dog area available."

    "We stayed one night in a basic cabin. AC was on upon arrival- check in/out was quick and easy !Bathrooms were immaculate!"

    4. Ledges State Park Campground

    40 Reviews
    Boone, IA
    27 miles
    Website
    +1 (515) 432-1852

    $17 - $35 / night

    "One of my favorite locations to camp in Iowa as a Boy Scout growing up was Ledges State Park. Since I hadn't been back in years, I decided to check it out and spend a night camping there."

    "One of the more beautiful places to camp in Iowa. Awesome hiking trails and really well-shaded campsites."

    5. Cuttys Des Moines Camping Club

    1 Review
    Urbandale, IA
    3 miles
    Website
    +1 (515) 986-3929

    "They have indoor/outdoor pools mini golf, camp store, paddle boats, and other camp ground activities. I love cuttys and been thinking about buying a membership myself."

    6. Adventureland Campground

    9 Reviews
    Bondurant, IA
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (515) 265-7384

    "The staff was very helpful, plenty of laundry/restrooms throughout the campground and pretty clean overall. Concrete pads with full hook ups (30/50 amp, water and sewage) make setting up quick."

    "There are lots of restaurants near by like Spectators and Jethro’s BBQ.

    As far as the RV park goes it’s pretty busy, mostly small families and older folks."

    7. Thomas Mitchell County Park

    11 Reviews
    Mitchellville, IA
    22 miles
    Website
    +1 (515) 967-4889

    "Thomas Mitchell park is located outside of Altoona Iowa on 197 acres. There are electric and non electric sites available."

    "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."

    8. Winterset City Park

    12 Reviews
    Winterset, IA
    23 miles
    Website
    +1 (515) 462-3258

    $15 - $22 / night

    "The Shower/restrooms were clean and stocked.  Firewood is available for 8$ a bundle.  Sites are gravel base and  fairly level.  The city park has a edge maze that is unique. "

    "We will definitely return, we loved this park. The bridges of Madisin County, Clarke Tower, cute local ice cream shop, John Wayne Museum! So much fun in a cute Iowa community!"

    9. Waterfront Cabin

    1 Review
    Carlisle, IA
    16 miles
    +1 (402) 957-6970

    $200 - $300 / night

    "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!"

    10. Shady Brook Camping & RV Adventures, LLC

    2 Reviews
    Earlham, IA
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (515) 238-1998

    "We looked at the other reviews and it talked about it being so close to the freeway, but we didn’t hear a sound. It was really in a good perimeter of trees and lots of shade and level camp spots."

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Cabin Reviews near Clive, IA

199 Reviews of 25 Clive Campgrounds


  • Amy G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 2, 2018

    Sportsman Park

    Beautiful solitude with well manicured campsites

    This was one of the nicest county campgrounds I've ever seen. We've been to a lot of them, but this one stands out. Not to mention that the price was unbeatable! So much more reasonable than at home. Set off the road a bit in a tiny little town in Iowa, it's along a river and very close to the Raccoon River Valley Trail, an 89 mile loop trail (paved) that goes through several towns and counties. It costs $2/person/day if you are 18 or older, or a year pass is $10. There is also a lodge that you can rent.

    We rented a cabin for $50, because it was only about $10 more expensive than what we were planning on spending for a campsite in Minnesota. Normally, we stay in tents, so we were very pleased to find the options that this campground had to offer at such reasonable cost! If you wanted a tent site without electric, it was only $8. Electric sites were only $12. And the sites were incredibly well groomed. They were clean (I didn't see any trash). And they were tucked into the woods. A caretaker lives on site, and although we rarely saw him, it was obvious that he cared about his job. The bathrooms were clean and cared for too!

    We were in a cabin and they were simple, but suited our needs. They had two wooden cabin-style buildings with little front porches (not screened in, but room under the overhang for chairs). Inside, you had two bunk beds, and the bottom bunk of one was a pull out futon, so you really had room to sleep 5 people. (Must mention: The futon in our cabin was horribly uncomfortable. I would have given 4 stars to the review because of it, but the futon alone shouldn't take away from the rest of the campground, which was immaculate). There was also a bathroom with an ADA shower, toilet, mirror and sink. In the room, there was a mini fridge, coffee maker, microwave, little sink and it even had air conditioning! Tucked in the corner was a folding table and chairs. A few hooks scattered around the walls completed the room. The A/C in ours wasn't at full working capacity, but it did chill the room down enough to be very comfortable. And it was very hot outside! We also had a little fire ring and picnic table, just outside the door.

    The campground could accommodate plenty of tents and campers alike. Some electric, some not. All with very nice grassy pads for tents, all with picnic tables and fire rings. Grass was well clipped and there were plenty of parking spaces. It was very quiet when we were there, but I assume it gets busy on the weekends. The shower/bath house had separate bathrooms (both unisex) and both with toilet, mirror, sink and shower). Both were very clean for a camp bathroom. A little campground for those wishing to camp together was at the back of the park. It, too, had bathrooms. But they were locked, so I couldn't peek inside.

    Bottom line, it was well worth our $50 for the cabin (you can't even get a hotel room for that price any more). I'd love to go back and tent in the quiet of a weekday eve when the crickets are chirping and I can feel the breeze through the tent!

    Please note - there are no trash cans at the campground if you are in tents or RV's (the cabins have them inside). It is a carry in/carry out campground

    There are LOTS of water pumps all over the campground. Yay for water!!

  • Jake C.The Dyrt ADMIN User
    Jan. 25, 2023

    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!

  • A
    Sep. 28, 2020

    Jester County Park

    Solid campground

    Stayed at this campground for 3 nights while visiting Des Moines.  We stayed in Loop 1- site 138 because we wanted electrical.  The electrical box has 2 standard household plugs which is nice.  This loop was mostly RVs due to the electrical hook ups.  There aren't really trees between the sites, but it is in a wooded area which is nice and there is some space between the sites so you don't feel like you are right on top of the other people.  Generally, people were pretty quiet, especially once it got dark.  Each site as a gravel drive and then open gravel area with a picnic table and fire pit with grill grate.  Plenty of room for camp chairs and other furniture you may want to set up.  There is a grassy area all around the gravel with plenty of room for multiple tents.  2 bath/shower houses within a short walk from the site- they were both clean and solid to use.  There are some short trails within the park which are generally well marked, but just 1 trail is longer than about 1/2 a mile.  Didn't check it out, but there is also a large lake.  Lots of picnic areas throughout the park.  There's also a volleyball court and free lending library near one of the bathhouses.  Overall, I'd recommend this campground as long as you don't mind seeing your neighbors.  Quick drive into Des Moines too.

  • Kandace F.
    Aug. 30, 2021

    Springbrook State Park Campground

    Small town camping

    Electric sites, no reservations required I don't think. Nice bathrooms, 3 showers for the women's room with a family size shower. Nice playground, volleyball net, basketball court. Picnic tables and fire rings. No cell service down at the campground. You could call that a pro or a con! Really nice campground employees.

  • Stuart K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 1, 2024

    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!

  • D
    Jul. 16, 2021

    Jester County Park

    Great campground!

    Tons of trees, very lush, clean bathhouses. Fire rings, picnic tables, level gravel sites.

  • Willy W.
    May. 31, 2020

    Newton KOA

    KOA is OK

    Newton KOA

    This is the primary location for camping in Newton. It’s right off interstate I-80 and is very close to the Iowa Speedway.

    There are places to go tent camping but it’s primarily setup for rvs. The tent camping spots have a picnic table and fire pit.

    The RV sports are pretty nice, most have the usual hookups. This place can get pretty busy when there is a race going on.

    There is a creek in the back and some pretty easy hiking trails to explore. There is a fish cleaning station near the creek. They do also have a pond with bass and bluegill. They also have a pool by the office but it’s currently being painted.

    Overall this is a pretty nice KOA and it’s very clean and maintained. You can hear the interstate but you get used to it.

  • Jim H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 8, 2018

    Green Valley State Park Campground

    Nice, clean campground

    Campsite was pretty packed on a Saturday night in late September. We didn't have a reservation but was able to get one of the last tent sites available. Nice spot, fire pits have nice swinging grates on them. There was a picnic table at our spot as well. Great view of the lake from here. We were in Campsite 092. Only drawback is that there must be a cow farm somewhere to the south as you will hear cows mooing all night at this campground.

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 24, 2023

    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.


Guide to Clive

Cabins near Clive, Iowa provide convenient access to area lakes, hiking trails, and rural landscapes. Located in central Iowa with elevations ranging from 850-950 feet, the area experiences humid summers with average July temperatures of 86°F and cold winters with January averages around 29°F. Most cabin accommodations remain open from April through November, with limited winter availability.

What to do

Fishing opportunities: Several cabins offer direct water access for fishing. At Jester County Park, visitors can fish at the nearby pond. "Good fishing nice open areas and trails to explore. Lots of cool kid activities. Buffalo ranch near by which is cool as well as Pingora outdoor supply store near by where you can purchase firewood and other camp supplies," notes Luke C.

Hiking trails: Many cabin rental locations provide access to walking paths. Ledges State Park Campground features sandstone formations with elevation changes uncommon in Iowa. "I did not camp here how ever I drove and took a day hike. The hiking trails are cool. I would say it was a challenging hike. A lot of up and down terrain, stone steps, etc. The ledges along the river were beautiful and depending on the river height you can walk right along them!" says Jennifer M.

Wildlife viewing: Several cabin rental locations offer opportunities to observe local wildlife. Jester Park features bison viewing areas. "They advertise Elk and Bison which are smart enough to stay far away from humans, as it should be," explains Jim S. in his review of the park.

What campers like

Clean facilities: Campers consistently mention the cleanliness of facilities at cabin rentals. Winterset City Park maintains high standards according to reviews. "The Shower/restrooms were clean and stocked. Firewood is available for 8$ a bundle. Sites are gravel base and fairly level," notes Rick D.

Cabin amenities: Rental cabins offer varying levels of comfort. Timberline Campground provides well-appointed cabins. "Great, safe, and quiet campground. Beautiful site on a pond, clean bath houses, cool weekend amenities, and since we came in October, pretty empty after Labor Day during the week," shares Paul C.

Year-round availability: Some cabin accommodations operate throughout winter months. "Don't pay attention to the highway signs that says they're only open until October, they're working on updating them," explains Iris A. about Des Moines West KOA, noting that winter cabins include space heaters to ensure comfort.

What you should know

Reservation requirements: Most cabin rentals require advance booking, especially during peak season. At Thomas Mitchell County Park, cabins can be reserved online. "There was no camp office that we could find, but we were pleasantly surprised when we found an open spot that we could make a same day reservation and payment online ($29 for an electric site after fees). There are QR codes at each site that you can scan to quickly and easily do this on the spot," explains Reese W.

Limited privacy: Some cabin areas offer minimal separation between units. "The sites are pretty well spaced with lots of grass and some trees in between," notes Deb M. about Winterset City Park, though this varies significantly between locations.

Noise considerations: Proximity to highways or shooting ranges can affect some cabin rental locations. At Timberline Campground, "we didn't realize there must be a shooting range close by as all afternoon all we heard were gun shots. Not relaxing for us or our fur babies," reports Roxanna L.

Tips for camping with families

Playground access: Several cabin rental options include playground facilities. "So quiet and peaceful down by the water. Beautiful scenery, great playground, friendly atmosphere," shares Brenda M. about Jester County Park.

Swimming options: Some cabin rental locations provide swimming facilities for children. Adventureland Campground offers a pool for family enjoyment. "They have a swimming pool and a fishing pond. The office also has a little store to buy goods," according to Willy W.

Entertainment amenities: Certain cabin rentals include additional entertainment options. "Timberline Campground has a swimming pool and playground. Basketball court and a community hall. It's a great place. Doesn't have the overcrowded, large campground feel to it," notes Karey A.

Tips from RVers

Site leveling: RV campers mention the importance of site leveling at cabin-equipped campgrounds. "Sites were pretty level, sizable that our 43' motorhome and tow fit without unhooking. We just stayed over night since we're heading home. They take you to your site," explains Roxanna L. about Timberline Campground.

Hookup availability: Most cabin-equipped campgrounds also provide RV hookups. "Overall a nice place to say. It has some full hook up sites as well as water and electric sites," reports Dave M. about Winterset City Park.

Off-season considerations: RV campers note different experiences during off-peak times. "We have camped here a couple times, and stored our rig here for a while. Didn't find there was that much going on here to keep us busy. Not a lot of nature, no trails or biking accessible from campground," shares Mia L. about Timberline Campground.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular cabin campsite near Clive, IA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular cabin campground near Clive, IA is Jester County Park with a 4.5-star rating from 30 reviews.

What is the best site to find cabin camping near Clive, IA?

TheDyrt.com has all 25 cabin camping locations near Clive, IA, with real photos and reviews from campers.