3 campgrounds with availability this weekend
Cabins near Ely, Iowa provide heated and air-conditioned accommodations for year-round comfort. Calyx Creek offers a Creekside Treehouse cabin with kitchen facilities, heated floors, and internet access. Palisades-Kepler State Park Campground features cabin rentals alongside traditional camping sites, with modern bathrooms and shower facilities nearby. Sleepy Hollow offers multiple cabin options with running hot and cold water plus electrical hookups. Hannen County Park provides rustic cabins for those seeking a more traditional experience. "The treehouse is located near a lavender farm store and offers heated floors, internet, loft sleeping, heat/AC, kitchen, and views."
Rustic and deluxe cabins are both available, depending on the location. Pinicon Ridge Park and Pleasant Creek State Recreation Area include cabin rentals among their accommodation options. While most cabins provide basic amenities, furnished cabins with additional comforts can be found at Beyonder Getaway at Sleepy Hollow, where three cozy cabins are located near the fishing pond. Pet policies vary by location - some cabins like Calyx Creek's Treehouse do not permit pets, while others welcome them with additional fees. Reservations are typically required, especially during peak summer months. A visitor noted: "Treehouse has everything you need to get away - kitchenette, queen bed, AC, trails, large lavender farm!"
Most cabins include beds but require visitors to bring their own linens, towels, and toiletries. Cooking facilities vary significantly between locations, with some offering kitchenettes and others providing only outdoor fire pits. Cabin guests should check specific amenities before arrival to plan accordingly. Beyonder Getaway at Sleepy Hollow provides a small market store for basic provisions, while larger supply runs require trips to nearby communities. Little Bear Campground offers cabin rentals with picnic tables, fire rings, and access to shower facilities, operating from April through October. Lake Iowa County Park maintains cabin rentals year-round with electrical hookups and water access.
"Park offers lots of amenities and recreation opportunities. Situated along the Cedar river, fishing and paddling can be done."
"Rangers made several loops around so we felt safe. Saw plenty of wildlife. Campsites were big but not level. "
Available this weekend
from $12 - $80 / night
"There’s 7 tent sites that are very well shaded, have a decent patch of land and include picnic tables, fire pits and scattered stand-up BBQ grills."
"If you’re a primitive camper like me, there’s a handful of sites (7 by my count) that include picnic tables, fire pits and scattered stand-up BBQ grills."
from $45 - $65 / night
"Little Bear Campground is located right off I-80 at the West Liberty exit. It is right next to a trailer park. There are a few tent sites ($22/ night)and Rv sites($33/night)."
"following up on my review from over a year ago with fresh details, some new pics and a topline summary of HIGHLIGHTS and LOWLIGHTS: HIGHLIGHTS: (1) Full-hookup pull-through RV sites with 30 / 50 amp electric"
from $22 - $49 / night
"Dump available on entrance/exit. The site was a level rock pad witch was very spacious with a fire ring and picnic table. Nearest grocery store was within 5 miles. "
"Water and electric hookups, dump station near by. Clean shower house with storm shelter. Mixed sun and shade with generous grassy sites, fire pit and picnic table."
"We had a great two day weekend at this park. Small and quiet. Mix of RVs and tents. We stayed on one of the 4 primitive sites but there are several with electric hookups."
"The RV sites aren’t really out of the ordinary but the park sits upon a slight rise above the Missouri River and the road around the campground leads down to the river."
Available this weekend
from $10 - $36 / night
"Treehouse is located near lavender farm store and offers: heated floors, internet, loft sleeping, heat/AC, kitchen, views."
from $275 - $295 / night
"The tent sites are very nice and private. There are waist high prairie flowers between the sites to provide privacy and beauty. New picnic tables. Lots of shade. visited in July"
"Cabins were nice - not luxury or glamping but clean and in good condition. The gentleman that takes care of the campground takes great pride in his work and it shows - kudos to him! "
Available this weekend
from $12 - $60 / night
"Nice quiet little primitive campground next to the Wapsipinicon River. Unfortunately, when I was there the last weekend of May, the gnats were bad, and the mosquitoes were just starting to gear up."
"Nice park with plenty of sites and nice beach."
"Be prepared for a couple of hills in the park."
"They offer a few cabins for rentals. They have a dump station also."
from $15 - $25 / night
TravelerNice quiet campground. The front looks like more long timers and it was a little noisier up there but I drove to the back loop and it's nice and quiet back here. PLENTY of 50/30/20 amp hookups and the shower house in the back was nice. Water was just lukewarm but it was hot out so no problem. Might be less pleasant in colder weather though. Pull through spots available. I would stay here again for sure.
GuideOne of my favorites. Iowa knows how to do County campgrounds. Firefly campground has full hookups and reservations. The other campgrounds have water and electric and are first come first serve. I arrived on a Friday afternoon in July and found a site easily.
ScoutThe campground was very nice and clean. Rangers made several loops around so we felt safe. Saw plenty of wildlife. Campsites were big but not level. We thought they only had outhouses until we discovered a modern bathhouse at the other end of the campground. Showers were big but very shall rustic. We only stayed one night as we were passing through but definitely could be an option in the future for other stays.
GuideGrass sites, plenty of space. Some sites have great views of the lake. Nice walking trails. Wild life to watch. If you are camped under a hickory tree you will need to brush off the Hickory nuts off your slide outs. Plenty of parking for guset to visit. Peaceful. We love camping in Hickory hils.
TravelerInexpensive but poorly maintained. Parking is unlevel and no dump station. Sites were slightly bigger than needed and rock driveway barely had rock. Clean and well mowed. Caves were small and visited in about 30 minutes.
LegendCG offers sites along the Bear Creek , up the bluff in bunkhouse, and a bit further to primitive campsite. CG includes fir rings, gravel pads, electric, water access and dump station along with seasonal RR/ showers. Park has playground and nature center.
GuideIf you’re looking for a quick stop on your travels with full hookup and a bonus pool this is perfect! The host is very friendly and accommodating. Easy on and off of I80. There is not a lot of shade but if you have AC and an awning, you will be just fine
GuideHad a great time. Large area that was private. Close to bathroom and showers. Hiking trails. Nice place to fish and explore.
GuideWe had a great two day weekend at this park. Small and quiet. Mix of RVs and tents. We stayed on one of the 4 primitive sites but there are several with electric hookups. Bathrooms were decent and have running water for showers(cold) which felt amazing after our 2.5 miles hike. The trails were beautiful and be sure to check out the Ice Cave and Horse Thief Cave!
Cabins near Ely, Iowa range from rustic one-room structures to modern accommodations with kitchenettes. Located in the Eastern Iowa Drift Plain, the region features rolling hills and waterways including the Wapsipinicon and Cedar Rivers. Weather patterns create distinct camping seasons with hot, humid summers and cold winters.
Hiking along scenic bluffs: Palisades-Kepler State Park Campground offers multiple trail options with impressive river views. "Beautiful trails, stone gazebo. Nice hike along the Cedar River. Only camped once, but definitely on the list to visit again," notes Brett G.
Water recreation on multiple bodies: Lake Iowa County Park provides water access for paddling and fishing. "The area around the lake and near by pond, is not overly developed. There are wild raspberries and mulberries, lots of wildlife. We had a blue jay that visited us regularly at our campsite, along with deer walking through," reports Leslie P.
River tubing and kayaking: Rolin Wapsi Campground offers equipment rentals and shuttle service for river excursions. "They also offer Tubes, Kayaks, Canoes and a Shuttle service to float on the Wapsi River," explains Barbara R., highlighting options beyond just cabin stays.
Modern bathroom facilities: Pleasant Creek State Recreation Area Campground provides updated restroom and shower buildings. "Cabins were nice - not luxury or glamping but clean and in good condition. The gentleman that takes care of the campground takes great pride in his work and it shows," writes Mitch C.
Playground amenities: Pinicon Ridge Park features exceptional play areas for children of various ages. "They have the most amazing playgrounds (yes, two of them!) That we've ever seen. There were activities for kids of all ages, and they used a rubber composite on the ground at the playground so when kiddos fall, they aren't injured," shares Chelsea D.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Many cabin rental locations offer chances to observe local fauna. At Lake Iowa County Park, campers report: "We had a blue jay that visited us regularly at our campsite, along with deer walking through."
Site placement varies significantly: Not all cabin and tent sites have lake views or level ground. "Very few sites have a view of the lake. To walk to the lake or near by pond you must go down hill, which could be a problem for any one with mobility issues," warns a Lake Iowa County Park visitor.
Seasonal closure information: Several parks close facilities during winter months. At Palisades-Kepler, "CG and cabins closed for winter season for improvements and online reservations."
Parking regulations: Some parks strictly enforce vehicle limits at campsites. One visitor noted, "The Ranger Man enforced a 2 car per campsite rule. He forced 3 over 65 couples to drive to a parking lots and I shuttled them back and forth."
Storm safety measures: Many parks have designated storm shelters for emergencies. Pinicon Ridge Park has "storm shelter right on site. Playground is awesome for kids of all ages."
Cabin selection for groups: When booking accommodations for larger families, consider space limitations. Beyonder Getaway at Sleepy Hollow offers "three cozy cabins which are located up front and close to the fishing pond, where these structures come with running hot and cold water along with electricity."
Weekend crowd management: Parks can get busy during peak times. "We made a reservation for a nice summer weekend but when we arrived someone was in our site. Luckily there was one more site available where the ranger asked us to stay instead since the other group was set up already," reports a visitor from Palisades-Kepler.
Site leveling requirements: Several parks have uneven terrain requiring additional equipment. At Beyonder Getaway at Sleepy Hollow, campers advise: "Bring a lot of leveling blocks. Most sites are slanted in both planes."
Off-season considerations: Services may be limited during shoulder seasons. "Campground offers pads, firings, electric, tables, and there is a dump station," notes James M. about Palisades-Kepler State Park Campground.
Pull-through accessibility: For larger rigs, confirm site dimensions before booking. "The spots are good and most are pull-throughs but some are too short for a 30' camper," shares Erik W. about his experience at Beyonder Getaway at Sleepy Hollow.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular cabin campsite near Ely, IA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular cabin campground near Ely, IA is Palisades-Kepler State Park Campground with a 4.3-star rating from 11 reviews.
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TheDyrt.com has all 19 cabin camping locations near Ely, IA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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