3 campgrounds with availability this weekend
Several state parks and private campgrounds near Garwin, Iowa offer cabin camping options ranging from rustic retreats to fully furnished cabins with stone fireplaces and private bathrooms. Pine Lake State Park Campground in Eldora offers cabins situated along the riverbank with stone fireplaces, living rooms, small kitchens, and private bathrooms. According to one visitor, "The cabin comfortably fit 4 of us. It had a nice stone fireplace, a decent living room, small kitchen, and bathroom." Tower Rock in Eldora features two modern cabins with full amenities in a scenic setting. Union Grove State Park Campground in Gladbrook maintains two cabins with access to showers, toilets, and a dump station. The Outback Campground & Resort in Tama provides cabin options including the Wallaby cabin with a small bathroom, shower, three beds, and kitchenette, though reviews note limitations in bathroom facilities and storage space.
Rustic and deluxe cabins are both available throughout the region, with pet policies varying by location. Waterloo - Lost Island Waterpark KOA welcomes pets with a fenced dog park that one reviewer described as "fantastic for those of us with dogs." Most state park cabins require advance reservations, particularly during the May through September peak season. Newton KOA offers three cabin rentals alongside extensive amenities including a pool, fishing pond, and recreational facilities. Tower Rock's cabins are described by visitors as "perfect, with lots of places to hike all around the area" and "comfortable and cozy." Hickory Hills Park provides secluded cabin camping in a quiet setting with basic amenities at affordable rates.
Most cabin rentals include beds and basic furniture but require guests to bring their own linens, towels, and toiletries. Kitchen facilities vary significantly between locations, from basic kitchenettes to more complete setups with refrigerators and microwaves. Fire pits are common at most cabin sites for outdoor cooking. Pleasant Creek State Recreation Area offers cabins that are "clean and in good condition" though "not luxury or glamping." Grocery stores and supplies can be found in nearby towns like Eldora, which is accessible from Pine Lake State Park. KOA locations typically provide on-site convenience stores with basic provisions, while state parks generally require more advance planning for supplies. Cabin campers should check specific amenity lists when booking as furnishing levels differ substantially between locations.
"A few trails to hike and a horse camp that I didn’t have time to explore. Nice lending library as well. Bathroom/shower combos are nice (1 is ADA). Not far off the interstate."
"Union Grove is known for having good lake fishing. The lake is also a great place for kayaking or canoeing."
Available this weekend
from $18 - $90 / night
"Jump into the nearby water and let the kids have a blast! Enjoy a nice fun night away from home!"
"This campground is near home so I know it well. The campground itself is nice, with some decent sized campsites, many having a great view of upper Pine Lake. There are flush toilets and showers."
"Very nice state park campground. There are cabins as well as campsites. The park is adjacent to Pine Lake and water based recreation is available including swimming beach and boating."
Available this weekend
from $12 - $90 / night
"This campground has no shippers but is secluded and quiet and only 5 dollars. There’s a barn with electricity running water and real toilets."
"Grass sites, plenty of space. Some sites have great views of the lake. Nice walking trails. Wild life to watch."
"Great RV park. Lots of room and cabin rentals for folks that don’t have an RV. The fenced dog park was fantastic for those of us with dogs."
"Little shade with small trees next to about each site. Gas, propane, laundry room, beach area, small boat rentals, good sized convenience store with ice, beer, snacks, milkshake machine, etc."
"HIGHLIGHTS: (1) Fairly EZ access from I-80; (2) Incredibly well-manicured campground that is both very clean and well-organized; (3) Despite being next to the highway where we were concerned with errant"
"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."
"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."
"The cabins were perfect, with lots of places to hike all around the area."
"Nice park with plenty of sites and nice beach."
"Be prepared for a couple of hills in the park."
"One of the cleanest showers and bathrooms I have seen. $10 for tent, $16 for electric - how can you go wrong? Only issue is that the spots are pretty close together."
"Looked like a decent amount of folks here but we didn’t drive very far into the park. If you take a look at the PDF maps on their website you can see how vast the places is with 122 spots!"
LegendVery nice state park campground. There are cabins as well as campsites. The park is adjacent to Pine Lake and water based recreation is available including swimming beach and boating. The campground is off a paved road and is near to town. There is a walking path to the boat launch from the campground. Biking/hiking trails are on property.
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.
Legend9-14-26 Timberline East RV Campground, I do not think this is a KOA anymore. Tent site T1 & 2 was level and on grass with table and fire ring. checked in at 7pm, overcast, Molly was great at the check in, offered a 10% Veteran discount. $34 for the night. We only stayed one night. Showers and bathrooms were decent. T-Mobile was 5G 4 bars. Rained all night, you can hear the noise from the highway but you drown it out.
ScoutGreat little spot with lots of hiking trails. Bathrooms are clean and guests are quiet. Don’t miss grave from 1869 at top of hill on trail. Beautiful place. Wish I lived closer.
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.
RangerThis is a sweet well-maintained campground just south of Mitchellville, Iowa off of 80. Not many sites and only a handful were occupied mid week in July. There is a little stream running along the edge of the campground. There is one bathroom building with 6 separate rooms - each with a toilet, sink and shower with warm water. Plenty of drinking water at centralized locations. There is shade at most sites when you first enter the campground and in the loop. Along the edges (inc the stream) shade is more variable. The only issue we had was a bright light that was on all night near the end of the loop. We were in site 5 and had to move our truck so it didn’t shine in all night.
TravelerThis campground appears to be new or newly re done, great showers and bathrooms, right on a bike trail seems to connect to everything. Quiet large sites with full hook ups, more sites being developed
ScoutCampground Hosts were amazing. We were short on some food the first night, Chuck was gracious to lend us some food and a 30amp extension cord. We had some nasty weather that first night also and we received a call from the host asking how we were doing!
Very clean park and very family friendly! Also has an excellent pond for fishing.
Will absolutely be coming back
LegendFollowing up on my review from over a year ago, I’m adding a bunch of additional photos as well as an abbreviated post pointing out the HIGHS and LOWS of this roadside pit stop of a campground in very rural Iowa.
HIGHLIGHTS: (1) Fairly EZ access from I-80; (2) Incredibly well-manicured campground that is both very clean and well-organized; (3) Despite being next to the highway where we were concerned with errant late-night visitors who had no business being at this CG, there’s excellent security and a feeling of being safe; (4) Superb Midwestern hospitality from the KOA staff and camping community; (5) RV slots offer very nice FHUs and fairly spacious areas; (6) Picnic tables & fire rings are in pretty good condition; (6) If you need anything, there’s a handful of just OK restaurants like Cratty Shack Diner and grocery stores like Hy-Vee and Walmart Supercenter in nearby Newton; (7) Spectacularly clean bathrooms and shower facilities; and (8) Well-stocked catch & release fishing pond
LOWLIGHTS: (1) You are literally right next to I-80, but the CG sits down below the swooshing traffic, so if you’re not looking, you almost forget that you’re camping next to the busiest highway in Iowa; (2) Lack of privacy between sites as there’s not a ton of trees, bushes or brush on the interior of the CG; (3) Most of the RV slots have no shade, so bring your own awning or shelter; (4) Some sites have very close proximity to their neighbors; (5) Some amenities feel dated and could be replaced and / or refurbished; (6) There’s a fairly nasty industrial park, complete with a junk yard and car mechanic garage with accompanying abandoned cars scattered around the entrance that you’ll have to navigate through before reaching this KOA; (7) This really isn’t a good place for tent camping, unless you can convince the staff to let you set up in the shaded area at the north end of the CG; (8) The pool was shut down for maintenance when we visited
Happy Camping!
Camping cabins near Garwin, Iowa range from rustic sites to modern facilities within Tama County and neighboring areas. Located in the rolling hills of central Iowa, this region sits at elevations between 850-950 feet with humid continental climate patterns that create distinct seasons. Summer cabin rentals typically experience high humidity with daytime temperatures averaging 80-85°F, while spring and fall offer milder conditions for outdoor activities.
Fishing opportunities: Lake Iowa County Park offers access to largemouth bass and panfish. One visitor noted, "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."
Wildlife viewing: Hickory Hills Park features a small zoo with various animals. According to a reviewer, "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."
Water recreation: Visitors can enjoy swimming and paddling at Hannen County Park, where one camper described it as a "Beautiful relaxing spot. We were in a spot on a hill top."
Cabin features: Tower Rock provides fully-equipped cabins that have garnered positive feedback. A visitor mentioned, "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."
Pet-friendly options: Dog owners appreciate the dedicated facilities at Waterloo - Lost Island Waterpark KOA. As one camper explained, "The fenced dog park was fantastic for those of us with dogs. A lake with beach area and an area for fishing founded it out!"
Clean facilities: Multiple cabins in the area maintain high cleanliness standards. At Lake Iowa County Park, a camper observed, "Very well kept campground! Bathrooms and entire area was really in perfect shape. One of the cleanest showers and bathrooms I have seen."
Reservation timing: Cabin rentals fill quickly during peak season (May-September). Some parks like Hannen County Park operate on first-come, first-served basis.
Amenity variations: Cabin facilities differ significantly between locations. Some offer full kitchens while others provide minimal cooking equipment.
Spacing considerations: Some campgrounds have cabins positioned close together. At Lake Iowa County Park, a camper noted, "The spots are pretty close together. Around 2:30am there was so much smoke in our van from nearby campfires that I woke up sick."
Site selection: Research specific cabin locations before booking. As one Lake Iowa visitor advised, "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... I would say if you can try and get sites, 67-70. They have beautiful views."
Water activities: Pine Lake State Park Campground offers multiple recreation options. A reviewer shared, "Great access to river a short drive away for fabulous river tubing and kayaking. The campground has nice bathroom facilities."
Kid-friendly amenities: Some locations provide playgrounds and recreation areas. At Outback Campground & Resort, a visitor commented, "This is a great place to camp and bring your kids! Jump into the nearby water and let the kids have a blast!"
Educational opportunities: Several parks offer nature programming. Union Grove State Park has a "nice lending library" according to one visitor, providing educational materials for young campers.
Accessibility concerns: Check terrain details before booking with small children. Some cabins require navigating hills or stairs, which can be challenging with young children and gear.
Campsite sizing: Newton KOA offers various site configurations. One RVer noted, "We were able to stay in a great spot. WiFi was great and the area was clean. Campers near us caught a couple of bass in the pond."
Setup considerations: Pay attention to site layout details. One camper at Union Grove State Park mentioned, "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."
Utilities access: Most cabin camping areas also accommodate RVs with hookups. At the Outback Campground & Resort, a visitor observed it was "Very RV friendly, I was the only tent camper I saw the weekend I went."
Seasonal timing: Fall and spring typically offer less crowded conditions. Summer weekends fill quickly at most locations, particularly at water-adjacent sites.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular cabin campsite near Garwin, IA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular cabin campground near Garwin, IA is Union Grove State Park Campground with a 4.7-star rating from 3 reviews.
What is the best site to find cabin camping near Garwin, IA?
TheDyrt.com has all 15 cabin camping locations near Garwin, IA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring
