Lake Cunningham Campground and Hitchcock County Nature Center provide upscale glamping accommodations just a short drive from Harlan, Iowa. These destinations feature comfortable yurts and luxury canvas tents with electricity, comfortable bedding, and private outdoor spaces. Lake Cunningham's yurts offer panoramic views of the 171-acre lake, while Hitchcock's safari-style tents are nestled within the scenic Loess Hills. One visitor noted, "The hosts are so polite and helpful and they keep the place immaculate. Camping here also gives you access to the playground and nature trails into some beautiful countryside." Both locations maintain clean bathroom facilities with hot showers, essential for glamping guests seeking comfort while connecting with nature. These accommodations blend rustic charm with modern conveniences, making them suitable for families and couples alike.
Several miles of hiking trails wind through Hitchcock Nature Center, offering glamping guests exclusive access to scenic overlooks of the Missouri River valley. According to a camper, "There are miles of trail available with gorgeous views of the Missouri River valley below." The nature center provides educational programming, with an interactive facility that many reviewers call "super cool." Lake Cunningham complements its glamping options with fishing, boating, and kayaking opportunities on the stocked lake. Both locations maintain seasonal operations, with Lake Cunningham available from April through mid-October and Hitchcock Nature Center open from April to November. The proximity to Harlan makes these glamping destinations convenient weekend getaways, with each offering a distinctive blend of luxury accommodations and outdoor recreation.
"Just a few mins off I-80 but no noise or signs of heavytraffic. Cute, quaint little town. All pull through spots and all sites are level."
"Electric, water and sewer available. Bathroom and shower were clean. But old style, so small and well worn."
$10 - $50 / night
"Bathroom was clean, lit, and stocked - even had hand sanitizer! RV loops had flush toilets and showers, but we didn’t stay long enough to make the trek worth it."
"Best campground shower I've ever had in my life, both in water pressure, heat and cleanliness of facilities. Be aware that it's first come first served."
"This campground has both RV full hookup and electric sites very close to the lake. Campsites offer a great view of lake and close access to docks."
"We were on the outer loop which put us closest to the lake and offered electrical hook-up. The shower house was pretty nice, clean and pretty centrally located. "
"I wanted a weekend away from the craziness so chose to go "home" for my first solo trip in quite awhile."
"Has a descent size lake good for kayaking and fishing."
"It is right next to a busy railroad, but we cranked up our fans and barely noticed the trains and their horns."
"Besides the traffic noise because it's close to the hwy, the train passed at night like 4 or 5 times, so have that in mind if you light sleep."
$15 - $40 / night
"The entire park is well maintained, has a large lake stocked with fish, tent sites are close together, but tolerable. Occupancy depends on the time of year. "
"On a beautiful lake with many recreational possibilities - kayaking, sailing non power boating - some for rent. 10 miles of paved bike trails and ALL paved campsites level and clean!"
"I was only tent camper in the electric only sites. If there was a tent only location, I didn't see it. Those in campers that need water and electricity are regulated to gravel 'parking lot' sites."
"Great trail all the way around the lake, we took a bike ride around it was about 3 ish miles. Camp host was a gem. Bathrooms were very clean! Great view of the lake."
"Well,, it was alright, loud because of the toll bridge next to park, sites were close together, level, fire pits, picnic tables, electric, water and a dump station, stayed 3 days to visit family,, $20"
"Currently flooded, but should be ready for 2019"
"It’s right by a small truck stop, but the noise was not bothersome at all. There is a small dog park for the pups. Bathrooms and showers are clean."
"Great location. Very nice campground. Large spacious pull thru sites. Extremely clean bathrooms and showers. We stayed twice, westbound and eastbound. Very friendly, nice people."
$10 / night
"This is a small little park off the highway, we had been traveling for two days and needed to stop for the night."
"clean accessible and a drive through a quaint little town. What else could you ask for?"
RangerWell,, it was alright, loud because of the toll bridge next to park, sites were close together, level, fire pits, picnic tables, electric, water and a dump station, stayed 3 days to visit family,, $20 a night
GuideWe tent camped in the modern loop. Bathroom was clean, lit, and stocked - even had hand sanitizer! RV loops had flush toilets and showers, but we didn’t stay long enough to make the trek worth it. The walk down to the tent sites was annoying at worst, but plenty doable. Campsites were level enough, and there were a few sites with pads. Lots of ticks to look out for. There’s an airfield nearby so plane noise was regular but not frequent. Wifi didn’t quite reach the tent campsites; nor did Verizon service, but T-Mobile was good. All around a fine campground.
LegendThis is a small little park off the highway, we had been traveling for two days and needed to stop for the night. We followed the signs that said camping and went through a quant, however pretty vacant, little town. We got to the end of the town and found a city park that allowed camping.
Pros -- it was $10 a night, that's decent! Most places are more along this drive. It also had a magnificent playground. My kids had been cooped up for two days and needed to run off some pent up energy and this was perfect. A few neighborhood kids joined them (it was smack dab in a neighborhood) and they had a blast, all while I rested from my chair at my campsite. Lots of green grass (an improvement from the desert climate we come from) and trees for shade. It had flush toilets and free showers! There was a picnic table, electricity and a grill at every site. It was a pretty restful night.
Cons -- The bathrooms were not the cleanest. The women's bathroom stalls did not function correctly, either the door wouldn't lock or it wouldn't close. There were lots of bugs, in the restroom, in the site, all over. I didn't sit at the picnic table due to the bugs all over it so I sat in my camp chair where I found relief. I'm not one that thinks there should be no bugs in nature but there just was an abundance of them everywhere. You could hear some highway traffic and a little train traffic. The town was all but closed up. There was a gas station and a bar open. The gas station attendant wasn't super friendly.
It was a great place to lay our heads for the night, play some games, run the playground but it probably wouldn't be on my list of first places to stop. Beauty of Iowa is almost every exit shows camping!u 7
TravelerThis campground has both RV full hookup and electric sites very close to the lake. Campsites offer a great view of lake and close access to docks. There is an adjacent area with non- electric sites that would work for tent campIng. All sites have firepots and picnic tables. The lake is great for fishing or kayaking and there is also a beach with swimming. Bring your bikes to ride on a paved trail that goes all the way around the lake. Very clean and quiet campground!
RangerThis state park camp site close to Carroll, Iowa was nice, but we were the only tent campers there, it seemed more like a permanent RV home site. The bathrooms while nice had no working showers, they had showers but no way to turn on the water. There was a cute frisbee golf on property, a beautiful lake, and a nice paved walking path.
GuideGreat campground! Best campground shower I've ever had in my life, both in water pressure, heat and cleanliness of facilities. Be aware that it's first come first served. Sadly did not make it to the interactive nature center, but heard that its super cool. Lower RV spots are on a hill, be prepared to level out farther than usual. Staff was amazing and very helpful. We def camped next to a butterfly/moth garden. They were everywhere!
GuideWe camp all the time at different locations, and I 100% recommend this campground! The hosts are so polite and helpful and they keep the place immaculate. Even the pit toilets were spotless and didn’t smell. The hosts went around several times a day collecting trash and even mopping the pit bathrooms. Camping here also gives you access to the playground and nature trails into some beautiful countryside. The only downside is bring several bottles of bugspray, the mosquitos are terrible!
RangerAs a family we go to Hitchcock a few times a year for the hiking and the archery range they have on-site. Both are excellent and a nice escape from the city! This spring/summer I am planning to take our boys for a nice hike in camp!
ScoutTented camped in late October, the weekend before closing. I was only tent camper in the electric only sites. If there was a tent only location, I didn't see it. Those in campers that need water and electricity are regulated to gravel 'parking lot' sites.
Beautiful park with playgrounds, swim beach, fisbee golf, paved trail, many fishing bars, and more.
Electric only sites are small and spaced out well. Most have level drive perfect for sm camper or suv camping. Grass has slope, but I think you can find a good enough place for tent, I did. Bathroom clean enough, I didn't use showers. I enjoyed the privacy of lake-front site J.
The Harlan, Iowa area features rolling countryside within the western Iowa plains, with elevations ranging from 1,100 to 1,300 feet. Camping options near Harlan include standard campgrounds, RV parks, and yurt camping facilities set among mature trees with seasonal openings typically from April through October. Most campgrounds maintain access to water recreation within a 30-mile radius of town.
Backcountry hiking trails: At Hitchcock County Nature Center, explore the unique Loess Hills formation. "The trails are well marked and easy to follow. I was very impressed on the hike in campsites. The views from the two south east campsites are amazing, looking over the Missouri River valley and the Omaha skyline in the distance," notes Aaron A. The park offers trails for all skill levels with designated tent pads at backcountry sites.
Hawk watching: Visit the observation tower at Hitchcock Nature Center during migration seasons. "Make sure to climb up to the top of the towering platform and bring your binoculars to checkout the visiting hawks and occasional eagle," recommends Matt S. The tower provides educational information about raptor conservation efforts specific to the region.
Fishing opportunities: Lake Anita State Park Campground maintains a well-stocked 171-acre lake. "This campground has both RV full hookup and electric sites very close to the lake. Campsites offer a great view of lake and close access to docks," notes Nicole G. The lake supports multiple fish species and permits shore fishing near campsites.
Small town proximity: Pottawattamie County Fairgrounds offers camping just outside charming Avoca. "It is a bargain at $20 for full hookups. They have tent sites also. The park is clean and clearly under utilized as there were only 3 of us in a park with more than 40 sites. It is very quiet, right in small town America," writes Doug W. Sites include water and electric hookups with level pull-through spaces.
Educational programming: Hitchcock County Nature Center provides interpretive activities for visitors. "When I think of 'nature center' I think of a stuffy little cabin with taxidermy. This site is far far more than that, with hiking trails, educational programs, a museum, event halls, and of course camping," says Lynn G. Programs include seasonal nature walks and conservation demonstrations.
Paved recreation paths: The trail system at Lake Anita creates convenient outdoor access. "The best feature of this park, in my opinion, is the four-mile paved recreation trail that goes around the entire 171-acre lake. Good for walking, running, or biking," explains Lee D. The trail provides ADA-accessible recreation opportunities with frequent benches.
Seasonal closures: Nelson Park Crawford County Park operates from May 15 through October 15 only. "The grounds and facilities at the park were in excellent shape even though many of the buildings were still the same ones that I had known from childhood," notes Kyle L. Water systems typically shut down by mid-October at most area campgrounds.
Site spacing varies: Campgrounds near Harlan feature different density layouts. According to one camper at Lake Anita, "The campsites have you packed in like sardines. It would have been nice if the mowing was all the way down to the lake instead of just a patch." Consider midweek stays for more space and privacy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Harlan, IA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Harlan, IA is Pottawattamie County Fairgrounds with a 4.4-star rating from 7 reviews.
What is the best site to find glamping camping near Harlan, IA?
TheDyrt.com has all 15 glamping camping locations near Harlan, IA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring
