Cabin rentals in the Kalona, Iowa area span a 40-mile radius in the eastern Iowa prairie landscape. The region's mix of rolling hills and farmland creates natural boundaries between camping areas, with elevations ranging from 670 to 850 feet. Most cabin facilities remain open during Iowa's seasonal temperature swings, which can range from below freezing in winter to humid 90°F days in summer.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: Lake Darling State Park offers accessible shoreline fishing with chances to catch crappie, bluegill and bass. "The lake has been recently drained and refilled. The new trails around the lake are so wonderful," notes one visitor to the Lake Darling State Park Campground.
Trail exploration: At Hannen County Park, cabin guests can access numerous hiking paths through wooded terrain. "Great stay over memorial day weekend. Quiet campground. Be prepared for a couple of hills in the park," mentions a camper who stayed during a holiday weekend.
Water activities: Deep Lakes Park provides access to former quarry lakes ideal for paddling near its cabin accommodations. "Neat park with lots of paddling, fishing, hiking, beach. Cabins are newer, ADA accessible, and face lakes for great shore access," according to a visitor review.
What campers like
Spacious interiors: Larger cabins near Kalona provide unexpected room for families. One visitor to Beyonder Getaway at Sleepy Hollow noted, "Super nice staff. We stayed here for a few weeks while working in the area. The land is not flat. The spots are good and most are pull-throughs."
Modern facilities: Many cabins around Kalona feature contemporary amenities despite rural settings. A camper at Deep Lakes Park Cabins commented, "Neat, newer cabins nettled along the sand pit lakes. Well maintained park with bike trail running through, fishing, hiking, paddling all within areas of cabins."
Affordable options: Lake Iowa County Park offers budget-friendly cabin accommodations. "Very well kept campground! Bathrooms and entire area was really in perfect shape. One of the cleanest showers and bathrooms I have seen," mentioned one visitor.
What you should know
Seasonal availability: While some cabins operate year-round, others have limited availability. At Little Bear Campground, cabins run $49 per night but only during their April-October season. As one reviewer noted, "There is a pool (closed for season), and a playground for kids. I was surprised that the interstate noise was much quieter than I thought it would be."
Accessibility considerations: Terrain varies significantly at cabin sites around Kalona. "The good: The area around the lake and near by pond, is not overly developed. The bad: 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," writes a Lake Iowa visitor.
Reservation requirements: Many cabins require advance booking, especially during peak seasons. One Beyonder Getaway visitor shared their experience: "This was a day of find for us driving back to Colorado. We booked online and expected to arrive 2 hours before we actually did. Called the camp ground with our concern and they were more than accommodating."
Tips for camping with families
Consider cabin placement: At Palisades-Kepler State Park, the cabin locations offer varying levels of privacy. "Super chill and plenty of space, especially for tents on site 39. Bathrooms are very nice and modern and clean," notes one visitor describing the general camping area.
Pack for temperature fluctuations: Even in summer, cabin campers should bring layered clothing. One Lake Iowa County Park visitor warned, "Wife and I met friends here in August. The campground was very well maintained. Be advised though, we were not adequately prepared for the humidity in August. Being from Colorado where we live at much higher altitudes we didn't expect the humidity to affect us as it did."
Bring entertainment options: Most cabins near Kalona don't provide indoor entertainment. A visitor to Windmill Ridge Campground described it as "Clean, quiet and well set campsite for all camping styles. Set well off the main road, the gravel road is well maintained, graded well for easy driveable where truck, rvs or trailers."
Tips from RVers
Level expectations: RVers who also use cabins note terrain challenges. A visitor to Beyonder Getaway mentioned, "The spots are good and most are pull-throughs but some are too short for a 30' camper. Would definitely stay there again."
Plan for hookups: While cabins provide basic utilities, RVers staying in cabins should check utility details. "We only spent one night in a tent area in our van. The bathroom/shower room was large and clean. A downside was that the tent/grassy area was not flat," shared a Beyonder Getaway visitor.
