3 campgrounds with availability this weekend
Clear Lake State Park and McIntosh Woods State Park house some of Iowa's most distinctive glamping campgrounds near the shores of Clear Lake. The McIntosh Woods location features two fully-furnished yurts with bunk beds, futons, tables and chairs, providing comfort beyond traditional camping. Clear Lake State Park complements its glamping offerings with modern amenities including electric hookups, showers, and clean bathrooms. Both parks maintain well-kept grounds with paved roads ideal for family bike riding and easy access to the lake for swimming and fishing. The sites are arranged to provide adequate space while maintaining the natural surroundings that make these glamping campsites special. One visitor noted, "We stayed in one of the two yurts - bunk bed plus a futon and table/chairs inside. Picnic table and grill outside. Walk to small town/restaurants. Clean bathroom facilities in area."
Short hiking trails wind through McIntosh Woods and Clear Lake's sandy beaches are just steps away from both parks. Water activities dominate the summer months with boating, fishing, and swimming available directly from both parks. Clear Lake itself serves as the central attraction, with gorgeous sunsets visible from the beach areas each evening. Both parks maintain playground equipment for children, making them ideal for family glamping getaways. The proximity to Clear Lake's downtown area means guests can easily access restaurants and shopping when they want a break from nature. A recent visitor mentioned, "The sunset was gorgeous in the evenings at the beach! We will be back!" Seasonal considerations include peak summer crowds, with reservations recommended at least three months in advance for weekend stays between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
"We love coming to Clear Lake! The campgrounds are always very well kept, bathrooms very clean! Easy access to the lake, and the town has so much to do during the summer months!"
"Clear lake state park is a nice campground. It does get very busy during peak season and traffic is continuous. It is clean and close to the beach. Down town and other shopping is a short drive away."
Available this weekend
from $12 - $20 / night
"Located by New Ulm, MN this campground has plenty of activities in the park or very near the park."
"Very clean bathhouse and bathrooms, park. Family friendly and quiet place to camp."
Available this weekend
from $10 - $18 / night
"I prefer Clear Lake State park, but this was ok. We had lots of rain, and the sites got a bit muddy. The beach area was closed due to e-coli. Restrooms were clean, and always stocked."
"Beautiful shaded campground near the lake, not far from town if you forgot something. We stayed in one of the two yurts- bunk bed plus a futon and table/chairs inside. Picnic table and grill outside."
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $10 - $60 / night
"We had an electric site. Very level and clean. Nice fire pit and located right next to the lake. Only downside was the site was electric only."
"We arrived on a Sunday and stopped at the Park Welcome area. We got the last spot with electric for 3 nights. Nice staff! Ice was available."
Available this weekend
from $24 - $34 / night
"Had a small swimming beach, nice bathrooms and showers dump station. Saw many people swimming off their boat/pontoons as the bottom is sandy and the current is very very slow."
"There are about 20 self-serve sites with electric and water. Self serve firewood. Dump station and dumpsters near the exit. Clean bathrooms and showers. Lots of space at each campsite."
"It runs along the Cedar River and has a put in for paddlers nearby. It is situated right off the blacktopped road."
"Large, open spaces equipped with a fire pit and picnic table. Electric hookups and water also available. Reasonable rates (I think we paid $15) for one night."
"Very low cost ($15/night with water & electric). Not a far drive off of I-35. Has a pool if you’re into that kind of thing."
"Bathroom and shower available. Each site has a fire pit and picnic table. Some sites suitable for hammock camping."
"This sites are spread out enough that you have a little privacy and each site has a fire pit and picnic table. This area is actually part of the owners farm. Bonus, it’s dog friendly."
"Check in was quick, spots were easy to pull into, the bathrooms were really clean, and it was surprisingly quiet despite the proximity to the highway. "
"We stopped for the night driving between Black Hills and Chicago and the service was awesome. The hosts called to tell us about construction and give us alternative directions."
"New Shower house/bathrooms. Natural themed kids play area including a huge tree house. City water and sewer with 50 and 30 amp to each site. Man made swimming pond with a lighted waterfall."
"Large bath house with restrooms and showers and a little free library inside. Very long parking pads- big rig friendly and very roomy sites."
GuideThe Nonelectric sites at the White Fox campground were very nice. Great size and mostly private. The electric sites were definitely less private. The showers were clean and the vault toilets actually had a light inside! Trails were very nice.
GuideThis park is very nice. It has long gravel FHU sites. Bathrooms/shower house is fairly new, but they must have high iron levels b/c the toilets and walls already have brown stains. Kid friendly. walking path. Downfalls: Not much shade yet. You have to register online and some older folks don't like that.
GuideWould have been OK for one night, but we decided ahead of time to spend 4 nights. The entry needs a lot of work.(Several potholes that need to be filled in along the whole driveway both sides. Laundry room was nice although 3 washers and 2 dryers seem odd. Only $2 to wash and /or dry. We didn't use the RR/showers but went in and looked at it and it looked nice. They had a small enclosed dog run. There was a very small playground. No activities for adults or kids while we were there. Just a camp site. They did have a few newer cabins. There was a sign that it was under new management, but no one introduced themselves as the new owners. When asked if we could check out an hour late, the young guy in the office said we don't usually allow that, but I suppose it would be OK if you donate to the children's fund that we sponsor.
ScoutOriginal plan was to make it to Magnolia MN and camp there, but a few small setbacks occurred and needed to find a camp site sooner than that. Found this place on the Dyrt app, and called the owner. He was friendly and let me know he had a few spots available. Once I got there, I checked in, put a pin on the map for where I was from, and after he loaded the bunch of wood, he led me to my site.
Place is very clean. Flush toilets and shower stall. Lots of things for campers to do here as well.
Would recommend if you prefer a nice quiet campground away from busy roads.
ScoutSpacious sites, clean (very clean) shower and bathroom facilities.
GuideMany long sites with picnic tables and power at sites. Must be reserved online. Beware of site numbers in 70s as they have very significant slope!
TravelerWe are here on a Friday and almost all the spaces are full. Site 1 is about as quiet as it gets tucked off to the side.
LegendThis is a larger county campground that has nice sized sites that look very well maintained. It runs along the Cedar River and has a put in for paddlers nearby. It is situated right off the blacktopped road.
LegendThis is a nice campground that has basics/essentials available. It is easy to get to and has many river front sites. There is a playground and boat access on the property. It is on the Cedar River waterway. There is a loop for tents as well.
Clear Lake offers diverse camping opportunities on the shores of a 3,600-acre natural lake in north-central Iowa, with a mild summer climate averaging 80°F in July. The region features several state parks and county campgrounds that provide amenities from basic tent sites to full-hookup RV pads. Seasonal availability typically runs April through October, with some campgrounds extending operations into December.
Hiking trails: At Pilot Knob State Park, trails wind through wooded areas and lead to a historic observation tower. "Beautiful campground. Well maintained. Nice facilities. You can't beat this place for the price. Nice hiking trails too," notes a camper from Pilot Knob.
Fishing opportunities: Clear Lake State Park provides shoreline fishing and boat launches for anglers seeking walleye, yellow bass, and catfish. A visitor at Riverside County Park mentioned, "Fishing above and below the dam. Picnic table and fire ring at every site."
Swimming options: Many local parks feature swimming areas. At Riverside County Park, "a pond that you can swim in with three beach entry areas" provides cooling relief during summer months.
Spacious campsites: Sites at Clear Lake State Park provide ample room between neighbors. "The sites are large spots. Close to the beach and fishing is awesome. A big campground but reserve early!" explains one regular visitor.
Clean facilities: Bathroom cleanliness stands out in reviews across multiple campgrounds. At Clear Lake State Park, campers appreciate that "the park is clean, the shower house is nice," though one reviewer noted shower temperature control could be challenging for children.
Quiet environments: Despite summer popularity, many campers mention the surprising tranquility. "We were happy to discover that despite being a full campground, it was quiet at almost all hours of the day and night," reported a summer visitor at Clear Lake.
Reservation timing: For peak summer weekends, book well ahead. "A big campground but reserve early!" advises a Clear Lake State Park visitor. Sites fill quickly from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
Yurt camping Clear Lake, Iowa options: McIntosh Woods State Park offers specialized accommodations with "two yurts" available for rental. These structures provide a glamping alternative to traditional tent camping near Clear Lake.
Water levels: Some sites may experience pooling after heavy rains. "When there is heavy rain you will however have your own pond at most sites," notes a camper at Clear Lake State Park.
Hookup availability: Limited full-hookup sites exist at Clear Lake State Park. "There are only 6 full hook up sites and the care taker made sure we got one. The rest of the sites are beautiful with electric hook up," reports one camper.
Playground access: Many local campgrounds feature play areas. Clear Lake State Park has "nice, safe equipment for the little kids" according to visitors.
Bike-friendly roads: Paved surfaces throughout Myre-Big Island State Park offer safe cycling for children. The park has "6 miles of paved, but badly in need of care, is a bike path that meanders through thick forest and open grassy fields."
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Children often enjoy spotting local animals. "We saw a ton of wild life many many many deer!" exclaimed one visitor to Myre-Big Island State Park.
Swimming safety: Lakes can get busy during summer weekends. A camper warned, "It was, however, an entirely different story on the lake itself, where boats gathered all day to party!"
Site accessibility: RV campers should check road conditions. At Oakwoods Trails Campground, "The pads are gravel and very level" making setup easier.
Dump station congestion: At some campgrounds, timing matters for tank emptying. One Oakwoods visitor noted, "There is only one road through the grounds so when leaving it can get backed up at the dump station."
Full hookup options: Complete services vary by location. Riverside County Park provides "city water and sewer with 50 and 30 amp to each site," making it suitable for extended stays.
Big rig considerations: Some parks accommodate larger vehicles better than others. "Very long parking pads - big rig friendly and very roomy sites," mentions a Riverside County Park reviewer, highlighting its suitability for larger RVs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Clear Lake, IA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Clear Lake, IA is Clear Lake State Park Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 15 reviews.
What is the best site to find glamping camping near Clear Lake, IA?
TheDyrt.com has all 10 glamping camping locations near Clear Lake, IA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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