Cabin camping near Mount Ayr, Iowa provides access to several recreational lakes surrounded by prairie and woodland terrain. Summer temperatures average 85°F with cooler 55°F nights, while spring and fall camping can see 30-degree daily temperature swings. Winter cabin rentals remain available at select locations when temperatures drop below freezing.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: Lake of Three Fires State Park features a small but productive 85-acre lake. "The lake is quiet and relatively calm" and "good fishing at the lake, and plenty of quiet spots to fish from," according to visitors at Lake of Three Fires State Park Campground.
Trail exploration: Green Valley State Park offers extensive biking and walking paths around its lake. "The bike/walking trail is amazing, will take you all around the lake and into town. Right past the hospital and into McKinley Park," notes a camper at Green Valley State Park Campground.
Disc golf: Several parks offer free courses for disc golf enthusiasts. Lake of Three Fires State Park "has a great frisbee golf course that my boys loved playing," making it suitable for beginners and experienced players alike.
Beach activities: When temperatures climb, sandy swimming areas provide relief. Three Mile Lake offers "a nice day-use area not far down the road with a nice beach and picnic area," while Green Valley State Park's beach is "groomed daily" during summer months.
What campers like
Quiet atmosphere: Three Mile Lake Recreation Area offers peaceful lakeside camping, especially midweek. "The cabins are very clean, and beautiful sunsets overlooking the lake," with fishing amenities that include a "well taken care of" fish cleaning station at South - Three Mile Co Rec Area.
Clean facilities: Lake Icaria County Park maintains exceptional cleanliness standards. "They had people cleaning the bathrooms constantly which was great for tent camping with a large group," notes a visitor who added they "kept pointing out, in awe, that it was 'practically hourly'" at Lake Icaria Co Park.
Cabin amenities: Little River Recreation Area offers reasonably priced cabins with convenient access to fishing. A visitor mentioned "cabin rentals, canoe rental and fire wood available" with "rates are great $12/15" for camping sites, making it an economical option for Little River Recreation Area.
Seasonal beauty: Fall camping provides unique experiences with fewer crowds. At Nine Eagles State Park, campers report "absolutely beautiful park and really nice trails" with colorful foliage enhancing the experience during autumn months.
What you should know
Reservation timing: Summer weekends fill quickly at most parks. For Lake Icaria, a visitor noted, "We went the weekend after Memorial Day & there were plenty of spots," suggesting early or late season visits offer better availability.
Supply planning: Most cabin areas have limited on-site stores. At Nine Eagles State Park Campground, a camper advised "No store, no wood so get what you need before you get here," emphasizing the need to bring essentials.
Site variations: Campgrounds often have inconsistent site quality. At Lake of Three Fires, "We found some tent sites that were less than half the size of our site, and they were packed like sardines. A lot of the sites are sloped, so even ground can be hard to find."
Town proximity: Little River Recreation Area provides convenience to supplies with "9 minutes away from a small town with stores that stay open till 9," allowing for last-minute purchases if needed.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Green Valley State Park features well-maintained play areas for children. "Great place for kids. Nice spot, fire pits have nice swinging grates on them," making meal preparation easier for families with young children.
Swimming options: Mozingo Lake County RV Park offers "easy access to the water, quiet, and very nice!! This is a great kid friendly place. We always have a blast when we go. Kids absolutely love it," according to a regular visitor.
Entertainment variety: Lake of Three Fires provides multiple activities in one location. A visitor noted it "has miles of trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding. It has a great frisbee golf course that my boys loved playing. The beach sandy and clean for a refreshing dip on a hot afternoon."
Weather awareness: Prepare for sudden weather changes. One camper at Lake of Three Fires mentioned "our only complaint is the lack of weather warning system in the area. The park rangers came around to warn campers of possible severe storms coming through the area."
Tips from RVers
Site selection: Little River Recreation Area has varied site quality. "Sites 2 and 3 (both electric) are sloped down and the driveway is a bit overgrown. No physical separation between sites which when we were there was not an issue but might be when more crowded."
Utility connections: For those requiring full hookups, Mozingo Lake offers "nice paved sites. A great place to stay for awhile" with water and electric connections at each site.
Dump station location: Three Mile Lake Recreation Area provides sanitary dump facilities, though they're centralized rather than at individual sites. At some parks like Mozingo Lake, there's "Power and Water at the Site but no Sewer dump, that's Centralized in the Camp."
Wildlife awareness: When driving to campgrounds around Mount Ayr, watch for deer. A camper warned "there are lots of deer in the area at all hours of the day, so keep an eye out for them when traveling to and from town."
