14 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Several cabin options exist within a short drive of Nora Springs, Iowa, including McIntosh Woods State Park and Riverside County Park. Most cabins provide basic amenities such as beds, tables, chairs, and electricity, with varying levels of bathroom access depending on the location. A park visitor mentioned that "We stayed in one of the two yurts - bunk bed plus a futon and table/chairs inside. Picnic table and grill outside." At Riverside County Park, the cabin includes air conditioning and is fully furnished, situated on 200 acres of county land with access to fishing areas and walking trails.
Rustic and deluxe cabins are both available, depending on the location. At McIntosh Woods, yurts represent a unique accommodation option, while Riverside County Park offers a more traditional cabin experience. Most cabins require advance reservations, especially during summer months from April through October. Pet policies vary by location, with some allowing dogs and others restricting them. According to one review, the "Cabin with air conditioning and fully furnished further up the river on 200 acres of county land" provides comfortable accommodations for those seeking more amenities than basic camping.
Most cabins include beds and basic furniture but require visitors to bring their own linens, towels, and toiletries. Kitchen facilities vary considerably, with some offering only outdoor grills and fire rings, while others include indoor cooking capabilities. Guests should verify what cooking equipment is provided before arrival. Firewood is available at some locations, though policies differ. Albert Lea, approximately 20 miles from Nora Springs, offers grocery stores and supplies for cabin visitors needing to stock up on provisions.
"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."
"Sites arranged in a circle around a clean shower house. Potable water. Only 2 non-electric sites. Most sites level. Sites are close to each other, not offering much in the way of privacy."
from $12 - $60 / night
Check Availability"Located by New Ulm, MN this campground has plenty of activities in the park or very near the park."
"Standard site without electric was only $10.00 a night which includes a nearby water spigot to fill your tank with. Put toilets and showers available."
from $14 - $34 / night
Check Availability"This is a rustic state park with limited amenities. There are no water or electric hook ups. However clean water is available in the park. The park does have flush toilets and showers."
"Facilities are top notch and private. The nicest showed and restroom you can imagine. Large tent pads and a quiet area. Not busy when we went. There is a small hiking trail as well."
from $24 - $34 / night
Check Availability"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."
"Tent pad and fire pit were well maintained. Restrooms were well cleaned, if not exactly maintained (soap and Toilet paper ran light over the weekend, and spiders hung out after a cleaning)."
"Met up with friends to get outside. They brought their dogs and we had a grand time."
from $24 - $85 / night
Check Availability"Wilder Park is a beautiful city park. Very much a gem, quiet and peaceful . 50 + sites with about half of them full hook up. Costs for a full hook up in 2022 was under $25 a night."
"they have sand volleyball pickle ball miniature golf and huge checkers plus a couple playgrounds for the kids. it's a nice quiet family campground."
from $14 - $22 / night
Check Availability"A bit rustic but clean campground. There are some piles of tree branches as there was a beetle problem and trees had to be removed. I’m sure it is temporary and will be gone soon."
"They did have a $1 Sunday when we got there which was fun Ice Cream and topping for $1. Then that night they had movies which was nice. A great pool and play area for the kids."
"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. "
"The showers are one temperature but it’s comfortable and the water pressure is awesome. The dressing room is big enough to actually dress in and your stuff can remain dry."
"This is a nice park with a lot of activities for kids including a pool and jumping pad. The main park of the campground has people packed in pretty close."
"Great park for kids and for adults to relax. Decently priced."
"The scenery is amazing with some easy hiking and fishing available, as well as all of the usual destination type amenities."
"However, when checking in at night at staying in the "upper campground", be aware that there is another road the is very steep right next to where you go for the upper campground."
from $65 - $999 / night
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TravelerBeautiful 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. Walk to small town/restaurants.Clean bathroom facilities in area. Short hikes. Fishing nearby.
Scout40 site Totally renovated 2 years ago nestled along the little Cedar river above the dam. 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. Volleyball and walking trails with primitive camping across the road. Cabin with air conditioning and fully furnished further up the river on 200 acres of county land. Fishing above and below the dam. Picnic table and fire ring at every site.
GuideThis is a rustic state park with limited amenities. There are no water or electric hook ups. However clean water is available in the park. The park does have flush toilets and showers. We found these to be in good condition and clean. The showers had warm water. The water stream is on a timer and so are the lights. The shower stalls are Individual stalls. The interior roads are dirt roads with a few potholes they are very narrow. The camping sites are nice sized and relatively private. There is a gravel pad on each site and some have a tent pad. Each site had a picnic table and a fire ring. There are plenty of walking and biking trails and there are walk-in tent camp sites. However, you cannot see the lake from the campground and there is no access to the lake from the campground. We were able to drive through the campground with our 40 foot fifth wheel. But just barely, be careful! 
TravelerLocated by New Ulm, MN this campground has plenty of activities in the park or very near the park. Plenty of hiking trails, playground for the kids, and an amazing sand bottom swimming pond surrounded by sand beach. Golf is also nearby at The New Ulm Country Club which is open to the public. Nice level sites with electric, picnic tables and fire rings.
LegendGeneral: A mixture of tent (non-electric) and electric sites, mostly arranged in several rows.
Site Quality: Mixed. Not all sites are level, and most do not have delineated parking pads (there is a small pavement indent to show where to access the site). A fire pit and picnic table complete the site. Most of the sites are too close together for our liking, however, when we were there (a Monday at the end of August, the day before school started), we were only one of three sites occupied so for our stay it didn’t matter.
Bathhouse: Basic but clean. My biggest complaint is there were no hooks or shelves for toiletries by the sinks. The showers looked nice but we did not use them.
Activities: Horseback riding (there are trails for this), hiking, fishing. Although we did see several trailheads, I did not have a map so didn’t explore them. There is an observation tower, but it is a two-mile walk/drive from the campground (on paved roads; I didn’t try to find hiking trails to get there).
Misc: A shout-out to the great host, Pam, who greeted us as we arrived. The observation tower, entrance gates, and picnic shelter were all constructed by the CCC and were beautiful. It almost seemed like the campground was an afterthought as it is outside the entrance gates and nowhere near the tower. The layout of the campground would be challenging if all sites were occupied.
GuideFacilities are top notch and private. The nicest showed and restroom you can imagine. Large tent pads and a quiet area. Not busy when we went. There is a small hiking trail as well. The lake isn’t anything spectacular, it’s quite dirty but we were only there for a night.
GuideWe spent four nights tent camping at the White Fox Campground of Myre-Big Island State Park in June 2022. This park is a combination woodland/prairie/wetland setting. The White Fox Campground is on the fringes of a woodland. Our campsite was grassy and open with trees and shrubs curving along the back of the site. The site had the usual fire ring with grill and a large picnic table.
There are some nice trails for hiking through woodlands and prairie and alongside wetlands. We saw a lot of wildlife: several deer, red squirrels, chipmunks, a raccoon, a woodchuck, lots of different birds, and several different types of butterflies. In the mornings the birdsong was pretty amazing, loud and long lasting.
There are two freeways and a rail line near the park, but the noise from them was only bothersome on one morning of our stay.
There is a second campground on the Big Island portion of the park. Big Island is wooded and has some beautiful trails that we enjoyed.
GuideStandard site without electric was only $10.00 a night which includes a nearby water spigot to fill your tank with. Put toilets and showers available. The friendly hosts made a point to come by to chat. Two fawns were born there, under one of the picnic tables and they were around all weekend. I’ll be back !
ScoutThis campground has a TON of sites! There are close to 60 sites in all, about a third to half of those are electric sites. If you like open spaces, this is a wonderful place to camp.
Beautiful, clean, and recently updated bathrooms and showers!
So much wildlife to see at this park. Seeing large groups of deer was a daily/nightly thing!
The park has 20+ miles of hiking trails through prairies, woodlands, and along the lake too! PLus the park offers geocashing (and free GPS rental), as well as canoes, kayaks, paddle boards, and a small fishing that can be rented!
A lot to offer here!
Cabin camping near Nora Springs, Iowa offers options within a 25-mile radius, including state parks and county recreation areas with diverse accommodation types. The area's terrain features gently rolling hills with elevation ranging from 1,060-1,150 feet above sea level, creating moderate temperature variations between daytime and nighttime hours during camping season.
Fishing opportunities: At Myre-Big Island State Park, campers can enjoy shoreline fishing along the lake. "Amazing sunset views on the lake. I'm here during hibernating season for the mosquitoes so it's very pleasant but I can imagine it's not pretty during the summer," notes one visitor.
Hiking trails: Several campgrounds offer marked paths through diverse terrain. A visitor at Pilot Knob State Park shared, "Great hiking trails. Picnic area. We have gone a grew times a year and love it!" Trails range from easy half-mile loops to more challenging 2-mile paths.
Water recreation: Beyond fishing, some locations provide water-based activities. At Myre-Big Island State Park, "The park office does sell firewood and other things, so definitely take a look when you check in! We dropped our kayak into the lake at the boat launch, which was a 2 minute drive to the other side of the island from the campsite."
Privacy levels: Campground layouts vary significantly in terms of site spacing. At McIntosh Woods State Park, sites are "arranged in a circle around a clean shower house. Potable water. Only 2 non-electric sites. Most sites level. Sites are close to each other, not offering much in the way of privacy."
Wildlife viewing: The natural setting provides opportunities to observe local fauna. At Pilot Knob State Park, campers report, "Got to see turtles laying eggs and deer were all around. Family loved the fishing." Another visitor at McIntosh Woods noted, "We can't wait to go back. Our camp was so private & we were happy because we had a new puppy that was from a hoarding situation & not real social."
Scenic surroundings: The region's natural beauty enhances the cabin experience. One camper at McIntosh Woods described it as a "Beautiful shaded campground near the lake, not far from town if you forgot something."
Seasonal considerations: Weather patterns affect camping experiences differently across seasons. A visitor to Hidden Bluffs Resort mentioned, "Minimal bugs, very nice staff, beautiful sites with lots of nature! Dog friendly."
Reservation requirements: Most cabin facilities require advance booking, especially from April through October. Availability varies by location, with some parks having limited cabin options.
Facility maintenance: Upkeep varies by location. One camper noted about Pilot Knob State Park, "Mixed. Not all sites are level, and most do not have delineated parking pads (there is a small pavement indent to show where to access the site)."
Playgrounds and recreation: Wilder City Park offers extensive family-friendly amenities. A camper shared, "They have sand volleyball pickle ball miniature golf and huge checkers plus a couple playgrounds for the kids. It's a nice quiet family campground."
Swimming options: Some parks feature designated swimming areas with varying facilities. At Hidden Bluffs Resort, "Playground, mini golf, and pool all complimentary! 2 trails and babbling brooke were peaceful. They had kid and adult activities scheduled for Friday and Saturday which was a cool surprise when we checked in!"
Nature programs: Several parks offer seasonal ranger-led activities for children. Check with park offices upon arrival as schedules change throughout the season.
Site accessibility: Some cabins and camping areas have limitations for larger vehicles. At Albert Lea-Austin KOA, "Open camp sites some shaded and pull through. Big rig friendly. Pool was closed for repair on our visit but looked like nice sized pool. Staff was welcoming and grounds were clean."
Hookup availability: Electric, water, and sewer connections vary by location. When staying at Wilder City Park, one RVer noted, "50 + sites with about half of them full hook up. Costs for a full hook up in 2022 was under $25 a night."
Weather preparedness: The region experiences significant seasonal variations. Be prepared for temperature fluctuations, especially during spring and fall months when overnight temperatures can drop significantly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular cabin campsite near Nora Springs, IA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular cabin campground near Nora Springs, IA is McIntosh Woods State Park Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 5 reviews.
What is the best site to find cabin camping near Nora Springs, IA?
TheDyrt.com has all 14 cabin camping locations near Nora Springs, IA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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