16 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Riverside Co Park provides a fully furnished cabin with air conditioning, situated on 200 acres of county land along the Little Cedar River. The cabin is part of a larger camping facility that includes RV sites and primitive camping areas. According to one visitor, the cabin is "fully furnished with air conditioning," making it suitable for visitors seeking comfort during hot summer months. Myre-Big Island State Park and Forestville Mystery Cave State Park also offer cabin accommodations with varying amenities, including picnic tables and fire rings for outdoor meals and gatherings. Access to water, electricity, and toilet facilities varies by location.
Rustic and deluxe cabins are both available, depending on the location. The KOA campgrounds near Albert Lea and Austin provide cabin rentals with amenities like electricity and nearby shower facilities. Reservations are essential during peak summer months from May through September when cabins book quickly. Most cabins permit pets, though policies vary by location. Some cabins remain available during winter months, particularly at state parks like Myre-Big Island which operates year-round. Based on reviews from The Dyrt, the yurts at McIntosh Woods State Park feature "bunk bed plus a futon and table/chairs inside" with "picnic table and grill outside," offering a unique alternative to traditional cabin camping.
Most cabins include beds but require visitors to bring their own linens, towels, and toiletries. Cooking facilities vary widely—some locations provide only outdoor fire rings with grates, while others include basic indoor kitchen setups. Hidden Bluffs Resort and Jellystone Park offer more developed cabin options with additional amenities. Cabin campers should check specific listings for refrigeration and cooking options before arrival. Small markets at some campgrounds sell basic provisions, though selection is limited. The Albert Lea-Austin KOA and Jellystone Park maintain on-site markets for essential supplies, but comprehensive grocery shopping requires a trip to nearby towns.
"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."
"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"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"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."
"Good level campsite and in walking around all the ones in the electric loop looked pretty level. "
"Mystery Cave State Park is surrounded in in a lush green forest with huge oak and maple trees that hang over the road like a huge living canopy."
from $25 - $90 / 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."
"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"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
Check Availability"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."
"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
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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.
TravelerWe booked a spot for our RV because we wanted to explore the Decorah,IA area and it’s abundant set of activities. The campground is more on the rustic side but they have a nice clean shower house, very well kept grounds and a ton of space to spread out. The lower campground is right next to the river and there are RV, tent and cabin sites available.
ScoutI have been visiting Chimney Rock Camp and Canoe for 20 years. Every time I visit I have a wonderful time enjoying the scenic Upper Iowa River. This part of Iowa is a treasure. Deb and her crew are always helpful and accommodating. They run a great canoe/kayak/tube rental with shuttle service. This is a private campground. I appreciate the laid back vibe. We have been here during the week and have had the place pretty much to ourselves. The weekends are a bit more lively, but with friendly folks. Some of my favorite memories are on the shuttle bus up to the drop in and laughing with fellow campers/ river floaters. We love Chimney Rock and pray this little slice of heaven is available for us to enjoy for years to come. We prefer to stay down by the river sans electricity. We have done this for years in a tent and now in our hybrid camper. There are cabins, electric sites, showers and a dump station.
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.
Cabin camping options abound within 30 miles of Osage, Iowa, where the gently rolling hills transition between prairie and woodland. The area experiences distinct seasonal changes with summer temperatures averaging 75-85°F and winter lows frequently dipping below freezing. Fall colors peak in mid-October when many campers report fewer crowds at cabin accommodations throughout the region.
Fishing access: Riverside Co Park offers multiple fishing spots along the Little Cedar River. According to one visitor, there's "fishing above and below the dam" with convenient access from the campsites.
Cave exploration: Forestville Mystery Cave State Park provides underground adventures about an hour's drive from Osage. A camper notes: "The cave tours are well done and the sites are scenic and tucked into the woods. There is also a winery (Four Daughter) not far away that's more than worth stopping at."
Trail hiking: Experience varied terrain on the trails at Myre-Big Island State Park, where one visitor reported: "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!"
Water activities: Swimming and boating options vary by location. At McIntosh Woods State Park, "there is a beach for swimming but there is no lifeguard on duty. There is also a boat ramp and a few docks for launching."
Clean facilities: Most cabin rentals near Osage prioritize cleanliness. One visitor to Myre State Park Campgrounds noted their "facilities are brand new, and very clean. Had a toilet, shower, and dish washing area."
Wildlife viewing: Several campgrounds offer opportunities to see native wildlife. A camper at Myre-Big Island State Park shared: "So much wildlife to see at this park. Seeing large groups of deer was a daily/nightly thing!"
Privacy levels: Site privacy varies significantly between parks. At Pilot Knob State Park Campground, a visitor found: "Nice level sites with electric hook ups, clean restrooms and showers. Gave us the opportunity to unload our car and figure out our new motorhome without feeling like we were being watched."
Year-round access: Some cabins remain open during winter months. A recent visitor to Myre-Big Island State Park in early spring reported: "We visited in early April so the sites were quite exposed, I can imagine they would be more private in the summer. Water and showers were not open yet as it was too cold but the vault toilets were well maintained."
Reservation timing: Summer weekends book quickly, especially at state parks. For camping cabins near Osage, Iowa, advance planning is essential.
Varied amenities: Cabin facilities differ significantly between locations. At Albert Lea-Austin KOA, one visitor reported it as "a decent, clean campground. We were staying just one night on the way to our final destination. This was right off the expressway, so perfect for that."
Highway noise: Some cabins are located near major roads. A visitor to KOA Kampgrounds noted: "This is a nice little campground, but it's location (although convenient) right off the freeway is less than ideal. The background noise isn't terrible but it's always there."
Weather considerations: Spring conditions can be unpredictable. One camper at Forestville Mystery Cave State Park shared: "We had some wet weather come through, but because of the sandy soils, things dried out and drained very quickly."
Playground access: Several camping areas feature dedicated play spaces for children. Hidden Bluffs Resort received this review: "Playground, mini golf, and pool all complimentary! They had kid and adult activities scheduled for Friday and Saturday which was a cool surprise when we checked in!"
Educational opportunities: Some parks offer learning experiences alongside recreation. At Myre-Big Island State Park, "the park offers geocashing (and free GPS rental), as well as canoes, kayaks, paddle boards, and a small fishing that can be rented!"
Swimming options: Water access varies by location. At Pilot Knob State Park, one visitor mentioned an "amazing sand bottom swimming pond surrounded by sand beach" that's perfect for families.
Wildlife viewing: Parks with diverse habitats offer wildlife spotting opportunities for kids. At McIntosh Woods State Park, one camper reported: "Birds and deer abound."
Site layouts: RV-friendly cabin areas typically offer level sites. At Riverside Co Park, a visitor found "very long parking pads- big rig friendly and very roomy sites."
Hookup availability: Full hookups aren't available at all locations. A visitor to Myre-Big Island State Park noted: "Only downside was the site was electric only. No option for full hookup but water was located between the sites. Dump station was clean and modern and located close by."
Navigation challenges: Some cabin areas have tricky access roads. At Forestville Mystery Cave State Park, an RVer cautioned: "The interior roads are dirt roads with a few potholes they are very narrow. We were able to drive through the campground with our 40 foot fifth wheel. But just barely, be careful!"
Seasonal limitations: Winter camping requires additional planning. One visitor noted that at McIntosh Woods State Park during off-season, "not a big campground. Sites arranged in a circle around a clean shower house. Potable water. Only 2 non-electric sites."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular cabin campsite near Osage, IA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular cabin campground near Osage, IA is Riverside Co Park with a 5-star rating from 2 reviews.
What is the best site to find cabin camping near Osage, IA?
TheDyrt.com has all 16 cabin camping locations near Osage, IA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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