Best Glamping near Riverside, IA

Lake Darling State Park Campground houses upscale glamping accommodations in Brighton, Iowa, approximately 30 minutes from Riverside. The park's glamping options provide a refined outdoor experience with comfortable beds, climate control, and private outdoor spaces overlooking the lake. Palisades-Kepler State Park Campground also offers premium canvas accommodations with modern amenities including electricity, heating, and convenient access to shower facilities. These elevated camping experiences maintain proximity to nature while providing substantial comfort upgrades from traditional tent camping. Both locations feature picnic tables, fire rings, and easy access to water activities. One reviewer highlighted, "Brand new five season cabins. Great all year round! The lake has been recently drained and refilled. The new trails around the lake are so wonderful."

Visitors at these glamping sites enjoy direct access to water recreation, with Lake Darling offering boat rentals including paddle boats and canoes for exploring the calm waters. A concrete multi-use path winds along the shoreline, connecting glamping accommodations to hiking trails and fishing spots. Belva Deer Park provides similar glamping experiences with access to multiple water entry points for boating, fishing, and swimming. Pleasant Creek State Recreation Area glamping accommodations remain open from April through December, allowing for seasonal nature experiences ranging from spring wildflowers to autumn foliage. According to a camper, "The lake area offers great fishing and there are boat rentals available. Paddle boats, canoes, and other options. There is a long concrete multi-use path along the lake and into the cabin area."

Map showing campgrounds near Riverside, Iowa

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Best Glamping Sites Near Riverside, Iowa (15)

1. Windmill Ridge Campground
1 Review
Kalona, IA
8 miles
Website
+1 (319) 656-4488
"Family and pet friendly, clean, well kept property, amenities on site,completive priced sites for camping and to gather together and enjoy life for a moment or two."
2. Little Bear Campground
8 Reviews
West Branch, IA
19 miles
Website
+1 (319) 627-2676
$22 - $49 / night
"Little Bear Campground is located right off I-80 at the West Liberty exit. It is right next to a trailer park. There are a few tent sites ($22/ night)and Rv sites($33/night)."

"Very cute campground right off highway. I called while traveling and Mike was very accommodating. Full hookups and showers. Even got a pool. Gas station nearby full of character."

3. Cedar River Campground
11 Reviews
West Liberty, IA
24 miles
Website
+1 (563) 946-2431
$35 - $50 / night
"Convenient location a lot of amenities and activities"
4. Lake Darling State Park Campground
7 Reviews
Brighton, IA
27 miles
Website
+1 (319) 694-2323
$15 - $110 / night
"Sites were fairly level and all pretty close to the showers/restrooms, and well spaced out between sites. "

"We stayed on the primative group side of the lake. There is a small pond that we were able to let some of our scouts get started in kayaks and canoes before getting into the main lake. "

5. Palisades-Kepler State Park Campground
9 Reviews
Ely, IA
29 miles
Website
+1 (319) 895-6039
$15 - $80 / night
"Super chill and plenty of space, especially for tents on site 39. Bathrooms are very nice and modern and clean, maintenance was very nice to let me shower before he could clean it."

"Situated along the Cedar river, fishing and paddling can be done. Lots of trails, CG and cabins closed for winter season for improvements and online reservations."
6. Lake Iowa County Park
7 Reviews
Williamsburg, IA
34 miles
Website
+1 (319) 655-8465
"Bathrooms and entire area was really in perfect shape. One of the cleanest showers and bathrooms I have seen. $10 for tent, $16 for electric - how can you go wrong?"

"Looked like a decent amount of folks here but we didn’t drive very far into the park. If you take a look at the PDF maps on their website you can see how vast the places is with 122 spots!"

7. Camelot Campground Quad Cities USA
17 Reviews
Rock Island, IL
50 miles
Website
+1 (309) 787-0665
"Stayed one night for tent camping, campsite was clean and accommodating with fire pit, picnic table, lights, Wi-Fi, and power plug. Bathrooms and showers were clean. Perfect camping site."

"Beautiful walk with trees and lakes, even in the rain. There may be some full timers, but not in our area. Check in was easy and the on-site staff are very friendly."
8. Keokuk County Belva Deer Park
1 Review
Sigourney, IA
31 miles
+1 (641) 622-3757
"$12 a night for primitive camping and you get nice warm showers by the main entrance and nice bathrooms by the main entrance."

9. Morgan Creek County Park
3 Reviews
Palo, IA
37 miles
Website
+1 (319) 396-2363
$23 - $40 / night
"The bathroom was pretty nice and clean. The grounds were beautiful, even though you can tell some trees took a hit from the recent derecho. The camp host was friendly and helpful."
10. Pleasant Creek State Recreation Area Campground
6 Reviews
Shellsburg, IA
45 miles
Website
+1 (319) 436-7716
$17 - $60 / night
"Cabins were nice - not luxury or glamping but clean and in good condition. The gentleman that takes care of the campground takes great pride in his work and it shows - kudos to him! "

"It's a great recreational area, and a beautiful campground, tent camping is a breeze with very secluded sites, and well water very close to each site and a trail that leads to a large dumpster."

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Recent Glamping Photos near Riverside, IA

6 Photos of 15 Riverside Campgrounds

Glamping Reviews near Riverside, IA

80 Reviews of 15 Riverside Campgrounds

C
Carol M.
Scout
Jun. 6, 2018
Matsell Bridge Natural Area
Nice little inexpensive primitive site... spaces almost always available
Nice quiet little primitive campground next to the Wapsipinicon River. Unfortunately, when I was there the last weekend of May, the gnats were bad, and the mosquitoes were just starting to gear up. HOWEVER, take bug spray and enjoy the rustic peacefulness of this "best kept secret" for primitive and inexpensive camping sites. Beautiful location, ranger close by, wood for sale just across the bridge, fire pits and picnic tables at every site. Good for RV, trailer or tent camping… level ground and lots of shade. Primitive bathrooms, no showers or running water.
Randall K.
Ranger
Aug. 9, 2024
Lake Iowa County Park
Great spot for a great price
Very well kept campground! Bathrooms and entire area was really in perfect shape. One of the cleanest showers and bathrooms I have seen. $10 for tent, $16 for electric - how can you go wrong?

Only issue is that the spots are pretty close together. Around 2:30am there was so much smoke in our van from nearby campfires that I woke up sick and my dog threw up all over the bed. At 3am we decided we needed to move to an electric site because it was too much to have the windows open. I felt really bad for anyone in a tent. I coughed all the next day.

The campground was not that busy so there is no way I would stay here on a busy holiday weekend due to the spots being too close. If a few people make a fire you better shut down all your windows. No sleeping in the cool, night air here.

But this is an issue at other places too. Just never experienced anything on this level before. Esp considering no one in our section even had a fire going.

I wish campgrounds would start banning these fires. But that’s a topic for a later date.

Other than that it was a great spot.
c
chole C.
Scout
Apr. 26, 2025
Haven Hills Campground and Resort
First time!
We loved the helpful service from the owner as he helped us get settled in. It was our first time there and it was a great visit. The showers at the main lodge were AMAZING. We forgot our grill but thankfully their fire pits have a built in grill which saved us so much! It’s gorgeous and you can rent golf carts for the day!!! Had such a great time and got to visit Aledo and see the charm of this small town!
.! E !.
Guide
Sep. 5, 2024
Camelot Campground Quad Cities USA
Perfect!
Very nice, affordable and peaceful campsite. Stayed one night for tent camping, campsite was clean and accommodating with fire pit, picnic table, lights, Wi-Fi, and power plug. Bathrooms and showers were clean. Perfect camping site.
Jackie J.
Traveler
Jul. 1, 2021
Cedar River Campground
Friendly, green scenery, a bit noisy
We stopped over for the night, and it was a good respite. They have mini-golf, a nice pool and a creative rugged play area for the kids. Unfortunately, the pool was closed for the evening cleaning, so we didn't get to use it. There was a beautiful wetland just down from the campground. It is right off the highway, so it was loud when we were outside, but we couldn't hear it at all when we were in our Tab 400. The manager, son of the owner, was really nice and helpful. His mom has owned the RV park for 27 years and ready to retire. There are some friendly seasonal and long-term residents who are in a separate section, but you see them driving through on their golf carts and are super fun and gregarious.
Khenia F.
Traveler
Sep. 20, 2022
Palisades-Kepler State Park Campground
First time, one night
Super chill and plenty of space, especially for tents on site 39. Bathrooms are very nice and modern and clean, maintenance was very nice to let me shower before he could clean it. It was our only night there and we heard a lot of movements by the woods that it creeped us out but we were hearing haunted stories before arriving so the Halloween vibes was definitely there. Loads of shade and quiet nice neighbors.
Kim F.
Scout
Aug. 10, 2024
Windmill Ridge Campground
Hidden little gem
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 whee truck, rvs or trailers. Family and pet friendly, clean, well kept property, amenities on site,completive priced sites for camping and to gather together and enjoy life for a moment or two. Check it out, don't believe you will regret it. Peace fellow travelers.
James M.
Legend
Mar. 1, 2024
Camp Liberty
Wonderful camp with many amenities
Camp offers site for all tastes: primitive and modern cabins and lodges, tents for small or large groups and couples. Hard roads, fire pits, tables, water, showers, supplies. Surrounded by nature with forest, prairie, and lake.Trails, and even guided activities.
l
laura M.
Guide
Mar. 24, 2022
Camelot Campground Quad Cities USA
Beautiful spot convenient to freeway
Nice overnight stay during winter. Showers are spacious, with personal locking door and hot hot water. Beautiful walk with trees and lakes, even in the rain. There may be some full timers, but not in our area. Check in was easy and the on-site staff are very friendly.