6 campgrounds with availability this weekend
Furnished cabins near Shellsburg provide accommodations ranging from basic rustic shelters to fully equipped family units with modern amenities. Pleasant Creek State Recreation Area Campground offers cabin rentals with electric hookups, picnic tables, and fire rings. At Backbone State Park, family cabins sleep up to four people with heat, air conditioning, kitchenettes including refrigerators, stoves, microwaves, and coffee makers. Bathroom facilities typically include toilets and showers. "Our cabin had a common area with a kitchenette. The bathroom included a toilet and shower. The small, but cozy bedroom included a mattress along with a sink. Additional amenities included stove, frig, microwave, pots and pans, and even a small coffee maker," noted one visitor.
Rustic and deluxe cabins are both available, depending on the location. Pinicon Ridge Park and Hannen County Park offer cabin rentals year-round, while Pleasant Creek State Recreation Area Campground operates from April through December. Most parks require advance reservations, especially during summer months and fall color season. Two-night minimum stays are common at many locations. Pet policies vary by campground, with some allowing dogs in designated cabins while others prohibit pets entirely. A camper shared, "The cabin camping was the better of the two experiences, mainly due to the unusually chilly overnight temperatures. These cabins also offer heat and A/C."
Most cabins include beds but require visitors to bring their own linens, towels, and toiletries. Basic kitchenware is typically provided in furnished cabins, though supplies vary significantly between locations. KOA-style cabins at Waterloo - Lost Island Waterpark KOA offer more comprehensive amenities, including market access for groceries and supplies. Beyonder Getaway at Sleepy Hollow features cabins with running hot and cold water plus electricity, positioned near the fishing pond. Firewood is available for purchase at many campgrounds, though some locations require wood to be sourced within the county due to invasive species regulations. "We purchased firewood in Strawberry Point, a small town just a short drive from the park. Iowa requires that firewood be obtained within the county you're staying in due to the Emerald Ash Borer epidemic," one reviewer mentioned.
"The tent sites are very nice and private. There are waist high prairie flowers between the sites to provide privacy and beauty. New picnic tables. Lots of shade. visited in July"
"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! "
Available this weekend
from $12 - $60 / night
"Dump available on entrance/exit. The site was a level rock pad witch was very spacious with a fire ring and picnic table. Nearest grocery store was within 5 miles. "
"Water and electric hookups, dump station near by. Clean shower house with storm shelter. Mixed sun and shade with generous grassy sites, fire pit and picnic table."
"Park offers lots of amenities and recreation opportunities. Situated along the Cedar river, fishing and paddling can be done."
"Rangers made several loops around so we felt safe. Saw plenty of wildlife. Campsites were big but not level. "
Available this weekend
from $12 - $80 / night
"Nice park with plenty of sites and nice beach."
"Be prepared for a couple of hills in the park."
"There’s 7 tent sites that are very well shaded, have a decent patch of land and include picnic tables, fire pits and scattered stand-up BBQ grills."
"If you’re a primitive camper like me, there’s a handful of sites (7 by my count) that include picnic tables, fire pits and scattered stand-up BBQ grills."
from $45 - $65 / night
"This has been one of my favorite state parks in Iowa to camp thus far. I've tent camped in April and cabin camped in October."
"This place has tent, rv and cabin camping, you can choose modern or non modern camping."
Available this weekend
from $12 - $25 / night
"This campground has no shippers but is secluded and quiet and only 5 dollars. There’s a barn with electricity running water and real toilets."
"Grass sites, plenty of space. Some sites have great views of the lake. Nice walking trails. Wild life to watch."
"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."
"We had a great two day weekend at this park. Small and quiet. Mix of RVs and tents. We stayed on one of the 4 primitive sites but there are several with electric hookups."
"The RV sites aren’t really out of the ordinary but the park sits upon a slight rise above the Missouri River and the road around the campground leads down to the river."
Available this weekend
from $10 - $36 / night
"Great RV park. Lots of room and cabin rentals for folks that don’t have an RV. The fenced dog park was fantastic for those of us with dogs."
"Little shade with small trees next to about each site. Gas, propane, laundry room, beach area, small boat rentals, good sized convenience store with ice, beer, snacks, milkshake machine, etc."
TravelerNice quiet campground. The front looks like more long timers and it was a little noisier up there but I drove to the back loop and it's nice and quiet back here. PLENTY of 50/30/20 amp hookups and the shower house in the back was nice. Water was just lukewarm but it was hot out so no problem. Might be less pleasant in colder weather though. Pull through spots available. I would stay here again for sure.
GuideOne of my favorites. Iowa knows how to do County campgrounds. Firefly campground has full hookups and reservations. The other campgrounds have water and electric and are first come first serve. I arrived on a Friday afternoon in July and found a site easily.
ScoutThe campground was very nice and clean. Rangers made several loops around so we felt safe. Saw plenty of wildlife. Campsites were big but not level. We thought they only had outhouses until we discovered a modern bathhouse at the other end of the campground. Showers were big but very shall rustic. We only stayed one night as we were passing through but definitely could be an option in the future for other stays.
GuideGrass sites, plenty of space. Some sites have great views of the lake. Nice walking trails. Wild life to watch. If you are camped under a hickory tree you will need to brush off the Hickory nuts off your slide outs. Plenty of parking for guset to visit. Peaceful. We love camping in Hickory hils.
TravelerThis campground appears to be new or newly re done, great showers and bathrooms, right on a bike trail seems to connect to everything. Quiet large sites with full hook ups, more sites being developed
TravelerInexpensive but poorly maintained. Parking is unlevel and no dump station. Sites were slightly bigger than needed and rock driveway barely had rock. Clean and well mowed. Caves were small and visited in about 30 minutes.
GuideIf you’re looking for a quick stop on your travels with full hookup and a bonus pool this is perfect! The host is very friendly and accommodating. Easy on and off of I80. There is not a lot of shade but if you have AC and an awning, you will be just fine
GuideHad a great time. Large area that was private. Close to bathroom and showers. Hiking trails. Nice place to fish and explore.
GuideWe had a great two day weekend at this park. Small and quiet. Mix of RVs and tents. We stayed on one of the 4 primitive sites but there are several with electric hookups. Bathrooms were decent and have running water for showers(cold) which felt amazing after our 2.5 miles hike. The trails were beautiful and be sure to check out the Ice Cave and Horse Thief Cave!
Cabins near Shellsburg, Iowa offer secluded recreational opportunities within the Wapsipinicon River watershed, an area characterized by rolling hills and dense hardwood forests. Most cabin sites sit at elevations between 800-900 feet above sea level, with summer temperatures averaging 75-85°F during peak season. Winter cabin rentals typically require advance planning due to limited availability and seasonal road conditions.
Lakeside activities: At Pleasant Creek State Recreation Area Campground, visitors can explore the 8-mile hiking trail that circles the lake. "There is a nice hiking trail around the lake, about 8 miles complete loop. There is a bit of elevation change and not many opportunities to 'bail out' so take water and pace yourself," advises Mitch C.
Canoe adventures: The Wapsipinicon River provides multiple access points for paddlers. "My son and I like to get the canoes and Kayaks out and paddle around the lake. The fish cleaning stations are well maintained and the location is not too far away from town," notes Robert F. about his experience at Pleasant Creek.
Bird watching: The Hawkeye Wildlife Management Area near Beyonder Getaway at Sleepy Hollow offers excellent bird watching opportunities. "Should you be looking for a decent bit of hiking, there's a nice slice of nature near here at Sleepy Hollow a bit NE called Hawkeye Wildlife Management Area where there's plenty of trails, shooting ranges and some fairly decent bird watching," shares Stuart K.
Off-leash dog areas: Pinicon Ridge Park includes dedicated spaces for pets. "We all took the trail into town and found a BIT Brewery where we enjoy woodfired pizza and brought some beer home in a growler for around the fire that night," mentions Brandon T., who appreciated the off-leash dog area accessible via the trail through the campground.
Modern bathroom facilities: Newly constructed shower facilities are highly rated. "The bathrooms and shower were very clean with lots of hot water. There is hiking in the park and very little road noise," reports Clint G. about Pinicon Ridge Park.
Year-round cabin options: Many rental cabins remain open during winter months. "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!" reports Mitch C. about Pleasant Creek State Recreation Area.
Reservation requirements: Most cabin sites fill quickly during summer and fall color seasons. "Weekends are pretty much sold out," notes David J. about Pleasant Creek's popularity. Plan to book well ahead for holiday weekends.
Site levelness concerns: Many cabin and RV sites require leveling equipment. "Bring a lot of leveling blocks. Most sites are slanted in both planes," warns Warren W. about Beyonder Getaway at Sleepy Hollow.
Vehicle limitations: Some parks enforce strict rules about vehicles per site. "The Ranger Man enforced a 2 car per campsite rule. He forced 3 over 65 couples to drive to a parking lots and I shuttled them back and forth," explains David J. about his experience at Pleasant Creek.
Playground access: Waterloo - Lost Island Waterpark KOA offers exceptional play areas for children. "Our kids had more fun at this campground than any other so far. They have the most amazing playgrounds (yes, two of them!) That we've ever seen. There were activities for kids of all ages," shares Chelsea D.
Beaches and swimming: Several sites feature designated swimming areas away from fishing zones. "This is a great recreational area, and a beautiful campground. Awesome lake to go kayaking on too!" mentions Chelsea M. about Pleasant Creek State Recreation Area.
Storm shelter availability: Weather safety features are available at several parks. "Storm shelter right on site. Playground is awesome for kids of all ages. Hiking trails are well marked and all over the park and state land nearby," notes Beau Z. about Pinicon Ridge Park.
Dump station locations: Palisades-Kepler State Park Campground and other area sites offer convenient dump stations. "We stayed at this campground for 7 nights with W/E hook ups. Dump available on entrance/exit. The site was a level rock pad witch was very spacious with a fire ring and picnic table," reports Clint G.
Site spacing considerations: Some parks offer more privacy between sites than others. "The tent sites are very nice and private. There are waist high prairie flowers between the sites to provide privacy and beauty. New picnic tables. Lots of shade," describes Ann B. about her experience at Pleasant Creek.
Utility hookup quality: Water and electric connections vary by park. "Water and electric hookups, dump station near by. Clean shower house with storm shelter. Mixed sun and shade with generous grassy sites, fire pit and picnic table," notes David S. about staying at Pinicon Ridge Park.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular cabin campsite near Shellsburg, IA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular cabin campground near Shellsburg, IA is Pleasant Creek State Recreation Area Campground with a 4.7-star rating from 6 reviews.
What is the best site to find cabin camping near Shellsburg, IA?
TheDyrt.com has all 21 cabin camping locations near Shellsburg, IA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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