4 campgrounds with availability this weekend
Cabin camping near Story City spans rustic and deluxe options across several state and county parks, offering overnight shelter with varying levels of comfort and amenities. Tower Rock County Park features two modern cabins with full amenities including bathrooms, kitchenettes, and comfortable furnishings. Little Wall Lake County Park offers cabin accommodations alongside standard camping facilities, while Jester County Park provides cabins within a wooded setting. "This was one of the nicest county campgrounds I've ever seen. We rented a cabin for $50, because it was only about $10 more expensive than what we were planning on spending for a campsite in Minnesota. Inside, you had two bunk beds, and the bottom bunk of one was a pull out futon, so you really had room to sleep 5 people," one visitor reported. Most cabins include basic electrical hookups, with air conditioning available at some locations.
Rustic and deluxe cabins are both available, depending on the location. Briggs Woods Park offers year-round cabin rentals with access to recreational opportunities including boating and hiking trails. Dolliver Memorial State Park Campground provides cabin options within its forested setting. Most cabins require advance reservations, particularly during summer months when availability becomes limited. Pet policies vary by location, with some parks like Jester County Park and Little Wall Lake allowing pets in cabin areas while others restrict them. A camper noted, "The two cabins are fairly new and have all of the amenities. My mother-in-law stayed here while visiting recently and we enjoyed spending time at her cabin."
Most cabins include beds but require visitors to bring their own linens, towels, and toiletries. Kitchen facilities vary widely across locations, with some offering refrigerators, microwaves and coffee makers while others provide only basic amenities. Pine Lake State Park cabins are available year-round with electricity but may not include running water during winter months. The Newton KOA offers cabin rentals with more extensive amenities than state park options, including air conditioning and heating for year-round comfort. Grocery stores and supplies can be found in nearby communities, though some campgrounds like Jester County Park have small markets on site for basic provisions. Cabins at Sportsman Park include mini fridges, coffee makers, microwaves, and small sinks, making them suitable for short stays without extensive cooking requirements.
"One of my favorite locations to camp in Iowa as a Boy Scout growing up was Ledges State Park. Since I hadn't been back in years, I decided to check it out and spend a night camping there."
"One of the more beautiful places to camp in Iowa. Awesome hiking trails and really well-shaded campsites."
Available this weekend
from $12 - $25 / night
"Small lake. Some sites are reserveable online and some are first come first serve. We had water and electric on site. Showers were not open yet in April. "
"Close to the interstate and easy to get to."
"We chose Briggs Woods because of its location and reviews from other campers. It is a larger campground than you think! Spots for primitive tent camping, electrical hook up and full hook ups."
"Nice park with standard tent and RV sites. Boone River , Briggs Woods Lake good for paddling with rentals available, fishing, beach, shower house, cabins."
"Each site as a gravel drive and then open gravel area with a picnic table and fire pit with grill grate. Plenty of room for camp chairs and other furniture you may want to set up. "
"Fire rings, picnic tables, level gravel sites."
from $20 - $25 / night
"Camped by tent, basic amenities on-site-fire ring, table, etc. Went kayaking on lake and then on Des Moines River (close by). Nice wildlife areas, hiking, fishing, etc. Pleasant staff."
"Very quite and nice campground, we camped on top of the hill in tents it was awesome view and potable drinking water next to camp, bathrooms and shower facilities was clean and nice"
from $12 - $20 / night
"This campground is near home so I know it well. The campground itself is nice, with some decent sized campsites, many having a great view of upper Pine Lake. There are flush toilets and showers."
"Very nice state park campground. There are cabins as well as campsites. The park is adjacent to Pine Lake and water based recreation is available including swimming beach and boating."
Available this weekend
from $12 - $90 / night
"Dolliver State Park was our maiden voyage in our travel trailer and it was obvious we were pitiful newbies!"
"The RV parking area isn't really big, but all sites are great & feel private, especially the outer ones. We have never stayed in the cabins, but they look nice & well kept."
Available this weekend
from $15 - $50 / night
"The two cabins are fairly new and have all of the amenities. My mother-in-law stayed here while visiting recently and we enjoyed spending time at her cabin."
"The cabins were perfect, with lots of places to hike all around the area."
"Thomas Mitchell park is located outside of Altoona Iowa on 197 acres. There are electric and non electric sites available."
"Came in late, even though there were several empty spaces turns out they were reserved. Very nice camp host told us we could have a non-electric site, none of them were reserved."
"We were lucky and got a spot right along the lake. This park is peaceful (only slight downfall is the trains you can hear a bit-not too loud though)."
"Plenty of camping spaces, some right next to the lake. Swimming area, concession stand, boat rentals, and even a skating rink on the weekends. My favorite childhood camping spot."
from $20 / night
LegendVery nice state park campground. There are cabins as well as campsites. The park is adjacent to Pine Lake and water based recreation is available including swimming beach and boating. The campground is off a paved road and is near to town. There is a walking path to the boat launch from the campground. Biking/hiking trails are on property.
TravelerOnly stayed one night but very convenient location and registration.
Legend9-14-26 Timberline East RV Campground, I do not think this is a KOA anymore. Tent site T1 & 2 was level and on grass with table and fire ring. checked in at 7pm, overcast, Molly was great at the check in, offered a 10% Veteran discount. $34 for the night. We only stayed one night. Showers and bathrooms were decent. T-Mobile was 5G 4 bars. Rained all night, you can hear the noise from the highway but you drown it out.
TravelerMy wife and I are Camp host in this campground? It is a river Ravine campground lots and lots of trees. Fishing campground itself has electricity only but you can fill your campers up the water by the pump very nice and relaxing place to be.
ScoutGreat little spot with lots of hiking trails. Bathrooms are clean and guests are quiet. Don’t miss grave from 1869 at top of hill on trail. Beautiful place. Wish I lived closer.
RangerThis is a sweet well-maintained campground just south of Mitchellville, Iowa off of 80. Not many sites and only a handful were occupied mid week in July. There is a little stream running along the edge of the campground. There is one bathroom building with 6 separate rooms - each with a toilet, sink and shower with warm water. Plenty of drinking water at centralized locations. There is shade at most sites when you first enter the campground and in the loop. Along the edges (inc the stream) shade is more variable. The only issue we had was a bright light that was on all night near the end of the loop. We were in site 5 and had to move our truck so it didn’t shine in all night.
GuideLevel sites and very quiet. Great hiking location and photo opportunities.
RangerThere’s not a lot going on in the vicinity of this state park, which is on the smaller side, and you will hear some cows, but all in all the campground exceeded my expectations for the two nights I stayed. This was partially because my site, 65, offered ample room away from the neighboring sites and backed up to a small green area with the road further back (minimal noise, aside from the random loud dirt bike). It also had a good mix of shade and sun if you’re hoping for a bit of solar charging, though no shore power or water. The site was long and mostly level with just the smallest tilt, but not enough to be a bother even without leveling blocks. The dumpster is nearby, but it’s a tiny one and was well maintained (aka not smelly). The brand new shower house was within easy walking distance as well. I had enough service (Verizon) to send texts and watch a bit of YouTube (buffering times were a smidge slow), but you likely wouldn’t have a strong enough signal for much more.
ScoutGreat spot in the woods. Lots of trails. They have a bison and elk sanctuary. Also a nature center. A playground. They have several RV spots. Most are pre book but they have a section for first come first serve. Also lots of tent camping. A few group camping areas. Showers are ok. I believe the non shower house bathrooms are all vault toilets. Overall a great place to stay!
Cabin camping near Story City, Iowa provides overnight shelter within forested settings and lakeside environments. Located in the Des Moines Lobe landform region, the area features glacial deposits that created the rolling terrain and small lakes dotting the landscape. Winter temperatures often drop below freezing, making heated cabin accommodations particularly valuable from November through March.
Hiking through sandstone formations: Ledges State Park Campground offers unique geological features uncommon in central Iowa. "This is the best park in the state of Iowa, so much fun going thru the low water crossings!" reports Kent B. The park's trail system includes stone steps and varied terrain with distinct elevation changes.
Paddling on multiple waterways: Visitors can access both river and lake paddling opportunities. "Pine lake is not that far away either and offers many fun activities," notes Kerry M. about Tower Rock cabins. At Don Williams Park, "Great sites right on the lake. Trails, fishing and beautiful lake views," according to Ryan M.
Roller skating at historic rink: Spring Lake County Park maintains a unique amenity rarely found at campgrounds. "There is a roller rink and a concession stand. This is a very busy campground in the summer," explains Dave M. The skating rink operates seasonally from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
Cabin proximity to recreation: The cabin locations allow for easy access to multiple activities. At Pine Lake State Park Campground, one visitor shared, "My family and I rented one of the cabins here. They were nice cabins just off the bank of the river! The cabin comfortably fit 4 of us." Hiking trails begin right outside several cabin locations.
Modern amenities: Tower Rock cabins receive praise for their updated facilities. "The two cabins are fairly new and have all of the amenities," notes Kerry M. Similarly, at Little Wall Lake County Park, a visitor mentioned, "This little gem is a great place to stay. Small lake. Some sites are reserveable online and some are first come first serve."
Location variety: The terrain around Story City provides diverse settings from lakeside to woodland cabins. At Briggs Woods Park, "We stayed in the back. We had water/power but no sewer hookup. Only downside to this park is there are no garbage cans," reports Cari W. Cabin placement ranges from waterfront to secluded wooded sites.
Cell service limitations: Connectivity varies significantly between parks. At Dolliver Memorial State Park Campground, "Cell service cuts out as you drive down into the park, and does not resume until you come back up and out. There's no wifi, and I'm not sure how satellite service would fare down here," advises Jeannie D.
Reservation timing: Demand fluctuates seasonally with distinct peak periods. "Stayed Sun-Wed in May. Closest other campers were about a football field away," reports Cari W. about Briggs Woods Park. For weekend stays during summer, reservations need to be made well in advance.
Weather considerations: The open landscape can create challenging conditions. At Little Wall Lake County Park, Bill M. notes its "one downfall: a lack of wind break. We went when the wind was blowing in typical Iowa summer fashion." Winter cabin rentals should prepare for potentially difficult access during snow events.
Water access for children: Multiple parks offer shallow water areas appropriate for supervised play. "Kids were having a blast in the water," shares Shannon G. about Thomas Mitchell County Park. The park features "a creek that flows behind the sites with large stairs to get down to it."
Recreation rentals: Equipment availability varies by location and season. At Spring Lake County Park, "There is a playground and disc golf. There is a roller rink and a concession stand," reports Dave M. Some parks offer boat, kayak, and recreation equipment rentals during peak season.
Playground proximity: Several cabin locations include play structures within walking distance. "Great access to river a short drive away for fabulous river tubing and kayaking. The campground has nice bathroom facilities," notes Abby F. about Pine Lake State Park Campground.
Dump station access: Facilities for RV waste disposal vary between parks. At Thomas Mitchell County Park, campers should "avoid sites 18 and 19" as they are close to the "sewage lagoon by the RV dump spot," warns Thomas B. Several parks offer freshwater fill alongside dump stations.
Site leveling requirements: The terrain creates challenges for larger rigs. At Dolliver Memorial State Park Campground, "Sites can be a little squat in the middle loops, and no fhu," reports Jeannie D. Some cabin sites can accommodate RVs alongside for extended family camping.
Power hookup variations: Electrical service differs between locations. "There are sites with full hookups, H2O and Elec, or Elec only," explains Judy B. about Briggs Woods Park. Most cabin areas feature 50-amp service where electrical hookups are available for adjacent camping.
Frequently Asked Questions
What amenities are included in the Story City cabins?
Cabins in the Story City area typically offer a range of amenities. At Tower Rock, the two fairly new cabins are fully furnished with all essential amenities. Similarly, the Waterfront Cabin offers an off-grid experience with a porch overlooking a pond. Most cabins in the region provide basic furnishings, heating/cooling systems, and may include kitchenette facilities, while specific amenities vary by location.
How much does it cost to rent a cabin in Story City?
Cabin rental costs near Story City vary by location and amenities. County park cabins like those at Briggs Woods Park tend to be reasonably priced, making them affordable options for families. For more amenities, Newton KOA offers cabin rentals at higher price points but with more facilities. Generally, expect to pay between $50-150 per night depending on the cabin size, location, and included amenities. Weekday rates are typically lower than weekend rates, and many locations offer discounts for extended stays.
Are cabins available at Ledges State Park near Story City?
Ledges State Park Campground does not have cabins available for rent. The park offers camping with tent and RV sites, picnic areas, restrooms, and excellent trails, but no cabin accommodations. For cabin options near Story City, you'll need to look at alternative locations such as nearby county parks or private campgrounds.
Keep Exploring
