2 campgrounds with availability this weekend
Cabins near Winterset City Park and Des Moines West KOA Holiday provide overnight accommodations with varying levels of amenities. Winterset City Park offers cabin rentals within a quiet park setting that includes full hookup utilities and clean facilities. Most cabin options include electricity, beds, and basic furnishings, while some provide heating and air conditioning for year-round comfort. The Des Moines West KOA Holiday features cabins with more extensive amenities, including indoor plumbing and kitchen facilities in select units. "Cabin was beautiful inside and out! Would stay again!" according to feedback on The Dyrt.
Options range from rustic cabins to more deluxe accommodations with modern amenities. Winterset City Park cabins operate seasonally from April 1 to November 15, while the Des Moines West KOA Holiday cabins are available from April 1 to October 31, with recent reviews noting they now remain "open year round" with heated bathrooms during winter months. Pet policies vary by location, with most allowing pets with certain restrictions. Timberline Campground, located approximately 20 miles from Winterset, offers additional cabin options including yurts. A visitor commented that KOA cabins "always help get you in and get out early without setting up camp."
Most cabins require guests to bring their own bedding, towels, and personal items. Kitchen facilities range from basic microwaves to more complete cooking setups depending on the cabin category. Firewood is available for purchase at Winterset City Park for $8 per bundle. Winterset City Park cabins provide convenient access to local attractions including the Bridges of Madison County and the John Wayne Museum. On-site camp stores at some locations like Des Moines West KOA Holiday stock essential items, though visitors planning extended stays should bring groceries and supplies. Bathroom facilities are generally well-maintained with one camper noting "bathrooms are a little scarce and wet, but very nice."
"Don't let the name fool you, for a city park and campground, Winterset City Park rocks. You probably didn't know that Winterset, Iowa is the birthplace of John Wayne."
"It has shade trees, grass, free showers and lots of room. It is part of a city park on the outskirts of Winterset."
from $15 - $22 / night
"Very nice campground with running water,electricity and wifi. It's opened year round."
"Not much privacy between sites nor shade. Bathhouses were clean and private. Laundry available. Off leash dog area available."
"Playground was next to us but it was fun watching the kids play. Full sun in the morning but afternoon was shaded by trees. Restrooms and shower was clean and close walking distance."
"We called ahead to see if they had sites available that night. Arrived just before the office closed at 7pm."
from $35 - $80 / night
"We looked at the other reviews and it talked about it being so close to the freeway, but we didn’t hear a sound. It was really in a good perimeter of trees and lots of shade and level camp spots."
"We didn't have a reservation but was able to get one of the last tent sites available. Nice spot, fire pits have nice swinging grates on them. There was a picnic table at our spot as well."
"Very nice place, close to the lake. Beach at walking distance through the trail. Fishing area, two kid playgrounds and at around 15 minutes to any grocery stores and gas stations."
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $12 - $80 / night
"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
"Cabins are very clean the bunks allowed for for four to sleep. Beautiful sunsets overlooking the lake. Fish cleaning station was also well taken care of. "
"Three Mile Lake is awesome. You can read my other review on main campground at Three Mile Lake. Both campgrounds are equal in cleanliness and in great views of the lake."
"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
"I have to say, of all of the campgrounds and parks that I have visited in southern Iowa near highway 34, Three Mile is the best. This park is clean with nice amenities and a beautiful lake."
from $15 - $20 / night
"They have indoor/outdoor pools mini golf, camp store, paddle boats, and other camp ground activities. I love cuttys and been thinking about buying a membership myself."
ScoutWe camp here lots during the summer. No issues to speak of. Although it would be nice if they didn’t dig their fire pits deep. Mine. Is below ground level by 6 inches or so. Can barely see the fire. Today it rained and now it’s 6pm and my pit is full of water. It’s done raining. Kind of hard to have a fire now.!!!!
ScoutGreat stop, perfect for kids - trampoline, jumping pillow, and a playground. Spots are close together (as with most KOAs) but easy off I-80 and a great pit stop for a night or two with family.
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.
TravelerQuiet and clean campground. Bike/walk trail surrounding the lake. Lots of amenities for fishing and sightseeing on the lake
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!
ScoutVery nice campground with running water,electricity and wifi. It's opened year round.
Cabin options near Winterset, Iowa offer lakeside and forested settings within 20-25 miles of town. Several parks maintain cabins that operate seasonally or year-round, with availability typically heaviest from April through October. Winter cabin rentals require advance planning as fewer locations remain open during colder months when temperatures can drop below freezing.
Water activities at Three Mile Lake: Three Mile Recreation Area offers lakeside cabins with easy water access. "The cabins are very clean the bunks allowed for four to sleep. Beautiful sunsets overlooking the lake," notes a visitor at South - Three Mile Co Rec Area.
Hiking near cabins: Ledges State Park provides cabin accommodations near sandstone formations with moderate hiking trails. "I did not camp here however I drove and took a day hike. The hiking trails are cool. I would say it was a challenging hike. A lot of up and down terrain, stone steps, etc," writes one visitor to Ledges State Park Campground.
Biking from your cabin: Green Valley State Park offers cabins near a multi-use trail system. "The bike/walking trail is amazing, will take you all around the lake and into town. Right past the hospital and into McKinley Park," explains a camper at Green Valley.
Clean facilities: Cabins at Timberline Campground consistently receive praise for cleanliness. "Marta and crew were so friendly and helpful! Clean bathrooms, beautiful property. Close to hwy but far enough away," reports a recent visitor.
Swimming pool access: Some cabin locations offer swimming options during warmer months. "This place is wonderful. The staff are all extremely friendly and accommodating. Facilities are all very clean and well taken care of. The pool is a great bonus!" notes a camper at Timberline Campground.
Quiet surroundings: Cabins at Winterset City Park provide peaceful settings. "I just loved this campground. It has shade trees, grass, free showers and lots of room. It is part of a city park on the outskirts of Winterset," describes a visitor.
Cabin amenities vary substantially: Different locations offer distinctly different cabin experiences. "Our spot was pretty level and well maintained," notes a visitor to Jester County Park.
Reservation requirements: Most cabin rentals require advance booking. "Very nice bathrooms, store, pool, etc as far as standard KOA amenities go. But very lacking on trees and very packed in," reports a camper at Des Moines West KOA Holiday.
Proximity to highways: Some cabins are located near traffic noise. "You could literally throw a rock from the entrance and hit a passing semi. Would be a possible extended stay for construction folks. Not for any peace and quiet camping," warns a visitor to Shady Brook Camping.
Weather considerations: Iowa experiences seasonal temperature variations. "We stayed here for a week while working in the area. Very nice place. Clean and well maintained," shares a summer visitor to Green Valley State Park.
Playground access: Jester County Park cabins provide easy access to play areas. "Jester Park is our go-to camping destination in central Iowa! By far, this county park has a lot of fun activities and access points to the Saylorville waterway circuit. In addition to the water access ways, there is a sweet pond to fish in, several hiking trails," explains a regular visitor.
Kid-friendly activities: Some cabin locations schedule regular programming. "Lots for kids to do! The pool was up and running perfect! They even had a dunk tank which was pretty funny!" notes a visitor to Des Moines West KOA Holiday.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Several cabin locations offer animal sighting opportunities. "Bison and bird viewing, and even cabins if you want to rent them (fully stocked, linens included!)," notes a Jester Park visitor.
Cabin advantages over RV setup: Cabins offer convenience for transitional stays. "We wish we could've stayed longer. Office is open until 7pm which was very helpful as we arrived a little later than expected," shares a visitor to Des Moines West KOA Holiday.
Timing for cabin reservations: Planning ahead is essential, especially for holiday weekends. "Very pretty and clean. We got in pretty late, staff was awesome even showed us to our spot. The park looked nice, only thing some spots looked really close together," notes a camper at Timberline Campground.
Winter cabin options: Limited facilities remain open during colder months. "Don't pay attention to the highway signs that says they're only open until October, they're working on updating them," advises a December visitor to Des Moines West KOA Holiday.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular cabin campsite near Winterset, IA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular cabin campground near Winterset, IA is Winterset City Park with a 4.8-star rating from 12 reviews.
What is the best site to find cabin camping near Winterset, IA?
TheDyrt.com has all 27 cabin camping locations near Winterset, IA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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