12 Best Cabin Rentals in Des Moines, IA, US 2024

United States
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Iowa
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Des Moines

99% (337 reviews)

Popular camping styles for Des Moines

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4 top cabins sites near Des Moines

96%

(465)

Come Enjoy the Beauty

61 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents30 acres · Earlham, IA

This property has a year round running creek called Bear Creek. They also mined the stone off the property for the State Capital in Des Moines, Iowa. Abundant wildlife and mature beautiful trees.

Sleep in an Iowa Barn @ TLC

2 sites · Lodging, Tents28 acres · Zearing, IA

Threshold Learning Center is 28 acres of prairie, creek, woods, and our barn dormitory. Threshold is first, an outdoor learning center for schools during the school year, and a summer camp offering several day camps, family camps, and trips. As a non-profit, however, we are constantly trying to find a way to offer our programs to everyone regardless of whether they are able to pay our fees while still making enough money to stay open. We started renting TLC to the public 5 years ago for weddings, reunions, or just families who are looking to connect to the world around them. Our motto is "No Child Left Inside" and we want every inner child to enjoy what we have at TLC. We have 7 bedrooms in our dormitory, 5 camp sites, a large camp fire ring, a mini-golf course, and we are always willing to lead your group in an educational experience or take you on a hayrack ride.

Rock N Ranch Events & Campground

13 sites · Lodging40 acres · Menlo, IA

Our retirement dream is to share our beautiful property with people who love the outdoors. We started with our rustic tent sites and slowly added cabins. We go from primitive to sites with heat and air conditioning. We are not far from the Interstate but sure seems like we are as you travel the 4.6 miles of gravel road to step back in time.

Cabin in the Woods

1 site · Lodging18 acres · Bondurant, IA

Cabin in the Woods is located on 18 wooded acres. Small stocked pond right outside your front door! Enjoy the wildlife and peacefulness of nature all around. Secluded area, yet 15 minutes to restaurants, shopping, Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino, Adventureland and more! The cabin is a small one room space, with a loft for extra storage or sleeping. There is electric, but no running water. Gallon of water will be available. There is an attached outhouse with toilet. Small fridge and microwave. TV with DVD player. Please note that the cabin does share a driveway with our house, so there may be cars that drive by. We do have animals on our property, so you may encounter dogs, cats, chickens and goats (all friendly)!

Nearby parks

Explore the area’s public lands.

Springbrook State Park

Lake Panorama, Iowa

Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field

Cabins near Des Moines guide

Overview

In central Iowa, Des Moines is a welcoming city situated in the heart of farm country. The city and surrounding area is filled with state parks offering access to open space and trail systems. Visitors should check local events calendars when in the city, as live music and large farmers markets create a mellow and fun atmosphere. A surprising number of trails are convenient to town for both hikers and mountain bikers, making it easy to stay active on your visit before heading out of town to see more natural beauty.

Where to go

Botanical Gardens

Des Moines hosts one of the more active botanical gardens you will ever encounter. The grounds are fantastic with open green spaces and gardens on display. They have plenty of public space and even have live music, yoga sessions and educational events for gardening. Located downtown, the 12-acre property is the perfect stop while visiting the city. It’s open all year and has a cafe to enjoy between stops at the various gardens.

Racoon River Trails

The city has numerous parks, trails and wildlife areas to enjoy. Many are situated around the Racoon River where wooded bottomlands and open space prevail. Walnut Woods State Park is a perfect stop with 260 acres to explore. It has campsites available and is on the edge of the city for easy access. The Great Western Trailhead, Denman’s Woods Trail, Bill Riley Trail and plenty more are located on or near the river for hiking and biking.

Saylorville Lake

The large reservoir of the Des Moines River is a recreational paradise with around a dozen campgrounds for both RV and tent campers. The lake has big beaches like Oak Grove Beach, numerous bays and a ton of water to enjoy. Take a summer swim, play volleyball on the beach, go fishing or bring a boat and go water skiing. With 26,000 acres and ample public access, Saylorville Lake offers something for every type of camper.

When to go

As with most of Iowa, the winters are long and cold. The parks in and around Des Moines are perfect for ice fishing, cross country skiing and snowshoeing. Most campgrounds will close during the winter however and campers should have a heat system and winter gear. Summer is the prime visiting season with June, July and August being ideal for water based activities. Temperatures are often comfortable but can become hot and humid at times. September is a quieter month and is an excellent time to enjoy cooling weather and changing colors. The city itself has great dining and indoor experiences to enjoy year-round.