Dreaming of relaxing in a cabin in Iowa? Looking to rent one of the coolest cabin rentals in Iowa with gorgeous waterfront views? Experience the best that America’s Midwest has to offer from one of these Iowa cabin rentals on VRBO and Airbnb.
From beautiful riverside retreats to rentals within a short distance from the city, these are the coolest cabin rentals in Iowa. Expect to find fun on-site perks like water views, hot tubs, and access to nearby outdoor recreation.
Top Rental Cabins in Iowa: The Best IA Rentals in 2021
Here are the best cabins in Iowa by category, considering factors including amenities, trip types, and budgets. The subsequent sections will cover each listing in more detail.
Most Luxurious Rental: 6-Bedroom Retreat with 26 Acres & Private Lake
Coziest Iowa Getaway: Minimalist Mini-Cabin on the Mighty Mississippi
Favorite for Families: Lake Okoboji Log Cabin with Fun Amenities
Best Value Cabin: Family-Friendly Rental Near the Famous Madison County
Best Spot for Shopaholics: River-View Cabin Near Dubuque
Most Relaxing Escape Spot: Secluded Serenity Valley Log Cabin
Most Unique Iowa Cabin: Sioux River Rental with 17-Foot-High Fireplace
Top Spot for Fishing: Budget-Friendly Getaway Near Trout-Filled Creek
Best Accommodation for Large Groups: Clear Creek Cabin with Room for 18
Most Scenic Setting in Iowa: Custom-Build Cabin with Outside Deck
Top Rental for Animal Watching: A-Frame Cottage Near Wildlife Preserve
Best Dinner Party Spot: Log Cabin with Galley Kitchen & Open Dining Area
Comfiest Home Away From Home: Lovely Rural Cabin Near Fort Atkinson
13 Great Vacation Rentals in Iowa: Unforgettable Nature Retreats
Iowa is home to some of the most unique places in the US. If spacious and picture-perfect log cabins nestled along the Mississippi River sound good to you, you just hit the jackpot! Below are some of the best and most relaxing getaways in IA:
1. Scenic, Peaceful & Spacious Northeast Iowa Cabin Rental
Location: Decorah, Iowa
Rates from: $275 per night
Accommodates: 8 guests
Enjoy the scenic setting of this beautiful cabin for rent in Iowa, which features an open and spacious layout for up to eight guests. The custom-built log cabin has central air conditioning and heating so it’s comfortable year-round and has been adorned with a majestic Eagle theme.
The cabin’s biggest highlight is the outdoor deck, where you can enjoy the gorgeous nature views and sounds of crystal clear stream while kicking back on a rocking chair. Tucked away in the woods, it’s an ideal spot for a hiking adventure, fishing, or playing in South Bear Creek.
2. Iowa Cabin Rental Nestled in Valley with Great Mississippi River View
Location: Sherrill, Iowa
Rates from: $240 per night
Accommodates: 9 guests
Get away from it all at this popular Iowa cabin rental, which has three bedrooms for up to nine guests. The unique beachfront getaway is a year-round retreat, offering a cozy setting in fall and winter and a beach house feel in warmer months.
Enjoy the view from the outdoor deck, which is particularly beautiful at sunrise, then retreat to the cozy chairs around the cabin’s fire pit after a long day of sightseeing. Only 20 minutes away is the town of Dubuque, a popular shopping destination.
3. Iowa Cabin Rental in the City with A Country View
Location: Indianola, Iowa
Rates from: $134 per night
Accommodates: 7 guests
This three-bedroom getaway offers a family-friendly space to enjoy the best of Iowa cabin rentals, offering enough space for seven guests to fit comfortably. While it has an amazing location in the city, it still retains a country feel with quiet nature views.
You’re only 1/2 mile from the highway but will have complete privacy while enjoying on-site perks like a full kitchen with a Keurig coffee maker, Smart TV, and Wi-Fi. It also features a large outdoor deck and fire ring, while those looking to explore the area can visit nearby Bridges of Madison County and several wineries.
4. Serenity Valley: Secluded Escape in Beautiful Log Cabin in Iowa
Location: Winneshiek County, Iowa
Rates from: $333 per night
Accommodates: 9 guests
Offering 2,300 square feet of living space, this beautiful Iowa cabin rental is located in a beautiful valley surrounded by oaks, ponds, and a creek. The three-bedroom retreat is a great space for family getaways, featuring an outdoor patio, BBQ grill, and fire pit.
You’ll have plenty of outdoor recreation to choose from here, from catch and release fishing to scenic walking trails and water fun with kayaks, a paddleboard, and inflatables all included with your stay. In addition to a three-acre pond, there’s a small beach and dock.
5. Edgewood Lodge Cabin in Iowa with Hot Tub
Location: Winneshiek County, Iowa
Rates from: $223 per night
Accommodates: 14 guests
Nestled in the beautiful rolling hills this four-bedroom Northeast Iowa cabin rental is a tranquil retreat. You’ll find a brand new outdoor hot tub available year-round, as well as a galley kitchen and open eating area with tons of natural light.
The great room features vaulted ceilings, while a rec room has a pool table and wood-burning stove for hanging out. Outdoor entertaining is made easy with the covered porch and fire pit, while it’s also within driving distance from Waukon, Harpers Ferry, and Praire du Chien.
6. Cabin in Iowa with Private Lake & 23 Acres, South of Des Moines
Location: Norwalk, Iowa
Rates from: $699 per night
Accommodates: 16 guests
Perfect for larger groups, this six-bedroom Iowa cabin rental sits on 23 acres of secluded property. You’ll even have access to your own private lake at this spacious retreat, while both kids and kids at heart will love the full outdoor basketball court, kayaks, ping pong tables, billiards table, air hockey, and foosball.
In addition to its spacious interior, you’ll find plenty of room for everyone to enjoy the view from the large outdoor balcony or waterfront picnic tables. For bike enthusiasts, the cabin is located right on the famous 17-mile Great Western bike trail, while it’s also just 15 miles south of Des Moines.
7. Relax Amidst Nature in Clear Creek Cabin for Rent in Iowa
Location: New Albin, Iowa
Rates from: $352 per night
Accommodates: 18 guests
Set in the scenic Driftless Area, this five-bedroom Northern Iowa cabin rental offers access to a spring-fed, one-acre pond. You’ll find 70 feet of white sand beach to enjoy, or you can hike 100 yards to the 3.2 miles of Clear Creek trout stream, while hiking is available at the 800 acres of public land nearby.
Inside, the year-round cabin getaway features both heat and air conditioning, a full kitchen, and a cozy living room with an L-shaped couch and 55” Smart TV. You can also whip up a meal on the charcoal grill located on the outdoor patio.
8. Large Log Cabin in Iowa Across From East Lake Okoboji
Location: Spirit Lake, Iowa
Rates from: $383 per night
Accommodates: 14 guests
A favorite with families, this four-bedroom Iowa cabin for rent features three stories of open living spaces. Across the road from East Lake Okoboji, it has a walk-out lower level with a family room and large screen TV as well as a separate room with a pool table and foosball for friendly family competition.
Other perks include a dining area and a well-stocked kitchen, as well as two decks that are ideal for outdoor dining. It’s also 1/2 mile from the public boat ramp and bike trails and less than a mile from kid-friendly splash pads.
9. Iowa Cabin Rental on the Big Sioux River
Location: Larchwood, Iowa
Rates from: $365 per night
Accommodates: 10 guests
One of the most popular Iowa cabin rentals, this Big Sioux River retreat sits on 100 acres of wooded landscapes. With five bedrooms you’ll have enough space to accommodate up to 10 guests, with its spacious interior boasting 25-foot ceilings and a large 17-foot-high fireplace in the great room.
Enjoy the incredible nature views from the huge deck off the great room, or unwind with a soak in the hot tub out back after a long day of hiking. You can even see the lights of Sioux Falls in the distance only 12 miles away.
10. Cozy Iowa Cabin Rental on Secluded Acreage, Outside of Fort Atkinson
Location: Fort Atkinson, Iowa
Rates from: $165 per night
Accommodates: 8 guests
Set on a little gravel road in a lovely rural setting just outside of Fort Atkinson, this hand-crafted log cabin for rent in Iowa is a quiet oasis. Its open floor plan includes a spacious living room with vaulted ceilings, log beams, and a floor-to-ceiling fireplace, while its well-equipped kitchen with locally roasted coffee will make you feel right at home.
When you’re ready to explore, Decorah is just 18 miles from the cabin and was recently listed as one of the best small towns to visit in America. Other activities nearby include biking, hiking, fishing, and snowmobiling.
11. Tiny Iowa Cabin Rental with Big River View
Location: Bellevue, Iowa
Rates from: $250 per night
Accommodates: 4 guests
A cabin designed for two, this minimalist tiny cabin rental in Iowa is perfect for nature lovers. Offering a prime location right along the mighty Mississippi River, the one-bedroom space is located in Bellevue, Idaho. You’ll find all the comforts of home in the cozy space, including air conditioning and heat as well as a kitchen, bathroom, living room, and sleeping loft.
There’s also a pull-out sofa in the living room to accommodate two extra guests, while outside is a private picnic area and incredible river views. From here, you can fish from the property or rent a kayak or pontoon.
12. Views End Cabin for Rent in Iowa with Hot Tub
Location: Lansing, Iowa
Rates from: $199 per night
Accommodates: 14 guests
Located near Lansing, this five-bedroom family-friendly Iowa cabin rental is the perfect place to unwind and retreat. The A-frame log cabin boasts an open floor plan with vaulted ceilings and a beautiful fully-furnished kitchen, while the outdoor hot tub is available year-round.
There’s also a jetted tub in the master bedroom and a finished lower level with a walk-out patio and extra sleeping spaces. The property borders 2,500 acres of wildlife management preserve, which means you’ll have plenty of opportunities for hiking and wildlife watching, with deer, turkey, and songbirds regularly spotted.
13. Trout Cove Cabin for Rent in Iowa – Fish, Hike & Relax
Location: Decorah, Iowa
Rates from: $135 per night
Accommodates: 7 guests
A budget-friendly cabin rental in Iowa for up to seven guests, this updated property on Canoe Creek offers trout fishing right outside. In addition to central heating and cooling, it boasts a comfy living room with a leather, pull-out couch, washer/dryer, and fully stocked kitchen.
Enjoy the beautiful valley views from the enclosed three-season porch or stream your favorite flicks with the included Wi-Fi and Roku stick. Outside, the cabin features a covered deck with a gas grill and Canoe Creek Valley views.
