Coolest Cabin Rentals in Iowa: Cozy Cottages, Log Cabins, + More

Jon Miksis Jon Miksis clock Updated February 14, 2023 tourism Dream Destinations
by Jon Miksis
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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.

Coolest Cabin Rentals in Iowa
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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 SpotSecluded 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

Two-story Iowa log cabin for rent with spacious balcony
This 2-story Iowa cabin for rent is an impressive sight in the Midwest sunshine. | Credit: VRBO
Interior of cabin for rent in Iowa, with open layout
This log cabin is custom-built for rustic comfort. | Credit: VRBO

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

Exterior of Iowa rental cabin with fire pit
A fire pit provides a great opportunity to spend quality time with loved ones. | Credit: VRBO
A comfy living room set-up with flat screen TV and stone fireplace
Curl up on the couch at this Iowa cabin for rent and warm yourself by the fire. | Credit: VRBO

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

An Iowa rental cabin surrounded by trees and scenic landscapes
Enjoy the best of both worlds with this Iowa rental cabin in the city with a country view. | Credit: VRBO
A stylish living room with comfortable furnishings
This quaint, cozy Iowa getaway is the perfect place to put your feet up. | Credit: VRBO

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

Front view of a large log cabin in Iowa
This large Iowa cabin rental has room enough for 9 guests. | Credit: VRBO
Iowa log cabin living room with comfortable couches
There’s plenty of space inside this vacation home for everyone to enjoy themselves. | Credit: VRBO

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

Iowa vacation home for rent, surrounded by forest land
Find tranquility and leisure at this Iowa vacation home for rent. | Credit: VRBO
Interior of Iowa cabin rental with enough space for 14 guests
This roomy rental boasts vaulted ceilings and tasteful cottage decor. | Credit: VRBO

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

A secluded Iowa cabin rental overlooking the lake
If you treasure your privacy, this Iowa rental cabin’s 23 acres provide it in spades. | Credit: VRBO
Spacious Iowa cabin rental living room with pool table and second-floor balcony
The interior of this getaway is equally big, and chock-full of amenities. | Credit: VRBO

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

A quaint Iowa rental cottage with well-tended garden
This cozy Iowa rental cottage is bursting with storybook charm. | Credit: VRBO
Iowa cabin rental living room with 55-inch Smart TV
Explore the nearby creek or bundle up on the sofa to relax; this cabin has it all. | Credit: VRBO

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

Large Iowa rental cabin with manicured lawn
Enjoy the scenic view from this Iowa rental cabin’s extra-tall windows or outside deck. | Credit: VRBO
Iowa vacation home kitchen with oven, fridge, microwave, and more
Make yourself a meal in this Iowa vacation home’s fully stocked kitchen. | Credit: VRBO

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

Iowa cabin for rent perched on the mountainside
This is one Iowa cabin for rent where the view of it is almost as nice as the view from it. | Credit: VRBO
the roomy Iowa rental cabin's living area with lush decor and a kitchenette
With its leather couches and hanging chandeliers, Iowa rental cabins don’t come more luxurious than this. | Credit: VRBO

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

Exterior of secluded Iowa cottage flanked by lush foliage
This hand-crafted Iowa cottage is a tranquil oasis of peace and quiet. | Credit: VRBO
A leisurely living room with stone fireplace and leather couches in this cabin for rent in Iowa
The comfy living room is a perfect place to watch the snow fall during winter. | Credit: VRBO

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 tiny cabin for rent in Iowa with private picnic area outside
This minimalist cabin for rent in Iowa proves big things come in small packages. | Credit: VRBO
A compact kitchen and bathroom with bedroom loft above in this Iowa vacation rental
It may be small, but this unique Iowa vacation rental has everything you need. | Credit: VRBO

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

an Iowa vacation rental on the edge of beautifully preserved land
This Iowa vacation rental borders a wildlife preserve, making it a great spot for animal lovers. | Credit: VRBO
A roomy and rustic interior of an Iowa cabin rental
The fully furnished interior of the Iowa cabin rental doesn’t skimp on style or amenities. | Credit: VRBO

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

Interior of Iowa cabin with leather couch and cozy dining area
Enjoy a relaxing getaway in this quaint, cozy Iowa cottage. | Credit: VRBO
An affordable Iowa cabin for rent near Canoe Creek
At this Iowa rental cabin, you can fish for trout in the nearby creek. | Credit: VRBO

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. 

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