Iowa’s campgrounds are trading simple tent pads for Wi-Fi-equipped cabins, golf courses and lakefront decks, reflecting a national pivot toward comfort-in-the-woods stays that blur the line between lodging and the great outdoors.
An industry report released last fall found searches for luxury RV parks rose 18 percent in 2024 even as overall searches for campgrounds fell 12 percent, underscoring travelers’ growing appetite for upscale amenities.
The same analysis said Midwest interest was even stronger, with luxury-park searches jumping 64 percent across the region.
“Our research highlights a pivotal shift in the RV industry. While the overall search volume has decreased, the demand for luxury and long-term RV parks is growing steadily. This trend signals a clear opportunity for campground owners to rethink and enhance their amenity offerings to attract contemporary RV travelers,” said Scott Bahr, president of Cairn Consulting Group, in the statement accompanying the same study.
For owners eyeing upgrades, early returns hinge on smart phasing and pricing: launch a phased capital plan; layer in tiered and dynamic pricing; set weekend and holiday minimum-stay rules; track revenue per available day rather than traditional RevPAR; sell premium experience add-ons such as guided hikes or chef dinners; and target payback within two to three peak seasons.
Iowa county systems have moved quickly. Hickory Hills Park in La Porte City now rents several modern cabins amid 723 acres of sand-volleyball courts, trails and fishing holes, according to the Travel Iowa list.
West of Ames, Don Williams Recreation Area in Ogden pairs luxury cabins and updated bathhouses with a nine-hole golf course and a 150-acre lake, while Briggs Woods Park in Webster City offers three cabins outfitted with Wi-Fi, cable, full kitchens and sleeping lofts alongside an 18-hole golf course and kayak rentals, the same list shows.
More options include Pioneer Ridge Nature Area in Ottumwa, where two modern cabins sit near miles of trails; Fontana Park in Hazleton, which runs solar-powered off-grid cabins beside a sustainability center; and Cordova Park in Otley, whose seven year-round cabins overlook Lake Red Rock and a 106-foot observation tower.
The state is investing, too. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources will begin overhauling Gull Point State Park this spring, repaving roads, adding full-hookup campsites, building a new flush restroom and widening sites for today’s larger rigs, according to DNR plans.
Private operators can mirror—and outpace—public upgrades with a future-ready checklist: reliable mesh Wi-Fi across tree-dense sites; mobile check-in and keypad entry for contact-free arrivals; at least one Level-2 EV charger per 20 pads; smart utilities such as LED path lights on timers and low-flow fixtures; modular, waste-light construction for new units; and cross-trained staff who handle both tech troubleshooting and sustainability messaging.
Separately, Vintage Campground, slated to open in central Iowa this fall, will rent tiny restored trailers and cabins, plus tent and RV sites, and feature a community room with an industrial kitchen, craft space, vegetable garden and farm animals, according to the developer’s site.
Niche stays are popping up as well. Walking Stick Adventures in Williamsburg hosts private tipi camping with cookware and a grill, while John 15 Vineyard in Scranton offers a treehouse site with a spacious tent, picnic tables and a firepit, both listed among Iowa’s unique stays.
Iowa’s rapid embrace of glamping positions the state as a bellwether for outdoor hospitality in the Midwest, signaling that operators who weave modern comfort into natural settings stand to capture the next wave of campground guests.