Characterized by rolling farmland and fertile fields, Iowa state may seem like an unexpected destination for outdoor adventures. But this Midwestern state is also home to gentle hills, dramatic ridges, and craggy bluffs, a result of the network of winding rivers, streams, and placid lakes that crisscross the state.
With 63 state parks and recreational areas, ample hiking trails, bike trails, dense forests, and glacial lakes, you’ll be surprised by Iowa’s abundance of opportunities for outdoor recreation. Kayak to sea caves and explore the Upper Iowa River, the state’s most widely-recognized river that begins in southeastern Minnesota and eventually flows into the Mississippi River. Explore the pine-forested hills of the Driftless Area in northeastern Iowa, head to the south for its gentle plains, or hike along the dramatic ridgelines of the Loess Hills in the west.
[For more Midwest vacation rentals, check out our top picks for Ohio cabin rentals & Indiana escapes, and Wisconsin glamping destinations.]
Iowa is a place to go to experience the outdoors relatively uncrowded. And if you’d rather do that with a side of luxury, we’ve rounded up seven of the best cabin rentals across the state.