The Campground Lazy River in Iowa Where You’ll Find Us All Summer Long

When the sun is high in the Hawkeye State sky, there's nothing like floating down a lazy river. Unlike some other summer activities, there's no work involved—you just let the water take you where it wants. Of course, these gentle rivers are also ideal for more involved activities like kayaking, but they tend to be much more peaceful and relaxing than other, harder-to-handle bodies of water. We looked long and hard for the best lazy river in Iowa, and we think we found it in the state's Driftless Area—at a laid-back RV campground near Cresco in the northeast of Iowa. Chimney Rock Campground offers primitive camping, RV camping, electric hookups, and even fully-furnished cabins. It makes a perfect home base for summer fun in this part of the state—especially since it sits along one of the most peaceful sections of the Upper Iowa River, which, in turn, is one of the most beautiful rivers in the entire United States. Read on to discover why this summer water adventure could be just the ticket for your next vacation.

Tucked between Bluffton and Kendallville on a curve in the Upper Iowa, Chimney Rock Campground is the kind of laid-back place you go when you really want to escape from modern life. The camping options are myriad, but we're partial to the impressive cabins—they're perfect for a family getaway and come equipped with electricity.

One of the main draws of this campground is its beaches, which are sandy little havens on the banks of the Upper Iowa River. The river is laid-back and relaxing in this stretch, and at its normal flow, it is perfect for splashing and wading. On warm days, you'll usually see groups of people slowly making their way down the river on canoes, kayaks, or tubes. I would argue this is also one of the most scenic stretches of this already stunning river.

The river's flow is usually gentle enough that a trip down it can make an excellent afternoon activity for a family. On a sunny day, you can really just drift and let the water take you where it will. In fact, you might find that the day just slips by, and be rewarded with a beautiful moonlit float to cap off your stay here.

Have you stayed at Chimney Rock Campground and visited this beautiful lazy river in Iowa? You can book your own stay on the Chimney Rock Campground's Hipcamp Listing, and make sure to check out the Facebook page of this rural Iowa campground for more beautiful photos of the river and more. The campground is only half an hour or so away from the charming town of Decorah, where you can cool off with a cool treat from the beloved Whippy Dip. It's a perfect summer treat after a couple of days on the river.