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Bend River Farms

99%

· Runnells, Polk, Iowa

50 acres hosted by Amy B.

1 lodging site · 2 RV/tent sites · 1 RV site · 1 tent site

Big rig-friendly

Spacious, level camping well-suited for travel trailers over 40 ft long.

Amy is a Star Host

Star Hosts are highly rated, responsive, and committed to providing incredible experiences.

Private sites

98% of recent Hipcampers say the sites felt private.

Bend River Farms is just a short drive from Interstate 80. The farm is nestled in the gently rolling hills of central Iowa. Camp Creek flows through the property and continues on towards the mighty Des Moines river. Native prairie restoration, regenerative agriculture and sustainable ranching are the focus of owners, Amy Buckendahl and Dave Breese. Bend River Farms is a place to enjoy wild spaces and recharge. Bend River Farms was a former junk yard that has now been transformed into a cottage core dream. Cool woodland meadows provide a comforting back drop to your tent site or glamping experience. Private showers, complimentary firewood, a jungle gym, a communal outdoor dinning area and a saltwater hot tub await your arrival! Please understand that our property is a working farm, and our staff are often busy working on projects. We are not anything like a state park campground or "all inclusive" resort. Instead, we offer your wandering heart a place to rest. Our farm is located just 13 miles off I-80. All travel to the farm is on paved roads, with no confusing dirt roads to navigate. The property is located near the small community of Runnells, Iowa in rural Camp Township. Enjoy a cold beer or hot food at one of the two local taverns, or check out the local ice cream shop or our Tuesday night farmer's market during the summer. Don't worry if you forget something! We have a nearby gas station and a general store. We have farm fresh honey and eggs available for purchase, check the EXTRAS option during checkout! Amy, our own resident biologist, will give you an opportunity to learn about livestock husbandry and the local wildlife. The farms orchard boasts several wild bird feeding stations, with edible landscaping! A stay on our farm will provide you with an opportunity to learn about Land Management in an agricultural setting. Or learn about carpentry and welding from a master fabricator. Come learn about gardening, poultry care, horsemanship, beekeeping and even falconry! These are also available in the EXTRAS options during checkout. Fancy a fireside meal or homestyle dinner? Dave is a trained chef and loves to cook for our guests. Select a meal during checkout. Off-site, but nearby opportunities: miles of scenic hiking and biking trails, kayaking and fishing. The Iowa State Fair Grounds and Adventureland Waterpark is only 20 minutes away, along with big city fine dining, music and art museums are all less than a thirty miles drive; when you need a break from camping and nature. Fee based transportation is available for guests flying in or needing a break from driving, or whenever you need a quick trip into town. Our philosophy: "Here at Bend River Farms we are passionate about regenerative agriculture. We strive to push ourselves and our partners to think of the future and the longevity of our agricultural practices. " Regenerative Agriculture is an agricultural philosophy that both acknowledges the degenerative impact of poor land stewardship, and the positive use of agricultural practices that foster restoration and productivity." Local conditions determine which practices are most appropriate. A regeneratively managed food system should improve the long-term health and function of the agricultural system and the communities that depend upon them, physically, culturally, spiritually, and economically. Regeneratively managed businesses protect and improve the natural function of our water, nutrient, and carbon cycles by taking steps to increase biodiversity in the agricultural system, works to minimize reliance on external inputs, and avoid the use of synthetic chemicals whenever possible.”

Activities

Biking

Boating

Natural features

Forest

River, stream, or creek

Field

Wetlands

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99%

64 ratings · 53 reviews

Neva G.recommends

April 16, 2024

Trappers Hideout (Primitive Site)

Perfect hipcamp

Perfect hipcamp private with extra luxury (hot tub) . Great hosts always extremely responsive to any questions or needs.

Nicole L.recommends

April 14, 2024

RV Slip

Dave and Amy are amazing! They were very welcoming, helpful, communicative and generous.Amenities offered are clean and thoughtful and we felt very safe at Bend River Farms. Dave helped us set up our RV hookups when we arrived and showed us where everything was.Amy taught us about her chickens, bees, horses and my daughter enjoyed feeding the chickens and giving their friendly horses carrots! Dave and Amy gave us a tour of their gorgeous farm and then sent us off with fresh eggs. We truly enjoyed our short stay in passing through IA and are blessed to have met our hosts.We’d definitely return.

Jayme M.recommends

April 7, 2024

Trappers Hideout (Primitive Site)

Had a great time tent camping. Private site enclosed by woods. Chairs, fire pit, wood, and picnic table were provided. Easy check in. Recommend adding on the fire side meal! Great hosts :)

Tabitha T.recommends

April 2, 2024

Trappers Hideout (Primitive Site)

My favourite campsite in Iowa! I usually book for 4 nights and Amy and Dave are just the best and most thoughtful :)

Chanin W.recommends

March 11, 2024

Pasture Point (Primitive Site)

Very relaxing!! The site was clean, fire pit was nice and large with a bench. It was a little too shady for my liking I would have preferred to have some more sunlight, as it made it very cool. Amy was pleasant to meet upon arrival and lead the way to the site. She had complementary firewood bought to us shortly after we got settled, all in all a very pleasant stay.

Joel B.recommends

March 2, 2024

RV Slip

A++: Hipcamp meets Bed & Breakfast

I had yet another wonderful experience staying at Bend River Farms. This time, I was able to enjoy a home cooked meal, a full tour of the acreage and various camp sites throughout the property, and learned tons about one of Amy and Dave's many passions: Falconry. This hipcamp property and it's hosts are truly special. The warmth and passion Amy and Dave share for hosting, sharing, and bettering their community is very evident in their actions and demeanor. I am grateful to have stayed here for the second time, and look forward to my next trip out!

Location

Runnells, Polk, Iowa, United StatesTraditional, ancestral territory of Báxoje Máyaⁿ (Ioway), oθaakiiwaki‧hina‧ki (Sauk) & Meškwahki·aša·hina (Fox), and Očhéthi Šakówiŋ First Nations according to To respect the Host's privacy, the precise address of this land will be provided after booking

Hosted by Amy B.Joined in June 2023

Response rate: 100%

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