Best Hipcamps in Iowa
Named one of the best Hipcamps to visit in 2025.
Family-friendly
Recent Hipcampers say this Hipcamp is great for families and kids.
Stephanie is a Star Host
Star Hosts are highly rated, responsive, and committed to providing incredible experiences.
All to yourself
100% of recent Hipcampers say this Hipcamp felt private.
Select a site
Filter by
RV/tent sites
1 site
Rainbow Raccoon Ranch
99%
(52)Campfires allowed
Potable water
from
for NaN guests$15
/ nightReviews
99% Recommend66 ratings · 57 reviews
Recommends
· October 2025
Tent ·
Rainbow Raccoon Ranch
Experienced camper or newbie, this is a great spot! Very quiet. River just a few feet away for water-based activities (fishing, kayaking, etc.) and some floofy cows that for the most part were quiet at night. Hosts were available and helpful, but left you to your devices. Town of Lake City is nearby for quick supply run and a Casey's pizza. Public camping spot also just down the road. Highlight of the trip was farm dog Fergus who dropped by to check on us in the morning and keep the critters away.
D
Dan C.
2 years on Hipcamp
Stephanie was a very kind and welcoming host! The camping spot was very serene and peaceful. We were able to relax and soak up all the beautiful sights. We highly recommend Rainbow Raccoon Ranch!!
B
Brandy M.
2 reviews
This spot is the quietest I’ve experienced yet. The sound of the river is very faint and the cows are quite as well 🙂. The host is very hospitable. Their livestock watchdog and a few donkeys to add to the livestock protection make for a wonderful experience.
D
Dale B.
3 reviews
Recommends
· September 2025
Tent · With kids ·
Rainbow Raccoon Ranch
I tried out my new RTT and annex and there was plenty of places to set up. Great firewood and fire pit. It was far enough away from the farm to have privacy. I packed in water, toilet, electricity and didn’t need to rely on the site. We had family and small children visit and it was great for that as well.
M
Michael B.
4 months on Hipcamp
Beautiful and peaceful surroundings! Super easy river access and right next to rainbow bend park - the hosts and their dog fergus were great :)
R
Robyn B.
2 reviews
Recommends
· July 2025
Tent · With kids ·
Rainbow Raccoon Ranch
Fantastic spot to camp. The hosts were incredibly accommodating and polite.
B
Benjamin C.
6 months on Hipcamp
Recommends
· July 2025
Tent · With kids ·
Rainbow Raccoon Ranch
Another great weekend spent here!
Site is gorgeous!
A
Alison W.
4 reviews
Recommends
· June 2025
Tent · With kids ·
Rainbow Raccoon Ranch
What a beautiful place!! Really appreciated the (very) last minute reply! Very helpful hosts!
Everything was perfect!! Can't wait to come back!
A
Alison W.
4 reviews
Tent camping on Rainbow Ranch was a phenomenal experience! Our hosts were friendly, but not overly so, directions were clear and the property was GORGEOUS. Overlooking the Rainbow Bend of the North Raccoon River we saw otters and freshwater clams and zero litter. The campsite was the best kind: no neighbors! We came during a cold front so the fishing could have been better, but we managed to coax the resident smallmouth into some decent action just yards from our site. Would recommend. Oh, and there are resident Scottish Highland cattle that we got to hand-feed in a lush pasture and the resident min-donkey and mini-mule visited us for petting. That alone was worth the trip. Snoots were booped. Thanks Rainbow Ranch!
T
Tom T.
7 months on Hipcamp
We had a great time at this beautiful and peaceful campsite! I loved the cows, the river, and the time spent with friends. I’d highly recommend this spot to anyone who wants a truly private getaway.
N
Nathan R.
3 reviews
We LOVED this place! Every hipcamp needs a Fergus (the most adorable and friendly dog on the planet!). This place is super private and gives you the peace you need when this is what you're searching for :) Stephanie was an incredible host! We drove nearly 2 hours to get there and it was worth it. We'll definitely be back 😀
T
Tabitha T.
14 reviews
Recommends
· April 2025
Tent ·
Rainbow Raccoon Ranch
Peaceful and solo camping spot right by the river. Lots of available wood to make a fire and Stephanie was responsive and flexible with my last minute booking. I even saw bald eagles in the morning! Their dog is so sweet too. Thanks, Stephanie!
T
Tasha S.
9 reviews
Recommends
· March 2025
Tent ·
Rainbow Raccoon Ranch
Great host, great dog, nice and quiet. Would definitely come back.
M
Michael M.
10 months on Hipcamp
Wow what a peaceful rural setting. Perfect for getting away and spending time with our kids just relaxing. Such a friendly welcome. There are many shady trees and a huge lawn - more than enough space to be comfortable. We enjoyed walking up and down the river looking for clams. This will definitely be on our list of places to return to.
F
Francis C.
1 year on Hipcamp
Recommends
· September 2024
Tent · With kids ·
Rainbow Raccoon Ranch
This was such a great place to camp. The owners are lovely and the scenery was beautiful. It was really fun interacting with the highland cows which made my daughter day! Once we left our little toddler was chanting “let’s go!!!” Over and over again while saying moo! Safe to say we all had a great time there.
T
Tiffany S.
1 year on Hipcamp
Recommends
· September 2024
Tent ·
Rainbow Raccoon Ranch
Second time here, it’s quiet and peaceful out there. And I felt very safe!
Melissa V.
2 reviews
We had the best time. Beautiful place, secluded and private. Stephanie and her husband were wonderful hosts. We will definitely go again.
Stacey L.
2 reviews
Recommends
· September 2024
Tent · With kids ·
Rainbow Raccoon Ranch
Love camping there, great host and Definitely recommend it.
Shar D.
3 reviews
Recommends
· August 2024
Tent ·
Rainbow Raccoon Ranch
Great place! It's private, amazing plot of land, and amazing view of the river. Also if u like fishing, took us less then a minute to catch a catfish!!!! Stephanie is an amazing host!. The pup was amazing company as well
C
Clayton R.
1 year on Hipcamp
Great sight. Highly recommend. Stephanie and her husband were great hosts. Beautiful farm. Easy to find. The sight is in a great spot. There are two great hammock options. I slept near the cottonwood. I could hear a juvenile hawk in the cottonwood. There are lots of cows around and a decent amount of farm noise. This is not a negative, I grew up around my uncles farm so it brought back lots of good memories. I had great breeze off river that made the nights great and kept the bugs away. I was just passing through so there are some amenities I wish I could've taken advantage of: river, walking, hanging out with the cows. Will stay again!
With Tmobile, reception was decent. You'll be able to stream music, text, call, but limited internet connection.
S
Shawn B.
5 reviews
Recommends
· July 2024
Tent ·
Rainbow Raccoon Ranch
We loved Stephanie’s property so much! Visiting and feeding the highland cows and hanging out with their dog Fergus were highlights. 10/10 would stay again!
N
Noa K.
3 reviews
Recommends
· July 2024
Tent ·
Rainbow Raccoon Ranch
We couldn't have asked for a better spot on the river. So many birds. It was great.
Samuel T.
6 reviews
We had the best weekend camping on the raccoon river. The campsite was beautiful. The close proximity and views of the river were breathtaking. The cows were so cute and fun to see. Fergus the guard dog was such a wonderful addition to our time there. Our hosts were friendly, kind, funny, and just enjoyable to be around. We felt right and home and can’t wait to go back.
C
Christina R.
1 year on Hipcamp
Mixed feelings
· July 2024
Tent · With kids ·
Rainbow Raccoon Ranch
Beautiful serene view . Nice friendly dog showed us to our spot. Would have stayed longer but had to keep moving on. One of the top ten spots to camp in Iowa.
R
Renato A.
2 reviews
Recommends
· June 2024
Tent ·
Rainbow Raccoon Ranch
Great places and great host. Love the cows, would definitely come back in the future.
Shar D.
3 reviews
Recommends
· June 2024
Tent · With kids ·
Rainbow Raccoon Ranch
Located amidst serene countryside, Stephanie’s place offers a tranquil retreat away from the hustle and bustle. The highlight here is the opportunity to feed cattles, adding an authentic farm experience to your stay. The peaceful ambiance, coupled with the gentle presence of grazing cows, creates a soothing and memorable camping experience. Ideal for those seeking relaxation in nature with a touch of rural charm.
S
Santi C.
2 reviews
Friendly host and pleasant stay. We were able to set up our tents, have a campfire, and play music without worry of disturbing anyone nearby. My kids loved making friends with the hosts dog, highland cows and donkeys.
Dustin B.
1 year on Hipcamp
We had a fabulous stay here, and plan to go back! Stephanie and Johnathan were so helpful and kind, the property was stunning, and my kids had a blast with the highland cows and the sweet livestock guardian dog who occasionally said hi 😄 this was the best family campout we’ve been on in a long time and we highly recommend it!
Hannah S.
1 year on Hipcamp
Such a wonderful and perfect site!!! Very private with a beautiful view. Nice to hear the sound of the river from the tent. Beautiful sunsets too! Stephanie was a great host!!!
Kris G.
12 reviews
Thank you to Stephanie for sharing your little slice of heaven. Our site was peaceful! The sound of the river at night was relaxing as well as a perfect view of some amazing Sunsets Stephanie is pretty cool! Very Passionate about her land and animals. We made a few new friends- Fergus! amazing friendly pup! we enjoyed his visits. Pearl, Mabel, boaz and Ernie as well as the others made the trip special. We will definitely be back!!
M
Mark S.
3 years on Hipcamp
Location
Lake City, Calhoun, Iowa, United StatesTo respect the Host's privacy, the precise address of this land will be provided after booking
Hosted by Stephanie W.
Joined in April 2021Response rate: 100%
Things to do nearby
Similar campgrounds nearby
Campers also viewed...
Popular searches in Iowa
- Lake City
Hipcamp is created with ❤️ and hope for our future.