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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

Private sites

99% of recent Hipcampers say the sites felt private.

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.

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

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Natural features

Forest

River, stream, or creek

Field

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99%

80 ratings · 69 reviews

Magdalen P.recommends

May 28, 2024

Galaxy Glampsite

Can’t wait to go back!!

What an amazing time @bendriverfarms!! Stayed in the geo doam for 2 nights.. with dinner service, hot tubing, next morning a chicken class followed by kayaking near by. The final morning there Brunch served at the main house patio while we watched the horses run on the hill!! Amy and Dave are amazing!! We are already planning our next trip! FIVE star service while being disconnected from the world! ❤️

Graham G.recommends

May 26, 2024

Trappers Hideout (Primitive Site)

Brilliant site, great facilities and an amazing host!

Sarah T.recommends

May 26, 2024

RV Slip

We had a wonderful stay at Amy’s place. The farm was so peaceful and everything went very smoothly. We opted to do the brunch, which was fabulous. We would absolutely stay here again!

Luke S.recommends

May 22, 2024

Pasture Point (Primitive Site)

The actual camping spot was fine. The land was not flat but we had cots so was okay.

Bradley O.recommends

May 18, 2024

Trappers Hideout (Primitive Site)

Beautiful place, kind people

Very kind people with a nice secluded and spacious camp site. A lot of optional ammenities, but we didn’t take advantage of them as we stayed one night. Will definitely be back!!

Austin G.recommends

May 14, 2024

Trappers Hideout (Primitive Site)

UNICORN discovery

This slice of heaven was such a beautiful, peaceful campsite. I thought Field of Dreams and Katelyn Clark was the best thing in Iowa until we stayed at Bend River Farms. Although they have only been open a year, I believe this new discovery will be difficult to book because this secret site will explode with pleased guest with every stay. The family host, Amy, Dave, and Josh made a couple traveling from Martha’s Vineyard, MA feel at home. We have pined this campsite to our favorites and will certainly be returning every time we are in Iowa. From the saltwater jacuzzi under the stars to the convenient washer and dryer, this quaint farm checked off all our boxes and beyond our expectations. We also purchased fresh eggs and delicious honey from our host. Unbelievable!! So gooood! We give Bend River Farm 10/10…. A must experience stay!!

Location

Runnells, Polk, Iowa, United StatesTraditional, ancestral territory of Báxoje Máyaⁿ (Ioway), oθaakiiwaki‧hina‧ki (Sauk) & Meškwahki·aša·hina (Fox), Jíwere–Ñút’achi Máyaⁿ (Otoe-Missouria), 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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