Family-friendly vacation rentals in Iowa

This is the 3rd time we’ve stayed at Drake House Properties, and my husband and I love it every single time!! This place was no exception to the others we stayed at the beautiful exposed brick, beautifully decorated, awesome location right in downtown Dubuque! The hot tub is amazing and the coffee shop right downstairs is DELICIOUS. I’m sure we will be back to stay again soon at one of these properties! :) we love the wide variety of things to do in/ and around Dubuque and this place is the BEST place to stay! Thank you so much Jenn for letting us stay at your properties multiple times! :)

I recently had the pleasure of staying at this incredible Airbnb, and I can confidently say it exceeded all my expectations. From the moment I arrived, I was welcomed with warmth and hospitality that made me feel right at home. The property itself is immaculate – spotless, beautifully decorated, and equipped with everything you could possibly need for a comfortable stay. The attention to detail is remarkable, and it’s clear that the host has put a lot of thought into creating a space that is both stylish and functional. The location is perfect, offering a peaceful retreat while still being conveniently close to local attractions, dining, and shopping. Whether you’re looking to relax or explore, this Airbnb is the perfect base. Communication with the host was seamless and prompt, making the whole experience smooth and stress-free. They were attentive, responsive, and genuinely cared about ensuring my stay was perfect. I cannot recommend this Airbnb enough !!

We had stayed here a couple of years ago for our daughter's birthday. This year we were thrilled to see it was available again! the only thing we were disappointed about was the construction of the boathouse which we weren't aware of until we got there. Otherwise it was a great overnight stay and will always recommend others to stay here!

A very cozy cabin with absolutely stunning views! Everything was fresh and clean, and we felt right at home upon our first steps inside. Vickie provided us with all of the information we could need about our stay, plus all of the local attractions and things to do! We absolutely loved spending time on the HUGE upstairs patio overlooking the river, and in the upstairs common space that features a beautifully updated kitchen and loft ceilings that made everything feel extra spacious! The large windows provide all the natural light you could need for a morning cup of fresh coffee. The bedrooms were very comfortable and the downstairs living room was perfect for winding down and watching a movie, or playing a board game! The wood interior and log furniture was refreshing, and reinforced the cabin feel with all of the modern amenities one could possibly need, not to mention the large hot tub with gorgeous views! We loved every part of our stay, and hope to return!

This is my second stay at Stars Hollow, and each time it feels like exactly the getaway a tired mom and dad need! We love that it isn't far from our family, but also when you're here you can completely unplug and relax. The hot tub outside is an amazing addition to sit out and enjoy the sounds of the farm/woods as well as watch the stars come out! It's quiet, peaceful, and rejuvenating. It feels like Dan and Penny have put their heart and soul into the entire place, and we already look forward to our next stay. Thank you, Dan and Penny! We cannot wait to come back.

Very cute space for a getaway. Parking was easy and the location was great.

What a great place and great hosts! Nice of Don to share history of the place. One of the best stocked places we've stayed. Also very clean with plenty of bedding and towels! The barn located behind is wonderful--great pizza, great beers and plenty of room. Truly one of the best places we've stayed.

Great location and plenty of room for our family.

This place is a beautiful little getaway. Right up the road from the river, it is peaceful and quiet. Lots of fun architecture to see in town and the river walk is lovely. Our dogs were welcomed which made the trip 10x more enjoyable. The house is cozy, warm and feels very much like home. Sue has an entry table in the home with suggestions for local activities, eateries, shopping which was nice to refer to. Overall we were happy with the space. It was nice to know that Sue was in the house next door for questions, but she very much provided privacy unlike some places I’ve stayed. I highly recommend!

Your place was so Retro!! We loved it !! Needs a fire pit and more outside backyard chairs. We really enjoyed the town and loved the view of the Mississippi River. The park across the street was amazing!!! We had the other guests from the other unit walk into our unit 2 times while we were there.

Lisa's home is beautiful! Spectacular views! We met friends for an overnight stay. Lisa's place had everything we needed, we spent 90 percent of our time outdoors enjoying the peaceful atmosphere. We will definitely return for our annual get together. Thank you Lisa for an incredible experience!

Always an amazing annual stay. We keep talking about coming more often, and our kids especially keep asking to visit more. It feels like a second home. So peaceful and comfortable. Thank you as always, Dave and Tammy!

I wanted to be immersed in nature and Liz’s cabin was just the ticket! Quiet, peaceful, and beautiful scenery with an amazing backstory for the rustic cabin! I loved our short 3 day stay without cell service and tv, perusing great Liz’s book collection, enjoying the trails on her property and listening to the birds early in the morning! ❤️Liz and her husband were very welcoming and genuine. The toilet and shower were not a problem—in fact we were very impressed with their functionality! These two city folk rate this trip 9.5 and expect to come back again next spring! Thank you for an absolutely perfect stay.

We absolutely LOVE staying at the Buckman's guest house! We have had several family events and Paula is the best host! Her place is very spacious, clean and has lots of things to do! I would highly recommend staying here if you get the chance!

My friend and I went for a few days as a birthday get away and thoroughly enjoyed our time. From waking up each morning to the beautiful surroundings and absolute quiet, to going on hikes and exploring decorah. The schoolhouse was such a calm and special place. I can’t wait to go back!

Linda was wonderful to communicate with, she and her husband were very kind to our son who has special needs. We appreciated that Linda took time to be with us so we could spend time with one of her well mannered horses. We love the country setting and will be returning soon.

Lance was very helpful when we realized a few things were missing when we arrived. We had a wonderful weekend and it was a great amount of space for our group!

We enjoyed our time on Lake Okoboji and at Arnold’s Park! We’d definitely come back again.

The house was just as described very clean and close to lost of local things. Host responded very quickly to any questions or requests we had. Would highly recommend.

Great place to stay. Walkable distance to Bridges Bay resort. The home was near a pool and in a cute neighborhood. Stayed there with 14 people total and we were all comfortable! Great place to stay!

This is a great space for a family vacation. It’s the perfect location being close to Arnold’s park and the lake as well as having access to the pools and water park. The rooms are spacious and it’s nice to have a small outdoor patio on vacation!

This was a perfect place for my kids and I. Close to everything and a beautiful home. We will be back!

This place was fantastic! Brenda was an amazing host and very helpful with anything needed. Definitely recommend.

Had a fun time! Place was very accommodating! Will be back!