Large Group Stays

Iowa's group stays are camps and retreat centers: several on the Iowa Great Lakes near Okoboji, plus Crooked Creek near Washington, Ewalu near Strawberry Point and Camp Hantesa near Boone.

In Iowa the list covers 6 retreat centers and camps. The most are in Spirit Lake (2), Boone (1) and Milford (1). Capacities are what each operator publishes, not permitted occupancy, so confirm before you book.

See all 6 · Plan a group trip · Things to do · Questions

  • 6places
  • 30–160people, smallest to largest
  • 6sleep 30+
  • 5sleep 50+
  • 6venues
  • 0rental homes

Quick answer

As of November 10, 2026, Large Group Stays lists 6 places in Iowa that sleep 15 or more people, from 30 to 160 guests. 5 sleep 50 or more and 2 sleep 100 or more. The largest is Ewalu Camp & Retreat Center in Strawberry Point, IA, which sleeps 160, per its operator.

6 places in Iowa by stated capacity
Sleeps15–1920–2930–4950–99100+
Places00132
  1. Ewalu Camp & Retreat Center, Strawberry Point, IA: sleeps 160
  2. Retreat Lodge at Crooked Creek Christian Camp, Washington, IA: sleeps 102
  3. Bethel Retreat Center at Camp Okoboji, Milford, IA: sleeps 92

Capacity for 5 of 6 is the number on the operator's own page; 1 adds up buildings the operator lists; 2 give only the largest building. Last updated . How we check capacity.

The largest places in Iowa

By the capacity each operator states. Not ranked by quality and not paid placement.

Where the group stays are

Towns with the most places

  • Spirit Lake (2)
  • Boone (1)
  • Milford (1)
  • Strawberry Point (1)
  • Washington (1)

Also listed: Driftless Region, Southeast Iowa, Iowa Great Lakes, Central Iowa.

All 6 places in Iowa

Filter by headcount, type, price or what's known.

Listing type
Est. $/person/night
Only where known

Amenity and bedroom filters hide places that don’t publish that detail. Price uses our estimate from published rates.

Representative photo of a timber-frame log lodge in winter, not this property.30largest building

Camp Hantesa

Boone, IA · Central Iowa

Largest building sleeps 30 · per operator

  • Venue
  • Retreat center or camp
  • Bunks
  • Several buildings

Representative photo

Map of group lodging in Iowa

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Pins mark the town, not the exact property.

Planning a group trip in Iowa

Run the numbers: group trip budget, bedrooms needed, rental cost split.

Trip types operators here welcome

From each operator's own description of who it hosts.

When to go

Lake country is busiest in summer. Winters are cold and snowy, so ask which buildings are heated and whether the place stays open year-round.

What operators here say about seasons:

Before you book

  • Ask how the stated count sleeps: beds, bunks, sofa beds or floor space. 1 place here publishes a bedroom count.
  • For reunions and retreats, ask about one room where everyone can eat or meet. 1 place here lists meeting space.
  • Check minimum stays, deposits and cancellation terms in writing.
  • Confirm parking or bus access for the size of your group.

Questions to ask · Planning timeline

Things to do in Iowa with a big group

Distances are straight-line from the closest place we list in Iowa, so the drive will be longer. Group pick means the business publishes a group rate, private booking or buyout. Group details come from each business's own page, checked Nov 9, 2026. Entries marked "group terms not checked" are nearby parks and attractions from Wikidata. Confirm prices and group sizes before you book.

Outdoors and on the water

Shows, parks and attractions

Groceries and supplies

  • Fareway Supermarket · Keokuk Avenue, Spirit Lake · under 1 mi from the closest listing
  • Hy-Vee Supermarket · 1500 18th Street, Spirit Lake · under 1 mi from the closest listing
  • Walmart Supercenter Supercenter · 2200 17th Street, Spirit Lake · about 1.1 mi from the closest listing
  • Fareway Supermarket · 175th Street, Spirit Lake · about 2.3 mi from the closest listing
  • Walmart Supercenter Supercenter · 1515 Southeast Marshall, Boone · about 2.9 mi from the closest listing
  • Fareway Supermarket · Five Mile Drive, Boone · about 3.0 mi from the closest listing
  • Sunshine Foods Supermarket · Okoboji Avenue, Milford · about 3.1 mi from the closest listing
  • Okoboji Avenue Liquor Store Liquor store · Okoboji Avenue, Milford · about 3.1 mi from the closest listing
  • Strawberry Foods Supermarket · West Mission Street, Strawberry Point · about 3.1 mi from the closest listing
  • Hy-Vee Supermarket · 528 State Highway 1, Washington · about 3.2 mi from the closest listing
  • La Morenita Tienda Y Taqueria Supermarket · 220 North Iowa Avenue, Washington · about 3.6 mi from the closest listing
  • Walmart Supercenter Supercenter · 2485 State Highway 92 · about 3.6 mi from the closest listing

Store locations from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Check hours before a big shop. For delivery, enter the rental's address in the store's app or Instacart to see if they deliver there.

Questions about group lodging in Iowa

What is the largest group lodging in Iowa on this list?

Ewalu Camp & Retreat Center in Strawberry Point, which its operator says has room for 160. Next is Retreat Lodge at Crooked Creek Christian Camp in Washington (102). Confirm the count with the operator before you book.

How many places in Iowa sleep 30, 50 or 100 people?

Of the 6 places listed in Iowa, 6 state room for 30 or more, 5 for 50 or more and 2 for 100 or more. The middle of the list is about 92 people.

What kinds of group stays are there in Iowa?

6 retreat centers and camps. 6 are venues such as camps, lodges or retreat centers, and 0 are rental homes.

Which towns in Iowa have the most places for big groups?

Spirit Lake (2), Boone (1), Milford (1), Strawberry Point (1).

Do any places in Iowa allow pets or have meeting space?

Where operators say so: 0 places say pets are allowed and 1 place lists meeting space. Many don't say either way, so ask.

Do you take bookings or payments?

No. You contact each place yourself and pay them directly. We never handle money, and nobody can pay to rank higher in the list.

Before you choose, read what "sleeps 30" really means and the questions to ask.

Group lodging near Iowa

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