
Vacation rentals in Clear Lake
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Top-rated vacation rentals in Clear Lake
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The Clausen House-Historic home close to the lake!
The Clausen House was built in 1890 and is a majestic place to stay. It has been updated with 3 renovated bathrooms, kitchen & laundry room. It has ten foot ceilings on the main floor with beautiful original finished woodwork. The house has been in the Clausen family since it was built. We purchased the home to have guests enjoy it. It is great loc for families to get together and have lots of room to relax and enjoy themselves. Guests with mobility challenges can sleep on the main floor.

Charming 3 bedroom lake home - on site parking
Looking for a lake getaway with all the amenities of home? Our 3 bedroom nicely renovated home offers a great location for a relaxing retreat any time of the year! Comfortably sleeps 6 in beds - 2 on pullout couch. 1st bedroom is on the main level with king bed, closet and full bath. Also on the main level you have a 1/2 bath with washer/dryer. Second level has 2 queen bedrooms with a 3/4 bath. Small fenced in backyard.**May accept 1 behaved dog on a case-by-case basis** Contact host b4 booking

Charming Cottage on North Shore GREAT LOCATION
BEST LOCATION Cute house 2 blocks from city park and downtown, 1/2 block to lake, walking distance to the Surf and restaurants. Fully furnished, with living room, dining room, enclosed front porch, and full kitchen. Sheets, towels, dishes, pots and pans are provided. Multiple parking spots available. Weber grill, fire pit, washer and dryer, antenna TV and internet. 2 Kayaks Location is everything, walking distance to most places.Fun times await you! REQUEST TO BOOK TO OWNER BEFORE RESERVING!

Water View, 4 blks to Public Beach & downtown!
Cozy apartment 1 block from a public lake access. Large front covered deck with welcoming view of the lake. 2 bedrooms, one with queen pillow top bed. The second a double and a single bed. Modern bathroom. Large living with comfy seating. Cozy kitchen for meal prep, fully equipped with a full array of dishes, pot and pans. Just shop a couple blocks away for your own needs. Basic staple items also on hand. Internet available for your work and pleasure web browsing. Local channels not available.

The Wren House: Close to Lake
The Wren House is within walking distance of local lakeside attractions such as PM Park; the Tiki Bar; and the Ritz beach, shelter house and boat ramp (lake access that's much less crowded than city and state beach). Its only a 3 minute drive to Clear Lake State Park's trails, beach and picnic areas and less than 10 minutes to get downtown to spend time at the seawall, city beach, restaurants, bars and shopping. The cottage is quaint but very comfortable and stocked with all the trip essentials

Moose Haus Lodge
This barn refinished into a rustic cabin will give you the feeling that you are in the middle of the woods while having the convenience of being in town. Located just minutes from downtown Clear Lake, the historic Surf Ballroom, and City Beach, this is the perfect get-away spot! A large upper loft makes this a great option for families with kids or a peaceful adult retreat. Pets are family... so we are pet friendly, but do add a $25 dollar pet fee (per pet) for the duration of your stay.

Family-Friendly Home 1 Block from Downtown
💫Welcome! Spacious 3 bed 2.5 house with 9 beds. Located 1 block from downtown! Walking distance to the lake and city park. Short walk to ice cream, restaurants, Central Garden, the pool, or beach- or rent a golf cart 1 block away! 💫This is a 1930's home fully renovated to meet your needs for a comfortable and inviting stay. There is a large kitchen, breakfast bar seating, open living/dining & a great back patio with game room! 💫3 bedrooms upstairs and daybed and pull out on main level.

Cornerstone Cabin with lakeview
Two bedroom cabin located across the street from the Lake along the South Shore. There is a view of the lake from the deck and inside. A public dock is located across from the cabin. All towels and bedding are provided. Outdoor deck furniture and gas grill. One bedroom has a queen and the second has a bunk bed with a twin over full, also had a twin bed with pull out trundle in this room. There is a sleeping loft with two twin mattreses also. Cabin was completely renovated in 2016.

Papa's Place By The Lake - CL
If the lake life is calling you, our Clear Lake home is the spot! Sometimes life is just better at the lake; Papa's Place by the Lake is the perfect spot to indulge in the lake life, outdoor play, bonfires, boutique shopping, and historic landmarks. Clear Lake is not only known for its beautiful lake but its attractions, the famous Surf Ballroom, and up-town. Your vacation is our full-time job, and we would love to help you follow your calling and enjoy life at the lake.

Lake It Easy•Walk to the Beach!
Relax and unwind at this cozy ranch home steps away from the lake in Clear Lake—just minutes from State beach, boat ramp, park, restaurants and golf course! Walk or bike to all the local favorites—then unwind at home with space to relax and recharge. Perfect for families or small groups with a full kitchen, Wi-Fi, laundry and sauna in the lower level, and a peaceful deck with a glimpse of the lake! Large driveway to accommodate boat trailer + vehicle(s).

South Shore Retreat
We just put in TWO BRAND NEW MEMORY FOAM MATTRESSES as of 6/29/25!! Enjoy a cozy lakeside getaway in this charming two-bedroom, one-bathroom cottage in Clear Lake’s Outlet Area! Fully furnished and just one block from the lake, two blocks from The Landing and the public boat ramp, it offers modern amenities, an updated kitchen, and comfortable living spaces. With a detached garage and side parking, convenience meets relaxation. Book your stay today!

Baker's Corner
Baker's Corner is a historic farm 2 miles from downtown Clear Lake and the beach. The acreage sits amidst Iowa farmland but is only minutes from the tourist attractions of Clear Lake and the amenities of Mason City. This quiet, cozy, country home is good for couples, solo adventurers, and business travelers. We'll welcome you with a loaf of homemade bread and seasonal jam.
Popular amenities for Clear Lake vacation rentals
Clear Lake waterfront vacation rentals

Incredible, peaceful lake views & Cute House!

Cheerful 3 Bedroom Get-A-Way on the Lake

Lakeview Cottage with boat launch access in front.

Spacious Lakefront Retreat|Sleeps 16+|Private Dock

Lakehouse Villa on Clear Lake in Northern Iowa

Lakeside Inn - Clear Lake - Standard King

The Pavillion at Walking Eagle Marsh

Lake Front Retreat
Clear Lake fishing vacation rentals

One Bedroom Lake Retreat

Condo with Private Balcony and Harborage View!

BRICKHOUSE COTTAGE -2 blocks from beach & downtown

Cheer Up in Clear Lake! - Tiny Cabin / Hammock

Completely remodeled home close to the lake!

Elly's Downtown Lakeview Loft

2 bedroom home with private dock by the lake

Lake Views at Gables
Lake side house rentals in Clear Lake

Rock The Boat at Clear Lake

Lambert Lakeside Cottage

Clear Lake Retreat - near beach, parks + downtown!

Clear Lake Escape

⭐️Central Area! City 🏖 & 🏄 Ballroom 2-3 block walk!

Charming & Spacious South Shore Retreat

The Lakeview! View & Location!

Spacious Home - 2 Blocks from Surf
Quick stats about vacation rentals in Clear Lake
Total rentals
150 properties
Nightly prices starting at
ﺩ.ﺇ184 before taxes and fees
Total number of reviews
6.3K reviews
Family-friendly rentals
120 properties are a good fit for families
Pet-friendly rentals
30 properties allow pets
Rentals with dedicated workspaces
70 properties have a dedicated workspace
Your guide to Clear Lake
All About Clear Lake
Nestled midway between the twin cities of Des Moines and Minneapolis, this small town in Northern Iowa is situated on a natural spring-fed lake, attracting visitors to its restaurants, shops, marina, two state parks, and history. Clear Lake became famous in the 1950s when a legendary rock and roll singer who used to play at the concert hall in Clear Lake died in a tragic plane crash nearby. Fans still come from around the world to pay tribute, especially on the anniversary of the crash, when the Surf holds a Winter Dance Party in honor of the late artist.
Clear Lake State Park offers a range of outdoor activities on one of Iowa’s most popular lakes. Its natural spring-fed 3,000-acre lake is a draw for boating, fishing, swimming, and windsurfing. The park also features 50 acres of open spaces for hiking, towering mature oak trees, abundant wildlife, and a 900-foot sandy beach area, which is popular with families.
The best time to stay in a vacation rental in Clear Lake
The best time to visit your Clear Lake, Iowa, rental is between mid-June and early September. Summers in Clear Lake are pleasant, with temperatures in the 70s and 80s Fahrenheit. The weekly event Thursdays on Main features live entertainment, classic cars, children’s rides, a street market, and outdoor movies. The winters tend to be cold, snowy, and windy, with average temperatures in the 30s. The main events in the winter are the Christmas by the Lake festival in December and Color the Wind, a kite festival in February. Springtime in Clear Lake is on the cool side, but there are a number of events to get involved in. There are Earth Day five and six-mile running races and a community clean up in April, as well as the Clear Lake Triathlon in May. In the fall, the Harvest Festival in October includes a farmers’ market, homemade salsa contest, grape stomp competition, wine samplings, food trucks, and live music.
Top things to do in Clear Lake
The Surf Ballroom
This concert hall, where music greats once played, is now a National Historic Landmark. Opened in 1934 and designed to resemble an ocean beach club, it has been restored to include palm trees, ocean murals, wooden booths painted with fish and bubbles, and walls covered with stenciled pineapples. Big-band orchestras play on Sundays and classic rock acts perform throughout the week.
Central Gardens of North Iowa
Nestled in the heart of Clear Lake, Central Gardens of North Iowa offers nearly three acres of over 20 themed gardens. There are more than 22,000 flowers, a butterfly garden, wildflower garden, children’s garden, wetland, meadow, and woodland gardens to explore. Free to the public, the Gardens host free concerts, events, and educational programs each year.
Stockman House
Located about a 20-minute drive from Clear Lake, the Stockman House is an excellent example of the work of a prominent mid-century architect. Built in 1908, the house was an iteration of the famous Fireproof House in a compact Foursquare design with an entrance foyer and a sun porch on opposite sides. The house has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1991 and is open to the public.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there vacation rentals with a dedicated workspace in Clear Lake?
Yes! Work meets play with ease at over 70 vacation rentals in Clear Lake featuring dedicated workspaces. Stay connected and productive in your home away from home.
Are there pet-friendly vacation rentals in Clear Lake?
Four-legged friends are welcome in Clear Lake. Choose from more than 30 vacation rentals for guests traveling with pets.
Do house rentals in Clear Lake have air conditioning?
Absolutely! We offer over 90 house rentals with air conditioning in Clear Lake. Enjoy a tailored experience with all the comforts you desire.
Do apartment rentals in Clear Lake have free parking?
Absolutely! We offer over 10 apartment rentals with free parking in Clear Lake. Enjoy a tailored experience with all the comforts you desire.
How much does it cost to stay in house rentals in Clear Lake?
Experience the best of Clear Lake with our house rentals, starting at about $90 per day, before taxes and fees. Embrace comfort and style while staying within your budget in your home away from home.
Do house rentals in Clear Lake have a kitchen?
Absolutely! We offer over 90 house rentals with a kitchen in Clear Lake. Enjoy a tailored experience with all the comforts you desire.
Are there family-friendly cottage rentals in Clear Lake?
Clear Lake has more than 20 family-friendly cottage rentals. Amenities on the property may include high chairs, travel cribs, or strollers.
Do apartment rentals in Clear Lake have wifi?
Absolutely! We offer over 10 apartment rentals with wifi in Clear Lake. Enjoy a tailored experience with all the comforts you desire.
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