Update in 2019: South Shore Inn is now called Lakeside Inn. The building has been renovated into boutique rooms. The information in this post may no longer adequately describe the hotel.

The longest stop of the Great Iowa Road Trip was Clear Lake, a charming beach town in northern Iowa.

There are several lodging options around Clear Lake, but very few have a lakeside view. We lucked out with South Shore Inn, though. You couldn’t get much closer than our room!

Our stay was hosted by Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce. Let me tell you about the place!

What to expect at South Shore Inn

I’ll be honest with you, when you pull up to the inn’s parking lot, you’re not going to be impressed. Don’t turn around. Go in, walk through your room, and check out the view. This is what you came for.

One of our neighbors walked by one morning and said to me “This is God’s country.”

All rooms face the lake, and you either have a walkout door to the patio or a balcony. It’s not exactly private on the ground level, as you share the view and area with The Landing Patio Bar & Grill, a popular restaurant, and your neighbors. I’m not complaining – I was smitten with the view.

We used the patio frequently, bringing the inn’s complimentary breakfast outside.

We let our son stay up late one night to watch the sunset.

And one quiet morning, I walked out with my son to just sit on the dock. It was one of those moments you wish for when planning a vacation but never actually plan on happening.

The inn has its own dock. Here’s a great timelapse video we took from that dock:

South Shore Inn amenities

The rooms come with the standard inn items: Flatscreen TV, desk, mini refrigerator, that sort of thing. But the big selling point (besides the view) was the huge whirl pool tub.

There’s also a complimentary breakfast each morning, featuring a favorite of my kids’, the waffle maker. There was also fresh fruit, which is a nice score when on vacation. You’re going to want to eat breakfast outdoors.

One downside to the inn is the parking lot. Inn guests share it with diners at The Landing. It’s not a problem during the day, but if you go out for dinner and return later in the evening, you might not find a spot. There’s overflow parking across the street, though, so you’re not totally out of luck.

I take it back, there’s a second downside, at least, if you ask a kid: There’s no pool. But there’s a gigantic lake and a couple beaches nearby, so if this is a complaint coming from your kid, point that out.

The owners also keep a fridge stocked with bottled water, which is super helpful when you’re on the go. There’s also coffee that’s always available in the lobby.

What’s near South Shore Inn

The Landing Patio Bar & Grill is on the premise. It was literally 10 steps from our bedroom. The waitstaff is friendly and the burgers are great. There’s also a kids menu.

There’s a playground across the street to tire your kids out.

But you’re there for the lake, right? You want a beach. There are three beaches around Clear Lake. The two closest are City Beach and the Clear Lake State Park beach. They’re not far away at all.

If you go

South Shore Inn

Where: 1603 South Shore Drive, Clear Lake, Iowa

Website

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Plan your own Great Iowa Road Trip!

Here’s an itinerary to plan your own Great Iowa Road Trip! To learn more about some of the destinations on this trip, check out these posts:

Rustic charm in suburban Iowa at Wildwood Lodge in Des Moines, Iowa

Adventure in a Yurt in Clear Lake, Iowa

Fun on the rails with Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad

Get even more inspiration from my bucket lists for Des Moines and Clear Lake!

This summer, my family will road trip through central Iowa, and one of the stops I’ve been looking forward to is Clear Lake. 

Here are a few things I’m looking forward to do (or will be saving for another trip):

My Clear Lake Bucket List

Beach time. If you know me at all, you know I love the outdoors and I love a good beach. Clear Lake has three beaches to try out: Clear Lake City Beach is near downtown, Clear Lake State Park has a 900-foot sandy beach on its 55 acres, and McIntosh Woods State Park has an unsupervised beach on a peninsula that juts into the lake. We’ll be in the area long enough to hopefully visit all three.

Fun on the beach in Clear Lake, Iowa. Photo courtesy Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce

Stay in a yurt. A yurt is a round tent – think, fancy camping. And Clear Lake’s McIntosh Woods has a couple you can stay in, right by the lake! When’s the last time you had a chance to stay in a yurt? 

A yurt at McKintosh Woods in Clear Lake, Iowa. Photo courtesy The Walking Tourists

Visit Surf Ballroom. Clear Lake is probably most known for this concert hall, known as the last concert hall played by Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson. They still have concerts there.

Inside the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake. Photo courtesy Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce

Visit the place where “the music died.” If you make the trek to Clear Lake simply for the Surf Ballroom, your next stop is likely the crash site trail head marker and crash site memorial. Those are about 5 miles north of the concert hall. The memorial is a ¼ mile walk into the field from the trail marker – a huge replica of Holly’s glasses.

The crash site memorial to Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper near Clear Lake, Iowa. Photo courtesy Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce

Eat good food. I love planning trips around local restaurants. Among the ones I’ve seen recommended are PM Park, known for a good breakfast according to Midwest Living; Barrel Drive-Inn, recommended by any as having the best broasted chicken; and dining with a view a The Landing (or maybe just a drink – doesn’t the photo for this post’s graphic make you want to head straight to The Landing?). On the blog Jeni Eats, I also read that Louie’s Custom Meats is a great family-owned butcher, and we might check it out if we grill out while there.

The crowd at PM Park at dusk in Clear Lake. Photo courtesy Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce

Fun on the water. I’d love to rent a boat one of the days we’re there, but if we don’t swing that, a ride on the paddle-wheeler Lady of the Lake will still be a novelty for our kids.

Lady of the Lake offers tours to visitors. Photo courtesy Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce

Celebrate America. We’re going to Clear Lake in time to enjoy the Fourth of July celebration they’re known for. I’m looking forward to experiencing how a small town on a lake celebrates.

This year, Clear Lake starts its annual multi-day Fourth of July celebration on June 30. Photo courtesy Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce

Your turn: What else do you recommend for me to try while we’re in Clear Lake?? Please share your tips in the comment section!