Children at daycare

Best Child Daycare & Preschools in Spirit Lake, IA

Compare 3 child daycare & preschools in Spirit Lake. Average rating: 4.83/5 stars. See top 10 ranked daycares, compare by type, and find the right childcare for your family.

Spirit Lake, Iowa at a glance

Programs
3
Avg rating
4.83/5
Parent reviews
22
Top rated (4.5+)
3

Spirit Lake has 3 licensed child daycare & preschools with 22 parent reviews averaging 4.83/5.Start with our top-10 ranked list below or filter by philosophy.

Top 10 Best Rated Daycares in Spirit Lake

Ranked using a weighted score that combines Google rating with the number of parent reviews — daycares with more reviews rank higher than those with a high rating but few reviews. Last updated: March 2026.

  1. 1
    Carousel Preschool And Daycare
    4.4 score
    4.5(20)

    904 15th St, Spirit Lake, IA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 53 children

    Carousel Preschool and Daycare in Spirit Lake receives consistently positive reviews with all ratings at 5/5. Parents praise the caring, family-oriented staff led by Darcy, the nature-based curriculum with emphasis on outdoor play, and the long-term relationships families develop with the facility across multiple generations.

    Caring and nurturing staff who treat children like their ownstrong communication and responsivenesshands-on learning activitiesextensive outdoor and nature-based play

Rating Distribution

Based on 3 daycares with Google ratings in Spirit Lake

4.5 - 5.0
3
4.0 - 4.4
0
3.0 - 3.9
0
Below 3
0

Daycare Types Compared

Average ratings by facility type in Spirit Lake, based on parent reviews

Child Daycare & Preschools

4.75avg rating
3 daycares · 2 rated

Church Daycare

5avg rating
1 daycares · 1 rated

Facility Sizes

Capacity distribution of daycares in Spirit Lake (53–112 children)

Small

up to 30 children

0

Medium

31–75 children

3

Large

76–150 children

1

Very Large

150+ children

0

Top Rated

Highest rated daycares in Spirit Lake based on parent reviews

Carousel Preschool And Daycare

4.5(20)

904 15th St, Spirit Lake, IA

Carousel Preschool and Daycare in Spirit Lake receives consistently positive reviews with all ratings at 5/5. Parents praise the caring, family-oriented staff led by Darcy, the nature-based curriculum with emphasis on outdoor play, and the long-term relationships families develop with the facility across multiple generations.

Caring and nurturing staff who treat children like their ownstrong communication and responsivenesshands-on learning activities

Little Hands Childcare & Preschool INC-Spirit Lake

5

713 22nd St, Spirit Lake, IA

Map

Daycare types in Spirit Lake

Child Daycare & Preschools 3Church Daycare 1

Browse by type in Spirit Lake

🎨 Preschools 3

Child Daycare & Preschools in Spirit Lake, Iowa

There are 3 child daycare & preschools in Spirit Lake, Iowa, making up 75% of the 4 total childcare facilities in the city. Below you'll find a complete directory to help you compare and choose the right daycare for your child.

Based on Google reviews, daycares in Spirit Lake have an average rating of 4.83 out of 5 across 3 rated facilities, with 100% scoring 4.5 stars or higher. Church Daycare facilities lead with an average of 5 stars. Our analysis covers 22 parent reviews.

When choosing a daycare in Spirit Lake, consider visiting facilities in person, checking their licensing status, and asking about staff-to-child ratios, daily routines, and safety policies.

All Child Daycare & Preschools in Spirit Lake

Showing 3 results

Little Hands Childcare & Preschool INC-Spirit Lake
Child Daycare & Preschools
5
Address
713 22nd St, Spirit Lake, IA
Phone
(712) 336-1368
Carousel Preschool And Daycare
Child Daycare & Preschools
4.5

Carousel Preschool and Daycare in Spirit Lake receives consistently positive reviews with all ratings at 5/5. Parents praise the caring, family-oriented staff led by Darcy, the nature-based curriculum with emphasis on outdoor play, and the long-term relationships families develop with the facility across multiple generations.

Caring and nurturing staff who treat children like their ownstrong communication and responsivenesshands-on learning activities
Address
904 15th St, Spirit Lake, IA
Phone
(712) 336-1324
Spirit Lake Y Kids
Child Daycare & Preschools
Address
2901 Hill Ave, Spirit Lake, IA
Phone
(712) 330-0212

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Frequently asked questions

There are 3 child daycare & preschools daycares in Spirit Lake, Iowa, out of 4 total childcare facilities in the city. Browse our directory to compare options and find the right fit for your child.
Based on parent reviews, daycares in Spirit Lake have an average Google rating of 4.83 out of 5 across 3 rated facilities. About 100% of rated daycares score 4.5 stars or higher.
When choosing a daycare in Spirit Lake, consider visiting facilities in person and checking:
  • Licensing status with Iowa's regulatory agency
  • Staff-to-child ratios (requirements vary by age group in Iowa)
  • Safety measures and cleanliness
  • Daily routines and educational curriculum
  • Parent reviews and ratings
  • Location and hours that fit your schedule
Spirit Lake offers several types of childcare facilities:
  • Child Daycare & Preschools — 3 facilities
  • Church Daycare — 1 facilities
Each type serves different needs — center-based facilities typically offer structured programs, while head start programs are federally funded for low-income families.
Daycare costs in Iowa typically range from $200 to $400 per week for full-time care, depending on the child's age, facility type, and location within the state. Infant care tends to be more expensive due to lower staff-to-child ratio requirements. Contact individual facilities in Spirit Lake for current pricing.
Yes, daycare centers in Spirit Lake must be licensed by Iowa's childcare licensing agency. Licensed facilities are required to meet standards for safety, health, staff qualifications, and staff-to-child ratios. You can verify a facility's license status through your state's licensing database.