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Your favorite campsites in Iowa

dualthreat

dualthreat

Well-Known Member
Oct 8, 2008
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Planning some summer camp trips with friends and looking for some options.

Our favorite spots are off the beaten path but still offer fun things to do. We haven't been terribly impressed with state parks in the past. While they are usually the best-kept and offer the most for activities, they tend to be too crowded and/or over policed. We usually tent camp. Early 30s, groups of 4-12. Near water is a plus. Fishing, boating, floating, parks, you name it. Kids sometimes come with.

If you have had a great experience at an Iowa campground feel free to share! Bonus points for links to websites, locations/amenities/etc.
 
There's a roadside campsite off the Yellow (I think) river in NE that I've done before that was fun.
 
I know you said no state parks but our group of friends has gone up to Backbone near Strawberry Point for a weekend the last five or so years. It was only noticeably packed one time but we didn't mind. Lot of things to do up there and we always have a good time
 
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cyfanatic13 said:
I know you said no state parks but our group of friends has gone up to Backbone near Strawberry Point for a weekend the last five or so years. It was only noticeably packed one time but we didn't mind. Lot of things to do up there and we always have a good time
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Backbone is great but the actual right answer is Maquoketa Caves State Park with a side visit to Bluff Lake for food.
 
Die4Cy said:
Backbone is great but the actual right answer is Maquoketa Caves State Park with a side visit to Bluff Lake for food.
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Might have to check that out. It's become a little bit of tradition to go to Backbone and other than that I'm not much of a camper. Also Backbone is a nice quick hour drive for us as opposed to a 2.5 hour drive it looks like for Maquoketa
 
If you like to ride ATVs or dirt bikes, Gypsum City ATV park in Ft Dodge is fun. Ride for a while and come back to the camper for a cold beer and head back out. Only thing I didn’t like about it is the campground is new so no shade trees at all.
 
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We love howell station at Red Rock. Very kid friendly. Probably booked for the summer.
 
I go with some friends every May up to the Little Paint Campground in NE Iowa. This is in the Yellow River state forest close to Harpers Ferry. We enjoy trout fishing and turkey hunting there.
 
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Never camped there but the Albany Wildlife area north of Fayette has a basic campground.

Close to the Volga River which imo is underrated.

Probably better for padding in May/June.

I should check out the Yellow River some time. Sounds interesting.
 
Backbone, Maqouketa Caves, Lake MacBride, Honey Creek and Wildcat Den are a few of my favorites. I used to live in Eastern Iowa, so most of these parks are in that area, but IMO that part of Iowa is much diverse camping-wise. Wish I would have explored more of NE IA while living there, there are a lot of hidden gems up in that area as well.
 
Not Iowa, but touching it...

IDNR

Managing, conserving and protecting Illinois' natural, recreational and cultural resources, furthering the public's understanding and appreciation of those resources, and promoting the education, science and public safety of Illinois' natural resources for present and future generations.
www2.illinois.gov www2.illinois.gov

Spent many weekends there growing up. Tried to dam the creek there several times, never succeeded.

Also,
www.recreation.gov

Thomson Causeway, Mississippi River - Pools 11-22 - Recreation.gov

Explore Thomson Causeway in Mississippi River - Pools 11-22, Wisconsin with Recreation.gov. Thomson Causeway provides the unique experience of island camping on the great Mississippi River and it's well worth a try! The western edge of the recreatio
www.recreation.gov www.recreation.gov

Spent a lot of time here as well. Threw lots of rocks into the river learning to skip them. Showered without remembering to bring a towel. Dad always booked the big site well in advance, even though we just had a pop-up and a tent (my brother and I "got" to sleep in the tent).
 
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