Iowa Tent Camping
- Thread starter Cyked15
- Start date
We use to like Lake Ahquabi (south of Indianola) when we tent camped. Avoid Lake McBride (north of Iowa City). The only campground we didn’t feel safe
Pike's Peak State Park is another good one.
Backbone State Park has tent only spots and so does Palisades-Kepler.
Backbone State Park has tent only spots and so does Palisades-Kepler.
There are several good ones up in the NW at the great lakes, drank some beers and or fished at a few; I grew up in the area so never camped, but they seem nice. I'd guess that NE has some good ones too from what I've heard, pretty scenic area as well.
Care to explain? Just curious as we are kind of in the area and have thought about going there.
Lake Aquabi south of Indianola is nice. Highlandville by Decorah if you like Trout fishing. Honey Creek. Rock Creek. Red Rock.
Some random farmers back 100 acres of timber. Just don't get caught.
PK is awesome. If you do Backbone, head to Manchester and kayak thru the rapids.
Another vote for Yellow River. You can hike in to some pretty remote tent sites.
There are a couple places that rent kayaks and float tubes. It's a high class kayak rapids, and truthfully, I never saw a kayaker make it through, but the tubes are lots of fun. Backbone is a beautiful park with a lot of hiking trails and trout fishing, as well as a beach. Joy Springs, just up the road, is really primitive camping with good trout fishing.
Definitely saving these for us too! We've enjoyed Backbone and Maquoketa Caves (closed this summer unfortunately). The Marquette/Prairie du Chien has a lot of stuff to do, wish we had known about Yellow River when we were up there. Further away but Matthiessen & Starved Rock State Parks in Illinois have lots of great hiking. Stayed at a KOA since spots in Starved Rock book up quickly.
When I was a kid, we would camp at Yellow River every other weekend starting Memorial Day until Labor Day. It was awesome.
I don't have any suggestions but just wanted to say I'm looking forward to this thread! The wife and I want to get out this summer for some tent camping and have no clue on good spots. Looking to do a little outside adventuring as well.
Haven't been there a lot, but it can be a little weedy and methy down there sometimes... just depends who you happen to be near.
Thanks for the suggestions and replies so far, It looks like we we have to try to get out a few weekends this summer to explore some of these places. Fishing, tubing/kayaking and having the possibility of a remote tent location are all good things to hear.
Bumping this thread for a recommendation for tent camping in central Iowa next weekend. Camping at Ledges is closed unfortunately. We want to do Ledges, High Trestle Trail and go to the WVU game so looking for somewhere close to or in between those 3.
