Tent Camping

[AgronAlum]

Looking for a good tent camping area within about a two hour radius of Des Moines. Preferably away from the lights and noise and somewhere that has decent shore fishing. On site bathroom facilities would also be a nice plus.

 

[psycln11]

Haven't been there in a while, but Rock Creek State Park would check those boxes. So would Lake Aquabi, south of Indianola.

 

[JP4CY]

I've tent camped at Palisades Kepler. Beautiful.

 

[charlie_B]

Swede Point Park by Madrid is nice. Not sure how the fishing is but the Des Moines river is within walking distance. Probably not great right now. Assuming it is pretty high

 

[AgronAlum]

Swede Point Park by Madrid is nice. Not sure how the fishing is but the Des Moines river is within walking distance. Probably not great right now. Assuming it is pretty high

Yeah, we’re looking for ponds. The kids are 12, 5 and 3. The 12 and 5 year old love fishing but they’re used to fishing the Ankeny ponds where you get something like every other cast.

 

[cytor]

A little farther away.... I always liked Backbone state park in Strawberry Point.

 

[psycln11]

A couple other ideas... Don Williams near Ogden and Hickory Grove near Colo

 

[Yaz]

Yellowbanks and Thomas Mitchel park have ponds that might work. Might need to move farther away a bit due to the Des Moines river levels. I was told, haven't checked it though, that Saylorville was closing campground due to the water levels and prep for renovation this fall so that will push more campers out to the surrounding areas. Consider little wall lake or maybe the park in/near Webster City too. You will have a good size pond/small lake and the mighty Boone River. Dolliver State Park is close, although, no ponds/lakes that I know of.

 

[AgronAlum]

Yellowbanks and Thomas Mitchel park have ponds that might work. Might need to move farther away a bit due to the Des Moines river levels. I was told, haven't checked it though, that Saylorville was closing campground due to the water levels and prep for renovation this fall so that will push more campers out to the surrounding areas.

Yeah, were going to avoid anything north and west of Ankeny. I think saylorville rose like 10 feet overnight based on what I remember driving over the bridge.

 

[carvers4math]

Honey Creek State Park is pretty easy tent camping

 

[RLD4ISU]

Lake Wapello State Park

 

[Yaz]

Black hawk state park. It's near Lake View which I think has a city campgrounds too.

 

[NebrClone]

Black hawk state park. It's near Lake View which I think has a city campgrounds too.

Yes they have 2 camp grounds.

 

[8bitnes]

Yeah, we’re looking for ponds. The kids are 12, 5 and 3. The 12 and 5 year old love fishing but they’re used to fishing the Ankeny ponds where you get something like every other cast.

Looking for a good tent camping area within about a two hour radius of Des Moines. Preferably away from the lights and noise and somewhere that has decent shore fishing. On site bathroom facilities would also be a nice plus.

These items are in conflict enough that you won't find what you are looking for.

 

[pourcyne]

You might want to explore some lesser-known county parks, such as... (2 h 4 m from Des Moines)

McGowen Rec Area Reviews

McGowen Rec Area, Bloomfield Iowa. See 1 traveler review, photos and blog posts

www.campendium.com

or

Camping - MyCountyParks.com

CAMPING - This may not be your "one stop shop" for camping in Iowa - but it will come pretty close! There are some 31...

www.mycountyparks.com

 

[cycloner29]

Don Williams north of Ogden has nice shower facilities. Fishing wasn’t bad either.

 

[ISUTex]

Looking for a good tent camping area within about a two hour radius of Des Moines. Preferably away from the lights and noise and somewhere that has decent shore fishing. On site bathroom facilities would also be a nice plus.

Rock Creek. Fishing isn't great, but it's decent. Usually fairly quiet. Nice camping sites. They have a bait shop. Can rent canoes and paddle boats. It's just West of Grinnell. They also have rest room and shower facilities. And a playground.

 

[CycloneDaddy]

Anyone know about https://www.whiterockconservancy.org/

 

[cycub51]

Pine lake in Eldora has your requests as well

 

[Yaz]

Anyone know about https://www.whiterockconservancy.org/

Nice area to camp, trails to hike, rv area and dark sky area have nice showers.