Tent Camping

[aauummm]

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.

I'll mention Pleasant Creek State Recreation Area, just north of Palo. It has a very nice tent camping area with restrooms and also a showers & restrooms in the fairly-close RV campground. There's a lot of shoreline fishing with jetties. The location is not near any close highways or cities so it's nice and peaceful and quiet. It would be a very enjoyable camping/fishing experience as I have camped there myself.

The tent sites are individually secluded with each site having a large area, picnic table and campfire ring. The tent campground itself is located away from all activity areas with hiking trails nearby.

The recreation area is about 2 hours from Des Moines via US #30.

Pleasant Creek State Recreation Area

4530 McClintock Lane Palo, IA 52324 United States

www.iowadnr.gov

 

[Cyforce]

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

I think this would be ideal for camping with kids.

 

[Kinch]

I’ve done a lot of tent camping and one of my favorites is Lake Sugema. It’s pretty dark where most people tent camp. It has some of the best areas to star gaze with a telescope. There are nice bathroom facilities. It’s close to the lake, which is considered one of the better ones in tri-state region. Lacey-Keosauqua is nearby and also has some nice tent areas and close to the lake. Lake Sugema is within 10 minutes or so of Dutchman’s, Cantril. Lacey is adjacent to the town of Keosauqua.