Camping

Camping in Iowa

Discover 69 state parks offering camping in Iowa

🏕️ Camping in Iowa State Parks at a Glance

Book ahead 3 months

Nightly fee $11–$32

Max stay 14 consecutive nights, then must leave the park at least 3 nights before returning (Lake Manawa & Walnut Woods: no more than 14 nights in any 30-day period)

Booking system ReserveAmerica

Reservation fee: $4.50 per transaction online ($6 via call center)
RV hookups: Yes — sites range from hike-in primitive to full hook-up (electric/water/sewer); essentially all sites reservable.
Pets: Allowed in campgrounds on a leash no longer than 6 ft or confined; not left unattended. Cabins/yurts pet-free except designated dog-friendly units (max 2 dogs).
Firewood: Iowa DNR urges buying firewood in the same county where it is burned to limit emerald ash borer spread; Iowa is under federal EAB quarantine. No single blanket statewide self-supplied firewood ban.
Good to know: Booking window is unusually short at only 3 months (vs. 6-12+ months in most states); winter advance reservations generally unavailable except at a few parks.

Reserve Iowa State Park Campsites →

Official agency: Iowa Department of Natural Resources (Iowa DNR)

Booking windows, fees and rules shown as of June 2026 and change periodically — always confirm current details on the official reservation portal above before booking.

69 State Parks

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Iowa State Parks with Camping

Ambrose A. Call State Park

Backbone State Park

+10

Banner Lakes at Summerset State Park

Beeds Lake State Park

Bellevue State Park

Big Creek State Park

Black Hawk State Park

Bobwhite State Park

Brushy Creek State Recreation Area

Cedar Rock State Park

Clear Lake State Park

Dinesen Prairie State Preserve

Dolliver Memorial State Park

Eagle Lake State Park

Echo Valley State Park

Sunset during Autumn at Union Grove State Park

Elinor Bedell State Park

Elk Rock State Park

Emerson Bay State Park

Fairport State Recreation Area

Frank A. Gotch State Park

Geode State Park

George Wyth State Park

Green Valley State Park

Gull Point State Park

Heery Woods State Park

Honey Creek State Park

Lacey-Keosauqua State Park

Lake Ahquabi State Park

Lake Anita State Park

Lake Cornelia State Park

Lake Darling State Park

Lake Keomah State Park

Lake Macbride State Park

Lake Manawa State Park

Lake of Three Fires State Park

Lake Wapello State Park

Ledges State Park

Lower Gar State Recreation Area

Maquoketa Caves State Park

Marble Beach State Recreation Area

Margo Frankel Woods State Park

McIntosh Woods State Park

The Julien Dubuque Monument, a stone tower on a wooded bluff above the Mississippi River in the Mines of Spain State Recreation Area, Iowa

Mines of Spain State Recreation Area and E. B. Lyons Nature Center

Mini-Wakan State Park

Nine Eagles State Park

Oak Grove State Park

Okamanpedan State Park

Palisades-Kepler State Park

Pammel State Park

Pikes Peak State Park

Pikes Point State Park

Pilot Knob State Park

Pine Lake State Park

Pleasant Creek State Recreation Area

Prairie Rose State Park

Preparation Canyon State Park

Red Haw State Park

Rock Creek State Park

Sharon Bluffs State Park

Springbrook State Park

Stone State Park

Templar State Recreation Area

Viking Lake State Park

Volga River State Recreation Area

Walnut Woods State Park

Wapsipinicon State Park

Waubonsie State Park

Wildcat Den State Park

Wilson Island State Recreation Area

Other Places with Camping in Iowa (Not State Parks)

These places are run by a county, city, federal agency, another state agency, a tribe or a private owner, not by Iowa’s state park system. State park passes, rules and reservations may not apply, so check with the operator before you go.

Lake Icaria State Park

Run by the Adams County Conservation Board

Oakland Mills State Park

Run by the Henry County Conservation Department

Three Mile Lake Recreation Area

Run by the Union County Conservation Board

❓ Camping in Iowa — FAQ

How far ahead can I book Iowa state park campsites?

You can reserve Iowa state park campsites 3 months in advance via ReserveAmerica. Booking windows change periodically, so confirm on the official reservation portal before planning. (As of June 2026.)

How much does camping cost in Iowa state parks?

Nightly campsite fees in Iowa state parks typically run $11–$32, depending on site type (tent vs. RV/full-hookup), season and residency. Exact rates are shown at booking.

How long can I stay at a Iowa state park campground?

The maximum stay is 14 consecutive nights, then must leave the park at least 3 nights before returning (Lake Manawa & Walnut Woods: no more than 14 nights in any 30-day period). Confirm current limits with the official agency before your trip.