Camping

Camping in Iowa

Discover 72 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.

72 State Parks
View All Camping Parks →
View All Iowa Parks →

Iowa State Parks with Camping

Ambrose A Call State Park

Ambrose A. Call State Park

+3 Ice Fishing Hunting Biking
og-backbone1

Backbone State Park

+10 Rock Climbing Photography Picnicking Mountain Biking Horseback Riding Bird Watching Snowshoeing Waterfall Viewing RV Biking
Banner Lakes at Summerset State park Iowa

Banner Lakes at Summerset State Park

+3 Ice Fishing Hunting Biking
Beeds Lake State Park Iowa

Beeds Lake State Park

+4 Photography Picnicking Waterfall Viewing RV

Bellevue State Park

+1 Nature Walks
Sweetwater Lake

Big Creek State Park

+5 Paddleboarding Sailing Kayaking Paddling Biking
Hero image for Black Hawk State Park

Black Hawk State Park

+5 Wildlife Watching Picnicking Paddleboarding Paddling Biking

Bobwhite State Park

+5 Picnicking Bird Watching Ice Fishing Kayaking Paddling
Brushy Creek State Recreation Area Iowa

Brushy Creek State Recreation Area

+6 Horseback Riding Snowshoeing Snowmobiling Ice Fishing Winter Sports Biking
Cedar Rock State Park (Iowa)

Cedar Rock State Park

+3 Ice Fishing Hunting Biking
Waterfront walkway in Clear Lake, Iowa.

Clear Lake State Park

+4 Educational Programs RV Biking ATV Riding
Banner Lakes at Summerset State park Iowa

Dinesen Prairie State Preserve
Dolliver Memorial State Park copperas beds Iowa

Dolliver Memorial State Park

Eagle Lake State Park

+6 Bird Watching Ice Fishing Hunting Kayaking Paddling Canoeing
Beeds Lake State Park Iowa

Echo Valley State Park
Sunset during Autumn at Union Grove State Park

Elinor Bedell State Park

+3 Ice Fishing Hunting Biking
Elk Rock State Park (Iowa)

Elk Rock State Park

+3 Ice Fishing Hunting Biking
Banner Lakes at Summerset State park Iowa

Emerson Bay State Park

+4 Bird Watching Ice Fishing Hunting Biking
Fairport State Recreation Area (Iowa)

Fairport State Recreation Area
Frank A. Gotch State Park (Iowa)

Frank A. Gotch State Park

+6 Mountain Biking Scenic Overlooks Kayaking Canoeing RV Biking
Geode State Park (Iowa)

Geode State Park

+5 Ice Fishing Hunting Kayaking Paddling Biking
George Wyth State Park (Iowa)

George Wyth State Park

+3 Ice Fishing Hunting Biking
Green Valley State Park (Iowa)

Green Valley State Park

+3 Ice Fishing Hunting Biking
Gull Point State Park (Iowa)

Gull Point State Park

+3 Ice Fishing Hunting Biking

Heery Woods State Park

+4 Picnicking Kayaking Paddling Canoeing
Dolliver Memorial State Park copperas beds Iowa

Honey Creek State Park

+5 Bird Watching Ice Fishing Hunting Golfing Biking
Hero image for Black Hawk State Park

Lacey-Keosauqua State Park

+3 Ice Fishing Hunting Biking
Lake Ahquabi State Park (Iowa)

Lake Ahquabi State Park

+3 Ice Fishing Hunting Biking
lake anita

Lake Anita State Park

+3 Ice Fishing Hunting Biking
Lake Cornelia State Park (Iowa)

Lake Cornelia State Park

+2 Kayaking Canoeing
Lake Darling State Park (Iowa)

Lake Darling State Park

+3 Ice Fishing Hunting Biking
Lake Icaria State Park (Iowa)

Lake Icaria State Park

+8 Ice Fishing Disc Golf Sailing Jet Skiing Water Skiing Golfing Kayaking Canoeing
Lake Keomah State Park (Iowa)

Lake Keomah State Park

+3 Ice Fishing Hunting Biking
Lake Macbride State Park (Iowa)

Lake Macbride State Park

+5 Picnicking Mountain Biking Bird Watching Sailing Biking
Sunset during Autumn at Union Grove State Park

Lake Manawa State Park

+5 Sailing Jet Skiing Kayaking Paddling Biking
Beeds Lake State Park Iowa

Lake of Three Fires State Park

+4 Golfing Kayaking Paddling Canoeing
viking lake hero 1

Lake Wapello State Park

+3 Ice Fishing Hunting Biking
view of the river at Ledges State Park from a cliff above

Ledges State Park

+6 Rock Climbing Photography Picnicking Scenic Overlooks Waterfall Viewing RV

Lower Gar State Recreation Area

+2 Ice Fishing Paddling
maquoketa caves iowa 1769780561625 1

Maquoketa Caves State Park

+2 Waterfall Viewing RV

Marble Beach State Recreation Area

+2 Ice Fishing Sailing

Margo Frankel Woods State Park

+1 Biking
Wildcat Den sandstone bluffs Iowa

McIntosh Woods State Park

+3 Ice Fishing Hunting Biking

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

Mini-Wakan State Park

+3 Bird Watching Ice Fishing Biking
Beeds Lake State Park Iowa

Nine Eagles State Park

+3 Ice Fishing Hunting Biking

Oak Grove State Park

+8 Cross Country Skiing Snowshoeing Hunting Geocaching Kayaking Paddling Canoeing Winter Sports
Oakland Mills State Park (Iowa)

Oakland Mills State Park

Okamanpedan State Park

+2 Bird Watching Ice Fishing
Palisades-Kepler State Park (Iowa)

Palisades-Kepler State Park

+5 Scenic Overlooks Kayaking Paddling Canoeing RV
Sweetwater Lake

Pammel State Park

+3 Ice Fishing Hunting Biking
Pikes Peak State Park (Iowa)

Pikes Peak State Park

+4 Mountain Biking Bird Watching Waterfall Viewing Biking
og-backbone1

Pikes Point State Park

+3 Ice Fishing Hunting Biking
Pilot Knob State Park (Iowa)

Pilot Knob State Park

+4 Ice Fishing Ice Skating Scenic Overlooks Winter Sports
Wildcat Den sandstone bluffs Iowa

Pine Lake State Park

+3 Ice Fishing Hunting Biking

Pleasant Creek State Recreation Area

+6 Cross Country Skiing Scuba Diving Hunting Kayaking Canoeing Biking
Prairie Rose State Park (Iowa)

Prairie Rose State Park
maquoketa caves iowa 1769780561625 1

Preparation Canyon State Park

+3 Ice Fishing Hunting Biking
Red Haw State Park (Iowa)

Red Haw State Park

+1 Picnicking
Rock Creek State Park (Iowa)

Rock Creek State Park

+7 Horseback Riding Bird Watching Ice Fishing Paddleboarding Kayaking Canoeing Biking

Sharon Bluffs State Park

+3 Bird Watching Hunting Paddling
Springbrook State Park (Iowa)

Springbrook State Park

+3 Ice Fishing Hunting Biking
Stone State Park (Iowa)

Stone State Park

+2 Scenic Overlooks Biking

Templar State Recreation Area
viking lake hero 1

Three Mile Lake State Park

+3 Bird Watching Hunting Canoeing
viking lake hero 1

Viking Lake State Park

+6 Photography Picnicking Snowmobiling Ice Fishing Scenic Overlooks RV
Volga River State Recreation Area (Iowa)

Volga River State Recreation Area

+3 Ice Fishing Hunting Biking
Walnut Woods State Park (Iowa)

Walnut Woods State Park

+3 Ice Fishing Hunting Biking
Wapsipinicon State Park (Iowa)

Wapsipinicon State Park

+3 Ice Fishing Hunting Biking
Waubonsie State Park (Iowa)

Waubonsie State Park

+1 Scenic Overlooks
Wildcat Den sandstone bluffs Iowa

Wildcat Den State Park
Dolliver Memorial State Park copperas beds Iowa

Wilson Island State Recreation Area

+3 Ice Fishing Hunting Biking

More Camping Destinations

More Activities in Iowa

❓ 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.

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