Camping in Iowa with hiking
Explore lakes, rivers, wide-open expanses, and hilly countryside in the heart of the American Midwest.
99% (2116 reviews)
- Iowa
99% (2116 reviews)
Popular camping styles for Iowa
Star Hosts in Iowa
Dog-friendly getaways
12 top campgrounds in Iowa with hiking
100%
(28)
#JTRidge Sites/Clothing Optional
11 sites · Tents15 acres · Oxford Junction, IA
Are you looking for the opportunity to be free and connect with nature naturally? A place to reconnect with your soul or reconnect with your significant other(s). Do you need to escape life for even just a little bit? A place to safely be your true self or selves. Our spaces are all about privacy and relaxing in nature peacefully. Perfect for first time clothing optional experiences. Maybe you just prefer a quiet natural low key space to relax.
Are you a regular camper who is tired of the busy big campgrounds? Need a overnight camping spot that is more nature and less people?
Looking for a place to relax in the sun naturally and just take some time for yourself or time with the special people in your life? Along with offering overnight camping sites, we offer day passes for those who just want some chill time within the day. A day pass gives you access to the property, relaxing chairs for that perfect moment in the sun and the woods to wander as you connect with nature. Perfect for a lunch break or just a step away from life for a few hours. Sneak away and take some moments to recharge yourself naturally. Day passes can be a bit tricky to book, reach out if you need help with the site.
We hope you will find that this is a place for everything listed above and so much more. A space to enjoy some downtime, quiet at peace with nature, and a place for restorative just-for-me time. Perfect for yoga in the woods or a natural spot to meditate. Not a commercial campground, just a piece of personal property that we are looking to share with others who enjoy time in nature. We enjoy our natural privacy and welcome you to experience the same. We are stewards of the property and are charged with taking care of all that Mother Nature has given us. If you need space to think, read a book, or just be you, this could be the right fit. Very private and peaceful, perfect for those looking for some alone time or time with family/friends. Forget the news, forget work, forget city life, and just take in the moments; while listening to the birds sing, (Pull out your Merlin app) to see who's singing!
Your hosts are here if you need us, but we leave you to enjoy this beautiful place at your own pace. We give you privacy to enjoy your stay fully.
We have 15 acres of woods with a natural rock bluff, so many different spaces which allow you to fully bond with nature. Trails to wander and wildlife to see. Clothing is optional through out all of the property; overnight camping and sunbathing/day pass spots are available.
Located on the Wapsipinicon River. Camp sites are very private and tucked away from life's stresses. Relax in the woods. Watch the cows and calves moo in the nearby pasture. Walk nature trails with native wildlife and flora. Great photo opportunities abound. Cast a line to catch dinner. Escape to nature is the key to this property; find yourself tucked away from city sounds and light pollution. Come out to see the sunset/sunrise, check out the stars, read a good book, lay out in your favorite hammock, find yourself, and be at peace. Great place for a nice camping fire; treat yourself to some smores. Peaceful sounds at night of the river flowing as you drift off to sleep in your tent. Perfect little spot for peaceful relaxation and just taking some time. Walk the trails in your natural skin, shoot photos of all the different plants, listen to the birds and animals scurry, enjoy the sunshine, and feel the warmth on all of your body. Put in your canoe or kayak at Olin for a 3-4 hour float to our camping area. There are lots of state parks within a short drive; visit the only Presidential library in Iowa; and tour some amazing caves in nearby parks. Enjoy the Great Jones County Fair only 30 mins away.. So much to do, and then come back to a space without crowds and just chill.
Welcoming to all, we love to meet new people and let them share in the joy of bonding with nature freely.
**Property Owner is certified in Massage, offering sessions at the property.
Toilets
Campfires
from
$20
/ night
97%
(208)
Nature Heaven
8 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents40 acres · Knoxville, IA
This seclude, beautiful pet friendly 40 acres of fenced camping site is on top of hilly land and is rare in Iowa. It has close view of 3.5 private fishing ponds and far view of the Red Rock Lake. There are 10 acres nature timber area that keep you away from the other campers and rest of the world. Each site has a firepit, picnic table and a solar light . The drinking water is at the entrance, but no electricity on site. The RVs need to be self contained. There are tons of nature features, you may see deer, rabbits and other game birds by your campsite. Each camping sites have good distances to keep privacy from each other.
A recently built a 20ft diameter geodesic dome tent is for those who want more climate controlled stay while still enjoying the magnificent nature's gifts.
For surrounding areas, the close by White Breast Beach is open from May 23-September 3, 2024, boating, hunting and hiking activities in the lake red rock year around. For our campers safety, any hunting activities are not allowed within our camping ground. However, in case you come for hunting with Iowa hunting tags, a couple of public deer hunting grounds are near our camping ground.
The recently built glamping geodesic Dome tent is located on a top of hill. You will have a fantastic sunset view of ponds and lake view while enjoy the great nature, and have a comfortable stay .
The cell phone signals are good, you may use your cell phone hotspot work remotely at this astonishing Lake Red Rock Oasis ^_^.
Hope you will find joy, peace and happiness in this wonderful piece of natural land and the Red Rock lake areas.
A little history of this land:
This 40 acres of land was a surface mining site. The reclamation works done
during the 1970s. But over the years, the soil was seriously eroded. Anna and Peilin, who have Master's and PhD in soil and environment health background, bought this land several years ago and started to restore the vegetation. Now the site looks beautiful and ready for nature lovers and campers to enjoy the fantastic view of the lake, ponds and tall grass... The site is totally different from what the Google map shows now.
Pets
Potable water
Toilets
Campfires
Trash
from
$25
/ night
99%
(436)
Windy Goat Acres
6 sites · Lodging15 acres · Chelsea, IA
We love animals, plants, art, and outdoor recreation and love sharing these things with people! We found the perfect little plot for all of these things we love. Nature, art, animals, and lots of space! The hilly, lush land is also known as the Bohemie Alps and it's quite a beautiful area tucked away in Iowa.Visit with the llamas, goats, peacocks, potbelly pigs and the horses and hike around the property or stay in for a quiet stay with a good book and enjoy all the sights and sounds. Lots of extra 'add ons' to enhance the experience!Semi wooded property with hiking trails, hammocks, aerial silks, campfire pit. 5 mi away is Otter Creek Lake, a recreational park for fishing, kayaking, swimming, etc. We have 2 kayaks available. So much to do! Also perfect to just relax, meditate, yoga, sleep...
Pets
Potable water
Toilets
Campfires
Showers
from
$65
/ night
100%
(132)
n*Everland Barnyard Camping
24 sites · RVs, Tents20 acres · Anamosa, IA
New for 2024: We have expanded the flat land available for camping while maintaining the privacy of all our campsites. We have added sites, but don't worry, you will still experience the same solitude and peace as if you were our only guests. The promised bathhouse/storm shelter is also nearing completion, and we should be able to offer showers (and safe haven during storms) to guests during the 2024 season!
Do you want to hike into a site? We have a few sites in the woods that are not easily accessible by car, if you want that kind of experience just mention it when booking.
Follow us on Facebook to stay abreast of our current events! Summer Solstice, Full Moon Sound Baths, and Music planned Summer 2024. AND News coming soon about a 2024 Fall retreat too! We are not very active on FB though, so we may miss your message if you reach out to us that way. https://www.facebook.com/NeverlandBarnyard
FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN: Please reach out to us in messaging to determine if this is the right fit for your family vacation as we feel there are better options in the area for kids, but we do make exceptions for the well-behaved and respectful older children. Thank you for your understanding.
ABOUT THE BARNYARD:
n*Everland Barnyard is an eccentric art installation space created from found, recycled, and repurposed building materials in the heart of Grant Wood Country in Jones County, Iowa. We are not a commercial campground. We focus on Zen, mindfulness, peace, and tranquility. Firmly in the realm of Outsider Art, Gothic and rustic, Bob Kellogg has created a place unlike anywhere else in the world that represents freedom and inspires endless creativity. The land provides multiple camp sites for easy access to bike and walking trails taking visitors into town or through the Wapsipinicon State Park across the river from the property. Anamosa offers several restaurants, grocery stores and other businesses all within walking distance and less than a mile from our land.
Kayak the Wapsipinicon River, we recommend a put in at Matsell Bridge, and end only a mile away from your campsite at the Barnyard in Anamosa at the dam takeout. Visit the State Penitentiary Museum, hang out with the Barnyard chickens, hike our wooded trails, or simply unwind. This place is a magical retreat unlike anywhere else in the world. If you are seeking to disconnect from the world, find presence and live in the Now, this is the place for you.
We also offer #ProjectCreatePeace, an initiative to create more peace in the world through art as an art project. Check out the extras listings to get your art on while you are here!
There is a beautiful spring-fed water hole ideal for swimming in the state park, as well as access to the river from our property (although we do not recommend swimming in the river due to pollutants.) Watching the sunset at the river is one of our absolutely favorite ways to end the day.
n*Everland Barnyard and the events we host are the perfect place to meet cool like-minded people, so even if you are single traveler, know that you will find an inviting, safe, and welcome site here for your getaway!
We make some of the best pizza you have ever eaten (or so we keep being told) and we have a few special weekends a summer that highlight events such as sound baths that feature garden-fresh, oven-baked foods and pizza. Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NeverlandBarnyard to stay updated on our events!
Pets
Potable water
Toilets
Campfires
Showers
from
$55
/ night
99%
(672)
Horse Creek Adventures
26 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents170 acres · Sidney, IA
Horse Creek Adventures is a 170 acre ranch that provides an opportunity for visitors to stay one night or several days to enjoy the land and area sights. You have your choice as to how you want to stay. Our "off the grid" cabins offer a special opportunity to camp with a roof.
The cabins are extremely popular! Check out the information about them and then check the photos posted by quests and read their reviews to give you lots of ideas of how you could enjoy these one of a kind sites.
Tenting is available all over the 170 acres. You can tent by the pond;
on top of the hill, or in a valley. These sites allow you to "get away from it all" and let the stress melt away. We have tenting sites close to
a road to give you flexibility to see local attractions while enjoying the whole 170 acres. Lastly, we have RV hook-ups with 119, 30 amps and
50 amps
The land is part of the famous Loess Hills. There are hilltops to take in the breath taking views and valleys surrounded by trees.
A pond full of trophy sized bass , catch and release, no license required. Wildlife abounds including a wide variety of birds. We have been described by avid birders as a rich place for birding.
The area is rich with history-Lewis and Clark;
French Canadian trappers and their Lakota wives
established French Villages;
Mormons came through here on the way to Utah; Jesse James played cards.
Waubonsie State Park is close with hiking trails and seven miles of Horse trails. At night you can use a portable corral to have your horse close.
End the day around a campfire, look at the stars and the lightening bugs and be serenaded to sleep by the coyotes and whip-poor-wills
Enjoy !!
Pets
Potable water
Toilets
Campfires
Trash
from
$30
/ night
96%
(96)
1860's Botanical Paradise
2 sites · Lodging, Tents2 acres · Bellevue, IA
Happy to announce we’ve won 2nd best property to visit in Iowa! We hope to keep striving and adding more amenities as we go! Thank you to our wonderful guests and hello to future guests! 👋🏽
Built in 1860 by its first caretaker botanist, this homestead was propagated over its many years of life and is busting at the seams with medicinal and edible herbs. We now run a flower farm and vegetable gardens on our homestead. If you’d like to learn about herbs or gardening/ homesteading, we love sharing our knowledge.
If you’d just like some farm fresh eggs for breakfast and enjoy your time alone amongst the songbirds, that's just fine too :)
The property is built into the stone hillside allowing for breathtaking views but also stairs to get to the campsites. Please wear comfortable shoes (not flip flops 😉). If you have mobility issues property access will be difficult. Please no children under 5.
!CLASSES!
We run our small school/business: HOMESTEAD and HAMMER from the property and are bringing classes to YOU! Look in the "EXTRAS" for classes you can partake in on your visit OR for more information on what's included on class weekends check out our website below! Classes include, forAging wild edibles, mushroom identification, homesteading skills, soap making, forging metals and many more!
Website: www.homesteadandhammer.com
*For guest and host safety property managed 24-7 by video and security services*
Pets
Potable water
Toilets
Campfires
Showers
from
$30
/ night
96%
(434)
Come Enjoy the Beauty
61 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents30 acres · Earlham, IA
This property has a year round running creek called Bear Creek. They also mined the stone off the property for the State Capital in Des Moines, Iowa. Abundant wildlife and mature beautiful trees.
Pets
Potable water
Toilets
Campfires
Showers
from
$29
/ night
98%
(572)
Draco Hill Nature Farm
4 sites · RVs, Tents75 acres · West Branch, IA
A convenient 7 miles north of Interstate 80 but feels like an oasis away from it all. ln Spring the orchards are blooming and Spring ephemeral flowers are popping up in the woods. Terns, eagles and hawks are swooping toward the river and the fish are jumping. The prairie we burned and mowed is now greening up beautifully and the trees are starting to flush with green.
This year, Draco Hill Nature Farm is hosting free events you can join in on when you camp! May 18 join the Bird Walk with the Iowa City Bird Club, June 21 the Solstice Potluck on the Prairie and more throughout the year. See Dracohill.org/events for details. Make it part of your camping experience!
Enjoy nature in a private, wooded river valley setting. Go to sleep under the stars to the sound of frogs, cicadas, coyotes, deer and the rustling wind through the tallgrass prairie. Wake to an amazing sunrise over the river. Enjoy a hike through our 4 miles of trails on 75 acres of rolling woodlands and prairie, picking berries, finding mushrooms, scaring up a turkey or pheasant in the brush or listening to the birds. (Pull out your Merlin app to see who's singing!) Play in the river or upland pond, cut cattails and prairie grasses for souvenirs and enjoy being unplugged for a while. Your hosts are here if you need us, but we leave you to enjoy this beautiful place at your own pace.
Pets
Toilets
Campfires
Cooking equipment
from
$34
/ night
99%
(70)
Greenhouse Camping
2 sites · RVs5 acres · Ankeny, IA
We love this beautiful land that has been in our family since 1917, and think you will too! We are located 1/2 mile off I-35 at the north border of the City of Ankeny. Here you'll find the best of both worlds just fifteen minutes away from your quiet campsite - Boating, skiing, jet-skiing, fishing at Saylorville Lake. Canoe, kayak and paddleboat rental at Big Creek State Park. Swimming & waterplay for all ages at the Ankeny Aquatic Center. Upscale shopping and dining at the District. Or venture out a bit further to concert venues in Ames & Des Moines, local farmers markets, Des Moines' beautiful riverwalk and exciting nightlife, or the Iowa State Fair. It's the best of country and suburban living! End your day with a quiet stroll along the mowed walking path that overlooks one of the most beautiful areas of Four Mile Creek in Iowa, which circles right back to your cozy campfire. Learn more about this land:You'll love this relaxing space to camp and enjoy the Iowa outdoors! Very easy access, we are just 1/2 mile off of Interstate-35. Our farm is bordered by nature on three sides and the city of Ankeny on the south. This is a single campsite, private and quiet. Your campsite has an adjoining mowed private walking trail overlooking Four Mile Creek, and is also within walking distance of Ankeny sidewalks for biking, walking, jogging. It’s the best of both worlds - town and country! We're a 15 minute drive from Big Creek and Ledges State Parks, Jester Park and Saylorville Lake where you can enjoy fishing, skiing, boating, horseback riding, hiking, biking, and the beach life. You'll find unique shopping experiences, delicious dining, a good movie, a thriving live music scene just 15 minutes away in downtown Des Moines, downtown and campus town Ames, and at The District in Ankeny. Upon your arrival you'll find the greenhouse mini-fridge is stocked with 4 complimentary bottles of water and everything you'll need for making S'mores. One free bundle of wood is included with each booking.
Pets
Potable water
Toilets
Campfires
Trash
from
$35
/ night
100%
(33)
Sleep in an Iowa Barn @ TLC
2 sites · Lodging, Tents28 acres · Zearing, IA
Threshold Learning Center is 28 acres of prairie, creek, woods, and our barn dormitory. Threshold is first, an outdoor learning center for schools during the school year, and a summer camp offering several day camps, family camps, and trips. As a non-profit, however, we are constantly trying to find a way to offer our programs to everyone regardless of whether they are able to pay our fees while still making enough money to stay open. We started renting TLC to the public 5 years ago for weddings, reunions, or just families who are looking to connect to the world around them. Our motto is "No Child Left Inside" and we want every inner child to enjoy what we have at TLC. We have 7 bedrooms in our dormitory, 5 camp sites, a large camp fire ring, a mini-golf course, and we are always willing to lead your group in an educational experience or take you on a hayrack ride.
Pets
Potable water
Toilets
Campfires
Showers
from
$15
/ night
100%
(65)
J.V. Vineyard & Retreat
7 sites · RVs, Tents120 acres · Scranton, IA
Nestled in the heart of farm country, you'll find a gem hidden near the Raccoon River.
Find yourself by getting lost in nature! Our property includes over 40 acres of timber with hiking trails throughout. The main property located near by, includes our vineyard and farm. Come meet some of the farm critters, use the modern bathroom/showers, charge devices and relax at the pond. We have several group camp sites as well as remote hike in options (contact us for more info on these!).
Learn more about this land:
Choose to stay in one of our private tent sites, with only views of nature surrounding you. The listed sites here are accessible by car, but if remote/hike in is more your style, we have those, too - just ask! Or try out our tree house camp experience: a platform built into the trees with provided 8 person tent secured to the base (contact us to reserve/book the tree house. Rental is $45/night). We also have a large group site. Firewood is provided on site - please do not bring in your own. We have marked trails, or forge your our path! The campgrounds are a short jaunt from our vineyard. At the vineyard is our event center with B & B lodging. Campers are welcome to use the modern facilities at the event center. Kaibos are located at the primitive tent campground. Guests are welcome to enjoy the pond (kayaks provided, catch & release fishing), 9 hole disc golf course and play area. There are acres of woodlands to explore with ample opportunity for wildlife watching. We are a short drive to a boat launch river access, or walk to the river from our place! Firewood and non potable water is provided for campers.
Pets
Potable water
Toilets
Campfires
Showers
from
$30
/ night
100%
(19)
Secluded riverside ranch
2 sites · RVs, Tents15 acres · Goldfield, IA
15 acres featuring wildflower prairies, mowed trails along a meandering creek, peaceful woods along the river, and a 501(c)(3) animal rescue providing sanctuary to goats, a llama, a miniature cow, and more!
Pets
Potable water
Toilets
Campfires
Trash
from
$20
/ night
Under $50
Available this weekend
Nearby parks
Explore the area’s public lands.
Camping in Iowa with hiking guide
Overview
Looking to explore the great outdoors in Iowa? Horse Creek Adventures (255 reviews), Windy Goat Acres (208 reviews), and Draco Hill Farm (192 reviews) are just a few of the top campsites in Iowa. With over 370 options for camping in Iowa, all with hiking trails nearby, you'll find the perfect spot to pitch your tent or park your RV. Whether you're a seasoned hiker or just getting started, Iowa offers a variety of terrains and landscapes to explore. And with popular amenities like cooking equipment, trash facilities, and pet-friendly sites, you'll have everything you need for a comfortable stay. So pack your hiking boots and get ready to discover the beauty of Iowa's outdoors!
Top cities in and near Iowa
Top regions in and near Iowa
Safety at Hipcamp
Hipcamp is created with ❤️ and hope for our future.