If you prefer a quieter site, don’t mind something a little more primitive and are up for taking a chance on a first-come, first serve campsite — Iowa’s DNR put together a solid list of possibilities.
Central
Dolliver Memorial State Park
- 23 campsites (all but two are electrical)
- Overlooks the Des Moines River
- Bluffs, canyons and Native American burial mounds
Union Grove State Park
- 26 campsites
- Located on the 110-acre Union Grove Lake
- Walk in camping, first-come, first-served basis
Northeast
Wapsipinicon
- 26 campsites (13 of its 26 are walk-ins)
- Shaded campground with wooded trails
- Two caves to explore
Bellevue State Park
- 1/3 of 46 campsites are walk-in
- Located on the bluffs of the Mississippi River
- Camping located in the Dyas Unit
- Butterfly garden and nature center located in the Nelson Unit
Northwest
A.A. Call
- Sits in the middle of north-central Iowa farmland
- Located on the east fork of the Des Moines River
- Rugged hills and woods
- 16 campsites (13 electrical), all walk-ins
Pilot Knob
- Located in Winnebago County
- Second-highest point in Iowa
- Hiking Trails
- 60 campsites (1/2 are first-come,first-served)
South
Honey Creek
- Original state park on Lake Rathburn (neighbor to the resort park by the same name)
- 800-plus-acres
- Miles of trails and plenty of room for fun on the lake
- 149 modern sites (25% are first-come, first-served)
Lake of Three Fires
- Tucked in the hills of Souther Iowa
- Three campgrounds (including equestrians)
- Wooded hills
- 8 miles of trails
For more information and reservations, visit the Iowa DNR.
