Hickory Grove Park, managed by the Story County Conservation Board, holds one of central Iowa's more well-rounded county campgrounds along the shores of a small lake outside Colo. Sites run up to 50 feet and include electric hookups, making the campground accessible to RVs as well as tent campers. About half the sites are reservable online; the rest fill on a first-come basis, which means weekends can go fast during summer months.
Water access is the defining draw here. The lake restricts gas motors, so the surface stays calm for canoes, kayaks, and small fishing boats. Rentals for paddle boats, kayaks, and water bikes are available during summer, and several docks give anglers and paddlers easy launch points. The sites along the waterfront tend to be the most sought-after. Reviewers consistently note that the shower house, rebuilt in 2017, features private stalls and doubles as a tornado shelter. Trees across the campground provide solid shade coverage.
The campground also connects to hiking trails where wildlife sightings are common, and a playground makes it a workable stop for families. As Abby F. notes, "Sometimes they have goats out to contain some invasive plant species," which gives the park an active land-management character beyond typical county facilities. The campground runs April 1 through October 31 at $17 per night, with a dump station on site. Campers wanting additional options in the area can find campgrounds near Hickory Grove Park, or check out Twin Anchors Campground roughly a mile to the northeast.
Description
Tent Camping Only
RV Road Trip Guides
Map & DirectionsHickory Grove Campground is located in Iowa near Collins
Public CampgroundDirections
From town, W 2 mi on US-30 to 680th Ave, S 1 mi on county rd, continues W 0.5 mi (L)
Coordinates
41.99282229 N
93.36104675 W
Connectivity
T-Mobile5GExcellent Coverage
VerizonLTESome Coverage- AT&TLTESome Coverage
Connectivity
- T-Mobile5GExcellent Coverage
- VerizonLTESome Coverage
- AT&TLTESome Coverage
Access
- Drive-InPark next to your site
- Walk-InPark in a lot, walk to your site.
- Boat-InSites accessible by watercraft.
Site Types
- Tent Sites
- RV Sites
- Standard (Tent/RV)
- Group
Features
For Campers
- ADA Access
- Trash
- Picnic Table
- Firewood Available
- Phone Service
- Reservable
- Showers
- Drinking Water
- Electric Hookups
- Toilets
- Alcohol
- Pets
- Fires
For Vehicles
- Sanitary Dump
- Sewer Hookups
- Water Hookups
- Pull-Through Sites
- 50 Amp Hookups
- Big Rig Friendly
Drive Time
- 12 min from Ames, IA
- 34 min from Des Moines, IA
- 1 hr 20 min from Cedar Rapids, IA
- 1 hr 23 min from Waterloo, IA
