We stayed at this campground for two nights and had a phenomenal experience the whole time we were there! It is a beautiful state park/campground about 20 minutes outside of Maquoketa (so if you forget or need something you can run into town and get it). The bathrooms were very clean and well-maintained throughout our stay. This state park is definitely for those who enjoy hiking and adventures as within the state park is a system of 11 or 12 caves that are connected via pathways and you can even walk or crawl through and explore some of them! We had an absolutely amazing experience and hope to visit again soon!
Enjoyed the trails and many caves to explore! Mature forests and wildflowers.
Maquoketa Caves is a must visit destination for camping! There are several factors to take into consideration when planning a trip here; due to concerns for wildlife (primarily bats) the caves close frequently, check the park website for details about when they will be open and respect the closures when they occur. In addition, be sure to clean your shoes before and after visiting the park to prevent spreading potentially dangerous fungus to the caves. Overall, the cave network is stunning and a great place for group camping! There are caves for everyone, whether you're claustrophobic and don't want to be in tight spaces or you're willing you army crawl for 1/4 mile. The rangers in the campground can be strict and will mandate that you have only one "camping unit" per site, aka tent, even though the website says sites can hold up to six people. They do check on sites regularly so trying to sneak extra people in isn't a great idea. Even with the cave closures and the strict rules for camping I still go every year, hope to see you there!
Easy drive in spot. We only stayed one night (dog friendly!). Camp sites are pretty spread out so you have your own privacy.
This is a very small campground. Lots of shade and close to the trails for the caves. Make reservations.
Our visit was very short. We were there only for one night on our way out west. We had a small T@B trailer. Self check in after hours was easy. Electiric, water and hot showers were great. All was affordable. Campground was veey quiet. The only negative was all wood was gone. But there was a house 5 minutes away that had a self service wood station.
Had a wonderful time exploring nature at this park! We lucked out on a beautiful day, sunny but not too hot! I'm from Minnesota but with family living in Omaha it's nice to explore the beauty of other states on family visits! Plan on your clothes getting dirty 😛
Absolutely beautiful park, I had no idea Iowa could be this beautiful. The caves are not deep caves like at Luray or something, they are shallow and green. My son was afraid of caves and bats and monsters, and this park helped him get over that fear since they are so open. If you don’t expect Luray type caves you will love it. The trails are very memorable and easy/moderate, so plan for a full day here. Head to the caves early.
Yay: the kids will LOVE the caves. Good drive from Madison and Chicago. Small museum. Shady private sites! Relatively updated and kept nicely.
Nay: crowded trails and campsites will be full on weekends if you don’t have reservations. Not wheelchair friendly at all.
Surprise: Check that the caves are open before you go. The trails are rather wet so wear hiking boots for safety and to keep your feet dry.
We have been to this park more than once because we just love the caves so much! The hike is so beautiful that you could walk and climb around all day and not grow tired. The price is unbeatable and it is fun for the whole family.
Some friends and I came up from St. Ambrose University in Davenport, IA for a day and it was easy to find. As soon as we arrived we were right on the trial and I love that. No hassles or waiting, right on the trial and it was great. Park wasn't crowded so you could dive into all of the caves!