Pilot Knob State Park, near Forest City, Iowa, is a charming campground that offers a mix of tent, RV, and cabin accommodations. With its well-maintained facilities and a friendly atmosphere, it’s a solid choice for families and solo adventurers alike.

The campground features electric hookups, picnic tables, and fire rings, making it easy to settle in and enjoy your surroundings. Visitors have praised the clean bathhouse and showers, which are essential after a day of hiking or fishing. One camper noted, “For $12/night on a 30AMP hookup, I really can't complain,” highlighting the affordability of this spot.

Outdoor activities abound, with hiking trails and fishing opportunities nearby. The observation tower, a short walk or drive away, offers stunning views of the area. Campers have enjoyed the peaceful environment, with one reviewer mentioning, “This is our favorite place to camp. Never overcrowded.” 

While some sites can feel a bit close together, the overall vibe is welcoming and family-friendly. Whether you're here for a quick overnight stay or a longer adventure, Pilot Knob State Park has plenty to offer for a memorable camping experience.

Pilot Knob State Park — Pilot Knob State Preserve

Whether you're an RVer or tent camper, Forest City, IA is a great place to post up for the weekend—or longer. Discover secluded campsites where you can reconnect with nature. Or maybe you like to bring your family and friends along. Either way, there are Forest City campgrounds just for you. Search nearby campsites and find top-rated spots from other campers.

Forest City

The Best Camping Near Forest City, Iowa

Needs a little tender loving care

If you are picking up a camper from Lichtsinn RV in Forest City they offer to let you stay on their lot with electric hookups during your pick up. But, we found it a little more private and less intimidating to set up camp down the road just a few miles at Plot Knob State Park. Nice level sites with electric hook ups, clean restrooms and showers. Gave us the opportunity to unload our car and figure out our new motorhome without feeling like we were being watched. We didn't explore to much but we noticed they have several hiking trails. Very nice and quiet.

Great place to First night camp

Located by New Ulm, MN this campground has plenty of activities in the park or very near the park. Plenty of hiking trails, playground for the kids, and an amazing sand bottom swimming pond surrounded by sand beach. Golf is also nearby at The New Ulm Country Club which is open to the public. Nice level sites with electric, picnic tables and fire rings.

Camping in the woods near town

I3rd got a few awesome things to see. Hiking trails. Picnic area. We have gone a grew times a year and love it!

Wonderful place to go

Pilot knob state park is a great place for a week long stay or just a few hours! 

The camp ground is on the smaller side but it’s clean and there is a play ground! There is the town of Forest City just a few miles away and it has pretty much everything you need for a stock up for your next adventure!!

Pilot knob is AMAZING! 

Pull through sites, bathhouse was clean and showers were individual room with timed lights, motion sensors kept the shower interesting! Got to see turtles laying eggs and deer were all around. Family loved the fishing.

Lots of room

This is our favorite place to camp. Never overcrowded, they have activities put in by Friends of Pilot Knob such as movie nights. Lots to do like hiking, biking, and fishing. Very clean bathhouse and bathrooms, park. Family friendly and quiet place to camp. 

Our favorite 

For $12/night on a 30AMP hookup, I really can't complain. This is my first of many stops 
in the new RV, needed a place to camp out before getting it serviced the next day. Enjoyable scenery,  especially at sunset


Enjoyable 

Beautiful campground. Well maintained. Nice facilities. You can’t beat this place for the price. Nice hiking trails too. 

This place is a GEM

**General:** A mixture of tent (non-electric) and electric sites, mostly arranged in several rows. 

  

**Site Quality:** Mixed. Not all sites are level, and most do not have delineated parking pads (there is a small pavement indent to show where to access the site). A fire pit and picnic table complete the site. Most of the sites are too close together for our liking, however, when we were there (a Monday at the end of August, the day before school started), we were only one of three sites occupied so for our stay it didn’t matter. 

  

**Bathhouse:** Basic but clean. My biggest complaint is there were no hooks or shelves for toiletries by the sinks. The showers looked nice but we did not use them. 

  

**Activities:** Horseback riding (there are trails for this), hiking, fishing. Although we did see several trailheads, I did not have a map so didn’t explore them. There is an observation tower, but it is a two-mile walk/drive from the campground (on paved roads; I didn’t try to find hiking trails to get there). 

  

**Misc:** A shout-out to the great host, Pam, who greeted us as we arrived. The observation tower, entrance gates, and picnic shelter were all constructed by the CCC and were beautiful. It almost seemed like the campground was an afterthought as it is outside the entrance gates and nowhere near the tower. The layout of the campground would be challenging if all sites were occupied.

Layout of campground would be challenging if full

Nice place to spend the weekend or a week!  Came in late and a resident helped me find a great spot.   When driving to my site two fawns were laying near the playground.

Great site to camp - non electric sites are $10.00 -“and electric are $18.00

Standard site without electric was only $10.00 a night which includes a nearby water spigot to fill your tank with.  Put toilets and showers available.  The friendly hosts made a point to come by to chat. Two fawns were born there, under one of the picnic tables and they were around all weekend. I’ll be back !

Photos of Pilot Knob State Park — Pilot Knob State Preserve

Real photos from real campers