Best Dispersed Camping near Ames, IA

Great camping spot! We’ll maintain camp sites. I was the only one on grounds. Water well isn’t working though, only downside. Will definitely come again

I needed a place to stay between Wisconsin and Colorado and this place fit the bill. I had the entire campground to myself the night I stayed here. It has well maintained grounds and is right on the water. The spots aren’t super clear, but for a free spot with picnic tables and fire pits, it’s definitely 5/5. I wish more municipalities had these types of campgrounds! You could easily park a van here, and probably a small trailer but nothing all that long.

Had a good 2 weeks here. Some wildlife and lots of bugs but we didn't have a problem with mosquitoes at all. Would come back.

Couldn’t have asked for more, 5-6 nice spots right on a river, picnic table and fire pits and the grounds are well kept. It was also easy to find and access even with a low clearance car.

Wow! This campground surprised us! Not only is it directly on a river with wildflowers, it has a pit toilet and hand pump water. There was only one other group while we were there. Such a sweet place that we will be back to every time we pass through that area. Definite recommend.

We go to Eagle City a least once a year to just get away from it all, it's close to home but feels cut off which is what I look for when camping. We have only camped on the lower side to facilitate fishing the river, but we walk up to, and through the upper side every time also. We love how quiet it is, we are quite often the only ones down there. Kayakers frequent the river access on the lower side as well as some equestrian use for river access. Hand pump for water. Grounds are well maintained but not bug treated, so be prepared. We have camped with an RV when its cooler and doesn't need an A/C but we love to tent camp out there. We've gone at all different times from Memorial day through Labor day. My boyfriend has gone later in the year though also.

Had a nice time here on the first night of a long road trip, no one else was around except some coon hunter came and went a couple times which was a little spooky until I figured out what was going on, would definitely return!

Note that they do now require a permit to stay here. Sites are first come first served with no reservations. Cost is $10 and you can pay up to 30 min after claiming your site. Great camping area, pit toilet, regularly mowed, great riverside view, level spots for tent and vehicle camping with fire rings.

First, there is no pit toilet. Second, you need to pay ($10) via a website. Scan the QR code by the entrance. I couldn't get it to work.

Sites are fine. A couple of options for hammock camping. Nothing special.

We stopped driving cross country.