Best Equestrian Camping near Ames, IA
Looking for a place to camp near Ames with your horse? Finding a place to camp in Iowa with your horse is easier than ever. Search nearby equestrian campsites or find top-rated spots from other campers.
Best Equestrian Sites Near Ames, IA (7)
1. Ledges State Park Campground
Boone, Iowa39 Reviews•57 Photos•208 SavesMillions of years before the plains of Iowa were inhabited by the Sauk, Fox and Sioux peoples, much of the American Midwest was covered by a shallow inland sea. It was at this time that the area’s sandstone deposits began forming. Fast-forward to just 13,000 years ago, with the inland sea now long gone, Ice Age glacial meltwater raced across the dry plains, carving and scouring channels and canyons into the sandstone terrain. One of these canyons can be found in Iowa’s Ledges State Park. This 1,000-acre nature preserve and recreation area is located on a wide bend on the Des Moines River, and is just 40 miles north of the city of Des Moines. The park is subject to frequent flooding when the river breaches its banks, but is otherwise a popular year-round outdoor recreation destination. Visitors to Ledges can enjoy a variety of hiking, fishing and paddling opportunities, as well as explore a prehistoric river canyon that showcases nature’s ability to sculpt the landscape.
The campground at Ledges State Park features 94 tent and RV sites situated among deciduous woods not far from the Des Moines River. Campers can choose from full-hookup, partial-hookup, or primitive tent sites. Most sites are back-in; only a few are pull-through for larger vehicles. Tent sites are located in both in the main camp area, and in a secluded walk-in area. There is also a youth group site. All sites are equipped with picnic tables, fire pits and cooking grills, and all have access to water faucets, flush restrooms, showers, and trash receptacles; a dump station is located near the campground entrance. The campground also features a kids’ playground, outdoor amphitheater, and is within walking distance of trails and picnic areas. Some roads and/or facilities may not be open or available in the winter. Reservations are accepted, however the park saves about half of the sites for first-come, first-served campers; sites are $11–$19/night.
- Pets
- Fires
- Electric Hookups
- Phone Service
- Reservable
- ADA Access
$12 - $18 / night
2. North Equestrian Campground — Brushy Creek State Recreation Area
Lehigh, Iowa9 Reviews•2 Photos•6 Saves- Fires
- Electric Hookups
- Reservable
- RVs
- Tents
- Group
3. South Equestrian Campground — Brushy Creek State Recreation Area
Lehigh, Iowa2 Reviews•8 Photos•6 Saves- Pets
- Fires
- Electric Hookups
- Phone Service
- Reservable
- ADA Access
4. Beach Campground — Brushy Creek State Recreation Area
Lehigh, Iowa1 Review•6 Saves- Pets
- Fires
- Electric Hookups
- Phone Service
- Reservable
- ADA Access
5. Dallas County Fairgrounds
Dallas Center, Iowa1 Review•11 Saves- Pets
- Fires
- Electric Hookups
- Phone Service
- Reservable
- ADA Access
6. Squirrel Hollow Co Park
Jefferson, Iowa2 Reviews•2 Saves- Pets
- Fires
- Electric Hookups
- Phone Service
- Reservable
- ADA Access
7. Webster County Kennedy Park Campground
Badger, Iowa1 Review- Pets
- Fires
- Electric Hookups
- Phone Service
- Reservable
- ADA Access
Recent Equestrian Reviews in Ames
55 Reviews of 7 Ames Campgrounds
- Jeannie D.
Guide
North Equestrian Campground — Brushy Creek State Recreation Area
GREAT lake!
I like beach camp, but I LOVE north equestrian camp. Wish the boxes accomodated my rig. It's easy in spring or fall, we can get by with 30 amps. If you need 50 amps, you're going to want to head to the Beach Camp.
- Jeannie D.Guide
Ledges State Park Campground
It's okay
Great vibes. Camp's pretty far from the bones of the park, but the hike's relatively plesant. Cell coverage is terrible out here, and there is no WIFI to help keep people connected.
- Jeannie D.Guide
Webster County Kennedy Park Campground
No Service
Great sites, phenomenol hosts. LOVE the playground, and the culture; this is home during the summer months. Terrible WIFI, absolutely no cell coverage out here. Not sure how they justify raising camping rates here if the ameneties do not reflect modern needs for family enjoyment. Yes we like smores, and watching the birds, and fishing, and hiking; but so help me, we like our Netflix too, and I sure would like to be able to watch the weather report. Even Dish coverage is spotty out here. It's weird, we're not down in a valley or anything. Not sure why this is such a dead zone out here.
- DDave M.Guide
Ledges State Park Campground
Nice Campground
Canyon road and limestone cliffs are awesome. Secluded spots in the trees. If you have Verizon and rely on data this may not be the campground for you.
- A
Anthony W.GuideLedges State Park Campground
Scenic Hiking
I stayed at Ledges in June and hiked the trails again in February. The campground is well kept but busy in the summer months with it being a popular hiking destination for Des Moines locals. With most of the surrounding areas having little to no elevation changes there are a few nice hikes along some rocky hills beside the river both in summer and winter.
Taylor A.GuideBeach Campground — Brushy Creek State Recreation Area
Friendly environment
Great place to camp if you like fishing, horseback riding or a nice place to get away.
Fred S.
LegendLedges State Park Campground
Loved this state park
Large campground, accommodates RVs & tents. Wooded & open sites. Appear level. Clean restrooms & shower stalls. Water. Playground. Friendly & helpful campground host. 3 bars T-Mobile. Great hiking trails in park.
- bblaycee
ScoutLedges State Park Campground
Big campground
We have hiked here and it was really busy when we did. We decided to come back and camp a few months later. The campground was large but the DNR was helpful when finding our spot along with nice signs everywhere. We didn’t have any problems, people seemed friendly. Didn’t use the bathrooms but the outsides looked nice. We traveled to Des Moines when we stayed but there is lots to do near by. I would suggest the “high tressel trail” for bike riders, lots of cute bars to stop in along the way. Madrid has a bakery and some other cute places. Boone has a scenic train ride if that’s your thing. And the town of Luther, about 4 miles from the campground has a BBQ place that a lot of people travel to.
- AArt L.
TravelerLedges State Park Campground
Nice campground
Excellent amenities well run Very clean. Surroundings very pretty
- NNathan M.Traveler
Squirrel Hollow Co Park
Quiet and not crowded
The park is quite with some nice camping spots. Very quite with nobody around. The park could use some improvements but parks like these are my favorite!
Carolyn C.GuideLedges State Park Campground
Gorgeous State Park Campground
Great selection of campsites for a wide variety of needs. Wonderful views from most sites. Access to multiple walking trails. Beautiful, wooded setting. Clean bathrooms/showers.
Michael C.LegendLedges State Park Campground
Pretty Park
Bottom line. My bad but the site said electric. In all the other parks I’ve been to “electric” includes water. Which this park does not. Many trees, very pretty. Cell reception is weak.
Stephen P.ScoutLedges State Park Campground
Quiet and welcoming
Our camping experience was very nice. Pulling up to this park was surreal, considering the surrounding farmland that suddenly shows a lone forest. Some of the sites are pretty close, luckily we were next to a friendly couple with a cute dog. We were able to buy a good $5 bundle of firewood from the camp host. It was extremely quiet, until a camper pulled up with its generator. Still, a calming environment. A devious pack of raccoons stole our marshmallows (from a CLOSED bag) when we went in the tent for five minutes. So beware of that I guess 😂
- Matthew H.Traveler
Ledges State Park Campground
Popular site with great dispersion.
Picturesque location south of Boone Ia. Close to town with stores with plenty of camping supplies. Arrive early sites fill-up fast. Online site for reservations and to check site availability.
- SStephanie B.Traveler
North Equestrian Campground — Brushy Creek State Recreation Area
North Equine Campground
The only open site was in the North Equine Campground so we took a chance. We really did like the Campground, it was well maintained, clean and quiet. There were a few campers with horse but not many. Hitching posts behind each site which we enjoyed seeing. The roads inside the campground were all asphalt so lots of bikers enjoying rides around the grounds. There was also a nice playground for the kids surrounded by a well maintained, large, grassy area. There were many empty sites because so many had no electric. It made for lots of nice open space. Unfortunately, we had no shade in the afternoon so weren't able to eat dinner outside or enjoy a fire in the evening. We are fortunate we camped in a 5th wheel so we could escape the heat, we would have left after the first night otherwise.
We did drive through the Beach Campground and the South Equine Campground. Beach had very little shade and was primarily families with younger children. The beach looked real nice, not too crowded for a hot, July day. North Equine was where most of the horse folks were staying it was quite crowded. A very bustling area. 
Christina P.GuideLedges State Park Campground
Beautiful - lush
Coming here on a Hot Day in the summer is the best. Lush trees and water to wade in. Recommend the hikes and walking the water river beds.
N K.TravelerLedges State Park Campground
Go Faster!
Campsites have the right amount of privacy while being close to the clean bathroom & playground. Outside the campground is Canyon Road, with multiple trails great for hiking up and along the scenic ledges. The road crosses the river several times, and on the weekend these crossings are lined with children & adults demanding you “go faster” so they get splashed!
- SStaci I.Guide
North Equestrian Campground — Brushy Creek State Recreation Area
The Stars Were So Bright!
Camped here in order to be close to Fort Dodge first thing in the morning. I stayed in the Beach Campground. It's not on the beach, but close to it. There are 3 total campgrounds in the park. My choice was a very well manicured campground. The shower house was not open yet due to the time of year, but the drop latrine was open, very clean and well lit.
This little nugget is laid out on a vast prairie. Most sites have younger trees that provide some shade. This is not the big wooded type park. There are trails to get you out and away from the "park" and closer to the rustic woody nature.
Fire rings are all adjustable, sites are well kept and they offer "buddy sites" that are 2 sites really close together for those times when you bring friends, but have too many tents/vehicles to fall into the rules.
Verizon 4G fluctuated between 0-2 bars. Was able to send pictures and only dropped a call once.
Very little light pollution
- RRandiTraveler
North Equestrian Campground — Brushy Creek State Recreation Area
Wonderful
Great for tent camping, very spacious and grassy sites, clean, grill/fire pit was really very nice. Very clean and modern bathrooms, easy access to water. Hiking trails were well maintained. Can't wait to come again.
- AAdamGuide
South Equestrian Campground — Brushy Creek State Recreation Area
Big Park
This was a super cool state park, great amenities, level and spacious RV spots. We loved it and will go back if we're in that area again.
TMBGuideLedges State Park Campground
Surprise River Gorge in Iowa
Comfortable and scenic park in Iowa with forested trails, gorge, and natural water features amidst the farm fields and rolling hills. Campground sites are well spaced and mostly level, many with shade and decent privacy. Mix of hookups for different needs; access to water and trash was easy. The bathrooms were a bit dated and unclean when we visited, but not terrible. Good cell coverage in the area and we could do work and school with our Verizon Hotspot. Beware of the raccoons! They were not aggressive from the standpoint of approaching us, but they were brash in approaching camper and supplies after dark, and they were a constant presence at the dumpster. Do not leave food out! Deer and other small game/wildlife seem abundant. Trails were poorly signed, but the park is relatively small and getting lost or wandering does not have bad consequences; you'll find where you wanted to go without too much trouble.
- SStella S.Scout
North Equestrian Campground — Brushy Creek State Recreation Area
Nice surprise in Iowa
Great for an overnight on my road trip back the Denver. Clean bathrooms and showers.
- LLexi E.Scout
Ledges State Park Campground
Hidden away
My favorite part about this camp is the variety of sites offered. We went with a hike in site to throw some adventure into our lives. For only $11 a tent sit this place is amazing. Trees everywhere with privacy if wanted or also a great social scene. Honestly this camp is for anyone. The trails around the park are also amazing. Just don’t leave a Cheeto bag out on accident when you fall asleep because raccoons can smell everything, and when they do, they own the place.
Willy W.
RangerLedges State Park Campground
Ledges
Ledges State Park
Ledges is an amazing place. It has so much to do. There are long trails to hike, creeks to play in.
You can bring your tent or RV and camp. The RV camps have water/sewer hookups. The primitive tent sites are usually pretty clean and can get pretty busy on the weekends.
There are lots of bridges that get flooded out and are fun to drive over. Most of the kids like to hang out near them and get splashed.
Its a fantastic place to enjoy the outdoors and especially in the fall. Also if you go to Ames stop at Great Plains pizza company.
Andrea H.GuideSouth Equestrian Campground — Brushy Creek State Recreation Area
Relaxing never bored
First time camping at south campground. Loving it so far! Restrooms/showers and playgrounds are all still closed due to covid but there is still plenty to do! Walking, hiking and exploring. People are here camping with their horses but the campground is still nice and quiet.
- AAnna C.Guide
North Equestrian Campground — Brushy Creek State Recreation Area
Beautiful
Open for off season camping. 14$/night for full hookups with pull thru RV sites.
- DDave M.Guide
Squirrel Hollow Co Park
Rustic Country Campground
Original Park in Greene County
Guide to Ames
Horse camping in Iowa offers a unique blend of outdoor adventure and equestrian-friendly amenities, making it a great choice for riders and their horses.
Campers appreciate these amenities for horses
- The North Equestrian Campground — Brushy Creek State Recreation Area features hitching posts behind each site, allowing easy access for horse owners.
- At the South Equestrian Campground — Brushy Creek State Recreation Area, spacious RV spots and clean facilities create a comfortable environment for both campers and their horses.
- The Beach Campground — Brushy Creek State Recreation Area is ideal for those who enjoy fishing and horseback riding, providing a friendly atmosphere for equestrian activities.
Tips for equestrian camping near Ames, Iowa
- When visiting the Ledges State Park Campground, be prepared for scenic hikes along rocky hills, perfect for exploring with your horse.
- The Dallas County Fairgrounds offers a clean and economical option for horse camping, with friendly staff to assist you during your stay.
- For a quieter experience, consider the Squirrel Hollow Co Park, which provides rustic camping spots and a peaceful environment for you and your horse.
Most campgrounds have horse-focused amenities like trails and facilities
- The Webster County Kennedy Park Campground features well-maintained trails that are perfect for horseback riding, along with clean restrooms and showers.
- At the North Equestrian Campground — Brushy Creek State Recreation Area, asphalt roads make it easy for bikers and horseback riders to navigate the area.
- The South Equestrian Campground — Brushy Creek State Recreation Area is known for its spacious sites and access to various trails, making it a favorite among equestrian campers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Ames, IA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Ames, IA is Ledges State Park Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 39 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Ames, IA?
TheDyrt.com has all 7 equestrian camping locations near Ames, IA, with real photos and reviews from campers.