Best Campgrounds near Atkins, IA

Campgrounds near Atkins, Iowa feature diverse amenities and settings within a short driving distance. Pleasant Creek State Recreation Area Campground stands as a popular destination approximately 15 miles north of Atkins, offering tent sites, RV hookups, cabins, and glamping options. The region includes several county-managed properties such as Morgan Creek County Park and Linn County Park Morgan Creek Campground, both providing traditional camping experiences with electric hookups. Most developed campgrounds in the area accommodate both tent and RV camping, with several locations featuring water access for fishing and boating activities.

Camping availability in the region typically runs from April through October, with most facilities closing for winter. "The camp sites were nice and the restrooms were not bad. There is plenty of access to the lake for fishing whether it's from shore or on a boat," noted one visitor about Pleasant Creek State Recreation Area. Many campgrounds operate on a first-come, first-served basis, which can make securing sites challenging during peak summer weekends. Road access generally consists of paved and maintained gravel roads suitable for most vehicles, though some primitive sites may require walking or hiking in. Weather considerations include potential flooding along the Cedar River, which can limit access to certain campgrounds during spring. Most developed sites provide at minimum pit toilets, with many offering shower facilities and electrical hookups.

Several visitors highlight the natural setting as a key feature of the camping experience around Atkins. At Morgan Creek Park, campers appreciate the combination of accessibility and natural surroundings. According to one visitor, "Morgan Creek has amazing trails and the location is fantastic if you are looking for the camping experience but still have work or other things to get done." The Amana RV Park & Event Center, located near the historic Amana Colonies southwest of Atkins, provides a more developed camping experience with full hookups and proximity to cultural attractions. Primitive camping options exist at locations like Wickiup Hill, where pack-in sites offer a more secluded experience with basic amenities. Most campgrounds in the region provide fire rings and picnic tables, with firewood often available for purchase on-site.

Best Camping Sites Near Atkins, Iowa (110)

    1. Amana RV Park & Event Center

    10 Reviews
    Amana, IA
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (319) 622-7616

    $25 - $42 / night

    "Relatively wide open, sites adjacent to one another. Utilities all worked fine, decently maintained."

    "Campground is a nice bike ride away from the Amana villages and overall a great base camp"

    2. Pleasant Creek State Recreation Area Campground

    6 Reviews
    Shellsburg, IA
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (319) 436-7716

    $12 - $60 / night

    "We stayed here for the easy access to the water for the Scouts to get out in canoes and fishing.  I have been camping here off and on for the last 25 years.  I have not had any issues at all. "

    "There is plenty of access to the lake for fishing whether it's from shore or on a boat."

    3. Linn County Park Morgan Creek Campground

    4 Reviews
    Atkins, IA
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (319) 892-6450

    "Trails close by and only about 5 min from expressway."

    "Morgan Creek has amazing trails and the location is fantastic if you are looking for the camping expirence but still have work or other things to get done."

    4. F. W. Kent Park

    18 Reviews
    Oxford, IA
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (319) 645-2315

    $20 / night

    "We stayed during an Iowa Football weekend, attended the game in nearby Iowa City, and then enjoyed the rest of our weekend exploring the ponds and trails in the park."

    "It is the perfect camping destination between Amana colonies and Iowa City."

    5. Sugar Bottom Campground

    24 Reviews
    North Liberty, IA
    22 miles
    Website
    +1 (319) 624-2102

    $14 - $240 / night

    "Very nice COE campground north of Iowa City in the Lake Coralville area. Beautiful setting, lots of options for sites."

    "Nice grassy sites near lake for fishing, hiking, wildlife viewing. Near Iowa Raptor Project that conducts raptor programs and site with walking tour and live raptors, and Macbride State Park as well."

    6. Morgan Creek County Park

    3 Reviews
    Palo, IA
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (319) 396-2363

    $23 - $40 / night

    7. Modern North Campground — Lake Macbride State Park

    15 Reviews
    Solon, IA
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (319) 624-2200

    $20 / night

    "My niece who lives nearby recommended this place to stay when we went to visit her since was a short drive from where she lives. "

    "Close access to boating and town"

    8. Wanatee Park (formerly Squaw Creek)

    6 Reviews
    Marion, IA
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (319) 892-6450

    $23 - $33 / night

    "We camped at this park for 9 nights with W/E on site with a dump upon exit/entrance.  Our site was unlevel but was able to get the RV right with tri-levelers. "

    "There are a variety of sites to choose from, nice trees, and a beautiful wildflower field to walk through."

    9. Wickiup Hill Primitive Campsite

    2 Reviews
    Toddville, IA
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (319) 892-6485

    $54 / night

    "Linn County, Iowa, county pack in Primitive site is near nature scape, pit toilets, offers fire pit with sitting blocks and firewood included with camp fee, nature center just yards away, trails, forested"

    "The site offers primitive amenities near Wikiup Hill learning Center. Taking a short trail to the site, the permanent wake up offers shelter, fire ring with grate, and restrooms nearby."

    10. Palisades-Kepler State Park Campground

    9 Reviews
    Ely, IA
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (319) 895-6039

    $12 - $80 / night

    "Great walking trails through wooded areas near the river. Beautiful place."

    "Situated along the Cedar river, fishing and paddling can be done. Lots of trails, CG and cabins closed for winter season for improvements and online reservations."

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Recent Reviews near Atkins, IA

383 Reviews of 110 Atkins Campgrounds


  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 13, 2025

    Central Park

    Late Season Camping

    Great weather.. The sites were clean.. Small lake to fish and kayak!

  • PThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 1, 2025

    Linder Point Campground

    Well designed and maintained small RV campground j

    Natural setting with plenty of trees and located near Coralville Reservoir. Paved roads and sites. Ample roam for big rigs, but no pull through sites. Electricity only, with fresh water and a dump station nearby. Modern and clean bathhouse. Open sky at most sites for Starlink. No other amenities at this campsite for children, but there are hiking trails and activities at the nearby reservoir recreation areas.

  • Stuart K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 1, 2025

    Diamond Lake County Park

    Campground Diamond In The Rough

    Following up on my review from over a year and a half ago, I’m adding a bunch of additional photos as well as an abbreviated post pointing out the HIGHS and LOWS of this county park campground gem in a very rural part of Iowa.

    HIGHLIGHTS: (1) EZ access and just a 20 minute / 9 mile drive due south from I-80 via Exit 201; (2) Incredibly well-manicured campground – very clean and well-organized; (3) Superb Midwestern hospitality from the CG staff and camping community; (4) The RV area looks to be brand spanking-new and offers very nice FHUs and fairly spacious areas as well as most have an excellent view of Lake Diamond; (5) The hiking trails and bountiful fishing spots make this a simply wonderful campground; (6) Incredibly simple honor system to accessing any site on a first-come, first-served basis – simply stick your money in an envelope and pick out whatever location suits you; (7) While basic, the bathhouses were in pretty good condition and very clean; (8) Kid’s playground is fantastic and nearly brand new; (9) Reasonably priced bundles of pre-cut firewood; and (10) Overall the overnight price to stay here, whether RV or tent-camping is very cheap, so great value for $

    LOWLIGHTS: (1) There’s no security gate to prevent any wandering traffic in here, although you are so far out in the boondocks, it’s not really much of a concern; (2) The newly minted RV area slopes down to the lake, but as you park perpendicular, it shouldn’t be an issue; (3) Also, because the RV area is new, there’s no trees or brush, which creates a lack of privacy between sites; (4) Nearly all of the RV slots – save the few that are right next to the lake - have no shade, so bring your own awning or shelter; (5) Some sites have very close proximity to their neighbors; (6) Picnic tables & fire rings, at least in the tent camping areas, are worn-out and in pretty poor condition and should be replaced or refurbished; (7) The water in Lake Diamond is quite dark and murky, so unless you are an adventurous soul, I don’t recommend swimming here

    Happy Camping!

  • Emily B.
    Sep. 21, 2025

    River Junction

    Great views and location, but not private and not well-marked

    This was our first time camping here. We pulled in around 8pm when it was already dark and there was another car that had just entered the campground in front of us. After driving down the hill, he saw the basic “welcome” and “Pay here” signs next to a 4-car parking area. There were no signs marking where the bathroom was or any directions on how to choose a site. The group ahead of us chose to camp next to the boat ramp, so we circled around the loop and chose a dirt pad on the right side of the loop next to the river. We were very confused because the pictures on Dyrt showed picnic tables and fire rings at every site, but these were nowhere to be seen. It was getting late, so we set up the tent and went to bed. It wasn’t until the morning that we had discovered that we weren’t camping in one of the marked sites! As it turns out, all 4 sites were walk-in sites on grass behind the parking area that had been occupied by 2 cars when we pulled in. The signage didn’t clarify this and we couldn’t see the marked sites when it was dark! The marked sites were pretty close together and they offered no privacy between groups. Additionally, upon leaving we discovered that the toilet was on the top of the hill right by the entrance. Due to the lack of signage and privacy in between the official campsites, I rate 3 stars. It was very beautiful and peaceful, but it was very confusing in the dark.

  • Allen B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 9, 2025

    Diamond Lake County Park

    Diamond lake

    Clean showers & flush toilet’s. No hand towels. Sites are close together. Some road noise. But overall a nice campground for one night.

  • Jorge F.
    Sep. 8, 2025

    Cedar River Campground

    Good place to go camping with friends and family.

    “This place became my wife’s and daughters’ favorite this year. It is a place where everyone who visits is very kind and respectful. The managers are always courteous and attentive.”

  • Steve T.
    Sep. 7, 2025

    Saulsbury Bridge Rec Area - Cedar River Campground

    Enjoyable Stay

    The sites are spaced apart well and clean with a beautiful view of the Cedar River. If you camp on the riverside campground be sure to bring a bike or extra vehicle if you camp on the far end because the bathrooms are bit of a walk. And bring a grate with you for your fire ring as some have them and some don’t. All and all it was an enjoyable stay with a fantastic view, even caught a few fish since our campsite was literally on the river edge

  • Isaac H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 24, 2025

    Deerwood Park

    Cash Only

    Good place to camp. Seems safe and friendly. Only down side is that it's cash only. Who carries cash these days?!

  • Clifton B.
    Aug. 18, 2025

    Lake Iowa County Park

    Very nice campground off the beaten path

    Wife and I met friends here in August 2025.  This was the middle between us & them as we live in CO and they live in NY.  The campground was very well maintained.  Shower rooms & restrooms were very clean and all were functional.  We really enjoyed the long weekend here.  Be advised tho, we were not adequately prepared for the humidity in August.  Being from Colorado where we live at much higher altitudes & we didnt expect the humidity to affect us as it did.  Not a bad thing, we were just used to 15% max and that weekend we saw 90% with 90 degrees.  Wife and I will likely return and see more of the Amana communities in the fall.


Guide to Atkins

Camping sites near Atkins, Iowa offer access to both wooded settings and water recreation within a 20-mile radius. Located in eastern Iowa, the region experiences four distinct seasons, with summer temperatures averaging 80-85°F—making May through September the prime camping period. Fall camping extends into October with cooler temperatures and seasonal color changes, while most facilities close between November and March.

What to do

Hiking trails and natural areas: At Wickiup Hill Primitive Campsite, campers can access nature trails and educational opportunities. "Taking a short trail to the site, the permanent wake up offers shelter, fire ring with grate, and restrooms nearby. Along the trail into the site, you will find a large play area for families," notes one visitor.

Water recreation options: F.W. Kent Park provides swimming and paddling opportunities on its lake. A camper reports, "I was there in early October so the weather was too chilly to use the nice beach," suggesting summer visitors take advantage of water activities. The park features "a large lake beautifully landscaped with walking bridges made from recycled iron and memorial trees of many varieties."

Mountain biking: Local trail systems connect to several campgrounds. At Wanatee Park, visitors appreciate "access to the squaw creek man bike single track" and note the "sites are nice, and easy access to town if you forgot stuff."

What campers like

Privacy levels: Pleasant Creek State Recreation Area Campground offers secluded tent sites. "The tent sites are very nice and private. There are waist high prairie flowers between the sites to provide privacy and beauty," writes one camper, who also noted the "new picnic tables" and "lots of shade."

Accessible outdoor experiences: Morgan Creek County Park balances nature with convenience. "This is a first come first serve campground. No reservations can be made. There were mostly RVers, but some tent campers were also scattered throughout the grounds," reports a visitor who found "the bathroom was pretty nice and clean" and "the grounds were beautiful."

Cultural attractions: Amana RV Park & Event Center serves as a base for exploring the historic Amana Colonies. "Great place, 1 mile from Amana. Our second stay here, from Louisiana. Good food in Amana," shares one repeat visitor. Another notes it's "a great location right in the Amana Colonies to explore the area. There are sites for tents up to big rigs."

What you should know

Reservation systems: Many campgrounds operate with different booking systems. At Palisades-Kepler State Park Campground, reservations are recommended, but issues can occur: "We made a reservation for a nice summer weekend but when we arrived someone was in our site. Luckily there was one more site available where the ranger asked us to stay instead."

Site characteristics: Terrain varies significantly between campgrounds. "Campsites kinda small and hilly" at Palisades-Kepler, while F.W. Kent Park offers "large, private sites" with some featuring "a mowed path leading to the lake."

Weather considerations: Summer storms can impact camping conditions. One camper at Amana RV Park noted, "Only minus is that most roads are gravel and if it rains a lot, there are puddles everywhere and it is pretty soft coming in and out of sites."

Tips for camping with families

Educational opportunities: Families will find learning experiences at several parks. "Linn County, Iowa, county pack in Primitive site is near nature scape, pit toilets, offers fire pit with sitting blocks and firewood included with camp fee, nature center just yards away," explains a visitor to Wickiup Hill.

Kid-friendly amenities: Playgrounds and beaches enhance family camping experiences. "You can find a large play area for families" at Wickiup Hill, while F.W. Kent Park has "plenty of campsite offerings with good amenities. Paddling, fishing, hiking, swimming, to name a few."

Site selection for families: Choose sites based on proximity to bathrooms and activities. At Pleasant Creek, families appreciate that "it's a great recreational area, and a beautiful campground, tent camping is a breeze with very secluded sites, and well water very close to each site and a trail that leads to a large dumpster."

Tips from RVers

Hookup availability: RV campsites offer varying levels of service. Wanatee Park provides electric hookups with "very spacious" sites. A camper who stayed 9 nights noted, "Our site was unlevel but was able to get the RV right with tri-levelers. The sites are very spacious with some shade, a fire ring, and picnic table provided."

Access considerations: Some campgrounds better accommodate larger RVs. At Amana RV Park, "There are sites for tents up to big rigs. They have showers and laundry and the folks are very nice. Services work well and wifi is strong."

Seasonal scheduling: Many RVers find advantages in off-peak visits. One camper at F.W. Kent Park commented, "Driving cross country, this was my favorite campground" and noted visiting in early October provided a quieter experience with "a large, private site that had a mowed path leading to the lake."

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular campground near Atkins, IA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Atkins, IA is Amana RV Park & Event Center with a 4.5-star rating from 10 reviews.