Campers near Atkins, Iowa find themselves at 840 feet above sea level in eastern Iowa's rolling hills. The Atkins area features wooded terrain with seasonal oak and maple canopies, interspersed with open prairie sections. Winter camping opportunities continue through December at several locations, with temperatures typically ranging from 20-45°F during late fall months.
What to do
Hiking trails: Pleasant Creek State Recreation Area Campground offers an 8-mile loop trail around the lake with moderate elevation changes. "There is a nice hiking trail around the lake, about 8 miles complete loop. There is a bit of elevation change and not many opportunities to 'bail out' so take water and pace yourself," notes Mitch C.
Fishing access: At Cedar River Campground, anglers can access multiple fishing points along the Cedar River. The campground maintains fish cleaning stations for day use. "This is a great campground. 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," explains Chad R.
Paddling opportunities: F. W. Kent Park provides paddling access with mowed paths connecting campsites to the water. Lisa S. observed, "I had a large, private site that had a mowed path leading to the lake. The large lake is beautifully landscaped with walking bridges made from recycled iron and memorial trees of many varieties."
What campers like
Spacious sites: Sugar Bottom Campground offers generous site dimensions with lake views. "We proceeded to back-in site 61 with water and electric(50/30/20 AMP). We were one and done on what we thought might be a more difficult back-in, but there was enough level ditch in front to allow an easy swing," shares MickandKarla W.
Clean facilities: Linn County Park Morgan Creek Campground maintains well-kept restrooms and showers. Kristin B. reports, "Great little campground. Beautiful park with trails and playgrounds. Site was great and had everything we needed. Bathrooms were very well kept. Love this park."
Low crowds: Many campgrounds near Atkins offer quieter weekday camping experiences. At Modern North Campground — Lake Macbride State Park, campers find "Very quiet midweek in October which was great because there would be no privacy between the small sites," according to Adam J.
What you should know
Seasonal operations: Most RV sites near Atkins, Iowa close between October and April. Cedar River Campground operates from April 15 to October 15, with 185 available sites. As Big D. notes about seasonal closures, "Only ones left are scared, no place to move to."
Reservation needs: Summer weekends fill quickly, especially at larger campgrounds. "Weekends are pretty much sold out," reports David J. about Pleasant Creek State Recreation Area.
Vehicle policies: Campgrounds strictly enforce parking regulations. "The Ranger Man enforced a 2 car per campsite rule. He forced 3 over 65 couples to drive to a parking lots and I shuttled them back and forth," explains one Pleasant Creek visitor.
Leveling requirements: RV campers should bring leveling blocks for most sites. Jacob B. observed about Lake Macbride, "This park has two campgrounds. The modern side on the north end of the park with full hookups, and the primitive side on the south side of the park with no electricity or water hookups."
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly amenities: Beyonder Getaway at Lazy Acres offers multiple activities for children. David W. recommends, "Great owners, loads of stuff for kids (putt putt, paddle boats, horseshoes, basketball, Gaga, trampoline, playground)."
Playground access: Multiple campgrounds feature play structures. At F. W. Kent Park, campers appreciate "a few playgrounds that my grandkids loved. We were there on a lovely night and had a great campfire," according to Sue K.
Swimming options: Lake Macbride features maintained swimming areas during summer months. Delrealist S. reports, "This site was super easy to do same day booking campsite. Had a bathroom with showers and multiple water wells spread out."
Tips from RVers
Cost considerations: Electric-only sites at F. W. Kent Park run $20 per night with dump stations available at the entrance. James notes, "Beautiful, very large, clean, quiet, $20 for RV Campspot with electric, sewer dump at park entrance."
Site selection strategies: At Amana RV Park & Event Center, RVers recommend selecting sites away from event center traffic. Mike C. advises, "Recommend getting site well away from any of the entrances or roads that lead to event center."
Off-season advantages: Shoulder season camping offers quieter experiences with better site availability. Christoph R. found Amana RV Park to be "functional but barren. The campground is great for RVs and anybody who has a setup that doesn't rely on shaded areas. The hosts had a super efficient hygiene protocol to get you to your spot."
Cell service quality: Most campgrounds offer usable cell coverage, with Jeremy B. noting at Lake Macbride, "good Starlink north clearing (site 13)."
