Best Camping near Atlantic, IA

Atlantic is the perfect place for adventurous campers and RVers. Atlantic is a great camping destination for everyone. There are tons of nearby hikes, adventurous activities, and sights to see. Get the dirt on all the best camping near Atlantic. Browse campgrounds by amenities, site types, and more.

Best Camping Sites Near Atlantic, IA (85)

Showing results 1-10 of 85 campgrounds

Pet-friendly camping near Atlantic

Recent Reviews in Atlantic

291 Reviews of 85 Atlantic Campgrounds


  • RThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Littlefield Rec Area
    Nov. 11, 2024

    Littlefield Rec Area

    Great, quiet place to stay!

    Ok, so I stayed 3 nights, the second week of November. It was myself and two other campers who were there together. We had the entire campground to ourselves. Water was on and the bathrooms were open and clean! I happened upon a site with full hookups and it was $20.00 a night. I’m guessing in the regular season these would either be taken or they might charge more. Anyway, great relaxing stay! ****No cellular service available ***. I was able to get nominal service with an external antenna and booster…

  • Gudrun C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Adair City Park
    Oct. 16, 2024

    Adair City Park

    Convenient Spot

    No frills spot for an easy stop off I-80. Only 2 other campers the night we stayed. Great Mexican restaurant 2 blocks away.

  • stephen W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Hitchcock County Nature Center
    Oct. 11, 2024

    Hitchcock County Nature Center

    Stay for the trails

    I pulled in late at night easy to navigate stayed the next day and did some trails apparently the land formations are 1 of only 2 in the world how about that Iowa.

  • RThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Lenon Mill Park
    Sep. 29, 2024

    Lenon Mill Park

    Pretty basic, great for an overnight

    I stayed here one night while I was traveling. It was a Saturday so the campground was kind of busy. People shouting and loud music. Lots of trucks with noisy exhausts coming and going all day. I'm sure it's more quiet during the week.

    Some of the sites are well shaded, and you can access the water. It looked like people had been finding clams (they left the shells all over the picnic table). People were fishing here.

    The power pedestals are far back from the parking pad for some reason. If you back all the way into your spot or if you have a long cord you should be fine. There was only a 50A outlet so I needed to use an adapter for my 30A camper.

    There is one water spigot, and no dump station.

    There are bathrooms, but no showers.

    I had great T-mobile signal here (5G, 160 down and 20 up). And a somewhat decent 4G Verizon signal (70 down, 12 up).

    The Guthrie County Historical Village& Museum is a 5 minute walk away. It's not open evenings or weekends but there is interesting stuff to walk around and see even when closed. The railroad cars are very cool.

  • SThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Pottawattamie County Fairgrounds
    Sep. 25, 2024

    Pottawattamie County Fairgrounds

    Cheap and easy to get to from the highway

    This is a no-frills stop off on a road trip kind of place. The bathrooms were pretty gross and there are lights on all night so hopefully you have a blackout tent or good shades on your RV. It's nothing to write home about but it was quiet and I slept well. I would stay again

  • B
    Camper-submitted photo from Hitchcock County Nature Center
    Sep. 19, 2024

    Hitchcock County Nature Center

    Meh, for tent camping

    Stopped overnight in late August. Did not want to drag our gear up/down a hill to the tent campsites in the lower loop. Paid more to stay in the upper RV loop where we listened to a neighbor's generator all night. Pretty buggy. Showers/toilets okay. Note there are at least 2 railroads running nearby in the wee hours of the morning. Also, this is on the flight path for jets leaving (I assume) the Omaha airport. Not a restful night--won't be back.

  • Laura W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Green Valley State Park Campground
    Aug. 23, 2024

    Green Valley State Park Campground

    Timing is everything!

    Pretty grounds with woodland coverage on all sides in addition to the lake. We visited in August and realized it was prime family vacation time before school starts up again, so a little crowded and noisy. Spots are pretty close together too. But the grounds are quite lovely and the facilities were super clean. We plan to go back when Autumn arrives, mid week. Bonus easy shore fishing access.

  • Alika T.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Adair City Park
    Jul. 31, 2024

    Adair City Park

    Awesome little campsites!

    $15 full power / $6 tents / $5 dump only. They have 110 power as well as regular hookups. Playground, tennis / pickleball courts, little zip line, and covered picnic area.

  • C
    Camper-submitted photo from Lake Manawa State Park Campground
    Jul. 26, 2024

    Lake Manawa State Park Campground

    Not great for tents

    This campsite seems nice, but with blaring Omaha heat and no trees, the heat here is absolutely brutal. It was mid July and still 96 degrees at 7:00pm, so I ended up leaving knowing it would be too hot for a comfortable night sleep. Beautiful view of the lake and short walk to the swimming beach.

  • Randall K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Bluffs Run RV Park at Horseshoe Casino
    Jul. 19, 2024

    Bluffs Run RV Park at Horseshoe Casino

    Simple, easy and free

    Great spot! Easy on/off. Was $45 for overnight with amenities.

    We opted for the free stay which was great. Nice, flat parking lot with other rv’s and tractor trailers off to the side.

    Slept great. Used the casino bathrooms and really liked it for a free overnight. Casino is fun too!

    Would def stay here again. Felt very safe and well lit. Noise was minimal and only came from the tractor trailers. If I had parked at the other end I wouldn’t have even heard it.

    Got take out from Modern Love to bring back. Molo is amazing - all vegan and most GF too. Never pass through Omaha without a visit there. Great way to end the night.

  • Thomas P.
    Camper-submitted photo from Beaver Lake Campground
    Jul. 9, 2024

    Beaver Lake Campground

    Simple for overnight

    This campground is on the side of a lake. You hear beavers at night, see rabbits are on the sides of the lot. We came late around 8pm and the owner helped us fill the form and pick our spot. The only drawback are the restrooms which were ok but smelly.

  • SThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Hitchcock County Nature Center
    Jul. 5, 2024

    Hitchcock County Nature Center

    Amazing!!

    We camp all the time at different locations, and I 100% recommend this campground! The hosts are so polite and helpful and they keep the place immaculate. Even the pit toilets were spotless and didn’t smell. The hosts went around several times a day collecting trash and even mopping the pit bathrooms. Camping here also gives you access to the playground and nature trails into some beautiful countryside. The only downside is bring several bottles of bugspray, the mosquitos are terrible!

  • Madison H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Arrowhead Park Pottawattamie County Park
    Jul. 5, 2024

    Arrowhead Park Pottawattamie County Park

    10 out of 10

    This was the perfect place for us — just passing through on our way out to Wyoming. This camp ground is awesome all around — especially for tent campers. Absolutely beautiful views of the lake and so many open camp sites even on the 4th of July. I wish we could have spent more time here.

  • a
    Camper-submitted photo from Arrowhead Park Pottawattamie County Park
    Jun. 15, 2024

    Arrowhead Park Pottawattamie County Park

    Perfect getaway

    Perfect place to get away for the weekend. Grounds are clean bathrooms are clean. Shout out to Dave the park ranger for being very generous. We drove from Davenport to stay here for Father’s Day weekend and we will definitely be back. You also can tent camp right next to the water as well. Love it!

  • Renee H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Des Moines West KOA Holiday
    May. 23, 2024

    Des Moines West KOA Holiday

    Nice modern KOA

    Large modern KOA with sites to accommodate all sizes of rigs and also tent campers. Gravel sites require some leveling. Not much privacy between sites nor shade. Bathhouses were clean and private. Laundry available. Off leash dog area available. Convenient to John Wayne’s birthplace and covered bridges of Madison County. Bulk propane tanks were on site for winter campers. Camper cabins available. Small store with Hunt Brothers pizza to order. Gathering room on site and pedal car racetrack. Verizon cell signal was good. Garbage dumpster and dump station on site.

  • Brian M.
    Camper-submitted photo from CAB Campground
    May. 21, 2024

    CAB Campground

    I gave 5 stars. There are no frills here!

    There are no frills here just quiet and the essentials, elec, water and sewer for $25/night. Great communication. If you're traveling near it's an inexpensive place to get some rest.

  • Paula C.
    Camper-submitted photo from Bluffs Run RV Park at Horseshoe Casino
    May. 5, 2024

    Bluffs Run RV Park at Horseshoe Casino

    Great Free Stop

    We called the casino & they told us we could park in the lot for free. If you want electricity & ahowers, you can pay. We just needed a place to sleep as there are not a lot of campgrounds here. Highway was a bit noisy and a distant train was heard twice through the night. No one bothered us which was all we needed! Got a shower at a nearby truck stop. Big open lot with lots of space. Also had a dumpter I made use of (small bag of car trash).

  • CThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Hitchcock County Nature Center
    Apr. 10, 2024

    Hitchcock County Nature Center

    One of the best places ever.

    Only spent one night but would have stayed longer if we would have had time. Nice clean bathhouse and restrooms. Lots of hiking trails and even hiking sticks. We really enjoyed this short stay!

  • Danni A.
    Camper-submitted photo from Lake Icaria Co Park
    Apr. 9, 2024

    Lake Icaria Co Park

    Beautiful Views

    This campground has beautiful views of the lake. The sites are very close together. Everything was very clean when we were there.

  • Cire C.
    Camper-submitted photo from Pottawattamie County Fairgrounds
    Mar. 2, 2024

    Pottawattamie County Fairgrounds

    Overnight or Long Term

    We have been coming to this campground every year. They have recently open during the winter which is great because not many campground are open during this time. Steve is such a great guy who is always looking out for you.

  • RN P.
    Camper-submitted photo from Swan Lake State Park Campground
    Oct. 21, 2023

    Swan Lake State Park Campground

    Perfect

    Tented camped in late October, the weekend before closing.  I was only tent camper in the electric only sites.  If there was a tent only location, I didn't see it.  Those in campers that need water and electricity are regulated to gravel 'parking lot' sites.

    Beautiful park with playgrounds, swim beach, fisbee golf, paved trail, many fishing bars, and more.  

    Electric only sites are small and spaced out well.  Most have level drive perfect for sm camper or suv camping. Grass has slope, but I think you can find a good enough place for tent, I did.  Bathroom clean enough, I didn't use showers. I enjoyed the privacy of lake-front site J.

  • Ryan S.
    Camper-submitted photo from Botna Bend County Park
    Sep. 21, 2023

    Botna Bend County Park

    Another great Iowa county park

    Iowa has many great county parks, and this one is no exception. There are three campgrounds in the park. The South campground, Middle campground, and North campground.

    The South campground is closed for renovations. I read they are adding full hookups to this campground. The Verizon signal at this campground is usable for calls& text, but internet speeds are slow. Streaming will probably work but a video call will probably not. 

    The middle campground has nice level spots, and a nice shower house with warm water. There are 4 individual bathrooms, each with a shower. This campground had about the same Verizon signal as the South campground- good enough for calls and texting.

    The North campground has grass sites with more space between them than at the other two campgrounds. This North campground does not have a shower house, but it has a two room bathroom with running water. The Verizon signal at this campground is a strong 5G signal with great speeds. I also tested T-mobile and AT&T at this campground, and they were plenty usable but no where near as fast as Verizon.

    There is a meat shop and a sports bar restaurant within walking distance from the park. The walk within the park is a long walk. From the North campground to the registration box at the entrance is about 1 mile.

    While at the park I saw deer, raccoons, turkeys, and a 4 inch caterpillar crossing the road. There are also bison and elk in a fenced in area.



Guide to Atlantic

Camping near Atlantic, Iowa, offers a mix of beautiful landscapes and friendly campgrounds. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or a fun family adventure, there are plenty of options to explore.

What to do

  • Hiking and Nature Trails: Many campgrounds, like Hitchcock County Nature Center, have great trails. One camper mentioned, "Camping here also gives you access to the playground and nature trails into some beautiful countryside."
  • Fishing: The Lake Anita State Park Campground is perfect for fishing enthusiasts. A visitor shared, "My 35-foot rig made it to the back-in spot easily," highlighting the accessibility for larger setups.
  • Exploring Covered Bridges: The area is known for its historic covered bridges. A camper at Winterset City Park noted, "Nice city park campground close to lots of covered bridges and other things to see."

What campers like

  • Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate well-maintained restrooms and showers. One review for Arrowhead Park Campground stated, "The grounds offer plenty of mowed trails to walk about which we enjoyed a lot with our dogs over the weekend."
  • Friendly Hosts: Many campgrounds have welcoming staff. A visitor at Des Moines West KOA Holiday said, "Staff is one of the nicest and most helpful we've ever encountered."
  • Spacious Sites: Campers enjoy having room to spread out. A review for Timberline Campground mentioned, "Timberline is among my favorite campgrounds, always has great people, nice shade trees, fun pool, and quality facilities."

What you should know

  • Reservations Recommended: Many campgrounds fill up quickly, especially during peak season. A camper at Pammel County Park noted, "If you don't reserve a site at the beginning of the year, you are out of luck."
  • Limited Amenities: Some campgrounds, like Walnut Creek Lake & Recreation Area, may not have showers or trash services. A visitor mentioned, "There was a dumpster that I used, didn't pack out my trash."
  • Wildlife Encounters: Be prepared for wildlife sightings. A camper at Lake of Three Fires State Park shared, "There are lots of deer in the area at all hours of the day."

Tips for camping with families

  • Playgrounds and Activities: Look for campgrounds with playgrounds. One review for Hitchcock County Nature Center mentioned, "The hosts are so polite and helpful and they keep the place immaculate."
  • Family-Friendly Facilities: Choose campgrounds with clean bathrooms and showers. A visitor at Lake Anita State Park Campground said, "Nice campground, clean, beautiful lake with bike path/walking trail around the entire lake."
  • Outdoor Activities: Engage in outdoor fun like fishing or hiking. A camper at Prairie Rose State Park noted, "We stayed during the campground's last weekend in October, and loved it."

Tips from RVers

  • Check Site Sizes: Make sure to check the size of the sites before booking. A review for Des Moines West KOA Holiday mentioned, "Gravel sites require some leveling."
  • Bring Cash: Some campgrounds may require cash for payment. A camper at Arrowhead Park Campground reminded, "Friendly reminder to bring CASH."
  • Plan for Dump Stations: Ensure you know where the nearest dump station is located. A visitor at Walnut Creek Lake & Recreation Area shared, "Dump station by the entrance."

Camping near Atlantic, Iowa, has something for everyone, from families to solo adventurers. With clean facilities, friendly hosts, and plenty of outdoor activities, it’s a great spot to unwind and enjoy nature.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What camping is available near Atlantic, IA?

    According to TheDyrt.com, Atlantic, IA offers a wide range of camping options, with 85 campgrounds and RV parks near Atlantic, IA and 1 free dispersed camping spot.

  • Which is the most popular campground near Atlantic, IA?

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Atlantic, IA is Lake Anita State Park Campground with a 4-star rating from 24 reviews.

  • Where can I find free dispersed camping near Atlantic, IA?

    According to TheDyrt.com, there is 1 free dispersed camping spot near Atlantic, IA.

  • What parks are near Atlantic, IA?

    According to TheDyrt.com, there are 5 parks near Atlantic, IA that allow camping, notably Saylorville Lake and Lake Red Rock.