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Camping near Audubon, IA

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    Campgrounds near Audubon, Iowa provide diverse accommodations across several recreational areas in the surrounding countryside. Albert the Bull Campground, located directly in Audubon, features both tent and RV sites with electric hookups and water access, set around the town's notable landmark statue. Prairie Rose State Park Campground, situated approximately 22 miles southwest near Harlan, offers a more natural setting with lakeside camping, cabin rentals, and both electric and primitive sites. The region includes a mix of city parks, state recreation areas, and county-managed facilities, with most campgrounds operating seasonally from April through October or December.

    Most campgrounds in the Audubon area maintain paved interior roads with level gravel sites suitable for both tents and RVs. The camping season generally runs from spring through late fall, with many facilities closing water systems during winter months. Reservation requirements vary by location - Prairie Rose State Park and Lake Anita State Park accept advance bookings, while smaller facilities like Albert the Bull Campground and Littlefield Recreation Area operate on a first-come, first-served basis. Weather considerations include strong winds across the open prairie landscape and occasional spring storms. Cell service can be limited at more remote locations like Littlefield Recreation Area. As one camper noted about Littlefield, "No cellular service available. I was able to get nominal service with an external antenna and booster."

    Lakeside camping represents a significant draw throughout the region, with Prairie Rose State Park and Lake Anita offering shoreline access that receives consistently positive feedback. Campers frequently mention the peacefulness of these water-adjacent sites, particularly during weekdays when occupancy is lower. Several visitors highlighted the well-maintained facilities, with one noting that Prairie Rose features "paved roads, level gravel sites, wide & mowed trails, clean pit toilets and a layout that isn't too cramped." The campgrounds closer to town like Albert the Bull provide convenient access to local amenities but experience more road noise and less privacy between sites. Most campgrounds in the area offer basic amenities including picnic tables, fire rings, and shower facilities, though bathroom availability and quality vary significantly between locations.

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    Best Campgrounds near Audubon (79)

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      1. Prairie Rose State Park Campground

      4.3(18)17mi from Audubon96 sitesRVs, Tents, Cabins

      "These Iowa state parks are extremely clean and well taken care of. The lake is huge with multiple trails that the kids loved. Playground was directly behind us which is a plus for us."

      "Reserved electric unit 090 for the weekend, which had a scenic corn field for a backdrop - this is Iowa!"

      from $16 - $50 / night

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      2. Lake Anita State Park Campground

      4.1(28)21mi from Audubon153 sitesRVs, Tents, Glamping

      "This campground has both RV full hookup and electric sites very close to the lake. Campsites offer a great view of lake and close access to docks."

      "Beautiful campground on a man-made lake in Iowa. Very sparsely populated in the middle of the week even during the month of June. A wonderful bike trail circumvent the lake. About 4 miles long."

      from $15 - $36 / night

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      3. Littlefield Rec Area

      4.5(8)13mi from AudubonRVs, Tents, Cabins

      "Nice campground and staff, town close by if you need more supplies, we like it here!"

      "Lots of space around your site. Fills up fast on weekends. Would recommend this park."

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      4. Albert the Bull Campground

      3.5(2)0mi from AudubonRVs, Tents

      "Overall you can’t beat it for the price and location if you’re passing through or just want a little downtime."

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      5. Elkhorn Creek Recreation Area

      4.7(3)13mi from AudubonRVs, Tents

      "We loved the drive into the campground and found a grove of oaks to camp under. Everyone slept great."

      "It is connected to a preserve which has a myriad of trails as well as there being trails in the park. The bathroom in the main campground is closed and the water is off."

      from $18 - $20 / night

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      6. Adair City Park

      4.2(12)21mi from AudubonRVs, Tents

      "Based on other reviews we weren’t expecting much, but this spot is perfect for getting a good night’s rest when passing through Iowa."

      "Small campground in a city park in Adair Iowa. Adair is known for its water tower with a big yellow smiley face painted on it. There is a lot of charmed to this town."

      from $6 - $15 / night

      7. The Hausbarn Heritage Park

      3.0(2)15mi from AudubonRVs, Tents

      from $10 - $18 / night

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      8. Springbrook State Park Campground

      3.7(9)24mi from Audubon108 sitesRVs, Tents, Cabins

      "Pros: Not a far drive from Des Moines, but still quite remote

      -Lots of nice hiking trails

      -Easy access to large, mostly clean modern bathrooms

      -The lake is a peaceful spot to spend the early mornings"

      "You’ll love this little park if you want to really disconnect and get away from things as there was absolutely 0 cell reception where we were at."

      from $14 - $200 / night

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      9. Pottawattamie County Fairgrounds

      4.5(8)27mi from AudubonRVs, Tents, Glamping

      "The directions on this app take you to the first entrance which is not where the camping is, but follow the huge arrow and you’ll find it no problem."

      "I saw two tractors driving through town and only a few more cars. Best of all we had a full 5 bars of ripping Verizon service. What's not to like?"

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      10. Schildberg Recreation Area

      3.3(3)21mi from AudubonRVs, Tents

      "The trees at the campsites aren't mature enough for shade, but the ponds and trails more than make up for that."

      from $25 / night

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    Recent Camping Photos near Audubon, IA

    23 Photos of 79 Audubon Campgrounds

    Recent Reviews near Audubon, IA

    235 Reviews of 79 Audubon Campgrounds

    • Kathy B.The Dyrt PRO User
      Jun. 16, 2026

      Adair City Park

      Adair smiley Face

      Small campground in a city park in Adair Iowa. Adair is known for its water tower with a big yellow smiley face painted on it. There is a lot of charmed to this town.

      There is a number of spots in this city campground with electric hook ups. It’s kind of confusing where each site is, however. There are way more hookups than it seems there is room for actual vehicles.

      Unfortunately, when I was there, there was some road construction happening, and the traffic was being diverted through the park. So there was more traffic than is probably usual.

      Only two other campers spent the night while I was here. Super cute downtown and had a malted milkshake at the local ice cream store. Overall, a great spot to spend the night. $20 for electric hook up and there is a dump station as well.

    • Kathy B.The Dyrt PRO User
      Jun. 16, 2026

      Lake Anita State Park Campground

      My first tornado warning!

      Beautiful campground on a man-made lake in Iowa. Very sparsely populated in the middle of the week even during the month of June.

      A wonderful bike trail circumvent the lake. About 4 miles long.

      The sites are pretty close together. For my first two nights I had no neighbors but then on my final night I was surrounded on all sides by a group that was camping together. Hard to escape their campfire, smoke and normal conversation voices.

      I ended up staying an extra day because there were tornado warnings in the area. I was awoken at 6 AM to a tornado warning alarm and had to take shelter in the campground restroom. Thankfully, the restrooms were very clean and spacious. Good bonding experience with my fellow campers.

    • Kelly S.
      Jun. 15, 2026

      Pottawattamie County Fairgrounds

      Easy in-and-out!

      We were coming into town for the College World Series and intended to stay at Arrowhead. I called ahead and talked to a kind gentleman who let me know that Arrowhead would likely be full, but the fairgrounds would surely have space. With 24-hour self check-in, it was a perfect solution. Twenty-five minutes from Omaha and full, pull-through hook ups made this a solid stop over.

    • Laurianne H.The Dyrt PRO User
      May. 17, 2026

      Lake Anita State Park Campground

      Dark and stormy night

      Lake Anita State Park is beautiful! Large expanse of green in a hilly terrain. Sites are open but roomy and many new trees have been planted to eventually provide shade. Ranger came through periodically to check on all. People come to fish off the shoreline. Nice shower and bath house nearby. Huge storm came through last night!

    • J
      May. 14, 2026

      Trailside Campground

      Fair grounds camping

      This location is on the east side of Jefferson on the old Lincoln highway at the Greene county fair grounds directly next to the Milwaukee trestle bike trail. It has both tent and RV camping spots. The RV is parallel parking with electric only. Black water dump site is at the waist water treatment plant by the public swimming pool on west Russell street on the south side of the street across from south walnut street entrance. The fairgrounds dose have horse and livestock amenities and events at times of the year with the Greene county fair and other events. It also has an agricultural museum and other events in the summer.

    • K
      May. 10, 2026

      Botna Bend County Park

      Perfect stop

      We stayed 1 night in our way to Utah. We got a nice spot right next to the river with a cemented area and a newer picnic area. Met the park ranger on our way in who was so thankful we picked there to stay. The Elf and Buffalo were fun to watch. Only downside was a train at 1 in the morning and no showers at the south campsite. Highly recommend this spot!!

    • Johanna A.The Dyrt PRO User
      Apr. 20, 2026

      Lake Anita State Park Campground

      Beautiful and quiet

      Arrived on a Monday night, was quiet. We opted for the electric site. (Reserved ahead of time). The showers are clean!

    • John C.The Dyrt PRO User
      Apr. 18, 2026

      Arrowhead Park Pottawattamie County Park

      Worst canp I've ever paid for.

      Tried this place twice. Horrible both times. They failed to mention this last time that the campground was going to become a parking lot for a nearby event at 0600.

    Guide to Audubon

    Camping spots near Audubon, Iowa offer a variety of year-round options across prairie landscapes where elevation ranges from 1,200 to 1,400 feet above sea level. The open terrain creates unique weather considerations with winds sometimes reaching 25-30 mph during spring and fall seasons. Campers can access both county-managed recreation areas and state parks with varying degrees of amenities and natural settings within a 30-mile radius.

    What to do

    Hiking trails around lakes: Prairie Rose State Park offers well-maintained trails with diverse views. "The hiking trails were well cut out and offered views of the lake, woods, and natural prairie," notes one visitor who enjoyed spotting wildlife including "a blue heron, geese, bald eagles, frogs etc."

    Fishing opportunities: Swan Lake State Park provides multiple shoreline fishing spots across its 110-acre lake. "There were many fishing bars" throughout the park, and the site layout provides good access to different parts of the water for varied fishing experiences.

    Frisbee golf courses: Several campgrounds offer disc golf as an activity option. At Swan Lake State Park Campground, one camper mentioned "a cute frisbee golf on property, a beautiful lake, and a nice paved walking path," making it a versatile recreation spot.

    Paddling and boating: Prairie Rose State Park features a 218-acre lake suitable for kayaking and canoeing. A visitor observed "lots of people out in boats, kayaks, and on the shore" enjoying the water during summer months.

    What campers like

    Quieter weekday camping: Many campgrounds are significantly less crowded Sunday through Thursday. At Prairie Rose State Park, one camper described it as "an oasis of solitude" and noted "it was actually quiet" midweek, adding "I don't know if it gets bad on a weekend."

    Lake views from campsites: Lake Anita State Park Campground offers sites with direct water views. A visitor mentioned "campsites offer a great view of lake and close access to docks" and recommended the sites for their scenic qualities.

    Well-maintained facilities: The campgrounds receive consistent praise for cleanliness. One camper at Littlefield Recreation Area described it as a "very clean campground, lots of shade trees and full hook ups," highlighting its natural features and amenities.

    Accessibility to town amenities: Some campgrounds provide easy access to local services. At Schildberg Recreation Area, campers appreciate being "close to old downtown" for supplies and dining options while still enjoying outdoor recreation.

    What you should know

    Cell service limitations: Many campgrounds in more remote locations have limited connectivity. At Littlefield Rec Area, a camper specifically mentioned "no cellular service available" and needed "an external antenna and booster" to get even minimal service.

    Bathroom availability schedules: Some facilities have restricted hours. At The Hausbarn Heritage Park, campers should note that "the bathrooms are closed from 9 pm-9 am" which could be problematic for tent campers without self-contained facilities.

    Site spacing variations: Campgrounds differ in how sites are arranged. Lake Anita has been described as having campers "on top of each other," while at Prairie Rose State Park, a visitor noted "sites are close together, but we had no neighbors so we had our privacy."

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Which is the most popular campground near Audubon, IA?

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Audubon, IA is Prairie Rose State Park Campground with a 4.3-star rating from 18 reviews.

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