If you're looking for a place to pitch your tent near Audubon, look no further. Find the best information on tent campgrounds near Audubon, including sites, reviews, and tips. Would you prefer a quiet dispersed site or an established camgpround with amenities? Either way, The Dyrt makes it easy to find the perfect place to pitch your tent.
$5 - $8 / night
Trailside Campground is a small tent camping area designed for trail users on the Raccoon River Valley Trail. It is located immediately adjacent to the trail one block south of the Milwaukee Road Depot Trailhead in Jefferson. A shower house is in the camping area. There is a $10 per tent fee to camp here.
- Tent camping for up to 50 tents.
- Shower / restroom facility
- Picnic shelter
- Four blocks from downtown Jefferson
$10 / night
Traveler
I arrived just in time to see the beautiful sunset over the small lake near the primitive campground closest to the Park Office. It only cost $10 for tent camping and $3 for a vehicle pass. Campground and vault toilets were pretty clean. There is a fire ring and picnic table at each tent campsite and there are plenty to choose from near the water. You can bring your own kayak or canoe and even fish here. We had a nice encounter from the campground employee who explained how to put the stake out to claim our campsite. Right away, I saw abundant wildlife, including turkey, deer, black squirrels, woodpeckers, geese, ducks and bats. Come prepared for the mosquitoes but overall I would highly recommend this place!
GuideOur family and another family shared a primitive tent site near the back of the park. We were first and foremost impressed with the freedom we had in choosing our site. Tent camping here is non-reservable, but once you enter the park, you may choose from any spots containing a fire pit outside of RV loops. Tent sites range from lake-front, to playground side, to more private sites on the outer rim of the park. We chose a large, private site at the back of the park. This site was well maintained and had enough space to easily accommodate two families of four. We even had a picnic shelter all to ourselves. Our site was lined by woods and farmland and had a good view of a small pond. The night was full of exciting animal noises from both the nearby farm and pond. Vault toilets were a short walk away with clean shower facilities just a few loops away. The kids enjoyed riding bikes up and down gravel roads, looking for frogs, and playing on the playground. Canoe and paddle boat rental is extremely reasonable. Hiking trails near the park entrance are rugged. The staff was incredibly kind and easy-going, yet attentive. Just a short drive from neighboring towns, this is a good starter campground for families with younger kids. We hope to return in winter to check out the camping cabins.
Scout
Mormon Trail is absolutely beautiful. Myself and some friends tent camped there over the weekend and we were not disappointed! It is a very small state park with only a couple tent sites/camper sites, so it is not over populated. The drive there is easy and beautiful. Big RV’s/campers might have a difficult time getting there as the road turns into a one lane, curvy gravel road. AT&T has absolutely no service there, but US cellular does. No showers/clean bathrooms, just 2 waterless restrooms. The lake has a very large, mostly shallow, swimming area, the water is absolutely perfect, along with a big sandy beach area. You can boat and fish on the lake as well. The stars are also very bright and beautiful (we are from a city with the light pollution hides them). I would highly recommend visiting this campsite if you love off the grid camping and don’t need to shower/primp everyday. What a relaxing/fun weekend we had!
ScoutI like that you can tent camp anywhere in the Camp area down by the lake with all your friends close by. the trails and playground equipment is nice and the fishing is great! Great Lake for kayaks or canoes as well.
GuideThe people who run this campground are really nice! There are really none camping and only 10 dollars a night with electricity for a tent site. Showers and large campsites.
Scout
just camped here, what a nice park. Great little beach, clean water, good for kayaking. Nice paved trail around the park. Wooded, shady at tent sites, quiet and clean. Friepits with grates for cooking.
ScoutA one night stay at a beautiful park! Tent camped next to really nice college kids. The paved trail offered great views of the lake! Brought the pup and he was happy and very context. Park was very well maintained - there will be a return trip to this gem!
GuideOne of our favorite places to camp when we don't want to go too far from home. We've RV camped there several times and I plan on doing some tent camping there as well. Nice little hiking trails and a fun Geocache find (if you're into that sort of thing). Great prices!
Scout
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!
Guide
We've tent camped twice at Springbrook, and though it's not perfect, it's a nice campground we plan to keep coming back to for a number of reasons.
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, a nice place to fish (but don't expect to catch anything) and its beach is fun on the hot summer days, and tends to not be too busy. Has lots of benches around to sit and enjoy the view.
-No cell reception, which could be a "con" but we like that it forces us to unplug
Cons:
-Tent camping spots are clustered mainly in the middle of a loop, which feels a bit like a fishbowl with no privacy
-It's mainly an RV/camper campground, which can be loud/rowdy at night for tent campers. Lots of parties happening the two weekends we were there. Definitely don't recommend if you want a peaceful weekend away from the world.
-Other than hiking and a bit of swimming/fishing, there's not much to do
-Firewood is a short drive from the campground, which can get inconvenient
TravelerThis 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. There is an adjacent area with non- electric sites that would work for tent campIng. All sites have firepots and picnic tables. The lake is great for fishing or kayaking and there is also a beach with swimming. Bring your bikes to ride on a paved trail that goes all the way around the lake. Very clean and quiet campground!
GuideThis is a decent state park campground but is always full. It has tent sites separated from the trailer sites. There is a park and on saturdays during the summer they do Disney movies and free popcorn. The lake is good for fishing. They have a beach and volleyball. There is also a biking trail they goes around the lake. It is close to town so if you need anything that is helpful.
ScoutArrowhead campground has 60 RV sites that support both 30 and 50 amp hookups. They have several well water stations to take on water and a sewer dump station. There also lots of tent camping sites. All sites come with picnic table and fire ring. There are numerous nature trails to hike ranging from easy to hard. There is also a nice sized lake for fishing, canoeing, and paddle boats. The lake has a boat ram for small fishing boats. Very well maintained, managed, and friendly atmosphere.
Guide
This is a very clean, lovely camp ground. The spots are spacious, and there are tons of options. In the fall we went and had no neighbors. It’s busy in summer, but well kept. They had people cleaning the bathrooms constantly (my mom kept pointing out, in awe, that it was “practically hourly”) which was great for tent camping with a large group! It’s quiet, beautiful lake, great boating, great swim spot, fun park for kids. Beautiful trees and hiking especially in the fall.
ScoutThis is hands down one of the best campgrounds we’ve been to in the U.S. Everything is beautifully maintained from the grass covered campsites to the clean bathrooms and free showers. Full hookup and tent campsites are plentiful with or without reservations. Beautiful lake, great walking trail, close to town and I-80, but quiet and peaceful. Can’t beat it for $11 a night.
LegendLake Anita State Park is just a few miles off of Interstate 80. When I decided to go to Lake Anita I had very low expectations, it surprised me.
Lake Anita has boating and fishing as its main attraction. If you like birds there are bird houses built all around the park. The lake is beautiful and the campground is built all around the lake with great views.
The tent camping is placed away from the RVs/camper trailers and everything is well kept. I highly recommend Lake Anita State Park for the relaxing environment and the easy access from the interstate.
TravelerStayed here for one night while on a road trip. Not a bad place to stop for the night, we were able to take the dogs hiking and didn’t have a problem. The tent sites are open but they aren’t on top of each other, the RV sites seemed close together but we only walked by it so I can’t say for sure. Everyone was super friendly and we didn’t have any issues even though it was a very busy weekend, would definitely recommend this place!
Ranger
Just 2 miles south of I80 but a world apart. This is a great stop if traveling I80. It is a bargain at $20 for full hookups. They have tent sites also.
The park is clean and clearly under utilized as there were only 3 of us in a park with more than 40 sites.
It is very quiet, right in small town America. 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?
Guide
Our family of four tent camped one night at an electric lake front site. Sites are close together, but we had no neighbors so we had our privacy. The outhouse style bathroom was clean, but flies were abundant. The grounds were well maintained and DNR staff was very helpful. They even helped us with a small bike repair. The kids enjoyed biking and swimming. The whole family enjoyed prairie wildlife such as a blue heron, geese, bald eagles, frogs etc. The hiking trails were well cut out and offered views of the lake, woods, and natural prairie. Showers, no wake boating, and fishing were also available. We would have been happy to stay a few more days!
Guideso glad to get off the road! and it is a sweet spot and affordable. it’s full with lively folks who are seeming not to take covid-19 too seriously. but we are outdoors, so hearing the happy sounds of family and friends, over decent country music feels like a balm tonight.
this morning i see what the 5 star reviews are about — the tent camping and the setting. just day use getting off the road for a rest or picnic, this is a 5-star recommend.
also, ideal for kids, fishing, and combination of the two.
why 4 stars? many rv sites like the one i got are right up next to each other. people take the entire site with rugs, dogs, tents, you name it. so zero privacy, zero peace and quiet.
TravelerStayed here for one night on a cross country trip the Monday before Labor Day. RV sites were fairly full already. We arrived early afternoon and opted to cook dinner at our tent site before setting up camp for the night. Good idea since the nearest day-use picnic shelter was occupied by a rather loud drunk couple who kept shouting at us they were leaving soon—they did leave once but only to buy more liquor! We packed it in and found a more secluded site. A huge storm rolled through the area and we ended up sleeping in our van. Really appreciated the clean shower house (single occupancy/locking) with plenty of hot water! Would like to come back and spend more time.
Guide
We settled into one electrical site and one tent site for our adventure. The tent section offers fairly large sites, and views of the river. Our electrical site was decent size and the"backyard" was right up to the river bank. We anticipated some rain so we set up a screen tent for shelter right along the river to enjoy the view while we waited out the rain. Electricity at these sites appears to be brand new. The dirt work that was done to accomplish this had not yet been smoothed out, so making sure your area is lit to avoid tripping and ankle sprains is essential. As it turns out we camped on the same weekend of a large group's annual camp out at this location. 2nd weekend in April every year. Several families with RVs, and while they were great neighbors, we came to understand the site we were in is usually a part of their group. There are no reservations at this campground, so setting up early is the only way to assure you have the site you want. The facility has running water by mid April, no shower, but a single flushing toilet and sink, no soap. The campground does not have a trash can or dumpster on site at all, so you must pack everything out. Really good stay
Scout
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.
GuideWe stayed during the campground's last weekend in October, and loved it. It was so gorgeous with all the fall colors, and it's really a gem of a campground.
Pros:
-Beautiful, huge lake with lots of pretty views
-Primitive spots are separated from electric spots, which is great if you're looking for quiet, peaceful tent camping
-Primitive spots are relatively private and generously sized, you don't feel like you're right on top of your neighbors
-Decent portapotty in close distance
-Plenty of picnic spots
-Electric spots are right along the lake, which offers beautiful views
-On-site firewood
Cons:
-Full modern bathrooms are a long walk/drive away
-Not much for activities
-Water hydrants are right in the middle of people's camping spots, so it feels awkward to grab water
-The only hiking trail is EXTREMELY poorly marked and when it ends (it doesn't tell you it's ending) you either have to just turn around or walk a mile along the busy highway with very small shoulder. We mistakenly took the highway expecting the trail to continue, but it didn't and it was very scary, 0/10 don't recommend.
-Not many walk-in spots
-Lots of primitive spots are on a hill, so your tent is a little sideways
-Not many dumpsters
-No lights in the portapotty, so you'll need a headlamp at night
EDITED TO ADD: We stayed again in May, and it was a great place to spend a weekend. Quiet, friendly but not a party crowd, and a nice, relaxing environment overall. Word on the streets (from the DNR warden) is that they’re looking into creating 2 more hiking trails too.
Legend
This was one of the nicest county campgrounds I've ever seen. We've been to a lot of them, but this one stands out. Not to mention that the price was unbeatable! So much more reasonable than at home. Set off the road a bit in a tiny little town in Iowa, it's along a river and very close to the Raccoon River Valley Trail, an 89 mile loop trail (paved) that goes through several towns and counties. It costs $2/person/day if you are 18 or older, or a year pass is $10. There is also a lodge that you can rent.
We rented a cabin for $50, because it was only about $10 more expensive than what we were planning on spending for a campsite in Minnesota. Normally, we stay in tents, so we were very pleased to find the options that this campground had to offer at such reasonable cost! If you wanted a tent site without electric, it was only $8. Electric sites were only $12. And the sites were incredibly well groomed. They were clean (I didn't see any trash). And they were tucked into the woods. A caretaker lives on site, and although we rarely saw him, it was obvious that he cared about his job. The bathrooms were clean and cared for too!
We were in a cabin and they were simple, but suited our needs. They had two wooden cabin-style buildings with little front porches (not screened in, but room under the overhang for chairs). Inside, you had two bunk beds, and the bottom bunk of one was a pull out futon, so you really had room to sleep 5 people. (Must mention: The futon in our cabin was horribly uncomfortable. I would have given 4 stars to the review because of it, but the futon alone shouldn't take away from the rest of the campground, which was immaculate). There was also a bathroom with an ADA shower, toilet, mirror and sink. In the room, there was a mini fridge, coffee maker, microwave, little sink and it even had air conditioning! Tucked in the corner was a folding table and chairs. A few hooks scattered around the walls completed the room. The A/C in ours wasn't at full working capacity, but it did chill the room down enough to be very comfortable. And it was very hot outside! We also had a little fire ring and picnic table, just outside the door.
The campground could accommodate plenty of tents and campers alike. Some electric, some not. All with very nice grassy pads for tents, all with picnic tables and fire rings. Grass was well clipped and there were plenty of parking spaces. It was very quiet when we were there, but I assume it gets busy on the weekends. The shower/bath house had separate bathrooms (both unisex) and both with toilet, mirror, sink and shower). Both were very clean for a camp bathroom. A little campground for those wishing to camp together was at the back of the park. It, too, had bathrooms. But they were locked, so I couldn't peek inside.
Bottom line, it was well worth our $50 for the cabin (you can't even get a hotel room for that price any more). I'd love to go back and tent in the quiet of a weekday eve when the crickets are chirping and I can feel the breeze through the tent!
Please note - there are no trash cans at the campground if you are in tents or RV's (the cabins have them inside). It is a carry in/carry out campground
There are LOTS of water pumps all over the campground. Yay for water!!
Legend
This is a small campground in a small town right of interstate 80 in central Iowa. This is a great weekend spot for locals or an overnight spot for a weary traveler on their way through Iowa. This is ideal for a camper of fifth wheel. Not necessarily where I would want to camp with a tent.
You are real close to a Kum & Go and Caseys General Store if you forgot some of your supplies at home. The campground is really clean.
RangerThis state park camp site close to Carroll, Iowa was nice, but we were the only tent campers there, it seemed more like a permanent RV home site. The bathrooms while nice had no working showers, they had showers but no way to turn on the water. There was a cute frisbee golf on property, a beautiful lake, and a nice paved walking path.
Tent camping near Audubon, Iowa, offers a variety of scenic spots where nature lovers can unwind and enjoy the great outdoors. With options ranging from public parks to private hideaways, there’s something for everyone.
Frequently Asked Questions
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