M
Michael B.
Scout
ScoutWhispering Oaks RV Park
Quiet
Very quiet campground. Only one bathroom and shower available for use, though. Lots of space and trees as well
Camping near Badger, IA
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The Webster County region around Badger, Iowa includes multiple developed campgrounds with options for tent camping, RV parking, and cabin rentals. Kennedy County Park and Dolliver Memorial State Park Campground serve as anchor destinations, offering established facilities within a 20-mile radius of Badger. Campgrounds typically provide amenities like electric hookups, water access, and shower facilities, with some locations such as Joe Sheldon County Park featuring full hookup sites for RVs. Several locations including Lizard Creek Ranch Camping and Briggs Woods Park provide cabin accommodations for those seeking alternatives to traditional tent or RV camping.
Access to campgrounds remains available from spring through fall, with most facilities operating from April to October. The North Equestrian Campground at Brushy Creek State Recreation Area opens from April 1 to December 31, while some campgrounds like Briggs Woods Park remain open year-round. "I stayed at this campground a week after Memorial Day weekend along with my dogs in our minivan/tent. I butted up against woods with neighbors to one side which made me feel like I had a pretty private area to myself," noted one camper about Dolliver Memorial State Park. Cell service varies significantly between locations, with some parks like Dolliver having limited connectivity. Reservation systems are in place for most campgrounds in the area, though availability may become limited during summer weekends.
The mixed-use campgrounds near Badger feature various recreational opportunities that complement the camping experience. Multiple reviews highlight the trail systems at Dolliver Memorial State Park and Brushy Creek State Recreation Area as standout features. Water recreation appears prominently in visitor experiences, with Kennedy County Park offering fishing areas with boat ramps and a beach area. Based on reviews from The Dyrt, campsites at North Equestrian Campground provide spacious and grassy sites that work well for tent camping. Visitors frequently mention the cleanliness of facilities, particularly modern bathrooms and shower houses at larger campgrounds. While most sites provide fire rings and picnic tables, reviews indicate that campground layouts vary significantly, with some offering greater privacy and shade than others.
Best Campgrounds near Badger (69)
1. Kennedy County Park
"I can't say enough about Kennedy Memorial County park in Fort Dodge Iowa. Its beautiful well taken care of has a nice playground and access to a beautiful golf course! And FREE WIFI!"
"Multiple kids parks, beach area, fishing areas with boat ramps, trails, kids butterfly garden."
from $20 - $100 / night
Check Availability2. Dolliver Memorial State Park Campground
"Nice clean park, if passing through Iowa it's a nice overnight. A little loud if tent camping. Area not large enough to separate hard shell campers and tent campers."
"We LOVE the hiking trails. Some can be a pretty good workout & steep for a 61 year old, but they are do-able & have resting benches a long the way."
from $15 - $50 / night
Check Availability3. North Equestrian Campground — Brushy Creek State Recreation Area
"Camped here in order to be close to Fort Dodge first thing in the morning. I stayed in the Beach Campground. It's not on the beach, but close to it. There are 3 total campgrounds in the park. "
"Hitching posts behind each site which we enjoyed seeing. The roads inside the campground were all asphalt so lots of bikers enjoying rides around the grounds."
from $20 - $40 / night
Check Availability4. Joe Sheldon County Park
5. Lizard Creek Ranch Camping
from $25 / night
Check Availability6. Briggs Woods Park
"Brigs Woods is close to Webster City, IA. There are several campsites, cabins, golf course, access to canoeing or kayaking on the Boone River, along with hiking trails, swimming and fishing. "
"We chose Briggs Woods because of its location and reviews from other campers. It is a larger campground than you think! Spots for primitive tent camping, electrical hook up and full hook ups."
7. South Equestrian Campground — Brushy Creek State Recreation Area
"Walking, hiking and exploring. People are here camping with their horses but the campground is still nice and quiet."
from $28 - $56 / night
Check Availability8. Beach Campground — Brushy Creek State Recreation Area
from $25 - $50 / night
Check Availability9. Coopers Cove Co Park
"There is lots to do, trails, kayaking, fishing, playground and picnic areas also."
from $20 / night
Check Availability10. Webster County Kennedy Park Campground
Drive Time
- 1 hr 9 min from Ames, IA
- 1 hr 31 min from Des Moines, IA
- 1 hr 40 min from Waterloo, IA
- 2 hrs 12 min from Mankato, MN
Recent Camping Photos near Badger, IA
10 Photos of 69 Badger Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Recent Reviews near Badger, IA
180 Reviews of 69 Badger Campgrounds
- DDennis G.
TravelerDolliver Memorial State Park Campground
Great area
My wife and I are Camp host in this campground? It is a river Ravine campground lots and lots of trees. Fishing campground itself has electricity only but you can fill your campers up the water by the pump very nice and relaxing place to be.
Garet W.
GuideCrystal Lake Park
Beautiful lakeside campground
Beautiful on this lakeside campground. Electricity only at the campsites. This is my second visit.
Boldt E.GuideBlack Hawk State Park
Great Host
Some sites are amazing and others are interesting in the fact that guy almost have to share a site with others bc your spots face one another. The hosts are Amazing and even though there were quite a few people here it stayed quiet
Kimberly P.GuideBeed's Lake State Park Campground
Fun on the lake
We stayed 4 nights at an electric site in Beed's Lake. After taxes and online reservation fees, it came out to a little less than $100. One of the restrooms was closed for maintenance the entire time we were there, leaving the whole park to share one restroom and 3 showers. The restroom was pretty clean, the shower was not so clean. It was an "I've seen worse" situation.. The campsites are really close to one another and I'm honestly not sure why because it wasn't even close to full. I was disappointed in the lack of any hammock trees. The real star of the park, of course, is the lake. We kayaked and fished the lake while we were visiting. The local reports suggested not swimming due to ecoli, so we did not do any swimming. We had tons of fun kayaking and fishing, but I was also a little disappointed in bank access for fishing, so I'm glad we had our kayaks. It was relatively quiet and everyone was friendly.
Lumpie C.GuideLedges State Park Campground
Very attractive nature area
Level sites and very quiet. Great hiking location and photo opportunities.
Cari E.
RangerLedges State Park Campground
Oasis in a cornfield
There’s not a lot going on in the vicinity of this state park, which is on the smaller side, and you will hear some cows, but all in all the campground exceeded my expectations for the two nights I stayed. This was partially because my site, 65, offered ample room away from the neighboring sites and backed up to a small green area with the road further back (minimal noise, aside from the random loud dirt bike). It also had a good mix of shade and sun if you’re hoping for a bit of solar charging, though no shore power or water. The site was long and mostly level with just the smallest tilt, but not enough to be a bother even without leveling blocks. The dumpster is nearby, but it’s a tiny one and was well maintained (aka not smelly). The brand new shower house was within easy walking distance as well. I had enough service (Verizon) to send texts and watch a bit of YouTube (buffering times were a smidge slow), but you likely wouldn’t have a strong enough signal for much more.
- RRussell T.Guide
Popejoy Conservation Park
Daytime Fun
This is a day use conservation only area. No camping is currently allowed.
There is a nice accessible vault toilets, play ground, and it has the Iowa River passing through it. There is also a very nice community building at the property.
- RRussell T.Guide
Bigelow Park
Camp and Fish
This little camp ground is part of the Iowa River Trail system. There is a good sized parking / turn around area. It was well kept and it costs about $10 a night and is in Hardin County.
The gravel road is fairly busy, but it could just be due to planting season starting. There were quite a few annoying gnats / mosquito's. There is a ramp for access, but it is dirt and gravel, so not something you can back a boat down in there easily.
I spent a night here and it was a pleasant experience, other than the flying bug annoyances.
Guide to Badger
Camping spots near Badger, Iowa include several developed campgrounds within a 20-mile radius. The region sits within the Des Moines Lobe landform, characterized by prairie pothole wetlands and rolling terrain with elevations ranging from 1,050 to 1,150 feet. Most campgrounds in this area open from April through October, though winter camping is available at select locations like Briggs Woods Park.
What to do
Paddling options: Kennedy County Park offers both lake and river access for kayakers and canoe enthusiasts. "I can't say enough about Kennedy Memorial County park in Fort Dodge Iowa. Its beautiful well taken care of has a nice playground and access to a beautiful golf course! And FREE WIFI! All for $18.00 a night," notes Mary J. at Kennedy County Park.
Hiking trail networks: Brushy Creek State Recreation Area features extensive trail systems through prairie and woodland. "We LOVE the hiking trails. Some can be a pretty good workout & steep for a 61 year old, but they are do-able & have resting benches a long the way. There are some beautiful old bridges if you get on the right trails," shares Lori N. about Dolliver Memorial State Park.
Horseback riding accommodations: Specialized equestrian campgrounds provide direct trail access for horse owners. "Relaxing never bored. First time camping at south campground. Loving it so far! People are here camping with their horses but the campground is still nice and quiet," reports Andrea H. about South Equestrian Campground.
Beach and swimming: Several campgrounds offer swimming beaches during summer months. "This was a super cool state park, great amenities, level and spacious RV spots. We loved it and will go back if we're in that area again," writes Adam about South Equestrian Campground at Brushy Creek.
What campers like
Spacious sites: North Equestrian Campground at Brushy Creek offers generous camping spaces. "Great for tent camping, very spacious and grassy sites, clean, grill/fire pit was really very nice. Very clean and modern bathrooms, easy access to water. Hiking trails were well maintained. Can't wait to come again," writes Randi about North Equestrian Campground.
Modern facilities: Many campgrounds provide clean bathrooms and shower houses. "Nice clean park, if passing through Iowa it's a nice overnight. A little loud if tent camping. Area not large enough to separate hard shell campers and tent campers. Plenty of fly's and mosquitoes, plenty of shade," shares Brian W. about Dolliver Memorial State Park.
Group camping options: Briggs Woods Park features unique circular camping arrangements. "One area is good for a group of campers as the sites are in a circle. A walking bridge links the back loop to the other loop that has the bathhouse making it a shorter walk," explains Judy B. about Briggs Woods Park.
Value pricing: Campgrounds in this area offer affordable rates, typically $18-30 per night. "Open for off season camping. 14$/night for full hookups with pull thru RV sites," notes Anna C. about North Equestrian Campground.
What you should know
Cell service limitations: Many campgrounds have spotty connectivity. "Cell service is null, and no wifi. We do love the hiking over here!" says Jeannie D. about Briggs Woods Park. Similar connectivity issues exist at other locations.
Seasonal considerations: Most campgrounds operate April through October. "There are sites with full hookups, H2O and Elec, or Elec only," explains Judy B. about Briggs Woods, one of the few year-round options.
Reservation systems: While many campgrounds accept reservations, availability varies. "You can reserve a spot by going online, though they do keep some as FCFS," notes John about Briggs Woods Park.
Bug preparation: Mosquitoes can be prevalent, especially in early summer. "I stayed at this campground a week after Memorial Day weekend along with my dogs in our minivan/tent... Other than the bugs, which it is that time of the year, I enjoyed our time," explains one camper about Dolliver Memorial.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Several campgrounds feature dedicated play areas for children. "Multiple kids parks, beach area, fishing areas with boat ramps, trails, kids butterfly garden," highlights Megan H. about Kennedy County Park.
Beach activities: Beach Campground at Brushy Creek provides swimming options during warmer months. "Great place to camp if you like fishing, horseback riding or a nice place to get away," shares Taylor A. about Beach Campground.
Cabin alternatives: For families seeking non-tent accommodations, cabins provide comfort with outdoor access. "We had a nice and cold adventure camping Easter weekend this year (March 31). Wish we would have rented one of the cute little cabins that have fire places," mentions Emily about Dolliver Memorial State Park.
Off-grid entertainment: Limited connectivity means planning alternative activities. "Wifi is virtually non-existent there, but it is nice to be 'unplugged.' We have a DVD player & watch old movies if its raining," suggests Lori N. about Dolliver Memorial State Park.
Tips from RVers
Full hookup availability: Joe Sheldon County Park offers complete RV services. "Beautiful pull through campsites some full hook ups others with electronic and water," reports Alan B. about Joe Sheldon County Park.
Site leveling challenges: Some campgrounds require additional preparation. "Our space was out of level but manageable, and the bath house and outhouse were on the rustic side," shares John about Briggs Woods Park.
Campground navigation: Kennedy County Park can present driving challenges. "The RV park is quite cramped. The sites are somewhat modest in size and the one-way roads are narrow and unmarked. Several times during our two-night stay, drivers were forced to pull off to permit a 'wrong-way' vehicle to pass," explains Sherry N. about Kennedy County Park.
Off-season advantages: Shoulder season camping offers better availability and quieter experiences. "We stayed Sun-Wed in May. Closest other campers were about a football field away. Very quiet park, we stayed in the back," describes Cari W. about Briggs Woods Park.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Badger, IA?
What camping is available near Badger, IA?
According to TheDyrt.com, Badger, IA offers a wide range of camping options, with 69 campgrounds and RV parks near Badger, IA and 2 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Badger, IA?
Which is the most popular campground near Badger, IA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Badger, IA is Kennedy County Park with a 4.3-star rating from 4 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Badger, IA?
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Badger, IA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 2 free dispersed camping spots near Badger, IA.
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