Best Campgrounds near Bondurant, IA

Central Iowa's camping landscape near Bondurant features several established campgrounds within a 20-mile radius. Thomas Mitchell County Park, located just east of Bondurant, provides creek-side sites with both electric and non-electric options for tent and RV camping, along with cabins for those seeking additional comfort. Chichaqua Bottoms Greenbelt offers primitive camping areas with fishing access and trail connections between Bondurant and Maxwell. Jester County Park, northwest of the area, maintains spacious camping areas with full hookups, modern restrooms, and cabin rentals for families seeking amenities.

Reservations are recommended for most campgrounds in the region, particularly during summer weekends when sites fill quickly. The camping season typically runs from April through October, with several parks like Jester County Park remaining open year-round. Most campgrounds provide electrical hookups ranging from 30-50 amp service, while water and sewer connections vary by location. Sanitary dump stations are available at nearly all developed campgrounds for RV travelers. Weather considerations include hot, humid summers and occasional thunderstorms, with spring bringing potential flooding along creeks and low-lying areas. A visitor noted, "Thomas Mitchell park has electric and non-electric sites available. The outer loop has a creek that flows behind the sites with large stairs to get down to it. Kids were having a blast in the water."

Campers consistently mention the trail access and natural features as highlights of the Bondurant area. Chichaqua Bottoms Greenbelt receives positive reviews for its trail system, with one camper commenting that it "has great trails and is in between Altoona, Ankeny and Bondurant." The developed sites at Thomas Mitchell County Park are particularly praised for family-friendly amenities including playgrounds, fishing, and hiking trails. Most campgrounds in the region maintain clean facilities with modern restrooms and shower buildings. While sites are generally well-spaced, they lack dense tree cover in some areas, potentially limiting shade during summer months. Wildlife viewing opportunities include deer, turkeys, and various bird species, particularly in the conservation areas and greenbelts surrounding the campgrounds.

Best Camping Sites Near Bondurant, Iowa (110)

    1. Griffs Valley View RV Park

    11 Reviews
    Bondurant, IA
    4 miles
    Website

    $35 - $90 / night

    "Has a cute pond and is adjacent to a bike and running trail. The main lodge has very clean restrooms and showers with hot water! Recommended"

    "There is also a very nice bike trail right outside the park."

    2. Yellow Banks County Park

    15 Reviews
    Pleasant Hill, IA
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (515) 266-1563

    "Close proximity to the state fair without being to close. Great stay! Our site had an open field behind it definitely recommend."

    "There are two RV sites with shower houses, and about 10 tentsites on a large rectangular area in the back surrounded by trees."

    3. Thomas Mitchell County Park

    11 Reviews
    Mitchellville, IA
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (515) 967-4889

    "Thomas Mitchell park is located outside of Altoona Iowa on 197 acres. There are electric and non electric sites available."

    "The drive into the grounds was a little confusing, but I imagine that in the daylight we would have had an easier time."

    4. Jester County Park

    30 Reviews
    Granger, IA
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (515) 323-5300

    $20 - $25 / night

    "A couple minor complaints that I developed would be that it is right next to the golf course so there is a lot of near by traffic, and people like to cruise on motorcycles and drive muscle cars through"

    "Iowa county parks are amazing. They pour money into them and it really shows. Clean, I mean immaculate. Nature/Conservancy center there is just next level."

    5. Prairie Flower Recreation Area

    17 Reviews
    Polk City, IA
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (515) 984-6925

    $20 - $336 / night

    "The Prarie Flower campground at Saylorville Lake is an open, flat grassy campground near wooded trails around the US Army Corps of Engineers land."

    "Lots of prairie area around, spacious sites. Varying levels of shade. A25, had a good amount of shade and was near the nice playground and nice bathrooms. No view of the lake from loop A."

    6. Bob Shelter Recreation Area & Campground

    15 Reviews
    Johnston, IA
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (515) 276-0873

    $22 - $26 / night

    "We stayed here for two nights while visiting family nearby. It’s a pretty location with the dam and waterway right there. The sites are well spaced."

    "Great spot located next to the Des Moines River. Check in was a breeze and conveniently near the fill and dump stations. Peaceful lot near the river. Great fishing in the river."

    7. Adventureland Campground

    9 Reviews
    Bondurant, IA
    4 miles
    Website
    +1 (515) 265-7384

    "With a theme park on one side and a casino on the other, both in walking distance. It’s more of a park and party place hahaha"

    "Short walk to the amusement park.  We were there for most of the early summer so we got a season pass to the park which included the water park.  They also have workcamper programs."

    8. Chichaqua Bottoms Greenbelt

    9 Reviews
    Bondurant, IA
    7 miles
    Website

    "This is a nice campground it has great trails and is in between Altoona Ankeny and Bondurant"

    "Next to skunk river oxbows, kayak, no swimming, water stagnant, no fish, about 4ft depth everywhere. Great hiking trails, clean, great camp hosts, ranger. All sites first come."

    9. Cherry Glen Campground

    13 Reviews
    Johnston, IA
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (515) 964-8792

    $24 - $26 / night

    "Above average overall for central Iowa. Views of Saylorville Lake. Plenty of shade. Clean restrooms. It’s a large park and some sites are close together, but generally spacious. Good cell service."

    "Lots of RV sites around. The whole area around Saylorville Lake has camping. Lush green plots of land everywhere. I forget how pretty it is in the Midwest when I'm gone for so long."

    10. Acorn Valley

    11 Reviews
    Polk City, IA
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (515) 276-0429

    $14 - $84 / night

    "Great find on our way through Iowa. Clean and spacious. Very quiet, just listen to the frogs at night."

    "Booked an outer ring site surrounded by trees (and some pretty bold raccoons around bonfire time ;) )."

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Recent Reviews near Bondurant, IA

512 Reviews of 110 Bondurant Campgrounds


  • Kent W.
    Oct. 2, 2025

    Howell Station

    One of our favorites

    This is a really nice campground. It’s run by friendly, helpful people. It’s well maintained, the bathrooms are clean, you’re not packed together like sardines, there’s a nice bike/walking trail around the park and (at least when we’ve visited) bald eagles, blue herons and pelicans line the river. It’s just a little over an hour from us so it’s easy to get to.

    We’re trying parks all over Iowa and Howell has been one of our favorites.

  • Stuart K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 1, 2025

    Newton KOA

    Highway Roadside Campground Oasis

    Following up on my review from over a year ago, I’m adding a bunch of additional photos as well as an abbreviated post pointing out the HIGHS and LOWS of this roadside pit stop of a campground in very rural Iowa.

    HIGHLIGHTS: (1) Fairly EZ access from I-80; (2) Incredibly well-manicured campground that is both very clean and well-organized; (3) Despite being next to the highway where we were concerned with errant late-night visitors who had no business being at this CG, there’s excellent security and a feeling of being safe; (4) Superb Midwestern hospitality from the KOA staff and camping community; (5) RV slots offer very nice FHUs and fairly spacious areas; (6) Picnic tables & fire rings are in pretty good condition; (6) If you need anything, there’s a handful of just OK restaurants like Cratty Shack Diner and grocery stores like Hy-Vee and Walmart Supercenter in nearby Newton; (7) Spectacularly clean bathrooms and shower facilities; and (8) Well-stocked catch & release fishing pond

    LOWLIGHTS: (1) You are literally right next to I-80, but the CG sits down below the swooshing traffic, so if you’re not looking, you almost forget that you’re camping next to the busiest highway in Iowa; (2) Lack of privacy between sites as there’s not a ton of trees, bushes or brush on the interior of the CG; (3) Most of the RV slots have no shade, so bring your own awning or shelter; (4) Some sites have very close proximity to their neighbors; (5) Some amenities feel dated and could be replaced and / or refurbished; (6) There’s a fairly nasty industrial park, complete with a junk yard and car mechanic garage with accompanying abandoned cars scattered around the entrance that you’ll have to navigate through before reaching this KOA; (7) This really isn’t a good place for tent camping, unless you can convince the staff to let you set up in the shaded area at the north end of the CG; (8) The pool was shut down for maintenance when we visited

    Happy Camping!

  • Stuart K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 1, 2025

    Diamond Lake County Park

    Campground Diamond In The Rough

    Following up on my review from over a year and a half ago, I’m adding a bunch of additional photos as well as an abbreviated post pointing out the HIGHS and LOWS of this county park campground gem in a very rural part of Iowa.

    HIGHLIGHTS: (1) EZ access and just a 20 minute / 9 mile drive due south from I-80 via Exit 201; (2) Incredibly well-manicured campground – very clean and well-organized; (3) Superb Midwestern hospitality from the CG staff and camping community; (4) The RV area looks to be brand spanking-new and offers very nice FHUs and fairly spacious areas as well as most have an excellent view of Lake Diamond; (5) The hiking trails and bountiful fishing spots make this a simply wonderful campground; (6) Incredibly simple honor system to accessing any site on a first-come, first-served basis – simply stick your money in an envelope and pick out whatever location suits you; (7) While basic, the bathhouses were in pretty good condition and very clean; (8) Kid’s playground is fantastic and nearly brand new; (9) Reasonably priced bundles of pre-cut firewood; and (10) Overall the overnight price to stay here, whether RV or tent-camping is very cheap, so great value for $

    LOWLIGHTS: (1) There’s no security gate to prevent any wandering traffic in here, although you are so far out in the boondocks, it’s not really much of a concern; (2) The newly minted RV area slopes down to the lake, but as you park perpendicular, it shouldn’t be an issue; (3) Also, because the RV area is new, there’s no trees or brush, which creates a lack of privacy between sites; (4) Nearly all of the RV slots – save the few that are right next to the lake - have no shade, so bring your own awning or shelter; (5) Some sites have very close proximity to their neighbors; (6) Picnic tables & fire rings, at least in the tent camping areas, are worn-out and in pretty poor condition and should be replaced or refurbished; (7) The water in Lake Diamond is quite dark and murky, so unless you are an adventurous soul, I don’t recommend swimming here

    Happy Camping!

  • DThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 15, 2025

    lakeside casino resort and rv park

    Good for an overnight stop

    This is a casino campground. There are full hookups but no facilities. No trees, sites very close together. It’s essentially a parking lot with hookups.

    It’s adjacent to a truck stop and right off the interstate.

    If you are traveling I35 and it’s convenient for an overnight rest, it’s well worth the cost. Otherwise, unless the casino is your destination, find a more traditional campground

  • SThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 12, 2025

    Winterset City Park

    Peaceful

    Our first time staying here and we extended twice because we like the area so much. It’s been a peaceful two weeks and we love the town of Winterset. The campground has a variety of FHU and or just W& E, also some shared water.

  • Allen B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 9, 2025

    Diamond Lake County Park

    Diamond lake

    Clean showers & flush toilet’s. No hand towels. Sites are close together. Some road noise. But overall a nice campground for one night.

  • Bethanie S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 27, 2025

    Sportsman Park

    Sportsman Park

    Dawson is such a cute little park. I rented a primitive tent site for two nights and it was $20. The self-registration was super simple!

    They say there’s a live-in park employee. I never met him/her, which was a bummer. Theres two cabins, ten electric sights and five primitive, a shelter, a playground with slides and swings, and a bigger building you can reserve. I clocked four water spouts.

    The place was well maintained, people were polite, modern restrooms and showers. Everything was handicap accessible. You can tell the employees put a lot of care into their work. So glad I was able to stay here.

  • BThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 24, 2025

    River Oaks RV Park

    Nice campground. Clean. Well kept.

    We stayed here to go to the Iowa State Fair. It was easy to park here and catch a shuttle to the fair.


Guide to Bondurant

Camping near Bondurant, Iowa provides access to a mix of prairie landscapes and river valleys within the central Iowa terrain. The elevation ranges from 800-900 feet above sea level, creating moderate temperature variations between day and night even in summer. Campsites in the area typically fill quickly between May and August, with late spring offering the optimal balance of moderate temperatures and minimal insect activity.

What to do

Fishing opportunities: Cherry Glen Campground sits adjacent to Saylorville Lake with multiple fishing access points. "Love this it's close to the city yet feel so far away," notes one camper, highlighting the abundance of wildlife despite the proximity to urban areas.

Trail exploration: Chichaqua Bottoms Greenbelt offers extensive hiking options through restored wetlands. A visitor mentioned, "There are plenty of trails to hike and some really nice views of the prairies. You can bring a kayak/canoe to go on the water."

River recreation: At Yellow Banks County Park, campers can access the Des Moines River for water activities. "Access to DM River, has nice pond, playgrounds, just a beautiful area," one reviewer notes, adding that the river "is known for big cats" for fishing enthusiasts.

Wildlife viewing: Prairie restoration areas around Bondurant offer bird watching opportunities, particularly in spring and fall migration seasons. "Super serene with great hiking trails and bird watching!" comments a visitor to Chichaqua Bottoms Greenbelt.

What campers like

Spacious sites: Campers frequently mention the generous spacing at Jester County Park, where many sites feature views of Saylorville Lake. One reviewer shares, "For $15/night/camping spot, you can enjoy the best view of stars and amazing sunsets."

Clean facilities: Acorn Valley receives consistent praise for maintenance standards. "Bathrooms are immaculate and cleaned every day," reports one camper, though they warn about "resident raccoons" that "come out every night to rummage through possible food options."

Quiet atmosphere: Several campgrounds maintain quiet hours strictly enforced after 10pm. "This is a nice place to camp! The whole place is super clean, especially the bath house. All the spots are nice and lots of exploring to do!" notes an Acorn Valley visitor.

Water features: Most campgrounds in the area offer some form of water access, from creeks to lakes. Cherry Glen Campground provides "lots of trees so plenty of shade" with sites near the water for easy access.

What you should know

Seasonal closures: Many campgrounds close after Labor Day or by November 1st. One frustrated visitor to Chichaqua Bottoms Greenbelt reported, "Drove 6 hours to find out the campground is closed (apparently for all of fall and winter) without any awareness of that being the case online."

Reservation systems: While some parks like Thomas Mitchell County Park have both reservable and walk-up sites, others fill quickly on weekends. A camper at Prairie Flower Recreation Area advised, "This is a hot spot for Des Moines to escape the weekend - with that said, reservations are a must! Most times you need to make them six months out."

Dump station congestion: Several campgrounds have limited dump facilities that create Sunday departure bottlenecks. "Trying to leave on a Sunday is a good 1 hour wait.... that's being generous!" warned a Prairie Flower camper.

Wildlife encounters: Secure food storage is essential at most campgrounds. At Acorn Valley, campers note that raccoons are bold but "they're no problem unless you're a light sleeper."

Tips for camping with families

Playground proximity: At Acorn Valley, sites near recreational areas allow for supervision from your campsite. One parent shared, "We parked at a site by the playground and bathhouse, and could sit at our camper and watch our son play at a safe distance."

Water play options: Thomas Mitchell County Park offers creek access that's popular with younger campers. A visitor observed, "Easy trails for the kids to go hiking and playing in the creek to cool off in the heat."

Educational opportunities: Jester Park features a Nature Center with interactive exhibits for children. "Nature/Conservancy center there is just next level," reports one visitor, making it suitable for multi-day educational experiences.

Budget-friendly options: Many county parks offer competitive rates compared to private campgrounds. Yellow Banks County Park provides "double lane dump station" and sites that are "well spaced" at reasonable rates, with most sites available first-come, first-served.

Tips from RVers

Site surfaces: Prairie Flower Recreation Area offers concrete pads at many sites, particularly in loops B, C, and D. "Spacious campsites with cement pads... The only thing holding it back from 5 stars is no water or sewer onsite," notes one RVer.

Hookup variations: Griffs Valley View RV Park provides full hookups including water and sewer connections. "Sites are large with nicely manicured lawns. My only issue was that my hose was just barely long enough but that was my fault not the campgrounds," shared one visitor.

Leveling considerations: Bob Shelter Recreation Area provides concrete pads that simplify setup. "This is a lovely spot. We stayed at spot 20 which was extra wide, concrete pad with electric hook up. No water or sewer," reports an RVer who found the site configuration ideal.

Late arrival procedures: Some campgrounds offer self-check-in options after hours. A Thomas Mitchell visitor noted, "There was no camp office that we could find, but we were pleasantly surprised when we found an open spot that we could make a same day reservation and payment online."

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular campground near Bondurant, IA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Bondurant, IA is Griffs Valley View RV Park with a 4.6-star rating from 11 reviews.

What parks are near Bondurant, IA?

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