Best Tent Camping near Bondurant, IA
Tent campers near Bondurant, Iowa can find several established campgrounds within a reasonable driving distance. Ashton Wildwood Park in Mingo offers spacious, wooded tent sites with a natural setting, while Colfax Quarry Springs Park provides lakeside tent camping with fishing access. Both parks feature primitive tent campsites that accommodate walk-in camping and are managed by county conservation departments.
Most tent campgrounds in the area provide basic amenities including fire rings, picnic tables, and trash receptacles. Ashton Wildwood Park features pit toilets in the camping area, though campers should note there is no drinking water available directly at the campsites. Colfax Quarry Springs Park offers porta-potties throughout the grounds and has recently added shower facilities. Tent campers should bring sufficient water supplies or water filtration systems, especially at more primitive sites. Campsite surfaces typically consist of natural terrain with minimal grading, and many sites are tucked among trees providing natural shade and privacy.
The tent camping experience in this region offers a genuine connection with nature without requiring deep backcountry travel. Sites at Ashton Wildwood Park are particularly spacious and can accommodate multiple tents, making them suitable for small group camping. The park includes hiking trails, an orienteering course, and even an observatory that opens on select evenings. Colfax Quarry Springs Park provides excellent fishing opportunities directly from tent sites, with access to kayaking and canoe launches. A visitor noted, "The campground was nice and well maintained. Even the outhouses smelled good. Garbage bins, picnic tables and fire pits at all sites." Another camper commented about Ashton Wildwood, "Most of the sites are tucked into the woods and very spacious. It's only $7/night!"