Olivia P.
Scout
ScoutHickory Hills Park
Hiking
There are a couple small hiking trails, but they were very well maintained and an easy hike to get my daughter started in her backpack.
Best Campgrounds near Woodward, IA
Central Iowa's Woodward area features a range of camping experiences within a 30-minute drive radius. Ledges State Park Campground, located near Madrid, offers distinctive sandstone formations and hiking trails with varied terrain, making it stand out among Iowa's typically flat landscapes. Swede Point Park provides convenient access to the High Trestle Trail for bicycling enthusiasts, with sites positioned along the river. The region also includes Jester County Park with year-round availability and spacious sites that accommodate multiple tents and vehicles. Most campgrounds in the area support both tent and RV camping, with several offering cabin options for those seeking additional comfort.
Most campgrounds operate seasonally from April through October, though specific opening dates vary by location. Reservations are recommended during summer weekends and holiday periods when facilities reach capacity. Many sites offer electric hookups with rates typically ranging from $11-18 for primitive sites and $18-25 for those with utilities. Wildlife awareness is important, particularly at Ledges State Park where raccoons are notably resourceful. According to one camper, "Beware of the raccoons. They're plentiful and crazy smart here. We had one open our cooler, steal an egg from the carton without disturbing anything else." Cell service is generally reliable throughout the region, with good coverage reported at most established campgrounds.
Campers consistently praise the natural features that distinguish these areas from typical Midwestern landscapes. The sandstone ledges and sloped trails at Ledges State Park receive particular mention, with one visitor noting, "The views around the park are some of the very best in Iowa." Shaded sites are abundant and highly valued during summer months. Facilities vary significantly between campgrounds and even within different loops of the same park. At Jester Park, visitors recommend avoiding certain restroom facilities: "The nice bathroom in the #300s camping area is a bit of a walk BUT has showers and really clean toilets. DO NOT USE THE 'TOILETS' in the #400s area, they are dirty and basically a hole in the ground."
Best Camping Sites Near Woodward, Iowa (87)
1. Ledges State Park Campground
39 ReviewsBoone, IA11 milesWebsite+1 (515) 432-1852$18 - $38 / night
"One of my favorite locations to camp in Iowa as a Boy Scout growing up was Ledges State Park. Since I hadn't been back in years, I decided to check it out and spend a night camping there."
"One of the more beautiful places to camp in Iowa. Awesome hiking trails and really well-shaded campsites."
2. Jester County Park
30 ReviewsGranger, IA9 milesWebsite+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."
3. Swede Point Park
13 ReviewsMadrid, IA5 milesWebsite"Just a few minutes drive to High Trestle Bridge and right off the river. People were accommodating and friendly. Right between Madrid and Woodward with small town conveniences…"
"We camped here to be close to the Iowa High Trestle Trail for bicycling and it's very handy for that. Nothing fancy, but has plenty of sites, flush toilets and showers available."
4. Prairie Flower Recreation Area
17 ReviewsPolk City, IA14 milesWebsite+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."
5. Acorn Valley
12 ReviewsPolk City, IA12 milesWebsite+1 (515) 276-0429$14 - $84 / night
"Clean bathrooms, close to the lake, playground, and a lot of sites. It does get busy. As you would expect there are a lot of bugs on a hot day in Iowa. Tent sites have good shade from trees."
"Great find on our way through Iowa. Clean and spacious. Very quiet, just listen to the frogs at night."
6. Bob Shelter Recreation Area & Campground
16 ReviewsJohnston, IA16 milesWebsite+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. Cherry Glen Campground
13 ReviewsJohnston, IA15 milesWebsite+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."
8. Des Moines West KOA Holiday
24 ReviewsEarlham, IA22 milesWebsite+1 (515) 834-2729"Roadside Oasis, a place to rest a weary head, food, showers, etc. Cabins always help get you in and get out early without setting up camp."
"I love the beautiful surroundings here. Definitely worth the visit."
9. Timberline Campground
13 ReviewsWest Des Moines, IA18 milesWebsite+1 (515) 987-1714$35 - $80 / night
"If you’re traveling through Des Moines, Iowa area; this is the place you will want to camp at!"
"The site we were on is sorta blacktop but the sides have crumbled and it has a slight tilt to it so stepping down out of the camper was tricky as your feet tend to slide in the loose rocks."
10. Sportsman Park
3 ReviewsMinburn, IA15 milesWebsite$18 / night
"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."
Recent Camping Photos near Woodward, IA
52 Photos of 87 Woodward Campgrounds
Pat F.
Swede Point Park
Tanner H.
Jester County Park
Stephen P.
Ledges State Park Campground
Nancy C.
Acorn Valley
Mia L.
Prairie Flower Recreation Area
phillip L.
Cherry Glen Campground
Steve B.
Don Williams Park
Charity T.
Des Moines West KOA Holiday
Stephanie S.
Walnut Woods State Park Campground
Staci I.
Lenon Mill Park
Whitney S.
Adventureland Campground
Willy W.
Chichaqua Bottoms Greenbelt
Recent Reviews near Woodward, IA
481 Reviews of 87 Woodward Campgrounds
Ashley D.ScoutIowa State Fairgrounds
Horrible & expensive
They show tent camping reservations allowed online and they even let you book a tent to Camp online for paying $32 but then when they come around and talk to you they don't say anything about not having a tent allowed and they don't give you the codes to the restroom and then they just close the office and go to bed and then at 11:00 at night the sheriff comes and tells you to grab all your stuff because there's no camping allowed and put you out on the street with nowhere to go and no more money cuz you wasted all your money on that stupid site that you didn't even get to stay at and then you realize that after you carried all your stuff over to the bar and had to sleep outside on the streets with your service dog when you have disabilities and you told them you have seizures that you had a seizure and now you have to go to the hospital and you lost your tent because somebody stole it so now you have nowhere to live because you're homeless and somebody stole your only house which was your tent because the sheriff kicked you out at 10:00 or 11:00 at night that was really great thanks that was the best experience in my whole life not really and thanks for putting my stress level so high that I went to seizures when people have disabilities you guys should be more accommodating and be more open and honest and be more willing to talk to people
- RRussell T.
GuideReece Park
Remote and Relaxing
Arrived at Reece Memorial Park in the early afternoon. I stopped by the Octagonal shelter at the south entrance of the park. This is a large shelter house with a fireplace in the middle of the building with several picnic tables.
I then drove down the road and entered into the west entrance of the park and followed it around the loop. There is a wide open area with a small slide and Merry-go-round, along with a couple of picnic tables.
I found, what I think, the best campsite in the park, and it was open. It sits along the creek and there was a fire ring there. This park is all primitive campsites, and so be prepared for that, although the description of the campground mentions vault toilets, I did not see them.
It was a very nice relaxing campsite, and the fact that there was no cell service, made it even better! There were a few vehicles drive through, and a little road noise, but I enjoyed my stay there. The creek was up, and it looks like part of the park might still be closed on the South side.
To primitive camp, the cost is $10.00 a night, and registration is with a QR Code, but since there is little to no cell service, it was difficult to get registered, so you may want to pay before you go.
- JJeffrey S.
TravelerTrailside 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.
Andrea H.GuideBriggs Woods Park
A wonderful family campground!
I took my mother and my youngest on a Mother’s Day weekend camping adventure. 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. The campground offers free WiFi and it reached clear to the back end over by the four little cabins. The pit toilets by the four little cabins were clean and stocked. My daughter was able to walk her little dog around the campground with no issues of other dogs running loose. Quiet hours begin at 10:30 pm and everyone followed the rule. I also like how close to the river this campground is. We stayed in electrical spots in the #60s. I like how you can scan the QR code and pay right there from your phone. Very convenient! The camp hosts were friendly and would often cruise by in their golf cart checking on campers.
Noah P.TravelerGriffs Valley View RV Park
One night stay
Park was pretty full, but they found us a spot for the night. Excellent pricing and the yards are BIG compared to other places we've stayed. Would definitely come back
- RRob M.Scout
Bob Shelter Recreation Area & Campground
Spots are a little small, but they are level and well kept.
Testing out a new set up and this has full service with electric, water and sewer line.
- TTonyScout
Beaver Lake Campground
Last Resort
Campsites flat and open with water view. Bathrooms were subpar and smells worse than pit toilets. This was a last resort booking as we weren’t finding places open with a shower due to time of year.
Owner was very friendly, but campground not worth the $32 per night charge.
Bill H.TravelerIowa State Fairgrounds
large but well maintained
rv site. very cold that night, but nice camping
Guide to Woodward
The Woodward area offers camping sites set among sandstone features and rolling woodlands not typical of Iowa's normally flat terrain. Located approximately 30 miles northwest of Des Moines, campgrounds in this region range in elevation from 850-950 feet. Most campsites near Woodward, Iowa are positioned along waterways including the Des Moines River and Saylorville Lake, creating unique fishing and paddling opportunities.
What to do
Biking opportunities: Swede Point Park provides direct access to the High Trestle Trail. "Nice little camp ground with easy access to the high trestle bike trail," notes one camper, highlighting the park's convenient location for cyclists.
Fishing spots: Prairie Flower Recreation Area offers excellent shoreline fishing access. "The trail can take you to the marina, where there is a burger shack style restaurant," mentions one visitor, describing the amenities available to fishermen at Prairie Flower Recreation Area.
Wildlife viewing: Jester County Park features bison and elk viewing opportunities. "They advertise Elk and Bison which are smart enough to stay far away from humans, as it should be," explains a visitor, adding that the "Nature/Conservancy center there is just next level."
Explore sandstone formations: Bob Shelter Recreation Area provides access to the spillway at Saylorville Lake. "Love to camp here and watch the spill way," remarks one camper, highlighting a unique geological feature in the area.
What campers like
Quiet weekday camping: Sportsman Park offers peaceful midweek stays when crowds are minimal. "It was very quiet when we were there, but I assume it gets busy on the weekends," shares a camper who appreciated the Sportsman Park atmosphere.
Clean facilities: Timberline Campground receives consistent praise for maintenance. "Great, safe, and quiet campground. Beautiful site on a pond, clean bath houses," notes a visitor who stayed for an extended period at Timberline Campground.
Spacious sites: Cherry Glen Campground provides ample room between camping spots. "Lots of trees so plenty of shade. Nice playground areas," comments one visitor who appreciated the layout of sites.
Entertainment options: Des Moines West KOA offers numerous recreational facilities. "They have a ton of fun amenities for kids such as a pool, dunk tank, gem mining, ladder golf, horseshoes, jumping pillow, water balloon wars, basketball and more," reports a winter visitor.
What you should know
Water access variations: Not all campgrounds provide water hookups at individual sites. At Prairie Flower Recreation Area, one visitor notes: "No water or sewer onsite," despite the campground having other amenities.
Reservation requirements: Acorn Valley campground fills quickly during peak season. "The Des Moines area has a fairly large camping population - because of this, reservations are usually necessary," advises a frequent camper at Acorn Valley.
Seasonal closures: Some campgrounds close earlier than others. "I tried to stay at Acorn Valley to find out it is closed after Labor Day," reports one camper who was disappointed by the early closure.
Wildlife encounters: Several campgrounds have active wildlife. "Secure your food and they're no problem unless you're a light sleeper," warns a camper about the "resident raccoons" at Acorn Valley that "come out every night to rummage through possible food options."
Tips for camping with families
Playground proximity: At Acorn Valley, sites near recreational areas are ideal for families. "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," shares a parent.
Water activities: Bob Shelter Recreation Area provides fishing opportunities suitable for children. A visitor mentions that "there were a lot of folks casting near the spillway," making this a good option for family fishing outings.
Nature exploration: Cherry Glen Campground offers hiking trails for children of various ages. "The hiking trails are easy to hike and well marked," notes a camper who visited with family during fall, when "the leafs were just starting to change."
Winter camping options: Some facilities remain open year-round. "Don't pay attention to the highway signs that says they're only open until October, they're working on updating them," advises a visitor to Des Moines West KOA, noting they found "space heaters running to ensure they're warm during the December cold."
Tips from RVers
Dump station planning: Several campgrounds have limited dump facilities. "Now my one complaint - there's one dump station for a campground that is large is size and popularity. Trying to leave on Sunday is a good 1 hour wait," warns a visitor to Prairie Flower.
Site leveling considerations: Timberline Campground offers varied site qualities. "Sites not very level," reports an RVer, adding that you can "hear shots from gun range next door" - important information for noise-sensitive travelers.
Concrete pad availability: At Bob Shelter Recreation Area, certain sites offer superior parking surfaces. "We stayed at spot 20 which was extra wide, concrete pad with electric hook up," reports an RVer who appreciated that their site was "at the end which makes it very private with nice large grassy area adjacent to wooded area."
Water fill locations: At Swede Point Park, RVers should note water access points. "Only two water connections for the camp," mentions a visitor, though they still rated the experience positively due to other amenities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular campground near Woodward, IA?
Which is the most popular campground near Woodward, IA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Woodward, IA is Ledges State Park Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 39 reviews.
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