111 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Camping options surrounding Carlisle, Iowa include multiple established campgrounds serving both tent and RV campers within a short drive. The area features Yellow Banks County Park with spacious campsites, access to the Des Moines River, and hiking trails leading to historic Indian burial mounds. Several campgrounds offer electrical hookups, water access, and amenities like shower facilities, while others provide more primitive experiences. Thomas Mitchell County Park stands out for offering cabin camping alongside traditional camping sites, providing options for those seeking shelter beyond tents or RVs.
Campground accessibility and amenities vary considerably by season, with many facilities operating from spring through fall. "I am here in November. Not many people here. The water has been turned off but the camping pads and the spacing between the campsites is amazing," noted one Yellow Banks visitor during the off-season. Most campgrounds in the region maintain operational schedules between April and October, with Lake Ahquabi State Park campground specifically open April 1 through December 31. Full hookup availability differs between locations, with several parks offering electric, water, and sewer connections for RVs. Weather conditions impact camping comfort, with central Iowa experiencing hot, humid summers and potentially cold spring and fall nights.
The camping experience near Carlisle benefits from proximity to water features and well-maintained facilities. At Yellow Banks County Park, campers appreciate the generous site spacing and natural surroundings. One visitor described it as having "large spacious sites with a fire ring and picnic table. Cost per night is low. Firewood available and camp host was a wonderful older gentleman." The park includes fishing opportunities at both the pond and river. Many campgrounds in the area balance relative proximity to Des Moines with a natural setting, providing urban residents convenient access to outdoor recreation. Campers should note that weekends typically see higher occupancy rates, particularly during summer months when sites at popular locations fill quickly.
"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."
"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."
from $35 - $90 / night
Check Availability"There's a boat camp, a bird watching area, a playground, plany of park space with picnic tables and BBQ pits, hiking and biking trails, and even a lodge that I assume can be rented for events."
"Walnut Woods is conveniently located 25 minutes outside of downtown Des Moines. Sites are paved and mostly level, although we did have to throw a couple of blocks under one side of our TT tires."
from $25 - $40 / night
Check Availability"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."
"Each of the 10 campsites are spacious and plenty of distance between. Nice quick trails with wildlife. The park is well maintained and well priced!"
"You’ll eventually see the park entrance(a sign and fence). Pass the first bathrooms/shelter/info board. Continue down the gravel road that looks kinda like a trail."
"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."
"The Iowa State Fair is the best fair in the world with more than a million visitors every year! There is something for everyone in the family."
"I always loved going here when I lived in Iowa! The State Fair was a blast! Being able to actually stay there made it that much better!!"
"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."
from $22 - $26 / night
Check Availability"We entered the park looking for a walk-up spot and landed on Site 67 which was not reserved. The site was spacious with a big tree with good shade and cover if needed."
"The beach, and park were very far away from the camping area. A suggestion of a bagger for their lawn mower for all the cut grass. The lake by the boat landing was nice and so were the trails."
from $25 - $38 / night
Check Availability"Wonderfull Surroundings ,People and Experiences."
"Campgrounds are located on the east side of the actual fairgrounds. There are hundreds of sites here."
LegendNice Iowa State Park campground just outside of Grenell Iowa. On a lake. Hundreds of sites. So many of the non-electric test sites look amazing. The RV sites are very packed in with little to no privacy.
LegendBig beautiful camp ground right on the Des Moines River. All need to be reserved in advance at Recreation.gov
I selected my site based on its proximity to the river. Good choice, as I could watch the eagle and heron fish right from my site.
However the very busy bike/pedestrian path also runs right next to the site. So there’s no privacy. And the bridge that goes across the river is made of loose boards, so every time someone crosses there is a loud clanking sound.
Despite all of that, I did enjoy my experience here a very well kept campground. Big trees. Good enough cell reception for me to work. Electric hook ups, but no water.
ScoutGreat spot in the woods. Lots of trails. They have a bison and elk sanctuary. Also a nature center. A playground. They have several RV spots. Most are pre book but they have a section for first come first serve. Also lots of tent camping. A few group camping areas. Showers are ok. I believe the non shower house bathrooms are all vault toilets. Overall a great place to stay!
ScoutThere are a couple small hiking trails, but they were very well maintained and an easy hike to get my daughter started in her backpack.
ScoutThey 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
ScoutSuch a wonderful, quiet, and peaceful place. We stayed Thur-Sat so we were basically the only ones here.
I have never seen such clean and gorgeous bathrooms at a campground before along with a very clean laundry room. The bathrooms were large and HC accessible with rain showers and benches.
There are campers and a cabin to rent, and a nice walking trail. While we didn't use any, they have a driving range, archery, waterside, and paddles boats.
There's a gas station only a couple miles away so we could gas up the night before leaving without pulling our camper with.
The only downside was the amount of Ticks. I know with camping comes Ticks but I wish they would spray or something to control the amount of them crawling across our camping rug and into our camper.
If we come this way again, will definitely stay here as it's just a 15 minutes off I-35.
TravelerPark 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
ScoutTesting out a new set up and this has full service with electric, water and sewer line.
ScoutCampsites 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.
Camping options near Carlisle, Iowa range from established county parks to state-operated facilities, with elevations typically between 800-900 feet above sea level. The region experiences average summer temperatures between 75-85°F and winter temperatures often dropping below freezing. For campers seeking proximity to water features, several campgrounds provide direct river or lake access with fishing opportunities.
Explore burial mounds and trails: Yellow Banks County Park offers unique historical hiking opportunities. "There's a hiking trail that will take you to indian burial mounds. There is also fishing and boating. They have a fun playground also. There are a couple of backpacking sites as well," notes Derrick W. about Yellow Banks County Park.
Bike the Chichaqua Valley Trail: Access the 25-mile paved biking trail from Griffs Valley View RV Park. Anthony W. shared: "Nicely paved 25 mile long biking and walking Chichaqua Valley Trail runs right between the campground and the campground office. During the summer months they are quite busy so definitely call ahead before making the trip out." Griffs Valley View RV Park provides easy trail access.
Paddle the Des Moines River: Several campgrounds offer river access for water recreation. "Nice quiet campground with the Des Moines river close by for fishing or kayaking. Most of the spots are shaded and well maintained," reports Kayla N. about her experiences at Yellow Banks County Park.
Creek access for summer cooling: Thomas Mitchell County Park features popular water access points. Shannon G. reports, "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." Thomas Mitchell County Park combines water features with camping convenience.
Free camping options: Grant Park offers no-cost camping with basic amenities. "There are 10 free sites. Well maintained and quiet. Pit toilet, paved fire ring area and picnic table at each site. Can stay up to 14 days. Beautiful trails," says Maria H. about Grant Park, providing an economical option for budget campers.
Spacious camping sites: Many campers appreciate the generous spacing between sites at certain campgrounds. Kelly notes about Yellow Banks: "Camp sites are best around, large flat white rock cinder size area with picnic table, fire ring. Sites are well spaced. Shaded. Double lane dump station."
Seasonal closures affect amenities: Most campgrounds operate with limited services during off-season. Lai La L. notes about Walnut Woods State Park Campground: "Sites Available in December. Full service flat sites!!" Despite winter availability, many facilities reduce services during colder months.
Insect activity varies by season: Ticks and mosquitoes can be prevalent, particularly in wooded areas. Steve H. comments about Walnut Woods: "Beautiful river access and camping in the trees. However the mosquitos get crazy here!" Similarly, Abby M. warns about Grant Park: "During the 3 nights I stayed, I was constantly removing them from him, myself and within the inside of my van."
Site reservability differs: Some parks require advance planning while others offer first-come options. Kelly mentions Yellow Banks: "Close to home, can usually get site without reservation, IF you roll in on Wed. By Thurs night, it's full. Few reservables, 90% i'd say are first come."
Look for creek play areas: Children enjoy water features at several campgrounds. Kimberly W. shared about Thomas Mitchell: "Perfect weather last weekend and loved the little creek to splash around in with the dogs. Loads of rock stairways to enter and exit the creek throughout the park."
Consider lakeside recreation: Lake Ahquabi State Park Campground offers multiple water activities. Jennifer M. notes, "This is one of my favorite places to go! They have a beautiful lake and a beach. The water has minimal seaweed and great temperature! They have rentals for paddle boards, kayaks, canoes, etc, for a decent price!"
Plan for campground noise levels: Some campgrounds experience higher noise levels, especially on weekends. Larissa C. mentions Lake Ahquabi: "Unfortunately, we felt like we were literally on top of surrounding campers. The campsites are all extremely packed in together, so you can really feel a part of other people's conversations and activities."
Concrete pads enhance setup ease: Bob Shelter Recreation Area & Campground provides solid foundations. Wendy H. shares: "We stayed at spot 20 which was extra wide, concrete pad with electric hook up. No water or sewer. Spot 20 is at the end which makes it very private with nice large grassy area adjacent to wooded area."
Check full hookup availability: Not all parks offer complete utility connections. Anthony W. notes about Griffs Valley View: "Concrete pads with full hook ups (30/50 amp, water and sewage) make setting up quick," while Tom D. reports about Walnut Woods: "Awesome site for campers. Very nice pass with table and fire pit. Utilities were top notch!"
Consider proximity to events and attractions: State Fairgrounds camping provides event access. Matt S. notes: "This is not your typical campground. The Fair generally begins the second Thursday in August and runs 11 days," offering a unique camping option during special events.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular campground near Carlisle, IA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Carlisle, IA is Yellow Banks County Park with a 4.5-star rating from 15 reviews.
What parks are near Carlisle, IA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 6 parks near Carlisle, IA that allow camping, notably Saylorville Lake and Lake Red Rock.
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