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Yellow Banks County Park provides full pet accommodation across its spacious campgrounds near Carlisle, Iowa. The park permits pets at both electric and non-electric sites, with leashed dogs allowed throughout the camping areas and hiking trails. Campsites feature large, level spaces with fire rings and picnic tables, offering ample room for camping with dogs. Thomas Mitchell County Park and Adventureland Campground also accommodate pets with similar policies requiring leashes in common areas. Most campgrounds in the region maintain standard pet rules including proper waste disposal and prevention of excessive barking. The regular tent site at Yellow Banks was under construction during a recent season, but the park offers alternative camping options when primary areas are unavailable.
Prairie Flower Recreation Area and Yellow Banks provide river access points where dogs can cool off during summer months. Both locations maintain walking trails suitable for daily pet exercise, though dogs must remain leashed to protect wildlife and other campers. The Iowa State Fairgrounds campground offers a convenient option for pet owners visiting Des Moines events, with full hookups and shower facilities, though it lacks the natural setting of county parks. Campers report the area's pet-friendly sites fill quickly on weekends, particularly Thursday through Sunday, with first-come, first-served sites often taken by Wednesday evening during peak season. Several campgrounds in the region close for winter, with operating seasons typically running April through October or November, requiring advance planning for off-season pet camping trips.
"Wonderful trails, lots of space. Access to DM River, has nice pond, playgrounds, just a beautiful area. "
"camped here in 2021 and I enjoyed it but the first night I was there I ran my vehicle down the second night I was there I took a tour on the campgrounds and got verbally accosted but another camper for walking"
"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."
"Perfect weather last weekend and loved the little creek to splash around in with the dogs. Loads of rock stairways to enter and edit the creek throughout the park."
"I travel with my dog and during the 3 nights I stayed, I was constantly removing them from him, myself and within the inside of my van."
"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!"
"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."
"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!"
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."
"There was four of us and a dog."
"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."
from $20 - $25 / night
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GuideI just loved this campground. It has shade trees, grass, free showers and lots of room. It is part of a city park on the outskirts of Winterset. There is a dog park and one of the Bridges of Madison County is located within walking distance of the campground. This was well worth the 20 mile drive off I80. If I had known how m=nice this area was, I would have planned better and stayed here for more than one night.
RangerThis campground has many sites to choose from - RV with hookups as well as some non-electric tent sites. There are quite a few activities in Marshalltown, and it is within the Marshalltown city limits.
The downside is proximity. It is right next to the highway. When I was there in a tent, the hog trucks would drive by all night (loud and smelly). The RV sites are closest to the road, so maybe it is not so bad in an RV, but it is not particularly enjoyable in a tent.
Pros:
+ Marshalltown has quite a few places to eat
+ Nice bike trails (and a great bicycle store downtown)
+ It is near the Iowa River
+ Nice park in general with activities like a dog park
+ Camp host on-site
+ Decent sized campsites
+ Playground for the kids
Cons:
+ It can get busy on a summer weekend
+ Noisy - right by the highway
+ Mosquitos are really bad here
GuideOne 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. It's close to how I remember it.
The campground has a good picnic area, restrooms, and an excellent trail. It's also inexpensive.
What I enjoy most about this park compared to others in Iowa are the sandstone ledges and the slopes on the trail. There are some excellent views, so make sure your phone has enough battery to take photos (unlike me). I also spent a lot of time off the trail. It isn't too hard to get around. I'm not one who enjoys staying at a park that is mostly flat, so this is definitely a good place in Iowa for me to camp.
If you are looking for a cool place to camp within an hour of Des Moines, you should seriously consider this park.
ScoutOne of the more beautiful places to camp in Iowa. Awesome hiking trails and really well-shaded campsites. The hike in spots are great if you like privacy and being in the middle of the woods - but you don’t want to be THAT far from your car.
Beware of the raccoons. They’re plentiful and crazy smart here. We had one open our cooler, steal an egg from the cartoon - without disturbing anything else. Honestly, I was impressed! But some of our friends had them rip through their tents to get at food - not as impressive.
TravelerIn a grove of trees in a slightly hilly area. Easy access, but sites are gravel. Nice bit of grass with each site, most are at least partially shaded. Small dog park which is pea gravel, not grass.
GuideSome full hook ups, sites not very level, playground ok. Can hear shots from gun range next door. Dog park, pool, arcade. We have camped here a couple times, and stored our rig here for a while. Didn't find there was that much going on here to keep us busy. Not a lot of nature, no trails or biking accessible from campground.
GuideSpots kind of level, lots of choices of pull thru or buddy sites. Decent playground, water pillow for bouncing, fishing pond, dog park, swimming pool. Well maintained, lots of planned activities. KOA, so not a lot of nature. But no traffic or train noise. Full hook ups, including TV.
TravelerThe campground was nice, but it seems more for RVs. Sometimes you have to share a fire pit with other tents if it's busy. They have a small petting zoo and a small beach. This place feels more like a neighborhood verses camping in nature. Most people use this as a "summer home".
LegendFollowing 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 rural Iowa.
Highs: (1) Quick& EZ access from I-80 via Exit 173; (2) Incredibly well-manicured campground – very clean and well-organized; (3) Very EZ check-in process; (4) Superb Midwestern hospitality from the CG staff and camping community; (5) RV slots offer very nice FHUs and fairly spacious areas; (6) Picnic tables & fire rings are like brand new; (7) If you get hungry, this CG and fueling station has an imbedded Iowa’s Best Burger Café that does live up to its name; (8) There’s also an embedded Amoco gas station and mini-mart; (9) Spectacularly clean and recently refurbished bathrooms & shower facilities; (10) There’s a small launderette here, which was bonus; (11) Should you visit in the summer, you will benefit from being surrounded by 6 foot tall corn fields that will provide greater privacy and better scenery
Lows: (1) You are just 30 seconds north of I-80, the busiest highway in Iowa;(2) There’s no security gate to prevent any wandering traffic from the highway into this place, so apart from the fact that you're clear out in the boondocks, you are next to the very heavily trafficked I80, so it’s difficult to feel 100% safe & secure here; (3) Lack of privacy between sites as there’s not a ton of trees (welcome to corn country), bushes or brush on the interior of the CG; (4) Most of the RV slots have no shade, so while this isn't exactly Florida, if you're here during the hot summer months, you should bring your own awning or shelter; (5) Some sites have very close proximity to their neighbors; (6) This really isn’t a good place for tent camping, unless you are OK being surrounded by RVs with absolutely no privacy in the open interior; and (7) Apart from FHUs and a decent shower / restroom in the middle of the CG and a small laundry in the NW, there’s not much here in the way of amenities
Happy Camping!
Yellow Banks County Park offers varied camping experiences around Carlisle, Iowa through distinct camping zones. The park features two separate electric camping areas plus a newly renovated tent site completed in 2022. Located along the Des Moines River, the campground spans nearly 200 acres of wooded terrain with hiking trails connecting to Indian burial mounds. Most area campgrounds maintain operating seasons from April through October with limited winter availability.
River activities: Yellow Banks County Park provides excellent access to the Des Moines River where fishing is popular. According to one camper, "Wonderful trails, lots of space. Access to DM River, has nice pond, playgrounds, just a beautiful area. Never tried the river here, but is known for big cats" (Kelly). The river area accommodates fishing and kayaking throughout the summer months.
Trail exploration: Thomas Mitchell County Park features creek-accessible hiking paths. One visitor notes, "Great place to go tent camping, very clean and quiet. Easy trails for the kids to go hiking and playing in the creek to cool off in the heat. There is even a pond for fishing that you can take a trail from the campsite to" (Willy W.). The park offers several trail difficulty levels suitable for different hiking abilities.
Fishing opportunities: Multiple parks in the area maintain stocked fishing ponds. At Lake Ahquabi State Park Campground, "There is quite a bit to do in this State Park. There are a few trails, there is plenty of fishing, a swimming beach, and they have water sport rentals! The area is very pretty and peaceful" (Caitlyn H.). Most fishing areas remain accessible even during high visitation periods.
Spacious sites: At Yellow Banks County Park, the camping areas provide ample space between sites. One camper describes, "Sites are best around, large flat white rock cinder size area with picnic table, fire ring. Sites are well spaced. Shaded" (Kelly). The park design allows for privacy despite full capacity weekends.
Quiet atmosphere: Grant Park offers a more secluded camping environment with minimal crowding. A visitor mentions, "There are 10 beautiful campsites, all with new picnic tables, fire ring and cement pad so your chairs are actually level! The fire ring even has a grill you can flip over the fire to cook" (Abby M.). The park maintains a 14-day maximum stay policy.
Water features: Multiple campgrounds include water access points for summer cooling. At Lake Ahquabi, "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!" (Jennifer M.). Most water areas remain open until sunset during peak season.
Reservation timing: Campgrounds fill quickly during peak season, especially Thursday through Sunday. A Yellow Banks camper advises, "By Thurs night, it's full. Few reservables, 90% i'd say are first come" (Kelly). Some parks maintain a portion of sites for walk-ins, though these typically fill by midweek.
Seasonal closures: Many campgrounds close completely during winter months. Prairie Flower Recreation Area operates from "May 1 to October 20" while Thomas Mitchell County Park runs "April 1 to November 1" according to official listings. Off-season camping requires advance planning.
Facility limitations: Not all campgrounds offer full amenities. At Prairie Flower, "No water hook ups, so fill up after you get in the campground before you park" (Mia L.). Dump station congestion can occur on busy weekends, with one camper noting, "Trying to leave on Sunday is a good 1 hour wait" (Elizabeth A.).
Playground access: Bob Shelter Recreation Area & Campground maintains playground equipment throughout the camping area. "The park had water available to fill fresh tanks, showers, flush toilets and dump station" (Annell N.), making it convenient for families with small children needing regular bathroom breaks.
Creek exploration: Thomas Mitchell Park features accessible creek areas perfect for kids during summer months. One visitor shared, "Easy trails for the kids to go hiking and playing in the creek to cool off in the heat" (Willy W.). The creek maintains shallow areas with rock stairways for safe access points.
Educational opportunities: Yellow Banks includes historical features. "Theres a hiking trail that will take you to indian burial mounds. There is also fishing and boating. They have a fun playground also" (Derrick W.). Most historical sites include informational plaques suitable for school-age children.
Pad types: Prairie Flower Recreation Area provides concrete pads in certain camping sections. "Loops b, c, and mostly d have paved pads. Most spots are level so setting up is a breeze" (Elizabeth A.). The leveled sites minimize setup time and stabilization requirements.
Hookup availability: Adventureland Campground offers full service hookups for extended stays. "Concrete pads with full hook ups (30/50 amp, water and sewage) make setting up quick" (Anthony W.). Most full hookup sites require reservations well in advance during summer.
Dump station congestion: Several campgrounds maintain limited dump facilities despite large site counts. One Prairie Flower camper noted, "There's one dump station for a campground that is large in size and popularity. Trying to leave on a Sunday is a good 1 hour wait" (Elizabeth A.), suggesting mid-week departures when possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Carlisle, IA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Carlisle, IA is Yellow Banks County Park with a 4.5-star rating from 15 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Carlisle, IA?
TheDyrt.com has all 83 dog-friendly camping locations near Carlisle, IA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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