Best Camping near Carroll, IA

Whether you're an RVer or tent camper, Carroll, IA is a great place to post up for the weekend—or longer. Carroll is filled with the activities, sights, and experiences to make everyone in your crew a happy camper. Get the dirt on all the best camping near Carroll. Browse campgrounds by amenities, site types, and more.

Best Camping Sites Near Carroll, IA (74)

Showing results 1-10 of 74 campgrounds

Pet-friendly camping near Carroll

Recent Reviews in Carroll

159 Reviews of 74 Carroll Campgrounds


  • RThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Littlefield Rec Area
    Nov. 11, 2024

    Littlefield Rec Area

    Great, quiet place to stay!

    Ok, so I stayed 3 nights, the second week of November. It was myself and two other campers who were there together. We had the entire campground to ourselves. Water was on and the bathrooms were open and clean! I happened upon a site with full hookups and it was $20.00 a night. I’m guessing in the regular season these would either be taken or they might charge more. Anyway, great relaxing stay! ****No cellular service available ***. I was able to get nominal service with an external antenna and booster…

  • Gudrun C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Adair City Park
    Oct. 16, 2024

    Adair City Park

    Convenient Spot

    No frills spot for an easy stop off I-80. Only 2 other campers the night we stayed. Great Mexican restaurant 2 blocks away.

  • Pat F.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Don Williams Park
    Oct. 14, 2024

    Don Williams Park

    Quite and nice

    Very quite and nice campground, we camped on top of the hill in tents it was awesome view and potable drinking water next to camp, bathrooms and shower facilities was clean and nice

  • RThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Lenon Mill Park
    Sep. 29, 2024

    Lenon Mill Park

    Pretty basic, great for an overnight

    I stayed here one night while I was traveling. It was a Saturday so the campground was kind of busy. People shouting and loud music. Lots of trucks with noisy exhausts coming and going all day. I'm sure it's more quiet during the week.

    Some of the sites are well shaded, and you can access the water. It looked like people had been finding clams (they left the shells all over the picnic table). People were fishing here.

    The power pedestals are far back from the parking pad for some reason. If you back all the way into your spot or if you have a long cord you should be fine. There was only a 50A outlet so I needed to use an adapter for my 30A camper.

    There is one water spigot, and no dump station.

    There are bathrooms, but no showers.

    I had great T-mobile signal here (5G, 160 down and 20 up). And a somewhat decent 4G Verizon signal (70 down, 12 up).

    The Guthrie County Historical Village& Museum is a 5 minute walk away. It's not open evenings or weekends but there is interesting stuff to walk around and see even when closed. The railroad cars are very cool.

  • SThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Pottawattamie County Fairgrounds
    Sep. 25, 2024

    Pottawattamie County Fairgrounds

    Cheap and easy to get to from the highway

    This is a no-frills stop off on a road trip kind of place. The bathrooms were pretty gross and there are lights on all night so hopefully you have a blackout tent or good shades on your RV. It's nothing to write home about but it was quiet and I slept well. I would stay again

  • c
    Camper-submitted photo from Sportsman Park
    Sep. 22, 2024

    Sportsman Park

    JJSploit

    This piece of writing is certain to attract the interest of readers from a wide variety of backgrounds due to the abundance of insightful content and topics that are pertinent to the topic at hand. JJSploit Official

  • Alika T.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Adair City Park
    Jul. 31, 2024

    Adair City Park

    Awesome little campsites!

    $15 full power / $6 tents / $5 dump only. They have 110 power as well as regular hookups. Playground, tennis / pickleball courts, little zip line, and covered picnic area.

  • George H.
    Camper-submitted photo from University 40
    May. 17, 2024

    University 40

    difficult tas

    You have no idea how helpful you've been. Writing an essay is the most difficult task for me. And I have to pay for essay to keep my grades up. And thanks to your examples and professional help I will be able to write even better.

  • Cire C.
    Camper-submitted photo from Pottawattamie County Fairgrounds
    Mar. 2, 2024

    Pottawattamie County Fairgrounds

    Overnight or Long Term

    We have been coming to this campground every year. They have recently open during the winter which is great because not many campground are open during this time. Steve is such a great guy who is always looking out for you.

  • RN P.
    Camper-submitted photo from Swan Lake State Park Campground
    Oct. 21, 2023

    Swan Lake State Park Campground

    Perfect

    Tented camped in late October, the weekend before closing.  I was only tent camper in the electric only sites.  If there was a tent only location, I didn't see it.  Those in campers that need water and electricity are regulated to gravel 'parking lot' sites.

    Beautiful park with playgrounds, swim beach, fisbee golf, paved trail, many fishing bars, and more.  

    Electric only sites are small and spaced out well.  Most have level drive perfect for sm camper or suv camping. Grass has slope, but I think you can find a good enough place for tent, I did.  Bathroom clean enough, I didn't use showers. I enjoyed the privacy of lake-front site J.

  • L
    Camper-submitted photo from Pottawattamie County Fairgrounds
    Sep. 6, 2023

    Pottawattamie County Fairgrounds

    Super easy I80 stop

    We made a one night stop as we traversed I80. Clean with shaded park like area. Electric, water and sewer available. Bathroom and shower were clean. But old style, so small and well worn.

  • NThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Adair City Park
    Aug. 17, 2023

    Adair City Park

    Great overnight spot

    Park was clean and close to highway. Husband said bathrooms were clean enough. Didn't use the showers. Arrived around 10pm on a Tuesday and there were 3 spots left. Not all spots could accommodate big rigs. About 8 sites total with electric and water hookups. $15/night for RVs and $6 for tents. Drop box and dump station by the bathrooms. Police rolled through shortly after we arrived. Safe area now but marker says this is the site of Jesse James first train robbery in July 1873. Would definitely come back if passing through.

  • Ashley M.
    Camper-submitted photo from Sportsman Park
    Jul. 26, 2023

    Sportsman Park

    Awesome

    Great camping sites! Can’t beat the price. Showers and toilets that were clean. Very peaceful. Best place we camped from Michigan to Washington!

  • RThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Lake Anita State Park Campground
    Jul. 24, 2023

    Lake Anita State Park Campground

    Great Campsite and Location

    Great location, good facilities (shower, spigot with drinking water, restroom with flush toilets). Plenty of space in tent area - shade and soft grass. A bit noisy when I stayed (people playing loud music into the evening). Overall a good place to stay

  • RThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Lenon Mill Park
    Jul. 24, 2023

    Lenon Mill Park

    Good Campsite but expensive compared to other similar sites

    I’ve maked this down to 3 stars purely on the basis of the fee - it’s a $20 flat fee whether in an RV with a hookup, or a tent with no hookup, and for that, you get a restroom and a spigot with drinking water, but no shower. Apart from that, the location is quiet and peaceful. Lots of space in the tent area, with some shade and soft grass. Close to town, with restaurants and a grocery store.

  • Frank B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Schildberg Recreation Area
    Jul. 23, 2023

    Schildberg Recreation Area

    Hidden gem

    The trees at the campsites aren't mature enough for shade, but the ponds and trails more than make up for that. Full hookups, shower house and huge dog park are also onsite making this a Cass County hidden gem. Camp host is great and and you're close to old downtown.

  • Jeannie D.
    Camper-submitted photo from Featherstone County Park
    May. 25, 2023

    Featherstone County Park

    Snug

    Snug if you have slide outs, must watch to see you don't hit neighbor's trailer as you extend. Awnings literally touch neighbors. Crazy good time, if that's what you're into. I like the cabins!

  • Jeannie D.
    Camper-submitted photo from Spring Lake County Park
    May. 25, 2023

    Spring Lake County Park

    Family Tradition

    We love to return here every year! 

    Recently updated two-way fresh-fill/santiary dump station. There is Ice Cube Consessions and the skating rink from Memorial Day through Labor Day every year. Great long-term hosts really make this park feel like going home.

  • Jeannie D.
    Camper-submitted photo from Kennedy County Park
    May. 25, 2023

    Kennedy County Park

    Getting away from it ALL!

    Decent smaller county park with newly installed blacktop trail around lake and golfcourse next door. No cell service provider functions in this park. The WIFI is shared between dozens of sites, speed averages right around 5mps. The rest of everything out here is WONDERFUL! Great neighbors, wildlife, the trail, fishing, boating, the playground… everything else is wonderful.

  • Jeannie D.
    Camper-submitted photo from Dolliver Memorial State Park Campground
    May. 25, 2023

    Dolliver Memorial State Park Campground

    Love Dolliver

    One of my favorite hiking spots! Camping here is comfortable enough. Sites can be a little squat in the middle loops, and no fhu. Antenna coverage is fine for catching your evening weather report, but cell service cuts out as you drive down into the park, and does not resume until you come back up and out. There's no wifi, and I'm not sure how satellite service would fare down here. Our Dish barely kept up with the antenna, so I'm guessing satellite's a meh. If you have anything you'd like to listen to or watch, download it before going in. But, honestly, the hiking is so good, it'd be silly to worry about much of anything down here. I rarely do.

  • Cire C.
    Camper-submitted photo from Middle River Point
    Apr. 13, 2023

    Middle River Point

    One of my favorites

    This is a beautiful spot. Was an absolute blast staying at this place. We loved Corey and his buddies!

  • Lory B.
    Camper-submitted photo from Gordon Prange City Park
    Mar. 18, 2023

    Gordon Prange City Park

    gordon prange campground

    hope you like flooding and bugs all over the bathrooms.the city clerk was nice to your face but not when your back is turned , but other than that the town people are very nice



Guide to Carroll

Camping near Carroll, Iowa, offers a mix of beautiful landscapes and fun activities for everyone. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or an adventure-filled getaway, there are plenty of campgrounds to choose from.

What to do:

  • Hiking and Nature Trails: Explore the scenic trails at Ledges State Park Campground. One camper mentioned, "The campground is well kept but busy in the summer months with it being a popular hiking destination for Des Moines locals."
  • Fishing and Water Activities: At Lake Anita State Park Campground, you can enjoy fishing and kayaking. A visitor shared, "We loved staying there over the weekend... A lot of timid wildlife."
  • Family Fun: Spring Lake County Park has a playground and disc golf. One family said, "This park is peaceful... Bike/hiking trail, disc golf, kayak/paddle boat rentals, swimming beach, historic roller skating rink, playgrounds and more."

What campers like:

  • Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate the well-maintained restrooms and showers. A review for Timberline Campground noted, "Clean bathrooms, beautiful property."
  • Friendly Atmosphere: Many visitors enjoy the welcoming vibe. One camper at Des Moines West KOA Holiday said, "Staff is one of the nicest and most helpful we've ever encountered."
  • Spacious Sites: Campers love having room to spread out. A review for Jester County Park mentioned, "Numerous shade trees, gravel pad and room for our 20' trailer."

What you should know:

  • Limited Cell Service: If you're relying on your phone, be prepared for spotty coverage. A visitor at Iowa Ledges State Park mentioned, "Cell coverage is terrible out here, and there is no WIFI."
  • Busy Seasons: Expect crowds during peak summer months. One camper at Lake Anita State Park noted, "It was a bit noisy when I stayed (people playing loud music into the evening)."
  • Reservations Recommended: Many campgrounds fill up quickly, especially on weekends. A camper at Prairie Rose State Park suggested, "There are reservable sites on mycountyparks.com."

Tips for camping with families:

  • Choose Campgrounds with Activities: Look for places like Spring Lake County Park that offer playgrounds and water activities. A family shared, "There are campsites along the lake with easy access to shoreline."
  • Pack Snacks and Drinks: Having food on hand can make your stay more enjoyable. One camper at Timberline Campground mentioned, "Great people, nice shade trees, fun pool."
  • Plan for Quiet Time: Make sure to have downtime for the kids. A visitor at Des Moines West KOA Holiday said, "QUIETEST KOA IN AMERICA."

Tips from RVers:

  • Check Hookup Availability: Make sure your campground has the right hookups for your RV. A camper at Arrowhead Park Campground noted, "The only open site was in the North Equine Campground so we took a chance."
  • Look for Big Rig Friendly Sites: Many campgrounds cater to larger RVs. A review for Timberline Campground mentioned, "Timberline is among my favorite campgrounds, always has great people."
  • Plan for Dump Stations: Ensure you know where the nearest dump station is located. A visitor at Lake Anita State Park mentioned, "Dump station is at the entrance of the CG."

Camping near Carroll, Iowa, has something for everyone, whether you're a family looking for fun or an RVer seeking a peaceful spot.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Which is the most popular campground near Carroll, IA?

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Carroll, IA is Spring Lake County Park with a 5-star rating from 9 reviews.

  • What parks are near Carroll, IA?

    According to TheDyrt.com, there are 4 parks near Carroll, IA that allow camping, notably Saylorville Lake and Lake Red Rock.