6 campgrounds with availability this weekend
Several RV parks dot the countryside around Carroll, Iowa, providing varied amenities for motorhome travelers. Prairie Rose State Park Campground offers electric hookups with both 50-amp and 30-amp service, plus water and sewer connections on sites that accommodate big rigs. Swan Lake State Park features electrical sites but primarily serves as a permanent RV area according to visitors. Springbrook State Park Campground, located about 30 miles south, provides electric-only sites with a dump station available and water hydrants throughout the park. Sites at most locations include picnic tables and fire rings, though spacing between RVs can be limited. "Most sites are packed side by side, back to back. The few good sites are continually reserved," noted one camper about Springbrook.
Seasonal availability varies across the region's RV parks. Prairie Rose State Park operates from April through December, while others like Springbrook remain open year-round. Cell service can be unreliable at some locations, with several reviews mentioning Springbrook has zero reception in the campground area. Most parks allow pets but have specific leash requirements. Dump stations are limited, with one reviewer noting, "1 dump, long wait" at Springbrook. The nearest supplies are often 10 miles away from these rural parks, so RVers should arrive with necessary provisions. Reservations are recommended for electric sites, especially during summer and fall weekends when local parks fill quickly. Winter camping options remain limited to a few year-round facilities that maintain water access during colder months.
from $35 / night
from $10 - $17 / night
"The hosts are Amazing and even though there were quite a few people here it stayed quiet"
"There is lots of trees with a bit of shade at most all sites. You can camp at the waters’ edge. We love to fish and can fish off the back of our RV. Most sites are spacious, some a bit smaller."
from $150 / night
TravelerWell maintained lawn and trails. This is the second time I’ve stayed. It’s on the honor system. Each (7) has a water spigot, electric, and fire pit. I didn’t check out the amperage as I don’t use it. Restrooms are on the other side of the grounds. Not a quick walk away if you really need them. Only one other camper here both occasions. Well groomed walking trails on the west side behind trees were a wonderful surprise.
GuideThis campsite is actually very nice, but super simple and that’s why four stars. Our site was also a little funky. The electric box and water connections were on the edge of my cords reach and right next to permanent resident. Since we had large lighting storms when we arrive we decided not to even mess with those connections. The price is right and the place is clean. Looks like there are two small lakes behind us but can’t see through the heavy rain.
TravelerMy wife and I are Camp host in this campground? It is a river Ravine campground lots and lots of trees. Fishing campground itself has electricity only but you can fill your campers up the water by the pump very nice and relaxing place to be.
TravelerThere were a lot of open spaces to reserve the night before. It's a beautiful lake with lots of green places and trails to walk (especially with a dog). The campers and their kids were friendly. The facilities were sparkling clean. A nice respite from the road.
GuideSome sites are amazing and others are interesting in the fact that guy almost have to share a site with others bc your spots face one another. The hosts are Amazing and even though there were quite a few people here it stayed quiet
GuideWe came in really late on a Saturday night and were the only ones here. Cons: women’s bathroom was inoperable and men’s was locked; sites aren’t numbered or differentiated that I could tell at 2am. Pros: green & shady in places, nice park, lots of grass. Parked under two shady trees in what I thought was a spot, paid the $10 and slept in the car as usual.
TravelerNice little city park camping area in Adair, Iowa. Basically 3-5 spots in the city park next to a bath house with showers! and a playground. We were the only campers that night (a Saturday). The town's main street is being repaved, so our little city park road was the main detour road, so we had a bit of traffic off and on. We drove about 10 miles down the road to Casey for ice cream and they have a similar city park camping area. It looked a bit nicer and we considered moving but decided to stay in Adair since we'd already paid our $10 (didn't need electric) and were pretty settled. Overall, a nice spot for a quick overnighter.
LegendSmall campground in a city park in Adair Iowa. Adair is known for its water tower with a big yellow smiley face painted on it. There is a lot of charmed to this town.
There is a number of spots in this city campground with electric hook ups. It’s kind of confusing where each site is, however. There are way more hookups than it seems there is room for actual vehicles.
Unfortunately, when I was there, there was some road construction happening, and the traffic was being diverted through the park. So there was more traffic than is probably usual.
Only two other campers spent the night while I was here. Super cute downtown and had a malted milkshake at the local ice cream store. Overall, a great spot to spend the night. $20 for electric hook up and there is a dump station as well.
LegendBeautiful campground on a man-made lake in Iowa. Very sparsely populated in the middle of the week even during the month of June.
A wonderful bike trail circumvent the lake. About 4 miles long.
The sites are pretty close together. For my first two nights I had no neighbors but then on my final night I was surrounded on all sides by a group that was camping together. Hard to escape their campfire, smoke and normal conversation voices.
I ended up staying an extra day because there were tornado warnings in the area. I was awoken at 6 AM to a tornado warning alarm and had to take shelter in the campground restroom. Thankfully, the restrooms were very clean and spacious. Good bonding experience with my fellow campers.
Small, rural campgrounds surround Carroll, Iowa, offering camping options within a 30-mile radius. While some sites remain open year-round, most campgrounds in this region operate seasonally from April through October. Springtime brings frequent rain showers with summer temperatures typically ranging from 70-85°F, while fall offers cooler camping conditions ideal for hiking the nearby prairie trails.
Fishing opportunities: Prairie Rose State Park Campground centers around a lake that attracts anglers throughout the season. "Great campground if all you want to do is fish," notes one visitor, while another mentions seeing "lots of people out in boats, kayaks, and on the shore."
Prairie hiking trails: The natural landscape offers walking paths through native grasslands. At Prairie Rose, one camper shared their experience "looking for wildflowers along the lake trails" and noted the "trails are perfect for XC skiing in winter."
Wildlife viewing: The rural setting provides opportunities to spot local animals. "We saw bald eagles and deer very close to the tent," reports one Prairie Rose visitor. Another camper enjoyed "prairie wildlife such as a blue heron, geese, bald eagles, frogs" during their stay.
Lake access: Odebolt Memorial Walk RV Park provides water access in a small-town setting. One visitor described it as a "cute tiny town with a cute little spot to park the camper. Located near the crick and manicured walking path."
Quiet atmosphere: Several campgrounds offer peaceful settings away from highways. At Springbrook State Park Campground, a camper appreciated that "it's not a far drive from Des Moines, but still quite remote" with "lots of nice hiking trails."
Swimming beaches: Multiple locations feature swimming areas for summer recreation. One camper at Springbrook noted "its beach is fun on the hot summer days, and tends to not be too busy," while Prairie Rose visitors mentioned an "awesome swimming pond."
Cell service limitations: Many rv sites near Carroll, Iowa have limited or no connectivity. At Springbrook, a visitor noted, "No cell reception, which could be a 'con' but we like that it forces us to unplug." Another camper cautioned about having "no service. This is the first place we have been to without voice service."
Distance to supplies: Most campgrounds sit away from major shopping areas. At Jesse James Gang RV Hookup, campers have access to full hookups but should arrive prepared since the nearest town with comprehensive supplies can be several miles away.
Bathroom facilities: Quality varies significantly between locations. Springbrook campers report "easy access to large, mostly clean modern bathrooms," while another noted the "shower house/bathroom isn't super modern, but was clean."
Playground proximity: When booking at Prairie Rose, one family appreciated that the "playground was directly behind us which is a plus for us" allowing parents to monitor children while at the campsite.
Educational opportunities: University 40 offers an educational environment described as "a nice place, unusual and interesting, especially for students" with multiple outdoor learning activities.
Nature centers: Some parks feature educational buildings with wildlife displays. At Springbrook, a parent shared that "they had a little nature center which was closed but the nice lady opened it for my kids to go in and let them hold snakes and turtles! They were so excited!"
Site spacing: At Shelby Country Inn & RV Park, one RVer noted road noise concerns, mentioning the location is "right off the highway, with exit sprawl left and right" which affected their experience.
Electric hookup options: Many campgrounds offer only electric connections without full hookups. In Springbrook, campers mention "the park is electric only with a dump station and water hydrants throughout the park."
Dump station timing: When staying at parks without sewer connections, plan for potential delays. One RVer at Springbrook mentioned there was only "1 dump" resulting in a "long wait" during busy checkout periods.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular RV campsite near Carroll, IA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular RV campground near Carroll, IA is Shelby Country Inn & RV Park with a 2-star rating from 1 review.
What is the best site to find RV camping near Carroll, IA?
TheDyrt.com has all 72 RV camping locations near Carroll, IA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring
