Looking for the best campgrounds near Carter Lake, IA? There are tons of hikes and other fun activities to partake in, as well as sights to see and explore. You're sure to find the perfect campground for your Carter Lake camping trip.
$10 - $50 / night
"I pulled in late at night easy to navigate stayed the next day and did some trails apparently the land formations are 1 of only 2 in the world how about that Iowa."
"We camp all the time at different locations, and I 100% recommend this campground! The hosts are so polite and helpful and they keep the place immaculate."
$20 / night
"There is a large paved path that goes all the way around the lake, while also connecting to the greater trail system in the Omaha metro area. There are singletrack trails available too. "
"The location is great - 20-30 min from everything Omaha has to offer. The campground is spacious, affordable ($16/night), and has great reception with ATT and Verizon."
$15 - $40 / night
"The lake is right there, with a nice bike path that comes all the way around."
"Lake Cunningham is a fun destination for getting outside if you only have an afternoon to escape! The lake itself is great for kayaking, paddle boarding, and sailing!"
$20 - $23 / night
"Our confirmation email included precise directions from I-29, with an interstate sign confirming the turn for Lake Manawa State Park, and provided the gate code for access."
"Lake manawa is a nice lake, dream park is a fun playground for kids!"
$40 - $50 / night
"Very convenient location close to lots of shopping and the convention center."
"Great location, not too close to the lake so not a lot of bugs to bother."
"Each site is equipped with a fire ring and many of the locations have a picnic table. There are a couple of the spots right along side the lake."
"Nice quiet campground away from the hustle and bustle yet close to city for anything forgotten."
"Well,, it was alright, loud because of the toll bridge next to park, sites were close together, level, fire pits, picnic tables, electric, water and a dump station, stayed 3 days to visit family,, $20"
"The campground itself was fine and very convenient in location to vIsIt famIly."
"The site was situated such that our "good side" was facing the trees, away from the rest of the campground. We have a 43' 5th Wheel plus our truck, and there was plenty of space."
"Our family and another family shared a primitive tent site near the back of the park. We were first and foremost impressed with the freedom we had in choosing our site."
"I like that you can tent camp anywhere in the Camp area down by the lake with all your friends close by. the trails and playground equipment is nice and the fishing is great!"
$25 - $333 / night
"The campground was a nice change of scenery from all the farmland and corn we had to endure in Iowa and in the rest of Nebraska."
"As full-time campers we stay at Mahoney quite often as it is close to the Omaha-metro and there are so many things to do within the park: swimming, golf, zip lines, arts & crafts, trails, nature, horses"
ScoutWhat a great rural campground The owner was fantastic to deal with. Very quiet and peaceful, a true little gem.
LegendOur confirmation email included precise directions from I-29, with an interstate sign confirming the turn for Lake Manawa State Park, and provided the gate code for access. We proceeded to back-in site 28 with full hookups; the back-in was easy, and the site was level, with utilities located toward the rear and a slight uphill grade to the sewer connection. The campground (CG) features well-spaced, spacious sites with no trees nearby great for satellite access. We had a bit of a water view through the trees, and connectivity was decent with 2 bars on Verizon and 3 on T-Mobile; water pressure was around 40 psi. We arrived on a Thursday for a four-night stay, and the CG filled up over the weekend. About 150 yards from our site was the popular Dreamland playground, which draws families with young kids to that side of the CG next time, we'd choose a site farther from the playground for more quiet.
GuideEssentially a parking lot with electric and water hookups, but only 9 minutes from downtown Omaha. Check-in at security window at Horseshoe. $40 weekday rate and $50 weekend rate. There’s a building that has bathrooms, showers and laundry.
TravelerDidn’t have any issue finding a spot around 8pm in early May, and it was made way with a spot to register and deposit money on your own. Bathrooms were okay. Very pretty view of the water and the stars were bright!
GuidePlace is well maintained with plenty of hookups, a nice view to the park, picnic tables and a dump station. Price is now 25 dll per night. Besides the traffic noise because it's close to the hwy, the train passed at night like 4 or 5 times, so have that in mind if you light sleep.
GuideDay <1>Lots of spots to pick from, and I could guess why… middle of nowhere, the bathrooms are dirty as all heck and heard from a local that management can be a bit "Tight" will continue to update, ……
Day <2> Late last night, I mean Late…. we had some company someone else decided to camp at this camp of solitude… granted it is the middle of the week, but we had seen the news article about the campground opening for the season i would imagine that there would be others, like most though we are glad there isn't.
Day <3> Friday is here and with it comes the visitors, this park comes alive Friday afternoon and seems to be about 25% of capacity, everyone is grilling or fishing or even flying their drones... the bathrooms however are still as dirty as ever and no sign of an old grouchy park manager... definitely a nice secluded stay during the week with a lot more activity starting Friday evening. I would also just say no "useable" public restrooms.
GuideI arrived February 28 to visit the casino and friends in town. I couldn’t figure out where to check in so I called the number on the website. Turns out the RV parking is closed for the winter. Oops. But the gentleman on the phone was very nice and said I could park overnight in the North Lot. It’s just a giant parking lot but it is level. I would definitely stay here again but I feel bad. There is truly nowhere near Omaha to camp in the winter.
ScoutI have stayed several times. Quiet. Nice. Close to town, stores, food. $15. Night in 2025. Fair. Good place for quiet, inexpensive nights. Quite a good deal.👍
GuideCentrally located and walkable. There is a small lake close by that we walked the dogs too. Also 20 minute bike ride to GSR Casino. I appreciated the free filtered water dispenser in the office.
Camping near Carter Lake, Iowa, offers a mix of beautiful scenery and fun activities for everyone. Whether you're looking for a peaceful getaway or an adventure-filled weekend, there are plenty of campgrounds to choose from.
Camping near Carter Lake, Iowa, has something for everyone, from families to RV enthusiasts. Just remember to plan ahead and enjoy the great outdoors!
Frequently Asked Questions
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Carter Lake, IA is Hitchcock County Nature Center with a 4.7-star rating from 29 reviews.
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 6 parks near Carter Lake, IA that allow camping, notably Bankhead National Forest and Chugach National Forest.
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