98 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Morgan Creek County Park offers designated pet-friendly camping areas with both electric and water hookups for tent and RV campers. Sites include fire rings and picnic tables with spacious layouts that provide ample room for dogs to rest at campsites. Wanatee Park (formerly Squaw Creek) maintains clean facilities with hot showers and features wildflower fields suitable for leashed dog walks. Palisades-Kepler State Park Campground allows pets at all sites with proper restraint, providing access to wooded hiking trails along the Cedar River where dogs can enjoy nature alongside their owners. Lake Macbride State Park maintains both modern and primitive campgrounds that welcome pets, though dogs must remain leashed at all times. Sites at most campgrounds in the Cedar Rapids region are well-spaced with shaded areas, important for keeping pets comfortable during summer months. The bathrooms at Morgan Creek are generally well-maintained though some visitors note they could use minor improvements.
Hiking trails throughout these parks provide excellent exercise opportunities for dogs, with Morgan Creek's trails rated as easy for most people and pets to navigate. Linn County parks enforce standard pet policies requiring campers to clean up after their animals and keep them restrained. Most campgrounds in the area operate seasonally from April through October, with Morgan Creek open April 15 to October 25 and Wanatee Park available April 15 to October 15. Wanatee Park features both reservable sites and first-come-first-serve options, giving pet owners flexibility when planning trips. The proximity to Cedar Rapids means emergency veterinary services are within reasonable driving distance. Wildlife is present throughout these parks, so keeping pets leashed protects both local animals and camping dogs from potentially dangerous encounters. The campgrounds offer good access to water sources where pets can cool off after hikes.
"Very nice COE campground north of Iowa City in the Lake Coralville area. Beautiful setting, lots of options for sites."
"Nice grassy sites near lake for fishing, hiking, wildlife viewing. Near Iowa Raptor Project that conducts raptor programs and site with walking tour and live raptors, and Macbride State Park as well."
from $14 - $260 / night
Check Availability"My niece who lives nearby recommended this place to stay when we went to visit her since was a short drive from where she lives. "
"Close access to boating and town"
from $26 - $38 / night
Check Availability"Great walking trails through wooded areas near the river. Beautiful place."
"Situated along the Cedar river, fishing and paddling can be done. Lots of trails, CG and cabins closed for winter season for improvements and online reservations."
from $18 - $80 / night
Check Availability"We stayed during an Iowa Football weekend, attended the game in nearby Iowa City, and then enjoyed the rest of our weekend exploring the ponds and trails in the park."
"It is the perfect camping destination between Amana colonies and Iowa City."
from $20 / night
Check Availability"We camped at this park for 9 nights with W/E on site with a dump upon exit/entrance. Our site was unlevel but was able to get the RV right with tri-levelers. "
"There are a variety of sites to choose from, nice trees, and a beautiful wildflower field to walk through."
from $23 - $33 / night
Check Availability"The reservoir behind the dam creates both the Coralville Lake alongside Lake MacBride which is a state park in a side bay."
"LuLu and I stayed for 10 days while visiting family in Iowa City. The campground hosted mainly locals but it’s only a couple of miles off the I80."
from $22 - $28 / night
Check Availability"Did a quick overnight here before a race in Cedar Rapids. Nice campgrounds. The modern campground has electric hookups and nice showers, the other campground (much quieter!) has nice toilets."
"You may also be able to take the dam trail with a bike, but I'm not totally sure about that."
from $14 - $25 / night
Check Availability"Relatively wide open, sites adjacent to one another. Utilities all worked fine, decently maintained."
"Campground is a nice bike ride away from the Amana villages and overall a great base camp"
from $25 - $42 / night
Check Availability"Trails close by and only about 5 min from expressway."
"Morgan Creek has amazing trails and the location is fantastic if you are looking for the camping expirence but still have work or other things to get done."
from $23 - $40 / night
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TravelerEvenings at this farm are memorable. Dark skies with billions of stars. Enjoy a campfire, that's a must. Primitive and private. Pond for recreation, fishing, and swimming. Kids be sure to try the rope swing. Close to Field of Dreams movie site, Backbone State Park, Frank Lloyd's Cedar Rock, and Hazleton Amish community. Just North of Cedar Rapids, tucked into the heartland.
GuideOne of the few places around Cedar Rapids that is open in winter. 35$/night. Management is pleasant.
LegendDid a quick overnight here before a race in Cedar Rapids. Nice campgrounds. The modern campground has electric hookups and nice showers, the other campground (much quieter!) has nice toilets. It was no big deal to pay less and camp more primitive and then go across the park to the modern campground in the northern section to use the showers. Great lake and good playgrounds if you have kids.
LegendI enjoyed my 5 night stay at Oelwein City Park Campground. It's located on the south end of town, there is only one business within walking distance. It's a great restaurant (Oelwein Family Restaurant) and it's about a 15 minute walk.
There is one shower house, and several vault toilets throughout the park. The shower house is old and a little run down but was very clean. I had no problems using it.
The city park is adjacent to the campground and has picnic shelters, a playground, and a dog park.
There are electric and water hookups at most sites, and there is a dump station. The park was pretty full on the weekend as you would expect, but very quiet during the week.
I had great Verizon and T-mobile service here.
ScoutGreat RV park. Lots of room and cabin rentals for folks that don’t have an RV. The fenced dog park was fantastic for those of us with dogs. A lake with beach area and an area for fishing founded it out! Would recommend!
ScoutWas looking forward to camping there until I found out they do not allow pets at tent sites. Apparently they don’t feel responsible pet owners use tents. Not happy will never stay there
LegendThis CG is a full service CG for RVs with community buildings, gravel road lanes, pet friendly, and lake access for fishing, paddling and swimming.
LegendThis campground is maintained by the Army Corps of Engineers as part of an outdoor recreation complex around a large dam on the Iowa River. The reservoir behind the dam creates both the Coralville Lake alongside Lake MacBride which is a state park in a side bay. The recreation area also includes campgrounds and river recreation downstream of the dam, including a gorge of geologic interest that is filled with Devonian fossils exposed in the flood of 1993.
This review is for the West Overlook campground located on the lakeside upstream of the dam. This is one of the larger campgrounds at Coralville Lake, and is popular due to the large sandy beach, the modern boatlaunch area, and options for a variety of kinds of campsites in separate loops. Some of the loops are close to the lake or in various heights overlooking the lake, some loops are tucked into beautiful shady woods further inland. As a tent camper I chose one of the loops in the woods as the sites are larger and quieter and more spacious. All of the loops seem family friendly and pretty quiet even though pretty full. There are new modern bath houses with showers, and hiking trails all around. There is easy access to a nearby mountain bike trail complex, the state park, fishing, and boating. This seems to be a camping destination for a lot of folks in the area, but is also an easy stopover right off Interstate 80 for folks on road trips. It is also a nice and inexpensive basecamp for folks visiting Iowa City or the University of Iowa, only about a 15-20 minute drive away. My most recent time camping here was this month, May 2025, but I have camped here many times in the past as far back as 1964, and the campground improvements and recreation opportunities have just gotten better and better over the years. Its a popular location, so Spring camping is quieter; fall camping is also quiet, and the fall leaves are beautiful then.
GuideThis is one of our favorite parks in the Midwest. We usually make a day trip from Chicagoland, but this time we camped at the park. We are glad we did!
You really can't go wrong with any trail or cave. The kids enjoyed hiking between Lower- and Upper-Dancehall Caves. The trail goes underground and through some water. Window Cave was also a hit. You can climb up about 5-7 feet and out the "window". The kids felt like real spelunkers!
While the park is usually crowded during the day, we find it nearly empty beginning in the late afternoons on the weekdays we visited. It felt like we had the place to ourselves.
The campground is about a five minute walk to the park's main entrances. The campground was very quiet... just the way we like it. There is a family of cats that hang around: they visit from a nearby dairy farm. The kids loved this added attraction. The dog did not.
The bathroom and shower house is clean. There is only one. So it gets pretty busy during "flush hour". Our campsite was right next to the bathroom/ shower and dumpster. We noticed flies and the occasional whiff of trash.
We'll continue visiting this park. And we look forward to camping on site.
The Cedar Rapids area features diverse camping environments situated along the Cedar River watershed at elevations averaging 700-800 feet. Campgrounds remain open primarily from April through October, with temperatures ranging from 35-85°F during camping season. Sites near water bodies like Lake Macbride offer distinctive amenities for campers seeking shade during hot summer days.
**Fishing opportunities: Sugar Bottom Campground provides access to Coralville Lake with multiple fishing spots. "Nice grassy sites near lake for fishing, hiking, wildlife viewing. Near Iowa Raptor Project that conducts raptor programs and site with walking tour and live raptors," notes James M.
Fossil exploration: Visit the Devonian Fossil Gorge near the Coralville Dam. "Park offers lots of amenities and recreation opportunities. Situated along the Cedar river, fishing and paddling can be done," explains James M. about Palisades-Kepler State Park Campground.
Mountain biking: Access nearby trail systems from various campgrounds. "The best thing about this campground is it's access to the squaw creek man bike single track. The sites are nice, and easy access to town if you forgot stuff," mentions Kris P. about Wanatee Park.
Budget-friendly options: Primitive camping areas offer lower rates for tent campers. "Great campground, cheap sites with electric and water even for tent campers. Fantastic amenities including hot showers and nice bathrooms and a cleaning station with sink basin for camping dishes," writes Steve T. about Sugar Bottom.
Wildlife viewing: West Overlook Campground provides habitat for various species. "A darn good dam campground is maintained by the Army Corps of Engineers as part of an outdoor recreation complex around a large dam on the Iowa River. The reservoir behind the dam creates both the Coralville Lake alongside Lake MacBride," explains Janet R.
Privacy considerations: Some sites offer more seclusion than others. "We stayed at site 48 and it's a perfect spot just off the lake with great views. Only drawback is it's kinda of a walk from a bathroom and the beach but that is more than ok to deal with," writes Brad B.
Seasonal closures: Check opening dates before planning spring trips. "Most campgrounds in the area operate seasonally from April through October, with F.W. Kent Park offering camping throughout the warmer months," noted by campground information.
Shower facilities vary: Not all campgrounds offer equal bathroom amenities. "There are two campgrounds. The modern side on the north end of the park with full hookups, and the primitive side on the south side of the park with no electricity or water hookups. Both campgrounds have flushing toilets but only the modern side has showers," explains Jacob B. about Lake Macbride.
Reservation requirements: Some campgrounds require advance booking while others operate first-come-first-serve. "Half of the campgrounds is first come first serve, the other half is reserve only," notes Brett S. about Wanatee Park.
Playground access: Multiple campgrounds feature play areas. "Great facilitity with a playground, ideal for families with younger children," notes Terry M. about Morgan Creek Park.
Beach activities: Primitive South Campground at Lake Macbride provides swimming access. "This is a real family oriented campground. Although it is a primative campground, it allows for fishing, boating and a playground," mentions Jeannie B.
Educational opportunities: Look for nature programs at certain parks. "Beautiful park with lots to do! Only thing keeping me from giving it 5 stars is how busy both campgrounds get on weekends and holidays giving you little to no privacy since sites are pretty close together," cautions Jacob B.
Electric hookups: Many Cedar Rapids area campgrounds provide electricity. "We stayed in site W44, a very level site with a great view of the lake," notes Alan K. about West Overlook Campground.
Site leveling: Terrain varies across the region's pet friendly camping options. "Check-in was quick and easy. We proceeded to back-in site 61 with water and electric(50/30/20 AMP). We were one and done on what we thought might be a more difficult back-in, but there was enough level ditch in front to allow an easy swing," describes MickandKarla W.
Dump station access: Amana RV Park & Event Center provides full hookups. "Relatively wide open, sites adjacent to one another. Utilities all worked fine, decently maintained. Non-camper traffic is annoying (event center inside CG), lots of people well above posted 10 mph limit," warns Mike C.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Cedar Rapids, IA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Cedar Rapids, IA is Sugar Bottom Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 24 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Cedar Rapids, IA?
TheDyrt.com has all 98 dog-friendly camping locations near Cedar Rapids, IA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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