Camping spots near Clarksville, Iowa offer riverside sites and wooded retreats within the rolling hills of Butler County. The area sits at approximately 930 feet above sea level, with the Shell Rock River serving as the central geographic feature flowing through the region. Most campgrounds maintain gravel or grass sites that may require some leveling for RVs and larger camping units.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: Lake Considine provides completely primitive camping with excellent fishing access. "There is a nice lake that is great for fishing, there was access for small boats previously (think kayak/canoe)," notes one camper about this free dispersed camping area.
Biking adventures: The Rolling Prairie Trail connects multiple camping areas, including a 20-mile hard surface path. At George Wyth State Park, one visitor shares, "If you are a biker there is a wonderful bike path. It will take you all the way through Cedar Falls and Waterloo you could bike all day long."
Water recreation: Beyond fishing, many parks offer multiple water activities. "If you like to wake up and walk a few steps to fish, canoe, paddle board or swim, then this park is a dream come true," wrote one visitor about Cedar View Park. The park offers direct lake access with some sites backing right up to the water.
What campers like
Clean, quiet weekday stays: Cedar Bend Park offers a peaceful experience away from crowds. "We camped here to try a new place. We were a little underwhelemed when first pulled in but that changed pretty quick. There weren't many other spots occupied... We found that it was quite a peaceful campground."
Nature trails: Cedar Bend Park visitors appreciate the diverse hiking options. "The trails and hiking was the best part though. We went for hours with our dogs and had so much fun. They were easy. Some right along the river, some grassy and along fields, others ran though the woods," notes a Cedar Bend visitor.
Affordability: Many campgrounds in the region maintain low rates. As one camper at Wilder City Park noted, "Costs for a full hook up in 2022 was under $25 a night." Several county parks even offer free camping on certain weekdays or during off-season periods.
What you should know
Primitive options: For those seeking true solitude, Lake Considine offers completely undeveloped camping. "It is located out literally in the middle of nowhere wrapped by trees on both sides with a cleared out area that you could set a tent or bring a camper if you're ok with no hookups."
Bathroom facilities vary: While some parks maintain clean facilities, others may require self-contained camping units. One camper at Cedar View Park noted, "The shower house was pretty bad though. It was older, which doesn't bother me, but it was dirty."
First-come, first-served: Many smaller campgrounds don't accept reservations. A Cedar View Park visitor mentioned, "It's first come first serve. I really never thought there would be any hookups because of what I had read, but they had electric and water!"
Cell service: Coverage is generally good throughout the region. One camper reported at Cedar View Park: "I had 3 bars on on T-mobile which got me 64 down and 18 up. On Verizon I had 3 bars which got me 65 down and 12 up."
Tips for camping with families
Recreation amenities: Wilder City Park offers numerous activities for children. "They have sand volleyball pickle ball miniature golf and huge checkers plus a couple playgrounds for the kids. It's a nice quiet family campground."
Swimming options: Several parks feature swimming beaches and water access. A Camp Comfort visitor shared, "The river is off a smaller dam and has great fishing. Kids had a great time playing in the water, our site was about 20 ft from the waters edge."
Playground facilities: Many parks maintain playground equipment for children. Cedar Bend Park offers "playground area, as well as nice trails," according to one visitor who appreciated the amenities for their family outing.
Tips from RVers
Hookup availability: Electric hookups are common, but full-service sites are limited. At Heery Woods in Clarksville, "19 electric sites (no water/sewer hookup at sites), 11 sites are right on the river with gravel pads the remaining sites are grass and away from the river."
Leveling requirements: Most camping spots require some leveling. "The spots are gravel, most sites will require some leveling but are not too bad," notes one camper about Cedar View Park sites.
Dump station access: Not all campgrounds provide on-site dump stations. At Shell Rock Recreation Area, there is "no trailer dump in park but, available in nearby town of Shell Rock," which requires planning ahead for longer stays.
