Cedar River and Clear Lake dominate the outdoor landscape near Clarksville, Iowa, creating abundant opportunities for glamping and camping experiences within 30 miles. Winter glamping options remain available at several parks through December when weather permits. The region features both wooded riverside campsites and lakeside options with varying levels of hookups and amenities.
What to do
Kayaking and canoeing on Clear Lake: At McIntosh Woods State Park Campground, visitors can access Clear Lake for water activities. "Short hikes. Fishing nearby," notes one camper who stayed in one of the park's yurts.
Hiking on maintained trails: Cedar Bend Park offers extensive hiking options. "We camped here to try a new place... 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," reports Chantal C.
Biking on paved paths: The George Wyth State Park Campground connects to extensive paved trails. "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. Nice little cozy places to enjoy lunch along the bike trail," says Stephanie J.
What campers like
Clean facilities: Riverside Co Park receives praise for its upgraded amenities. "Totally renovated 2 years ago nestled along the little Cedar river above the dam. New Shower house/bathrooms," writes Paul H.
Spacious sites: At Airport Lake Park Campground, campers enjoy room to spread out. "Camper spots were huge with plenty of space between sites. Fire ring was on a cement slab. Bathrooms were clean. Good cell phone signal," notes Paul W.
Fishing access: Multiple parks offer fishing opportunities. "Nice county park along the Cedar river. Boating and fishing was fun. Had a small swimming beach, nice bathrooms and showers dump station. Saw many people swimming off their boat/pontoons as the bottom is sandy and the current is very very slow," says Kris E. about Halvorson Park.
What you should know
Seasonal closures: Most glamping near Clarksville operates from April through December, with some sites closing earlier. "Clean campground with grassy pull thru sites... Sites are close to each other, not offering much in the way of privacy. Camped here on the off season, so it wasn't crowded," mentions Fred S. about McIntosh Woods.
Flooding potential: Low-lying areas may flood during heavy rains. "Because it is so close to river anytime it rains heavily there is flooding in several areas of the park. And almost every year (usually late summer, early fall) it rains enough to flood a good portion of the park," explains Jennifer T. about George Wyth State Park.
Variable phone service: Cell coverage varies by location and provider. At Dows Pool Park & Campground, "I had 3 bars of Verizon 4G which provided 70 down and 12 up. On T-mobile I had 5 bars of 5G and 100 down and 7 up," reports Ryan S.
Tips for camping with families
Look for kid-friendly play areas: Several campgrounds offer dedicated play structures. At Cedar Bend Park, "There were shelters and restrooms (I did not check them out having the RV) some play equipment as well as a chapel area which was interesting," notes Chantal C.
Consider group sites: Some parks have special accommodations for larger family gatherings. "We camped with family in the group circle site. The circle group site has a nice big area for the kids to play. The playground and lake was also fun for the kids too," writes Dustin B. about Airport Lake Park.
Check water temperature in showers: Not all facilities regulate water temperature effectively. "The showers are the type that don't allow you to mix your own water temperature, and they only stay on for a few seconds every time you press the button. The water was a comfortable temperature for me though," explains Heidi H. about George Wyth State Park.
Tips from RVers
Level sites available: Many campgrounds feature flat parking areas. "Sites not too level, but spacious. Camped in mid April and park was not very busy which was nice. Full hook up sites and W/E only sites," notes Victoria G. about Clear Lake State Park.
Dump station locations: Several parks provide dump facilities. "There is a dump station and potable water. Flush toilets and running water in bathrooms along with push button showers," says Mary S. about facilities at George Wyth State Park.
Affordable rates: Camping costs are reasonable throughout the area. "Nice, quiet campground. Very low cost ($15/night with water & electric). Not a far drive off of I-35," reports Carrie C. about Dows Pool Park.
