113 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Campgrounds near Clive, Iowa provide convenient access to both developed facilities and natural settings within a short drive of the Des Moines metro area. Jester County Park and Timberline Campground offer diverse accommodation options including tent sites, RV hookups, cabins, and glamping opportunities. Several campgrounds in the area feature water recreation access, particularly around Saylorville Lake, where Prairie Flower Recreation Area and Cherry Glen Campground provide boat-in camping options alongside traditional drive-in sites. Most locations maintain year-round or extended seasonal availability, typically from April through October, making the region accessible for camping during peak warm-weather months.
Weather conditions and seasonal considerations significantly impact camping experiences in central Iowa. Most campgrounds require reservations, especially during summer weekends when facilities reach capacity. "This is not a place to rough it, but if you have a family and want an outdoors experience close to amenities, this is the place for you," noted one camper about the region's developed camping areas. Full hookup RV sites are widely available at locations like Timberline Campground and Des Moines West KOA Holiday, while more rustic options exist at state and county parks. Visitors should prepare for variable weather patterns, particularly thunderstorms during summer months and cooler temperatures in spring and fall. Many campgrounds maintain shower facilities and modern restrooms, though availability varies by location and season.
Campers consistently mention the well-maintained facilities and amenities at campgrounds near Clive. Reviews highlight clean restrooms and shower facilities, particularly at county-managed properties. "Iowa county parks are amazing. They pour money into them and it really shows. Clean, I mean immaculate," mentioned one visitor about Jester County Park. Several campgrounds feature recreational trails connecting to broader networks, with the Volksweg Trail accessible from some Lake Red Rock campgrounds and multiple parks offering hiking opportunities. Wildlife viewing remains a popular activity, with some parks maintaining conservation areas. Proximity to urban amenities represents another advantage, with most campgrounds positioned within 15-30 minutes of shopping, dining, and cultural attractions in the Des Moines metropolitan area. The mixed-use nature of these campgrounds accommodates diverse camping preferences, from tent campers seeking shade to RV travelers requiring full hookups.
"A couple minor complaints that I developed would be that it is right next to the golf course so there is a lot of near by traffic, and people like to cruise on motorcycles and drive muscle cars through"
"Iowa county parks are amazing. They pour money into them and it really shows. Clean, I mean immaculate. Nature/Conservancy center there is just next level."
from $20 - $25 / night
Check Availability"We stayed here for two nights while visiting family nearby. It’s a pretty location with the dam and waterway right there. The sites are well spaced."
"Great spot located next to the Des Moines River. Check in was a breeze and conveniently near the fill and dump stations. Peaceful lot near the river. Great fishing in the river."
from $22 - $26 / night
Check Availability"If you’re traveling through Des Moines, Iowa area; this is the place you will want to camp at!"
"The site we were on is sorta blacktop but the sides have crumbled and it has a slight tilt to it so stepping down out of the camper was tricky as your feet tend to slide in the loose rocks."
from $35 - $80 / night
Check Availability"There's a boat camp, a bird watching area, a playground, plany of park space with picnic tables and BBQ pits, hiking and biking trails, and even a lodge that I assume can be rented for events."
"Walnut Woods is conveniently located 25 minutes outside of downtown Des Moines. Sites are paved and mostly level, although we did have to throw a couple of blocks under one side of our TT tires."
from $25 - $40 / night
Check Availability"The Prarie Flower campground at Saylorville Lake is an open, flat grassy campground near wooded trails around the US Army Corps of Engineers land."
"Lots of prairie area around, spacious sites. Varying levels of shade. A25, had a good amount of shade and was near the nice playground and nice bathrooms. No view of the lake from loop A."
from $20 - $336 / night
Check Availability"Roadside Oasis, a place to rest a weary head, food, showers, etc. Cabins always help get you in and get out early without setting up camp."
"I love the beautiful surroundings here. Definitely worth the visit."
"Above average overall for central Iowa. Views of Saylorville Lake. Plenty of shade. Clean restrooms. It’s a large park and some sites are close together, but generally spacious. Good cell service."
"Lots of RV sites around. The whole area around Saylorville Lake has camping. Lush green plots of land everywhere. I forget how pretty it is in the Midwest when I'm gone for so long."
from $24 - $26 / night
Check Availability"Clean bathrooms, close to the lake, playground, and a lot of sites. It does get busy. As you would expect there are a lot of bugs on a hot day in Iowa. Tent sites have good shade from trees."
"Great find on our way through Iowa. Clean and spacious. Very quiet, just listen to the frogs at night."
from $14 - $84 / night
Check Availability"Has a cute pond and is adjacent to a bike and running trail. The main lodge has very clean restrooms and showers with hot water! Recommended"
"There is also a very nice bike trail right outside the park."
from $35 - $90 / night
Check Availability"Close proximity to the state fair without being to close. Great stay! Our site had an open field behind it definitely recommend."
"There are two RV sites with shower houses, and about 10 tentsites on a large rectangular area in the back surrounded by trees."
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.
RangerThis is a sweet well-maintained campground just south of Mitchellville, Iowa off of 80. Not many sites and only a handful were occupied mid week in July. There is a little stream running along the edge of the campground. There is one bathroom building with 6 separate rooms - each with a toilet, sink and shower with warm water. Plenty of drinking water at centralized locations. There is shade at most sites when you first enter the campground and in the loop. Along the edges (inc the stream) shade is more variable. The only issue we had was a bright light that was on all night near the end of the loop. We were in site 5 and had to move our truck so it didn’t shine in all night.
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.
GuideLevel sites and very quiet. Great hiking location and photo opportunities.
GuideStaying here for a night on a roadtrip. It was easy to book last minute and wasn’t too expensive. Especially given it has electric hook up at each sight (I believe).
RangerThere’s not a lot going on in the vicinity of this state park, which is on the smaller side, and you will hear some cows, but all in all the campground exceeded my expectations for the two nights I stayed. This was partially because my site, 65, offered ample room away from the neighboring sites and backed up to a small green area with the road further back (minimal noise, aside from the random loud dirt bike). It also had a good mix of shade and sun if you’re hoping for a bit of solar charging, though no shore power or water. The site was long and mostly level with just the smallest tilt, but not enough to be a bother even without leveling blocks. The dumpster is nearby, but it’s a tiny one and was well maintained (aka not smelly). The brand new shower house was within easy walking distance as well. I had enough service (Verizon) to send texts and watch a bit of YouTube (buffering times were a smidge slow), but you likely wouldn’t have a strong enough signal for much more.
RangerQuite a nice campground. Pretty busy for a Monday so I can imagine it gets busy here. Sites are nice and spacious. Great amenities and right next to the water.
GuideHost were very nice and helpful. Well maintained with pretty good shade.
ScoutStayed here last week in July 2025 on a cross-country motorcycle trip. Nice and quiet. Flat grassy spot to set up my tent and a nice fire ring/ grill to cook dinner on also had a picnic table.
Very nice primitive spot. Will go back
Camping spots near Clive, Iowa range from rustic tent sites to full-service RV parks, with most facilities sitting at elevations between 800-900 feet. Central Iowa experiences significant seasonal temperature swings, with summer highs regularly reaching 85-90°F and high humidity levels from June through August. Winter camping options exist but require preparation for temperatures that can drop below 20°F during December through February.
Fishing opportunities: Access prime fishing locations at Yellow Banks County Park where anglers can target multiple species. "There is a fishing pond that's got plenty of bluegill and largemouth bass. There is a couple of docks and boat ramps," notes a visitor at Yellow Banks County Park.
Trail exploration: Connect to the 25-mile Chichaqua Valley Trail directly from some campgrounds for extended biking or walking. A camper at Griffs Valley View RV Park mentioned, "Nicely paved 25 mile long biking and walking Chichaqua Valley Trail runs right between the campground and the campground office."
Wildlife viewing: Observe local wildlife in their natural habitats, particularly in early morning hours. "We only wanted one night in a tent. They don't have designated tent sites but they have one overflow sight and they let us use it for the night," shares a visitor to Bob Shelter Recreation Area, noting the riverside location provides excellent wildlife spotting opportunities.
Clean facilities: Bathhouses and restrooms at most campgrounds receive consistent praise for cleanliness and maintenance. A camper at Timberline Campground reported, "Very pretty and clean. We got in pretty late, staff was awesome even showed us to our spot. The park looked nice, only thing some spots looked really close together."
Lake access: Multiple campgrounds offer direct access to Saylorville Lake for water recreation. "The campground is a hot spot for Des Moines to escape the weekend - with that said, reservations are a must! Most times you need to make them six months out," explains a visitor about Prairie Flower Recreation Area.
Storm shelters: Several campgrounds maintain dedicated storm shelters for severe weather events common during summer months. One camper at Griffs Valley View RV Park noted the "Kitchen with attached TV room, oh and storm shelter," highlighting safety features not typically mentioned in promotional materials.
Reservation requirements: Many Clive-area campgrounds fill completely during peak season, especially weekend spots. A visitor to Prairie Flower Recreation Area warns, "Now my one complaint - there's one dump station for a campground that is large in size and popularity. Trying to leave on a Sunday is a good 1 hour wait."
Seasonal operations: Operating schedules vary significantly among campgrounds, with several closing after Labor Day. "I tried to stay at Acorn Valley to find out it is closed after Labor Day. Bummer," reports one camper, highlighting the importance of checking seasonal availability.
Wildlife encounters: Raccoons and other wildlife actively visit campsites after dark. "Campsites are well kept and clean. Bathrooms are immaculate and cleaned every day. Biggest downside is the resident raccoons. Come out every night to rummage through possible food options," notes a visitor to Acorn Valley.
Playground proximity: Select sites near playground facilities for convenient supervision. At Cherry Glen Campground, one reviewer notes, "Nice campground with 30/50 amp electric, no water or service but bathrooms are clean and many. The local trail is paved and bike/walker/stroller friendly."
Noise considerations: Family-friendly campgrounds often balance activities with noise management. A camper at Jester County Park shared, "We had a great stay here, check in was easy, getting firewood was easy, the bathhouses were so clean and nice, hiking and views were amazing!"
Weather preparedness: Summer storms develop quickly in central Iowa, requiring family-appropriate sheltering options. A visitor to Acorn Valley mentions, "We parked at a site by the playground and bathhouse, and could sit at our camper and watch our son play at a safe distance," highlighting convenient supervision during variable weather.
Hookup limitations: Many campgrounds offer electric hookups but lack water and sewer connections at individual sites. A reviewer at Walnut Woods State Park Campground noted, "Sites were not secluded and not very exciting plus they seemed very set up for an RV experience not so much tent camping. The bathrooms look pretty nice though."
Leveling requirements: Site leveling varies widely between campgrounds and specific sites. "Spots kind of level, lots of choices of pull thru or buddy sites. Decent playground, water pillow for bouncing, fishing pond, dog park, swimming pool. Well maintained, lots of planned activities," explains a Des Moines West KOA visitor.
Dump station timing: Plan dump station use outside peak Sunday morning departure times to avoid long waits. A Prairie Flower Recreation Area camper advises, "I hate going there knowing that instead of getting to enjoy Sunday - I'll be busy draining my pooper. Please - more dump stations."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular campground near Clive, IA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Clive, IA is Jester County Park with a 4.5-star rating from 31 reviews.
What parks are near Clive, IA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 5 parks near Clive, IA that allow camping, notably Saylorville Lake and Lake Red Rock.
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