Shady Brook Camping & RV Adventures welcomes pets at their Earlham location, positioned less than a mile from Interstate 80. The property features tree-lined camping areas with level sites for RVs and tent campers. Additional pet-friendly options include Des Moines West KOA Holiday in nearby Adel, offering cabin accommodations where pets can stay with their owners. Both campgrounds maintain standard leash policies, requiring dogs to be supervised at all times. Winterset City Park and Pammel County Park south of Earlham also accommodate pets at their campgrounds. Most properties require pet owners to clean up after their animals and keep them from disturbing other campers. Several reviewers note that despite Shady Brook's proximity to the interstate, the tree buffer effectively blocks traffic noise.
Trails at Kuehn Conservation Area provide dog-friendly hiking opportunities approximately 7 miles east of Earlham. This natural area features tent camping and allows pets on walking paths through prairie and woodland settings. During summer months, campers should monitor their pets for signs of overheating, particularly at sites with limited shade. Most campgrounds in the region maintain year-round or extended season availability, with Des Moines West KOA now operating throughout winter months with heated bathroom facilities. The area between Earlham and Des Moines offers multiple veterinary clinics within 15-30 minute drives from campsites. Water access for dogs exists at several locations, including Beaver Lake Campground 8 miles west of Earlham, where pets can cool off during warmer camping seasons.
"Decent playground, water pillow for bouncing, fishing pond, dog park, swimming pool. Well maintained, lots of planned activities. KOA, so not a lot of nature. But no traffic or train noise."
"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."
$15 - $22 / night
"It is part of a city park on the outskirts of Winterset. There is a dog park and one of the Bridges of Madison County is located within walking distance of the campground."
"This is a city campground on the outskirts of town that does not feel that way. It sits right next to a park. White rock roads and pads."
$35 - $80 / night
"Small dog park which is pea gravel, not grass."
"If you’re traveling through Des Moines, Iowa area; this is the place you will want to camp at!"
$15 - $20 / night
"Nice small park settle nicely in the iowa country side!"
"We didn't hike this trip, but trails looked to be pretty nice. We did kayak the loop one day-it took about an hour for the 1.9-mile loop and water levels were pretty low."
"We looked at the other reviews and it talked about it being so close to the freeway, but we didn’t hear a sound. It was really in a good perimeter of trees and lots of shade and level camp spots."
$23 - $25 / night
"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."
"This campground is on the side of a lake. You hear beavers at night, see rabbits are on the sides of the lot. We came late around 8pm and the owner helped us fill the form and pick our spot."
"It was green, very clean, and in a nice location (just on the outskirts of Des Moines). We were there on a Wednesday, and there was barely anyone there."
"It’s a little ways off the highway through the town of Stuart (Home to 1600 good eggs). There is an upper and lower campground and rumor has it that the lower sites can be a little muddy."
$20 - $25 / night
"There was four of us and a dog."
"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."
$5 - $8 / night
"Has hiking, fishing, hunting, paddling, wildlife, small Bear Creek nature center, open daily 1/2 hr before sunrise to 10:30 pm, Has upper and lower (adjacent to Raccoon River) campground sites."
GuideI just loved this campground. It has shade trees, grass, free showers and lots of room. It is part of a city park on the outskirts of Winterset. There is a dog park and one of the Bridges of Madison County is located within walking distance of the campground. This was well worth the 20 mile drive off I80. If I had known how m=nice this area was, I would have planned better and stayed here for more than one night.
GuideOne of my favorite locations to camp in Iowa as a Boy Scout growing up was Ledges State Park. Since I hadn't been back in years, I decided to check it out and spend a night camping there. It's close to how I remember it.
The campground has a good picnic area, restrooms, and an excellent trail. It's also inexpensive.
What I enjoy most about this park compared to others in Iowa are the sandstone ledges and the slopes on the trail. There are some excellent views, so make sure your phone has enough battery to take photos (unlike me). I also spent a lot of time off the trail. It isn't too hard to get around. I'm not one who enjoys staying at a park that is mostly flat, so this is definitely a good place in Iowa for me to camp.
If you are looking for a cool place to camp within an hour of Des Moines, you should seriously consider this park.
GuideThe trees at the campsites aren't mature enough for shade, but the ponds and trails more than make up for that. Full hookups, shower house and huge dog park are also onsite making this a Cass County hidden gem. Camp host is great and and you're close to old downtown.
ScoutOne of the more beautiful places to camp in Iowa. Awesome hiking trails and really well-shaded campsites. The hike in spots are great if you like privacy and being in the middle of the woods - but you don’t want to be THAT far from your car.
Beware of the raccoons. They’re plentiful and crazy smart here. We had one open our cooler, steal an egg from the cartoon - without disturbing anything else. Honestly, I was impressed! But some of our friends had them rip through their tents to get at food - not as impressive.
TravelerIn a grove of trees in a slightly hilly area. Easy access, but sites are gravel. Nice bit of grass with each site, most are at least partially shaded. Small dog park which is pea gravel, not grass.
GuideSpots 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. KOA, so not a lot of nature. But no traffic or train noise. Full hook ups, including TV.
GuideSome full hook ups, sites not very level, playground ok. Can hear shots from gun range next door. Dog park, pool, arcade. We have camped here a couple times, and stored our rig here for a while. Didn't find there was that much going on here to keep us busy. Not a lot of nature, no trails or biking accessible from campground.
LegendThis County Park is located right on the edge of Lake Panorama, a great town North West of Des Moines, Iowa. It is surrounded by amenities, so if you forget something you can drive five minutes into town to replace anything you forgot at home.
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. The campground is very clean and it is right next to a river.
GuideWonderful trails, lots of space. Access to DM River, has nice pond, playgrounds, just a beautiful area. Fishing not the greatest, Pond is silted to about 9ft deep, have caught few small bass, bluegill. Never tried the river here, but is known for big cats. Camp sites are best around, large flat white rock cinder size area with picnic table, fire ring. Sites are well spaced. Shaded. Double lane dump station. Close to home, can usually get site without reservation, IF you roll in on Wed. By Thurs night, it's full. Few reservables, 90% i'd say are first come. The way it should be in my opinion.
Camping options near Earlham, Iowa include sites within a 15-mile radius spanning Madison and Dallas counties. The region features rolling hills with elevations between 1,000-1,200 feet above sea level and experiences moderate seasonal temperature variations. Winter camping remains available at several locations with temperatures frequently dropping below freezing from November through March, requiring appropriate cold-weather gear and preparation.
Hiking opportunities: Kuehn Conservation Area offers primitive tent sites along the Raccoon River with hiking trails through varied terrain. James M. notes the area has "hiking, fishing, hunting, paddling, wildlife, small Bear Creek nature center, open daily 1/2 hr before sunrise to 10:30 pm."
Water activities: Nations Bridge Park provides access to water recreation with campsites overlooking water features. Allie F. mentions "Views of the water and walking trails from the site," while Mike S. commented "It was green, very clean, and in a nice location."
Recreation amenities: Family activities abound at many campgrounds in the area. At Des Moines West KOA Holiday, Christina N. found plenty for youth groups, noting "The pool was refreshing for the girls and all of the activities kept them busy and having fun! All while being close to the city but the beauty of the country!!!"
Historic attractions: Winterset City Park serves as a base for exploring Madison County's covered bridges and John Wayne birthplace. Heather G. discovered "one of the Bridges of Madison County is located within walking distance of the campground," and Rick D. notes "The John Wayne museum and downtown are a 20 minute walk away."
Year-round availability: Several campgrounds operate beyond the standard season. Iris A. explains Des Moines West KOA is "Now open year round" with "clean bathrooms with space heaters running to ensure they're warm during the December cold."
Pet exercise areas: Dog-friendly camping options include parks with dedicated pet spaces. Dave M. describes Winterset City Park as "a city campground on the outskirts of town that does not feel that way," where pets can enjoy walks through the adjacent park areas.
Site spacing variation: Campground layouts differ significantly across the region. Pavel P. observed at Des Moines West KOA that "Site 31 is a 'buddy site' and you are sitting on top of your neighbors with no privacy. It works pretty good if you actually have a 'buddy', but if you come alone it's not private at all."
Highway proximity: Some campgrounds balance accessibility with noise considerations. At Beaver Lake Campground, Thomas P. found "You hear beavers at night, see rabbits are on the sides of the lot," providing a nature experience despite being relatively accessible.
Service availability: Campground amenities vary seasonally. Christy Y. cautions about Nations Bridge Park: "all the restrooms were locked for the season, and the only signage was on the doors of the facilities. No signage about the closures at the self registration."
Aquatic features: Multiple campgrounds offer swimming options for children. At Timberline Campground, Tessa M. appreciated that "The park looked nice" and was "Very pretty and clean," while Bradley N. noted "The pool is a great bonus!"
Playground access: Pet-friendly camping with children works well at parks with dedicated play areas. Karey A. describes Timberline as "a small campground just off interstate 80" that "Has a swimming pool and playground. Basketball court and a community hall."
Activities for different ages: Des Moines West KOA Holiday offers structured recreation for children. Mia L. identified "Decent playground, water pillow for bouncing, fishing pond, dog park, swimming pool. Well maintained, lots of planned activities."
Site access challenges: Pammel County Park requires planning for larger vehicles. Kelly noted "If your rig is over 12ft, have to come in the back way" due to the tunnel entrance, while Alex G. confirms there is "a way to avoid the tunnel while pulling a travel trailer or 5th wheel."
Hookup locations: Site layouts can present connectivity issues at some parks. Mia L. warns about Pammel County Park: "I had to use 75 feet of hose to get to it. And the electric I had to use a 30 ft extension cord," recommending campers verify hookup distances before arrival.
Weather considerations: Seasonal conditions affect campsite selection. Jessica found concrete pads at Pammel County Park to be "awesome for leveling our popups," while Molly L. advises "The campground is split into two parts. One part is mostly shaded and the other isn't," suggesting selection based on temperature forecasts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Earlham, IA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Earlham, IA is Des Moines West KOA Holiday with a 4.4-star rating from 24 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Earlham, IA?
TheDyrt.com has all 76 dog-friendly camping locations near Earlham, IA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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