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Best Campgrounds near Collins, IA

513 Reviews
CAMPER SUMMARY PRESENTED BYFord

Campgrounds near Collins, Iowa range from small, wooded retreats to larger recreation areas with lakeside access. Hickory Grove Campground in Colo features spacious sites with 50-amp electric hookups, fire rings, and picnic tables, while Ashton Wildwood Park in Mingo provides a more rustic camping experience with tent sites tucked among trees. The area's camping options include developed county parks and RV-friendly locations, with several campgrounds offering both primitive tent sites and full-hookup RV areas. Chichaqua Bottoms Greenbelt provides opportunities for boat-in camping along with traditional drive-in sites, while facilities like Jester County Park accommodate everything from basic tent camping to cabin rentals.

Seasonal timing significantly affects the camping experience in central Iowa, with most campgrounds operating from April through October or November. One camper shared, "The sites are very spacious, could easily accommodate multiple tents" when describing Ashton Wildwood Park's layout. Several campgrounds feature modern shower facilities and restrooms, though more primitive areas may only offer pit toilets. Water access varies considerably between locations, with some campgrounds requiring visitors to bring their own supply. Reservation policies differ across the region, with popular locations like Hickory Grove allowing online reservations for approximately half their sites while keeping others available for first-come, first-served campers. Road access generally remains good throughout the camping season, with most sites accessible via paved or well-maintained gravel roads.

Central Iowa campgrounds receive praise for their natural settings and recreational opportunities. Fishing and paddling options draw visitors to several locations, with Chichaqua Bottoms Greenbelt especially noted for its paddling routes. "This is a nice place to go hiking, kayaking, camping and fishing," reported one visitor about Colfax Quarry Springs Park. Many campgrounds in this region provide ample shade, with mature trees creating secluded camping environments even at more developed sites. Proximity to amenities varies, with some locations offering on-site markets while others require campers to bring all supplies. Noise levels depend on location, with several reviewers noting the quiet atmosphere at smaller campgrounds, though occasional ambient noise from nearby roads affects some camping areas. Wildlife viewing opportunities enhance the camping experience, with multiple trails and observation areas available at locations like Ashton Wildwood Park.

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Best Camping Sites Near Collins, Iowa (103)

    1. Chichaqua Bottoms Greenbelt

    9 Reviews
    Bondurant, IA
    10 miles
    Website

    "Next to skunk river oxbows, kayak, no swimming, water stagnant, no fish, about 4ft depth everywhere. Great hiking trails, clean, great camp hosts, ranger. All sites first come."

    "We haven't camped here, but have seen that the tent areas are right next to the water. Super serene with great hiking trails and bird watching!"

    2. Ashton Wildwood Park

    5 Reviews
    Mingo, IA
    6 miles
    Website

    $7 / night

    "Most of the sites are tucked into the woods and very spacious.  It's only $7/night!  There is some play equipment for children. "

    "There are a couple of hiking trails in the park that are maintained. One goes to a creek and a bird watching station."

    3. Hickory Grove Campground

    5 Reviews
    Collins, IA
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (515) 232-2516

    $17 / night

    "Lots of trees for shade but the lake has trails and a swimming beach with watercraft rentals. Truly a hidden gem in central Iowa!"

    "Got to the campground around 6pm on a Friday and no one was at the primitive campground which was nice. The picnic table and fire ring were clean and in good condition."

    4. Jester County Park

    30 Reviews
    Granger, IA
    25 miles
    Website
    +1 (515) 323-5300

    $20 - $25 / night

    "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."

    5. Thomas Mitchell County Park

    11 Reviews
    Mitchellville, IA
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (515) 967-4889

    "Thomas Mitchell park is located outside of Altoona Iowa on 197 acres. There are electric and non electric sites available."

    "The drive into the grounds was a little confusing, but I imagine that in the daylight we would have had an easier time."

    6. Griffs Valley View RV Park

    11 Reviews
    Bondurant, IA
    19 miles
    Website

    $35 - $90 / night

    "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."

    7. Prairie Flower Recreation Area

    17 Reviews
    Polk City, IA
    22 miles
    Website
    +1 (515) 984-6925

    $20 - $336 / night

    "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."

    8. Ledges State Park Campground

    40 Reviews
    Boone, IA
    30 miles
    Website
    +1 (515) 432-1852

    "One 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."

    "One of the more beautiful places to camp in Iowa. Awesome hiking trails and really well-shaded campsites."

    9. Colfax Quarry Springs Park

    4 Reviews
    Mingo, IA
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (515) 478-6272

    $15 / night

    "They have porta potties around. Two places to launch kayaks. Most campsites have fire rings, picnic tables and trash bins. Some have grills."

    10. Twin Anchors Campground

    2 Reviews
    Collins, IA
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (641) 377-2243
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Recent Camping Photos near Collins, IA

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Recent Reviews near Collins, IA

513 Reviews of 103 Collins Campgrounds

  • SThe Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 27, 2025

    Acorn Valley

    Easy access for quick getaway

    This is a great campground if you’re wanting to get out for a night or two w the family. 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.

  • J
    Nov. 25, 2025

    Howell Station

    Safety concern

    Homeless, Crack heads using the showers/bathrooms. Men and women can share the bathroom and shower together even when children are in the facilities.

  • Stuart K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 8, 2025

    Kellogg RV Park

    Highway Campground Oasis

    Following up on my review from over a year ago, I’m adding a bunch of additional photos as well as an abbreviated post pointing out the HIGHS and LOWS of this roadside pit stop of a campground in rural Iowa.

    Highs: (1) Quick& EZ access from I-80 via Exit 173; (2) Incredibly well-manicured campground – very clean and well-organized; (3) Very EZ check-in process; (4) Superb Midwestern hospitality from the CG staff and camping community; (5) RV slots offer very nice FHUs and fairly spacious areas; (6) Picnic tables & fire rings are like brand new; (7) If you get hungry, this CG and fueling station has an imbedded Iowa’s Best Burger Café that does live up to its name; (8) There’s also an embedded Amoco gas station and mini-mart; (9) Spectacularly clean and recently refurbished bathrooms & shower facilities; (10) There’s a small launderette here, which was bonus; (11) Should you visit in the summer, you will benefit from being surrounded by 6 foot tall corn fields that will provide greater privacy and better scenery

    Lows: (1) You are just 30 seconds north of I-80, the busiest highway in Iowa;(2) There’s no security gate to prevent any wandering traffic from the highway into this place, so apart from the fact that you're clear out in the boondocks, you are next to the very heavily trafficked I80, so it’s difficult to feel 100% safe & secure here; (3) Lack of privacy between sites as there’s not a ton of trees (welcome to corn country), bushes or brush on the interior of the CG; (4) Most of the RV slots have no shade, so while this isn't exactly Florida, if you're here during the hot summer months, you should bring your own awning or shelter; (5) Some sites have very close proximity to their neighbors; (6) This really isn’t a good place for tent camping, unless you are OK being surrounded by RVs with absolutely no privacy in the open interior; and (7) Apart from FHUs and a decent shower / restroom in the middle of the CG and a small laundry in the NW, there’s not much here in the way of amenities

    Happy Camping!

  • Gillian L.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 12, 2025

    Adventureland Campground

    Nice site

    After some confusion with booking (office hours are until 7pm, confirmation email said 9pm) we were able to get ahold of the operations manager at the park who helped us. Pull through paved 50 amp sites, with water and sewage. Picnic table for use. Within view of Adventureland so it was cool to see the rides lit up at night as we parked. Clean park. Will definitely stop by again when we aren’t just passing through!

  • Kent W.
    Oct. 2, 2025

    Howell Station

    One of our favorites

    This is a really nice campground. It’s run by friendly, helpful people. It’s well maintained, the bathrooms are clean, you’re not packed together like sardines, there’s a nice bike/walking trail around the park and (at least when we’ve visited) bald eagles, blue herons and pelicans line the river. It’s just a little over an hour from us so it’s easy to get to.

    We’re trying parks all over Iowa and Howell has been one of our favorites.

  • Stuart K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 1, 2025

    Newton KOA

    Highway Roadside Campground Oasis

    Following up on my review from over a year ago, I’m adding a bunch of additional photos as well as an abbreviated post pointing out the HIGHS and LOWS of this roadside pit stop of a campground in very rural Iowa.

    HIGHLIGHTS: (1) Fairly EZ access from I-80; (2) Incredibly well-manicured campground that is both very clean and well-organized; (3) Despite being next to the highway where we were concerned with errant late-night visitors who had no business being at this CG, there’s excellent security and a feeling of being safe; (4) Superb Midwestern hospitality from the KOA staff and camping community; (5) RV slots offer very nice FHUs and fairly spacious areas; (6) Picnic tables & fire rings are in pretty good condition; (6) If you need anything, there’s a handful of just OK restaurants like Cratty Shack Diner and grocery stores like Hy-Vee and Walmart Supercenter in nearby Newton; (7) Spectacularly clean bathrooms and shower facilities; and (8) Well-stocked catch & release fishing pond

    LOWLIGHTS: (1) You are literally right next to I-80, but the CG sits down below the swooshing traffic, so if you’re not looking, you almost forget that you’re camping next to the busiest highway in Iowa; (2) Lack of privacy between sites as there’s not a ton of trees, bushes or brush on the interior of the CG; (3) Most of the RV slots have no shade, so bring your own awning or shelter; (4) Some sites have very close proximity to their neighbors; (5) Some amenities feel dated and could be replaced and / or refurbished; (6) There’s a fairly nasty industrial park, complete with a junk yard and car mechanic garage with accompanying abandoned cars scattered around the entrance that you’ll have to navigate through before reaching this KOA; (7) This really isn’t a good place for tent camping, unless you can convince the staff to let you set up in the shaded area at the north end of the CG; (8) The pool was shut down for maintenance when we visited

    Happy Camping!

  • Stuart K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 1, 2025

    Diamond Lake County Park

    Campground Diamond In The Rough

    Following up on my review from over a year and a half ago, I’m adding a bunch of additional photos as well as an abbreviated post pointing out the HIGHS and LOWS of this county park campground gem in a very rural part of Iowa.

    HIGHLIGHTS: (1) EZ access and just a 20 minute / 9 mile drive due south from I-80 via Exit 201; (2) Incredibly well-manicured campground – very clean and well-organized; (3) Superb Midwestern hospitality from the CG staff and camping community; (4) The RV area looks to be brand spanking-new and offers very nice FHUs and fairly spacious areas as well as most have an excellent view of Lake Diamond; (5) The hiking trails and bountiful fishing spots make this a simply wonderful campground; (6) Incredibly simple honor system to accessing any site on a first-come, first-served basis – simply stick your money in an envelope and pick out whatever location suits you; (7) While basic, the bathhouses were in pretty good condition and very clean; (8) Kid’s playground is fantastic and nearly brand new; (9) Reasonably priced bundles of pre-cut firewood; and (10) Overall the overnight price to stay here, whether RV or tent-camping is very cheap, so great value for $

    LOWLIGHTS: (1) There’s no security gate to prevent any wandering traffic in here, although you are so far out in the boondocks, it’s not really much of a concern; (2) The newly minted RV area slopes down to the lake, but as you park perpendicular, it shouldn’t be an issue; (3) Also, because the RV area is new, there’s no trees or brush, which creates a lack of privacy between sites; (4) Nearly all of the RV slots – save the few that are right next to the lake - have no shade, so bring your own awning or shelter; (5) Some sites have very close proximity to their neighbors; (6) Picnic tables & fire rings, at least in the tent camping areas, are worn-out and in pretty poor condition and should be replaced or refurbished; (7) The water in Lake Diamond is quite dark and murky, so unless you are an adventurous soul, I don’t recommend swimming here

    Happy Camping!

  • Kara S.
    Sep. 12, 2025

    Eagle City County Park

    Could be lovely but creeped me out

    Liked the spot by the lake and we could have been the only ones there but we noticed a few things on the way to the site that was unsettling and then we were followed in by a truck that just went to the end of the loop then left, with the driver and passenger obviously not wanting to be seen. Weirded me out so we left. Felt unsafe.

Guide to Collins

Central Iowa's camping sites near Collins offer diverse experiences across Story and Jasper counties, with elevations ranging from 850-950 feet above sea level. The region features a mix of prairie ecosystems and wooded river valleys where camping season typically spans April through November. Most campgrounds maintain gravel access roads that remain passable except during heavy spring rains.

What to do

Kayaking at Chichaqua Bottoms: This conservation area provides multiple paddling routes with access points for boats. One visitor described it as having "winding, quite, green waterways" and noted it's "a relatively obscure place with little amount of crowds on any weekend." Another reviewer added it "reminds me of a lazy river" with both electrical and primitive camping options.

Astronomy observation: Ashton Wildwood Park features an observatory that's open on Saturdays except the first Saturday each month. A camper shared that "the observatory that's open on Saturday's was awesome and the astronomers were great people and very knowledgeable. They showed how their telescopes worked and took us a tour of the building and classroom."

Orienteering trails: Several parks offer marked courses for beginners and experienced navigators. At Ashton Wildwood, "There is also a orienteering course but you have to walk in the woods to finish it," according to one visitor. These courses provide educational recreation opportunities beyond standard hiking.

What campers like

Spacious sites: Many campgrounds offer larger-than-average sites. At Ashton Wildwood Park, "Most of the sites are tucked into the woods and very spacious. It's only $7/night!" Another camper confirmed the park has "some very nice spots and wasn't busy at all."

Wildlife viewing opportunities: Chichaqua Bottoms Greenbelt receives praise for its bird watching areas. One reviewer mentioned "There are plenty of trails to hike and some really nice views of the prairies," while another called it a "hidden gem just outside of Des Moines" with "nice, well-marked trails."

Fishing access: Multiple quarries and lakes offer fishing opportunities. At Colfax Quarry Springs Park, a visitor noted it's "the best place for largemouth bass, bluegill, catfish." Another camper confirmed they "had a nice access spot for fishing" and found the "campsite right on the water."

What you should know

Reservation requirements: Many popular locations require advance planning. At Prairie Flower Recreation Area, "reservations are a must! Most times you need to make them six months out." The campground is described as "fairly quiet" with "younger families mixed with older adults."

Water access varies: Not all campgrounds provide water hookups or potable water on site. One camper at Ashton Wildwood noted "The bathroom at the campground doesn't have plumbing and no water available so make sure to bring plenty of water." However, they added that at the observatory there are "bathrooms with plumbing."

Seasonal closures: Some parks close during winter months. A Chichaqua Bottoms visitor reported "Drove 6 hours to find out the campground is closed (apparently for all of fall and winter) without any awareness of that being the case online." Always check official websites for current operating dates before traveling.

Tips for camping with families

Playground access: Several campgrounds offer play areas for children. Thomas Mitchell County Park features "a fishing lake, playground, sand volleyball, and hiking." One reviewer noted it has "electric and non electric sites available" with "a creek that flows behind the sites with large stairs to get down to it. Kids were having a blast in the water."

Creek exploration: Water features provide natural play areas at several locations. Thomas Mitchell Park has "lots of small trails" where "you can take a trail from the campsite to" a fishing pond. Another reviewer mentioned "It's very peaceful but we also camp Sun-Wed when there isn't a ton of people."

Budget-friendly options: Several campgrounds offer affordable rates. Ashton Wildwood costs just $7 per night with "play equipment for children." A regular visitor notes "I love to take my grand daughter here for overnight camping. Most of the sites are tucked into the woods and very spacious."

Tips from RVers

Concrete pads: Griffs Valley View RV Park features "spacious concrete pads" with full hookups. A long-term camper described it as having "both 30/50 amp and full water/sewage hookups. Two nice laundry/shower houses, one in the front and one in the back of the campground."

Dump station access: Plan your departure timing carefully at busy campgrounds. At Prairie Flower Recreation Area, "there's one dump station for a campground that is large is size and popularity. Trying to leave on Sunday is a good 1 hour wait." Consider dumping tanks midweek or very early Sunday morning to avoid delays.

Winter camping options: Some RV parks offer year-round access. Griffs Valley View was described by one visitor as "likely the nicest rv park I have seen" and "they are very good at keeping snow and ice under control" for winter camping.

Frequently Asked Questions

What amenities are available at Collins camping sites?

Collins area camping sites offer diverse amenities to enhance your outdoor experience. Thomas Mitchell County Park provides both electric and non-electric sites, with some campsites featuring a creek flowing behind them. North Overlook Camp offers heavily shaded sites with direct access to a large beach on Lake Red Rock, complete with shower houses and concessions. Many campgrounds in the region include restrooms, picnic areas, hiking trails, and fishing opportunities. Some parks also feature playgrounds, swimming areas, and nearby convenience stores for essential supplies.

Where is Collins Lake camping located?

Collins camping options are located throughout central Iowa. Diamond Lake County Park is situated about 20 minutes south of Interstate 80 near Montezuma, accessible via Road #63. Another excellent option is Briggs Woods Park, which is located close to Webster City, Iowa. These parks offer beautiful natural settings with various camping opportunities for visitors looking to explore Iowa's outdoor recreation areas.

How much does it cost to camp at Collins?

Camping costs in the Collins area vary by location and amenities. At Timmons Grove County Park, all campsites are $18 per night with electric hookups. Little Wall Lake County Park offers clean facilities at reasonable rates. Many Iowa county parks maintain affordable pricing, with electric sites typically ranging from $15-25 per night and non-electric sites slightly less expensive. Some parks offer both reservable sites and walk-up availability. Check with specific campgrounds for current pricing and reservation policies.

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