This map requires WebGL
Please update your web browser or enable WebGL to view the map.
Troubleshooting InfoThe #1 Camping App
Camp with confidence with the highest-ranked camping app for both iOS and Android. Search more than 1 million listings, reviews, and tips for campsites across the U.S.
Enter your phone number to get the app.
Fished out for the most part, 10 inch bass the norm, few far between. There's gotta be some big ones left. No camp host, no dumpster, no dump station. No shower. Did I mention the best part? It's remote, quiet, and nice folks camp there.
The best feature of this park, in my opinion, is the four-mile paved recreation trail that goes around the entire 171-acre lake. Good for walking, running, or biking. The lake is beautiful, and we also saw people boating, kayaking, and fishing. Although swimming is also allowed, the beach was not the best for this activity.
The campsites are a little too close together for our liking, however, many are shaded and have a direct view of the lake. Full hookup, electrical, and primitive sites are available. We were there on a Sunday in August and the dumpster was overflowing, likely due to a large weekend crowd; I would expect that it would be emptied on Monday.
Lake Anita is a very nice state park about an hour west of Des Moines. There are also several picnic shelters located throughout the park and a nice playground centrally located in the playground.
If you are looking for a nice clean RV park on the road this is your place, if you are an outdoor enthusiasts looking for you adventure not for you. We stayed over night on our way down south. Very convenient off the free way. Good hookups and level pad. Photos are in fall almost winter so no leaves or green grass, not parks fault.
Our favorite place so far! What an absolutely beautiful state park. We were in a 30 ft motorhome and had a fantastic site right by the playground which was so fun for our little girls. Very clean campground with friendly folks all around. There was firewood for purchase and we had a great time. Beautiful walking trails along the lake. Breathtaking in the fall!
There are no amenities at all. No restrooms. No shower facilities. Storm shelter is locked up, no access. But it's lakeside living and send registration. Not so bad expect for having to leave all the time for restroom or shower.
Pierce creek is just on the out side of the town Essex. There is nice quiet lake, with some fish jumping. On the Southside there is a day area with grills and picnic tables. There are also access to hiking, horse and bike trails. You go the west side and there is a equestrian campsite that is pretty basic. There is not much but electrical sites, corals, and a outhouse. Now on the north side there is a regular campground. There are pads and electrical hook ups. As well as the tents sites farther in. The bathrooms are full. There is sinks, toilets and even showers. This place maybe just that hidden gem for some of you in southwestern Iowa.
Not great, but I'm sure there's worse. The good is that it's straight off the interstate, the hookups seem to work and it's a fairly quiet town. The bad is that there's very little room between pads and except for some aging picnic tables, no amenities. No reservations and no staff, just a drop box for payment.
Not great, but I'm sure there's worse. The good is that it's straight off the interstate, the hookups seem to work and it's a fairly quiet town. The bad is that there's very little room between pads and except for some aging picnic tables, no amenities. No reservations and no staff, just a drop box for payment.
I was here during the week before labor day weekend but it was very quiet with decent restrooms and a great little lake. I didn't have the chance to walk over to the beach side of the lake but i did check out the boat launch side and took the time to enjoy the beauty! Overall a nice little place to sit back and enjoy life for a bit.. The sites are not very private but set up nice with parking for an RV, a fire ring, table and grassy area for a tent.
Criss Cove’s campground sits on a hill overlooking a small lake. It is a generally quiet and serene campground. It is just off of US Highway 169. The lake is good for fishing and kayaking. The gravel campsites are adequately spaced for most RVs.
The campground is located in Madison County Iowa (of “The Bridges of Madison County” book and movie fame). It is located about 15 minutes south of Winterset Iowa. Winterset is the birthplace of John Wayne and the town has a museum dedicated to him. There is also a county historical museum complex and the Iowa quilt museum.