7 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Loud Thunder Forest Preserve's Horse Corral Campground provides the only dedicated equestrian camping facilities near Coralville, with drive-in access for horse trailers and both tent and RV accommodation options. The campground features electric hookups, drinking water, and trailer-friendly sites with fire rings and picnic tables. Vault toilets are available on-site, though no shower facilities exist in the horse camping area. The campground remains very clean with well-maintained sites that accommodate larger rigs necessary for horse transport. The forest preserve's camping area includes sanitary dump stations and trash collection, allowing for extended stays with horses.
Trails throughout Loud Thunder Forest Preserve connect directly to the Horse Corral Campground, creating accessible riding routes for equestrians staying overnight. Located in Illinois approximately 70 miles east of Coralville, the preserve offers multiple trail options with varying terrain suitable for riders of different experience levels. Lake George sits adjacent to the camping area, providing water access and fishing opportunities after trail rides. Horse owners must bring their own portable corrals or tethering equipment as permanent stalls are not provided. The campground operates seasonally with reservations recommended during peak summer months. Wood is available for purchase within the park, and the relatively quiet setting allows for relaxed camping with horses even during busier periods.
"We camped at this park for 9 nights with W/E on site with a dump upon exit/entrance. Our site was unlevel but was able to get the RV right with tri-levelers. "
"There are a variety of sites to choose from, nice trees, and a beautiful wildflower field to walk through."
from $23 - $33 / night
Check Availability"Not too far off the highway. Very clean and quiet. The campground is above the lake but a short trail will take you to the lake. "
"The good: The area around the lake and near by pond, is not overly developed. There are wild raspberries and mulberries, lots of wildlife."
"Located in Muscatine County in southeast Iowa, this rec area offers well-maintained campgrounds, hiking trails, fishing, kayaking/canoeing and seasonal hunting. There are three separate campgrounds."
from $15 - $20 / night
Check Availability"Nice quiet little primitive campground next to the Wapsipinicon River. Unfortunately, when I was there the last weekend of May, the gnats were bad, and the mosquitoes were just starting to gear up."
"Campsites right next to the pond and good tree cover made the experience fun anyway. Good bass and panfish fishing with quiet campgrounds that aren’t right next to each other."
"12 a night for primitive camping and you get nice warm showers by the main entrance and nice bathrooms by the main entrance."
"CG has nice corral with day use and camping sites: shelter available, elect pull in sites fire rings, wood available in park, tables, trails Lake George for fishing, paddling, boat rental."
from $20 - $26 / night
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GuideI arrived after dark. Crept in slowly as its dark. Loop B. Found a spot easy. I’ll drop the envelope on the way out. Some minor road noise. Dark! Quiet! So far, excellent. I plan to head out early. I would stay here again. $25water/electric. Cash in iron ranger. Haven’t used the restroom. Perhaps in the morning. Lovely clear night sky
TravelerNice quiet campground. The front looks like more long timers and it was a little noisier up there but I drove to the back loop and it's nice and quiet back here. PLENTY of 50/30/20 amp hookups and the shower house in the back was nice. Water was just lukewarm but it was hot out so no problem. Might be less pleasant in colder weather though. Pull through spots available. I would stay here again for sure.
TravelerDriving thru. Stayed for a quick stop over. County Park. Loop A takes reservations. Loop B first come first served. It was a long trek to the bathroom and showers which were well maintained. Great price $35
TravelerOff the beaten path, beautiful area but when we got there the road to the campground was closed, so we ended up parking for the night in the horse staging area instead.
ScoutWife and I met friends here in August 2025. This was the middle between us & them as we live in CO and they live in NY. The campground was very well maintained. Shower rooms & restrooms were very clean and all were functional. We really enjoyed the long weekend here. Be advised tho, we were not adequately prepared for the humidity in August. Being from Colorado where we live at much higher altitudes & we didnt expect the humidity to affect us as it did. Not a bad thing, we were just used to 15% max and that weekend we saw 90% with 90 degrees. Wife and I will likely return and see more of the Amana communities in the fall.
TravelerThis is our go to campground! We have stayed at this campground several times and plan to several more times! Half of the campgrounds is first come first serve, the other half is reserve only.
ScoutIt was beautiful, full of wildlife, easy to find,not too far from highway but far away enough to not hear
GuideNot too far off the highway. Very clean and quiet. The campground is above the lake but a short trail will take you to the lake. Couldn't see the lake from where we camped, but nice woody area behind our campsite. Nice little visitor area. Lots of trails to walk with the dog including a nice trail along the lake.
Great place to spend one night. If I had more time, I would have gone paddle boarding or fishing on the lake.
RangerVery well kept campground! Bathrooms and entire area was really in perfect shape. One of the cleanest showers and bathrooms I have seen. $10 for tent, $16 for electric - how can you go wrong?
Only issue is that the spots are pretty close together. Around 2:30am there was so much smoke in our van from nearby campfires that I woke up sick and my dog threw up all over the bed. At 3am we decided we needed to move to an electric site because it was too much to have the windows open. I felt really bad for anyone in a tent. I coughed all the next day.
The campground was not that busy so there is no way I would stay here on a busy holiday weekend due to the spots being too close. If a few people make a fire you better shut down all your windows. No sleeping in the cool, night air here.
But this is an issue at other places too. Just never experienced anything on this level before. Esp considering no one in our section even had a fire going.
I wish campgrounds would start banning these fires. But that’s a topic for a later date.
Other than that it was a great spot.
Loud Thunder Forest Preserve's Horse Corral Campground sits approximately 70 miles east of Coralville in Illinois, offering equestrian-friendly accommodations near the Iowa border. The campground features electric sites with trailer access and connects directly to riding trails throughout the 1,500-acre preserve. Lake George borders the camping area, providing water recreation options after trail rides.
Trail riding access: Horse trails at Matsell Bridge Natural Area connect riders to the Wapsipinicon River corridor with varied terrain. "Beautiful location, ranger close by, wood for sale just across the bridge, fire pits and picnic tables at every site," notes Carol M., highlighting the amenities that support extended riding trips.
Fishing opportunities: The ponds at Wakpicada Natural Area offer productive fishing within walking distance of campsites. "Good bass and panfish fishing with quiet campgrounds that aren't right next to each other," reports Parker H., who visited during extreme heat but found the tree cover and water access made for a comfortable experience.
Mountain biking: For riders looking to alternate between horseback and bicycle, Squaw Creek Park offers direct trail connections. "The best thing about this campground is it's access to the squaw creek man bike single track," explains Kris P., noting how the trails provide technical riding options after caring for horses.
Clean facilities: Wanatee Park (formerly Squaw Creek) maintains high standards for its restrooms and camping areas. "Very well kept and quiet campground," writes Kristy E., adding that "This is a newer campground so is a mixture of mature and young trees. It is very clean and well cared for."
Affordability: Budget-conscious equestrians appreciate the reasonable rates at many of the region's horse-friendly sites. "Very well kept campground! Bathrooms and entire area was really in perfect shape. One of the cleanest showers and bathrooms I have seen. $10 for tent, $16 for electric - how can you go wrong?" shares Randall K. about Lake Iowa County Park.
Natural surroundings: Equestrian campers value the wildlife viewing opportunities near their sites. "We had a blue jay that visited us regularly at our campsite, along with deer walking through," reports Leslie P. about Lake Iowa County Park, mentioning "wild raspberries and mulberries" that grow naturally around the camping area.
Seasonal flooding concerns: Low-lying horse camping areas near rivers can experience water issues. "By the 3rd morning the river had risen to the point of flooding out our campsite. The DNR let us switch sites for our last night," explains Randi C. about Matsell Bridge Natural Area, highlighting the importance of campsite selection for horse trailers.
Insect preparation: Bug protection is essential for both humans and horses during summer months. "When I was there the last weekend of May, the gnats were bad, and the mosquitoes were just starting to gear up. HOWEVER, take bug spray and enjoy the rustic peacefulness," advises Carol M.
Portable corrals needed: Belva Deer Park offers primitive camping with basic amenities but requires equestrians to bring portable containment. "$12 a night for primitive camping and you get nice warm showers by the main entrance and nice bathrooms by the main entrance," notes Keith B., though equestrian visitors should plan to bring their own temporary corrals.
Playground access: Multiple campgrounds feature play areas convenient for families with both children and horses. "Nice corral with day use and camping sites: shelter available, elect pull in sites fire rings, wood available in park, tables, trails Lake George for fishing, paddling, boat rental," states James M. about the recreation options at Loud Thunder Forest Preserve.
Shower considerations: Not all equestrian campgrounds offer shower facilities, so families should plan accordingly. "Primitive bathrooms, no showers or running water," reminds Carol M. about Matsell Bridge Natural Area, an important consideration for multi-day stays with children.
Kid-friendly riding options: Several parks near Coralville provide beginner-friendly horse trails suitable for younger riders. "Lots of opportunity to ride the numerous bike trails nearby and hike in wanatee park and nearby pinicon. The Cedar river and the wapsicon for fishing. This area has something for everyone," explains Kristy E.
Site leveling: Horse trailer camping often requires additional stabilization. "Our site was unlevel but was able to get the RV right with tri-levelers," shares Clint G. about Wanatee Park, noting the "spacious" sites that accommodate both living quarters and horse trailers.
Smoke considerations: Campfire smoke can affect horses in nearby corrals. "Around 2:30am there was so much smoke in our van from nearby campfires that I woke up sick and my dog threw up all over the bed," cautions Randall K., an issue that could disturb sensitive horses when corrals are positioned close to neighboring campsites.
Campground spacing: Sites at Wakpicada Natural Area provide more isolation for horses that need quiet surroundings. "I consider it a little hidden gem," notes Parker H., appreciating that the "campgrounds that aren't right next to each other" create a buffer zone beneficial for easily startled horses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Coralville, IA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Coralville, IA is Wanatee Park (formerly Squaw Creek) with a 4.7-star rating from 9 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Coralville, IA?
TheDyrt.com has all 7 equestrian camping locations near Coralville, IA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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