Best Tent Camping near Council Bluffs, IA
Tent campers visiting Council Bluffs, Iowa can access several established campgrounds within a short drive. Preparation Canyon State Park offers backpacking-only tent sites with picnic tables and fire rings, requiring a hike in to reach the campsites. Two Rivers State Recreation Area provides riverside tent camping approximately 30 miles west of Council Bluffs, with basic amenities and access to water recreation.
Tent sites at Preparation Canyon feature primitive conditions with no running water or modern facilities. Campers need to pack in all supplies and be prepared for backcountry camping. The park has 8-10 walk-in campsites scattered throughout the area, each with a fire ring and picnic table. The sites require self-registration and payment at the trailhead parking lot. At Two Rivers SRA, tent sites are generally flat and located near the river, with some providing electrical hookups. Toilet facilities vary between locations, with vault toilets at more remote sites and shower buildings at larger campgrounds.
The Loess Hills region surrounding Preparation Canyon offers unique terrain for tent campers seeking solitude. A visitor commented, "Sites are dispersed around the area so camping is always private." The tent sites provide access to nearly 8 miles of trails within the park's 340 acres, plus additional hiking in the adjacent Loess Hills State Forest. Fremont Lakes State Recreation Area provides another tent camping option with access to multiple small lakes, though tent campers should be aware of potential noise. As described in feedback on The Dyrt, "There is a very busy set of train tracks that run about every 20 minutes all day and all night." Most tent sites in the region are seasonal, with spring through fall offering the best camping conditions, though specific closure dates vary by location.
