Shan B.
Guide
GuideNine Eagles State Park Campground
Nine Eagles
This campground is so open and dark that the sky is full of stars 🌟
It feels very desolate and remote.
Equestrian Camping near Creston, IA
4 campgrounds with availability this weekend
Search destinations
Add dates
Stephens State Forest's Whitebreast Unit Equestrian Campground serves tent and RV campers with horses near Creston, Iowa. The campground provides electric hookups with both fifty-amp and thirty-amp options, along with water hookups and sewer connections. Though lacking dedicated horse corrals, the equestrian campground accommodates riders with their horses through spacious sites designed for vehicles with horse trailers. The primitive campground includes picnic tables, toilets, and fire rings where campfires are permitted. Horse camping campgrounds in the area maintain reservable sites for those planning trips in advance. The quiet, family-friendly atmosphere makes it suitable for overnight stays when exploring the region's bridle trails.
Multiple trail networks connect to the Whitebreast Equestrian Campground, giving riders direct access to wooded terrain and rolling hills. Stephens State Forest contains extensive trails suitable for day rides from the campground. The seasonal operation runs from April 1 to December 31, allowing horse camping through most of the year except winter months. At Hacklebarney Woods County Park, located about 30 miles west of Creston, three separate campgrounds include an equestrian area with facilities for horseback riders. The area contains surprisingly nice shower facilities for the size of the park, making it convenient for multi-day horse camping trips. Lake of Three Fires State Park, situated 45 minutes south of Creston, offers additional equestrian sites with holding stalls and tie-outs for horses, plus miles of trails for riding through varied terrain.
Best Equestrian Campgrounds near Creston (10)
1. Lake Icaria Co Park
"This lake has multiple campgrounds spread throughout. It one of the only lakes in Iowa where you can drive your boats fast. Great fireworks show on the 4th of July."
"One of the best campgrounds in the SW Iowa, the lake is great, nice beach and boating!"
2. Lake of Three Fires State Park Campground
"Now on the spot where the fires burned, is said to be the Iowa State Park “Lake of 3 Fires” Located in Southwest Iowa just north of the county seat of Bedford Iowa, is a little hidden treasure for outdoor"
"Frisbee golf course, playground, horse shoe pits and samdy heach area groomed daily. No wake lake perfect for fishing, canoeing and kayaking. Clean well-kept shower and bath buidling as well."
62 Sites AvailableAvailable this weekend
from $10 - $75 / night
3. Madison County Fairground Campground
Check Availabilityfrom $11 - $105 / night
4. Hacklebarney Woods County Park
"Hacklebarney is very close to home so it makes for a great quick camping trip destination. Has surprisingly nice shower room for the size of the park."
5. Nine Eagles State Park Campground
"Nine Eagles is near Lamoni, Iowa near the Iowa-Missouri border right off of Interstate 35. I camped here with my son and his Boy Scout troop in the youth group part of the campground."
"Wonderful area for horses. Great trials."
53 Sites AvailableAvailable this weekend
from $10 - $75 / night
6. Dallas County Fairgrounds
7. Nodaway Valley County Park
8. Whitebreast Equestrian — Stephens State Forest
Check Availabilityfrom $14 / night
9. Lucas Primitive Campground — Stephens State Forest
Check Availabilityfrom $10 / night
10. Singing Mesa Ranch
Check Availabilityfrom $15 - $75 / night
Drive Time
- 1 hr 11 min from Des Moines, IA
- 1 hr 37 min from Ames, IA
- 1 hr 46 min from Omaha, NE
- 1 hr 47 min from St. Joseph, MO
Recent Equestrian Camping Photos near Creston, IA
2 Photos of 10 Creston Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Equestrian Camping Reviews near Creston, IA
36 Reviews of 10 Creston Campgrounds
Chad S.
TravelerDallas County Fairgrounds
Swim rodeo
We booked this spot in February not knowing there was a rodeo on our camp day we were in town for a swim meet, the band was real loud Friday and perfect on Saturday, it has narrow camping spots but overall is a very good campground with full hook ups. Booked on line everything went smooth, great WiFi clean campground.
Teresa T.
LegendNine Eagles State Park Campground
Big park. Lots of trails
This park is huge with a lot of trails most of which are not on a map and a map isnt provided out on them either so one just kind of has to make guesses on where to go. The electric campground is completely exposed to the sun. Nice right now but has to be brutal in the summer and the sites are right on top of one another as well. It is also a long ways from the beach as is the primitive campground. Horse campground is adorable but there are only primitive sites there which I always find so surprising. They have multiple trails leaving from there though which is cool. Firewood is sold in the small town a mile away and there is a very old cemetery right outside of the park which is cool to meander through. Bathrooms were closed but the water and electric were on and the price is very reasonable.
- Teresa T.Legend
Lake of Three Fires State Park Campground
Rated so high due to the trails
Tons of miles for biking and hiking and if you fold in the trails on the public lands around, more then anyone can do in a weekend. We'll maintained. Campground, not so much. That would get a much lower score if I rated just that. Very few electric spots and they are close and in disrepair. Bathrooms are oddly placed like the group campground would need to walk all the way across the picnic area to have any access. Once they close the shower facilities, some campgrounds have no bathrooms available. Oddly, there is a LOT of vehicles driving through which for winter was surprising. All in, lots of trees, nice beach, Frisbee golf, super interesting cemetery right outside the property and loads of other public lands all sitting around a very nice lake. But bridges out, an entire row of non-working electric posts and weird bathroom placement leads to an overall odd use of a state park.
- Tina T.
ScoutNine Eagles State Park Campground
Campsites
Facilities are available and very convenient and comfortable. Nice lake to swim and fish. Absolutely beautiful park and really nice trails. Thanks, Tina
Danni A.TravelerLake Icaria Co Park
Beautiful Views
This campground has beautiful views of the lake. The sites are very close together. Everything was very clean when we were there.
Nicole B.GuideLake Icaria Co Park
Easily my favorite spot
This is a very clean, lovely camp ground. The spots are spacious, and there are tons of options. In the fall we went and had no neighbors. It’s busy in summer, but well kept. They had people cleaning the bathrooms constantly (my mom kept pointing out, in awe, that it was “practically hourly”) which was great for tent camping with a large group! It’s quiet, beautiful lake, great boating, great swim spot, fun park for kids. Beautiful trees and hiking especially in the fall.
- MMegan M.Guide
Lake of Three Fires State Park Campground
Gem But Could Be Better
As tent campers we found a lot to love at Lake of Three Fires, but also found ourselves wanting more. It’s got a gorgeous lake, and some camping sites are out of this world, but it can be inconsistent and there’s not a lot to do.
Pros: -While the electric hookup sites were full, primitive campers had their pick of the campground even during the middle of the summer. Plenty of open non-electric sites to choose from.
-Site 55 is an absolute GEM. Spacious and right on the water! We didn’t have any neighbors so it was like we had the whole place to ourselves. -Good fishing at the lake, and plenty of quiet spots to fish from -The lake is quiet and relatively calm -Excellent (and clean!) modern bathrooms, by far the best we’ve encounteredCons: -There’s not a lot to do other than fishing and hanging out by the campsite -The trails are quite poorly marked and seem to only have entry and exit points at each end of the point, so unless you want to commit to the full 8 miles, you’ll have to turn back at some point -The sites can be inconsistently sized. We found some tent sites that were less than half the size of our site, and they were packed like sardines. -A lot of the sites are sloped, so even ground can be hard to find. -The park is pretty rural, so if you need to make an emergency grocery or supplies run you might be out of luck. -No firewood on site, so you’ll have to come prepared or hope you can find some in town.
Isaac F.ScoutLake of Three Fires State Park Campground
Had the lake to ourselves!
Although there were RVers and a nice group of Boy Scoutspaet of the time, there was no one else in our tent camping side. We had chilly weather, but marvelous views of the water with a rare flock of pelicans! Some of the trails were muddy, but there plenty of others to choose from. Red buds and flowers were starting to bring the forest to life.
All fire pits have an incredible grate system for cooking. There's an over abundance of limbs and twigs for firewood, although a saw would come in handy. Clean, quiet, and as beautiful as ever- that's our lake!
Guide to Creston
Camping options near Creston, Iowa combine prairie environments with wooded areas at elevations between 1,150-1,300 feet. The region gets approximately 35 inches of rainfall annually, creating lush vegetation during spring and summer months. Winter camping is limited as most facilities close between December and April, though a few year-round options exist.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: Lake Icaria County Park offers productive fishing just 25 miles southwest of Creston. "The lake is great, nice beach and boating!" writes Deb W. The park maintains multiple access points and fishing jetties with cleaning stations for anglers.
Frisbee golf courses: Lake of Three Fires State Park maintains a complete disc golf course that's popular with families. "It has a great frisbee golf course that my boys loved playing," shares Caralee D., who visits with her active family.
Equestrian trails: Horse campgrounds near Creston, Iowa provide direct trail access at facilities like Hacklebarney Woods County Park. "Three separate campgrounds one even for horseback with corrals. Very secluded but nice," notes reviewer Deb W., highlighting the park's specialized equestrian camping area.
Hiking networks: Multiple trail systems wind through the region's parks. Isaac F. reports about Nine Eagles State Park: "Some of the trails were muddy, but there plenty of others to choose from. Red buds and flowers were starting to bring the forest to life."
What campers like
Clean facilities: Lake Icaria County Park receives consistent praise for maintenance. Nicole B. shares, "They had people cleaning the bathrooms constantly (my mom kept pointing out, in awe, that it was 'practically hourly') which was great for tent camping with a large group!"
Spacious campsites: Many campgrounds offer room to spread out. Mike S. describes Lake Icaria: "Full hook up spots were very nice. Easy to get into, plenty of space, fire pit, picnic table, friendly & helpful park officers."
Swimming beaches: Several parks maintain swimming areas for hot summer days. "The beach sandy and clean for a refreshing dip on a hot afternoon," writes Caralee D. about Lake of Three Fires State Park's swimming area.
Wildlife viewing: The parks host abundant wildlife, particularly deer. "There are lots of deer in the area at all hours of the day, so keep an eye out for them when traveling to and from town," warns Kayla F. from her experience at Lake of Three Fires.
What you should know
Reservation systems: While some campgrounds operate on a first-come basis, others require planning. At Dallas County Fairgrounds, which James W. describes as "Clean, economical, and friendly staff," reservations are recommended during busy seasons.
Seasonal closures: Most equestrian campgrounds near Creston close during winter months. Nine Eagles State Park operates from April 1 through December 31, similar to other state facilities in the region.
Limited services: At more remote locations, services can be minimal. Tony B. notes about Lake Icaria: "They have concessions, boat rentals, boating of all types, fishing, and trails," but many smaller parks lack these amenities.
Campfire regulations: Fire policies vary by location. At Madison County Fairground Campground, Richard R. points out, "No ground fires allowed," while most state parks permit fires in designated rings only.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Nodaway Valley County Park offers play equipment, though Kimberly W. notes it "is outdated but there is a large area where kids can play soccer or tag and while the equipment is old it is not in bad shape."
Water activities: Several parks provide beaches for swimming. Lake of Three Fires has "a good sized lake for fishing and kayaking, but not too big for large speed boats," according to Caralee D.
Safety considerations: Watch for weather conditions as some parks lack warning systems. Caralee D. mentions about Lake of Three Fires: "The park rangers came around to warn campers of possible severe storms coming through the area, but if a tornado warning happened, we would have no notification."
Group camping options: Family reunions or large groups have dedicated areas at several parks. Matt S. shares that Nine Eagles has "a large open space surrounded by tall trees. The grass is well maintained and the campsite is clean and beautiful."
Tips from RVers
Site selection: At Hacklebarney Woods County Park, Ashley B. mentions it's "very close to home so it makes for a great quick camping trip destination. Has surprisingly nice shower room for the size of the park."
Hook-up details: Electrical service varies by location. Richard R. notes at Madison County Fairgrounds, "Water, gas and Sewer was $15 daily, $105 weekly, and $420 monthly. Prices go up to $120 weekly when it gets cold."
Campsite leveling: Many parks have uneven terrain. Megan M. warns at Lake of Three Fires, "A lot of the sites are sloped, so even ground can be hard to find."
Dump station locations: Most developed campgrounds provide sanitary facilities. Kimberly W. describes Nodaway Valley Park's setup: "There is a dump station centrally located that you can easily pull up to on your way out."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian
campsite near Creston, IA?
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Creston, IA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Creston, IA is Lake Icaria Co Park with a 4.6-star rating from 9 reviews.
What is the best site to find
equestrian camping near
Creston, IA?
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Creston, IA?
TheDyrt.com has all 10 equestrian camping locations near Creston, IA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring