114 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Camping near Cumming, Iowa spans tent sites, RV hookups, and cabin rentals across state and county parks within a 30-minute drive of Des Moines. The area features a mix of state and county parks with various accommodation types including tent sites, RV hookups, and cabin rentals. Notable locations include Walnut Woods State Park Campground with its shaded sites along the Raccoon River, and Timberline Campground offering 168 developed sites with amenities such as a swimming pool and playground. Most campgrounds in the region accommodate both tent and RV camping, with several locations like Des Moines West KOA Holiday and Jester County Park also offering cabin rentals for those seeking more comfort.
Seasonal availability varies across campgrounds in the Cumming area, with many facilities operating from spring through fall. Most developed sites provide electric hookups, picnic tables, and fire rings, while amenities such as showers, restrooms, and dump stations differ between locations. Concrete pads are common at campgrounds like Walnut Woods, though pad sizes can vary significantly. Water access is a highlight at several parks, with boat ramps available at Prairie Flower Recreation Area, Cherry Glen Campground, and Yellow Banks County Park. "Sites were pretty level, sizable that our 43' motorhome and tow fit without unhooking," noted one camper about Timberline Campground.
Campers frequently mention the convenient proximity to Des Moines while still enjoying natural surroundings. The wooded setting at Walnut Woods State Park provides welcome shade during summer months, though several visitors note that sites are generally close together with limited privacy. According to one visitor, "Walnut Woods is conveniently located 25 minutes outside of downtown Des Moines. Sites are paved and mostly level." The region experiences typical Midwestern seasonal patterns with humid summers and cold winters. Many campgrounds enforce quiet hours and maintain clean facilities, contributing to positive experiences. Water activities are popular, particularly along the Raccoon River, though some campers mention potential flooding issues at certain locations during heavy rainfall periods.
"There's a boat camp, a bird watching area, a playground, plany of park space with picnic tables and BBQ pits, hiking and biking trails, and even a lodge that I assume can be rented for events."
"Walnut Woods is conveniently located 25 minutes outside of downtown Des Moines. Sites are paved and mostly level, although we did have to throw a couple of blocks under one side of our TT tires."
from $25 - $40 / night
Check Availability"If you’re traveling through Des Moines, Iowa area; this is the place you will want to camp at!"
"The site we were on is sorta blacktop but the sides have crumbled and it has a slight tilt to it so stepping down out of the camper was tricky as your feet tend to slide in the loose rocks."
from $35 - $80 / night
Check Availability"Roadside Oasis, a place to rest a weary head, food, showers, etc. Cabins always help get you in and get out early without setting up camp."
"I love the beautiful surroundings here. Definitely worth the visit."
"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."
from $20 - $25 / night
Check Availability"We stayed here for two nights while visiting family nearby. It’s a pretty location with the dam and waterway right there. The sites are well spaced."
"Great spot located next to the Des Moines River. Check in was a breeze and conveniently near the fill and dump stations. Peaceful lot near the river. Great fishing in the river."
from $22 - $26 / night
Check Availability"Close proximity to the state fair without being to close. Great stay! Our site had an open field behind it definitely recommend."
"There are two RV sites with shower houses, and about 10 tentsites on a large rectangular area in the back surrounded by trees."
"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."
from $20 - $336 / night
Check Availability"We entered the park looking for a walk-up spot and landed on Site 67 which was not reserved. The site was spacious with a big tree with good shade and cover if needed."
"The beach, and park were very far away from the camping area. A suggestion of a bagger for their lawn mower for all the cut grass. The lake by the boat landing was nice and so were the trails."
from $25 - $38 / night
Check Availability"It is part of a city park on the outskirts of Winterset. There is a dog park and one of the Bridges of Madison County is located within walking distance of the campground."
"This is a city campground on the outskirts of town that does not feel that way. It sits right next to a park. White rock roads and pads."
from $15 - $22 / night
Check Availability"Above average overall for central Iowa. Views of Saylorville Lake. Plenty of shade. Clean restrooms. It’s a large park and some sites are close together, but generally spacious. Good cell service."
"Lots of RV sites around. The whole area around Saylorville Lake has camping. Lush green plots of land everywhere. I forget how pretty it is in the Midwest when I'm gone for so long."
from $24 - $26 / night
Check Availability
GuideWe came in really late on a Saturday night and were the only ones here. Cons: women’s bathroom was inoperable and men’s was locked; sites aren’t numbered or differentiated that I could tell at 2am. Pros: green & shady in places, nice park, lots of grass. Parked under two shady trees in what I thought was a spot, paid the $10 and slept in the car as usual.
GuideThis is a sweet well-maintained campground just south of Mitchellville, Iowa off of 80. Not many sites and only a handful were occupied mid week in July. There is a little stream running along the edge of the campground. There is one bathroom building with 6 separate rooms - each with a toilet, sink and shower with warm water. Plenty of drinking water at centralized locations. There is shade at most sites when you first enter the campground and in the loop. Along the edges (inc the stream) shade is more variable. The only issue we had was a bright light that was on all night near the end of the loop. We were in site 5 and had to move our truck so it didn’t shine in all night.
TravelerNice little city park camping area in Adair, Iowa. Basically 3-5 spots in the city park next to a bath house with showers! and a playground. We were the only campers that night (a Saturday). The town's main street is being repaved, so our little city park road was the main detour road, so we had a bit of traffic off and on. We drove about 10 miles down the road to Casey for ice cream and they have a similar city park camping area. It looked a bit nicer and we considered moving but decided to stay in Adair since we'd already paid our $10 (didn't need electric) and were pretty settled. Overall, a nice spot for a quick overnighter.
GuideLevel sites and very quiet. Great hiking location and photo opportunities.
GuideStaying here for a night on a roadtrip. It was easy to book last minute and wasn’t too expensive. Especially given it has electric hook up at each sight (I believe).
RangerThere’s not a lot going on in the vicinity of this state park, which is on the smaller side, and you will hear some cows, but all in all the campground exceeded my expectations for the two nights I stayed. This was partially because my site, 65, offered ample room away from the neighboring sites and backed up to a small green area with the road further back (minimal noise, aside from the random loud dirt bike). It also had a good mix of shade and sun if you’re hoping for a bit of solar charging, though no shore power or water. The site was long and mostly level with just the smallest tilt, but not enough to be a bother even without leveling blocks. The dumpster is nearby, but it’s a tiny one and was well maintained (aka not smelly). The brand new shower house was within easy walking distance as well. I had enough service (Verizon) to send texts and watch a bit of YouTube (buffering times were a smidge slow), but you likely wouldn’t have a strong enough signal for much more.
RangerQuite a nice campground. Pretty busy for a Monday so I can imagine it gets busy here. Sites are nice and spacious. Great amenities and right next to the water.
GuideHost were very nice and helpful. Well maintained with pretty good shade.
ScoutStayed here last week in July 2025 on a cross-country motorcycle trip. Nice and quiet. Flat grassy spot to set up my tent and a nice fire ring/ grill to cook dinner on also had a picnic table.
Very nice primitive spot. Will go back
Camping sites near Cumming, Iowa offer a range of outdoor accommodations within central Iowa's rolling hills, located at elevations between 800-900 feet. Most campgrounds in the region remain open from April through October, with several experiencing high demand during summer weekends when temperatures average 75-85°F. Seasonal restrictions apply at certain locations, with Prairie Flower Recreation Area operating from May 1 to October 20.
Wildlife viewing: At Jester County Park, visitors can observe bison and elk in designated viewing areas. "The Nature/Conservancy center there is just next level. They advertise Elk and Bison which are smart enough to stay far away from humans, as it should be," notes one camper.
Hiking trail access: The 6-7 mile lake loop at Lake Ahquabi State Park Campground provides a relatively easy path around the entire lake. "If you're up for it there is a hike that loops around the entire lake making it about 6-7 miles long. It's a pretty easy hike, but definitely long," shares one visitor.
Water recreation: Multiple watercraft rental options are available at Lake Ahquabi, including paddleboards, kayaks and canoes. A reviewer mentions, "They have rentals for paddle boards, kayaks, canoes, etc, for a decent price!" The lake is noted for having "minimal seeweed and great temperature."
Proximity to attractions: Winterset City Park offers access to the Bridges of Madison County and John Wayne Museum. "The John Wayne museum and downtown are a 20 minute walk away," writes one camper, while another notes, "The bridges of Madison County, Clarke Tower, cute local ice cream shop, John Wayne Museum! So much fun in a cute Iowa community!"
Concrete camping pads: Cherry Glen Campground provides paved, level sites that simplify setup. A visitor explains, "Sites do have some space for privacy between them. Now my one complaint - there's one dump station for a campground that is large in size and popularity. Trying to leave on Sunday is a good 1 hour wait."
Family amenities: Many campsites include playground equipment and recreational facilities. At Des Moines West KOA Holiday, "the pool was refreshing for the girls and all of the activities kept them busy and having fun! All while being close to the city but the beauty of the country!!!"
Flooding concerns: Several campgrounds experience occasional flooding issues during heavy rainfall. A camper at Lake Ahquabi notes, "Always full. Floods with lots of rain but still great. No showers."
Noise considerations: Shooting ranges near some campgrounds create ambient noise. At Timberline Campground, "we didn't realize there must be a shooting range close by as all afternoon all we heard were gun shots. Not relaxing for us or our fur babies."
Limited water hookups: Many campgrounds offer electric-only sites with centralized water access. According to one visitor at Bob Shelter Recreation Area, "No water or sewer. Spot 20 is at the end which makes it very private with nice large grassy area adjacent to wooded area. It backs to the river below the spillway from the dam."
Budget-friendly options: State parks generally offer lower nightly rates compared to private campgrounds. "At $16.00 per night a real bargain. Showers were always clean and it's a short drive or hike to the beach," reports a Lake Ahquabi visitor.
Recreational variety: Yellow Banks County Park offers multiple outdoor activities in one location. "The banks are amazing! River access and a pond to fish! Camped here my whole life. Boy scouts and with friends. Check out the burial grounds," writes an enthusiast.
Seasonal planning: Family campgrounds become significantly more crowded on summer weekends. "This campground is a hot spot for Des Moines to escape the weekend - with that said, reservations are a must! Most times you need to make them six months out," advises one camper about Prairie Flower Recreation Area.
Arrival timing: Self-check-in options accommodate late arrivals at some locations. At Des Moines West KOA, "although we were arriving after 10pm, we could still check in without a reservation! They have an awesome 'self check in'. A board marked with available spaces we chose from."
Dump station delays: Plan for potentially long waits at single dump stations, particularly on Sunday mornings. "Trying to leave on Sunday is a good 1 hour wait.... that's being generous! I hate going there knowing that instead of getting to enjoy Sunday - I'll be busy draining my pooper," reports a camper about Prairie Flower.
Hose length preparation: Some group camping areas require extra-long water hoses. According to a Prairie Flower visitor, "On large loops you will need a lot of hose to reach. I think I needed about 80' some campers will need 100'. There is potable water at dump site."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular campground near Cumming, IA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Cumming, IA is Walnut Woods State Park Campground with a 3.9-star rating from 14 reviews.
What parks are near Cumming, IA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 6 parks near Cumming, IA that allow camping, notably Saylorville Lake and Lake Red Rock.
Keep Exploring
