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Walnut Woods State Park Campground accommodates pets throughout its 25 campsites with electrical and full hook-up options. All sites include concrete pads, picnic tables, and fire rings in a wooded setting near the Raccoon River. Dogs must remain leashed while exploring the park's 1.5-mile riverside trail system. Timberline Campground provides 168 pet-friendly sites for tent campers, RV owners, and cabin guests, featuring a dedicated dog park for off-leash exercise. Yellow Banks County Park and Prairie Flower Recreation Area similarly welcome pets with leash requirements. Campgrounds maintain strict quiet hours that help minimize barking disturbances, particularly important as sites are relatively close together. Reservations are recommended, especially during summer months when pet-friendly sites fill quickly. Visitors use The Dyrt to find real feedback on camping near Cumming, Iowa.
The campgrounds' shaded sites offer relief for pets during hot summer months, though mosquitoes can be problematic near river access points. Des Moines West KOA Holiday provides pet-friendly cabin options for those without camping equipment, alongside traditional tent and RV sites. Jester County Park features pet-friendly trails connecting to its camping areas, allowing longer walks without leaving the park. Clean bathroom facilities remain accessible to campers with pets at most locations, though shower availability varies by campground. Winterset City Park's camping season runs April 1 to November 15, offering pet-friendly accommodations within walking distance of trails and recreation areas. The proximity of these campgrounds to Des Moines provides convenient access to veterinary services and pet supply stores while maintaining a natural outdoor experience.
"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"Small dog park which is pea gravel, not grass."
"If you’re traveling through Des Moines, Iowa area; this is the place you will want to camp at!"
from $35 - $80 / night
Check Availability"Decent playground, water pillow for bouncing, fishing pond, dog park, swimming pool. Well maintained, lots of planned activities. KOA, so not a lot of nature. But no traffic or train noise."
"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."
"There was four of us and a dog."
"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"Wonderful trails, lots of space. Access to DM River, has nice pond, playgrounds, just a beautiful area. "
"camped here in 2021 and I enjoyed it but the first night I was there I ran my vehicle down the second night I was there I took a tour on the campgrounds and got verbally accosted but another camper for walking"
"The Prarie Flower campground at Saylorville Lake is an open, flat grassy campground near wooded trails around the US Army Corps of Engineers land."
"The only down side of this was the grass was really long so it was bad when taking the dog out in the evenings or mornings. You would come back in with a soaked dog and wet feet."
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."
"They have a beautiful lake and a beach. The water has minimal seaweed and great temperature! They have rentals for paddle boards, kayaks, canoes, etc, for a decent price!"
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
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GuideI just loved this campground. It has shade trees, grass, free showers and lots of room. 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 was well worth the 20 mile drive off I80. If I had known how m=nice this area was, I would have planned better and stayed here for more than one night.
GuideOne of my favorite locations to camp in Iowa as a Boy Scout growing up was Ledges State Park. Since I hadn't been back in years, I decided to check it out and spend a night camping there. It's close to how I remember it.
The campground has a good picnic area, restrooms, and an excellent trail. It's also inexpensive.
What I enjoy most about this park compared to others in Iowa are the sandstone ledges and the slopes on the trail. There are some excellent views, so make sure your phone has enough battery to take photos (unlike me). I also spent a lot of time off the trail. It isn't too hard to get around. I'm not one who enjoys staying at a park that is mostly flat, so this is definitely a good place in Iowa for me to camp.
If you are looking for a cool place to camp within an hour of Des Moines, you should seriously consider this park.
ScoutOne of the more beautiful places to camp in Iowa. Awesome hiking trails and really well-shaded campsites. The hike in spots are great if you like privacy and being in the middle of the woods - but you don’t want to be THAT far from your car.
Beware of the raccoons. They’re plentiful and crazy smart here. We had one open our cooler, steal an egg from the cartoon - without disturbing anything else. Honestly, I was impressed! But some of our friends had them rip through their tents to get at food - not as impressive.
TravelerIn a grove of trees in a slightly hilly area. Easy access, but sites are gravel. Nice bit of grass with each site, most are at least partially shaded. Small dog park which is pea gravel, not grass.
GuideSpots kind of level, lots of choices of pull thru or buddy sites. Decent playground, water pillow for bouncing, fishing pond, dog park, swimming pool. Well maintained, lots of planned activities. KOA, so not a lot of nature. But no traffic or train noise. Full hook ups, including TV.
GuideSome full hook ups, sites not very level, playground ok. Can hear shots from gun range next door. Dog park, pool, arcade. We have camped here a couple times, and stored our rig here for a while. Didn't find there was that much going on here to keep us busy. Not a lot of nature, no trails or biking accessible from campground.
TravelerThe campground was nice, but it seems more for RVs. Sometimes you have to share a fire pit with other tents if it's busy. They have a small petting zoo and a small beach. This place feels more like a neighborhood verses camping in nature. Most people use this as a "summer home".
LegendFollowing up on my review from over a year ago, I’m adding a bunch of additional photos as well as an abbreviated post pointing out the HIGHS and LOWS of this roadside pit stop of a campground in rural Iowa.
Highs: (1) Quick& EZ access from I-80 via Exit 173; (2) Incredibly well-manicured campground – very clean and well-organized; (3) Very EZ check-in process; (4) Superb Midwestern hospitality from the CG staff and camping community; (5) RV slots offer very nice FHUs and fairly spacious areas; (6) Picnic tables & fire rings are like brand new; (7) If you get hungry, this CG and fueling station has an imbedded Iowa’s Best Burger Café that does live up to its name; (8) There’s also an embedded Amoco gas station and mini-mart; (9) Spectacularly clean and recently refurbished bathrooms & shower facilities; (10) There’s a small launderette here, which was bonus; (11) Should you visit in the summer, you will benefit from being surrounded by 6 foot tall corn fields that will provide greater privacy and better scenery
Lows: (1) You are just 30 seconds north of I-80, the busiest highway in Iowa;(2) There’s no security gate to prevent any wandering traffic from the highway into this place, so apart from the fact that you're clear out in the boondocks, you are next to the very heavily trafficked I80, so it’s difficult to feel 100% safe & secure here; (3) Lack of privacy between sites as there’s not a ton of trees (welcome to corn country), bushes or brush on the interior of the CG; (4) Most of the RV slots have no shade, so while this isn't exactly Florida, if you're here during the hot summer months, you should bring your own awning or shelter; (5) Some sites have very close proximity to their neighbors; (6) This really isn’t a good place for tent camping, unless you are OK being surrounded by RVs with absolutely no privacy in the open interior; and (7) Apart from FHUs and a decent shower / restroom in the middle of the CG and a small laundry in the NW, there’s not much here in the way of amenities
Happy Camping!
LegendThis County Park is located right on the edge of Lake Panorama, a great town North West of Des Moines, Iowa. It is surrounded by amenities, so if you forget something you can drive five minutes into town to replace anything you forgot at home.
This is not a place to rough it, but if you have a family and want an outdoors experience close to amenities, this is the place for you. The campground is very clean and it is right next to a river.
Central Iowa camping sites offer a diverse landscape of prairies and wooded areas with elevations ranging from 850 to 950 feet above sea level. The Raccoon River watershed shapes much of the terrain near Cumming, creating opportunities for riverside camping from April through October. Summer temperatures typically range from 60-90°F with higher humidity levels during July and August.
Fishing opportunities: Cherry Glen Campground provides direct lake access with multiple fishing spots. "Clean quiet lots of wildlife. Love this it's close to the city yet feel so far away," notes one camper at Cherry Glen.
Hiking trails: Jester County Park maintains several miles of woodland paths connecting camping areas. "There is a sweet pond to fish in, several hiking trails, a brand new (opened August 2018) Nature Center, amphitheater, bison and bird viewing," according to a reviewer.
Historical exploration: Winterset City Park offers access to local covered bridges and museums. "The John Wayne museum and downtown are a 20 minute walk away," reports one camper, while another notes "There is a two mile loop that leads you up Clark's Tower where you can see the rolling hills of gorgeous Madison county."
Clean facilities: Prairie Flower Recreation Area maintains modern bathrooms despite higher weekend occupancy. "Bathroom facilities are always clean and updated. Sites do have some space for privacy between them," writes one visitor, though they caution about Sunday departure congestion at the dump station.
Spacious sites: Many campgrounds offer larger camping areas with concrete pads. "Spacious campsites with cement pads... The only thing holding it back from 5 stars is no water or sewer onsite," notes a Prairie Flower camper.
Dog friendly campgrounds near Cumming: Yellow Banks County Park provides pet-friendly sites with river access. "Nice quiet campground with the Des Moines river close by for fishing or kayaking. Most of the spots are shaded and well maintained," writes a regular visitor who brings their dog to Yellow Banks.
Reservation timing: Most campgrounds fill quickly during summer weekends. At Bob Shelter Recreation Area, "We stopped on a Friday without one, they were booked. We only wanted one night in a tent. They don't have designated tent sites but they have one overflow sight and they let us use it for the night."
Seasonal considerations: Many campgrounds operate from April through October. "If you're traveling through Des Moines, Iowa area; this is the place you will want to camp at! Outstanding facilities, beautiful and tranquil location," states a Timberline visitor, noting its availability during the main camping season.
Weather impacts: Some campgrounds experience flooding during heavy rainfall periods. "Great little campground. Always full. Floods with lots of rain but still great," cautions a Walnut Woods reviewer.
Playground access: Look for campgrounds with dedicated play areas near campsites. "It sits right next to a park. White rock roads and pads. It has some full hook up sites as well as water and electric sites," writes a Winterset City Park visitor.
Swimming options: Des Moines West KOA Holiday maintains a pool and recreational amenities. "The pool was up and running perfect! They even had a dunk tank which was pretty funny! Cabin was beautiful inside and out," shares a family who stayed there.
Pet-friendly activities: Many campgrounds near Cumming welcome dogs but require leashes. "We stayed at the West Des Moines KOA for the Nationals Softball Tournament for my daughter in July. There were 6 families that stayed there with us. It was so much fun because we were able to all be either on buddy sites together and one had a patio site. The pool was refreshing for the girls and all of the activities kept them busy and having fun!"
Hookup availability: Check specific campground utility options before booking. "Now open year round...Office is open until 7pm which was very helpful as we arrived a little later than expected," shares a Des Moines West KOA Holiday visitor who appreciated the winter accommodations with space heaters in bathrooms.
Site leveling: Most campgrounds feature relatively level pads, though quality varies. "Our spot was big right by the park area. We wish we could've stayed longer," notes a Timberline Campground visitor.
Dump station access: At busier campgrounds, plan for potential wait times when departing. "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 a Prairie Flower visitor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Cumming, IA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Cumming, IA is Walnut Woods State Park Campground with a 3.9-star rating from 14 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Cumming, IA?
TheDyrt.com has all 88 dog-friendly camping locations near Cumming, IA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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