130 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Eastern Iowa's landscape around Delmar features a mix of established campgrounds and riverside camping options within a 30-mile radius. Maquoketa Caves State Park Campground, located about 15 miles northeast of Delmar, offers well-spaced electric sites with both drive-in and walk-in access for tents and RVs. The park is known for its unique cave system and hiking trails through wooded terrain. Eden Valley Refuge in Baldwin provides year-round camping with full hookups and cabin options, while county parks like Sherman Park in Calamus and Walnut Grove Park near Wheatland offer more rustic experiences along the Wapsipinicon River. Several campgrounds in the area support both tent and RV camping, with varying levels of amenities from primitive sites to full-service facilities.
Seasonal considerations affect camping availability throughout the region, with most state parks operating from April through December. Maquoketa Caves State Park's season runs April 1 to December 31, matching Bellevue State Park's operational calendar. Weather patterns typically bring warm summers with temperatures in the 80s during day and 60s overnight, as noted by campers visiting in August. Spring flooding can impact riverside campgrounds, particularly those along the Cedar and Wapsipinicon Rivers. "A call ahead to the conservation office to check on closures is a good idea," advises one camper who found water covering access roads to primitive sites. Cell service varies throughout the area, with better coverage near towns and more limited connectivity in rural locations.
Campers consistently highlight the natural features that distinguish this region from typical Midwestern landscapes. "The park was incredibly beautiful for the middle of nowhere in Iowa," notes one visitor to Maquoketa Caves, describing the contrast between the park's wooded ravines and the surrounding cornfields. The caves and rock formations receive particular attention in reviews, with visitors recommending headlamps and waterproof footwear for cave exploration. River access points for fishing and boating are common amenities at county parks, while train noise affects some riverside locations. Wildlife viewing opportunities include bald eagles along the Mississippi River during colder months, and various bird species throughout the warmer seasons. Most campgrounds provide basic amenities like picnic tables, fire rings, and access to drinking water.
"cave system of Maquoketa Caves State Park, Iowa."
"This is a great weekend stay, with short trails that show some beautiful and unusual scenery for central Iowa. The natural bridge is incredible, and the sites are well spaced out."
from $20 - $28 / night
Check Availability"Near Lost Nation, Oxford Junction, and Wyoming, IA this park is an unexpected find in rural, eastern Iowa. The camping areas have expanded."
"Well we found a pretty good one that is relatively close to our home and is rarely reserved. Its only 1 hour North of the Quad Cities where I live & open year round!"
"Enjoyed almost 2 weeks at West Lake Park, part of the Scott County, IA park system. Helpful staff, park rangers make daily patrols, nice spots, many with shade trees & decent room."
"Although theres a small "lake" here, Ive never had great luck catching much. Pool is nice and updated. Park rangers are always frequently present and patrolling."
from $17 - $36 / night
Check Availability"Hidden gem near the iowa/illinois border. Secluded and beautiful."
"It has trails for walking and lots of concrete for riding bikes. We did both. The park is close to the River and has plenty of places to put your boat in across the highway."
from $21 / night
Check Availability"Massive bonus points for the location of this campground, which apart from rural country farmers and bat cave tourist passerby traffic, there was virtually no noise pollution to battle with."
"platform and calm waters for kayaking or just floating; (4) The peace and quiet are unbeatable, with the only background noise being a chorus of crickets and the soft babble of the river; and (5) Location-wise"
"Charcoal grill, fire ring with wood supplied, picnic table, covered porch, trail head right next to cabin. After hours offers quite park, dark skies, and trails with wildlife."
"AC/heat, covered porch, firewood, picnic table, Charcoal grill, trails. Park is also site of nature center with live animals, an observatory, access to Wapsipinicon River."
from $70 - $80 / night
Check Availability"There is a boat ramp with access to the river for fishing and paddling."
"Primitive sites include gravel entrance, picnic tables, fire rings only. There is a boat ramp for the Wapsipinicon river with access for fishing, paddling, etc."
"CG site atop river bluff with pads, fire rings, tables, RR, recycling, trails, shelters nearby. Sites are close to each other but plenty to do."
"The site our friends had next to us was uninhabitable due to mud and sloping but the rangers let them switch sites no problem."
from $16 - $36 / night
Check Availability
ScoutLovely spot right on Mississippi. Pleasant hosts and grounds are well maintained. Lots of mature trees with great shade. Had a major storm early this AM. 60 mph winds and lots of branches down but no trees fell. Within 30 min of storm passing host were driving through the camp and came to check on us and make sure we wer okay. Incrediblely prompt and kind response.
LegendIf sleeping on the ground has begun losing some of its charm, Summit Cabin 2 at West Lake Park offers a pretty compelling alternative. Perched atop a rolling prairie hillside overlooking Railroad Lake, this modern 1.2K sq ft cabin combines the serenity of camping with enough creature comforts that you might briefly forget you're supposed to be 'roughing it'. Managed by the Scott County Conservation Board, the cabin is ADA-accessible, sleeps up to eight and sits within a 620-acre county park encompassing 4 lakes, giving you plenty of nature outside the door without surrendering air conditioning, indoor plumbing or a proper mattress at the end of the day.
Inside, this place is impressively equipped with two bedrooms - one with a queen bed plus twin bunks and a second room with a queen - a queen sleeper sofa, full kitchen with stove/oven, refrigerator, microwave and dishwasher, dining table for eight, modern bathroom with shower, Wi-Fi, gas fireplace, heat and air conditioning. Outside you'll find a covered porch overlooking the lake, picnic table, fire ring and gas grill, with parking for 2 vehicles. The kitchen even includes dishes, cookware and utensils, although you'll need to bring your own bedding, pillows, bath towels and toiletries. Pets aren't permitted, which is worth remembering before Fido hops into the truck expecting a weekend at the lake.
The real advantage, though, is everything waiting beyond the front porch. West Lake Park offers four lakes for fishing and recreation, a seasonal swimming beach, boat dock, accessible fishing dock, paddleboat rentals, playgrounds, trails, disc golf and seasonal concessions. For forgotten groceries or something worthy of tossing onto that gas grill, nearby Hy-Vee Grocery Store on West Locust Street is a convenient Davenport resupply option; you're also close enough to the Quad Cities that civilization never feels particularly far away.
Insider's tips? Here's a handful: (1) Bring a couple of lawn chairs because that covered porch overlooking Railroad Lake begs for morning coffee and an evening sundowner, but it's in the shade - if you want to grab some proper dawn or dusk light, you'll need to bring your own seat; (2) pack all bedding and bath linens, because those aren't provided; (3) bring fishing rods and take advantage of the park's four lakes, or make a day of the swimming beach and paddling opportunities during warmer months; (4) Firewood is available for purchase inside the park, saving you from hauling your own; (5) Remember that only two vehicles may park at the cabin, although overflow parking is nearby (like literally 20 yards from the VIP parking you'll find here at the cabin); and (5) Don't arrive expecting to pitch an extra tent beside the cabin as tents and campers aren't permitted within the cabin area.
Happy Camping!
RangerNice spot right on the mighty Mississippi.
TravelerStayed one night as passing thru, has lots of pull thru sites, FHU, and 30/50 amp. Great bathrooms, some shaded sites. Kinda crazy, pulled into gate 5 to check if had available site, was told, had to go into gate 1, pick an open site, and then go back to gate 5 to pay!!! Thankful the ranger, who we followed into campground, set up, and were able to pay ranger, thus did not need to disconnect our tow car! Can book in advance online which would be easier, but we were winging the one night stay.
ScoutWe had the place virtually to ourselves. Camped Monday through Wednesday. Great bike riding throughout the park. There are a lot of hiking trails to choose from. Our site wasn’t very shaded but it had a great view of the sky for our Skylink. There are great shaded sites throughout the park.
GuideNice level concrete pads with electric. Water scattered around the sites. Clean bathhouse. Pavilion on the water with fire ring.
GuideA nice Little campground close to Elizabeth Illinois. The bathrooms are well capped, but the showers require quarters!
GuideOne of my favorites. Iowa knows how to do County campgrounds. Firefly campground has full hookups and reservations. The other campgrounds have water and electric and are first come first serve. I arrived on a Friday afternoon in July and found a site easily.
ScoutThe campground was very nice and clean. Rangers made several loops around so we felt safe. Saw plenty of wildlife. Campsites were big but not level. We thought they only had outhouses until we discovered a modern bathhouse at the other end of the campground. Showers were big but very shall rustic. We only stayed one night as we were passing through but definitely could be an option in the future for other stays.
Camping sites near Delmar, Iowa range from riverside primitive camping to full-service RV parks with electric hookups, all situated within a landscape of rolling hills, limestone outcroppings, and river valleys. The area averages 36 inches of annual rainfall, creating lush woodland environments interspersed with prairie remnants. Several campgrounds remain open year-round, though facilities like showers may close during winter months when temperatures regularly drop below freezing.
Cave exploration with proper gear: At Maquoketa Caves State Park Campground, visitors need headlamps for safely navigating the cave system. "If you've never gone spelunking before – and trust me, if you come here to Maquoketa SP, you're going to want to – then make sure you bring the right gear: headlamp, good sturdy hiking boots, pants to keep the bugs, spiders and ticks away as well as plenty of water to stay hydrated," advises one camper.
Paddling on local rivers: The Wapsipinicon River offers multiple access points for kayaking and canoeing. At Sherman Co Park, "Our favorite past time while we're there is to go tubing on the Wapsi River," reports a regular visitor.
Night sky observation: Several campgrounds provide excellent stargazing opportunities due to minimal light pollution. "It is absolutely pitch black. PERFECT for stargazing on a clear night," notes a camper who stayed at Eden Valley Refuge.
Trail hiking year-round: Multiple interconnected trail systems provide hiking opportunities through various ecosystems. "The trails have sign posts and the map in a VERY general way gives you some idea as to where you are at BUT there are trails criss crossing everywhere so make sure you have your map tracker on. The trails/scenery are AMAZING!" shares a camper at Maquoketa Caves.
Historic attractions: The Pioneer Village at Scott County Park offers a glimpse into the area's past. "Pioneer village if you've never been was the absolute bees knees as a kid to go to, especially since you can hike to get there! I loved climbing around in the train cars, eating icecream/candy canes, and watching the blacksmith work."
Clean facilities: Multiple campgrounds maintain well-kept shower houses and restrooms. "Bathrooms are clean and nice. The soap smells really good! They have showers which were clean. I thought they'd be cold water showers but they were warm! Such a delight," reports a camper at Bellevue State Park.
Diverse camping options: The region offers everything from primitive hike-in sites to full-hookup RV spots. At Eden Valley Refuge, "To get to both the pack in sites you have to hike a 1/2 mile. You need to bring all of your supplies including water. (Showers & modern facilities are 1/2 mile back at the main campground)."
Wildlife viewing: Seasonal wildlife observation opportunities abound throughout the area. At Scott County Park, visitors can "Expect to see whitetail deer as they love to make the park home."
Seasonal cave closures: Due to bat conservation efforts, caves may close unexpectedly. "Due to concerns for wildlife (primarily bats) the caves close frequently, check the park website for details about when they will be open and respect the closures when they occur."
Flooding risks: Spring and early summer rains can impact riverside campsites. "The tent sites are prone to flooding occasionally from the gun river," notes a reviewer at Sherman Park.
Variable cell service: Connectivity varies dramatically between campgrounds. "The cellphone signal was good; at least it passed the test of FaceTiming my wife to check for lag," reports a camper at Walnut Grove Co Park.
Cash-only policies: Some smaller private campgrounds don't accept card payments. "This camping outpost only accepts cash, money order or checks, which was a major bummer for us as we didn't have any of those with us," warns a visitor to 6B's Campground.
Educational programs: Nature centers provide learning opportunities for children. The Wapsi River Environmental Ed. Ctr. "specializes in environmental education and the Eagle View Eco Center with exhibits and native live animals, trails, prairie, observatory, amphitheater, 1 mile stretch of the Wapsipinicon River with paddling access."
Playground access: Several campgrounds feature well-maintained play areas. At Scott County Park, "We played a lot on the playground there and rode our bikes wherever."
Cabin options: For families wanting more comfort, cabin rentals provide full amenities. At Wapsi River Environmental Center, the cabin "sleeps 6, has all amenities including firewood at no cost! Education center onsite with live animals, trails, open year-round."
Bug preparation: The area's humidity supports healthy insect populations. At Mississippi Palisades State Park, one camper warns "We were eaten alive by chiggers when we sat out for awhile to relax," suggesting proper insect repellent.
Site leveling considerations: Many campgrounds feature varied terrain requiring leveling equipment. At Bellevue State Park, "most of the nonelectric/tent were down at the bottom of slopes."
Electric hookup availability: Electric sites are widely available but vary in amperage. Maquoketa Caves State Park offers "24 offering 20/30/50 amp electric" according to a visitor.
Dump station access: Not all campgrounds with RV sites have dump stations on premises. At Sherman Park, campers appreciate that there's "a nice newer playground for the kids and a few trail to explore" but note the limited facilities.
Back-in site specifications: Most RV sites require back-in parking. "The land is incredibly flat, back-in slots are spacious, hard and very level grounds are incredibly well-organized," notes a visitor to Scott County Park's Bald Eagle Campground.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular campground near Delmar, IA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Delmar, IA is Maquoketa Caves State Park Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 35 reviews.
Keep Exploring
