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Best Campgrounds near Des Moines, IA

524 Reviews

Des Moines, Iowa features several established campgrounds within a short drive of the metropolitan area. Yellow Banks County Park, located along the Des Moines River, provides both RV sites with full hookups and primitive tent camping areas. Jester County Park, Thomas Mitchell County Park, and the Iowa State Fairgrounds offer additional camping options ranging from standard tent sites to RV spots with electric, water, and sewer connections. Many campgrounds in the region accommodate both tent and RV camping, with a handful also offering cabin rentals or glamping options for those seeking more comfort.

Camping is available year-round at several locations including Yellow Banks County Park, Walnut Woods State Park, and Timberline Campground, though amenities may be limited during winter months. Most campgrounds require reservations, especially during summer weekends and special events. The Iowa State Fairgrounds campground becomes particularly busy during the annual fair in August. Sites typically include fire rings and picnic tables, with varying levels of electrical and water hookups. Many locations offer shower facilities and restrooms, though some close these during colder months. A visitor noted, "The campgrounds are beautiful, they have two different electric sites and they have a newly furnished tent site."

Campers frequently mention the spaciousness of sites at Yellow Banks County Park, with one review highlighting "large spacious sites with a fire ring and picnic table." Several parks provide access to recreational opportunities, including fishing ponds, river access for boating or kayaking, and hiking trails. Yellow Banks features trails leading to Native American burial mounds, adding historical interest to the outdoor experience. Timberline Campground, with 168 sites operating from April through November, receives high ratings for its facilities. Proximity to Des Moines makes these campgrounds convenient for both weekend getaways and longer stays, with most locations situated within a 30-minute drive of downtown. A camper commented about Yellow Banks, "Nice quiet campground with the Des Moines river close by for fishing or kayaking. Most of the spots are shaded and well maintained."

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Best Camping Sites Near Des Moines, Iowa (111)

    1. Yellow Banks County Park

    15 Reviews
    Pleasant Hill, IA
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (515) 266-1563

    "Nice quiet campground with the Des Moines river close by for fishing or kayaking. Most of the spots are shaded and well maintained. The backpacking area is very nice as well."

    "It’s got access to trails and to the Des Moines river. It’s a great little escape. There is a fishing pond that’s got plenty of bluegill and largemouth bass."

    2. Walnut Woods State Park Campground

    14 Reviews
    West Des Moines, IA
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (515) 285-4502

    $23 - $25 / night

    "We checked out the camping situation for our next visit to Des Moines and decided a park a bit further away was worth a more secluded camping experience."

    "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."

    3. Jester County Park

    30 Reviews
    Granger, IA
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (515) 323-5300

    $20 - $25 / night

    "Stayed at this campground for 3 nights while visiting Des Moines.  We stayed in Loop 1- site 138 because we wanted electrical.  The electrical box has 2 standard household plugs which is nice. "

    "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"

    4. Bob Shelter Recreation Area & Campground

    15 Reviews
    Johnston, IA
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (515) 276-0873

    $22 - $26 / night

    "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."

    "The Des Moines area has a fairly large camping population - because of this, reservations are usually necessary. The area does not have a ton of shade - so be weary in the middle of summer."

    5. Griffs Valley View RV Park

    11 Reviews
    Bondurant, IA
    9 miles
    Website

    $35 - $90 / night

    "Has a cute pond and is adjacent to a bike and running trail. The main lodge has very clean restrooms and showers with hot water! Recommended"

    "There is also a very nice bike trail right outside the park."

    6. Prairie Flower Recreation Area

    17 Reviews
    Polk City, IA
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (515) 984-6925

    $20 - $336 / night

    "This campground is connected to regional bike trails that will take all the way to Des Moines and suburbs."

    "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."

    7. Cherry Glen Campground

    13 Reviews
    Johnston, IA
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (515) 964-8792

    $24 - $26 / night

    "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."

    8. Adventureland Campground

    10 Reviews
    Bondurant, IA
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (515) 265-7384

    "With a theme park on one side and a casino on the other, both in walking distance. It’s more of a park and party place hahaha"

    "Short walk to the amusement park.  We were there for most of the early summer so we got a season pass to the park which included the water park.  They also have workcamper programs."

    9. Timberline Campground

    13 Reviews
    West Des Moines, IA
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (515) 987-1714

    $35 - $80 / night

    "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."

    10. Thomas Mitchell County Park

    11 Reviews
    Mitchellville, IA
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (515) 967-4889

    "Thomas Mitchell park is located outside of Altoona Iowa on 197 acres. There are electric and non electric sites available."

    "The drive into the grounds was a little confusing, but I imagine that in the daylight we would have had an easier time."

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Recent Camping Photos near Des Moines, IA

89 Photos of 111 Des Moines Campgrounds

Recent Reviews near Des Moines, IA

524 Reviews of 111 Des Moines Campgrounds

  • Bethanie S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 14, 2025

    Lenon Mill Park

    Lennon Mills

    Quaint campground situated alongside a dam. Fishing is legal and there were quite a few around while I was there. Besides me, there was one other camper. Three tent sites, the rest are for RVs.

    Each site had a picnic table and fire ring. There was a swing set, shelter, modern bathroom (big enough to fit your bike in), water hydrant, and a few access points to the water.

    Two blocks down, you'll find a historic village. Tickets are only $2 per adult. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to browse because they didn't open until 10.

    Self-check in is well marked with the gigantic yellow tube. They promised WiFi but I was able to attend a meeting in my tent without it (T-Mobile).

    If you wander into town, the market has firewood for $5/bundle, as well as other essentials you can cart back to the site with you.

  • Gillian L.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 12, 2025

    Adventureland Campground

    Nice site

    After some confusion with booking (office hours are until 7pm, confirmation email said 9pm) we were able to get ahold of the operations manager at the park who helped us. Pull through paved 50 amp sites, with water and sewage. Picnic table for use. Within view of Adventureland so it was cool to see the rides lit up at night as we parked. Clean park. Will definitely stop by again when we aren’t just passing through!

  • Kent W.
    Oct. 2, 2025

    Howell Station

    One of our favorites

    This is a really nice campground. It’s run by friendly, helpful people. It’s well maintained, the bathrooms are clean, you’re not packed together like sardines, there’s a nice bike/walking trail around the park and (at least when we’ve visited) bald eagles, blue herons and pelicans line the river. It’s just a little over an hour from us so it’s easy to get to.

    We’re trying parks all over Iowa and Howell has been one of our favorites.

  • Stuart K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 1, 2025

    Newton KOA

    Highway Roadside Campground Oasis

    Following 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 very rural Iowa.

    HIGHLIGHTS: (1) Fairly EZ access from I-80; (2) Incredibly well-manicured campground that is both very clean and well-organized; (3) Despite being next to the highway where we were concerned with errant late-night visitors who had no business being at this CG, there’s excellent security and a feeling of being safe; (4) Superb Midwestern hospitality from the KOA staff and camping community; (5) RV slots offer very nice FHUs and fairly spacious areas; (6) Picnic tables & fire rings are in pretty good condition; (6) If you need anything, there’s a handful of just OK restaurants like Cratty Shack Diner and grocery stores like Hy-Vee and Walmart Supercenter in nearby Newton; (7) Spectacularly clean bathrooms and shower facilities; and (8) Well-stocked catch & release fishing pond

    LOWLIGHTS: (1) You are literally right next to I-80, but the CG sits down below the swooshing traffic, so if you’re not looking, you almost forget that you’re camping next to the busiest highway in Iowa; (2) Lack of privacy between sites as there’s not a ton of trees, bushes or brush on the interior of the CG; (3) Most of the RV slots have no shade, so bring your own awning or shelter; (4) Some sites have very close proximity to their neighbors; (5) Some amenities feel dated and could be replaced and / or refurbished; (6) There’s a fairly nasty industrial park, complete with a junk yard and car mechanic garage with accompanying abandoned cars scattered around the entrance that you’ll have to navigate through before reaching this KOA; (7) This really isn’t a good place for tent camping, unless you can convince the staff to let you set up in the shaded area at the north end of the CG; (8) The pool was shut down for maintenance when we visited

    Happy Camping!

  • DThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 15, 2025

    lakeside casino resort and rv park

    Good for an overnight stop

    This is a casino campground. There are full hookups but no facilities. No trees, sites very close together. It’s essentially a parking lot with hookups.

    It’s adjacent to a truck stop and right off the interstate.

    If you are traveling I35 and it’s convenient for an overnight rest, it’s well worth the cost. Otherwise, unless the casino is your destination, find a more traditional campground

  • SThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 12, 2025

    Winterset City Park

    Peaceful

    Our first time staying here and we extended twice because we like the area so much. It’s been a peaceful two weeks and we love the town of Winterset. The campground has a variety of FHU and or just W& E, also some shared water.

  • Bethanie S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 27, 2025

    Sportsman Park

    Sportsman Park

    Dawson is such a cute little park. I rented a primitive tent site for two nights and it was $20. The self-registration was super simple!

    They say there’s a live-in park employee. I never met him/her, which was a bummer. Theres two cabins, ten electric sights and five primitive, a shelter, a playground with slides and swings, and a bigger building you can reserve. I clocked four water spouts.

    The place was well maintained, people were polite, modern restrooms and showers. Everything was handicap accessible. You can tell the employees put a lot of care into their work. So glad I was able to stay here.

  • BThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 24, 2025

    River Oaks RV Park

    Nice campground. Clean. Well kept.

    We stayed here to go to the Iowa State Fair. It was easy to park here and catch a shuttle to the fair.

Guide to Des Moines

Camping near Des Moines, Iowa, offers a mix of beautiful landscapes and fun activities for everyone. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or an adventure-filled getaway, there are plenty of campgrounds to choose from.

What to do:

  • Hiking and Nature Walks: Explore the scenic trails at Ledges State Park Campground. One visitor mentioned, "The campground is well kept but busy in the summer months with it being a popular hiking destination for Des Moines locals."
  • Fishing and Boating: At Lake Anita State Park Campground, you can enjoy fishing and kayaking. A camper shared, "Great location, good facilities... Plenty of space in tent area - shade and soft grass."
  • Family Activities: Jester County Park has a playground and various recreational options. One family said, "We love it here; people are great, and the price is right."

What campers like:

  • Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate the cleanliness of the restrooms and showers. A visitor at Rock Creek State Park Campground noted, "The campground area is clean. Showers and toilets are clean."
  • Spacious Sites: Many campgrounds offer roomy sites. A review for Yellow Banks County Park highlighted, "Large spacious sites with a fire ring and picnic table."
  • Friendly Hosts: Campers often mention the helpful staff. One reviewer at Des Moines West KOA Holiday said, "Staff is one of the nicest and most helpful we've ever encountered."

What you should know:

  • Limited Cell Service: If you rely on your phone, be prepared for spotty coverage. A camper at Iowa Ledges State Park mentioned, "Cell coverage is terrible out here, and there is no WIFI."
  • Busy During Peak Season: Many campgrounds can get crowded in the summer. A visitor at Lake Ahquabi State Park Campground noted, "It was ran over with loud radios and flashing lights."
  • Reservations Recommended: Popular spots fill up quickly, so it's best to book in advance. A camper at Prairie Flower Recreation Area advised, "You must reserve these sites in advance."

Tips for camping with families:

  • Choose Campgrounds with Amenities: Look for places with playgrounds and clean facilities. One family at Walnut Woods State Park Campground said, "The park was nice and well maintained with walking trails."
  • Plan for Activities: Bring bikes or games to keep kids entertained. A camper at Bob Shelter Recreation Area mentioned, "Clean, level sites, close to fishing."
  • Pack Snacks and Drinks: Having food on hand can make things easier. A visitor at Lake Anita State Park Campground noted, "A bit noisy when I stayed... Overall a good place to stay."

Tips from RVers:

  • Check Site Sizes: Make sure your RV fits the site. A reviewer at Des Moines West KOA Holiday mentioned, "Gravel sites require some leveling."
  • Look for Full Hookups: If you want convenience, choose campgrounds with full hookups. A camper at Rock Creek State Park Campground said, "Some 30 amp and some 50 amp sites."
  • Be Mindful of Noise: Some campgrounds can get loud, especially on weekends. A visitor at Yellow Banks County Park warned, "Other campers warned us not to leave anything out at night because teenagers come through sometimes looking for stuff to steal."

Camping around Des Moines, Iowa, has something for everyone, whether you're a family looking for fun or an RVer seeking a peaceful spot.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where are the best campgrounds near Des Moines, Iowa?

Des Moines offers excellent camping options within a short drive. Ledges State Park Campground is a favorite spot featuring picnic areas, restrooms, and excellent hiking trails through dramatic sandstone formations. For a tranquil experience close to city amenities, Walnut Woods State Park Campground on the southwest side of Des Moines provides a peaceful escape under huge walnut trees while remaining conveniently close to shopping and restaurants. Other noteworthy options include Springbrook State Park (remote yet accessible from Des Moines), Timberline Campground (ideal for travelers passing through), and Nations Bridge Park (green, clean, and featuring frisbee golf). Each offers unique amenities from modern bathhouses to hiking trails, accommodating both tent and RV campers.

How much does camping cost in Des Moines?

Camping costs around Des Moines are generally affordable. At Springbrook State Park Campground, expect to pay around $11-16 per night for non-electric sites and $16-21 for electric sites. More luxurious options like Timberline Campground, which offers excellent facilities in a tranquil location, will cost more for their premium amenities and convenient access to Des Moines. County parks like Thomas Mitchell and Grant Park typically offer more budget-friendly rates, often between $10-20 per night. Some parks also offer discounts for Iowa residents or seniors. Many campgrounds operate on a first-come, first-served basis, though reservation systems are becoming more common, especially during peak season. Additional fees may apply for extra vehicles, dump stations, or specialized amenities.

What river camping options are available near Des Moines?

The Des Moines River offers several excellent camping opportunities. Yellow Banks County Park provides quiet, shaded campsites with direct access to the Des Moines River for fishing and kayaking. The park is well-maintained and includes backpacking areas for more adventurous campers. Bob Shelter Recreation Area & Campground sits next to the Des Moines River with convenient check-in procedures near fill and dump stations, making it ideal for RVers. The peaceful riverside location offers great fishing opportunities while remaining close enough to the city for easy supply runs. Don Williams Park also provides camping with kayaking access to both the park's lake and the nearby Des Moines River. These river campgrounds combine natural settings with the practical advantage of proximity to urban amenities.

When is the best season for camping around Des Moines?

Late spring through early fall (May to October) provides the best camping weather around Des Moines. Pammel County Park is particularly beautiful during this period, with trails showcasing varied terrain and pleasant forests. Summer offers warm temperatures ideal for water activities, though humidity can peak in July and August. For a more peaceful experience with fewer crowds, consider Lenon Mill Park in September when temperatures moderate but amenities remain accessible. Fall camping brings spectacular foliage viewing opportunities, especially in wooded areas like Walnut Woods State Park. While winter camping is possible at parks like Grant Park, which remains accessible year-round, facilities are limited and proper cold-weather gear is essential. Most campgrounds in the region operate seasonally, with water systems typically winterized from November through April.

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