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Best Tent Camping near Dubuque, IA

558 Reviews

Tent campgrounds around Dubuque, Iowa range from primitive riverside sites to established woodland areas with basic amenities. Buzzard Ridge Wildlife Area offers hike-in and walk-in tent sites along the Maquoketa River, while Joinerville County Park provides primitive tent camping by permit application. Worthington Sportsman's Club, though members-only, features secluded tent sites near a fishing pond.

Most tent sites in the area have minimal amenities, with many operating on a pack-in, pack-out basis. Buzzard Ridge provides pit toilets but no drinking water, requiring campers to bring their own supply. Fire rings are available at several locations including Wakpicada Natural Area, though seasonal fire restrictions may apply depending on conditions. Campsites typically offer uneven, natural surfaces with limited site preparation. According to one visitor at Buzzard Ridge, the site "has a table, fire ring, and latrine" but requires following Leave No Trace principles.

Tent camping experiences in this region offer genuine seclusion and natural settings. Areas like Wakpicada Natural Area provide good tree cover for shade during hot weather and campsites positioned near water for fishing opportunities. A reviewer noted that Wakpicada has "good tree cover" and "campsites right next to the pond" that "aren't right next to each other," creating a quieter experience. The Maquoketa River access points at several campgrounds allow for paddling opportunities combined with tent camping. For backpackers seeking more extensive hiking options, Governor Dodge State Park in nearby Wisconsin offers backpack-specific campsites with tent pads reached via half-mile to mile-long trails from the parking areas.

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Best Tent Sites Near Dubuque, Iowa (13)

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Showing results 1-10 of 13 campgrounds

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Dubuque, IA

4 Photos of 13 Dubuque Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Dubuque, IA

558 Reviews of 13 Dubuque Campgrounds

  • James M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 16, 2022

    Buzzard Ridge Wildlife Area

    Unique County wildlife site along Maquoketa River

    Unique hike or paddle primitive site. Native forbs and wildlife surrounding the area. Two parking sites to hike in or access by river. Site is along river, has table, fire ring, latrine. Pack in, pack out and Leave No Trace.

  • C
    Jun. 6, 2018

    Matsell Bridge Natural Area

    Nice little inexpensive primitive site... spaces almost always available

    Nice quiet little primitive campground next to the Wapsipinicon River. Unfortunately, when I was there the last weekend of May, the gnats were bad, and the mosquitoes were just starting to gear up. HOWEVER, take bug spray and enjoy the rustic peacefulness of this "best kept secret" for primitive and inexpensive camping sites. Beautiful location, ranger close by, wood for sale just across the bridge, fire pits and picnic tables at every site. Good for RV, trailer or tent camping… level ground and lots of shade. Primitive bathrooms, no showers or running water.

  • Alex H.
    Sep. 26, 2022

    Yellowstone Lake State Park Campground

    No Flat Spots

    Very nice park. Well marked and maintained trails. A large lake with boat launch and beach area. Separate pet area.

    We spent the weekend at site 101, which is a tent site. I wouldn't recommend this site. based on a quick walkaround, it seemed a bit smaller than other sites. That's not really a deal-breaker, but it didn't really have any flat spots to pitch the tent. We ended up pitching it up on the parking area, but it was still a bit slanted and we could feel the tire divot a little through the air mattresses. Aside from that, it was great. The site had a picnic table and fire ring that we used a lot. It was secluded from the surrounding sites.

    We hiked the Windy Ridge trail and the Prairie Loop trail. both were well maintained and enjoyable trails. We also spent some time on the beach.

  • Sarah B.
    Jul. 19, 2024

    Yellowstone Lake State Park Campground

    Def do not recommend for summer 2024!

    I wanted so badly to love this campground experience, but just didn't. Site 19 was an easy walk-in that theoretically had nearby vault toilets, parking, and water.

    Each site only had space for one car to park before walking in. Not a huge deal, but annoying as there were 2 of us who drove separate and we had to problem solve. When we got to the site I was shocked to see that what was labeled as a tent site had literally NO flat space to actually set up a tent. Spacious site, but fully sloped.

    Also, what I would have loved to know, is that the vault toilets are closed because they are doing construction to build something new in that space. Construction that starts loudly each day at 7am. Honestly every site from about #35 down was affected by the noise because the construction is happening in the middle of the loop (and actually blocking some of the one-way road as well).

    The park in general was okay. Per the usual, the pet areas were lacking. No beach at all, just grass covered in goose poop and one cut out on the raised shore between tall grasses and foliage where a dog could potentially jump in. Certainly nowhere for a human to enjoy the water with their pups unfortunately.

  • D
    Jun. 11, 2022

    Mud Lake County Park

    Beautiful park on Miss River. Great value

    Mud Lake is a wonderful county park near Dubuque. Beautiful views of the Mississippi River. We stayed one night on our way to Minnesota. The sites are mostly sunny. The park streets are gravel with gravel sites. The park is quiet except for the occasional train from the nearby tracks. Great value for $21. Electric and water hookups. Marina and boathouse next door.

    Stayed in campsite #35 which has no shade. It was a gravel site which shares a pull-through with site 36. There was more than enough parking for my TT and truck and grass on either side. The site included: picnic table and fire ring. Utilities were located in the rear. 20A/50A electric and water. Site was level. Neighbors were nearby.

    AT&T had 2 bars of LTE and Verizon 2 bars of LTE service. AT&T Speedtest: 47 Mbps down, 1.3 Mbps up. Verizon data VERY SLOW. No WiFi.

    Would stay here again. We camped at Mud Lake Park in a Travel Trailer.

  • Lee D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jan. 30, 2025

    New Wine Park Dubuque County Park

    Nice small county park campground

    General: This is a small (29-site) county park campground situated along the North Fork Maquoketa River. Nine of the sites are reservable, and the rest are first-come, first-served. Some sites are primitive, and some have water and 30-amp electricity hookups. There is one ADA-accessible site with a paved camper pad. 

    Site Quality: Most sites are level. The camper pads are gravel/grass, but not all are clearly defined. Each site has a picnic table and a fire ring. 

    Bath/Shower: The bath/shower house was closed when we were there in November but there are vault toilets about a quarter mile from the campground (in the day-use area) that were very clean and well-stocked when we were there. 

    Activities/Amenities: Many activities including disc golf, three hiking trails, volleyball, two playgrounds (one in the day-use area and one by the campsites). There are two reservable picnic shelters. There is also a dump station. 

    We were tent camping in November on a backpacking trip so we didn’t take advantage of any of the activities but would return in our van on a future camping trip. We were the ONLY ones in the campground at this time of year!

  • James M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 5, 2021

    Swiss Valley County Park

    Great County park, preserve, campground

    Campground is well maintained, restrooms, showers, recycling station, fire wood available, campground host onsite, resident park ranger, standard RV sites, some electric tent sites otherwise primitive with fire rings and tables. Trout stream (Catfish Creek) runs through campground and park and is stocked by Iowa DNR, has Swiss Valley Nature center with trails.

  • Annie C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 31, 2019

    Fountain Springs County Park

    Solitude and not much else

    This campground also goes by the name of Holbert. Small campground but free with a handful of picnic tables and campfires. The vault toilets were cleanish, thou older. This campground is next to a pretty little creek that you can play and fish in. The campground is really just a series of campsites strung out along the creek and road. It was pretty quiet while I was there, not many campers at all. There are no hookups for RV’s/campers so it is primarily tent camping or dry camping. There is an interesting story about how this camping area has come to be: the land was donated by Ella Ellis in memory of her husband William Ellis. They apparently loved the land and wanted to make sure it was never developed and could be enjoyed by all. A lovely story.

  • James M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 28, 2024

    Sherman Co Park

    Scenic County park along Wapsipinicon River

    The campground offers to camp areas: one better suited for RVs, and the other area is better suited for primitive tent, camping. Sites have picnic tables and fire rings, our recites include electric. There is a campground host, shower house, shelter and playground area there too. The tent sites are prone to flooding occasionally from the gun river. There is a boat ramp with access to the river for fishing and paddling.

Guide to Dubuque

Tent camping near Dubuque, Iowa, offers a blend of serene natural beauty and outdoor adventure, perfect for those looking to escape the hustle and bustle of city life.

Tips for Tent Camping Near Dubuque

  • For a secluded experience, consider the Worthington Sportsman's Club - Members Only, where you can enjoy peaceful camping spots surrounded by nature.
  • Be prepared for primitive conditions at Buzzard Ridge Wildlife Area, which offers a unique hiking or paddling experience along the Maquoketa River.
  • If you're looking for a more social atmosphere, Jungletown Ridge provides a clothing-optional environment with spacious sites and a welcoming vibe.

Local Activities for Tent Campers

Unique Local Attractions

  • Experience the tranquility of Joinerville County Park, where you can enjoy primitive camping along the Maquoketa River with access to beautiful wooded areas.
  • For a more rustic experience, visit Buffalo Creek Area, which offers basic amenities and a chance to connect with nature.
  • Discover the charm of Blackhawk Memorial Park, a peaceful spot perfect for those looking to unwind and enjoy the outdoors without the distractions of modern life.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Dubuque, IA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Dubuque, IA is Worthington Sportsman's Club - Members Only with a 5-star rating from 1 review.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Dubuque, IA?

TheDyrt.com has all 13 tent camping locations near Dubuque, IA, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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