Camping opportunities near Edgewood, Iowa include several rustic options within a 30-mile radius. The region sits in the rolling hills of northeastern Iowa, with elevations ranging from 800 to 1,200 feet and four distinct seasons. Summer temperatures typically reach 75-85°F while winter camping conditions can drop below freezing with occasional snow accumulation between December and March.
What to do
Trout fishing: fish the stocked creek at Fountain Springs County Park, a free primitive camping area. "I have been coming to Fountain Spring for the trout fishing for years. The stream offers good trout fishing. It is stocked regularly with rainbow trout," notes Kerry M.
Cave exploration: visit the natural cave at Backbone State Park for underground adventure. "There is a variety of things to do here. You can rent cabins, shelters, tent and RV camp, hike the trails especially the 'Backbone', explore the cave, fish trout streams, visit fish hatchery," explains Diane A.
Family water activities: paddle on multiple waterways including rivers and small lakes. Backbone State Park offers diverse water recreation options. "You can take your canoe out on the lake or hit some of the hiking trails," states Matt S. who calls it "one of the best in Iowa."
Wildlife watching: look for native species in early morning or evening hours. "Usually, I hear (or see) turkeys and woodpeckers. Other camp visitors include whitetail deer, squirrels, raccoons, and the occasional skunk," shares Kerry M. about their experiences at Fountain Springs.
What campers like
Easy Interstate access: convenient overnight stops for travelers passing through eastern Iowa. Rustic Barn Campground RV Park is "a wonderful location for just relaxing or doing things in Dubuque. Great place for overnight or extended stay," according to Christian F.
Clean facilities: well-maintained bathhouses throughout the camping areas. "Shower house was immaculate with large hard stalled showers/changing room," notes Chris S. about Rustic Barn Campground. Similarly, Molly L. confirms "Nice sites. Bathrooms clean!" at Backbone State Park.
Fall foliage viewing: colorful autumn landscapes particularly in October. "We went camping at Backbone for a friend's wedding that was taking place at the park's lodge. While most of the wedding guests stayed in town, we opted to camp, during October. It was gorgeous!" shares Larissa C.
Recreational variety: multiple activity options beyond standard camping amenities. Beyonder Getaway at Lazy Acres impresses with "Mini golf, basketball, paddleboat on a small pond, horseshoes, and plenty of swings and playscapes for kids," according to Ben P.
What you should know
Off-season camping: reduced crowds during weekdays and non-summer months. Matt S. advises about Backbone State Park: "If you want it to be quiet and prefer less crowds but you still want to enjoy the park, I highly suggest taking some time off of work during the week and avoiding the weekend."
Limited phone service: patchy connectivity in more remote camping areas. At Fountain Springs County Park, Tammie C. reports, "Very primitive, all I could do was text from my AT&T phone... You'll want a hard copy of your directions if you stay the night."
Seasonal water warnings: lake water quality can vary throughout summer. "Lakewater often unsafe for swimming. To the extent the beach had weeds growing on it," cautions Cheryl V. about conditions at Backbone State Park.
Campground policies: varying rules between private and public rv parks near Edgewood, Iowa. Some locations maintain strict guidelines - one camper noted at Lakeshore RV Resort and Campground, "Extremely strict rules. Stayed twice and not impressed either time."
Tips for camping with families
Activity planning: schedule options for various ages at family-oriented campgrounds. "This campground has a lot of fun activities... Some weekly activities include canoeing, tubing down the Turkey River, swimming, fishing and paddle boats in the Lake, a splash pad for kids," reports Lourene M. about Skip-A-Way Resort.
Child-specific amenities: dedicated play areas for younger campers. Beyonder Getaway is described as "Great for kids" with David W. mentioning "Great owners, loads of stuff for kids (putt putt, paddle boats, horseshoes, basketball, Gaga, trampoline, playground)."
Educational opportunities: incorporate learning activities while camping in northeast Iowa. The Osborne Conservation Center provides nature education opportunities, while Backbone State Park allows children to experience Iowa's oldest state park with its natural history and geological features.
Group camping: scout-friendly locations for organized youth outings. Rachel H. shares, "I went with a group of entering sixth grade Girl Scouts on a weekend tent camping trip to [Backbone State Park]. The campsites were simple to access and the grounds were easy to navigate."
Tips from RVers
RV site selection: compare pad materials when booking at Edgewood area rv parks. Chris S. notes about Rustic Barn Campground, "Some sites had a patio and decent-sized picnic table... All had gravel driveways and looked level. Decent separation between sites."
Road noise considerations: highway proximity affects some camping locations. Ben P. describes Beyonder Getaway as a "Great clean campground" but David W. mentions it's "Near the highway so it has truck noise." Similarly, at Rustic Barn, Thomas R. notes: "Only drawback was a little highway noise when the wind was out of the south."
Leveling requirements: terrain variations can affect RV setup. At Rustic Barn, one camper mentions, "Unfortunately our site 26 seemed to be the most in level, which was our only negative. We had to use all our blocks to get us as level as possible."
Full hookup availability: consistent connections at most private rv parks in the Edgewood area. Stephanie S. appreciates that "All sites are full hookup!" at Rustic Barn Campground, while Lil' Bit of Country RV Park provides dedicated RV camping with complete utility connections.
