17 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Tent camping options around Eldora, Iowa include several established campgrounds with varying amenities in Grundy, Marshall, and Jasper counties. Ashton Wildwood Park offers spacious tent sites nestled in wooded areas, while Roadman Roadside Park provides a simpler camping experience with grassy tent sites near a small pond.
Most tent sites in the region offer basic amenities with few luxury features. Roadman Roadside Park provides flush toilets but lacks showers, while Ashton Wildwood Park has pit toilets at the campground with flush toilets and a shower available at the nearby observatory. Sites typically include picnic tables and fire rings, though some areas like Stoehr Fishing Area prohibit campfires. Campers should bring sufficient water as availability varies between locations. Tent sites at Ashton Wildwood Park cost approximately $7 per night with a 24-hour limit at locations like Stoehr Fishing Area.
The tent camping experience in this region provides good value and natural settings. Ashton Wildwood Park features spacious sites tucked into wooded areas offering privacy and a natural setting. The park includes hiking trails, play equipment for children, and even an observatory that opens on Saturday evenings. According to one visitor, "The sites are very spacious, could easily accommodate multiple tents." Roadman Roadside Park offers a quieter experience in a "lovely setting with trees and a small lake/pond." For fishing enthusiasts, Stoehr Fishing Area permits overnight tent camping with excellent shore fishing for black bass and bluegill, though camping is limited to 24 hours and lacks designated fire pits.
"I stopped by the Octagonal shelter at the south entrance of the park. This is a large shelter house with a fireplace in the middle of the building with several picnic tables. "
"Set up across the road from the Accessible Porta-potty. There is a nice playground for kids, and a couple of shelter houses."
"The location is sitting right along the river where I saw several people fishing. There’s also a small playground, which is a nice touch for families."
from $10 / night
Check Availability"It worked out well as I was tired of driving. There isn’t much to this place, which might be why I had the whole place to myself."
"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."
"Great place especially if you know people around love the fact u can have electricity with your tent and they have showers"
LegendVery nice state park campground. There are cabins as well as campsites. The park is adjacent to Pine Lake and water based recreation is available including swimming beach and boating. The campground is off a paved road and is near to town. There is a walking path to the boat launch from the campground. Biking/hiking trails are on property.
LegendSmall park with basic amenities along the river. There is a big event center at the entrance and keep going back and the campground is there along the river. This would be a great area for paddling the river. Seemed pretty quite and spaces are moderately spread out. There is a rifle range on the property if that interests you (negatively or positively- there is a photo of the rules in my review). No shooting while I was there.
LegendCute park in Rockwell Iowa. There is a south campground too, but that was blocked off when I was there. There is a public golf course and aquatic center just a few hundred feet from the campground. The campground is on the edge of town. There a a river running between the south campground and the main campground with a footbridge over the river. Dump station present. Playground for kids. There are sites along the river edge.
LegendThe campground here is no longer available… however, several hundred yards down the country road, there is a campground (looks to be the same system, called Robinson park)
LegendCute small park/campground in Iowa farm country. Inexpensive and quaint. Has a small creek nearby. Kids play area too. Basic amenities.
LegendWe came here for a visit and we’re going to stay but the online reservation system was difficult for us with Canadian coverage in cell phones.
We carried on to black hawk instead as they had easier first come first serve but this place was much nicer.
The sites were large and mostly private. It did seem a bit “wet”
We even saw a deer
LegendI edit my review - the gun range next door is obnoxious. Why would they have that next to a park with walking trails ?
Big enough for big rvs, big sites Showers Water Hydro Quiet $18 for unserved $30 for serviced
TravelerOnly stayed one night but very convenient location and registration.
Legend9-14-26 Timberline East RV Campground, I do not think this is a KOA anymore. Tent site T1 & 2 was level and on grass with table and fire ring. checked in at 7pm, overcast, Molly was great at the check in, offered a 10% Veteran discount. $34 for the night. We only stayed one night. Showers and bathrooms were decent. T-Mobile was 5G 4 bars. Rained all night, you can hear the noise from the highway but you drown it out.
Tent camping near Eldora, Iowa concentrates around several small parks and wildlife areas in Grundy, Marshall, and Jasper counties. Campsites in this central Iowa region typically range from 600-950 feet in elevation with terrain characterized by rolling hills, small lakes, and mixed hardwood forests. Summer temperatures average 75-85°F with humidity often exceeding 70%, making spring and fall the most comfortable camping seasons.
Stargazing at the observatory: Ashton Wildwood Park features an observatory open Saturday evenings (except the first Saturday of each month). Local astronomers demonstrate telescope operation and provide guided tours of the night sky. As one camper noted, "The observatory that's open on Saturday's was awesome and the astronomers were great people and very knowledgeable. They showed how their telescopes worked and took us a tour of the building and classroom."
Fishing opportunities: Stoehr Fishing Area provides shore fishing access to two small ponds with diverse catch options. According to a regular visitor, "It has excellent shore fishing on the two ponds. The main species are black bass and bluegill, however I did catch a northern pike once. There are grass carp as well."
Orienteering course: Ashton Wildwood Park maintains an orienteering course through the woodland areas. A visitor explains, "There is also a orienteering course but you have to walk in the woods to finish it." The course provides a family-friendly navigation challenge through varied terrain.
Spacious, private sites: Ashton Wildwood Park offers generous tent sites set back in wooded areas. A camper observed, "The sites are very spacious, could easily accommodate multiple tents... Most of the sites are tucked into the woods." This natural setting provides better privacy than many other campgrounds in the region.
Budget-friendly options: Most tent camping in the area remains affordable. One camper highlighted the value at Ashton Wildwood Park: "It's only $7/night! There is some play equipment for children." Several locations, including Stoehr Fishing Area, offer free camping with 24-hour stay limits.
Wildlife viewing: Big Wall Lake Wildlife Management Area provides opportunities for waterfowl observation, particularly during migration seasons. The area attracts duck hunters but also appeals to birdwatchers. At Stoehr Fishing Area, campers can "enjoy the sound of pheasants and song birds in this area. It is not heavily wooded, but there are oaks, walnuts, and buckeye trees as well as a variety of aquatic plants."
Limited facilities: Most tent sites offer minimal amenities. At Roadman Roadside Park, a camper explains, "There isn't much to this place, which might be why I had the whole place to myself. It's quiet, set in a lovely setting with trees and a small lake/pond, and it has flush toilets (but no showers)."
Campfire restrictions: Several areas prohibit open fires. Stoehr Fishing Area explicitly bans campfires with "no fire pit - campfires are not allowed." Campers should verify fire regulations at each location before arrival.
Water availability varies: Many locations lack reliable drinking water. One Ashton Wildwood visitor advises, "The bathroom at the campground doesn't have plumbing and no water available so make sure to bring plenty of water." For water access at Ashton Wildwood, "Drive up the road to the observatory and there is a bathroom with flush toilets and a hot shower, also a water spigot on the back side."
Playground access: Twin Anchors Campground offers play areas for children, though supervision is recommended. One visitor mentioned, "They have a small petting zoo and a small beach." However, another camper cautioned about evening noise: "We r camping by the playground and there's about 10 children at the playground with no adults."
Short hiking options: Ashton Wildwood Park features accessible trails suitable for children. A regular visitor notes, "There is a nice little circle hike that's not too difficult and was great for rehab after my knee replacement." Another mentions trails leading to wildlife viewing areas: "One goes to a creek and a bird watching station."
Novice-friendly camping: Ashton Wildwood Park's proximity to local communities makes it ideal for beginning campers. One local shares, "I live just 7 miles away, but I love to take my grand daughter here for overnight camping." The combination of spacious sites, play equipment, and well-maintained facilities suits families new to tent camping.
Limited hookup options: Most locations near Eldora primarily accommodate tent camping with few RV amenities. At Bessman-Kemp Park, electric hookups (30-amp) are available but without water connections, making it suitable only for self-contained units or short stays.
Parking considerations: Roadman Roadside Park has restrictions for larger vehicles. A visitor noted, "There are no hookups of any kind for RVs and I'm not really sure you can have an RV anywhere but in the gravel parking lot."
Seasonal occupancy patterns: Twin Anchors Campground operates year-round but has a residential character during peak season. One camper observed, "This place feels more like a neighborhood verses camping in nature. Most people use this as a 'summer home'."
Frequently Asked Questions
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According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Eldora, IA is Reece Park with a 4-star rating from 1 review.
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