Best Tent Camping near Exira, IA

Recent Tent Reviews near Exira, Iowa

251 Reviews of 5 Exira Campgrounds

• J

  Jessica C.

  Traveler

  

  Aug. 28, 2020

  Arrowhead Park Campground

  Peaceful Serenity

  I arrived just in time to see the beautiful sunset over the small lake near the primitive campground closest to the Park Office. It only cost $10 for tent camping and $3 for a vehicle pass. Campground and vault toilets were pretty clean. There is a fire ring and picnic table at each tent campsite and there are plenty to choose from near the water. You can bring your own kayak or canoe and even fish here. We had a nice encounter from the campground employee who explained how to put the stake out to claim our campsite. Right away, I saw abundant wildlife, including turkey, deer, black squirrels, woodpeckers, geese, ducks and bats. Come prepared for the mosquitoes but overall I would highly recommend this place!

• 

  Abby G.

  Scout

  

  Jul. 8, 2019

  Mormon Trail County Park

  Off the Grid

  Mormon Trail is absolutely beautiful. Myself and some friends tent camped there over the weekend and we were not disappointed! It is a very small state park with only a couple tent sites/camper sites, so it is not over populated. The drive there is easy and beautiful. Big RV’s/campers might have a difficult time getting there as the road turns into a one lane, curvy gravel road. AT&T has absolutely no service there, but US cellular does. No showers/clean bathrooms, just 2 waterless restrooms. The lake has a very large, mostly shallow, swimming area, the water is absolutely perfect, along with a big sandy beach area. You can boat and fish on the lake as well. The stars are also very bright and beautiful (we are from a city with the light pollution hides them). I would highly recommend visiting this campsite if you love off the grid camping and don’t need to shower/primp everyday. What a relaxing/fun weekend we had!

• 

  Sarah H.

  Guide

  

  Aug. 7, 2016

  Arrowhead Park Campground

  Easy Family Camping Near Omaha

  Our family and another family shared a primitive tent site near the back of the park. We were first and foremost impressed with the freedom we had in choosing our site. Tent camping here is non-reservable, but once you enter the park, you may choose from any spots containing a fire pit outside of RV loops. Tent sites range from lake-front, to playground side, to more private sites on the outer rim of the park. We chose a large, private site at the back of the park. This site was well maintained and had enough space to easily accommodate two families of four. We even had a picnic shelter all to ourselves. Our site was lined by woods and farmland and had a good view of a small pond. The night was full of exciting animal noises from both the nearby farm and pond. Vault toilets were a short walk away with clean shower facilities just a few loops away. The kids enjoyed riding bikes up and down gravel roads, looking for frogs, and playing on the playground. Canoe and paddle boat rental is extremely reasonable. Hiking trails near the park entrance are rugged. The staff was incredibly kind and easy-going, yet attentive. Just a short drive from neighboring towns, this is a good starter campground for families with younger kids. We hope to return in winter to check out the camping cabins.

• 

  Matt S.

  Legend

  

  Jul. 15, 2017

  Three Mile Lake Recreation Area

  Three Mile Rec Area is clean and beautiful

  I have to say, of all of the campgrounds and parks that I have visited in southern Iowa near highway 34, Three Mile is the best.

  This park is clean with nice amenities and a beautiful lake. During the week you can almost have the place to yourself... it is a different story on the weekends.

  You can tent camp or pull your camper and just enjoy the setting. If you don't like to tent camp and don't have a camper, don't worry, there are several cabins for rent.

  There are showers and bathrooms and an awesome playground for the younger kids.

  I am definitely adding this to my list for regular stays with my family.

• 

  Tarrah C.

  Legend

  

  Jul. 13, 2022

  Viking Lake State Park Campground

  Nice stay

  The tent sites are small and depending on your location you may have to haul your stuff to your site. The hiking was nice only 5 miles though.

• J

  Jenn P.

  Guide

  

  Aug. 9, 2022

  Arrowhead Park Campground

  Great campground

  The people who run this campground are really nice! There are really none camping and only 10 dollars a night with electricity for a tent site. Showers and large campsites.

• 

  Andrew B.

  Scout

  

  Jul. 6, 2018

  Arrowhead Park Campground

  Love this place

  I like that you can tent camp anywhere in the Camp area down by the lake with all your friends close by. the trails and playground equipment is nice and the fishing is great! Great Lake for kayaks or canoes as well.

• M

  Mary H.

  Scout

  

  Jun. 18, 2019

  Lake Anita State Park Campground

  Great State Park

  just camped here, what a nice park. Great little beach, clean water, good for kayaking. Nice paved trail around the park. Wooded, shady at tent sites, quiet and clean. Friepits with grates for cooking.

• H

  Heather F.

  Scout

  

  Jun. 15, 2019

  Lake Anita State Park Campground

  Perfect stay!

  A one night stay at a beautiful park! Tent camped next to really nice college kids. The paved trail offered great views of the lake! Brought the pup and he was happy and very context. Park was very well maintained - there will be a return trip to this gem!

• 

  Ashley L.

  Guide

  

  Oct. 3, 2021

  Arrowhead Park Campground

  Great Campground Close to Home

  One of our favorite places to camp when we don't want to go too far from home. We've RV camped there several times and I plan on doing some tent camping there as well. Nice little hiking trails and a fun Geocache find (if you're into that sort of thing). Great prices!

• a

  alex R.

  Scout

  

  Jun. 15, 2024

  Arrowhead Park Pottawattamie County Park

  Perfect getaway

  Perfect place to get away for the weekend. Grounds are clean bathrooms are clean. Shout out to Dave the park ranger for being very generous. We drove from Davenport to stay here for Father’s Day weekend and we will definitely be back. You also can tent camp right next to the water as well. Love it!

• M

  Megan M.

  Guide

  

  May. 9, 2021

  Springbrook State Park Campground

  Worth a stay!

  We've tent camped twice at Springbrook, and though it's not perfect, it's a nice campground we plan to keep coming back to for a number of reasons.

  Pros:

  -Not a far drive from Des Moines, but still quite remote

  -Lots of nice hiking trails

  -Easy access to large, mostly clean modern bathrooms

  -The lake is a peaceful spot to spend the early mornings, a nice place to fish (but don't expect to catch anything) and its beach is fun on the hot summer days, and tends to not be too busy. Has lots of benches around to sit and enjoy the view.

  -No cell reception, which could be a "con" but we like that it forces us to unplug

  Cons:

  -Tent camping spots are clustered mainly in the middle of a loop, which feels a bit like a fishbowl with no privacy

  -It's mainly an RV/camper campground, which can be loud/rowdy at night for tent campers. Lots of parties happening the two weekends we were there. Definitely don't recommend if you want a peaceful weekend away from the world.

  -Other than hiking and a bit of swimming/fishing, there's not much to do

  -Firewood is a short drive from the campground, which can get inconvenient

• 

  Nicole G.

  Traveler

  

  Jul. 8, 2018

  Lake Anita State Park Campground

  Nicely maintained campground with great views of the lake!

  This campground has both RV full hookup and electric sites very close to the lake. Campsites offer a great view of lake and close access to docks. There is an adjacent area with non- electric sites that would work for tent campIng. All sites have firepots and picnic tables. The lake is great for fishing or kayaking and there is also a beach with swimming. Bring your bikes to ride on a paved trail that goes all the way around the lake. Very clean and quiet campground!

• 

  Laura B.

  Guide

  

  Jul. 3, 2018

  Lake Anita State Park Campground

  Good state park

  This is a decent state park campground but is always full. It has tent sites separated from the trailer sites. There is a park and on saturdays during the summer they do Disney movies and free popcorn. The lake is good for fishing. They have a beach and volleyball. There is also a biking trail they goes around the lake. It is close to town so if you need anything that is helpful.

• 

  Nicole B.

  Guide

  

  Jan. 23, 2022

  Lake Icaria Co Park

  Easily my favorite spot

  This is a very clean, lovely camp ground. The spots are spacious, and there are tons of options. In the fall we went and had no neighbors. It’s busy in summer, but well kept. They had people cleaning the bathrooms constantly (my mom kept pointing out, in awe, that it was “practically hourly”) which was great for tent camping with a large group! It’s quiet, beautiful lake, great boating, great swim spot, fun park for kids. Beautiful trees and hiking especially in the fall.

• 

  Robert B.

  Scout

  

  Jun. 20, 2021

  Arrowhead Park Campground

  Great nature, fishing, and camping park.

  Arrowhead campground has 60 RV sites that support both 30 and 50 amp hookups. They have several well water stations to take on water and a sewer dump station. There also lots of tent camping sites. All sites come with picnic table and fire ring. There are numerous nature trails to hike ranging from easy to hard. There is also a nice sized lake for fishing, canoeing, and paddle boats. The lake has a boat ram for small fishing boats. Very well maintained, managed, and friendly atmosphere.

• E

  E H.

  Scout

  

  Jun. 17, 2019

  Lake Anita State Park Campground

  Great Find!

  This is hands down one of the best campgrounds we’ve been to in the U.S. Everything is beautifully maintained from the grass covered campsites to the clean bathrooms and free showers. Full hookup and tent campsites are plentiful with or without reservations. Beautiful lake, great walking trail, close to town and I-80, but quiet and peaceful. Can’t beat it for $11 a night.

• 

  Matt S.

  Legend

  

  Oct. 1, 2016

  Lake Anita State Park Campground

  Lake Anita State Park surprised me

  Lake Anita State Park is just a few miles off of Interstate 80. When I decided to go to Lake Anita I had very low expectations, it surprised me.

  Lake Anita has boating and fishing as its main attraction. If you like birds there are bird houses built all around the park. The lake is beautiful and the campground is built all around the lake with great views.

  The tent camping is placed away from the RVs/camper trailers and everything is well kept. I highly recommend Lake Anita State Park for the relaxing environment and the easy access from the interstate.

• 

  Nicole D.

  Traveler

  

  Jun. 3, 2020

  Arrowhead Park Campground

  Great overnight campground

  Stayed here for one night while on a road trip. Not a bad place to stop for the night, we were able to take the dogs hiking and didn’t have a problem. The tent sites are open but they aren’t on top of each other, the RV sites seemed close together but we only walked by it so I can’t say for sure. Everyone was super friendly and we didn’t have any issues even though it was a very busy weekend, would definitely recommend this place!

• 

  Jim H.

  Ranger

  

  Oct. 8, 2018

  Green Valley State Park Campground

  Nice, clean campground

  Campsite was pretty packed on a Saturday night in late September. We didn't have a reservation but was able to get one of the last tent sites available. Nice spot, fire pits have nice swinging grates on them. There was a picnic table at our spot as well. Great view of the lake from here. We were in Campsite 092. Only drawback is that there must be a cow farm somewhere to the south as you will hear cows mooing all night at this campground.

• 

  Doug W.

  Ranger

  

  May. 2, 2021

  Pottawattamie County Fairgrounds

  A hidden gem.

  Just 2 miles south of I80 but a world apart. This is a great stop if traveling I80. It is a bargain at $20 for full hookups. They have tent sites also.

  The park is clean and clearly under utilized as there were only 3 of us in a park with more than 40 sites.

  It is very quiet, right in small town America. I saw two tractors driving through town and only a few more cars.

  Best of all we had a full 5 bars of ripping Verizon service. What's not to like?

• 

  Sarah H.

  Guide

  

  Aug. 2, 2016

  Prairie Rose State Park Campground

  Traditional Prairie Camping

  Our family of four tent camped one night at an electric lake front site. Sites are close together, but we had no neighbors so we had our privacy. The outhouse style bathroom was clean, but flies were abundant. The grounds were well maintained and DNR staff was very helpful. They even helped us with a small bike repair. The kids enjoyed biking and swimming. The whole family enjoyed prairie wildlife such as a blue heron, geese, bald eagles, frogs etc. The hiking trails were well cut out and offered views of the lake, woods, and natural prairie. Showers, no wake boating, and fishing were also available. We would have been happy to stay a few more days!

• 

  madeleine B.

  Guide

  

  Sep. 5, 2020

  Arrowhead Park Campground

  lively this labor day weekend!

  so glad to get off the road! and it is a sweet spot and affordable. it’s full with lively folks who are seeming not to take covid-19 too seriously. but we are outdoors, so hearing the happy sounds of family and friends, over decent country music feels like a balm tonight.

  this morning i see what the 5 star reviews are about — the tent camping and the setting. just day use getting off the road for a rest or picnic, this is a 5-star recommend.

  also, ideal for kids, fishing, and combination of the two.

  why 4 stars? many rv sites like the one i got are right up next to each other. people take the entire site with rugs, dogs, tents, you name it. so zero privacy, zero peace and quiet.

• B

  B S.

  Traveler

  

  Mar. 14, 2022

  Arrowhead Park Campground

  Quite a night!

  Stayed here for one night on a cross country trip the Monday before Labor Day. RV sites were fairly full already. We arrived early afternoon and opted to cook dinner at our tent site before setting up camp for the night. Good idea since the nearest day-use picnic shelter was occupied by a rather loud drunk couple who kept shouting at us they were leaving soon—they did leave once but only to buy more liquor! We packed it in and found a more secluded site. A huge storm rolled through the area and we ended up sleeping in our van. Really appreciated the clean shower house (single occupancy/locking) with plenty of hot water!   Would like to come back and spend more time.

• S

  Staci I.

  Guide

  

  Apr. 21, 2021

  Lenon Mill Park

  River View!

  We settled into one electrical site and one tent site for our adventure. The tent section offers fairly large sites, and views of the river. Our electrical site was decent size and the"backyard" was right up to the river bank. We anticipated some rain so we set up a screen tent for shelter right along the river to enjoy the view while we waited out the rain. Electricity at these sites appears to be brand new. The dirt work that was done to accomplish this had not yet been smoothed out, so making sure your area is lit to avoid tripping and ankle sprains is essential. As it turns out we camped on the same weekend of a large group's annual camp out at this location. 2nd weekend in April every year. Several families with RVs, and while they were great neighbors, we came to understand the site we were in is usually a part of their group. There are no reservations at this campground, so setting up early is the only way to assure you have the site you want. The facility has running water by mid April, no shower, but a single flushing toilet and sink, no soap. The campground does not have a trash can or dumpster on site at all, so you must pack everything out. Really good stay

• 

  RN P.

  Scout

  

  Oct. 21, 2023

  Swan Lake State Park Campground

  Perfect

  Tented camped in late October, the weekend before closing.  I was only tent camper in the electric only sites.  If there was a tent only location, I didn't see it.  Those in campers that need water and electricity are regulated to gravel 'parking lot' sites.

  Beautiful park with playgrounds, swim beach, fisbee golf, paved trail, many fishing bars, and more.  

  Electric only sites are small and spaced out well.  Most have level drive perfect for sm camper or suv camping. Grass has slope, but I think you can find a good enough place for tent, I did.  Bathroom clean enough, I didn't use showers. I enjoyed the privacy of lake-front site J.

• M

  Megan M.

  Guide

  

  May. 9, 2021

  Prairie Rose State Park Campground

  Gorgeous in the fall!

  We stayed during the campground's last weekend in October, and loved it. It was so gorgeous with all the fall colors, and it's really a gem of a campground.

  Pros:

  -Beautiful, huge lake with lots of pretty views

  -Primitive spots are separated from electric spots, which is great if you're looking for quiet, peaceful tent camping

  -Primitive spots are relatively private and generously sized, you don't feel like you're right on top of your neighbors

  -Decent portapotty in close distance

  -Plenty of picnic spots

  -Electric spots are right along the lake, which offers beautiful views

  -On-site firewood

  Cons:

  -Full modern bathrooms are a long walk/drive away

  -Not much for activities

  -Water hydrants are right in the middle of people's camping spots, so it feels awkward to grab water

  -The only hiking trail is EXTREMELY poorly marked and when it ends (it doesn't tell you it's ending) you either have to just turn around or walk a mile along the busy highway with very small shoulder. We mistakenly took the highway expecting the trail to continue, but it didn't and it was very scary, 0/10 don't recommend.

  -Not many walk-in spots

  -Lots of primitive spots are on a hill, so your tent is a little sideways

  -Not many dumpsters

  -No lights in the portapotty, so you'll need a headlamp at night

  EDITED TO ADD: We stayed again in May, and it was a great place to spend a weekend. Quiet, friendly but not a party crowd, and a nice, relaxing environment overall. Word on the streets (from the DNR warden) is that they’re looking into creating 2 more hiking trails too.