Farmington, Iowa offers camping options along the Des Moines River valley in Van Buren County, where wooded hills and limestone bluffs create natural boundaries for campgrounds. Weather conditions feature hot, humid summers with occasional thunderstorms and mild spring and fall seasons ideal for outdoor activities. The area's campgrounds typically sit at elevations between 550-700 feet above sea level with local terrain that creates varied microclimates across camping areas.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: At Indian Lake Park, anglers can enjoy a clean lake with good catch rates. "The lake is clean they also have a dump station," reports Mary F., who visits multiple times annually.
Hiking trails: Multiple trails wind through the region's wooded hills. A camper at Geode State Park Campground shared, "The trail system around the lake is in pretty good shape and makes for some great mountain biking," noting recent improvements to the trail network.
Historical exploration: Visit the nearby historic village of Bentonsport with its preserved 1800s structures. "Historical walking bridge that is amazing. No wifi.. poor Internet although I did have one bar so could be worse," writes Greg K., highlighting both attractions and connectivity limitations.
Swimming: Several campgrounds maintain swimming areas during summer months. Driftwood Campground includes "a pool for the warm months," according to Joey S., making it popular with families during hot Iowa summers.
What campers like
Clean facilities: Many rv parks near Farmington maintain high cleanliness standards. "Very modern facilities that were clean," Charles A. says about Indian Lake Park, while another camper at Driftwood Campground noted, "The showers and restroom were impressively clean. The hosts could not have made me feel more welcome."
Affordable rates: Camping costs remain reasonable at most locations. At Geode State Park, a camper reported, "We stayed labor day weekend. Just pulled in and gave them our $12 a night. No electricity or water in our site. Clean bathrooms. Cheap wood for fires."
Shade coverage: Trees provide relief during hot summer months. One camper at Updog RV & Camping appreciated the "Lots of trees for great shade in these hot days," which becomes crucial during Iowa's humid summer season.
Campsite spacing: Many campers note the comfortable site dimensions. Dave N. observed at Indian Lake Park, "Most of the sites are nice and shady and level," adding that weekdays typically see fewer campers than busy summer weekends.
What you should know
Seasonal availability: Operating seasons vary significantly between campgrounds. While Indian Lake Park operates year-round, Updog RV & Camping limits its season from April 15 to November 15, and Driftwood Campground runs March 15 to November 1.
Noise considerations: Proximity to transportation corridors affects some campgrounds. At Crossroads RV Park, one camper warned about "Constant train traffic all night! Horns blaring! The tracks are less than 1/4-mile away. And quite a bit of freeway noise, too!"
Site density variations: Campgrounds differ in how closely they position sites. A camper at Updog RV & Camping reported extremely tight spacing: "With slide out on each side, and not superslides either, I had EXACTLY 1 foot left on each side of my slides. I could not put out my awning as it would hit the camper next to me."
Water availability: Access to water differs between campgrounds and specific sites. Bentonsport Riverside Park offers electric sites but no water hookups at individual sites. A camper noted, "There is no water or sewer on your site but water is available in camp."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Several campgrounds maintain play equipment for children. At Indian Lake Park, there's "a playground, a few nice hiking trails, and a lake with a nice sandy beach," according to one regular visitor who notes it's "almost empty during the week, but very busy on summer weekends."
Swimming options: Look for campgrounds with water recreation. Driftwood Campground received praise from a family noting, "We enjoyed ourselves and cooled off in the hot weather," using the on-site pool during summer heat.
Weekday visits: For quieter family experiences, schedule mid-week stays. The campground at Lake Showme offers "$20 for RVs and campers. Free if primitive camping. All spots have power and water," making it budget-friendly for families, though weekends bring "lots of activity."
Bathroom proximity: Families with young children should select sites near facilities. A camper at Bentonsport Riverside Park mentioned there "appeared to be only a small outhouse" and suggested fully contained RVs would be more comfortable for family stays.
Tips from RVers
Dump station locations: Plan waste disposal carefully as not all Farmington area rv parks offer on-site facilities. Indian Lake Park provides a dump station, while some parks charge additional fees for this service.
Access challenges: Some campgrounds have difficult entrances for larger rigs. A reviewer at Camp Nauvoo warned, "If you are southbound on Illinois Hwy 96, the left turn off the highway is very sharp and steep. Might be easier to continue about a mile south and use the scenic turnout to turnaround."
Concrete pads: Several campgrounds feature level, solid parking surfaces. Driftwood Campground offers "full hookup sites with concrete pads," making setup easier regardless of weather conditions.
Hookup configurations: Note the positioning of utilities before arrival. At Camp Nauvoo, "Utilities were located in different spots. 20A/30A/50A electric in the middle, water near the rear, and sewer near the front," requiring RVers to plan connections accordingly.
