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Best Campgrounds near Knoxville, IA

407 Reviews

Knoxville, Iowa has several good camping options for folks who love the outdoors. At Lake Ahquabi State Park Campground, you can choose between electric and non-electric sites that sit among tall trees. The park has hiking trails, fishing spots, and a lake where you can take your boat out. Not far away is Anderson Campground, which draws families with its large campsites and quiet atmosphere. RV travelers can head to the northeast corner of the RV Park for full hookups and good access to things to do in the area. The best camping weather is during spring and fall when it's not too hot or cold and the trees look great. Summers get pretty hot, so bring plenty of water and sun protection. Some places close or have limited hours during winter. Make sure you know the rules about campfires and how long you can stay at each campground. It's smart to book ahead, especially on weekends and holidays when these campgrounds fill up fast. You might need permits for fishing or boating, so check before you go. Since Knoxville is close to Des Moines, you can easily take a day trip into the city. Knoxville's campgrounds work well for both quiet camping and more active outdoor trips.

Map showing campgrounds near Knoxville, IowaExplore the Map

Best Camping Sites Near Knoxville, Iowa (109)

    1. Whitebreast Campground

    8 Reviews
    Lake Red Rock, IA
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (641) 828-7522

    "Our site had a great view of the lake, as well.   The campgrounds are a drive away from the beach and most boat ramps. "

    "Can walk down to the dock. We love to camp there every Fourth of July. It is a great place for all ages to enjoy."

    2. Howell Station

    6 Reviews
    Pella, IA
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (641) 828-7522

    $22 - $24 / night

    "We will be staying here every year, this is the best site we've stayed at in central Iowa. Great fishing, bike trail right next to the campsite. Great views too. Dam is right there and you can fish."

    "Howell Station is one out of five COE CG's that are around Lake Red Rock. CG is well kept, has a bike/walking path that borders the River and winds through the woods."

    3. Nature Haven at Red Rock Lake

    4 Reviews
    Lake Red Rock, IA
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (530) 309-9885

    $25 - $120 / night

    "The perfect drive up private campsite you will find in Iowa. Very quiet with a beautiful view of three ponds and a sunset you will not want to miss."

    "Plus just 6 miles from our fav brewery in Iowa."

    4. Wallashuck

    5 Reviews
    Pella, IA
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (641) 828-7522

    $20 - $24 / night

    "Good place close to Pella and Knoxville. Some sites on Red Rock. Little pricey for not having full hookups. Overall good place."

    "Wallashuck in Pella, iowa is one of my favorite places to camp. It’s mostly quiet and peaceful. Plus town is close and has plenty to entertain or fill up supplies"

    5. Whitebreast Camp

    3 Reviews
    Knoxville, IA
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (641) 828-7522

    $20 - $288 / night

    "Sits on the bank of Red Rock Lake which has great fishing."

    "it has shaded camping areas, nice bathrooms, hiking trails, fishing, and a nice beach. I camp here every year!"

    6. Equestrian Campground — Elk Rock State Park

    4 Reviews
    Lake Red Rock, IA
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (641) 842-6008

    $16 - $72 / night

    "There are lots of trails around the area.

    It’s also a great place if you like to go horse back riding with lots of trails that go near the water.

    There are camp hosts to help answer questions."

    "We really wnjoyed riding the trails here. Good facilities for our horses."

    7. Grant Park (Warren County Consevation Board)

    10 Reviews
    Swan, IA
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (515) 961-6169

    "Each of the 10 campsites are spacious and plenty of distance between. Nice quick trails with wildlife. The park is well maintained and well priced!"

    "You’ll eventually see the park entrance(a sign and fence). Pass the first bathrooms/shelter/info board. Continue down the gravel road that looks kinda like a trail."

    8. Roberts Creek West Campground

    4 Reviews
    Otley, IA
    8 miles
    Website

    "Caveat: you cannot see the lake from the camping spots

    Camped site 26

    Wooded county campground. Many of the spots at the West campground are paved. They all have electric."

    "Easy in and around campground. A lot of space between sites. Sites are fairly level with hard pack gravel."

    9. Marion County Park

    2 Reviews
    Knoxville, IA
    1 mile
    Website
    +1 (641) 828-2213

    "Plus, it’s on the outskirts of town so restaurants and grocery stores are nearby."

    "Marion County is often overlooked by people in favor of the various Red Rock campgrounds that are nearby, but in my opinion, unless you have a boat, there is nothing that puts Red Rock above Marion County"

    10. Elk Rock Campground And Boat Ramp — Lake Red Rock

    3 Reviews
    Otley, IA
    6 miles

    "We camped out at site 82 which is a non-electric site and close to a Red Rock Lake shoreline. Spots are pretty close but they perfectly have grass tall enough to give you some privacy between spots."

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Recent Camping Photos near Knoxville, IA

87 Photos of 109 Knoxville Campgrounds

Recent Reviews near Knoxville, IA

407 Reviews of 109 Knoxville Campgrounds

  • SThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 12, 2025

    Winterset City Park

    Peaceful

    Our first time staying here and we extended twice because we like the area so much. It’s been a peaceful two weeks and we love the town of Winterset. The campground has a variety of FHU and or just W& E, also some shared water.

  • Allen B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 9, 2025

    Diamond Lake County Park

    Diamond lake

    Clean showers & flush toilet’s. No hand towels. Sites are close together. Some road noise. But overall a nice campground for one night.

  • BThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 24, 2025

    River Oaks RV Park

    Nice campground. Clean. Well kept.

    We stayed here to go to the Iowa State Fair. It was easy to park here and catch a shuttle to the fair.

  • jThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 16, 2025

    Jester County Park

    Nothing but exceptional

    Iowa county parks are amazing. They pour money into them and it really shows. Clean, I mean immaculate. Nature/Conservancy center there is just next level. They advertise Elk and Bison which are smart enough to stay far away from humans, as it should be. Camp host was top notch, neighbors fantastic, quiet and respectful. Only spent two days there but could make it a two week vacation and never get tired of it. Okay, let's address the dump station, I've never been to one so thought out and efficient. Weird favorite thing but if you know you know

  • Erik W.
    Jul. 21, 2025

    Adventureland Campground

    Great campground and amazing amusement park

    July, 2017

    Great place but not quiet at all.  Short walk to the amusement park.  We were there for most of the early summer so we got a season pass to the park which included the water park.  They also have workcamper programs.

    We especially loved the fireworks display on the 4th.

  • Jerry V.
    Jul. 17, 2025

    Colfax Quarry Springs Park

    Well Maintaned & Good Fishing

    I stayed at site #13 with my two boys.  We had a blast.  I would highly recommend site #13.  It had plenty of space for a large tent and canopy.  It had a nice access spot for fishing.  The new restroom/shower facility was very nice and clean.  Most sites are pretty sandy as this was an old quarry so be prepared for that.  There was also company on-site that rents Kayaks.  The campground manager was extremely helpful.  He had firewood already staged for $7 and even came back on day two with more firewood for the same fee.

  • J
    Jul. 8, 2025

    River Oaks RV Park

    Clean & quiet

    Made a quick trip here to de how the new puppy likes camping. Nice size campground, sites have good spacing and full hookups that were installed with some thought. Only used one stinky slinky, could have hooked up water with a 6’ hose, and the electrical was near the back of the site. Sites are gravel and it looked like most campers had to use blocks.

    Free WiFi was good; we streamed tv. It did freeze a few times but hard to tell if it was the WiFi or the provider.

    A new bath house, community room, and “shop” is being built. Bath house & laundry are complete. Very nice and spotless.

    The camp is quiet and well maintained.

  • Tiffany K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 6, 2025

    Howell Station

    Laid-back Campground

    This campground has great facilities with spacious sites. We have plenty of space for our dogs on two stakes. Each site has a fire ring and picnic table. There are large trees that provide a lot of shade for the campground. There are play grounds for the kids. It is along a river for fishing and bird watching.

  • RThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 4, 2025

    Mine Pond Campground — Stephens State Forest

    Way too many insects, and $10 a night. No amenities.

    This place charges 10 bucks a night. You don't get a water station. You don't get a gray water dump. You do get trash cans on site. The sheer volume of insects makes it impossible to walk anywhere. Unfortunately, I have a dog and I have to go walk three times a fucking day. And this is the closest place to where my folks and I agreed to meet in about a week.

    At $10 a night, you'd think they'd at least have water, a gray dump, and some kind of insect control. But no, they don't. They do have maintenance coming around regularly, but nothing seems to get rid of the insects. It used to be $6 a night at one point. So I guess it went up. I don't see why. It's just like any other insect infested place to park.

    If it wasn't for the cost, I guess I'd give it three stars, but that'd be generous. I didn't give it one star because I can at least drive around on it with my bus.

Guide to Knoxville

Camping near Knoxville, Iowa, offers a mix of beautiful scenery and fun activities for everyone. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or an adventure-filled getaway, there are plenty of campgrounds to choose from.

What to do:

  • Hiking and Nature Trails: Explore the scenic trails at Jester County Park. One camper mentioned, "The campgrounds have amazing views and plenty of hiking trails."
  • Water Activities: Enjoy kayaking or canoeing at Rock Creek State Park Campground. A visitor shared, "The lake is pretty, and boat rentals seemed reasonable."
  • Fishing: Cast a line at Bob Shelter Recreation Area & Campground. One reviewer noted, "Clean, level sites, close to fishing, it was fun watching the water come through the dam."

What campers like:

  • Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate the cleanliness of the restrooms and showers. A review for Des Moines West KOA Holiday stated, "Bathhouses were clean and private."
  • Spacious Sites: Many campgrounds offer roomy sites. A visitor at Prairie Flower Recreation Area said, "Level sites, easy to back in, plenty of room."
  • Friendly Staff: Campers often mention the helpfulness of the staff. One camper at Winterset City Park remarked, "The staff was super friendly and accommodating."

What you should know:

  • Limited Amenities: Some campgrounds, like Lake Ahquabi State Park Campground, may have limited amenities. A camper noted, "The web link is out of date, and the park is closed for 2022."
  • Busy Weekends: Expect more crowds on weekends. A visitor at Rock Creek State Park Campground mentioned, "The campground was fairly empty until around Thursday and filled on the weekend."
  • Wildlife Caution: Be mindful of wildlife. One camper at Yellow Banks County Park warned, "Other campers warned us not to leave anything out at night because teenagers come through sometimes looking for stuff to steal."

Tips for camping with families:

  • Playgrounds Available: Look for campgrounds with playgrounds for kids. One review for Walnut Woods State Park Campground highlighted, "The campground has a kids' playground, hiking trails, and nature center."
  • Plan for Activities: Choose a campground that offers various activities. A camper at Cherry Glen Campground said, "There are plenty of hiking trails and a sandy beach with a swimming area."
  • Reserve in Advance: Popular spots can fill up quickly. A visitor at Prairie Flower Recreation Area advised, "You must reserve these sites in advance."

Tips from RVers:

  • Check Site Size: Make sure your site can accommodate your RV. A review for Des Moines West KOA Holiday mentioned, "Gravel sites require some leveling."
  • Dump Station Availability: Look for campgrounds with dump stations. A camper at Bob Shelter Recreation Area & Campground noted, "Dump station and water fill in the back."
  • Cell Service: Check for cell service availability. One visitor at Walnut Woods State Park Campground mentioned, "3 bars of T-Mobile and 2 bars of AT&T were more than sufficient for internet browsing."

Camping around Knoxville, IA, has something for everyone, from families to solo adventurers. Enjoy the great outdoors and make some unforgettable memories!

Frequently Asked Questions

What campgrounds are available near Knoxville, Iowa?

The Knoxville, Iowa area offers several excellent camping options around Lake Red Rock. Nature Haven at Red Rock Lake provides private campsites with beautiful pond views and peaceful surroundings, located conveniently between Pella and Knoxville. Elk Rock Campground And Boat Ramp — Lake Red Rock offers year-round access with proximity to both Pella and Knoxville. Other options include Wallashuck Campground with lakeside sites, and Whitebreast Campground for standard amenities. For those willing to drive a bit further, Roberts Creek West Campground provides water access and accommodates larger RVs. Most campgrounds in this region offer easy access to Lake Red Rock's recreational opportunities and are within a short drive to Knoxville's amenities.

Where can I find free camping near Knoxville, TN?

While true free camping options are limited near Knoxville, TN, budget-conscious campers can find affordable options at national forest dispersed camping areas in Cherokee National Forest to the east or in the nearby Great Smoky Mountains. For those willing to drive a bit further, Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area offers some backcountry camping with only a small permit fee. Local county parks sometimes offer inexpensive camping with basic amenities. Always check regulations before setting up, as free camping rules change seasonally, and some areas require permits even if they're free. For reliable low-cost camping, look for Corps of Engineers sites around nearby lakes that often provide more affordable alternatives to private campgrounds.

What are the best primitive and remote camping options near Knoxville?

For primitive camping near Knoxville, Iowa, Howell Station offers a more secluded experience with excellent fishing opportunities and scenic views near the dam. The campground connects to bike trails, making it ideal for outdoor enthusiasts seeking both recreation and solitude. Diamond Lake County Park provides another excellent option for those seeking a more remote experience, centered around freshwater with beautiful surroundings, especially stunning during fall. For campers willing to venture slightly further, Equestrian Campground at Elk Rock State Park offers a more rustic experience with basic facilities and fewer crowds. When primitive camping, remember to pack adequate water, food supplies, and waste disposal materials, as amenities are limited at these more remote locations.

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