Best Tent Camping near Forest City, IA
Wildlife management areas and state parks surrounding Forest City, Iowa provide several tent camping options for outdoor enthusiasts. Rice Lake Wildlife Management Area offers primitive tent campsites in a quiet natural setting with a boat launch and fishing access. Ambrose A. Call State Park Campground, located at 2148 340th Street in Forest City, provides established tent sites with more amenities during its April to November operating season. Iowa Lake Co Campground, situated approximately 30 miles northwest of Forest City, offers another tent-friendly option with basic facilities and lakeside access.
Tent campgrounds in this region typically feature minimal amenities, with facilities varying significantly between locations. Rice Lake Wildlife Management Area provides drinking water but lacks toilets and fire rings, with camping limited to a small grassy area set into the woods off a dirt cul-de-sac. Ambrose A. Call State Park offers more developed tent campsites with electric hookups, picnic tables, and toilet facilities. Most primitive tent camping areas require visitors to pack out all trash and bring their own water. Sites are generally set on grass or dirt surfaces with limited grading, and pets are allowed at most locations.
Campers report varying experiences at these tent-only camping areas. One visitor noted that Iowa Lake Co Campground was "a great little spot to stay while bike touring through Iowa" with water access and vault toilets, though occupancy can vary from completely empty to crowded with "rowdy college kids" depending on timing. At Rice Lake Wildlife Management Area, a camper observed it was "pretty quiet, but there aren't many spots to camp," with limited privacy when other campers are present. The area includes scenic overlooks and fishing opportunities along paths near the boat launch. Walk-in tent sites throughout the region provide access to trails and wildlife viewing, though summer visitors should prepare for insects, as Ambrose A. Call State Park has been described as "buggy" despite its "nice trails."