70 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
The Fort Dodge area features a mix of state and county-managed campgrounds set amid Iowa's rolling prairie and woodland landscapes. Kennedy County Park, located within Fort Dodge city limits, provides well-maintained grounds with playground access, golf course proximity, and amenities like free WiFi at reasonable rates. Within a 30-minute drive, Brushy Creek State Recreation Area offers multiple specialized camping areas including Beach Campground and North and South Equestrian Campgrounds, each with distinct characteristics and amenities. Dolliver Memorial State Park, situated along the Des Moines River about 15 miles southeast of Fort Dodge, provides both tent and RV camping options with boat access points and hiking trails through sandstone bluffs.
Most campgrounds in the region operate seasonally from April through October or December, with limited winter camping options. Reservations are recommended during summer weekends when facilities reach capacity. Campsite fees typically range from $15-20 per night for electric sites, with primitive sites available at lower rates. Weather considerations include strong prairie winds that can affect tent camping, particularly in open areas with limited tree cover. As one camper noted about Brushy Creek: "This little nugget is laid out on a vast prairie. Most sites have younger trees that provide some shade. This is not the big wooded type park." Cell service varies throughout the region, with Verizon users reporting fluctuating coverage at many campgrounds.
Campers consistently praise the cleanliness and maintenance of facilities near Fort Dodge. Many campgrounds feature well-kept shower houses, clean restrooms, and level sites with fire rings and picnic tables. Wildlife encounters are common, with deer frequently spotted on trails and raccoons active around campsites after dark. Light pollution is minimal at most locations, creating excellent stargazing opportunities. Summer heat can be challenging in areas with limited shade, as one visitor to Brushy Creek noted: "We had no shade in the afternoon so weren't able to eat dinner outside or enjoy a fire in the evening." Water recreation opportunities abound, with several campgrounds offering lake access for fishing, swimming, and non-motorized boating, while hiking and biking trails connect many of the region's natural areas.
"Nice clean park, if passing through Iowa it's a nice overnight. A little loud if tent camping. Area not large enough to separate hard shell campers and tent campers."
"We LOVE the hiking trails. Some can be a pretty good workout & steep for a 61 year old, but they are do-able & have resting benches a long the way."
from $15 - $50 / night
Check Availability"Camped here in order to be close to Fort Dodge first thing in the morning. I stayed in the Beach Campground. It's not on the beach, but close to it. There are 3 total campgrounds in the park. "
"Hitching posts behind each site which we enjoyed seeing. The roads inside the campground were all asphalt so lots of bikers enjoying rides around the grounds."
from $20 - $40 / night
Check Availability"I can't say enough about Kennedy Memorial County park in Fort Dodge Iowa. Its beautiful well taken care of has a nice playground and access to a beautiful golf course! And FREE WIFI!"
"Multiple kids parks, beach area, fishing areas with boat ramps, trails, kids butterfly garden."
from $20 - $100 / night
Check Availabilityfrom $25 / night
Check Availability"Brigs Woods is close to Webster City, IA. There are several campsites, cabins, golf course, access to canoeing or kayaking on the Boone River, along with hiking trails, swimming and fishing. "
"We chose Briggs Woods because of its location and reviews from other campers. It is a larger campground than you think! Spots for primitive tent camping, electrical hook up and full hook ups."
"Walking, hiking and exploring. People are here camping with their horses but the campground is still nice and quiet."
from $28 - $56 / night
Check Availabilityfrom $25 - $50 / night
Check Availability"One of my favorite locations to camp in Iowa as a Boy Scout growing up was Ledges State Park. Since I hadn't been back in years, I decided to check it out and spend a night camping there."
"One of the more beautiful places to camp in Iowa. Awesome hiking trails and really well-shaded campsites."
from $18 - $38 / night
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ScoutWe stay here as much as we can. There is lots of trees with a bit of shade at most all sites. You can camp at the waters’ edge. We love to fish and can fish off the back of our RV. Most sites are spacious, some a bit smaller. It only has electric hook ups, but you can fill up with a hose at water sites. Has a dump spot by bathrooms. Bath and toilets are clean. Over Al this camp is our favorite!
GuideLevel sites and very quiet. Great hiking location and photo opportunities.
RangerThere’s not a lot going on in the vicinity of this state park, which is on the smaller side, and you will hear some cows, but all in all the campground exceeded my expectations for the two nights I stayed. This was partially because my site, 65, offered ample room away from the neighboring sites and backed up to a small green area with the road further back (minimal noise, aside from the random loud dirt bike). It also had a good mix of shade and sun if you’re hoping for a bit of solar charging, though no shore power or water. The site was long and mostly level with just the smallest tilt, but not enough to be a bother even without leveling blocks. The dumpster is nearby, but it’s a tiny one and was well maintained (aka not smelly). The brand new shower house was within easy walking distance as well. I had enough service (Verizon) to send texts and watch a bit of YouTube (buffering times were a smidge slow), but you likely wouldn’t have a strong enough signal for much more.
GuideThis is a day use conservation only area. No camping is currently allowed.
There is a nice accessible vault toilets, play ground, and it has the Iowa River passing through it. There is also a very nice community building at the property.
GuideThis little camp ground is part of the Iowa River Trail system. There is a good sized parking / turn around area. It was well kept and it costs about $10 a night and is in Hardin County.
The gravel road is fairly busy, but it could just be due to planting season starting. There were quite a few annoying gnats / mosquito's. There is a ramp for access, but it is dirt and gravel, so not something you can back a boat down in there easily.
I spent a night here and it was a pleasant experience, other than the flying bug annoyances.
ScoutHad the entire campground to myself on a holiday weekend. Chose an 30$ site for the shade but the electric was for 50 amp RV with no 110 plug. Very clean and quite
TravelerThis location is on the east side of Jefferson on the old Lincoln highway at the Greene county fair grounds directly next to the Milwaukee trestle bike trail. It has both tent and RV camping spots. The RV is parallel parking with electric only. Black water dump site is at the waist water treatment plant by the public swimming pool on west Russell street on the south side of the street across from south walnut street entrance. The fairgrounds dose have horse and livestock amenities and events at times of the year with the Greene county fair and other events. It also has an agricultural museum and other events in the summer.
GuideI took my mother and my youngest on a Mother’s Day weekend camping adventure. We chose Briggs Woods because of its location and reviews from other campers. It is a larger campground than you think! Spots for primitive tent camping, electrical hook up and full hook ups. The campground offers free WiFi and it reached clear to the back end over by the four little cabins. The pit toilets by the four little cabins were clean and stocked. My daughter was able to walk her little dog around the campground with no issues of other dogs running loose. Quiet hours begin at 10:30 pm and everyone followed the rule. I also like how close to the river this campground is. We stayed in electrical spots in the #60s. I like how you can scan the QR code and pay right there from your phone. Very convenient! The camp hosts were friendly and would often cruise by in their golf cart checking on campers.
TravelerGreat, convenient campground at a very reasonable price $15 if you pay cash or $19 when paying via the QR code at each site. 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.
I stayed at a 30-amp electric-only site, so no water hookups or dump station, but there is a dumpster available for trash. Overall, it’s a simple, safe, well-maintained spot that offers good value, and I would definitely stay here again.
The Fort Dodge area offers several camping options within central Iowa's prairie landscape, where open terrain provides excellent stargazing opportunities but limited natural shade. Summer temperatures typically range from 65-85°F with occasional prairie thunderstorms, while spring and fall camping seasons bring cooler temperatures and more variable conditions. Cell service ranges from excellent near Kennedy County Park to almost nonexistent at more remote campgrounds in the area.
Hiking trails: Dolliver Memorial State Park features sandstone bluff trails with several rest benches along steeper sections. As one visitor noted, "We LOVE the hiking trails. Some can be a pretty good workout & steep for a 61 year old, but they are do-able & have resting benches a long the way. There are some beautiful old bridges if you get on the right trails."
Kayaking: Bells Mills County Park provides access to calm water ideal for novice paddlers. A visitor mentioned, "Quiet spot, clean area. Camp host were very friendly, most spots were easy pull throughs or back in's with a freestyle camper parking arrangement."
Horseback riding: The equestrian campgrounds at Brushy Creek State Recreation Area cater specifically to horse owners with specialized facilities. A camper at South Equestrian Campground shared: "People are here camping with their horses but the campground is still nice and quiet."
Golf course access: Kennedy County Park offers proximity to an 18-hole golf course directly from the campground. A camper noted its value: "Its beautiful well taken care of has a nice playground and access to a beautiful golf course! And FREE WIFI! All for $18.00 a night."
Budget-friendly rates: Most campgrounds near Fort Dodge maintain affordable nightly rates even for full hookup sites. One camper at North Equestrian Campground noted: "Open for off season camping. 14$/night for full hookups with pull thru RV sites."
Clean facilities: Joe Sheldon County Park receives consistent praise for site maintenance. A reviewer commented: "Beautiful pull through campsites some full hook ups others with electronic and water."
Spacious sites: Briggs Woods Park features generously sized campsites with ample distance between neighbors. A recent visitor reported: "We stayed Sun-Wed in May. Closest other campers were about a football field away. Very quiet park, we stayed in the back."
Digital disconnection: Several parks offer limited connectivity, creating opportunities for screen-free camping. A Kennedy County Park visitor explained: "No cell service provider functions in this park. The WIFI is shared between dozens of sites, speed averages right around 5mps. The rest of everything out here is WONDERFUL!"
Seasonal operations: Most campgrounds operate from April through October or early December, with limited winter camping options. North Equestrian Campground at Brushy Creek remains open during off-season months with discounted rates.
Reservation policies: Briggs Woods Park uses a mixed reservation system. "You can reserve a spot by going online, though they do keep some as FCFS," noted one camper.
Prairie winds: Open campgrounds with limited tree cover experience significant wind exposure. A Briggs Woods visitor mentioned: "Nice camp, decent sites, GREAT buddy sites! Cell service is null, and no wifi."
Trash disposal: Some campgrounds lack on-site trash receptacles, requiring campers to pack out waste. A Briggs Woods visitor noted this unusual policy: "Only downside to this park is there are no garbage cans. Weird?"
Playground access: Several campgrounds feature dedicated play areas for children. A Joe Sheldon County Park camper recommended: "This is a lovely and expanding park. Spacious, level pull through sites with full hookups. Decent Verizon coverage."
Beach activities: Beach Campground at Brushy Creek provides lake access with swimming areas. A visitor shared: "Great place to camp if you like fishing, horseback riding or a nice place to get away."
Wildlife viewing: Many campgrounds offer opportunities to spot local wildlife throughout the day. Dolliver Memorial State Park campers frequently encounter deer along trails and smaller animals within the campground.
Group camping options: Several parks feature designated group camping arrangements. A Bells Mills County Park visitor explained: "We had 12 campers pull in together and was able to camp all together! It's $20 a night."
Level sites: Ledges State Park offers well-maintained RV sites with minimal leveling required. However, one visitor cautioned: "More of a park for locals to picnic, fish and kayak than a destination for out of towners."
Hookup availability: Many campgrounds offer electric-only, water/electric, or full hookup options at varying price points. At Dolliver Memorial State Park, a camper noted: "Sites can be a little squat in the middle loops, and no fhu. Antenna coverage is fine for catching your evening weather report."
Size restrictions: Some campgrounds have limitations for larger RVs. A visitor to North Equestrian Campground advised: "I like beach camp, but I LOVE north equestrian camp. Wish the boxes accomodated my rig. It's easy in spring or fall, we can get by with 30 amps. If you need 50 amps, you're going to want to head to the Beach Camp."
Road conditions: Internal campground roads vary in quality and width. At Kennedy County Park, a visitor observed: "Unfortunately, the RV park is quite cramped. The sites are somewhat modest in size and the one-way roads are narrow and unmarked."
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I find camping sites near Fort Dodge, Iowa?
Fort Dodge offers several excellent camping options nearby. Kennedy County Park is located right in Fort Dodge and features well-maintained grounds, a playground, golf course access, and free WiFi for just $18 per night. Another nearby option is Dolliver Memorial State Park Campground, which provides a more natural setting. For those willing to drive a bit further, Brushy Creek State Recreation Area near Lehigh (about 20 minutes from Fort Dodge) offers multiple campgrounds with various amenities. The Fort Dodge area provides a good mix of county parks and state recreation areas that can accommodate different camping preferences and budgets.
What campgrounds are available in Fort Dodge, Iowa?
Fort Dodge and its surrounding area offer several campground options. The most prominent in-town option is Kennedy County Park, which features well-maintained grounds and amenities like free WiFi. For those willing to travel a short distance, Brushy Creek State Recreation Area offers three different campgrounds (Beach, North Equestrian, and South Equestrian) about 20 minutes from Fort Dodge. The Beach Campground is well-manicured and close to water recreation, while the equestrian campgrounds cater to those traveling with horses. These options provide a variety of experiences from convenient in-town camping to more nature-immersed settings just a short drive away.
Are there RV parks available near Fort Dodge, Iowa?
Yes, there are several RV-friendly options near Fort Dodge. Lizard Creek Ranch Camping is conveniently located near Fort Dodge and offers amenities that accommodate RVs, including big-rig-friendly sites. A bit further out, Briggs Woods Park near Webster City provides RV camping with reasonable rates and doesn't require reservations at many sites. The park also offers additional amenities like a golf course, hiking trails, and water activities. For those seeking other options, many county parks in the area accommodate RVs, though some visitors report that parks like Swan Lake State Park have sites that feel more like permanent RV homes than traditional campsites.
Can I rent an RV or camper in Fort Dodge, Iowa?
While Fort Dodge itself has limited RV rental options directly within the city, several alternatives exist for those wanting to camp in an RV. The best approach is to check with regional RV dealers in nearby larger cities like Des Moines (about 90 minutes away) that often offer rental services. Online peer-to-peer RV rental platforms like RVshare and Outdoorsy also list private RV rentals in the greater Fort Dodge region that can be delivered to your campsite. For those who prefer not to rent an RV, Briggs Woods Park near Webster City offers cabin rentals as an alternative to traditional camping, providing many of the comforts of an RV without the need to drive one.
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