Best Glamping near Fort Dodge, IA

Kennedy Park and Little Wall Lake County Park house upscale glamping accommodations including modern yurts, offering a luxurious way to experience Iowa's natural landscape. Situated near Fort Dodge, these glamping destinations feature comfortable amenities not found at traditional campgrounds, with electricity, well-maintained facilities, and scenic waterfront settings. "We love to return here every year! Recently updated two-way fresh-fill/sanitary dump station," notes one regular visitor to Spring Lake County Park, highlighting the appeal of returning to these well-maintained glamping sites. The yurts at Little Wall Lake County Park provide a perfect balance of outdoor immersion and indoor comfort, while Kennedy Park's luxury camping options allow guests to enjoy nature without sacrificing modern conveniences.

Webster County Kennedy Park Campground operates from April 15 to October 15, offering distinctive glamping experiences alongside Featherstone County Park's unique accommodations. Guests appreciate the peaceful environment while having access to recreational amenities including hiking trails, fishing spots, and water activities on the nearby lakes. According to a camper, "Beautiful park with an amazing variety of activities. The park itself is gorgeous and beautifully maintained." The glamping sites feature picnic tables, fire rings, and proximity to playgrounds and wildlife viewing areas. Several parks provide boat access, allowing glampers to combine luxury accommodations with water recreation. Don Williams Park extends its glamping season from April through October, giving visitors ample opportunity to experience luxury outdoor stays in central Iowa while exploring the surrounding natural areas.

Map showing campgrounds near Fort Dodge, Iowa

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Best Glamping Sites Near Fort Dodge, Iowa (16)

1. Kennedy County Park
4 Reviews
Badger, IA
5 miles
Website
+1 (515) 576-4258
$20 - $100 / night
"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."
2. Ledges State Park Campground
40 Reviews
Boone, IA
39 miles
Website
+1 (515) 432-1852
$17 - $35 / night
"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."

3. Webster County Kennedy Park Campground
Be the first to review!
Badger, IA
5 miles
Website
+1 (515) 576-4258
4. University 40
7 Reviews
Lanesboro, IA
27 miles
Website
+1 (712) 297-7131
$25 / night
"I really think that thanks to my initiative, many students were able to step out of academic trouble and get back to focusing on their studies."

" Enjoy drifting& driving awesome cars. Explore beautiful maps, find your favourite drift locations. Do experiments with car tuning."

5. Don Williams Park
6 Reviews
Ogden, IA
28 miles
Website
+1 (515) 353-4237
$12 - $20 / night
"Camped by tent, basic amenities on-site-fire ring, table, etc. Went kayaking on lake and then on Des Moines River (close by). Nice wildlife areas, hiking, fishing, etc. Pleasant staff."

"Very quite and nice campground, we camped on top of the hill in tents it was awesome view and potable drinking water next to camp, bathrooms and shower facilities was clean and nice"
6. Spring Lake County Park
9 Reviews
Jefferson, IA
32 miles
Website
+1 (515) 738-5069
$20 / night
"The best waterfront camping we have found near us. Small friendly community of camping. Door to door ice and concession delivery."

"There are campsites along the lake with easy access to shoreline. There are approximately 100 sites. There is a playground and disc golf. There is a roller rink and a concession stand."

7. Featherstone County Park
2 Reviews
Rockwell City, IA
23 miles
Website
+1 (712) 297-7131
8. Little Wall Lake County Park
5 Reviews
Story City, IA
32 miles
Website
+1 (515) 832-9570
"Small lake. Some sites are reserveable online and some are first come first serve. We had water and electric on site. Showers were not open yet in April. "

"Close to the interstate and easy to get to."

9. Swede Point Park
13 Reviews
Madrid, IA
46 miles
Website
"Very quiet and nice neighbors camping next store , fresh water well on pump next to our campsite number #1 electric and non electric site’s ,electric sites run $18 a night non electric $11 a night , has"

"We camped here to be close to the Iowa High Trestle Trail for bicycling and it's very handy for that. Nothing fancy, but has plenty of sites, flush toilets and showers available."
10. The Grotto of the Redemption RV Park
3 Reviews
Whittemore, IA
34 miles
Website
+1 (515) 887-2371
"One is very close to a train line, which runs infrequently. Sites are grass, level, and reasonably well maintained. All sites are pull through. Only electrical hookups are available at the sites."

"Quiet, empty and very clean bathrooms!! Fires allowed, picnic benches and just a short walk to the grotto of redemption."

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Recent Glamping Photos near Fort Dodge, IA

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Glamping Reviews near Fort Dodge, IA

99 Reviews of 16 Fort Dodge Campgrounds

Amy G.
Legend
Jun. 2, 2018
Sportsman Park
Beautiful solitude with well manicured campsites
This was one of the nicest county campgrounds I've ever seen. We've been to a lot of them, but this one stands out. Not to mention that the price was unbeatable! So much more reasonable than at home. Set off the road a bit in a tiny little town in Iowa, it's along a river and very close to the Raccoon River Valley Trail, an 89 mile loop trail (paved) that goes through several towns and counties. It costs $2/person/day if you are 18 or older, or a year pass is $10. There is also a lodge that you can rent.

We rented a cabin for $50, because it was only about $10 more expensive than what we were planning on spending for a campsite in Minnesota. Normally, we stay in tents, so we were very pleased to find the options that this campground had to offer at such reasonable cost! If you wanted a tent site without electric, it was only $8. Electric sites were only $12. And the sites were incredibly well groomed. They were clean (I didn't see any trash). And they were tucked into the woods. A caretaker lives on site, and although we rarely saw him, it was obvious that he cared about his job. The bathrooms were clean and cared for too!

We were in a cabin and they were simple, but suited our needs. They had two wooden cabin-style buildings with little front porches (not screened in, but room under the overhang for chairs). Inside, you had two bunk beds, and the bottom bunk of one was a pull out futon, so you really had room to sleep 5 people. (Must mention: The futon in our cabin was horribly uncomfortable. I would have given 4 stars to the review because of it, but the futon alone shouldn't take away from the rest of the campground, which was immaculate). There was also a bathroom with an ADA shower, toilet, mirror and sink. In the room, there was a mini fridge, coffee maker, microwave, little sink and it even had air conditioning! Tucked in the corner was a folding table and chairs. A few hooks scattered around the walls completed the room. The A/C in ours wasn't at full working capacity, but it did chill the room down enough to be very comfortable. And it was very hot outside! We also had a little fire ring and picnic table, just outside the door.

The campground could accommodate plenty of tents and campers alike. Some electric, some not. All with very nice grassy pads for tents, all with picnic tables and fire rings. Grass was well clipped and there were plenty of parking spaces. It was very quiet when we were there, but I assume it gets busy on the weekends. The shower/bath house had separate bathrooms (both unisex) and both with toilet, mirror, sink and shower). Both were very clean for a camp bathroom. A little campground for those wishing to camp together was at the back of the park. It, too, had bathrooms. But they were locked, so I couldn't peek inside.

Bottom line, it was well worth our $50 for the cabin (you can't even get a hotel room for that price any more). I'd love to go back and tent in the quiet of a weekday eve when the crickets are chirping and I can feel the breeze through the tent!

Please note - there are no trash cans at the campground if you are in tents or RV's (the cabins have them inside). It is a carry in/carry out campground

There are LOTS of water pumps all over the campground. Yay for water!!
Mary J.
Traveler
Jun. 19, 2019
Kennedy County Park
Beautiful campground
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! All for $18.00 a night.
R
Richard &.
Guide
Jun. 22, 2023
The Grotto of the Redemption RV Park
Nice place to stop while visiting the Grotto
We stayed at the Grotto of the Redemption RV park for two nights. We were in our class C while slowly making our way across the country. We had no problems getting a spot here. There are two areas. One is very close to a train line, which runs infrequently. Sites are grass, level, and reasonably well maintained. All sites are pull through. Only electrical hookups are available at the sites. This is in good condition. There is fresh water and a dump station available. Each site has a nice grassy area and there are plenty of large trees. Staff was very friendly and helpful. There was a park nearby with a playground.

The RV park is near the Grotto. The Grotto is a fascinating achievement worth a look if you are in the area.

We had 2 bar LTE with Verizon. Our hotspot was usable and performed very well. Campground wifi was not available.

We enjoyed our brief stay at this campground. We will stay again when traveling this way.
Tom S.
Guide
Sep. 30, 2016
Ledges State Park Campground
Don't fall off the ledge!
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. It's close to how I remember it.

The campground has a good picnic area, restrooms, and an excellent trail. It's also inexpensive.

What I enjoy most about this park compared to others in Iowa are the sandstone ledges and the slopes on the trail. There are some excellent views, so make sure your phone has enough battery to take photos (unlike me). I also spent a lot of time off the trail. It isn't too hard to get around. I'm not one who enjoys staying at a park that is mostly flat, so this is definitely a good place in Iowa for me to camp.

If you are looking for a cool place to camp within an hour of Des Moines, you should seriously consider this park.
Wendy P.
Scout
Jul. 19, 2018
Ledges State Park Campground
Beautiful hikes. Prepare for coons.
One of the more beautiful places to camp in Iowa. Awesome hiking trails and really well-shaded campsites. The hike in spots are great if you like privacy and being in the middle of the woods - but you don’t want to be THAT far from your car.

Beware of the raccoons. They’re plentiful and crazy smart here. We had one open our cooler, steal an egg from the cartoon - without disturbing anything else. Honestly, I was impressed! But some of our friends had them rip through their tents to get at food - not as impressive.
Jodi H.
Traveler
May. 5, 2019
Spring Lake County Park
Best waterfront camping we have found
The best waterfront camping we have found near us. Small friendly community of camping. Door to door ice and concession delivery. Awesome open air roller skating rink and nightly grilling parties at the beach.
Carrie C.
Guide
May. 24, 2025
Dows Pool Park & Campground
Dows Campground
Pulled in one evening on our way to Texas from Minnesota. Large, open spaces equipped with a fire pit and picnic table. Electric hookups and water also available. Reasonable rates (I think we paid $15) for one night.
James M.
Legend
Feb. 24, 2021
Don Williams Park
Nice County Park
Camped by tent, basic amenities on-site-fire ring, table, etc. Went kayaking on lake and then on Des Moines River (close by). Nice wildlife areas, hiking, fishing, etc. Pleasant staff.
James D.
Guide
Sep. 30, 2016
Ledges State Park Campground
More of a nice park for locals than a destination for out of towners
We stayed here while passing through on a road trip. It was easy to get a camp site. We opted for a hike-in site to try for a bit of seclusion. The site was nice. We didn't have other campers near by. The hiking trails are very short but there is a bike path that evidently connects several parks in the region. It is a family friendly park with bathrooms, spot for trash, and even shower station. There is a kayak launch point off Lower Ledges Road. The water was calm. This is more of a park for locals to picnic, fish and kayak than a destination for out of towners. It is a quiet park that had a lot of local dog walkers and would be a peaceful place to stay with the kids if stopping through the area. There is a playground on site and you can fish out of the Des Moines River.