Tent camping options around Garwin, Iowa include several established campgrounds within a short drive. Ashton Wildwood Park offers spacious tent sites set among trees with a $7 nightly fee, while Colfax Quarry Springs Park provides waterfront tent camping with fire rings and picnic tables at each site. Mariposa Recreation Area near Kellogg offers a more rustic tent camping experience with basic amenities.
Most tent sites in the Garwin area are primitive with limited facilities. Ashton Wildwood features pit toilets in the campground area with flush toilets and hot showers available at the nearby observatory building. Roadman Roadside Park provides flush toilets but no showers, with grassy tent sites that campers report are well-maintained. Several campgrounds like Stoehr Fishing Area restrict camping to 24-hour stays and prohibit campfires, requiring tent campers to plan accordingly. Water access varies significantly between locations, with some sites requiring campers to bring their own supply.
"I love this secluded little campground!" noted one visitor about Ashton Wildwood Park, highlighting its spacious wooded sites and peaceful atmosphere. Tent campers frequently mention the fishing opportunities at several locations, with Colfax Quarry Springs Park receiving particular praise for its waterfront access and well-maintained grounds. Sites at Ashton Wildwood are described as tucked into the woods and very spacious, making them ideal for tent camping. Interstate noise can be heard at some campgrounds, though visitors report it's minimal at locations like Quarry Springs. Many tent sites in the region offer access to hiking trails, with Ashton Wildwood featuring a small circle hike that's not too difficult, making it suitable for casual walkers and families with children.
"Set up across the road from the Accessible Porta-potty. There is a nice playground for kids, and a couple of shelter houses."
"If you want to go out in the country and do some tent camping this is the place! The lake has been drained and dredged and is slowly filling back up."
from $12 / night
"It worked out well as I was tired of driving. There isn’t much to this place, which might be why I had the whole place to myself."
"Flat grassy spot to set up my tent and a nice fire ring/ grill to cook dinner on also had a picnic table. Very nice primitive spot. Will go back"
"The bathroom at the campground doesn’t have plumbing and no water available so make sure to bring plenty of water. There is a small park to play at for kids."
from $7 / night
"I stopped by the Octagonal shelter at the south entrance of the park. This is a large shelter house with a fireplace in the middle of the building with several picnic tables. "
"Sometimes you have to share a fire pit with other tents if it's busy. They have a small petting zoo and a small beach. This place feels more like a neighborhood verses camping in nature."
"Great place especially if you know people around love the fact u can have electricity with your tent and they have showers"
"They have porta potties around. Two places to launch kayaks. Most campsites have fire rings, picnic tables and trash bins. Some have grills."
"Garbage bins, picnic tables and fire pits at all sites. Level enough for our rooftop tent with no difficulties. Would definitely stay here again."
from $15 / night
ScoutKurt and Debbie are awesome. Couldn’t ask for better hosts. Campground has several ponds to fish and a small beach area. Being from Florida, I’ll say the beach is adorable! Dollar general is 2 minutes away. Has food side as well. Propane fill 2 minutes away. Several playgrounds, frisbee golf and shower houses. Lots of regular campers here on weekends so plenty of people to meet in season. I’m here for work so a bit different for me.
LegendVery nice state park campground. There are cabins as well as campsites. The park is adjacent to Pine Lake and water based recreation is available including swimming beach and boating. The campground is off a paved road and is near to town. There is a walking path to the boat launch from the campground. Biking/hiking trails are on property.
LegendSmall park with basic amenities along the river. There is a big event center at the entrance and keep going back and the campground is there along the river. This would be a great area for paddling the river. Seemed pretty quite and spaces are moderately spread out. There is a rifle range on the property if that interests you (negatively or positively- there is a photo of the rules in my review). No shooting while I was there.
LegendCute small park/campground in Iowa farm country. Inexpensive and quaint. Has a small creek nearby. Kids play area too. Basic amenities.
RangerGreat little county park! Lots of back in sites; we found a pull-through that fit our 43' motorhome towing a truck with room to spare (site #20). $25 a night for water and elec is a fair price, and there's a dump station on the way out. My only reason for marking 4 stars is that trees could be trimmed back a bit more for big rigs to navigate without brushing up against them. (See couple pics). However it was late in the season -- we stayed Oct 22 and the park closes for winter on Oct 25, so maybe they'll be due for a trim next spring.
TravelerNice quiet campground. The front looks like more long timers and it was a little noisier up there but I drove to the back loop and it's nice and quiet back here. PLENTY of 50/30/20 amp hookups and the shower house in the back was nice. Water was just lukewarm but it was hot out so no problem. Might be less pleasant in colder weather though. Pull through spots available. I would stay here again for sure.
LegendWe came here for a visit and we’re going to stay but the online reservation system was difficult for us with Canadian coverage in cell phones.
We carried on to black hawk instead as they had easier first come first serve but this place was much nicer.
The sites were large and mostly private. It did seem a bit “wet”
We even saw a deer
LegendI edit my review - the gun range next door is obnoxious. Why would they have that next to a park with walking trails ?
Big enough for big rvs, big sites Showers Water Hydro Quiet $18 for unserved $30 for serviced
Legend9-14-26 Timberline East RV Campground, I do not think this is a KOA anymore. Tent site T1 & 2 was level and on grass with table and fire ring. checked in at 7pm, overcast, Molly was great at the check in, offered a 10% Veteran discount. $34 for the night. We only stayed one night. Showers and bathrooms were decent. T-Mobile was 5G 4 bars. Rained all night, you can hear the noise from the highway but you drown it out.
Tent campsites near Garwin, Iowa typically remain open from April through October, with most sites closing during winter months due to seasonal conditions. Summer temperatures average 80-85°F with moderate humidity, while spring and fall camping offers cooler temperatures around 50-70°F. The terrain around Garwin features rolling hills and wooded areas with elevations ranging from 900-1,100 feet above sea level, creating natural drainage that helps campsites dry quickly after rainfall.
Fishing opportunities: Stoehr Fishing Area provides excellent shore fishing on two ponds with black bass and bluegill as the main catch. "I live near Stoehr Fishing Area and fish there often. It has excellent shore fishing on the two ponds. The main species are black bass and bluegill, however I did catch a northern pike once," reports Kerry M.
Wildlife observation: The area campgrounds offer opportunities to view local wildlife including pheasants and songbirds. At Stoehr Fishing Area, campers can "enjoy the sound of pheasants and song birds in this area. It is not heavily wooded, but there are oaks, walnuts, and buckeye trees as well as a variety of aquatic plants."
Astronomy viewing: Ashton Wildwood Park features an observatory that opens on Saturday evenings (except the first Saturday of each month). As Willy W. explains: "The observatory that's open on Saturday's (except the 1st Saturday) was awesome and the astronomers were great people and very knowledgeable. They showed how their telescopes worked and took us a tour of the building and classroom."
Spacious wooded sites: Tent campsites near Garwin offer generous space between sites, especially at Ashton Wildwood Park. "The sites are very spacious, could easily accommodate multiple tents," reports Topaz G., while Michael K. adds that the "camp spot was clean and well-maintained."
Water access for recreation: Colfax Quarry Springs Park provides water access for fishing and kayaking. "This is my favorite place to go hiking, kayaking, camping and fishing. There is a half mile portage with a campsite on the river which you must call to reserve," writes Willy W., noting it has "two places to launch kayaks."
Affordable rates: Most campgrounds in the area offer economical rates. Ashton Wildwood Park charges only $7 per night, while Colfax Quarry Springs Park sites are $10 per night with registration required. Christopher M. found Colfax Quarry Springs Park to be "awesome campground, clean and well maintained. Even the outhouses smelled good. Garbage bins, picnic tables and fire pits at all sites."
Bathroom facilities vary significantly: Roadman Roadside Park offers flush toilets but no showers. As Annie C. notes: "It has flush toilets (but no showers). It is well maintained even if it is a bit older." At Ashton Wildwood, expect pit toilets at the campground with better facilities at the observatory: "There is only a pit toilet in the campground and it's nice enough for midnight runs. Drive up the road to the observatory and there is a bathroom with flush toilets and a hot shower."
Campfire restrictions: Several campgrounds prohibit fires entirely, including Stoehr Fishing Area. "There is a picnic shelter and grill, but no fire pit - campfires are not allowed," explains Kerry M. Check individual campground rules before planning to cook over an open flame.
Time limits on stays: Some camping areas restrict length of stay. Stoehr Fishing Area limits camping to 24 hours maximum, with Mitch confirming it's a "small park with maybe one primitive tent site no fire pit 24 hour is the length you can stay."
Beginner-friendly trails: Mariposa Recreation Area offers family-friendly amenities. "There are hiking trails and one that goes to a back pond. There is a butterfly garden and playground for the kids to explore," says Willy W. about this recreation area near Kellogg.
Orienteering activities: Ashton Wildwood Park offers an orienteering course for older children and adults looking for a challenge. Willy W. mentions: "There is also a orienteering course but you have to walk in the woods to finish it."
Child-friendly recovery hikes: For families with varying abilities, Ashton Wildwood offers accessible trails. "There is a nice little circle hike that's not too difficult and was great for rehab after my knee replacement," notes Deb K., making it suitable for children and adults needing less strenuous paths.
Limited RV accessibility: Most tent campsites near Garwin aren't suitable for larger recreational vehicles. At Roadman Roadside Park, Annie C. observed: "There are no hookups of any kind for RVs and I'm not really sure you can have an RV anywhere but in the gravel parking lot."
Neighborhood-like atmosphere: Twin Anchors Campground caters more to RVs but offers a different camping experience. "The campground was nice, but it seems more for RVs. This place feels more like a neighborhood verses camping in nature. Most people use this as a 'summer home'," explains Abby F.
Noise considerations: RV areas may have more activity and noise than tent-only areas. "Its 1130 pm and we r camping by the playground and there's about 10 children at the playground with no adults. And there's about 5 golf carts running around," reports Bill O. about Twin Anchors Campground.
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