Nelson Dewey State Park Campground features premium walk-in sites on a ridge overlooking the Mississippi River. The campground includes both electric and non-electric sites with tent pads located 100-500 feet from parking areas. Trains frequently pass along the tracks that border the park, creating noise throughout day and night hours. Each walk-in site provides a different experience, with Site C being the most remote and offering the widest river views.
What to do
Trout fishing access: Bailey Ford Delaware County Park provides direct access to a stocked trout stream for anglers. "From trout steam, river access for boats or kayaks, to the beautiful trails with educational signs along it, this park is perfect," notes a visitor.
Paddling opportunities: Pinicon Ridge Park offers canoe and paddleboat rentals for exploring the Wapsipinicon River. A camper mentions, "We all took the trail into town and found a BIT Brewery where we enjoy woodfired pizza and brought some beer home in a growler for around the fire that night."
Wildlife viewing: Keep binoculars ready when glamping near Greeley, Iowa, especially at river-adjacent sites. Bald eagles nest along the Mississippi River shoreline, and diverse bird species can be observed from the bluffs.
What campers like
River proximity: Nelson Dewey State Park Campground draws campers with its Mississippi River vistas. "Most campsites have privacy and are quiet due to being a smaller park. Bathrooms and showers are modern and clean. Grant River near by to go tubing on hot summer days," one camper reports.
Playground facilities: Families appreciate the play areas at Central Park. A visitor states, "Nice big pond for some easy kayaking. There is a new beach for swimming, and some hiking and nature trails. Easy kayak access with parking. The fire pits are really nice and have grates for cooking."
Clean facilities: Many glamping options near Greeley maintain well-kept washrooms. "This is one of the best RV parks we have stayed in awhile. Meticulously maintain with good size, level sites. We had a 50amp water site and the dump station was nearby," notes a reviewer at Swiss Valley County Park.
What you should know
Train noise: Multiple riverside campgrounds experience frequent train traffic. At Grant River Recreation Area, a camper notes, "Campground was neat and tidy. Vault toilet was clean. Most sites had view of river. Some sites were fairly close. A railroad mainline ran along the campground. Our site was about 100 ft from rail and campground was where train would blow their whistle."
Site selection importance: Not all glamping sites offer equal experiences. Walk-in sites require transporting gear from parking areas, sometimes up steep terrain. Wheelbarrows are provided at some locations to assist with gear transportation.
Water conditions: Some shower facilities have sulfur content in the water. "The shower facilities weren't bad but they have sulfites in the water so it stinks a little," reports a camper at Swiss Valley County Park.
Tips for camping with families
Playground proximity: Central Park offers kid-friendly amenities including a beach area for swimming. "Beautiful little lake. Nice beach area. Camping sites pretty level. Park has free WiFi," reports one visitor.
Group camping layouts: Some campgrounds accommodate family reunions better than others. At Coffins Grove Park, "Nice, smaller campground! No designated spots, so great for groups to circle up and camp together. Newer playground that my kids love, sand so that's an extra play optional."
Educational opportunities: Several parks feature nature centers with interpretive programming. "The park has provided cart to use to haul all your stuff to the walk to sites. There is 1 designated parking spot per walk to site as well," notes a visitor to Nelson Dewey State Park.
Tips from RVers
Level sites: Pleasant Creek State Recreation Area Campground offers well-maintained, level spaces. "We stayed in a 25 foot travel trailer in the middle of the week. Weekends are pretty much sold out. We love the area. Kayaking, biking, and fishing. Very well maintained grounds," reports one RVer.
Hookup information: Most campgrounds in the region offer electric hookups, but not all provide water or sewer connections at individual sites. "Camp sites do not provide private water/sewer but there is a good water/sewer station on the way in," notes a Pleasant Creek visitor.
Reservation timing: Premium glamping sites near Greeley book quickly, especially weekend dates. One visitor to Nelson Dewey's walk-in sites noted they reserved their weekday October spot in April, as weekend availability was completely booked.
