Family camping near Greeley, Iowa centers around the Turkey River watershed at an elevation of approximately 850 feet. Most campgrounds in the area operate from April through October, with limited winter facilities. The region experiences typical Midwest seasonal variations with summer humidity and temperatures ranging from 75-85°F during peak camping months.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: Backbone State Park provides trout streams and lake fishing areas throughout the 2,000-acre property. "You can take your canoe out on the lake or hit some of the hiking trails. There are cabins for rent if you don't want to sleep in a tent," reports Matt S.
Hiking trails: The signature Backbone Trail offers limestone ridges and unique geological formations. "We loved waking up in the morning and going for a walk along the many trails, seeing deer on the trail, and the lake," writes Larissa C., who visited during October when fall colors peak in the region.
Water recreation: Skip-A-Way Resort offers river tubing and kayak rentals from May through September. "Some weekly activities include canoeing, tubing down the Turkey River, swimming, fishing and paddle boats in the Lake, a splash pad for kids," explains Lourene M.
Cave exploration: Several limestone caves dot the region, accessible through marked trails. "We hiked on the famous Backbone trail - a really fun hike that isn't too incredibly long. The grounds were well kept and we had a phenomenal time," notes Rachel H., who visited with a Girl Scout troop.
What campers like
Clean facilities: Campers consistently mention well-maintained bathhouses at Rustic Barn Campground RV Park, located across the Wisconsin border. "The shower house was immaculate with large hard stalled showers/changing room," writes Chris S., who appreciated the cleanliness during their stay.
Family activities: Many campgrounds offer structured recreation options for children. "They have a little train ride, miniature golf course, catch and release fishing in their pond, splash pad, lots of cool things hand built structures to see as well," reports one visitor to Beyonder Getaway.
Seasonal events: Weekend programming runs throughout summer months with movie nights and organized activities. "There is a pavilion for use any time where they also have children's movies every Saturday night during season," notes a Skip-A-Way Resort visitor.
Spacious sites: Most parks offer adequate spacing between campsites with gravel pads. "Nice wide pull throughs. Very friendly and helpful. Good place for overnight or extended stay," writes Christian F. about his experience at Rustic Barn Campground.
What you should know
Reservation timing: Book early for summer weekends, especially for holiday periods. "This is a great place to stay but make sure you get your reservations in early if you plan on staying on the weekend," advises a Backbone State Park camper.
Water quality concerns: Lake swimming conditions vary throughout summer. "Lakewater often unsafe for swimming. To the extent the beach had weeds growing on it," reports Cheryl V. about conditions at Beyonder Getaway at Lazy Acres.
Highway noise: Some campgrounds sit near major roads with audible traffic. "Near the highway but road noise is minimal," notes Mary about Beyonder Getaway, while another camper mentioned "a little highway noise when the wind was out of the south."
Facility maintenance: Shower houses may have limited capacity during peak season. "The only not so great experience was that 2 out of the 3 showers on the women's side were out of order. And the only working shower didn't have warm water," reports Blythe B. about a busy weekend.
Tips for camping with families
Accessible camping: Wheelchair-friendly sites are available at select locations. "My daughter is in a wheelchair so we requested the accessible site. It's right next to the showers with an adapted pic-nic table and raised fire pit!" shares a camper from Beyonder Getaway.
Budget activities: Lil' Bit of Country RV Park and neighboring parks offer free recreation areas. "Great clean campground with lots to do. Mini golf, basketball, paddleboat on a small pond, horseshoes, and plenty of swings and playscapes for kids," writes Ben P.
Animal encounters: Several campgrounds feature small petting areas or wildlife viewing opportunities. "They have mini golf but you have to pay 8 dollars for that. They have river rafting, a playground for little kids, and a mini horse for petting," mentions Jeremiah B.
Weather considerations: Summer storms can develop quickly in the region. "The owners kept telling us that if weather got bad they would come get us and move us to the barn but we are quite used to riding out storms in our tents," reports one camper about staff attentiveness during unsettled weather.
Tips from RVers
Site selection: RV camping near Greeley offers varying pad types across campgrounds. "All had gravel driveways and looked level. Decent separation between sites although they are close together, as would be expected in an RV park," notes Lee D. about Rustic Barn Campground.
Connectivity: Cell service varies significantly throughout the region. "Verizon signals remain strong at most locations, but T-Mobile service can be non-existent in rural areas," according to multiple reports from RVers.
Seasonal availability: Full-service RV parks typically operate from mid-April through mid-October with limited winter options. "We stayed in site 25 which was on an end, had great views, a concrete patio with table and chairs, and was level. Not all sites had the patio nor were level," shares Chris S.
Utilities: Lakeshore RV Resort in Oelwein provides 50-amp service at most sites, though reservations are required. Some sites have concrete patios while others feature gravel parking areas with grass surrounds.
