21 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
State parks and county-managed lands surrounding Greeley, Iowa provide several tent camping options within a short drive. Yellow River State Forest, located about 45 miles northeast, offers some of the region's most highly-rated backcountry tent sites. Closer options include Holbert Park and Wakpicada Natural Area, which provide year-round tent camping with basic amenities. The Worthington Sportsman's Club, approximately 15 miles east of Greeley, offers members-only tent campsites with toilet facilities and picnic tables in a secluded setting near water.
Most tent campgrounds in the region feature primitive amenities with varying levels of accessibility. Echo Valley State Park Campground provides non-electric, self-pay sites that are particularly suitable for tent camping, with some located directly alongside a trout stream. Campers should bring their own water to most locations, as drinking water is limited to headquarters areas or completely unavailable at backcountry sites. Fire rings are common at established sites, though firewood may not be provided. Pit toilets are available at some locations but absent at others, particularly at more remote walk-in tent sites. Many campgrounds operate on a first-come, first-served basis with no reservation system.
The tent camping experience near Greeley offers notable seclusion and natural features. According to reviews, Echo Valley's tent-oriented sites are well-spaced, with one camper noting they were "a quarter mile from the nearest site." Camp Glen Wendel in Yellow River State Forest provides primitive backcountry tent camping with fire rings and benches among stands of coniferous trees. One visitor reported that the park has "a great feeling of isolation and wilderness that can be absent from other places." Wakpicada Natural Area features tent sites with good tree cover adjacent to a pond, making it comfortable even during hot weather. Tent campers frequently encounter wildlife and enjoy fishing opportunities at many of these locations.
"People driving around the pond didn't even know we were there! The camping spot was beautiful (although you have to watch out for nettles). Great fishing while we were there too."
"Primitive and private. Pond for recreation, fishing, and swimming. Kids be sure to try the rope swing. "
"The farm was cute and a wonderful place to get outside and be in nature. The hosts were very accommodating and professional! We will definitely be returning, 10 stars!"
from $24 - $45 / night
"My friend and I were eager to test out some new backpacking gear for the first time in advance of a larger trip this summer."
"Yellow River has great backpacking sites. Park near ranger station and hike in or grab a map and find a smaller parking location near the trail you want to explore. Great scenery."
from $12 / night
Check Availability"Campsites right next to the pond and good tree cover made the experience fun anyway. Good bass and panfish fishing with quiet campgrounds that aren’t right next to each other."
"There are pit toilets at the upper sites, near the pavilion."
"The hiking trail was perfect for a morning stroll with my dog and coffee and there certainly is a petting zoo (my German Shepard was a little uncertain about the goats)"
from $5 / night
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LegendUnique hike or paddle primitive site. Native forbs and wildlife surrounding the area. Two parking sites to hike in or access by river. Site is along river, has table, fire ring, latrine. Pack in, pack out and Leave No Trace.
ScoutNice quiet little primitive campground next to the Wapsipinicon River. Unfortunately, when I was there the last weekend of May, the gnats were bad, and the mosquitoes were just starting to gear up. HOWEVER, take bug spray and enjoy the rustic peacefulness of this "best kept secret" for primitive and inexpensive camping sites. Beautiful location, ranger close by, wood for sale just across the bridge, fire pits and picnic tables at every site. Good for RV, trailer or tent camping… level ground and lots of shade. Primitive bathrooms, no showers or running water.
LegendHiked into this Camp that includes 5 primitive sites: fire rings and benches. Lush dense forest with intermediate hiking including typical summer insects. Leave No Trace ethics include: minimizes fire impacts by gathering only dead, down, wood. Sounded by nature atop of hill hike near Fire tower ( only fire tower in Iowa), cell reception is found up here.
GuideThe pros: $10 fee ($15 electric), campground seems well maintained (grass is mown, security light works, tables in good repair, gravel access road in good shape, etc); no one here but us, the sound of the running Creek is soothing, vault toilet is probably the cleanest I've seen; ATT cell service was 3bars 5G The unusual: no specific site, no specific place to pull into, no site numbers or designation except on the electric pedestals. It's all grass. Pull onto the grass near the table or electric pedestal you want. The cons: highway traffic noise is easily heard and doesn't seem to stop for more than a few seconds (though the crickets/bug sounds and the creek sound is sometimes louder so you hear that instead), dust from vehicles passing on nearby dirt road filters thru the trees (due to dry weather?), and, well, it is, after all, a vault toilet-not my fav,
LegendGeneral: This is a small (29-site) county park campground situated along the North Fork Maquoketa River. Nine of the sites are reservable, and the rest are first-come, first-served. Some sites are primitive, and some have water and 30-amp electricity hookups. There is one ADA-accessible site with a paved camper pad.
Site Quality: Most sites are level. The camper pads are gravel/grass, but not all are clearly defined. Each site has a picnic table and a fire ring.
Bath/Shower: The bath/shower house was closed when we were there in November but there are vault toilets about a quarter mile from the campground (in the day-use area) that were very clean and well-stocked when we were there.
Activities/Amenities: Many activities including disc golf, three hiking trails, volleyball, two playgrounds (one in the day-use area and one by the campsites). There are two reservable picnic shelters. There is also a dump station.
We were tent camping in November on a backpacking trip so we didn’t take advantage of any of the activities but would return in our van on a future camping trip. We were the ONLY ones in the campground at this time of year!
LegendThis review is for Yellow River State Forest's Big Paint Campground which consists of sites 35 through 61. Big Paint is a couple miles from Little Paint, a larger campground with 70+ sites. There are two equestrian campgrounds (Creekside and Little Frontier with sites numbered 1 through 34) as well as hike in campgrounds for backpackers. A photo of an area map is included.
Why did we choose Big Paint instead of Little Paint?
It's smaller and that's just our personal preference. There were only 4 sites occupied early Friday afternoon and a few more were reserved. We liked site 35, the first site on the left as you enter. This site is like being in a garden with trees and flowers surrounding the site. It had rained and more rain was coming, so the gravel parking pad on #35 was appealing. Most of the sites are completely on the grass.
Activities
Stocked trout streams are an attraction for fishermen; see photo of stocking calendar. We enjoyed hiking despite the mosquitoes and humidity in August and were able to make a 5+ mile loop leaving from the campground. You can also hike from Little Paint, and there are equestrian trails. This would also be a good area for X-country skiing and snowmobiling. A photo of the trail map is included. Caution: hunting is allowed in the non-campground area of the state forest.
Amenities
Each site has a picnic table and fire ring. Other than that, you can dispose of your trash and use a vault toilet. There's water at the information center (and a camp host site) outside the campground about 100 yards to the left.
Cost
You're not getting much (and that's not a bad thing) so the $9 fee seems fair. Pay up front at the entrance station, or make a reservation online at last 2 days ahead of time (and pay a reservation fee). There are 7 non-reservable sites at Big Paint. I doubt that Big Paint fills up; just check the reservation site to see if they get crowded.
https://iowastateparks.reserveamerica.com/camping/yellow-river-state-forest/r/campsiteSearch.do?search=site&page=siteresult&contractCode=IA&parkId=610130
LegendThis campground also goes by the name of Holbert. Small campground but free with a handful of picnic tables and campfires. The vault toilets were cleanish, thou older. This campground is next to a pretty little creek that you can play and fish in. The campground is really just a series of campsites strung out along the creek and road. It was pretty quiet while I was there, not many campers at all. There are no hookups for RV’s/campers so it is primarily tent camping or dry camping. There is an interesting story about how this camping area has come to be: the land was donated by Ella Ellis in memory of her husband William Ellis. They apparently loved the land and wanted to make sure it was never developed and could be enjoyed by all. A lovely story.
LegendCampground is well maintained, restrooms, showers, recycling station, fire wood available, campground host onsite, resident park ranger, standard RV sites, some electric tent sites otherwise primitive with fire rings and tables. Trout stream (Catfish Creek) runs through campground and park and is stocked by Iowa DNR, has Swiss Valley Nature center with trails.
RangerMud Lake is a wonderful county park near Dubuque. Beautiful views of the Mississippi River. We stayed one night on our way to Minnesota. The sites are mostly sunny. The park streets are gravel with gravel sites. The park is quiet except for the occasional train from the nearby tracks. Great value for $21. Electric and water hookups. Marina and boathouse next door.
Stayed in campsite #35 which has no shade. It was a gravel site which shares a pull-through with site 36. There was more than enough parking for my TT and truck and grass on either side. The site included: picnic table and fire ring. Utilities were located in the rear. 20A/50A electric and water. Site was level. Neighbors were nearby.
AT&T had 2 bars of LTE and Verizon 2 bars of LTE service. AT&T Speedtest: 47 Mbps down, 1.3 Mbps up. Verizon data VERY SLOW. No WiFi.
Would stay here again. We camped at Mud Lake Park in a Travel Trailer.
Tent camping near Greeley, Iowa offers solitude in a region characterized by rolling hills and limestone bluffs with elevation changes of 200-300 feet. Summer temperatures average 75-85°F with high humidity, while spring and fall bring cooler conditions ideal for camping. Most sites in the area feature primitive amenities with self-registration systems and varying levels of accessibility based on seasonal conditions.
Fishing opportunities: Buffalo Creek Area provides toilet facilities near fishing spots where campers can catch bass and panfish. According to one camper at Wakpicada Natural Area, "Good bass and panfish fishing with quiet campgrounds that aren't right next to each other. I consider it a little hidden gem."
Backpacking trails: Several parks offer marked trails ranging from 1-5 miles in length with moderate difficulty. A visitor at Camp Glen Wendel noted, "I've done this loop several times, and have never been disappointed. Lots of quiet, and many more great views on the upper trails. There are some thin trails down steeper hillsides, so make sure to take it slower if the ground is muddy."
Morning hiking: Most parks open at sunrise year-round with trails accessible during daylight hours. One camper at Echo Valley State Park shared, "The hiking trail was perfect for a morning stroll with my dog and coffee and there certainly is a petting zoo (my German Shepard was a little uncertain about the goats)."
Secluded sites: Many campgrounds offer well-spaced sites that provide privacy from other campers. A visitor to Worthington Sportsman's Club commented, "So secluded without being in the middle of nowhere. People driving around the pond didn't even know we were there! The camping spot was beautiful (although you have to watch out for nettles)."
Night sky viewing: The rural location allows for exceptional stargazing opportunities with minimal light pollution. At Gardner Family Farm, a camper reported, "Evenings at this farm are memorable. Dark skies with billions of stars. Enjoy a campfire, that's a must. Primitive and private."
Water features: Many sites are positioned near streams, ponds or small lakes. One reviewer at Echo Valley State Park Campground noted, "There is a nice trout stream, with a few sites right by the stream. It is most suitable for tent, truck, or teardrop camping... large RVs would not do well."
Limited facilities: Most campgrounds offer only basic amenities with pit toilets being the standard. According to a camper at Camp Glen Wendel, "Camp Glen Wendel is about 1 mile in from self camp registration at HQ. Sites have fire rings and benches, some more spacious than others. Potable water is at HQ near registration kiosk."
Self-registration: Most sites operate on a first-come basis with payment boxes at trailheads or entrance points. Cash payment between $5-15 per night is typical for non-electric sites.
Weather challenges: Summer humidity can make camping uncomfortable without proper shade. One visitor to Wakpicada Natural Area shared, "Went when it was 110 degrees with humidity. Campsites right next to the pond and good tree cover made the experience fun anyway."
Limited site availability: Several smaller campgrounds have very few sites available. A visitor to Echo Valley noted, "Came in late but found a spot, only 6 first come first serve camping sites. I was a quarter mile from the next nearest site."
Kid-friendly water activities: Several sites offer safe water access for supervised play. At Gardner Family Farm, a reviewer mentioned, "Pond for recreation, fishing, and swimming. Kids be sure to try the rope swing."
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Dawn and dusk provide the best times for wildlife spotting near water features. Many sites report deer, turkey, and various bird species.
Pack adequate supplies: Most campgrounds require visitors to bring their own water and supplies. Nearest convenience stores are typically 5-15 miles away in surrounding towns.
Plan for noise: Despite seclusion, natural sounds can surprise young campers. One backpacker at Camp Glen Wendel shared, "Been coming to yellow river for years but have always wanted to go backpacking. Finally, convinced one of my friends to come with, we ended up getting scared around midnight from the noises."
Size restrictions: Many campgrounds near Greeley cannot accommodate larger RVs due to narrow access roads and small sites. A visitor to Echo Valley mentioned, "This campground is non-electric, self-pay, non-reservable, and has only a few sites... It is most suitable for tent, truck, or teardrop camping... large RVs would not do well."
Water crossings: Some campgrounds require fording small streams to access certain sites. The same Echo Valley visitor noted, "In addition to the few sites by the stream, there are some additional campsites deeper in the park. Ford a shallow stream (on a paved slab, easy for any car) and the campsites are up the hill."
Limited hookups: Most sites near Greeley lack electrical connections and dump stations. Smaller self-contained units under 20 feet have the best chance of finding suitable sites in this region.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Greeley, IA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Greeley, IA is Worthington Sportsman's Club - Members Only with a 5-star rating from 1 review.
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TheDyrt.com has all 21 tent camping locations near Greeley, IA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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