1 campground with availability this weekend
Rock Creek State Park Campground offers top-rated glamping campsites just 20 minutes from Grinnell, Iowa, with safari-style canvas tents featuring comfortable beds, electricity, and picnic tables along the shoreline of Rock Creek Lake. Guests can reserve waterfront glamping sites that offer stunning sunset views over the water, with easy access to boating and fishing. The glamping area provides a more secluded experience than the busier RV section, with several sites offering lakeside positioning for an immersive nature experience. Facilities include clean modern bathrooms with hot showers and convenient access to water spigots throughout the grounds. "Gorgeous tent camping area and waterfront sites. Great bike trail that goes right into Grinnell," one visitor noted about the premium glamping locations.
Seasonal activities at Rock Creek include pontoon boats, kayaks, and canoes available for rent at the on-site marina. The small camp store provides fishing gear, firewood, and essential supplies for glamping guests. During summer evenings, the park hosts outdoor movie screenings near the playground, creating a resort-like atmosphere for families. Hiking trails wind through the park's wooded areas, where seasonal morel mushroom hunting is popular among visitors. The paved bike trail connecting directly to Grinnell allows for car-free exploration of the college town. A recent visitor mentioned, "Beautiful scenery with lake front camping. Sunset over the lake! Found a great trail to hike, also the opportunity to rent a boat or paddleboard." Winter glamping is limited, as most accommodations are available from April through October.
"Very nice state park campground on a lake. Well kept grounds, clean bathrooms no wifi but cell service is available. 20 min from Grinnell"
"Nice Iowa State Park campground just outside of Grenell Iowa. On a lake. Hundreds of sites. So many of the non-electric test sites look amazing."
Available this weekend
from $12 - $40 / night
"Iowa."
"No frills but adorably decorated. You got gas, snacks and great food and ice cream..what else could you ask for in a overnight stop. Laundry, shower house and bocce court."
"Jump into the nearby water and let the kids have a blast! Enjoy a nice fun night away from home!"
"Bathrooms and entire area was really in perfect shape. One of the cleanest showers and bathrooms I have seen. $10 for tent, $16 for electric - how can you go wrong?"
"Looked like a decent amount of folks here but we didn’t drive very far into the park. If you take a look at the PDF maps on their website you can see how vast the places is with 122 spots!"
"It is in a city park like setting and on the lake. Fire wood for sale at the entrance, you have to get water at the entrance only electrical hook up."
"Wallashuck in Pella, iowa is one of my favorite places to camp. It’s mostly quiet and peaceful. Plus town is close and has plenty to entertain or fill up supplies"
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $20 - $24 / night
"This is a very nice quiet campground close to a nice small lake. We stayed in space 30 and this area has just had the electrical updated and the are adding some new spots right by the lake."
"Hidden gem in Iowa"
from $10 - $20 / night
"Most of the sites are tucked into the woods and very spacious. It's only $7/night! There is some play equipment for children. "
"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"
from $7 / night
"There’s a bit of road noise, but there’s lot of room here on a Tuesday. The grounds are well kept. Was able to get a clear view to the north for excellent Starlink reception."
"Has electric and water sites, too. Bugs are bad this time of the year."
"Thomas Mitchell park is located outside of Altoona Iowa on 197 acres. There are electric and non electric sites available."
"The drive into the grounds was a little confusing, but I imagine that in the daylight we would have had an easier time."
"camped here in 2021 and I enjoyed it but the first night I was there I ran my vehicle down the second night I was there I took a tour on the campgrounds and got verbally accosted but another camper for walking"
"It’s got access to trails and to the Des Moines river. It’s a great little escape. There is a fishing pond that’s got plenty of bluegill and largemouth bass."
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.
TravelerPulled in looking for a good place to camp, but unfortunately had plans late at night and they shut the gate so they’re is no entering or leaving past 10:30pm - 6:00am which I think is a little stupid if I didn’t have late night plans though I totally would’ve stayed, sites looked great, and there was only one other camper when I pulled in.
RangerGreat friendly hosts. Check in inside the gas station. Full hook ups and a fair price compared to most rv parks especially with good sam membership. No frills but adorably decorated. You got gas, snacks and great food and ice cream..what else could you ask for in a overnight stop. Laundry, shower house and bocce court. Bocce sets available to borrow from the gas station. Cute communal sitting areas one area with fire rings and wood available at the gas station. Yes its right off 80 and you will hear the traffic but with this incredible convenience we didn't mind. Felt safe and good vibes during our stay. Level and long gravel pull through sites and big rig friendly. Will definitely be added to our favorites list for I80 travels.
ScoutGreat little spot with lots of hiking trails. Bathrooms are clean and guests are quiet. Don’t miss grave from 1869 at top of hill on trail. Beautiful place. Wish I lived closer.
GuideBeen camping here every summer for about 3 years as pass thru Iowa. Sites spaced nicely apart, is electric only, but have water at entrance, and also thru out the park so can fill fresh tank upon entrance and many place inside campground. Lots of trees, but also many sunny sites here. Bathrooms are always clean
GuideGrass sites, plenty of space. Some sites have great views of the lake. Nice walking trails. Wild life to watch. If you are camped under a hickory tree you will need to brush off the Hickory nuts off your slide outs. Plenty of parking for guset to visit. Peaceful. We love camping in Hickory hils.
RangerThis is a sweet well-maintained campground just south of Mitchellville, Iowa off of 80. Not many sites and only a handful were occupied mid week in July. There is a little stream running along the edge of the campground. There is one bathroom building with 6 separate rooms - each with a toilet, sink and shower with warm water. Plenty of drinking water at centralized locations. There is shade at most sites when you first enter the campground and in the loop. Along the edges (inc the stream) shade is more variable. The only issue we had was a bright light that was on all night near the end of the loop. We were in site 5 and had to move our truck so it didn’t shine in all night.
RangerQuite a nice campground. Pretty busy for a Monday so I can imagine it gets busy here. Sites are nice and spacious. Great amenities and right next to the water.
ScoutStayed here last week in July 2025 on a cross-country motorcycle trip. Nice and quiet. 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
Rock Creek State Park offers traditional tent camping and RV sites along with upscale glamping options. Located 20 minutes from Grinnell, Iowa at an elevation of 940 feet, the park spans 1,690 acres including the 491-acre Rock Creek Lake. Camping areas feature gravel pads surrounded by grassy areas with varying degrees of shade and privacy between sites.
Fishing opportunities: Rock Creek State Park attracts anglers seeking largemouth bass and crappie. "Rock Creek is known for its crappie and large mouth bass fishing. The lake has lots of features like brush piles, vertical structures, mossy areas and you can go over by the bridge and fish the rocks," notes a visitor at Yellow Banks County Park.
Hiking trails: The region offers trails for various skill levels. At Ashton Wildwood Park, "There is a nice little circle hike that's not too difficult and was great for rehab after my knee replacement," reports one camper. Trails often feature creek access and wooded areas.
Biking routes: The paved trail system connects camping areas to nearby towns. "The campground was very well maintained. Shower rooms & restrooms were very clean and all were functional. We were able to kayak and bike here and it was amazing," explains a visitor at Lake Iowa County Park.
Waterfront camping: Several campgrounds offer sites directly adjacent to lakes or ponds. "We dry camped right on the water's edge for $6 a night, 2 weeks for $88! Electric sites are only 12. Their sites are 20/30/50 amp," reports a camper at Rock Creek, highlighting the value of waterfront sites.
Clean facilities: Campgrounds in the area maintain modern bathhouses. "The bathhouse was very clean, pretty quiet, and only 5 miles off the highway," notes a camper at Thomas Mitchell County Park, where tent campers appreciate the shower amenities.
Wildlife viewing: The natural setting provides opportunities to observe local fauna. "We had a blue jay that visited us regularly at our campsite, along with deer walking through," shares a Lake Iowa County Park visitor describing the undeveloped areas around the camping loops.
Site spacing considerations: Some campgrounds have sites positioned close together. "RV sites are close and busy. Grass and shade. Tenting area had a much quieter vibe. Lots of dogs. Ranger was helpful," notes a Rock Creek visitor, highlighting the difference between camping sections.
Weather preparedness: The region experiences high humidity levels in summer months. "Being from Colorado where we live at much higher altitudes & we didn't expect the humidity to affect us as it did. Not a bad thing, we were just used to 15% max and that weekend we saw 90% with 90 degrees," warns a camper at Lake Iowa County Park.
Reservation requirements: Booking patterns vary by park and season. "State park, make a reservation," advises a Rock Creek visitor, while Wallashuck campers note, "Very nice campground, each sight has a fire ring and table, plus a lantern pole. It is in a city park like setting and on the lake."
Playground access: Most parks include play areas for children. "There is a big group site for family get togethers. There is some play equipment for children," mentions an Ashton Wildwood Park camper, making it suitable for family outings.
Creek exploration: Many campgrounds feature accessible creeks for water play. "Great place to go tent camping, very clean and quiet. Easy trails for the kids to go hiking and playing in the creek to cool off in the heat," shares a Thomas Mitchell County Park visitor.
Educational opportunities: Some parks offer nature programming. Otter Creek Lake and Park provides "Nature Center offers education displays and programs. Lake offers paddling, fishing, etc.," according to a recent visitor, creating learning experiences for young campers.
Electric hookup options: RV sites typically offer multiple amperage choices. "Electric sites are only 12. Their sites are 20/30/50 amp. No water or sewer at the sites but there are water spigots dispersed through the campground and full dump station as you come in/leave," explains a Rock Creek camper.
Pull-through availability: Some parks offer easy-access sites. "Level sites with full hookups. Plenty of space to walk the dog. Right next to a gas station with great burgers and tenderloins!" notes a visitor to Kellogg RV Park, highlighting the convenience for larger rigs.
Site selection strategy: For optimal RV camping, consider location within the park. "I personally would not want to be in a site beyond number 7 as it gets too close to the dump station and subsequent 'sewage lagoon'," advises a Thomas Mitchell County Park camper, providing specific site selection guidance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Grinnell, IA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Grinnell, IA is Rock Creek State Park Campground with a 4.2-star rating from 22 reviews.
What is the best site to find glamping camping near Grinnell, IA?
TheDyrt.com has all 16 glamping camping locations near Grinnell, IA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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