1 campground with availability this weekend
Equestrian Campground at Elk Rock State Park provides clean facilities and dedicated trails for riders. Located about 50 miles southwest of Grinnell, this horse-friendly campground features electric hookups with both 30-amp and 50-amp service. The campground allows pets and offers reservable sites equipped with sewer and water hookups. Riders report the trails are good quality with routes that go near the water. The campground includes shower facilities and toilets, making it comfortable for extended stays. Campers note the peaceful atmosphere of the equestrian section, separate from the main camping areas. The campground is equipped for both tent and RV camping, though riders should note there are no designated horse corrals on site.
The riding trails at Elk Rock State Park connect to various points around Lake Red Rock, offering scenic water views during trail rides. The trail system accommodates riders of various experience levels with paths that eventually loop around, making navigation straightforward even for first-time visitors. Seasonal considerations affect trail conditions, with some visitors noting the park is most scenic during warmer months. The campground sees moderate activity around the boat ramp area but maintains a quiet atmosphere in the camping sections. Horse owners should bring their own containment systems as the park does not provide corrals. Self-registration is available, and firewood can be purchased from camp hosts for $4 per bundle. The bathrooms and shower facilities are consistently well-maintained and clean, enhancing the overall camping experience for equestrians.
"Not too far off the highway. Very clean and quiet. The campground is above the lake but a short trail will take you to the lake. "
"The good: The area around the lake and near by pond, is not overly developed. There are wild raspberries and mulberries, lots of wildlife."
"We stayed in the Elk Rock Equestrian campground and it was so peaceful and beautiful. The facilities were clean."
"We really wnjoyed riding the trails here. Good facilities for our horses."
from $14 - $66 / night
"12 a night for primitive camping and you get nice warm showers by the main entrance and nice bathrooms by the main entrance."
from $50 / night
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.
ScoutWife and I met friends here in August 2025. This was the middle between us & them as we live in CO and they live in NY. The campground was very well maintained. Shower rooms & restrooms were very clean and all were functional. We really enjoyed the long weekend here. Be advised tho, we were not adequately prepared for the humidity in August. Being from Colorado where we live at much higher altitudes & we didnt 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. Wife and I will likely return and see more of the Amana communities in the fall.
ScoutIt was beautiful, full of wildlife, easy to find,not too far from highway but far away enough to not hear
GuideNot too far off the highway. Very clean and quiet. The campground is above the lake but a short trail will take you to the lake. Couldn't see the lake from where we camped, but nice woody area behind our campsite. Nice little visitor area. Lots of trails to walk with the dog including a nice trail along the lake.
Great place to spend one night. If I had more time, I would have gone paddle boarding or fishing on the lake.
RangerVery well kept campground! 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?
Only issue is that the spots are pretty close together. Around 2:30am there was so much smoke in our van from nearby campfires that I woke up sick and my dog threw up all over the bed. At 3am we decided we needed to move to an electric site because it was too much to have the windows open. I felt really bad for anyone in a tent. I coughed all the next day.
The campground was not that busy so there is no way I would stay here on a busy holiday weekend due to the spots being too close. If a few people make a fire you better shut down all your windows. No sleeping in the cool, night air here.
But this is an issue at other places too. Just never experienced anything on this level before. Esp considering no one in our section even had a fire going.
I wish campgrounds would start banning these fires. But that’s a topic for a later date.
Other than that it was a great spot.
Scout$12 a night for primitive camping and you get nice warm showers by the main entrance and nice bathrooms by the main entrance. Stand-alone bathrooms throughout the park have the deep composting toilets that smell bad but whatever the ones up front are nice. Would recommend 10/10
GuideThe good: The area around the lake and near by pond, is not overly developed. There are wild raspberries and mulberries, lots of wildlife. We had a blue jay that visited us regularly at our campsite, along with deer walking through. The bad: very few sites have a view of the lake. To walk to the lake or near by pond you must go down hill, which could be a problem for any one with mobility issues. Once down to the water trail are easy to walk. I would say if you can try and get sites, 67-70. They have beautiful views.
ScoutWe stayed in the Elk Rock Equestrian campground and it was so peaceful and beautiful. The facilities were clean.
GuideThis place is huge. We pulled in very late on a Weds night / Thursday morning. Self registration at the front. 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! Bummed we needed to keep driving the next day- was very tempted to stay another night.
Shower house and bathrooms were really nice! Wasn’t expecting to want to take a shower but couldn’t pass up the opportunity when we saw them. Very hot water.
There are picnic benches everywhere and fire pits. 10/10 - would stay again!
Lake Iowa County Park sits about 45 miles west of Grinnell, Iowa, offering year-round camping access with 122 sites. The campground maintains clean facilities including hot showers and well-kept bathrooms. Several sites at Lake Iowa provide views of the water, with locations 67-70 particularly noted for their scenic vantage points.
Wildlife viewing: Lake Iowa County Park features abundant wildlife including deer, rabbits, and blue jays. Campers can spot these animals right from their sites. "We had a blue jay that visited us regularly at our campsite, along with deer walking through," notes Leslie P. from Lake Iowa County Park.
Trail riding: Equestrian camping near Grinnell provides access to multiple trail systems. "We really enjoyed riding the trails here. Good facilities for our horses," reports Dorothy H. who visited Elk Rock State Park's equestrian area.
Eagle watching: During certain seasons, bald eagles congregate along the water's edge at Elk Rock. "We must have been there at just the right time, because lined all through the trees along the lakes edge were eagles upon eagles. I'd say we saw about 70 bald eagles perched in the trees," writes Jennifer M. from Equestrian Campground.
Clean facilities: Campgrounds in the Grinnell region maintain high standards of cleanliness. "Bathrooms and entire area was really in perfect shape. One of the cleanest showers and bathrooms I have seen," writes Randall K. about their stay at Lake Iowa County Park.
Affordable rates: Camping options near Grinnell offer good value. "$12 a night for primitive camping and you get nice warm showers by the main entrance and nice bathrooms by the main entrance," notes Keith B. about Keokuk County Belva Deer Park.
Fruit foraging: Some camping areas feature wild edibles for seasonal harvesting. "There are wild raspberries and mulberries, lots of wildlife," reports Leslie P. about Lake Iowa County Park.
Campsite spacing: Sites at some parks can be close together, affecting air quality from neighboring campfires. "Around 2:30am there was so much smoke in our van from nearby campfires that I woke up sick and my dog threw up all over the bed," cautions Randall K. from Lake Iowa County Park.
Terrain challenges: Access to water features may require navigating elevation changes. "To walk to the lake or nearby pond you must go down hill, which could be a problem for anyone with mobility issues," advises Leslie P. from Lake Iowa.
Climate considerations: The region experiences high humidity levels during summer months. "Be advised tho, we were not adequately prepared for the humidity in August. Being from Colorado where we live at much higher altitudes & we didn't expect the humidity to affect us as it did," shares Clifton B. from Lake Iowa County Park.
Short-term stays: Several campgrounds work well for brief family visits. "Great place to spend one night. If I had more time, I would have gone paddle boarding or fishing on the lake," suggests Ken G. about Lake Iowa County Park.
Local attractions: Families can combine camping with visits to nearby towns. "Aside from the park, it's pretty close to Pella, which is a nice historic Dutch town. Good food and bars there to check out," recommends Jennifer M. from Elk Rock State Park.
Site selection: Request specific site numbers for optimal experiences. "I would say if you can try and get sites, 67-70. They have beautiful views," advises Leslie P. from Lake Iowa County Park.
Self-registration: Many campgrounds offer easy check-in systems. "We pulled in very late on a Weds night / Thursday morning. Self registration at the front," notes Claudia M. from Lake Iowa County Park.
Proximity to highways: Several equestrian camping options near Grinnell provide convenient access from major routes. "Not too far off the highway. Very clean and quiet," reports Ken G. about Lake Iowa.
Seasonal timing: Consider weather conditions when planning RV trips. "We went in the chillier months so the park definitely was not at its most scenic as it probably usually is," mentions Jennifer M. about her experience at Elk Rock State Park.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Grinnell, IA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Grinnell, IA is Lake Iowa County Park with a 4.6-star rating from 8 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Grinnell, IA?
TheDyrt.com has all 4 equestrian camping locations near Grinnell, IA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring
