Whether you're a tent camper, an RVer, or just passing through, Guthrie Center, IA has a lot to offer. Guthrie Center is filled with the activities, sights, and experiences to make everyone in your crew a happy camper. Find the best campgrounds near Guthrie Center, IA. Read helpful reviews and tips to find the perfect camping option for you and your crew.
$12 - $200 / night
"Pros:
-Not a far drive from Des Moines, but still quite remote
-Lots of nice hiking trails
-Easy access to large, mostly clean modern bathrooms
-The lake is a peaceful spot to spend the early mornings"
"You’ll love this little park if you want to really disconnect and get away from things as there was absolutely 0 cell reception where we were at."
$6 - $15 / night
"Based on other reviews we weren’t expecting much, but this spot is perfect for getting a good night’s rest when passing through Iowa."
"Park was clean and close to highway. Husband said bathrooms were clean enough. Didn't use the showers. Arrived around 10pm on a Tuesday and there were 3 spots left."
"Turn of century museum within walking distance. National golf course, par 3 golf course at nearby lake panorama is open to the public."
"The Guthrie County Historical Village& Museum is a 5 minute walk away. It's not open evenings or weekends but there is interesting stuff to walk around and see even when closed."
$15 - $33 / night
"This campground has both RV full hookup and electric sites very close to the lake. Campsites offer a great view of lake and close access to docks."
"We had 5 dogs in our group and spent a lot of time on the walking trails with them!"
"Decent playground, water pillow for bouncing, fishing pond, dog park, swimming pool. Well maintained, lots of planned activities. KOA, so not a lot of nature. But no traffic or train noise."
"Roadside Oasis, a place to rest a weary head, food, showers, etc. Cabins always help get you in and get out early without setting up camp."
"It was green, very clean, and in a nice location (just on the outskirts of Des Moines). We were there on a Wednesday, and there was barely anyone there."
"It’s a little ways off the highway through the town of Stuart (Home to 1600 good eggs). There is an upper and lower campground and rumor has it that the lower sites can be a little muddy."
$10 / night
"This is a small little park off the highway, we had been traveling for two days and needed to stop for the night."
".  clean accessible and a drive through a quaint little town. What else could you ask for?"
"Nice campground and staff, town close by if you need more supplies, we like it here!"
"Lots of space around your site. Fills up fast on weekends. Would recommend this park."
GuideI just loved this campground. It has shade trees, grass, free showers and lots of room. It is part of a city park on the outskirts of Winterset. There is a dog park and one of the Bridges of Madison County is located within walking distance of the campground. This was well worth the 20 mile drive off I80. If I had known how m=nice this area was, I would have planned better and stayed here for more than one night.
GuideOne of my favorite locations to camp in Iowa as a Boy Scout growing up was Ledges State Park. Since I hadn't been back in years, I decided to check it out and spend a night camping there. It's close to how I remember it.
The campground has a good picnic area, restrooms, and an excellent trail. It's also inexpensive.
What I enjoy most about this park compared to others in Iowa are the sandstone ledges and the slopes on the trail. There are some excellent views, so make sure your phone has enough battery to take photos (unlike me). I also spent a lot of time off the trail. It isn't too hard to get around. I'm not one who enjoys staying at a park that is mostly flat, so this is definitely a good place in Iowa for me to camp.
If you are looking for a cool place to camp within an hour of Des Moines, you should seriously consider this park.
GuideThe trees at the campsites aren't mature enough for shade, but the ponds and trails more than make up for that. Full hookups, shower house and huge dog park are also onsite making this a Cass County hidden gem. Camp host is great and and you're close to old downtown.
ScoutOne of the more beautiful places to camp in Iowa. Awesome hiking trails and really well-shaded campsites. The hike in spots are great if you like privacy and being in the middle of the woods - but you don’t want to be THAT far from your car.
Beware of the raccoons. They’re plentiful and crazy smart here. We had one open our cooler, steal an egg from the cartoon - without disturbing anything else. Honestly, I was impressed! But some of our friends had them rip through their tents to get at food - not as impressive.
TravelerIn a grove of trees in a slightly hilly area. Easy access, but sites are gravel. Nice bit of grass with each site, most are at least partially shaded. Small dog park which is pea gravel, not grass.
GuideSpots kind of level, lots of choices of pull thru or buddy sites. Decent playground, water pillow for bouncing, fishing pond, dog park, swimming pool. Well maintained, lots of planned activities. KOA, so not a lot of nature. But no traffic or train noise. Full hook ups, including TV.
GuideSome full hook ups, sites not very level, playground ok. Can hear shots from gun range next door. Dog park, pool, arcade. We have camped here a couple times, and stored our rig here for a while. Didn't find there was that much going on here to keep us busy. Not a lot of nature, no trails or biking accessible from campground.
GuideI didn’t stay here but did scout it out. Small park by the NishnaBotna river. I did see a camper there with his dog but website specifically says no pets.
LegendThis County Park is located right on the edge of Lake Panorama, a great town North West of Des Moines, Iowa. It is surrounded by amenities, so if you forget something you can drive five minutes into town to replace anything you forgot at home.
This is not a place to rough it, but if you have a family and want an outdoors experience close to amenities, this is the place for you. The campground is very clean and it is right next to a river.
Discovering pet-friendly camping options near Guthrie Center, Iowa, allows you to enjoy the great outdoors without leaving your furry friends behind. Here are some excellent choices for you and your pets.
Frequently Asked Questions
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Guthrie Center, IA is Springbrook State Park Campground with a 3.7-star rating from 9 reviews.
TheDyrt.com has all 64 dog-friendly camping locations near Guthrie Center, IA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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