168 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Campgrounds near Hopkinton, Iowa range from developed county parks to state-managed recreation areas, with a mix of tent, RV, cabin, and glamping options. Bailey's Ford Park and New Wine Park feature water and electric hookups within a 30-minute drive of Hopkinton, offering amenities like showers, picnic tables, and fire rings. Several campgrounds provide river access, including Pinicon Ridge Park along the Wapsipinicon River and Bailey's Ford along the Maquoketa River. Most sites in the region accommodate both tent camping and RVs, with some locations featuring designated cabin areas for those seeking additional comfort.
Access to campgrounds near Hopkinton varies seasonally, with many sites operating from April through October. Backbone State Park and New Wine Park remain open year-round, offering camping opportunities even in winter months. Reservations are recommended for weekend camping during summer months, especially at popular locations like Jellystone Park Monticello, which operates only from mid-April to mid-October. The mixed-use campgrounds typically provide a range of hookups for RVs while maintaining primitive sites for tent campers. Many campgrounds feature accessible restroom facilities, though availability of showers depends on the location and season. According to one visitor at Bailey's Ford: "The showers had hot water and real on and off handles NOT the push to start ones. Access to the river was available and there was a boat launch site."
River access represents a significant draw for many campgrounds in the Hopkinton area. Campers frequently mention fishing opportunities and water activities in their reviews. At Worthington Sportsman's Club, one camper noted: "So secluded without being in the middle of nowhere. People driving around the pond didn't even know we were there!" Developed campgrounds like Bailey's Ford Delaware County Park combine natural features with facilities like sanitary dump stations, drinking water, and trash service. Tent sites at many locations offer more privacy and direct access to natural features, while RV areas typically provide more developed infrastructure. Campground density remains relatively low compared to more touristy regions, allowing for quiet experiences even during peak season. Several locations feature hiking trails, playgrounds, and fishing access that enhance the camping experience beyond simply having a place to sleep.
from $35 - $105 / night
Check Availability"Iowa knows how to do County campgrounds. Firefly campground has full hookups and reservations. The other campgrounds have water and electric and are first come first serve."
"Dump available on entrance/exit. The site was a level rock pad witch was very spacious with a fire ring and picnic table. Nearest grocery store was within 5 miles. "
"The RV/pull behind spots here fill up VERY fast. This was no big deal for us since we went for a long tent camping weekend, there are plenty of sites if you are ok without all the hookups."
"The tent camping sites are quiet, well shaded and good access to the fishing stream. Running water Bathrooms closed due to covid but the vault toilets are fine."
"Backbone State Park is unlike any other place in Iowa, having geological features uncommon in Iowa. There are two campgrounds."
"The lake was super gross, with excessive floating moss (probably a weather issue) and EXCESSIVE goose poop everywhere. The beach was basically unusable, with goose bombs everywhere."
from $12 - $25 / night
Check Availability"General: 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."
"Great campground near Dyersville, IA (home to The Field Of Dreams site). The campground is a lollipop loop with sites on one side along the creek and on the other along woods."
"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."
"Close to bathroom and showers. Hiking trails. Nice place to fish and explore."
"The RV sites aren’t really out of the ordinary but the park sits upon a slight rise above the Missouri River and the road around the campground leads down to the river."
from $10 - $36 / night
Check Availability"cave system of Maquoketa Caves State Park, Iowa."
"This is a great weekend stay, with short trails that show some beautiful and unusual scenery for central Iowa. The natural bridge is incredible, and the sites are well spaced out."
from $15 - $25 / night
Check Availability"from trout steam,river access for boats or kayaks, to the beautiful trails with educational signs along it. this park is perfect"
"Trout stream, trails, river access, showers and a playground. I recommend!"
"Apparently there are also good trails, as many of the campers have ATV’s parked at their sites. The shower house, under the office, was spacious and clean."
RangerVery nice campground with a few FHU sites, most are electric only. Some sites are pretty sloped making it hard to level longer rigs. Check carefully when making your reservation. Nice close hike to see the overlooks to the river, and there’s a well maintained hike down to the Bridal Veil Falls. Minus 1 star for the horrible push-button operated showers that only stay on for 6 seconds at a time. Good phone service for both t-mobile and AT&T.
RangerGreat little county park! Lots of back in sites; we found a pull-through that fit our 43' motorhome towing a truck with room to spare (site #20). $25 a night for water and elec is a fair price, and there's a dump station on the way out. My only reason for marking 4 stars is that trees could be trimmed back a bit more for big rigs to navigate without brushing up against them. (See couple pics). However it was late in the season -- we stayed Oct 22 and the park closes for winter on Oct 25, so maybe they'll be due for a trim next spring.
GuideWe came towards the end of season so we were one of the few people staying there. The spaces are close together but we had no one near us so we didn’t mind. We had a great experience with the host, very friendly. However, it is a bit noisy since the highway is right there and you do constantly hear the trains. Also, there are some questionable people roaming through the campground.
GuideI arrived after dark. Crept in slowly as its dark. Loop B. Found a spot easy. I’ll drop the envelope on the way out. Some minor road noise. Dark! Quiet! So far, excellent. I plan to head out early. I would stay here again. $25water/electric. Cash in iron ranger. Haven’t used the restroom. Perhaps in the morning. Lovely clear night sky
RangerWe had a delightful afternoon and overnight stay here. We were warmly welcomed by the volunteer at the registration booth, who filled us in on the area and what we might see during our short visit. Our site was lovely, tucked at the end of a loop overlooking the woods, where we spotted several deer. We explored a bit while we were there, including the dam and the nearby fossil site—both very cool. Bathrooms were clean, and the showers had plenty of hot water and good pressure. We only wish we could have stayed longer at this lovely park. It was a wonderful final stop on our trip.
LegendTons to do, trails, the caves, playground, picnic areas The sites are average The caves are amazing Water, power, bathrooms and dumping station
ScoutVery quiet campground. Not a bad spot. Has dump station and a few water spigots to fill up on your way in. Plenty of old trees. Cell service is spotty.
LegendThis campground has both primitive, spacious shaded sites, as well as RV sites towards the north. Primitive sites include Tables and Fire rings only, no hard pads to pull up onto. It has a boat ramp for the Wapsi river, offering paddling and fishing. The primitive side does flood so watch a river levels. The RV side has a seasonal host, restroom and showers, playground, and a shelter for rent. Sites have tables, fire rings, and electric, with a dump station nearby.
ScoutBe advised site 14 is on such a steep hill it was honestly scary coming in an out of our camper! If an older couple were staying at this site in a camper I’m not sure if they would even be able to. Our second door entrance cannot be used due to how steep the hill is and we had to add wood to the bottom of our stairs because they didn’t touch the ground. Forgot to add you’re also under a very large black walnut tree that is currently dropping walnuts that are ripe.
Camping spots near Hopkinton, Iowa cluster around the Maquoketa River watershed, with elevations ranging from 800-1,000 feet above sea level in gently rolling terrain. The region experiences typical Midwestern seasonal changes with camping generally available from April through October, though winter camping options exist at select locations. Most campgrounds stay open until mid-October when nighttime temperatures regularly dip below freezing.
Trout fishing access: At Bailey's Ford Park, campers can fish in stocked trout streams directly from their sites. "Access to the trout stream directly from our site! The facilities were clean even for a vault toilet (regular toilets and showers available at the main building which were extremely clean)," notes camper Ashley F.
Hiking trails: Backbone State Park offers multiple trail systems through limestone bluffs. "We loved waking up in the morning and going for a walk along the many trails, seeing deer on the trail, and the lake," shares Larissa C. The famous Backbone trail provides a moderate difficulty hike with unique rock formations.
Kayaking opportunities: Many campgrounds offer river access and boat launches. At Pinicon Ridge Park, "The trail through the campground takes you across the river where you can find canoe and paddle boat rentals," explains Brandon T., who also mentions they "enjoy woodfired pizza and brought some beer home in a growler for around the fire that night" after hiking into town.
Spacious, private sites: New Wine Park campsites offer ample space between neighbors. "All of the sites are large and well spaced with good hammock trees, fire pits, and picnic tables, and nice gravel parking pads. The sites are so large you have lots of places to pick from to pitch your tent on the level grassy sites," reports Annie C.
Clean facilities: Many campers comment positively about bathhouse cleanliness. At Bailey's Ford, a camper noted, "The showers had hot water and real on and off handles NOT the push to start ones." Multiple locations upgraded their facilities recently, including Pinicon Ridge with "new showers" that campers describe as "amazing."
Nature immersion: At Worthington Sportsman's Club, campers enjoy secluded spots. "So secluded without being in the middle of nowhere. People driving around the pond didn't even know we were there!" says Becky, who also mentions "great fishing while we were there too."
Seasonal operations: Most campgrounds near Hopkinton operate April through October. Central Park runs "mid apr-mid oct" according to their information. Jellystone Park Monticello specifically operates "April 15 to October 15."
Reservation recommendations: Weekend camping during summer requires advance planning. Many campgrounds fill quickly, especially those with electric hookups. At Bailey's Ford, "The RV/pull behind spots here fill up VERY fast. This was no big deal for us since we went for a long tent camping weekend, there are plenty of sites if you are ok without all the hookups."
Water quality concerns: Central Park now has a restored lake, with Leslie P. noting "Beautiful little lake. Nice beach area." However, at Backbone State Park, one camper warned "Lakewater often unsafe for swimming. To the extent the beach had weeds growing on it."
Playground access: Multiple campgrounds feature child-friendly amenities. Pinicon Ridge Park has what Chelsea D. calls "the most amazing playgrounds (yes, two of them!) That we've ever seen. There were activities for kids of all ages, and they used a rubber composite on the ground at the playground so when kiddos fall, they aren't injured."
Educational opportunities: Bailey's Ford offers nature-focused learning. "There are restrooms which are well taken care of but no showers at the time as they were 'covid closed'. There are multiple playgrounds with grills and shelter, and tons of easy hiking for families with kids. We played in the springs when we stayed, relaxed and just walked the park," shares Chantal C.
Quieter weekday stays: Family camping works best midweek when campgrounds are less crowded. As one camper at New Wine Park noted, "We stayed just after Labor Day and we were one of 6 trailers in the entire park." This pattern holds true across most campgrounds in the region.
Hookup availability: Water and electric sites are common, with full-hookup options limited. At New Wine Park, "Water/Elec was $18 dollars night" according to Russell B., who found it "Very nice campground at reasonable price."
Site levelness: Many campgrounds feature level sites for easy RV setup. Pinicon Ridge campers report "The site was a level rock pad witch was very spacious with a fire ring and picnic table," making setup straightforward for larger rigs.
Dump station access: Several campgrounds provide dump stations at entrance/exit points rather than at individual sites. At Pinicon Ridge, they offer "W/E hook ups. Dump available on entrance/exit."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular campground near Hopkinton, IA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Hopkinton, IA is Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Monticello with a 4.7-star rating from 3 reviews.
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