116 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Campgrounds near Huxley, Iowa include a mix of county and state parks offering diverse camping experiences within a 30-minute drive. Jester County Park and Ledges State Park provide established camping areas with options for tent camping, RV hookups, and cabin rentals. Several campgrounds in the area feature electric sites, while others maintain primitive camping areas for those seeking a more rustic experience. The landscape primarily consists of wooded areas along rivers and lakes, with some campgrounds situated near recreational water features like Saylorville Lake.
Seasonal considerations affect campground availability throughout the region, with many sites operating from April through October. Prairie Flower Recreation Area and Cherry Glen Campground typically open from mid-April to mid-October, while Ledges State Park remains accessible from April through December. "One of the more beautiful places to camp in Iowa. Awesome hiking trails and really well-shaded campsites," noted one visitor about Ledges State Park. Campers should be aware that spring rainfall can affect access to some areas, particularly at Ledges where water occasionally flows over roadways. Most developed campgrounds in the region require reservations, especially during summer weekends and holidays when sites fill quickly.
The camping experience varies significantly across the region's developed campgrounds. Several visitors mentioned the quality of hiking trails at Ledges State Park as a highlight, with sandstone formations providing scenic views uncommon in central Iowa. Wildlife sightings, including deer and raccoons, are frequently reported at campgrounds throughout the area. Campers note that sites at Swede Point Park provide convenient access to the High Trestle Trail for bicycling. Noise levels vary by location, with some campgrounds like Prairie Flower situated near water recreation areas that can become busy during peak season. Most developed campgrounds provide basic amenities including picnic tables, fire rings, and access to toilets, while shower facilities are available at select locations including Jester County Park, which receives positive reviews for its clean facilities.
"A couple minor complaints that I developed would be that it is right next to the golf course so there is a lot of near by traffic, and people like to cruise on motorcycles and drive muscle cars through"
"Iowa county parks are amazing. They pour money into them and it really shows. Clean, I mean immaculate. Nature/Conservancy center there is just next level."
from $20 - $25 / night
Check Availability"One 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."
"One of the more beautiful places to camp in Iowa. Awesome hiking trails and really well-shaded campsites."
from $12 - $25 / night
Check Availability"The Prarie Flower campground at Saylorville Lake is an open, flat grassy campground near wooded trails around the US Army Corps of Engineers land."
"Lots of prairie area around, spacious sites. Varying levels of shade. A25, had a good amount of shade and was near the nice playground and nice bathrooms. No view of the lake from loop A."
from $20 - $336 / night
Check Availability"Been camping here every summer for about 3 years as pass thru Iowa."
"Above average overall for central Iowa. Views of Saylorville Lake. Plenty of shade. Clean restrooms. It’s a large park and some sites are close together, but generally spacious. Good cell service."
from $24 - $26 / night
Check Availability"We stayed here for two nights while visiting family nearby. It’s a pretty location with the dam and waterway right there. The sites are well spaced."
"Great spot located next to the Des Moines River. Check in was a breeze and conveniently near the fill and dump stations. Peaceful lot near the river. Great fishing in the river."
from $22 - $26 / night
Check Availability"We camped here to be close to the Iowa High Trestle Trail for bicycling and it's very handy for that. Nothing fancy, but has plenty of sites, flush toilets and showers available."
"Nice little camp ground with easy access to the high trestle bike trail"
"Clean bathrooms, close to the lake, playground, and a lot of sites. It does get busy. As you would expect there are a lot of bugs on a hot day in Iowa. Tent sites have good shade from trees."
"Great find on our way through Iowa. Clean and spacious. Very quiet, just listen to the frogs at night."
from $14 - $84 / night
Check Availability"Next to skunk river oxbows, kayak, no swimming, water stagnant, no fish, about 4ft depth everywhere. Great hiking trails, clean, great camp hosts, ranger. All sites first come."
"We haven't camped here, but have seen that the tent areas are right next to the water. Super serene with great hiking trails and bird watching!"
"Has a cute pond and is adjacent to a bike and running trail. The main lodge has very clean restrooms and showers with hot water! Recommended"
"There is also a very nice bike trail right outside the park."
from $35 - $90 / night
Check Availability"Lots of trees for shade but the lake has trails and a swimming beach with watercraft rentals. Truly a hidden gem in central Iowa!"
"Got to the campground around 6pm on a Friday and no one was at the primitive campground which was nice. The picnic table and fire ring were clean and in good condition."
from $17 / night
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LegendVery nice state park campground. There are cabins as well as campsites. The park is adjacent to Pine Lake and water based recreation is available including swimming beach and boating. The campground is off a paved road and is near to town. There is a walking path to the boat launch from the campground. Biking/hiking trails are on property.
LegendSmall park with basic amenities along the river. There is a big event center at the entrance and keep going back and the campground is there along the river. This would be a great area for paddling the river. Seemed pretty quite and spaces are moderately spread out. There is a rifle range on the property if that interests you (negatively or positively- there is a photo of the rules in my review). No shooting while I was there.
ScoutNot free $10 a night.
ScoutNot free. $10 a night. Haven’t been here yet just writing a review to let everyone know it’s not free.
ScoutAs you arrive there is parking and a center with rest rooms, maps, and shelter with information. They print out free maps and it is easy to follow. The camp site is a short walk and they have a porta potty for use at the group site which is nice. Kuehn has some fire pits and grates available for a fire. They also have a table which is nice. The trails are in great condition and are multi connected throughout the park. There is also an additional camp spot by the river that we spotted which looked even a bit nicer and secluded. The only cons are At night when it’s still you can hear the highway in a distance ever so faintly and walking to the campsite with toddlers is super manageable but annoying if you need to make multiple trips. Overall it’s a fantastic place and well kept up!
RangerThere have been a total of 3 people camping here this weekend. If you want peace, quiet, and solitude, this is a great place!!! There have been a half dozen cars come through, one being a sheriff, so it’s not TOTALLY, quiet but nothing too noisy. Keep in mind there are no amenities other than a pit toilet(no shower) that was actually quite clean! Anything you need, you have to bring with you including water. There is also no dump station…. It worked out great for me. Also, it’s not free like the website stated. It’s ten dollars a night which is reasonable…
TravelerOnly stayed one night but very convenient location and registration.
Legend9-14-26 Timberline East RV Campground, I do not think this is a KOA anymore. Tent site T1 & 2 was level and on grass with table and fire ring. checked in at 7pm, overcast, Molly was great at the check in, offered a 10% Veteran discount. $34 for the night. We only stayed one night. Showers and bathrooms were decent. T-Mobile was 5G 4 bars. Rained all night, you can hear the noise from the highway but you drown it out.
ScoutThis is a great location by the lake with some spots having great water views. You dont feel like sardines with all the space between sites. You can walk down to the beach as well in no time. We had a nice relaxing weekend. Will be back.
Camping options near Huxley, Iowa primarily consist of Army Corps of Engineers campgrounds and county parks at elevations between 830-1,000 feet. Most camping sites near Huxley are situated around Saylorville Lake and the Des Moines River, offering a mix of wooded sites and open prairie camping. These campgrounds typically receive 35-40 inches of annual rainfall, with summer temperatures averaging 80-90°F during peak camping months.
Fishing opportunities: Cherry Glen Campground provides access to fishing spots along Saylorville Lake where anglers catch bluegill and bass. "So quiet and peaceful down by the water. Beautiful scenery, great playground, friendly atmosphere," notes Brenda M. about the waterfront areas.
Biking trails: Swede Point Park offers convenient access to the popular High Trestle Trail. One camper shares, "Nice little camp ground with easy access to the high trestle bike trail." The trail features the illuminated High Trestle Bridge that spans the Des Moines River valley.
Wildlife viewing: At Jester County Park, visitors can observe bison and elk in dedicated viewing areas. "They advertise Elk and Bison which are smart enough to stay far away from humans, as it should be," mentions reviewer Jim S., who gave the park five stars.
Clean facilities: Acorn Valley campground receives consistent praise for its maintenance. "The whole place is super clean, especially the bath house. All the spots are nice and lots of exploring to do!" writes Gina J. The well-maintained bathhouse includes hot showers.
Secluded camping areas: Several campgrounds offer more private sites for those seeking quiet. "Our favorite spot to camp is 410 and 409. It's a secluded area within the 400s that is lined with trees on one side and a drop off into the Saylorville water circuit on the other," reports Larissa C. about her experience at Jester County Park.
Hiking trails: Ledges State Park Campground features distinctive sandstone formations with challenging terrain. "I would say it was a challenging hike. A lot of up and down terrain, stone steps, etc. The ledges along the river were beautiful and depending on the river height you can walk right along them!" shares Jennifer M.
Seasonal closures: Many campgrounds in the area close during late fall and winter. "Drove 6 hours to find out the campground is closed (apparently for all of fall and winter) without any awareness of that being the case online," warns Katie P. about Chichaqua Bottoms Greenbelt.
Wildlife encounters: Prairie Flower Recreation Area and other local campgrounds have active wildlife. "Biggest downside is the resident raccoons. Come out every night to rummage through possible food options. Secure your food and they're no problem unless you're a light sleeper," advises John F. from Acorn Valley.
Reservation requirements: Many campgrounds fill quickly during summer months. "The Des Moines area has a fairly large camping population - because of this, reservations are usually necessary," notes Elizabeth A. about Bob Shelter Recreation Area. Some sites require booking up to six months in advance.
Playground access: Multiple campgrounds feature playgrounds for children. At Prairie Flower Recreation Area, "This is a very large campground with lots of sites and large group camping areas. The bathrooms and shower house are nice and clean," notes Melissa A., highlighting amenities that work well for families.
Water activities: Shallow water areas provide safe spaces for kids. A reviewer at Ledges State Park notes, "The ledges along the river were beautiful and depending on the river height you can walk right along them! It's also fun for kids to take a dip in."
Educational opportunities: Chichaqua Bottoms Greenbelt offers wildlife viewing and nature trails suitable for children. "We've taken our canoe here once and really enjoyed the winding, quite, green waterways. This is a relatively obscure place with little amount of crowds on any weekend," writes Larissa C.
Pad types: Different campgrounds offer varying pad surfaces. At Prairie Flower Recreation Area, "Loops b, c, and mostly d have paved pads. Most spots are level so setting up is a breeze," advises Elizabeth A., information helpful for RVers concerned about leveling.
Dump station logistics: Plan Sunday departures carefully at busy campgrounds. "There's one dump station for a campground that is large is size and popularity. Trying to leave on Sunday is a good 1 hour wait," warns Elizabeth A. about Prairie Flower Recreation Area.
Hookup details: Griffs Valley View RV Park provides full-service sites. "The lots are a nice size and have hookups for everything. There is a recreational building and bathroom facilities to use as well," notes Willy W. RVers appreciate the concrete pads and well-maintained utilities.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Huxley, IA?
According to TheDyrt.com, Huxley, IA offers a wide range of camping options, with 116 campgrounds and RV parks near Huxley, IA and 2 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Huxley, IA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Huxley, IA is Jester County Park with a 4.5-star rating from 31 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Huxley, IA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 2 free dispersed camping spots near Huxley, IA.
What parks are near Huxley, IA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 5 parks near Huxley, IA that allow camping, notably Saylorville Lake and Lake Red Rock.
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