Camping sites near Independence, Iowa offer diverse options across Linn, Buchanan, and Black Hawk counties. The terrain combines wooded riverside areas with open prairie settings at elevations ranging from 850-950 feet. Winter camping requires preparation for temperatures that can drop below 10°F, while summer campers should be ready for occasional thunderstorms that can temporarily flood low-lying areas.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: Backbone State Park offers excellent trout fishing in its streams and lake. One camper mentioned, "We hiked on the famous Backbone trail - a really fun hike that isn't too incredibly long. The grounds were well kept and we had a phenomenal time."
Biking trails: George Wyth State Park connects to an extensive trail system. A visitor noted, "The Lake-to-State Park Bike Route is a 50 mile route connecting Pine Lake and George Wyth State Park. The route primarily utilizes county highways and established bike routes and paths once inside Cedar Falls/Waterloo."
Water recreation: Pinicon Ridge Park provides canoe rentals and river access. A camper shared, "The trail through the campground takes you across the river where you can find canoe and paddle boat rentals, and our favorite an off leash dog area. We all took the trail into town and found a BIT Brewery where we enjoy woodfired pizza and brought some beer home in a growler for around the fire that night."
What campers like
Clean facilities: Many campgrounds maintain excellent bathrooms. At Pinicon Ridge Park, one visitor commented, "The bathrooms and shower were very clean with lots of hot water. There is hiking in the park and very little road noise."
Spacious sites: Skip-A-Way Resort offers well-sized camping areas. A camper mentioned, "This was a nice campground next to a small town- nice quiet sites. Sites were kind of close together. Mostly seasonal spots here."
Local attractions: Amana RV Park & Event Center provides easy access to the historic Amana Colonies. One visitor noted, "Great location right in the Amana Colonies to explore the area. There are sites for tents up to big rigs. They have showers and laundry and the folks are very nice."
What you should know
Seasonal operations: Many rv sites near Independence, Iowa have limited operating seasons. Lakeshore RV Resort operates from May through mid-October, while Amana RV Park is open April through October.
Weather impacts: Some campgrounds experience flooding issues. At George Wyth State Park, a camper warned, "Because it is so close to river anytime it rains heavily there is flooding in several areas of the park. And almost every year (usually late summer, early fall) it rains enough to flood a good portion of the park."
Site conditions: Gravel pads are common at camping areas near Independence. At Waterloo - Lost Island Waterpark KOA, a visitor observed, "Sites are gravel for the RV, reasonably level, and very well maintained. Most sites are pull through. Hookups are in very good condition."
Reservation requirements: During peak season, advance booking is essential. One camper at Backbone State Park advised, "This is a great place to stay but make sure you get your reservations in early if you plan on staying on the weekend."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Beyonder Getaway at Lazy Acres offers extensive children's activities. A visitor shared, "This place had so much! They had a little train ride, miniature golf course, catch and release fishing in their pond, splash pad, lots of cool things hand built structures to see as well."
Swimming options: Several campgrounds have beach areas for cooling off. At Skip-A-Way Resort, a camper noted, "They have a beach for swimming. Boats for renting but they were out of order for repairs when we were here. You can rent kayaks, bikes."
Weather preparation: Summer thunderstorms can occur with little warning. Pack rain gear and quick-dry clothing, especially when camping with children. A visitor to Pinicon Ridge Park mentioned, "Storm shelter right on site. Playground is awesome for kids of all ages."
Tips from RVers
Hookup details: RV sites near Independence, Iowa offer various hookup configurations. At Amana RV Park, a camper noted, "Services work well and wifi is strong. Only minus is that most roads are gravel and if it rains alot, there are puddles everywhere and it is pretty soft coming in and out of sites."
Cell coverage: Internet connectivity varies by location. One camper reported having "4 bar LTE with Verizon. Our hotspot was usable and performed very well" at the Waterloo KOA.
Accessibility features: Some campgrounds offer accessible sites. At Beyonder Getaway, a visitor mentioned, "My daughter is in a wheelchair so we requested the accessible site. It's right next to the showers with an adapted pic-nic table and raised fire pit!"
Road noise considerations: Some campgrounds experience highway noise. A visitor to Beyonder Getaway noted, "Near the highway so it has truck noise," while another mentioned, "It backs up to a corn field, right off the Interstate but the noise was barely there."
