Best Tent Camping near Independence, IA

Tent campgrounds near Independence, Iowa provide a mix of primitive and established sites for outdoor enthusiasts. Gardner Family Farm and Iowa Hemp Farm Stay offers private tent camping with pond access for swimming and fishing, while Three Elms County Park provides basic tent sites closer to town. Wakpicada Natural Area, located about 30 miles south near Central City, features tent sites adjacent to a fishing pond with good tree cover.

Most tent sites in the Independence area feature minimal amenities, with several offering only basic facilities. Buffalo Creek Area and Cutshall Area provide vault toilets but lack drinking water and other services. Campers should bring all necessary supplies, including water and food. Fire rings are available at some locations like Gardner Family Farm, where fires are permitted, but several county parks prohibit open flames. According to one visitor, "Evenings at Gardner Family Farm are memorable with dark skies and billions of stars. Enjoy a campfire, that's a must." Sites typically have grassy or dirt surfaces suitable for tent setup.

Walk-in tent locations are available at Wickiup Hill Primitive Campsite, approximately 40 miles south of Independence. This site offers a permanent shelter, fire ring with grate, and nearby restrooms accessible via a short trail. A camper noted that "the site offers primitive amenities near Wikiup Hill Learning Center" with firewood included in the camping fee. Echo Valley State Park Campground provides quiet tent camping near a trout stream with only six first-come, first-served sites spread far apart. The natural settings around Independence feature good fishing opportunities, with Wakpicada Natural Area described by visitors as having "good bass and panfish fishing with quiet campgrounds that aren't right next to each other." Most primitive tent camping areas maintain a secluded atmosphere even during peak seasons.

Best Tent Sites Near Independence, Iowa (25)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Independence, IA

6 Photos of 25 Independence Campgrounds


Tent Camping Reviews near Independence, IA

293 Reviews of 25 Independence Campgrounds


  • C
    Jun. 6, 2018

    Matsell Bridge Natural Area

    Nice little inexpensive primitive site... spaces almost always available

    Nice quiet little primitive campground next to the Wapsipinicon River. Unfortunately, when I was there the last weekend of May, the gnats were bad, and the mosquitoes were just starting to gear up. HOWEVER, take bug spray and enjoy the rustic peacefulness of this "best kept secret" for primitive and inexpensive camping sites. Beautiful location, ranger close by, wood for sale just across the bridge, fire pits and picnic tables at every site. Good for RV, trailer or tent camping… level ground and lots of shade. Primitive bathrooms, no showers or running water.

  • TThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 13, 2024

    Lime Creek Park

    Nice campground with a Quirk

    The pros: $10 fee ($15 electric), campground seems well maintained (grass is mown, security light works, tables in good repair, gravel access road in good shape, etc); no one here but us, the sound of the running Creek is soothing, vault toilet is probably the cleanest I've seen; ATT cell service was 3bars 5G The unusual: no specific site, no specific place to pull into, no site numbers or designation except on the electric pedestals. It's all grass. Pull onto the grass near the table or electric pedestal you want. The cons: highway traffic noise is easily heard and doesn't seem to stop for more than a few seconds (though the crickets/bug sounds and the creek sound is sometimes louder so you hear that instead), dust from vehicles passing on nearby dirt road filters thru the trees (due to dry weather?), and, well, it is, after all, a vault toilet-not my fav,

  • Lee D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jan. 30, 2025

    New Wine Park Dubuque County Park

    Nice small county park campground

    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. Some sites are primitive, and some have water and 30-amp electricity hookups. There is one ADA-accessible site with a paved camper pad. 

    Site Quality: Most sites are level. The camper pads are gravel/grass, but not all are clearly defined. Each site has a picnic table and a fire ring. 

    Bath/Shower: The bath/shower house was closed when we were there in November but there are vault toilets about a quarter mile from the campground (in the day-use area) that were very clean and well-stocked when we were there. 

    Activities/Amenities: Many activities including disc golf, three hiking trails, volleyball, two playgrounds (one in the day-use area and one by the campsites). There are two reservable picnic shelters. There is also a dump station. 

    We were tent camping in November on a backpacking trip so we didn’t take advantage of any of the activities but would return in our van on a future camping trip. We were the ONLY ones in the campground at this time of year!

  • Annie C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 31, 2019

    Fountain Springs County Park

    Solitude and not much else

    This campground also goes by the name of Holbert. Small campground but free with a handful of picnic tables and campfires. The vault toilets were cleanish, thou older. This campground is next to a pretty little creek that you can play and fish in. The campground is really just a series of campsites strung out along the creek and road. It was pretty quiet while I was there, not many campers at all. There are no hookups for RV’s/campers so it is primarily tent camping or dry camping. There is an interesting story about how this camping area has come to be: the land was donated by Ella Ellis in memory of her husband William Ellis. They apparently loved the land and wanted to make sure it was never developed and could be enjoyed by all. A lovely story.

  • Kerry M.
    Aug. 25, 2021

    Wolf Creek Rec Area

    Quiet campground in the heart of Iowa

    Wolf Creek is a nice little campground near Beaman, IA (Beaman is very small, near Conrad as well which has a grocery store).

    There are 10 RV sites, which are $15/night and several tent/small camper sites which are $10/night.

    The campground has potable water but no showers. There are vault toilets.

    The campground has a nice playground, which was a feature we enjoyed when my daughter was little.

    My favorite part about this campground is the privacy. The tent sites are spread out and it is fairly easy to find one without neighbors too close.

    Activities:

    + Playground

    + Creek fishing

    + Nice benches and swings

    + Comet trail for hiking and biking

    + Hunting nearby

  • Clint  G.
    Jul. 19, 2021

    Pinicon Ridge Park

    Perfect County Campground

    We stayed at this campground for 7 nights with W/E hook ups.  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 bathrooms and shower were very clean with lots of hot water.  There is hiking in the park and very little road noise.

  • Mike C.
    Sep. 4, 2021

    Blue Inn Campground

    Cozy, basic CG

    37 full-hookup sites, some tent sites, all right on edge of town. Adjacent to Kitty Creek, joins Maquoketa River. Some concrete pads, most are gravel, fairly level. Pretty tight layout, average of only 30-40' between sites. New fire rings, picnic tables in good condition. Bakery and other facilities are closed due to COVID. Previous campers at our site left lots of trash on ground...always disappointing. Electrical and water were good. Sewer connections a bit high.

  • Ashley F.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 24, 2024

    Nelson Dewey State Park Campground

    Great place for a short trip

    I’ll begin by saying this is by far the cleanest campground I have stayed at. The facilities were well kept including the vault toilet houses. We stayed in a walk to site and the views were incredible. Our tent pad was quite rocky so I would recommend sleeping pads or you will be very uncomfortable. Our site was also extremely dusty which wasn’t a problem at all just be prepared to be a little dirty. The campground was quiet except for the occasional train that rolled through those are quite loud due to how close they are to the campground. I would definitely come back to Nelson Dewey and stay again. There was not a ton to do in the area so a short weekend stay was perfect. A highlight is that the park provided cart to use to haul all your stuff to the walk to sites. There is 1 designated parking spot per walk to site as well. The walk to sites are small and only accommodated our one (6 person) tent which was not a problem for us as we knew this ahead of time.

  • Steph P.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 9, 2022

    Nelson Dewey State Park Campground

    Walk-in sites or bust!

    We stayed in walk-in site C, which the furthest site from the parking lot. Arrive before dark!! The wheelbarrows provided are a lifesaver, the trail to the site is manageable until the last 50 feet, which is steep and rocky.

    It is a smaller site and mostly slanted so we had to use our backpacking tent (90"x70") on the small patch that's sort of level, as our car camping tent (10'x14') was entirely too huge.

    The views are stunning. There was a pair of bald eagles in a nest down by the river - bring binoculars!

    HUGE caveat - this site sits on a ridge above a county highway and freight train tracks. There are also train tracks on the other side of the river. When trains are blowing their horns miles away, the sound carries. When they go past the site, it's incredibly loud! I was amazed at the racket - we live in Chicago on a busy street, a block from the L and the Metra tracks. 

    Bring ear plugs, trains rolled through until just after midnight and started up around 5am (that I noticed anyway).

    While Site C is incredibly difficult to reserve (best dates I could find were a Mon-Wed in October which I booked in APRIL), it's worth the views and the privacy.

    Site D is the first of the four walk-ins, huge, level, has a wide view, and  a bend in it's trail so isn't exposed. A great choice if C is booked.

    Site A is next, least amount of privacy, medium sized, looked level. Sites B was occupied our entire time there so wasn't able to check it out, but it's a bit more private.

    Pit toilet by the walk-in sites was as nice as pit toilet gets, it even has a urinal. Water is conveniently located near the parking.

    Shower house with flush toilets was really nice, 2-3 shower stalls and 4 toilets. No pay, just have to push the button over and over since the water only stays on for 10 seconds.

    The electric and non-electric sites are well spaced and on the larger side. A nice campground overall.

    For supplies and firewood, I recommend the Okey Market. It's convenient and has everything you need, huge beer cave too. If you want some local flavor, stop into the Silver Spigot Saloon, cheap beer, tasty fries, and they have a dog-friendly patio.


Guide to Independence

Tent camping options near Independence, Iowa range from primitive sites to established campgrounds with varying amenities. Located in Buchanan County in northeast Iowa, this area experiences four distinct seasons with summer highs averaging 85°F and winter lows frequently below freezing. The landscape features rolling farmland interspersed with wooded areas and access to the Wapsipinicon River, creating diverse camping environments within short driving distances.

What to do

Fishing adventures: At Troy Mills Wapsi Access, campers can enjoy access to the Wapsipinicon River for fishing and water activities. The site permits pets, allowing outdoor enthusiasts to bring their four-legged companions along for riverside camping.

Hiking trails: Wickiup Hill Primitive Campsite offers access to multiple nature trails and educational opportunities. "Along the trail into the site, you will find a large play area for families," notes James M. The nearby nature center provides additional learning experiences about local ecosystems.

Wildlife viewing: The natural areas around Independence provide habitat for various wildlife species. Buffalo Creek Area features vault toilets and access to wooded terrain where campers can observe native birds and animals in their natural environment during early morning or evening hours.

What campers like

Stargazing opportunities: Gardner Family Farm and Iowa Hemp Farm Stay receives consistent praise for its night sky viewing. Nels D. describes it as "Paradise" and notes that "The fire was already going when we arrived at an amazing fire pit. The farm was cute and a wonderful place to get outside and be in nature."

Privacy between sites: Echo Valley State Park Campground stands out for its site separation. Wilber S. remarks, "I was a quarter mile from the next nearest site. Certainly a tent oriented campground, RVs would have a difficult time." This spacing provides a more secluded tent camping experience compared to many public campgrounds.

Water recreation: Pond activities are available at several locations near Independence. Parker H. describes Wakpicada Natural Area as having "Campsites right next to the pond and good tree cover made the experience fun anyway. I consider it a little hidden gem."

What you should know

Reservation requirements: Many sites operate on a first-come, first-served basis. Echo Valley State Park Campground has only six non-reservable sites that fill quickly during peak season. Kerry M. points out that it is "non-electric, self-pay, non-reservable, and has only a few sites."

Seasonal considerations: The best tent camping near Independence, Iowa occurs between May and October when temperatures remain moderate. During spring and fall, campers should prepare for temperature fluctuations between day and night. Winter camping is possible but requires specialized cold-weather gear.

Facility limitations: Most primitive sites have minimal or no facilities. Cutshall Area offers vault toilets but no drinking water, requiring campers to bring their own water supply. Plan accordingly with sufficient water for drinking, cooking, and cleaning during your stay.

Tips for camping with families

Educational opportunities: The nature center at Wickiup Hill provides educational programs for children. James M. mentions that the site "offers primitive amenities near Wikiup Hill learning Center" and notes it's a "Great County site for family/group" with a "nature center just yards away."

Water safety: If camping with children at locations with pond access, bring personal flotation devices and establish clear water safety rules. Gardner Family Farm features a pond with a rope swing that kids particularly enjoy.

Pack-in activities: Many sites around Independence lack designated play areas, so bringing outdoor games and activities for children is recommended. Three Elms County Park provides open spaces suitable for yard games and exploratory activities.

Tips from RVers

Size restrictions: Most tent camping areas near Independence cannot accommodate large recreational vehicles. Echo Valley State Park Campground specifically caters to smaller setups. Wilber S. advises that "RV's would have a difficult time" navigating the campground roads and fitting into available sites.

Veterans Memorial County Park offers limited 30-amp electrical hookups for smaller RVs but lacks water and sewer connections. Consider this location if you need minimal electrical service while still wanting a tent camping atmosphere.

Leveling challenges: The terrain around Independence features rolling hills that may require leveling blocks for RVs. Buffalo Creek Area has uneven ground that makes finding a naturally level parking spot difficult, so bring appropriate leveling equipment if arriving in an RV or trailer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Independence, IA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Independence, IA is Gardner Family Farm and Iowa Hemp Farm Stay with a 5-star rating from 2 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Independence, IA?

TheDyrt.com has all 25 tent camping locations near Independence, IA, with real photos and reviews from campers.