119 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Camping near Indianola, Iowa ranges from primitive tent sites to full-hookup RV parks and cabin rentals, with most campgrounds located within a 30-minute drive. Lake Ahquabi State Park Campground offers tent and RV sites with electric hookups, providing access to lake activities including fishing, boating, and swimming. The area features a mix of accommodation types, from primitive tent sites to full-hookup RV parks and even cabin options at locations like Waterfront Cabin and River Oaks RV Park. Several campgrounds in the area feature amenities like showers, picnic tables, and sanitary dump stations.
Most campgrounds in the region maintain seasonal operations with varying availability. Lake Ahquabi State Park typically operates from April through December, while Yellow Banks County Park and Walnut Woods remain open year-round. According to one visitor, "The lake is beautiful and the path around it is in great shape. Bathrooms and showers were nice and clean." Site reservations are recommended during summer weekends, as popular locations fill quickly. Grant Park offers free camping with a 14-day stay limit, though access can be challenging after dark. Campers should verify current operating status before arrival, as some parks like Otter Creek have closed camping indefinitely.
Campers report high satisfaction with waterfront sites, particularly at Lake Ahquabi. The park's lake supports fishing, paddling, and swimming, with equipment rentals available during summer months. A review noted that "There is plenty of fishing, a swimming beach, and they have water sport rentals." Some campgrounds experience crowding issues, especially during peak summer weekends. As one camper mentioned, "The campsites are all extremely packed in together, so you can really feel a part of other people's conversations and activities." Sites at Grant Park offer more separation between campers with spacious, level areas featuring fire rings, picnic tables and cement pads. Hiking trails are available at several parks, with Lake Ahquabi offering a 6-7 mile trail that loops around the entire lake. When planning camping trips near Indianola, consider that the most popular campgrounds often require reservations weeks in advance during peak season.
"We entered the park looking for a walk-up spot and landed on Site 67 which was not reserved. The site was spacious with a big tree with good shade and cover if needed."
"The beach, and park were very far away from the camping area. A suggestion of a bagger for their lawn mower for all the cut grass. The lake by the boat landing was nice and so were the trails."
from $25 - $38 / night
Check Availability"Close proximity to the state fair without being to close. Great stay! Our site had an open field behind it definitely recommend."
"There are two RV sites with shower houses, and about 10 tentsites on a large rectangular area in the back surrounded by trees."
"There's a boat camp, a bird watching area, a playground, plany of park space with picnic tables and BBQ pits, hiking and biking trails, and even a lodge that I assume can be rented for events."
"Walnut Woods is conveniently located 25 minutes outside of downtown Des Moines. Sites are paved and mostly level, although we did have to throw a couple of blocks under one side of our TT tires."
from $25 - $40 / night
Check Availability"Each of the 10 campsites are spacious and plenty of distance between. Nice quick trails with wildlife. The park is well maintained and well priced!"
"You’ll eventually see the park entrance(a sign and fence). Pass the first bathrooms/shelter/info board. Continue down the gravel road that looks kinda like a trail."
"There are a couple small hiking trails, but they were very well maintained and an easy hike to get my daughter started in her backpack."
from $5 / night
Check Availability"The Iowa State Fair is the best fair in the world with more than a million visitors every year! There is something for everyone in the family."
"I always loved going here when I lived in Iowa! The State Fair was a blast! Being able to actually stay there made it that much better!!"
from $200 - $300 / night
Check Availability"If you’re traveling through Des Moines, Iowa area; this is the place you will want to camp at!"
"The site we were on is sorta blacktop but the sides have crumbled and it has a slight tilt to it so stepping down out of the camper was tricky as your feet tend to slide in the loose rocks."
from $35 - $80 / night
Check Availability"Thomas Mitchell park is located outside of Altoona Iowa on 197 acres. There are electric and non electric sites available."
"This is a sweet well-maintained campground just south of Mitchellville, Iowa off of 80. Not many sites and only a handful were occupied mid week in July."
"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
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ScoutIf you don't mind a small hike with your gear I would definitely recommend this site it's clean and has well maintained trails. I came the last weekend in Aug and just about had the place to myself.
ScoutIf you love being in nature this is the best place to be! It's almost completely all natural. And only $15 per night.
RangerGreat friendly hosts. Check in inside the gas station. Full hook ups and a fair price compared to most rv parks especially with good sam membership. No frills but adorably decorated. You got gas, snacks and great food and ice cream..what else could you ask for in a overnight stop. Laundry, shower house and bocce court. Bocce sets available to borrow from the gas station. Cute communal sitting areas one area with fire rings and wood available at the gas station. Yes its right off 80 and you will hear the traffic but with this incredible convenience we didn't mind. Felt safe and good vibes during our stay. Level and long gravel pull through sites and big rig friendly. Will definitely be added to our favorites list for I80 travels.
TravelerPerfectly pleasant. There are flush toilets and showers. The lake adds a nice scenery. There aren’t too many amenities so this is good for a short stay
ScoutGreat little spot with lots of hiking trails. Bathrooms are clean and guests are quiet. Don’t miss grave from 1869 at top of hill on trail. Beautiful place. Wish I lived closer.
TravelerBeen camping here every summer for about 3 years as pass thru Iowa. Sites spaced nicely apart, is electric only, but have water at entrance, and also thru out the park so can fill fresh tank upon entrance and many place inside campground. Lots of trees, but also many sunny sites here. Bathrooms are always clean
TravelerGreat place especially if you know people around love the fact u can have electricity with your tent and they have showers
RangerThis is a sweet well-maintained campground just south of Mitchellville, Iowa off of 80. Not many sites and only a handful were occupied mid week in July. There is a little stream running along the edge of the campground. There is one bathroom building with 6 separate rooms - each with a toilet, sink and shower with warm water. Plenty of drinking water at centralized locations. There is shade at most sites when you first enter the campground and in the loop. Along the edges (inc the stream) shade is more variable. The only issue we had was a bright light that was on all night near the end of the loop. We were in site 5 and had to move our truck so it didn’t shine in all night.
GuideLevel sites and very quiet. Great hiking location and photo opportunities.
Camping near Indianola, Iowa centers around the Raccoon River watershed region, with terrain varying from prairie to wooded river valleys. The region experiences typical Midwest seasonal variations, with summer temperatures often reaching 80-90°F and high humidity from June through August. Most campgrounds within 30 minutes of Indianola require reservations for weekend stays from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
Water activities on Lake Ahquabi: Lake Ahquabi State Park Campground offers paddle sport rentals during summer months. "They have rentals for paddle boards, kayaks, canoes, etc, for a decent price!" according to Jennifer M. The lake supports various fishing opportunities with minimal aquatic vegetation.
Hiking trail options: Walnut Woods State Park features riverside trails suitable for casual hiking. One camper noted, "They have some nice hiking trails through the woods and along the river. I was hoping the trails would be longer but they are still nice." The park's bird viewing building provides opportunities for wildlife observation.
Stargazing spots: Grant Park offers excellent night sky viewing due to its distance from city lights. "The best parts of the park are the well-kept trails and stargazing!" reports Larissa C., who visited Lake Ahquabi multiple times. Clear summer nights provide optimal stargazing conditions.
Spacious, level sites: Grant Park offers particularly well-spaced camping areas. "The sites were very spacious, some massive and very spread out. You could see neighbors but you aren't on top on them," notes Abby M. Each site includes a cement pad, fire ring with grill, and picnic table.
Waterfront camping options: Sites near Lake Ahquabi provide lake views from select locations. "During day light you could see the lake in the distance from this site, and the clearing around the site gave great visibility of stars with very low light pollution," reports Brent R. about site 67.
Clean facilities: Yellow Banks County Park maintains well-kept restrooms and camping areas. One camper described it as "Wonderful trails, lots of space. Access to DM River, has nice pond, playgrounds, just a beautiful area." The park's dump station features double lanes for efficient service.
Limited availability: Many campgrounds fill quickly during summer weekends. At Yellow Banks, one camper advised, "Can usually get site without reservation, IF you roll in on Wed. By Thurs night, it's full." This pattern repeats across most parks in the area.
Bug considerations: Walnut Woods State Park Campground can have significant mosquito activity in summer months. "Beautiful river access and camping in the trees. However the mosquitos get crazy here!" warns Steve H., suggesting insect repellent as essential equipment.
Site spacing varies: Campground density differs significantly between locations. At Lake Ahquabi, "The campsites are all extremely packed in together," while Grant Park offers "10 beautiful campsites, all with new picnic tables, fire ring and cement pad so you're chairs are actually level!"
Playground access: Timberline Campground features family-friendly facilities. "Has a swimming pool and playground. Basketball court and a community hall," notes Karey A. The campground's smaller size creates a more intimate environment for families.
Beach and swimming options: Lake Ahquabi provides a designated swimming beach with gradual entry. "They have a beautiful lake and a beach. The water has minimal seaweed and great temperature!" reports Jennifer M., making it suitable for younger swimmers.
Navigation challenges: Some parks can be difficult to locate after dark. One visitor to Grant Park noted, "Sign was difficult to see. Wasn't marked for trailer camping. Difficult to get out once we decided we didn't understand where we were going." Arriving during daylight hours is recommended for first-time visitors with children.
Hookup placement: Waterfront Cabin and surrounding RV sites often have varying hookup configurations. At River Oaks RV Park, a visitor noted, "Sites have good spacing and full hookups that were installed with some thought. Only used one stinky slinky, could have hooked up water with a 6' hose, and the electrical was near the back of the site."
Site leveling requirements: Many sites in the area require leveling blocks. At Timberline Campground, "Sites were pretty level, sizable that our 43' motorhome and tow fit without unhooking," though some campers note that "the site we were on is sorta blacktop but the sides have crumbled and it has a slight tilt to it."
Cell service coverage: Most campgrounds near Indianola maintain reliable cellular connectivity. At Grant Park, one camper reported, "I had 2-3 bars of LTE via AT&T," ensuring connectivity for those needing to stay in touch during their camping trip.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular campground near Indianola, IA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Indianola, IA is Lake Ahquabi State Park Campground with a 4.1-star rating from 13 reviews.
What parks are near Indianola, IA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 6 parks near Indianola, IA that allow camping, notably Saylorville Lake and Lake Red Rock.
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