RV sites near Indianola, Iowa offer camping options within a 30-mile radius of this central Iowa town, situated at 961 feet elevation in rolling prairie terrain. Seasonal temperatures range from winter lows around 14°F to summer highs near 86°F, making April through October the primary camping season. Year-round options exist, though winter campers should confirm availability as several parks close seasonally.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: Lake Ahquabi State Park Campground provides excellent shoreline fishing in a 130-acre lake just 5 miles south of Indianola. "There is plenty of fishing, a swimming beach, and they have water sport rentals! The area is very pretty and peaceful," notes one visitor who recommends it for families with or without children.
Hiking trails: Lake Ahquabi State Park Campground features a trail system including a lengthy lake perimeter route. "If you're up for it there is a hike that loops around the entire lake making it about 6-7 miles long. It's a pretty easy hike, but definitely long," says one regular visitor.
Biking access: Griffs Valley View RV Park connects directly to a dedicated bike path. "Nicely paved 25 mile long biking and walking Chichaqua Valley Trail runs right between the campground and the campground office," according to one long-term camper who stayed for two months while working in the area.
What campers like
Clean facilities: Griffs Valley View RV Park receives consistent praise for its immaculate bathrooms and shower houses. "Bathrooms are immaculate. Large community center, gym, and laundry facilities on site," reports a winter visitor who noted the staff's attentiveness to snow and ice management.
Convenient layouts: River Oaks RV Park offers thoughtfully designed utility connections. "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," explains a visitor who appreciated the practical setup.
Stargazing conditions: Rural locations offer excellent night sky viewing opportunities. One camper at Lake Ahquabi noted, "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."
What you should know
Site spacing varies: Kellogg RV Park offers well-maintained but sometimes close sites. "Each pull-thru, gravel-strewn site (all 18' wide with lengths ranging from 65' to 85') comes equipped with all of the typical hook-ups (20/30/50 amp electric, water and sewage) along with plenty of in-ground fire rings," reports a detailed reviewer who noted the park's relative openness.
Reservation requirements: Demand fluctuates seasonally. A visitor to Griffs Valley View noted, "Good thing we got through because they found us a site for the night," after being told they were fully booked from May until September.
Highway proximity: Some campgrounds trade natural seclusion for accessibility. At Shady Brook Camping & RV Adventures, one camper observed, "We looked at the other reviews and it talked about it being so close to the freeway, but we didn't hear a sound. It was really in a good perimeter of trees and lots of shade and level camp spots."
Tips for camping with families
Beach activities: Adventureland Campground offers swimming options within the property. "Pool was nice, and also had a few arcade games in the pool house. The biggest draw for us was Adventureland Park which was a five minute walk from the campground," shares a visitor who noted the adjacent amusement park makes this an ideal base for families.
Tent-specific areas: Lake Ahquabi offers designated tent camping sections. "There are some great spots down by the lake that are perfect for tent camping," recommends a frequent visitor who appreciates the lakeside location for non-RV camping.
Recreational rentals: Equipment rentals make outdoor activities accessible. "They have rentals for paddle boards, kayaks, canoes, etc, for a decent price!" notes one Lake Ahquabi camper who enjoyed water recreation without bringing personal equipment.
Tips from RVers
Level site selection: Lakeside Casino RV Park offers concrete pads but quality varies. "The concrete in our site was in poor condition, it had crumbled leaving a dip in the pad. The cable didn't work, but electric and water had no issues," explains one overnight visitor noting that site quality isn't uniform.
Wi-Fi reliability: Internet service quality varies between campgrounds. At River Oaks RV Park, a camper reported, "Free WiFi was good; we streamed tv. It did freeze a few times but hard to tell if it was the WiFi or the provider."
Check-in procedures: Some campgrounds have nonstandard registration processes. At Kellogg RV Park, a visitor explained, "The 'office' is a little gas station, hamburger cafe with a very efficient and friendly check in person. The sites are mostly pull through with full service electric, water, and sewer."
