97 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Sugar Bottom Campground and West Overlook Campground accommodate pets throughout their facilities with designated pet exercise areas. Both campgrounds maintain clean, well-maintained sites with fire rings, picnic tables, and access to drinking water. Sugar Bottom features mountain biking trails where leashed dogs can accompany owners, while West Overlook provides spacious campsites with lake views suitable for pets. F.W. Kent Park allows pets at both tent and RV sites with electric hookups, though pets must remain leashed at all times. Lake Macbride State Park's Modern North and Primitive South campgrounds both permit pets with standard leash requirements. Beyonder Getaway at Sleepy Hollow allows pets at RV sites but restricts them from tent camping areas. Campground data and reviews near Iowa City, Iowa is regularly updated on The Dyrt.
Coralville Lake recreation areas provide multiple pet-friendly camping options with varying amenities. Cottonwood Campground offers tent-only sites where pets can enjoy shaded walking paths. Tailwater West and East campgrounds feature electric hookups and water access where dogs can cool off during summer months. Most campgrounds require pets to be leashed at all times, with leashes no longer than six feet. The Devonian Fossil Gorge near several campgrounds provides interesting walking terrain for pets and owners. West Overlook's spacious sites allow comfortable accommodation for families with pets, though the campground can become crowded during summer weekends and holiday periods. Linder Point Campground maintains clean facilities with grassy areas suitable for pet exercise between camping loops.
"Very nice COE campground north of Iowa City in the Lake Coralville area. Beautiful setting, lots of options for sites."
"A great campground if you want to mountain bike, kayak, boat, hike, fish, play disc golf or just enjoy the view of the lake. Lots of sites to choose from with varying amounts of privacy."
from $14 - $260 / night
Check Availability"LuLu and I stayed for 10 days while visiting family in Iowa City. The campground hosted mainly locals but it’s only a couple of miles off the I80."
"We were on a road trip from Colorado to Michigan and Iowa City is a good distance from our destination. The drive from I-80 is not too far and pretty. The locale is beautiful, just on the lake."
from $22 - $28 / night
Check Availability"It is the perfect camping destination between Amana colonies and Iowa City."
"We stayed during an Iowa Football weekend, attended the game in nearby Iowa City, and then enjoyed the rest of our weekend exploring the ponds and trails in the park."
from $20 / night
Check Availability"My niece who lives nearby recommended this place to stay when we went to visit her since was a short drive from where she lives. "
"Close access to boating and town"
from $26 - $38 / night
Check Availability"You may also be able to take the dam trail with a bike, but I'm not totally sure about that."
"This is for the primitive southern camp site at lake macbride, iowa. Their is a modern campsite on the north side as well. This one is spacious, beautiful and peaceful."
from $14 - $25 / night
Check Availability"Given its proximity to a busy interstate highway, this campground scores high on the convenience factor, but it is just far enough away where you will feel as though you have escaped the busy hustle and"
"Given its proximity to the busy interstate highway, this campground scores high on the convenience factor being EZ on- and off-, but it is just far enough away where you will feel as though you have escaped"
from $45 - $65 / night
Check Availability"This is one of around 4 campgrounds near/around Lake Coralville."
"Natural setting with plenty of trees and located near Coralville Reservoir. Paved roads and sites. Ample roam for big rigs, but no pull through sites."
from $26 - $30 / night
Check Availability"Iowa River runs alongside offering fishing. Trails, play area and Visitor Center just a 2 minute drive or hike away. Firewood available at check station."
"Very short walk to the overflow of the dam. People are friendly facilities are clean."
from $14 - $30 / night
Check Availability"This is our second one night stay while visiting a patient at University of Iowa Hospital which is just 15 minutes away. Site 10e both stays. Flat paved electric spot for only $20."
"Little Bear Campground is located right off I-80 at the West Liberty exit. It is right next to a trailer park. There are a few tent sites ($22/ night)and Rv sites($33/night)."
"Very cute campground right off highway. I called while traveling and Mike was very accommodating. Full hookups and showers. Even got a pool. Gas station nearby full of character."
from $22 - $49 / night
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GuideLuLu and I stayed for 10 days while visiting family in Iowa City. The campground hosted mainly locals but it’s only a couple of miles off the I80. The park is electric with a convenient dump and water station as you enter the park. It’s located on a lake with boat-ramp, kids play area, hiking trails near by, and close to quaint Iowa City home of the Hawkeyes.
TravelerVery nice COE campground north of Iowa City in the Lake Coralville area. Beautiful setting, lots of options for sites. A recent wind storm had the area shut down for two weeks but they did a great job cleaning up downed trees and broken limbs. It was very quiet, lots of wildlife and amenities like a boat ramp, beach, playground, walking trails, recycling (!) and an amphitheater (!). Daughter lives close by so we will definitely return.
GuideMy dad and I tent cramped here in mid August. It is the perfect camping destination between Amana colonies and Iowa City.
GuideOur family enjoys tent camping at Kent Park because the sites are grassy and open, but more private than many Midwest campgrounds because they are lined with tall prairie grasses and trees. We stayed during an Iowa Football weekend, attended the game in nearby Iowa City, and then enjoyed the rest of our weekend exploring the ponds and trails in the park. Prairie life makes for good photo ops and bird-watching. Restrooms and campsites were clean and well maintained. We will definitely be back!
ScoutWe spent a night on this property June 28-29, 2023. We were on a road trip from Colorado to Michigan and Iowa City is a good distance from our destination. The drive from I-80 is not too far and pretty.
The locale is beautiful, just on the lake. All of the internal roads are paved and the spaces are nicely paved or graveled. The sites are spacious and angled for ease of backing into. Some sites are a bit far from the bathhouses, but that's the only ding.
We'll keep this one on our list.
LegendThis campground is maintained by the Army Corps of Engineers as part of an outdoor recreation complex around a large dam on the Iowa River. The reservoir behind the dam creates both the Coralville Lake alongside Lake MacBride which is a state park in a side bay. The recreation area also includes campgrounds and river recreation downstream of the dam, including a gorge of geologic interest that is filled with Devonian fossils exposed in the flood of 1993.
This review is for the West Overlook campground located on the lakeside upstream of the dam. This is one of the larger campgrounds at Coralville Lake, and is popular due to the large sandy beach, the modern boatlaunch area, and options for a variety of kinds of campsites in separate loops. Some of the loops are close to the lake or in various heights overlooking the lake, some loops are tucked into beautiful shady woods further inland. As a tent camper I chose one of the loops in the woods as the sites are larger and quieter and more spacious. All of the loops seem family friendly and pretty quiet even though pretty full. There are new modern bath houses with showers, and hiking trails all around. There is easy access to a nearby mountain bike trail complex, the state park, fishing, and boating. This seems to be a camping destination for a lot of folks in the area, but is also an easy stopover right off Interstate 80 for folks on road trips. It is also a nice and inexpensive basecamp for folks visiting Iowa City or the University of Iowa, only about a 15-20 minute drive away. My most recent time camping here was this month, May 2025, but I have camped here many times in the past as far back as 1964, and the campground improvements and recreation opportunities have just gotten better and better over the years. Its a popular location, so Spring camping is quieter; fall camping is also quiet, and the fall leaves are beautiful then.
ScoutA great campground if you want to mountain bike, kayak, boat, hike, fish, play disc golf or just enjoy the view of the lake. Lots of sites to choose from with varying amounts of privacy. All have electric hookup, a few have full and there are some neat hike in tent spots. You really can’t go wrong with this campground. Many activities, very well kept campground, located by Iowa City, Solon, North Liberty so many places to get a bite and see the locals or just get groceries. Here’s a picture from our site 26 stay.
LegendShould you be traveling east-west on one of the country’s busiest thoroughfares – Route 80 – and find yourself in central Iowa and looking either for a place to pull over for a day or for much longer than that, then you may very well want to consider Beyonder Getaway at Sleep Hollow. Given its proximity to a busy interstate highway, this campground scores high on the convenience factor, but it is just far enough away where you will feel as though you have escaped the busy hustle and drive-by buzz of non-stop traffic.
This campground oasis planted square in the middle of the 'prairieland' of the Hawkeye State, you’ll appreciate that there is a decent-sized lake here that is perfect for a quick dip should you want to get some swimming in and cool down from the blistering Midwestern summer heat or perhaps you’d like to put a kayak or canoe in to get some decent oar exercising in or cast a line to try your luck and some mild ‘catch& release’ fun – whatever the reason … up to and including no reason at all … the mini lake that is front and center here at Beyonder is both a good distraction as well as makes for a great landscape.
As for the campground itself, there’s RV sites offering up pull-thru and back-in sites complete with full hook-up water, 30+ 50 amp electric and sewage lines. If you’re a primitive camper like me, there’s a handful of sites (7 by my count) that include picnic tables, fire pits and scattered stand-up BBQ grills. And if you don’t have either a tent or an RV, no worries, Sleepy Hollow will easily rent you one of their 3 cozy cabins which are located up front and close to the fishing pond, where these structures come with running hot and cold water along with electricity.
With amenities in mind, Beyonder packs a punch with offering the following: horseshoes, kid’s playground, dog run/ puppy park, designated dumpsters, fairly decent WiFi, community firepits, general market store, laundr-O-mat, shower facility, pavilion, game room, ball pit, volleyball and basketball courts, man-made beachhead with swim area and windmills. Oh, and there’s a lagoon with hundreds of ducks, but depending upon how you look at this, it may or many not be considered an amenity. My kids loved it and we had a lot of fun feeding our feathered friends.
Insider’s tips? Here’s a few: (1) When you get tired of digging through your Cordova roto-molded cooler or onboard mini-fridge, then head on over to nearby Renee’s Roadhouse where this roadside stand serves up standard-fare Americana fare like burgers, sandwiches and wraps; (2) For anything more substantial, you’ll have to take a longer drive east to Iowa City of which I recommend Foundry Food+ Tap, Back Berner Bar& Grill or Casa Tequila Tiffin; (3) Should you be looking to explore a nice slice of nature while here at Beyonder’s then head due northeast to Hawkeye Wildlife Management Area where there’s plenty of trails, shooting ranges and some fairly decent bird watching; (4) If you’d like to embrace the Amish vibe that exists here in rural Iowa, then head due north to Amana Colonies where you’ll come across what looks like German colonies that have been expelled from the Schwarzwald (Black Forest) where this displaced utopian outcrop will sell you anything from blankets and cabinetry all while offering you some nice wienerschnitzel and apfelpflanzen. Auf wiedersehen!
Happy Camping!
LegendThis overnight access is a small town in itself. This site offers not only the basic communities and needs of fuel, including EV, charging stations, but auto parts, showers, dentist, Chiropractic, care, gifts, dog park, and is right next to the I 80 trucking museum. Good lighting in the overnight spots which has room for long RVs.
Several campgrounds near Iowa City offer excellent pet-friendly options within the Coralville Lake recreation area. The area sits at approximately 700 feet above sea level in the Iowa River valley, creating diverse terrain for hiking with pets. Seasonal flooding occasionally affects lower campgrounds, so checking conditions before arrival is important during spring months.
Fossil hunting at Devonian Gorge: Just a short walk from Cottonwood Campground, this unique geological site showcases 375-million-year-old marine fossils. "There is an interpretive trail winding through the limestone gorge that will help you spot fossils. There is also a nice river walk trail," notes Annie C., who recommends combining this with the Woodpecker Nature Trail.
Mountain biking on dedicated trails: The trail system near Sugar Bottom Campground provides excellent terrain for cyclists with pets. "Nice access to lake for fishing, hiking, wildlife viewing. Near Iowa Raptor Project that conducts raptor programs and site with walking tour and live raptors," writes James M., highlighting the diverse activities available in one area.
Swimming at designated beaches: Several lakefront areas offer swimming access where leashed dogs can watch from shore. "We appreciated the small playground near the north campground. Showers are meh, but overall value is great at $11 per night," writes Adam J. about Lake Macbride, noting the budget-friendly access to water recreation.
Spacious sites with privacy: At F.W. Kent Park, the campground layout provides room between sites. "Beautiful, very large, clean, quiet, $20 for RV Campspot with electric, sewer dump at park entrance," says james, highlighting the excellent value at this well-maintained facility.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Many campers report regular wildlife sightings. "Beautiful place... saw wild turkeys and dear almost ever day walking the camp grounds.. clean and they offer free fire wood," shares Terri R. about Lake Macbride State Park, noting an unexpected perk with the complimentary firewood.
Clean facilities despite high usage: Maintenance is consistently good across most campgrounds. "Very nice COE campground north of Iowa City in the Lake Coralville area. Beautiful setting, lots of options for sites... It was very quiet, lots of wildlife and amenities like a boat ramp, beach, playground, walking trails, recycling (!) and an amphitheater (!)," reports Steve B., impressed with the overall maintenance.
Seasonal considerations: Spring camping offers more solitude but potential flooding. "This is our favorite place to be in the summer. Great trails for hiking and walking and my kids love swimming here as well. The beach area is usually well maintained," explains Jessica P., suggesting summer as the ideal time for families.
Weekend crowding at popular sites: West Overlook Campground gets particularly busy. "Reservations are a must. This campground is close to the dam and the Devonian Fossil Gorge," advises Carolyn M., emphasizing the need to plan ahead, especially for summer weekends.
Varying level of amenities: Some campgrounds offer full facilities while others are basic. "Tent area among trees includes fire rings. Showers/restrooms onsite, walk in sites too, firewood available at West Overlook permit station," explains James M. about Cottonwood, highlighting its minimalist but functional setup.
Playground options: Several campgrounds feature play areas for children. "This campground has many amenities for the whole family. From tent sites, to Airbnb cabins for 9 people they have a site for everyone. They have laundry, showers, horseshoes, volleyball, basketball, fishing and a swimming beach," notes Iris A. about Beyonder Getaway at Sleepy Hollow.
Educational opportunities: Combine camping with learning experiences. "This campground has two campgrounds. The modern side on the north end of the park with full hookups, and the primitive side on the south side of the park with no electricity or water hookups," explains Jacob B., describing the diverse options at Lake Macbride that can teach children about different camping styles.
Budget-friendly options: Many campgrounds offer affordable rates for families. "Stayed at site 48 and it's a perfect spot just off the lake with great views. Only drawback is it's kinda of a walk from a bathroom and the beach but that is more than ok to deal with...with a pop up," shares Brad B., noting the excellent value despite minor inconveniences.
Site leveling considerations: Many RVers note the importance of leveling equipment. "Natural setting with plenty of trees and located near Coralville Reservoir. Paved roads and sites. Ample roam for big rigs, but no pull through sites," reports Peter K. about Linder Point Campground, highlighting the solid infrastructure despite some limitations.
Water and electric hookup availability: Check specific campground offerings before booking. "This is a great campground has full hook up sites and other sites have electric and water. Very short walk to the overflow of the dam. People are friendly facilities are clean," reports Phillip B. about Tailwater West, noting the flexible options for different RV setups.
Easy access from highways: Several campgrounds provide convenient stopover options. "Very conveniently located off I-80, Fair price, full hook up and pull through site $33.00," notes Alan B., appreciating the accessibility for travelers passing through the region.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Iowa City, IA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Iowa City, IA is Sugar Bottom Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 24 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Iowa City, IA?
TheDyrt.com has all 97 dog-friendly camping locations near Iowa City, IA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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