The Jefferson, Iowa area offers several RV campgrounds situated within a landscape characterized by gently rolling hills and farm country at approximately 1,070 feet above sea level. Seasonal temperature variations are significant, with summer highs often reaching the mid-80s and winter lows frequently below freezing. Most RV parks in this rural area remain open from April through October, with limited winter options available.
What to do
Hiking trails: At Springbrook State Park Campground, visitors can explore multiple nature paths. One camper noted that "You'll love this little park if you want to really disconnect and get away from things as there was absolutely 0 cell reception where we were at... they have multiple nice trails to go hiking on."
Fishing opportunities: Nations Bridge Park provides easy water access for anglers. A visitor mentioned there are "Views of the water and walking trails from the site" and that the park is conveniently located "just on the outskirts of Des Moines."
Disc golf course: For active recreation, some parks offer disc golf facilities. A reviewer at Nations Bridge Park observed, "It was green, very clean, and in a nice location... There are horse shoe pits and even a frisby-golf course."
Swimming: Springbrook State Park Campground has a lake with a beach area for cooling off during summer months. A camper reported, "The lake is a peaceful spot to spend the early mornings, a nice place to fish (but don't expect to catch anything) and its beach is fun on the hot summer days, and tends to not be too busy."
What campers like
Privacy options: Some sites offer more seclusion than others. At Ledges State Park, a visitor seeking privacy chose "a hike-in site to try for a bit of seclusion. The site was nice. We didn't have other campers near by."
Clean facilities: Cleanliness is consistently mentioned as a positive feature. A guest at Des Moines West KOA Holiday reported, "Bathrooms were immaculate! Pizza & Chicken ordered on site was a delicious dinner when we were just to tired to fuss with our own gear."
Year-round access: While most parks have seasonal limitations, some remain open through winter. A Des Moines West KOA Holiday visitor noted, "Now open year round... Don't pay attention to the highway signs that says they're only open until October, they're working on updating them."
Scenic landscapes: The sandstone formations at Ledges State Park Campground are unique to the region. A camper shared, "What I enjoy most about this park compared to others in Iowa are the sandstone ledges and the slopes on the trail. There are some excellent views."
What you should know
Cell service limitations: Many campgrounds have limited or no connectivity. A Springbrook visitor warned, "We have Verizon & AT&T and had no service. This is the first place we have been to without voice service (other doesn't matter). Just a bit worrisome in case of emergency."
Seasonal facility closures: Bathrooms and other amenities often close during off-season. A Nations Bridge Park camper noted, "All the restrooms were locked for the season, and the only signage was on the doors of the facilities. No signage about the closures at the self registration."
Campsite placement variations: Site quality and privacy can vary significantly within parks. A reviewer at Springbrook State Park observed, "Tent camping spots are clustered mainly in the middle of a loop, which feels a bit like a fishbowl with no privacy."
Noise considerations: Some campgrounds experience social gatherings. A camper at Springbrook State Park mentioned it's "mainly an RV/camper campground, which can be loud/rowdy at night for tent campers. Lots of parties happening the two weekends we were there."
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly amenities: Some parks offer extensive recreational options for children. A visitor to Shady Brook Camping & RV Adventures reported, "It was really in a good perimeter of trees and lots of shade and level camp spots. We thought this was a nice little spot and a great price."
Nature center activities: Certain parks provide educational opportunities. At Springbrook State Park, a parent shared that "They had a little nature center which was closed but the nice lady opened it for my kids to go in and let them hold snakes and turtles! They were so excited!"
Kid-friendly activities: Des Moines West KOA Holiday offers numerous recreation options. A visitor noted they "have a ton of fun amenities for kids such as a pool, dunk tank, gem mining, ladder golf, horseshoes, jumping pillow, water balloon wars, basketball and more."
Playground availability: Many campgrounds include playgrounds, though quality varies. A Springbrook camper mentioned, "The playground needs a massive makeover. Our RV was on the corner so we had a fair amount of extra room unlike some sites."
Tips from RVers
Site selection strategy: At Nations Bridge Park, elevation can affect site conditions. A visitor advised, "There is an upper and lower campground and rumor has it that the lower sites can be a little muddy."
Hookup details: University 40 near Lohrville provides full-service hookups. The campground features "electric-hookups" and "sewer-hookups" with the added benefit of "showers" facilities for RVers.
Proximity to highways: Location relative to major roads can affect noise levels. A Shady Brook Camping reviewer cautioned, "You could literally throw a rock from the entrance and hit a passing semi. Would be a possible extended stay for construction folks. Not for any peace and quite camping."
Campground layout: Site spacing affects privacy at many RV parks. A reviewer at Des Moines West KOA noted, "Site 31 is a 'buddy site' and you are sitting on top of your neighbors with no privacy. It works pretty good if you actually have a 'buddy', but if you come alone it's not private at all."
