Top Tent Camping near Jefferson, IA

Looking for an adventure where you can explore Jefferson and then fall asleep in your tent? Find the best information on tent camping near Jefferson, including sites, reviews, and tips for getting the most out of your camping experience. You're sure to find the perfect campsite for your Iowa tent camping excursion.

Best Tent Sites Near Jefferson, IA (3)


Recent Tent Reviews In Jefferson

322 Reviews of 3 Jefferson Campgrounds


  • Gudrun C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Adair City Park
    Oct. 16, 2024

    Adair City Park

    Convenient Spot

    No frills spot for an easy stop off I-80. Only 2 other campers the night we stayed. Great Mexican restaurant 2 blocks away.

  • Pat F.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Don Williams Park
    Oct. 14, 2024

    Don Williams Park

    Quite and nice

    Very quite and nice campground, we camped on top of the hill in tents it was awesome view and potable drinking water next to camp, bathrooms and shower facilities was clean and nice

  • RThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Lenon Mill Park
    Sep. 29, 2024

    Lenon Mill Park

    Pretty basic, great for an overnight

    I stayed here one night while I was traveling. It was a Saturday so the campground was kind of busy. People shouting and loud music. Lots of trucks with noisy exhausts coming and going all day. I'm sure it's more quiet during the week.

    Some of the sites are well shaded, and you can access the water. It looked like people had been finding clams (they left the shells all over the picnic table). People were fishing here.

    The power pedestals are far back from the parking pad for some reason. If you back all the way into your spot or if you have a long cord you should be fine. There was only a 50A outlet so I needed to use an adapter for my 30A camper.

    There is one water spigot, and no dump station.

    There are bathrooms, but no showers.

    I had great T-mobile signal here (5G, 160 down and 20 up). And a somewhat decent 4G Verizon signal (70 down, 12 up).

    The Guthrie County Historical Village& Museum is a 5 minute walk away. It's not open evenings or weekends but there is interesting stuff to walk around and see even when closed. The railroad cars are very cool.

  • c
    Camper-submitted photo from Sportsman Park
    Sep. 22, 2024

    Sportsman Park

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  • S
    Camper-submitted photo from Lake Anita State Park
    Sep. 19, 2024

    Lake Anita State Park

    Nice

    We only stayed here for the night but everything was perfectly fine. A little off I80 but not too far. Nice lake and incredible harvest moon the night we were there

  • BENdejo ~.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Prairie Flower Recreation Area
    Sep. 6, 2024

    Prairie Flower Recreation Area

    Large, level, clean, quiet, cheap

    Large level gravel pad driveways surrounded by beautiful prairie grass. Fantastically clean & well maintained facilities. Nice beach down the road and some Greenway trails. One of the NICEST public campgrounds I've stayed at. Reserve online at rec.gov. America the Beautiful National Parks Pass pays your day use fees at the beach.

  • DThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Acorn Valley
    Aug. 2, 2024

    Acorn Valley

    Nice playground , well maintained

    Nice and well maintained ! We parked at a site by the playground and bathhouse , and could sit at our camper and watch our son play at a safe distance

  • Alika T.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Adair City Park
    Jul. 31, 2024

    Adair City Park

    Awesome little campsites!

    $15 full power / $6 tents / $5 dump only. They have 110 power as well as regular hookups. Playground, tennis / pickleball courts, little zip line, and covered picnic area.

  • Nancy C.
    Camper-submitted photo from Acorn Valley
    Jul. 30, 2024

    Acorn Valley

    Amazingly Quiet

    We lived our time there. It was quiet and we loved listening to the wildlife at night. My only complaint is that they left people in to camp after 10. Which kept me awake for a bit.

  • Thomas P.
    Camper-submitted photo from Beaver Lake Campground
    Jul. 9, 2024

    Beaver Lake Campground

    Simple for overnight

    This campground is on the side of a lake. You hear beavers at night, see rabbits are on the sides of the lot. We came late around 8pm and the owner helped us fill the form and pick our spot. The only drawback are the restrooms which were ok but smelly.

  • George H.
    Camper-submitted photo from University 40
    May. 17, 2024

    University 40

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  • Amanda W.
    Camper-submitted photo from Jester County Park
    Apr. 13, 2024

    Jester County Park

    camping

    we love it here people are great price is Right Showers are hot every time it a WOnderfull place •to be .

  • Pat F.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Swede Point Park
    Apr. 8, 2024

    Swede Point Park

    Great little gem

    Great little hideaway of a campground, very reasonably priced and clean , fresh drinking water with dump stations and hot water showers and modern toilet facilities,

  • RN P.
    Camper-submitted photo from Swan Lake State Park
    Oct. 21, 2023

    Swan Lake State Park

    Perfect

    Tented camped in late October, the weekend before closing.  I was only tent camper in the electric only sites.  If there was a tent only location, I didn't see it.  Those in campers that need water and electricity are regulated to gravel 'parking lot' sites.

    Beautiful park with playgrounds, swim beach, fisbee golf, paved trail, many fishing bars, and more.  

    Electric only sites are small and spaced out well.  Most have level drive perfect for sm camper or suv camping. Grass has slope, but I think you can find a good enough place for tent, I did.  Bathroom clean enough, I didn't use showers. I enjoyed the privacy of lake-front site J.

  • RThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Swede Point Park
    Oct. 1, 2023

    Swede Point Park

    Nice Quiet place to spend the weekend

    Great place to stay. Just a few minutes drive to High Trestle Bridge and right off the river. People were accommodating and friendly. Right between Madrid and Woodward with small town conveniences…

  • Benjamin L.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Walnut Woods State Park
    Sep. 16, 2023

    Walnut Woods State Park

    Nice park, convenient to Des Moines

    We stayed 2 nights, the park was nice and well maintained with walking trails. It is wooded so there is a lot of shade. The pad was a little small but fit our camper fine.

  • Pat F.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Swede Point Park
    Aug. 5, 2023

    Swede Point Park

    Quite and friendly

    It’s very quite here and the few guests that are here are friendly, has a water full hydrant to refill water jugs and bathroom is full and functioning with hot showers and electricity very clean and very nice

  • T
    Camper-submitted photo from Des Moines West KOA
    Jul. 27, 2023

    Des Moines West KOA

    One of our favorites !

    Have stayed here several times, one of our grandkids favorite KOA's. Staff is one of the nicest and most helpful we've ever encountered.

  • Ashley M.
    Camper-submitted photo from Sportsman Park
    Jul. 26, 2023

    Sportsman Park

    Awesome

    Great camping sites! Can’t beat the price. Showers and toilets that were clean. Very peaceful. Best place we camped from Michigan to Washington!

  • R
    Camper-submitted photo from Lake Anita State Park
    Jul. 24, 2023

    Lake Anita State Park

    Great Campsite and Location

    Great location, good facilities (shower, spigot with drinking water, restroom with flush toilets). Plenty of space in tent area - shade and soft grass. A bit noisy when I stayed (people playing loud music into the evening). Overall a good place to stay

  • R
    Camper-submitted photo from Lenon Mill Park
    Jul. 24, 2023

    Lenon Mill Park

    Good Campsite but expensive compared to other similar sites

    I’ve maked this down to 3 stars purely on the basis of the fee - it’s a $20 flat fee whether in an RV with a hookup, or a tent with no hookup, and for that, you get a restroom and a spigot with drinking water, but no shower. Apart from that, the location is quiet and peaceful. Lots of space in the tent area, with some shade and soft grass. Close to town, with restaurants and a grocery store.

  • Stephanie S.
    Camper-submitted photo from Bob Shelter Recreation Area & Campground
    Jul. 23, 2023

    Bob Shelter Recreation Area & Campground

    Nice campground

    This campground is called Bob Shetler not Shelter, but I didn’t know how to change it to correct it; just want to make sure others know this.
    We stayed here for two nights while visiting family nearby. It’s a pretty location with the dam and waterway right there. The sites are well spaced. If we ever stay here again we would choose a site closer to the dam. We were close to a playground and there were a lot families camping in that area which for us took away from the peacefulness of the campground. There were electrical hookups, but no water. We didn’t use the bathroom/shower house, but I walked into one to check it out and it was outdated, old and dark, and small. Overall it’s a nice campground. It gets busy with a lot of fishing.

  • Les W.
    Camper-submitted photo from Des Moines West KOA
    Jul. 18, 2023

    Des Moines West KOA

    Unbelievable !

    Stayed here for five nights attending a family reunion. First time staying at a koa and it was awesome. From the site service firewood and food delivery, to the location and people who stopped here in their travels. I will definitely stay at a KOA again!

  • Pat F.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Swede Point Park
    Jul. 17, 2023

    Swede Point Park

    Nice and quiet

    Very quiet and nice neighbors camping next store , fresh water well on pump next to our campsite number #1 electric and non electric site’s ,electric sites run $18 a night non electric $11 a night , has very clean bath house with toilets and hot water for showering



Guide to Jefferson

Camping near Jefferson, Iowa, offers a mix of beautiful landscapes and fun activities for everyone. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or an adventurous getaway, there are several campgrounds to choose from.

What to do:

  • Hiking: Explore scenic trails at Ledges State Park Campground. One camper mentioned, "The campground is well kept but busy in the summer months with it being a popular hiking destination for Des Moines locals."
  • Fishing: Enjoy fishing at Lake Anita State Park Campground. A visitor shared, "We loved staying there over the weekend... A big lake close by to fish which I'm guessing the only thing to do here other than walk the trail."
  • Wildlife Watching: Check out Prairie Flower Recreation Area for wildlife sightings. One reviewer noted, "The whole park was the cleanest we have seen anywhere else."

What campers like:

  • Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate the cleanliness of the restrooms and showers. A review for Jester County Park states, "Showers are hot every time; it’s a wonderful place to be."
  • Spacious Sites: Many enjoy the roomy campsites at Cherry Glen Campground. One camper said, "This campground is big and clean. It’s pretty peaceful & quiet."
  • Friendly Hosts: Campers often mention the helpful staff. A visitor at Des Moines West KOA Holiday remarked, "Staff is one of the nicest and most helpful we've ever encountered."

What you should know:

  • Limited Cell Service: If you rely on your phone, be prepared for spotty coverage. A camper at Iowa Ledges State Park Campground noted, "Cell coverage is terrible out here, and there is no WIFI to help keep people connected."
  • Busy During Peak Season: Popular campgrounds can get crowded. One reviewer at Lake Anita State Park Campground mentioned, "It was really busy when we did."
  • No Firewood Available: Some campgrounds, like Jester County Park, do not provide firewood, so plan to bring your own.

Tips for camping with families:

  • Playgrounds: Look for campgrounds with kid-friendly amenities. Jester County Park has a playground that families enjoy. One parent said, "The campground has a kids playground, hiking trails, Equestrian Center, golf course, and nature center."
  • Group Sites: Consider reserving a group site for family gatherings. A camper at Bob Shelter Recreation Area mentioned, "The sites are well spaced."
  • Plan Activities: Bring games or outdoor activities to keep kids entertained. A visitor at Prairie Rose State Park Campground noted, "There are plenty of picnic spots."

Tips from RVers:

  • Level Sites: Check for level sites to avoid issues with your RV. A reviewer at Walnut Woods State Park Campground mentioned, "Most sites feature 20/30/50 electric, a fire ring and a picnic table."
  • Dump Stations: Make sure to locate dump stations nearby. A camper at Des Moines West KOA Holiday noted, "Dump station is at the entrance of the CG."
  • Bring Extra Blocks: Some sites may require leveling blocks. A visitor at Walnut Woods State Park Campground said, "We had to throw a couple of blocks under one side of our TT tires."

Camping near Jefferson, Iowa, has something for everyone, from families to RVers. Just remember to plan ahead and enjoy the great outdoors!

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Which is the most popular tent campsite near Jefferson, IA?

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Jefferson, IA is Kuehn Conservation Area with a 4-star rating from 1 review.

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

    TheDyrt.com has all 3 tent camping locations near Jefferson, IA, with real photos and reviews from campers.