Top Tent Camping near Kalona, IA

Looking for an adventure where you can explore Kalona and then fall asleep in your tent? The Dyrt helps you find campsites with tent camping near Kalona. From remote to easy-to-reach, these Kalona campsites are perfect for tent campers.

Best Tent Sites Near Kalona, IA (23)

    Camper-submitted photo from Lake Macbride Campground
    Camper-submitted photo from Lake Macbride Campground
    Camper-submitted photo from Lake Macbride Campground
    Camper-submitted photo from Lake Macbride Campground
    Camper-submitted photo from Lake Macbride Campground
    Camper-submitted photo from Lake Macbride Campground

    1. Lake Macbride Campground

    25 Reviews
    86 Photos
    83 Saves

    From the website: UPDATE 10/5/2020: The north and south campgrounds, and day-use lodge will remain closed the remainder of the recreation season due to the August 10 severe weather event. Visitors are discouraged from using trails at this time due to hazard trees, with exception of the North Shore Trail and Beach to Dam Trail. The remainder of the park is now open. This recreation area is part of Coralville Lake

    • Pets
    • Fires
    • Electric Hookups
    • Phone Service
    • Reservable
    • ADA Access

    $9 - $19 / night

    • No image available
      Camper-submitted photo from River Junction
      Camper-submitted photo from River Junction

      3. River Junction

      1 Review
      2 Photos
      6 Saves
      • Pets
      • Fires
      • Tents
      • Picnic Table
      • Toilets
      Camper-submitted photo from Cedar River Campground
      Camper-submitted photo from Cedar River Campground
      Camper-submitted photo from Cedar River Campground
      Camper-submitted photo from Cedar River Campground
      Camper-submitted photo from Cedar River Campground
      Camper-submitted photo from Cedar River Campground

      4. Cedar River Campground

      8 Reviews
      17 Photos
      32 Saves

      We are a seasonal campground open April 15 thru October 15. We have seasonal, monthly, weekly, and overnight rates. We have planned activities as well as many amenities. River frontage, canoe/ tube rental, mini golf, pool and so much more.

      • Pets
      • Fires
      • Electric Hookups
      • Phone Service
      • Reservable
      • Tents

      $35 - $50 / night

      Camper-submitted photo from Winter Camp at Walking Stick Adventures Farm
      Camper-submitted photo from Winter Camp at Walking Stick Adventures Farm
      Camper-submitted photo from Winter Camp at Walking Stick Adventures Farm
      Camper-submitted photo from Winter Camp at Walking Stick Adventures Farm
      Camper-submitted photo from Winter Camp at Walking Stick Adventures Farm
      Camper-submitted photo from Winter Camp at Walking Stick Adventures Farm

      5. Winter Camp at Walking Stick Adventures Farm

      1 Review
      13 Photos
      5 Saves

      Our private four acre site is now available for winter tent camping. Services include an outhouse, electricity, fire ring and wood is provided. There are trails to hike around the pond and in the prairie. Tents can be set up anywhere, however, you can use the tipi pad(outdoor carpet over sand} without stakes. Winter camp is open from January 1 to April 30. A great meeting place for families and friends willing to experience the outdoors throughout the year. 5 miles from Williamsburg and I-80, within 30 minutes of Amana Colonies, Outlet Mall, Fireside Winery. We also offer wildlife, historical or cultural hikes to the Amana/Iowa River Valley area.

      • Pets
      • Fires
      • Phone Service
      • Reservable
      • Tents
      • Market

      $25 / night

      Camper-submitted photo from Macbride Nature Recreation Area
      Camper-submitted photo from Macbride Nature Recreation Area
      Camper-submitted photo from Macbride Nature Recreation Area

      6. Macbride Nature Recreation Area

      1 Review
      3 Photos
      5 Saves

      Macbride Nature Recreation Area (MNRA) is a 485-acre peninsula that has been leased by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to the University of Iowa since 1969. There are ten kilometers of hiking and cross-country skiing trails. MNRA is home to the Environmental Education Programs: School of the Wild, Wildlife Camps, and Iowa Raptor Project. MNRA is located 15 miles north of Iowa City at 3895 Raptor Ridge Road, near Solon, Iowa.

      • Fires
      • Phone Service
      • Reservable
      • Tents
      • Group
      • Dispersed
      Camper-submitted photo from Wildcat Den State Park
      Camper-submitted photo from Wildcat Den State Park
      Camper-submitted photo from Wildcat Den State Park
      Camper-submitted photo from Wildcat Den State Park
      Camper-submitted photo from Wildcat Den State Park
      Camper-submitted photo from Wildcat Den State Park

      7. Wildcat Den State Park

      9 Reviews
      69 Photos
      63 Saves
      • Pets
      • Fires
      • Phone Service
      • Reservable
      • RVs
      • Tents

      $6 - $9 / night

      Camper-submitted photo from Saulsbury Bridge Rec Area, Primitive Tent Camp
      Camper-submitted photo from Saulsbury Bridge Rec Area, Primitive Tent Camp
      Camper-submitted photo from Saulsbury Bridge Rec Area, Primitive Tent Camp
      Camper-submitted photo from Saulsbury Bridge Rec Area, Primitive Tent Camp
      Camper-submitted photo from Saulsbury Bridge Rec Area, Primitive Tent Camp
      Camper-submitted photo from Saulsbury Bridge Rec Area, Primitive Tent Camp

      8. Saulsbury Bridge Rec Area, Primitive Tent Camp

      1 Review
      12 Photos
      1 Save

      There is a primitive camping area at the Saulsbury Bridge Recreation Area. Fees are $10 per night.

      · Primitive environment

      · Tents only

      · No vehicle parking at the campsite

      · Limited picnic tables and fire rings

      · Restrooms in Main Campground

      · Showers available in Main Campground

      • Pets
      • Fires
      • Phone Service
      • Tents
      • Group
      • Picnic Table

      $10 / night

      • No image available

        9. Hidden River Campground

        1 Review
        5 Saves
        • Pets
        • Fires
        • Electric Hookups
        • Phone Service
        • Reservable
        • ADA Access
        Camper-submitted photo from Koch's Meadow Lake Campground
        Camper-submitted photo from Koch's Meadow Lake Campground
        Camper-submitted photo from Koch's Meadow Lake Campground
        Camper-submitted photo from Koch's Meadow Lake Campground
        Camper-submitted photo from Koch's Meadow Lake Campground
        Camper-submitted photo from Koch's Meadow Lake Campground
      Showing results 1-10 of 23 campgrounds

      Recent Tent Reviews In Kalona

      291 Reviews of 23 Kalona Campgrounds


      • Coty G.
        Camper-submitted photo from Sturgeon Bay Park and Campground
        Oct. 14, 2024

        Sturgeon Bay Park and Campground

        We Camp here almost every weekend

        Great place to camp especially if you have a boat or like to fish the Mississippi river. 2 blocks from a restaurant/tavern. City of New Boston has several different community events throught the year as well.

      • Ken G.The Dyrt PRO User
        Camper-submitted photo from Lake Iowa County Park
        Sep. 23, 2024

        Lake Iowa County Park

        very nice and clean. Lots of sites but well spaced

        Not too far off the highway.  Very clean and quiet.  The campground is above the lake but a short trail will take you to the lake.  Couldn't see the lake from where we camped, but nice woody area behind our campsite.  Nice little visitor area.  Lots of trails to walk with the dog including a nice trail along the lake.

        Great place to spend one night.  If I had more time, I would have gone paddle boarding or fishing on the lake.

      • James M.The Dyrt PRO User
        Camper-submitted photo from Bennett Park
        Sep. 19, 2024

        Bennett Park

        Nice small County CG with pond

        Campground is nice with a few newer amenities, including shower house and handicap campsite. Gravel pads at sites include tables, fire, pits, electric,. There’s a dump station, play area, shelters for rent, and a pond that you can actually swim and fish and paddling.

      • Evan G.
        Camper-submitted photo from F. W. Kent Park
        Aug. 22, 2024

        F. W. Kent Park

        The perfect weekend get away

        My dad and I tent cramped here in mid August. It is the perfect camping destination between Amana colonies and Iowa City.

      • Evan G.
        Camper-submitted photo from F. W. Kent Park
        Aug. 12, 2024

        F. W. Kent Park

        The perfect Amana colonies campsite

        Amazing experience with lots of amenities and space to spread out.

        Easy to get to, very well maintained, electric hookups with 120 volt power outlets, lots of stuff to do, including: hiking, swimming, kayaking, easy to get to amenities and grocery stores. plenty of trails and overlooks with picnic benches. Fire pits With built in grill grates.

      • Kim F.The Dyrt PRO User
        Camper-submitted photo from Windmill Ridge Campground
        Aug. 10, 2024

        Windmill Ridge Campground

        Hidden little gem

        Clean, quiet and well set campsite for all camping styles. Set well off the main road, the gravel road is well maintained, graded well for easy driveable whee truck, rvs or trailers. Family and pet friendly, clean, well kept property, amenities on site,completive priced sites for camping and to gather together and enjoy life for a moment or two. Check it out, don't believe you will regret it. Peace fellow travelers.

      • Randall K.The Dyrt PRO User
        Camper-submitted photo from Lake Iowa County Park
        Aug. 9, 2024

        Lake Iowa County Park

        Great spot for a great price

        Very well kept campground! Bathrooms and entire area was really in perfect shape. One of the cleanest showers and bathrooms I have seen. $10 for tent, $16 for electric - how can you go wrong?

        Only issue is that the spots are pretty close together. Around 2:30am there was so much smoke in our van from nearby campfires that I woke up sick and my dog threw up all over the bed. At 3am we decided we needed to move to an electric site because it was too much to have the windows open. I felt really bad for anyone in a tent. I coughed all the next day.

        The campground was not that busy so there is no way I would stay here on a busy holiday weekend due to the spots being too close. If a few people make a fire you better shut down all your windows. No sleeping in the cool, night air here.

        But this is an issue at other places too. Just never experienced anything on this level before. Esp considering no one in our section even had a fire going.

        I wish campgrounds would start banning these fires. But that’s a topic for a later date.

        Other than that it was a great spot.

      • C
        Camper-submitted photo from Wanatee Park (formerly Squaw Creek)
        Jul. 26, 2024

        Wanatee Park (formerly Squaw Creek)

        Great location and amenities

        I loved this campground. There are a variety of sites to choose from, nice trees, and a beautiful wildflower field to walk through. Bathrooms are stationed without so it’s never a far walk and the shower house was really nice. You can hear the highway, but overall the campground was very quiet.

      • AThe Dyrt PRO User
        Camper-submitted photo from Wildcat Den State Park
        Jul. 10, 2024

        Wildcat Den State Park

        Lovely hidden space

        Found by hiking at the Wildcat Den State Park. Lovely little campside with 19 places, rustical without electricity, dump etc. But got one waterstation and toilets. Every space with picknicktable and fireplace, surrounded by trees. Places are gras. Sorry for my english, Camp from Germany :-)

      • Nick B.The Dyrt PRO User
        Camper-submitted photo from Tailwater West Campground
        Jun. 16, 2024

        Tailwater West Campground

        Fishing excursion

        Very nice and clean. It is right at the base of a dam on one side and calm backwater on the other. Also very nice place to find fossils among the back rocks. Don't plan on using Verizon. I had 1 bar could get texts but not enough to have internet.

      • Nick B.The Dyrt PRO User
        Camper-submitted photo from Wildcat Bluff County Park
        Jun. 6, 2024

        Wildcat Bluff County Park

        Quiet with good trails

        Very nice little park if you like hiking or Frisbee golf. There is not much to the park besides campsites and the Frisbee golf course. It has a small playground with just a few swings and a slide. Bathrooms were horrible. I would not suggest staying unless you have your own restroom. Also there is no dump station so be prepared to take your shit home with you.

      • K
        Camper-submitted photo from brinton timbers park
        May. 31, 2024

        brinton timbers park

        Great park no showers though

        I stayed at the main site that google maps took me to. Three spots but the park is big there might be more sites around it. It is near skunk river I only stayed there for a night but where I was to get to the river you have to hike or bike to it. I’ve heard you can ride horses here. They have fire rings, picnic tables, and a bathroom that’s deep and composting. No sinks or showers. Bugs were wild at night but it is summer. No one disturbed us and it was free the best park of it all. Hoping to make it back there to go through the trails. I believe you can hike and camp too in the area.

      • K
        Camper-submitted photo from Keokuk County Belva Deer Park
        May. 31, 2024

        Keokuk County Belva Deer Park

        Clean park warm showers

        $12 a night for primitive camping and you get nice warm showers by the main entrance and nice bathrooms by the main entrance. Stand-alone bathrooms throughout the park have the deep composting toilets that smell bad but whatever the ones up front are nice. Would recommend 10/10

      • Lisa M.
        Camper-submitted photo from BEYONDER Getaway at Sleepy Hollow
        May. 28, 2024

        BEYONDER Getaway at Sleepy Hollow

        I'll never stay here again.

        I will start by saying the staff was very friendly. Outside of that this was the worst place we have ever camped. Not only did it look like EVERY site was uneven this place was extremely outdated. When you look at the website it makes it sound like they have kid activities(the kid activities was kite making with dollar tree plastic kites and a"mud pit" that was a kiddie pool they added some dirt to and water.) Their kid activies are definitely for ages 7 and under. They had no activities for pre teen/teen age other than cornhole/bags on Sunday afternoon at 5pm when most people would be checking out at 2pm if they only came for the weekend. The golfcart rentals are$60 per day or$100 for two days which seems extreme but there isn't much reason to rent one unless you just want to drive around the pothole filled roads in the park. We drove all around the park and never seen a water trampoline, the pool is being built not sure how long that has been in progress, the live music they had NO live music in a huge camping weekend(memorial day weekend). The showers/bathrooms are extremely outdated gross. We have had this location saved since last year on our must camp list but wanted to make it a time the entire family could join and it was a huge let down! At over$200 for three nights(which was required for a holiday weekend) you would expect this place to be nice. Unfortunately the places we have stayed for$15-$20 a night are by far way nicer than this place. I would not recommend this location to anyone. Attached are the lovely playground photos. I cropped the kids out so one swing does look like it's missing but it is not.

      • E
        Camper-submitted photo from Clarks Ferry
        May. 9, 2024

        Clarks Ferry

        Great campground

        This campground sits between the Mississippi River with barge traffic and busy rail road tracks. I knew this up front because you can see it on the map. To me this just means people are working which is great. I know the horns blow all night and day long but i choose to ignore it. The campsites are great. The hosts are warm and welcoming also very helpful. I missed a great photo opportunity last night. Birds were migrating to the north and flying very close to the river. It was awesome to watch. We love this campground!

      • Kristy E.
        Camper-submitted photo from Wanatee Park (formerly Squaw Creek)
        May. 2, 2024

        Wanatee Park (formerly Squaw Creek)

        Very well kept and quiet campground.

        This is a newer campground so is a mixture of mature and young trees. It is very clean and well cared for. Lots of opportunity to ride the numerous bike trails nearby and hike in wanatee park and nearby pinicon. The Cedar river and the wapsicon for fishing. This area has something for everyone.

      • Big D.
        Camper-submitted photo from Cedar River Campground
        Apr. 27, 2024

        Cedar River Campground

        Cedar river campground

        Camped there for years. Never again. Last 2 years under current owners\ management, I would not spend another dime there. They are nothing but drama. Behind office towards owners home looks like a salvage yard. They have removed families who have camped there for years. Only ones left are scared, no place to move to, or suck up to them for special privileges. Last two years were horrible. Will only return if sold to again new owners who care about campers vs money.

      • A
        Camper-submitted photo from Linn County Park Morgan Creek Campground
        Apr. 12, 2024

        Linn County Park Morgan Creek Campground

        Hidden hideaway

        Stopped here for the night as a layover and had a great site. Everything you need in a campground. Bathrooms and showers are clean. Water and electricity at site, along with picnic table and fire ring. Trails close by and only about 5 min from expressway.

      • James M.The Dyrt PRO User
        Camper-submitted photo from Camp Liberty
        Mar. 1, 2024

        Camp Liberty

        Wonderful camp with many amenities

        Camp offers site for all tastes: primitive and modern cabins and lodges, tents for small or large groups and couples. Hard roads, fire pits, tables, water, showers, supplies. Surrounded by nature with forest, prairie, and lake.Trails, and even guided activities.

      • Adria K.The Dyrt PRO User
        Camper-submitted photo from Wapsipinicon State Park
        Feb. 22, 2024

        Wapsipinicon State Park

        Nice, quiet location

        It was cool little campsite with lots of trees. We were the only ones there, but it was in the middle of Feb. It was a nice stop.



      Guide to Kalona

      Camping near Kalona, 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:

      What campers like:

      • Clean facilities: Campers appreciate the well-maintained restrooms. A review for Sugar Bottom Campground stated, "Very clean, for me the star attraction here was the solo bathroom & shower both together with lockable door for extreme privacy when needed."
      • Spacious sites: Many campgrounds offer roomy spots. A visitor at Scott County Park mentioned, "The sites themselves are HUGE and some of them would accommodate the largest camping rigs you could imagine."
      • Friendly staff: Campers often highlight the helpfulness of the staff. One review for F. W. Kent Park said, "The park staff were very friendly and helped me get to the campsite I needed."

      What you should know:

      • Noise from trains: Some campgrounds are near train tracks. A camper at Clarks Ferry noted, "If it weren’t for the trains going by constantly, it would be a five-star place."
      • Limited amenities: Not all campgrounds have stores nearby. A visitor at Sugar Bottom Campground mentioned, "There’s no place to buy firewood nearby so come prepared."
      • Seasonal access: Some campgrounds are only open during certain months. For example, Iowa Shady Creek is open from May 2 to October 26.

      Tips for camping with families:

      • Playgrounds: Look for campgrounds with play areas for kids. One review for Scott County Park mentioned, "There are playgrounds for your kids to play in."
      • Activities for all ages: Choose campgrounds that offer various activities. A visitor at West Lake Park - Park Terrace Campground said, "The park has hiking trails, world-class disc golf course, playgrounds, picnicking, shelter rentals."
      • Safety: Ensure the campground has good lighting and is well-patrolled. A camper at Lake Macbride State Park Campground noted, "There were rangers checking out the area every so often."

      Tips from RVers:

      • Check site sizes: Make sure your RV fits the site. A review for Rock Creek State Park Campground mentioned, "The higher up the hill you are, the flatter the campsite is."
      • Electric hookups: Look for campgrounds with adequate power options. A visitor at F. W. Kent Park stated, "Electric hookups with 120-volt power outlets."
      • Dump stations: Ensure the campground has a dump station for convenience. A camper at Sugar Bottom Campground mentioned, "They have a double-hole dump station that can be accessed in both directions."

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

      Frequently Asked Questions

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

        According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Kalona, IA is Lake Macbride Campground with a 4.2-star rating from 25 reviews.

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

        TheDyrt.com has all 23 tent camping locations near Kalona, IA, with real photos and reviews from campers.