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Several campgrounds within a short driving distance of Kellogg, Iowa serve both tent and RV campers seeking access to lakes and outdoor recreation. Rock Creek State Park Campground, located about 5 miles north of Kellogg, provides lakeside camping with both electric and non-electric sites. Kellogg RV Park offers year-round accommodation directly in town with full hookup sites primarily designed for RVs, though tent camping is permitted. The Newton KOA, approximately 7 miles west of Kellogg, expands lodging options with cabin rentals alongside traditional camping areas.
Most campgrounds in the region operate seasonally, with peak availability from April through October, though Kellogg RV Park maintains year-round access. Rock Creek State Park typically opens April 1st and closes December 31st, while the Newton KOA operates from April through October. Reservations are recommended for weekend stays during summer months when waterfront sites fill quickly. Many campgrounds offer basic amenities including picnic tables, fire rings, and access to toilets. As one visitor noted, "The RV section of campground was nearly full but the tent/non-hook up section had lots of space. One can camp on lakeside but be aware that these spots have a slope."
Campers frequently mention the proximity to water as a significant attraction in the Kellogg area. Rock Creek State Park provides lake access with boat and kayak rentals available, making it popular for fishing and water recreation. A recent review described it as a "nice campground overlooking a lake" with "pontoon and boat rentals." Several visitors highlighted the convenience of Kellogg RV Park for travelers along Interstate 80, noting its clean facilities and proximity to amenities. Sites throughout the region typically offer limited privacy, especially in more developed campgrounds where campsites are arranged close together. Travelers seeking more secluded experiences might prefer the non-electric sections of state park campgrounds, which generally see less traffic than full-hookup areas.
"Nice Iowa State Park campground just outside of Grenell Iowa. On a lake. Hundreds of sites. So many of the non-electric test sites look amazing."
"Stopped overnight on our way home from Iowa City. No reservations & took our chances on finding an electric site. Score! Neighbors were friendly."
from $16 - $48 / night
Check Availability"Following up on my review from over a year ago, I’m adding a bunch of additional photos as well as an abbreviated post pointing out the HIGHS and LOWS of this roadside pit stop of a campground in rural"
"Kellogg RV Park This is a little fun RV park right off the interstate. It doesn’t have much but it’s a nice place to take a break.
There is a gas/burger station right infringement of the RV park."
"rural Iowa."
"Newton KOA This is the primary location for camping in Newton. It’s right off interstate I-80 and is very close to the Iowa Speedway."
"The lake has been drained and dredged and is slowly filling back up. It’s pretty spacious and has lots of room for tent camping. I wouldn’t bring an RV here."
from $12 / night
Check Availability"While it was our first time camping in Iowa, we were extremely lucky to land upon this slightly hidden fresh water centered campground just a 20 minute drive south of Route 80 near Montezuma, wherein one"
"review from over a year and a half ago, I’m adding a bunch of additional photos as well as an abbreviated post pointing out the HIGHS and LOWS of this county park campground gem in a very rural part of Iowa"
"Quick and easy off/on road location. Was their first year. This is a new RV Park that was once a quarry. Hence the name. Big lakes and good areas to walk."
"They have porta potties around. Two places to launch kayaks. Most campsites have fire rings, picnic tables and trash bins. Some have grills."
from $15 / night
Check Availability"Most of the sites are tucked into the woods and very spacious. It's only $7/night! There is some play equipment for children. "
"There are a couple of hiking trails in the park that are maintained. One goes to a creek and a bird watching station."
from $7 / night
Check Availability"Thomas Mitchell park is located outside of Altoona Iowa on 197 acres. There are electric and non electric sites available."
"This is a sweet well-maintained campground just south of Mitchellville, Iowa off of 80. Not many sites and only a handful were occupied mid week in July."
"Our site had a great view of the lake, as well. The campgrounds are a drive away from the beach and most boat ramps. "
"Can walk down to the dock. We love to camp there every Fourth of July. It is a great place for all ages to enjoy."
from $20 - $288 / night
Check Availability"We will be staying here every year, this is the best site we've stayed at in central Iowa. Great fishing, bike trail right next to the campsite. Great views too. Dam is right there and you can fish."
"It’s well maintained, the bathrooms are clean, you’re not packed together like sardines, there’s a nice bike/walking trail around the park and (at least when we’ve visited) bald eagles, blue herons and"
from $22 - $24 / night
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GuideGrass sites, plenty of space. Some sites have great views of the lake. Nice walking trails. Wild life to watch. If you are camped under a hickory tree you will need to brush off the Hickory nuts off your slide outs. Plenty of parking for guset to visit. Peaceful. We love camping in Hickory hils.
GuideThis is a sweet well-maintained campground just south of Mitchellville, Iowa off of 80. Not many sites and only a handful were occupied mid week in July. There is a little stream running along the edge of the campground. There is one bathroom building with 6 separate rooms - each with a toilet, sink and shower with warm water. Plenty of drinking water at centralized locations. There is shade at most sites when you first enter the campground and in the loop. Along the edges (inc the stream) shade is more variable. The only issue we had was a bright light that was on all night near the end of the loop. We were in site 5 and had to move our truck so it didn’t shine in all night.
GuideStaying here for a night on a roadtrip. It was easy to book last minute and wasn’t too expensive. Especially given it has electric hook up at each sight (I believe).
RangerQuite a nice campground. Pretty busy for a Monday so I can imagine it gets busy here. Sites are nice and spacious. Great amenities and right next to the water.
ScoutStayed here last week in July 2025 on a cross-country motorcycle trip. Nice and quiet. Flat grassy spot to set up my tent and a nice fire ring/ grill to cook dinner on also had a picnic table.
Very nice primitive spot. Will go back
LegendNice Iowa State Park campground just outside of Grenell Iowa. On a lake. Hundreds of sites. So many of the non-electric test sites look amazing. The RV sites are very packed in with little to no privacy.
LegendPulled in from the main entrance on Stage Coach road - saw signs for tent sites to the right, so continued straight to RV sites. Found the little site with about 10 sites and only 2 other campers there. Found a nice place by the water and parked, hooked into electric.
Later took my bike for a ride and realized how many other sites there are around this lake. So many of them right on the water. A beautiful little spot. I was thinking of staying two nights, but discovered 2 ticks on my cat and decided to pull out.
Over night big rain came in and my power pedestal and fire pit were submerged in water! Choose your site wisely if there's a storm coming!
LegendBig beautiful camp ground right on the Des Moines River. All need to be reserved in advance at Recreation.gov
I selected my site based on its proximity to the river. Good choice, as I could watch the eagle and heron fish right from my site.
However the very busy bike/pedestrian path also runs right next to the site. So there’s no privacy. And the bridge that goes across the river is made of loose boards, so every time someone crosses there is a loud clanking sound.
Despite all of that, I did enjoy my experience here a very well kept campground. Big trees. Good enough cell reception for me to work. Electric hook ups, but no water.
ScoutGreat spot in the woods. Lots of trails. They have a bison and elk sanctuary. Also a nature center. A playground. They have several RV spots. Most are pre book but they have a section for first come first serve. Also lots of tent camping. A few group camping areas. Showers are ok. I believe the non shower house bathrooms are all vault toilets. Overall a great place to stay!
Camping spots near Kellogg, Iowa largely sit within the terrain of gently rolling prairie hills, with elevations ranging from 800 to 900 feet above sea level. The camping areas benefit from central Iowa's four distinct seasons, with summer high temperatures typically reaching 85°F and winter lows around 15°F. Most campgrounds in the region occupy land that once served agricultural purposes, now repurposed for recreation.
Fishing and lake activities: Diamond Lake County Park features a well-stocked lake where anglers catch multiple species. "Beautiful electrical sites right on the lake" with "nice for kayaking," according to one visitor, though note the water is "very murky" if swimming is your goal.
Hiking on varied terrain: Thomas Mitchell County Park offers multiple hiking trails with creek access. "There are wide hiking trails with smaller ones shooting off the sides. There is also a group site that you can hike to on the Devote trail," notes one camper. The park includes 197 acres to explore.
Astronomical observation: Ashton Wildwood Park features an observatory open on Saturdays. "The astronomers were great people and very knowledgeable. They showed how their telescopes worked and took us a tour of the building and classroom," reports one visitor. The observatory includes educational components for all ages.
Kayaking in quarry waters: Colfax Quarry Springs Park provides protected waters for kayaking. "This is my favorite place to go hiking, kayaking, camping and fishing... Two places to launch kayaks," mentions one visitor. The park also offers rental services for those without equipment.
Quiet, remote camping atmosphere: Wallashuck Campground provides a peaceful environment near Red Rock Lake. "It's mostly quiet and peaceful. Plus town is close and has plenty to entertain or fill up supplies," shares one regular visitor. Sites are "well spaced" with some offering lake views.
Convenience to Interstate 80: Kellogg RV Park offers easy highway access with full amenities. "Very convenient to I-80, well-laid out. Most convenient, though, was setting up at the site and then walking to the co-located gas station and burgers for dinner," notes one traveler. Sites include full hook-ups with pull-through access.
Large, spacious sites: Whitebreast Campground features significant space between sites. "There is a lot of space between campsites, which is awesome! Our site had a great view of the lake, as well," comments one camper. Most sites offer shade and privacy not commonly found at other area campgrounds.
Budget-friendly camping options: Multiple campgrounds in the area provide affordable camping under $10 per night. "We dry camped right on the water's edge for $6 a night, 2 weeks for $88!" mentions one camper about Rock Creek State Park. The park also offers electric sites for $12 per night with 20/30/50 amp options.
Tent site limitations: Several campgrounds favor RVs with limited tent space. At Newton KOA, "People moved in beside us and were literally in our site because there wasn't anything stopping them. Probably a better place for RV camping over tent camping," warns one tent camper.
Highway noise considerations: Campgrounds near I-80 experience traffic noise. One camper at Colfax Quarry Springs Park notes, "The only downside of camping is you hear the interstate traffic but it's minimal." This affects most camping areas within 1-2 miles of the highway.
Water access challenges: Not all lakefront sites have good water access. "The RV section of Rock Creek was nearly full but the tent/non-hook up section had lots of space. One can camp lakeside but be aware these spots have a slope," cautions a visitor.
Seasonal availability fluctuations: Many campgrounds have limited operations during colder months. As one camper noted about Diamond Lake, "Stayed one night on my way back to Maine from GNP. Space had water and electric, fire ring and tables," but availability changes significantly during winter months.
Creek exploration opportunities: Thomas Mitchell County Park offers creek access perfect for children. "Easy trails for the kids to go hiking and playing in the creek to cool off in the heat," notes one family. Multiple stone stairways provide safe water entry points.
Wildlife viewing with children: Several campgrounds feature wildlife observation areas. "Tons for kids and families to do," mentions a visitor to Newton KOA. Bird blinds and wildlife viewing platforms appear at multiple parks in the region.
Fishing-focused family outings: Diamond Lake County Park provides shore fishing suitable for children. "I stayed at site #13 with my two boys. We had a blast. It had a nice access spot for fishing," reports one parent. The park stocks several fish species accessible from shore.
Playground proximity: Wallashuck Campground offers convenient playground access. "A nice mix of convenience and privacy. Perfect location to showers and playground for kids," notes a family camper. Sites nearest to playgrounds tend to book fastest during summer months.
Pull-through site selection: Kellogg RV Park features convenient pull-through sites. "Open year around. Nice large sites and no need to unhook. Clean RV park with easy access to I-80," advises one RVer. The park offers full-service hook-ups and level sites.
Electric-only considerations: At Rock Creek State Park, "No water or sewer at the sites but there are water spigots dispersed through the campground and full dump station as you come in/leave," explains an RVer who stayed for two weeks. Sites with 50-amp service book fastest during summer heat.
Sewer connection challenges: Some parks have difficult sewer connections. At Newton KOA, "Sewer connections were uphill from the sites," notes one RVer who found this problematic. Bringing extension hoses and supports helps manage such situations.
Space limitations between sites: Site spacing varies significantly between campgrounds. "Sites were very small, some people didn't have room to put out awnings," cautions an RVer about weekend stays during race events at Newton KOA, when capacity reaches peak levels.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular campground near Kellogg, IA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Kellogg, IA is Rock Creek State Park Campground with a 4.2-star rating from 22 reviews.
What parks are near Kellogg, IA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 5 parks near Kellogg, IA that allow camping, notably Lake Red Rock and Saylorville Lake.
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