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.
What to do
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.
What campers like
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.
What you should know
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.
Tips for camping with families
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.
Tips from RVers
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.
