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Nine Eagles State Park Campground welcomes pets throughout its established camping areas including tent sites, RV spaces, and cabins. Little River Recreation Area offers pet-friendly accommodations with 16 electric and 14 non-electric tent sites plus three cabins, all accommodating dogs with proper supervision. Most campgrounds in the Leon area maintain basic pet policies requiring leashes and proper waste cleanup, though specific restrictions vary by location. Ted's RV Park provides designated pet walking areas alongside its 26 RV sites. Lakeside Casino RV Park features level, paved sites where pets are permitted, with plenty of space between campsites for walking dogs. Camping areas maintain clean grounds with regular maintenance, making them suitable for campers traveling with pets. Sites are generally quiet and family-friendly with minimal restrictions on well-behaved dogs.
Fishing opportunities abound for campers with dogs at several locations, particularly at Nine Eagles State Park and Little River Recreation Area where pets can accompany owners to lakeside areas. The playground areas at Prairie Ridge Camping and Little River Recreation Area provide family recreation spaces, though pets should remain leashed near these facilities. Hiking paths vary by location, with Nine Eagles offering "absolutely beautiful park and really nice trails" suitable for dog walking. The area experiences significant seasonal insect activity, particularly at Mine Pond Campground in Stephens State Forest, which may affect comfort when camping with pets during summer months. Most campgrounds offer basic amenities including picnic tables and fire rings, though pet-specific facilities like washing stations or fenced areas are limited. The town of Leon provides necessary supplies with stores open until 9 PM, while nearby Humeston has gas stations and a grocery store for pet food and supplies.
"Nine Eagles is near Lamoni, Iowa near the Iowa-Missouri border right off of Interstate 35. I camped here with my son and his Boy Scout troop in the youth group part of the campground."
"Site 4 - close to the water spigot and a modest walk to the bathroom/showerhouse."
from $12 - $75 / night
Check Availability"No hiking trails that I could discern. There was also a small little free library. When we were there, we appreciated the quiet, out-of-the-way setting."
"Nice little campground 4.5 miles of the freeway...9 minutes away from a small town with stores that stay open till 9. A bait shop onsite, closes early."
"Terrific small town RV park in Iowa. Long, level pull thru's and back ins, playground, dog walk, DELICIOUS on site restaurant."
from $35 - $500 / night
Check Availability"Pretty long drive on rougher gravel roads. Fine for a car or truck but the dashboard and dust will affect your RV."
"It was a close walk to Pilot for supplies."
"I am in a wheelchair and this park allows me to move around freely."
from $35 - $45 / night
Check Availability"There are campers and a cabin to rent, and a nice walking trail. While we didn't use any, they have a driving range, archery, waterside, and paddles boats. "
"This appears to be a new campground with full hookups and drive thru’s. Well leveled gravel. Good scenery. No evidence of out buildings, showers etc. Very quiet."
from $35 / night
Check Availability"We were there in very early spring so could not use the swimming pool or small lake but the walks around the area were very nice."
"One of the best experiences on a site close to the 35, but far enough away you wouldn't know it. Good wifi. If you're looking for a beautiful park, this is it!"
from $38 - $43 / night
Check Availability"Great spot by a small lake in Stephen's State Forest. Didn't have a soul around us for the night we camped here (late September). Temps were around 43 degrees at night."
"Very nice and quite location when I went mid September. Seems like a lot of trails to explore. Will go back again to explore more. Lots of hills."
from $12 / night
Check Availability"Very nice view of the lake, lots of campsites around the lake."
"Rode around the lake on my bike. And there were at least 4 different camp spots and several spots for access for boats. All well, maintained and well laid out."
GuideI just loved this campground. It has shade trees, grass, free showers and lots of room. It is part of a city park on the outskirts of Winterset. There is a dog park and one of the Bridges of Madison County is located within walking distance of the campground. This was well worth the 20 mile drive off I80. If I had known how m=nice this area was, I would have planned better and stayed here for more than one night.
GuideTerrific small town RV park in Iowa. Long, level pull thru's and back ins, playground, dog walk, DELICIOUS on site restaurant. Clubhouse with immaculate laundry and individual showers, everything is new and cashless. Outstanding staff, friendly and helpful, shoutout to electrician (and footbal fan) Eric who made o ur day.
LegendNine Eagles is near Lamoni, Iowa near the Iowa-Missouri border right off of Interstate 35. I camped here with my son and his Boy Scout troop in the youth group part of the campground. I can't speak for the rest of the park's camping facilities, but the youth group site is a large open space surrounded by tall trees. The grass is well maintained and the campsite is clean and beautiful. There are not any bathroom facilities at the campsite which is why I give it four instead of five stars, but the park is beautiful and a peaceful place to camp. I wish I would have had my camera with me to take some pictures to share.
GuideCriss Cove’s campground sits on a hill overlooking a small lake. It is a generally quiet and serene campground. It is just off of US Highway 169. The lake is good for fishing and kayaking. The gravel campsites are adequately spaced for most RVs.
The campground is located in Madison County Iowa (of “The Bridges of Madison County” book and movie fame). It is located about 15 minutes south of Winterset Iowa. Winterset is the birthplace of John Wayne and the town has a museum dedicated to him. There is also a county historical museum complex and the Iowa quilt museum.
GuideHoney Creek resort run by the state of Iowa (not to be confused with Honey Creek State Park nearby) is not your typical camping spot. There is a resort hotel with an indoor waterpark, cabins for rent, and an RV Park. The hotel and the RV park are right on the lake. Rathbun is maybe the nicest lake in Iowa (I would say Okoboji, however that has become an overcrowded mess).
The RV sites: There are not many of them, 20 I think. But they are all paved, level, full hook ups, spacious, with a view of the lake. I don't even think we exchanged harsh words setting up it was so easy. ;) There are even a couple sites on the side that have equipment for fall hunters. Trees around the RV area, but not in. Fire ring and picnic table. The boat ramp is at one end of the RV area, so people may drive through with boats. Playground a short walk away on a path, but not right in the RV area.
Indoor waterpark: Probably geared to the 4-10 crowd. Only one bigger slide, lazy river, hot tub, pool with some balance platforms and a rope and a basketball hoop. Then a small kiddie pool with a pirate ship structure with some small slides and some fountains. Not a ton to do, however when we were there it rained for an entire day so that was very handy. Snackbar that serves booze.
Lake: one of the biggest in the state, not too busy as it is 2 hours from Des Moines so not a lot of day traffic (unlike Saylorville and Red Rock). Boat rentals available.
Resort hotel: I haven't been in the guest rooms. There is a lobby, restaurant/bar. I have not eaten at the restaurant. There is a little shop with necessities and firewood. There is a nature program where you can check out backpacks for kids to explore nature. Grounds are nice and lush, paths for walking and biking. There's a golf course.
LegendLake Rathbun is a destination for boaters and campers in the State of Iowa. The Army Corps of Engineers operates and maintains several facilities around the lake. Prairie Ridge campground is one of those facilities.
The campsites are good. They have a fire pit, a place to hang food to keep away from raccoons, electricity, and a nice gravel pad for your vehicle or camper. It has modern toilets and some of the campsites have a nice overlook of the lake.
What stands out at this campground is the prairie grass and all of the wild flowers. It is a nice weekend getaway.
GuideFirst, there is no dump station! All sites have water and electricity with 20, 30, and 60 amp plugs. The sites are 20 dollars. The campsites located near the entrance are pull-through but need maintenance. The campsites along the lake will support short to medium length RVs or trailers, and all are back in. As of this posting, all are not level and in poor condition. The city of Huneston, Iowa is a few minutes away and has several gas stations and a grocery store.
LegendGeneral: This small county park (16 electric, 14 tent sites plus three cabins) is not reservable which might be an issue on summer weekends but on a Sunday in April, was no problem. Including us, only three sites were occupied. The rates are very reasonable -$15 for electric, and $12 for tent sites.
Site Quality/Facilities: Each site has a generous-sized picnic table and fire ring. Some sites are better than others, however. Sites 2 and 3 (both electric) are sloped down and the driveway is a bit overgrown. No physical separation between sites which when we were there was not an issue but might be when more crowded. Some of the sites have a direct water view but again, some are more sloped than others.
Bathhouse: A short hike uphill from all sites but it was very clean when we were there. The showers also looked clean, but I did not use them so cannot comment on how well they worked.
Activities/Amenities: Fishing! We saw a few boats on the water when we were there and there were two docks, one of them handicapped accessible. Swimming is not allowed but there is a nice day-use area not far down the road with a nice beach and picnic area. There are also horseshoe pits and a small but very nice playground. No hiking trails that I could discern. There was also a small little free library.
When we were there, we appreciated the quiet, out-of-the-way setting. It is close to the town of Leon but we circumvented it on the way in and out so I don’t know what services might be available.
LegendThis is a great little park just east of New Virginia, Iowa. I went to the park with my son and Boy Scout Troop for a night hike, that is why there are no pictures. This is a great little park. The hiking trails are pretty easy going through the forest and then opening up next to old Native American burial mounds. This is really a great place to pitch a tent. It is clean and well maintained.
Stephens State Forest offers multiple camping areas near Leon with both primitive and established sites across more than 15,000 acres of forest. The region sits within the Southern Iowa Drift Plain with rolling hills and numerous small lakes. Winter temperatures can drop below 0°F while summer humidity often exceeds 80% with daytime temperatures regularly reaching 90°F.
Hiking trails: Middle Area Campground in Stephens State Forest provides access to extensive trail networks. One visitor notes, "The Woodburn unit in Stephens State forest has great hiking trails leading to very primitive camping locations. The site did have a nice picnic table and fire pit."
Horseback riding: Horse owners find excellent accommodations at Nine Eagles State Park Campground. A rider reports, "Wonderful area for horses. Great trials." The park maintains designated equestrian areas separate from standard camping sections.
Fishing access: Little River Recreation Area offers excellent lake fishing opportunities. A camper observed, "The lake has a lot of fish in it I hear..." The area includes two docks, one being handicapped accessible, plus boat access points.
Clean facilities: East Lake Co Park maintains well-kept grounds according to visitor experiences. A recent camper mentioned, "The campground was clean and quiet with water and electricity at each site. The dump station was set aside from the camp sites."
Quiet atmosphere: Many campers appreciate the peaceful settings at dog-friendly campgrounds near Leon. At Eagle Ridge RV Park, visitors find "Peaceful sites. Grounds very well kept. Full hookups and friendly staff. One of the best experiences on a site close to the 35, but far enough away you wouldn't know it."
Seasonal camping options: Most parks remain open April through October, with varying services depending on weather. A visitor to Nine Eagles State Park noted, "We arrived on Thursday evening. After a short debate we opted to pay the extra money for an electric site - based solely on the fact that the water wasn't turned on in the basic site loop."
Limited services: Many smaller campgrounds near Leon have restricted amenities. At East Lake Co Park, a visitor explains: "The campground was clean and quiet with water and electricity at each site. The dump station was set aside from the camp sites. The trees at the campground were recently planted so no shade."
Weather considerations: Summer heat can be intense with high humidity. At Prairie Ridge Camping, the open layout offers "Good scenery" but limited shade according to visitors.
Advance planning: Supplies can be limited in smaller towns. For Little River Recreation Area, a camper advises: "It is close to the town of Leon but we circumvented it on the way in and out so I don't know what services might be available." Another notes Humeston has "several gas stations and a grocery store."
Playground access: Several pet and family-friendly campgrounds near Leon offer children's play areas. At Little River Recreation Area, visitors appreciate that "There are also horseshoe pits and a small but very nice playground."
Swimming options: While not all lakes permit swimming, East Lake Co Park provides designated swimming areas. One camper at Little River noted, "Swimming is not allowed but there is a nice day-use area not far down the road with a nice beach and picnic area."
Educational opportunities: Bring field guides for local wildlife identification. Stephens State Forest campers report diverse wildlife encounters: "Listened to deer rutting all night and coyotes howling."
Site selection: At dog-accommodating campgrounds near Leon, choose sites carefully based on levelness. At Lakeside Casino RV Park, a camper reported, "The concrete in our site was in poor condition, it had crumbled leaving a dip in the pad."
Seasonal hookup availability: Water connections may be unavailable early or late season. A Nine Eagles State Park visitor noted in their review, "We opted to pay the extra money for an electric site - based solely on the fact that the water wasn't turned on in the basic site loop."
Site spacing: Many RVers appreciate adequate distance between sites. At Eagle Ridge RV Park, visitors enjoy "long FHU pull-through" sites, while Prairie Ridge Camping offers "well leveled gravel" sites according to camper reviews.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Leon, IA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Leon, IA is Nine Eagles State Park Campground with a 4-star rating from 7 reviews.
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TheDyrt.com has all 52 dog-friendly camping locations near Leon, IA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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