Best Campgrounds near Lone Tree, IA

Camping options around Lone Tree, Iowa include a mix of developed campgrounds and primitive sites along the Iowa River. River Junction, located directly in Lone Tree, offers tent camping with fire rings and picnic tables in a natural setting. Within a 30-mile radius, campers can find several established campgrounds including West Overlook Campground near Iowa City, Sugar Bottom Campground in Solon, and Little Bear Campground in West Liberty, which uniquely offers cabin accommodations alongside traditional tent and RV sites.

Access to camping areas varies seasonally, with several campgrounds operating from April through October. Flooding can significantly impact camping availability, particularly at sites near the Cedar and Iowa Rivers. "Saulsbury Bridge Recreation Area is 675 acres, nestled between rolling fields of corn, dairy farms, native prairie, and the Cedar River," noted one camper, highlighting the diverse landscape. A review of River Junction mentioned that "the one downfall to this park is the possibility for flooding. When the Cedar River is high, it pushes Chicken Creek out of its banks which can mean potential closure of campgrounds." Most campgrounds in the region provide basic amenities like drinking water and toilets, though primitive sites may have limited facilities.

Mixed-use campgrounds dominate the region, with most accommodating both tent and RV camping. F.W. Kent Park in Oxford receives consistently high ratings for its natural setting and hiking trails. A visitor described it as having "grassy and open sites, but more private than many Midwest campgrounds because they are lined with tall prairie grasses and trees." Water access represents a common feature at many campgrounds, with fishing opportunities available at Coralville Lake and along the Iowa River. Several campgrounds offer electric hookups, while others maintain a more rustic experience. Campers frequently mention wildlife viewing opportunities, including bird watching for species like bald eagles along the Cedar River. Most developed campgrounds in the area require payment ranging from $9-33 per night depending on amenities and hookup availability.

Best Camping Sites Near Lone Tree, Iowa (115)

    1. West Overlook Campground

    18 Reviews
    Coralville, IA
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (319) 338-3685

    $22 - $28 / night

    "The reservoir behind the dam creates both the Coralville Lake alongside Lake MacBride which is a state park in a side bay."

    "LuLu and I stayed for 10 days while visiting family in Iowa City. The campground hosted mainly locals but it’s only a couple of miles off the I80."

    2. Sugar Bottom Campground

    24 Reviews
    North Liberty, IA
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (319) 624-2102

    $14 - $240 / night

    "Very nice COE campground north of Iowa City in the Lake Coralville area. Beautiful setting, lots of options for sites."

    "Nice grassy sites near lake for fishing, hiking, wildlife viewing. Near Iowa Raptor Project that conducts raptor programs and site with walking tour and live raptors, and Macbride State Park as well."

    3. Hills Access Campground

    3 Reviews
    Riverside, IA
    7 miles
    Website

    "Awesome place by the Iowa river.. clean and quiet, no drinking water..."

    4. Little Bear Campground

    8 Reviews
    West Branch, IA
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (319) 627-2676

    $22 - $49 / night

    "Little Bear Campground is located right off I-80 at the West Liberty exit. It is right next to a trailer park. There are a few tent sites ($22/ night)and Rv sites($33/night)."

    "Very cute campground right off highway. I called while traveling and Mike was very accommodating. Full hookups and showers. Even got a pool. Gas station nearby full of character."

    5. River Junction

    1 Review
    Riverside, IA
    4 miles
    Website
    +1 (319) 645-2315

    "24 years ago River Jct Lone Tree Iowa was Just stumptown. Outhouse at the top. Just a spot by the river. A lone camper. How things have changed . Still primitive tent campgrounds there."

    6. F. W. Kent Park

    18 Reviews
    Oxford, IA
    23 miles
    Website
    +1 (319) 645-2315

    $20 / night

    "We stayed during an Iowa Football weekend, attended the game in nearby Iowa City, and then enjoyed the rest of our weekend exploring the ponds and trails in the park."

    "It is the perfect camping destination between Amana colonies and Iowa City."

    7. Cedar River Campground

    11 Reviews
    West Liberty, IA
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (563) 946-2431

    $35 - $50 / night

    "Convenient location a lot of amenities and activities"

    8. Saulsbury Bridge Recreation Area - Main Camping

    4 Reviews
    West Liberty, IA
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (563) 264-5922

    $15 - $20 / night

    "Located in Muscatine County in southeast Iowa, this rec area offers well-maintained campgrounds, hiking trails, fishing, kayaking/canoeing and seasonal hunting.

    There are three separate campgrounds."

    9. Modern North Campground — Lake Macbride State Park

    15 Reviews
    Solon, IA
    23 miles
    Website
    +1 (319) 624-2200

    $25 - $35 / night

    "My niece who lives nearby recommended this place to stay when we went to visit her since was a short drive from where she lives. "

    "Close access to boating and town"

    10. Saulsbury Bridge Rec Area - Cedar River Campground

    3 Reviews
    West Liberty, IA
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (563) 264-5922

    $10 - $20 / night

    "There are sites along the river, while others are larger tucked along the woods and not close to each other. Perfect get away. 15-20 minutes to the closest town."

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Recent Reviews near Lone Tree, IA

502 Reviews of 115 Lone Tree Campgrounds


  • James M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 15, 2025

    Summit Cabin 2, West Lake Park

    Nice modern cabin along lake

    Cabin has on-site parking as well as overflow parking nearby, hard surface with picnic table, and firing, gas grill, covered porch with Lakeview, sleeps eight, fireplace and full kitchen amenities, ADA accessible restroom. Park offers seasonal swimming beach, for lakes to paddle and fish at, disc golf course, Concessions in season, and lots of trails.

  • Michael P.
    Sep. 13, 2025

    Fairport State Recreation Area Campground

    Host not friendly very rude woman would not recommend staying here at all

    Would not recommend fairport camping  in muscatine iowa at all the host is rude and non caring personality more like two faced   i would recommend  shady creek  or one of the others on the same hwy if looking for nice and great host

    On the note dnr are great thou

  • Jorge F.
    Sep. 8, 2025

    Cedar River Campground

    Good place to go camping with friends and family.

    “This place became my wife’s and daughters’ favorite this year. It is a place where everyone who visits is very kind and respectful. The managers are always courteous and attentive.”

  • Steve T.
    Sep. 7, 2025

    Saulsbury Bridge Rec Area - Cedar River Campground

    Enjoyable Stay

    The sites are spaced apart well and clean with a beautiful view of the Cedar River. If you camp on the riverside campground be sure to bring a bike or extra vehicle if you camp on the far end because the bathrooms are bit of a walk. And bring a grate with you for your fire ring as some have them and some don’t. All and all it was an enjoyable stay with a fantastic view, even caught a few fish since our campsite was literally on the river edge

  • DThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 6, 2025

    Shady Creek

    Beautiful View

    Site #12 with electric hookup was in my opinion the best site. Right on the back of the mighty Mississippi. Very clean friendly stay

  • James M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 30, 2025

    Wapsi River Environmental Ed. Ctr.

    Very nice, quite, cabin surrounded by forest

    Cabin has all amenities for six. Charcoal grill, fire ring with wood supplied, picnic table, covered porch, trail head right next to cabin. After hours offers quite park, dark skies, and trails with wildlife. Wapsipinicon River access just down River Trail.

  • James M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 25, 2025

    Bennett Park

    Nice smaller County CG with small lake

    CG has newer RR/shower house. Sites have electric, fire rings, gravel pads. There is a Play area, shelter , host site, dump station. Park has small lake for paddling and fishing.

  • Clifton B.
    Aug. 18, 2025

    Lake Iowa County Park

    Very nice campground off the beaten path

    Wife and I met friends here in August 2025.  This was the middle between us & them as we live in CO and they live in NY.  The campground was very well maintained.  Shower rooms & restrooms were very clean and all were functional.  We really enjoyed the long weekend here.  Be advised tho, we were not adequately prepared for the humidity in August.  Being from Colorado where we live at much higher altitudes & we didnt expect the humidity to affect us as it did.  Not a bad thing, we were just used to 15% max and that weekend we saw 90% with 90 degrees.  Wife and I will likely return and see more of the Amana communities in the fall.

  • Susie K.
    Aug. 7, 2025

    Porth RV Park

    Porth Campground

    Great campground.  Sewer, water, electricity.

    It rained a lot while we were there no flooding issues at all.  Very friendly and very well maintained.

    Definitely would stay again,  we were there for 3 weeks.


Guide to Lone Tree

Camping near Lone Tree, 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 nearby that cater to different needs.

What to do:

  • Explore the caves: At Maquoketa Caves State Park Campground, you can hike through unique caves. One visitor said, "The caves make this a unique place to visit but the hiking is rigorous."
  • Enjoy the lake: Lake Macbride State Park Campground is perfect for swimming and fishing. A camper mentioned, "Beautiful lake. Will stay here again when come back to visit her."
  • Go boating: Sugar Bottom Campground has a boat launch for easy access to the water. One review noted, "Nice boat launch. Right on the Mississippi."

What campers like:

  • Clean facilities: Campers appreciate the cleanliness of the bathrooms. A visitor at Fishermans Corner - Mississippi River said, "Bathrooms were quite clean."
  • Spacious sites: Many campgrounds, like Scott County Park, offer large, shaded sites. One camper remarked, "The sites here are all shaded."
  • Friendly staff: Campers often mention the helpfulness of the staff. A review for Camelot Campground Quad Cities USA stated, "Staff were great!"

What you should know:

  • Limited amenities: Some campgrounds, like Sugar Bottom Campground, do not have showers. A visitor noted, "NO showers, toilets, trash."
  • Busy during weekends: Popular spots can fill up quickly. One camper at Maquoketa Caves State Park Campground mentioned, "We were dismayed when we arrived at 3 pm on a Sunday to find the place packed."
  • Train noise: If you're sensitive to noise, be aware that some campgrounds, like Fishermans Corner - Mississippi River, are near train tracks. A camper shared, "Train tracks are right next to the sites."

Tips for camping with families:

  • Look for activities: Choose campgrounds with family-friendly activities. F. W. Kent Park offers swimming and hiking. A visitor said, "Lots of stuff to do, including: hiking, swimming, kayaking."
  • Check for playgrounds: Some campgrounds have playgrounds for kids. At Illiniwek Campground, one reviewer mentioned, "The campground had firewood for sale and a nice playground for kids."
  • Plan for quiet hours: Many campgrounds enforce quiet hours, which can help families get a good night's sleep. A camper at Lake Macbride State Park Campground noted, "Everyone was respectful of quiet hours and very friendly."

Tips from RVers:

  • Check site sizes: Make sure your RV fits the site. A review for Lake Macbride State Park Campground mentioned, "The biggest downside: hard to tell until you see your site if you have water pump close enough!"
  • Look for full hookups: Campgrounds like Sugar Bottom Campground offer electric hookups, which are great for RVs. One camper said, "We were pleased with the size of our site and how it was positioned among the others."
  • Be prepared for busy weekends: Popular campgrounds can fill up fast, especially on weekends. A visitor at Fishermans Corner - Mississippi River noted, "The CG wasn’t full during the week but filled up on the weekend while we were there."

Camping near Lone Tree, 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 campground near Lone Tree, IA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Lone Tree, IA is West Overlook Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 18 reviews.

What parks are near Lone Tree, IA?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 6 parks near Lone Tree, IA that allow camping, notably Coralville Lake and Mississippi River - Pools 11-22.